The Nen that grew even stronger after death, the seven unkillable Nen Beasts, the seven-verses melody of the harp, and the Sonata of Darkness that seemingly controlled minds...
If not for Law's assistance through the white smoke text, no one present would likely have been able to overcome Stargie's hurdle.
Mark, who launched a sneak attack from behind, had his entire body flooded with Nen after being controlled by the Nen Beast.
His Aura swelled to the level of a first-rate Nen User, and if not for Law's God Hand and Shin, it wouldn't have been so easy to deal with him.
Coupled with the two stone gates before entering, Law is simply the nemesis of Stargie's tomb.
Perhaps Stargie's tomb could have remained undisturbed for many more years, but Law's arrival changed everything.
'If I cut off her arms, this should be over.'
Law withdrew his gaze from Stargie and turned to look at the dismembered Mark. Despite being chopped into pieces, his killing intent still raged as he struggled to rise and continue following Stargie's orders to attack.
Playing the music by strumming the harp may be the cornerstone of Staci's Nen Ability. As long as her arms are cut off and she cannot play the harp, the battle will basically be over.
'No need to test it.'
Law shifted his gaze from Mark to Stargie.
Since the battle began, Stargie's abilities have basically been demonstrated, and with the addition of the white smoke font, Law had a good idea in his mind, so he decided not to test it anymore and to attack directly instead. This was also to prevent other people from being controlled.
With a push of his foot and a surge of Aura, Law leaped past Mark and charged directly at Stargie. With less than a hundred meters between them, he could close the distance in seconds.
Seeing Law rushing towards her, the chilling black Nen around Stargie suddenly became agitated. At this moment, Stargie, suddenly lifted her head and looked at Law, who was rushing towards her. Then, her fingers flickered across the harp strings in a blur.
A clear and piercing melody burst forth!
At the same time, a powerful wave of Nen surged from behind.
Law frowned and abruptly halted, turning sideways to glance back. Mark, whose limbs had been severed, had somehow reattached his body using the black mist as adhesive.
At this time, he was charging at Law with even greater speed!
The dramatically increased energy has exceeded the limit that Mark's body can bear, radiating a blinding glow.
Law could clearly see Mark's hair and skin aging rapidly!
Dramatically improving strength at the cost of squeezing out vitality and lifespan is the application of Vows and Limitations. The fact that Stargie could manipulate someone to such an extent was beyond the typical capabilities of the Manipulator, showcasing the terrifying nature of the Sonata of Darkness.
'There's no need to face him head on!'
Law quickly made his decision and narrowly avoided Mark, who was charging towards him.
Mark's overflowing Aura, like an impenetrable suit of armor, turned him into an unstoppable battering ram.
It was uncertain if Law's blade could cut through such an unnatural defense, and getting hit would mean severe injury or worse.
However, Law knew that Mark's body couldn't sustain such an output for long, so there was no need to waste effort fighting him head-on.
Just as Law had expected, Mark's attack missed again. And with each failed strike, his Aura visibly weakened.
At the same time, Mark's legs suddenly seemed to be crushed by invisible hands. Blood spurted from his skin, and his shattered bones protruded like sharp spikes, piercing through flesh and clothing.
The consequences of over-exerting his body became evident within seconds. Despite this, Mark remained silent.
His legs were soon covered in mangled flesh, and he collapsed to his knees. His hair turned white, and his skin withered like an old man's.
With Mark's collapse, Stargie's offensive attempt failed once again. The black Nen surrounding her became agitated, showing clear fear of Law's approach.
Since the Nen Beasts were an extension of it, it now feared Law after witnessing him absorb them. The black Nen knew that if he got too close, it would be consumed like fuel and cease to exist entirely.
Having eliminated Mark with minimal effort, Law sprinted straight toward Stargie, which is just fifty meters away now.
"Unforgivable!"
The sound, as low as the buzz of a mosquito, whispered within the black Nen, unheard by anyone else.
Stargie's flickering hands suddenly transformed into claw-like shapes and struck the harp strings fiercely!
Clang!
A piercing screech, like grinding metal, echoed through the hall.
