Reincarnation Paradise Park

Chapter 1136: Chapter 21: Sacrifice and Gift

”Young people’s stamina is truly abundant.”

Maha wiped the sweat from his face and casually took out a compressed air can from his backpack, releasing air outward since there was no air inside the Bayira vine ball.

”You said earlier that this thing’s diameter is ten kilometers. We’ve moved at least eight kilometers forward. Are we supposed to break through this thing? Or does it have a consciousness that’s preventing us from entering the central area?”

Su Xiao’s breathing also started to become slightly heavy. If anyone else saw the current state of Su Xiao and Maha, they would be shocked. Such powerful individuals now look like miners from ancient times.

”Not sure, it’s my first time delving this deep, water.”

Maha tossed a bottle of water to Su Xiao, who gulped down several mouthfuls and then poured the leftover water over his head.

Su Xiao had collaborated with various characters in the plot numerous times, but most of them harbored ulterior motives. There were only two who genuinely cooperated with Su Xiao; one was the old Godfather from the Holy Grail World, and the other was Maha.

”This time, I probably won’t come out alive.”

Maha glanced at the sleeping Killua and Yaluga, with a look akin to an elder caring for the younger generation.

”For an old guy like me, dying here isn’t bad. Once we reach the center and find that plant, always keep a three-meter distance from me. If my Nen changes to another color, kill me immediately. I’ll try to buy you a few seconds, or possibly even less.”

”No problem.”

Su Xiao didn’t know the exact reason, but if killing Maha was part of the cooperation, there was nothing to hesitate about.

”Thanks.”

Maha patted his left ear, still without hearing.

Su Xiao and Maha continued to clear the path, thirty hours later.

Su Xiao crouched and sat on the ground; Maha stood before a large area of shattered vines, punching it.

Bam!

The vine shattered into a large hole, and Maha wobbled, almost falling.

”Can’t determine the direction with this thing.”

Su Xiao tossed the compass aside. After thirty hours of exploration, he realized why

they couldn’t break through the vine cluster because they were continuously going in circles within it.

Initially, due to the vine’s regenerative trait, Su Xiao and the team hadn’t noticed this until they found a large mass of crushed vines clumped together when clearing the path. They realized what was happening.

Creating merely an ample space to stand wasn’t sufficient; a space to accumulate the shattered vines was needed while clearing a path within this sealed vine cluster.

From the moment they were surrounded by this vine ball, space became limited, and the cut vines occupied space. Although Su Xiao could store these shattered vines in the storage space, it was used only as a last resort.

”Regeneration requires nutrients; I don’t believe this thing can regenerate indefinitely.”

Maha’s expression turned fierce; exhausted, his appearance became more akin to a demon, like an alien ghost without requiring makeup.

The current situation was a war of attrition, testing whether Su Xiao and his team held out or the Bayira vines ran out of nutrients, thus ceasing regeneration.

As long as the Bayira vines stopped regenerating, Su Xiao and his team could easily break through the vine ball.

Initially, the Bayira vines would regenerate in tens of seconds; now, it took at least over 10 minutes to grow new vines.

Another six hours passed.

Su Xiao slashed the vines ahead, creating a bowl-sized hole in the shattered vines with broken vines falling from it.

”This is...”

Su Xiao’s pupils constricted, quickly retreating.

Crack, crack...

Massive cracks appeared on the surrounding vines, causing the entire vine ball to tremble.

With a loud snap! Su Xiao’s footing gave way, and a massive section of falling vines covered him, akin to an avalanche.

After several seconds of falling, Su Xiao felt a sense of landing, surrounded by fragmented vines, with a crushing weight on his back, immediately letting him determine he was lying in the shattered vines.

Su Xiao swam upwards, struggling within the fragmented vines. Without immense power, escape was impossible.

Minutes later.

With a whoosh, a hand stretched out from the fragmented vines, Su Xiao’s hand pressed against the vine, pulling his body free from it.

”Huff, huff...”