At this moment, the Nen Beasts that were entangled with Uncle Bill and the others suddenly dispersed, transforming into black mist. Then, they quickly reformed into five basketball-sized black spheres and shot toward Law's back like lightning!
"Watch out!" Biscuit instinctively shouted.
"Hmm?"
The moment Law heard the warning, he felt a dense, tingling sensation on his back. Turning his head to look, his expression changed instantly, and he reflexively expanded his Domain.
As the black spheres approached his body, they suddenly exploded in unison, transforming into a pitch-black Nen Field that engulfed Law completely.
But it didn't stop there. The Nen behind Stargie actually broke away from her and rushed into the pitch-black Nen Field.
In an instant, the Nen Field swirled violently like a storm, exuding a pressure that sent chills down everyone's spine.
A gust of wind arose out of nowhere, sweeping through the surroundings. The flames atop the stone statues' necks flickered and nearly went out under the pressure.
Inside the hall, Biscuit, Atomu, Uncle Bill, Luby, and Aya all looked at the scene in front of them with solemn expressions. Biscuit and Atomu, who had stronger mental fortitude, managed to stay composed, but fear was evident on Uncle Bill and the others' faces.
After the Post-Mortem Nen left her, Stargie collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. The stone harp in her hands fell forward with a thud, but thanks to its sturdy material, it did not shatter.
The harp hit the ground first, and in the next instant, the glow in Stargie's eyes faded away. Her elegant body swayed and then fell lifelessly to the ground.
Mark collapsed alongside her.
With his life force completely drained, Mark's Aura dissipated entirely, and he slumped to the ground without a sound.
After death, he lost the protection of the God Hand, and his severed limbs and neck began to bleed profusely.
Everything had happened so suddenly that no matter what the outcome, the group could only mourn for Law in their hearts.
To them, it seemed Stargie's Post-Mortem Nen had been enraged by Law, choosing to ignore them entirely and unleash its full power upon him.
At this moment, Law, who was in the pitch-black Nen Field, felt an overwhelming discomfort. Everything around him was pitch black and as cold as an ice cellar, pressing against him like the deep sea, restricting his movements.
Although he activated the white smoke font's ability, it seemed to be suppressed by something, and its absorption rate slowed significantly.
Perhaps due to the thinning oxygen, Law felt like a sardine crammed inside a can. He couldn't move, and his breathing became increasingly difficult.
Just as Law's consciousness began to blur, the book of God Hand suddenly conjured automatically, emitting a faint white light and floating in front of him.
"Huh?"
With the help of this sole light source, Law struggled to lift his eyelids and gaze at the book that had appeared unexpectedly.
The pulsating lines on its cover, flickering like a heartbeat, resembled a complex network of veins.
'What's going on…?'
Law was certain he hadn't conjured the book, nor had he mobilized his Aura to do so. Yet, the book had appeared on its own.
As he puzzled over the situation, the book opened by itself. The pages flipped steadily, but they were all pitch black and there wasn't a single white page in sight.
A vast, sinister, and icy Aura surged from the black pages, and suddenly, the surrounding darkness began to change.
His breathing eased, and the crushing pressure subsided. Law realized the dark scene before him resembled an old, mottled wall crumbling away in fragments, like peeling the shell off a boiled egg.
A soft white glow gradually emerged, blending with the darkness.
Then, an unexpected new Aura surged over him like a tidal wave, and then he saw a pair of silver vertical-pupil animal eyes.
"Unforgivable!"
From the other direction came a resolute and powerful female voice.
Law... has absolutely no idea what's going on.
Outside the pitch-black Nen Field, as the overwhelming evil Aura erupted, the group instinctively retreated.
Keeping their distance, everyone stared in horror at the raging Nen Field, realizing that this was Stargie's true power!
For a moment, even Biscuit and Atomu, who had some strength to spare, couldn't help but feel the urge to withdraw.
The power displayed by Stargie had already exceeded what they could handle. Perhaps, they need the help of a more powerful Nen Exorcist to eliminate this Post-Mortem Nen.
The evil and cold Aura appeared suddenly, and disappeared in less than three seconds.
At that moment, the same conclusion popped up in everyone's mind:
Law... is dead!