Su Xiao breathed heavily, having held his breath for nearly ten minutes, having previously climbed in the wrong direction.

Bubu Wang briskly ran over, luck was favorable for it, not buried deeply. Happily, it wasn’t crushed beneath the fragmented vines, and it was with A Mu; thus, Killua and Yaluga hadn’t been crushed to death.

Su Xiao had essentially cut through the entire Bayira vine cluster; this vine had consciousness, persistently obstructing Su Xiao’s team from reaching the center, yet in the endurance battle, it was overwhelmed, unable to bear the weight of the shattered vines, collapsing the entire vine cluster.

Su Xiao surveyed the surroundings, finding a space about ten kilometers in diameter, an elliptical shape at Kukuru Mountain’s center, knowing this because Su Xiao’s hidden mission’s second ring had been fulfilled.

Su Xiao glanced at the third ring of the hidden mission, eyebrows raised.

A skeletal hand emerged from the fragmented vines, black Nen enveloping the arm.

Just when Su Xiao thought Maha was controlled by the ’King’ in the plant, Maha’s head appeared.

”Help me pull it out! I’m losing my grip on it.”

Maha’s jaw muscles stood out, wrapping an arm around a mass of shattered vines, seemingly wrestling with something beneath.

Su Xiao rushed forward, grabbing Maha’s arm.

”A Mu.”

Responding to Su Xiao’s call, A Mu quickly approached, gripping Maha’s head as if pulling a carrot.

Maha stared blankly at A Mu despite the unpleasant feeling, but A Mu was a significant aid.

With Su Xiao and A Mu’s tremendous strength, Maha was pulled from the fragmented vines, his right hand clutching a plant’s root system.

Su Xiao and A Mu held the root, and through their combined effort, the hidden object beneath the vines emerged.

It’s a small white flower approximately twenty centimeters high, slightly wilted, its stem adorned with several green leaves, oval and fleshy.

Despite its small ’stature,’ its roots were lengthy, ten meters in height, and Su Xiao’s trio couldn’t pull them apart, demonstrating its robustness.

”It truly exists.”

Maha held the small white flower, which seemed resigned, lying limply in Maha’s hand.

”Is there a ritual to perform afterward?”

Su Xiao contemplated that Maha’s effort to bring Killua and Yaluga must indicate something more complex.

”Ahem.”

Maha cleared his throat, his weathered face appearing slightly embarrassed.

”Before seeing this thing, I didn’t know precisely what to do; most of my information came from the V5 Organization. The only certainty is that solving my immortality requires delving into Kukuru Mountain. As for bringing Yaluga and Killua, it was merely a precaution.

My immortality is linked to Naniga within Yaluga. After entering Kukuru Mountain, Naniga won’t appear, leading me to bring Killua since he’s the only one capable of summoning Naniga within Kukuru Mountain. I’ve tested this at the volcano numerous times.”

Maha gazed at the white flower in his hand, hesitating briefly before stuffing it into his mouth.

”I left a few small gifts with Zeno for you, T3M77854, a code; as for the way out, break the eastern rock wall, and you’ll find the exit soon enough. Killua and Yaluga are in your care, farewell... my friend,”

As Maha finished speaking, Su Xiao received a notification.

[Hunter has initiated personal favor with plot character Maha Zoldyck, current favor: 93 points.]

Maha took a bite of the white flower; its roots surged, promptly enwrapping Maha to form a cocoon.

Black Nen erupted from the root cocoon, with the roots rapidly withering, evaporating into fragments.

Within moments, Maha and that white flower vanished, transforming into black dust. Was Maha seeking a cure? No, he sought death for the continuation of the Zoldyck Clan.

[Notification: Hunter has completed the hidden task·Zoldyck family’s curse.]

[Task completion assessment in progress...]

[Final rating: A+.]

[As the hunter has completed the hidden task (in three rings), they may select one from the following options.]

A. Eternal Life Flower Fruit.

B. Time-space coin.

C. Scroll of Grandmaster’s Power (1/10).

D. Forced Exemption Book.