The crystalline wall of the Guardian Chain perfectly blocked Franklin's Double Machine Gun.
Restrained by the lifespan cost of [Emperor Time], Kurapika couldn't afford to foolishly stand still.
The defensive capability, constructed upon a Foundation of Emission, demonstrated its value at this moment.
Without needing to endure the impact force carried by the Nen Bullets, he could raise the shield and charge forward simultaneously.
Kurapika did just that, charging directly towards Franklin while braving the hail of gunfire.
'Completely ineffective...'
Franklin watched calmly as Kurapika charged towards him. The shield made of Aura completely neutralized the killing power of his Double Machine Gun.
'However, that shield could only block damage from the front. So then...'
His raised hands suddenly swung downward, depressing the trajectory of the bullets.
The lump-like Nen Bullets abruptly changed direction, pouring down onto the path ahead of Kurapika.
The energy contained within the Nen Bullets released upon contact with the cement road. Under the overwhelming quantity, the surface of the cement road shattered instantly, and the sandy ground beneath was churned up by the impact force.
'Huh?'
Seeing this, Kurapika did not slow his charging speed.
He vaguely guessed his opponent's intention.
Numerous debris carrying smoke and dust crashed against the crystalline wall, still unable to reach Kurapika's body.
That seemingly absolute isolating effect bore some resemblance to Law's Domain.
Franklin swung his arms, directing the bullet trajectories to bombard the fan-shaped area in front of Kurapika.
The advantage of the Double Machine Gun lay in its wide coverage, and once a target was locked down, it could often achieve a suppression effect.
It also had its disadvantages, namely its weaker single-point power. It worked fine against average Nen Users, but its effectiveness was minimal against powerful ones.
At times like this, a teammate was needed to coordinate a flanking attack or a pincer movement from behind, but Franklin currently had no teammates.
Therefore, he could only try to obscure Kurapika's line of sight, then pull the line of fire to the side. As long as he could bypass that Aura Shield, he was absolutely certain he could instantly tear the other party's body apart.
He firmly believed in his judgment because the frontal defense of the aura shield was too strong, so the defense on the sides and back would inevitably become very weak.
This natural judgment influenced his next move.
Unfortunately, the terrain wasn't the Gordeau Desert but a cement road in the city. The effectiveness of creating visual obstacles was more or less affected.
The cement road was blasted into rubble, with debris and smoke billowing wildly.
Franklin suddenly began circling, pulling the line of fire towards the side, watching as the lumpy Nen Bullets shot into the smoke.
But at that moment, a chain suddenly shot out from within the smoke, heading straight for Franklin's chest.
'Capable of attacking while defending?'
Franklin's eyes turned cold, but he had no intention of dodging, planning instead to shoot down the incoming chain.
This judgment was based on his personality and his ability.
Just like a gunner wielding a gatling gun, when pouring firepower onto a single area, one does not easily relocate or stop shooting.
Simultaneously, Franklin was confident that with his dense barrage, he could easily shoot down the chain.
However, just as he focused on the chain and acted, the attacking chain suddenly thinned, passing through the dense bullet curtain.
'What!?'
Franklin's pupils constricted.
Errors in judgment often influence the course of a battle.
The chain thinning was like a thread passing through the eye of a needle, striking directly at Franklin's vitals.
Once close, the chain wrapped around Franklin's body like a snake.
Immediately, like a chain reaction, the ten fingers ceased fire, his Aura Nodes were forcibly closed, and the Aura surrounding his body vanished in an instant.
'I can't use Nen... This is a forced Zetsu.' Franklin's expression changed, surprised. 'However, such a thin chain... even with pure physical strength, I can...'
Franklin didn't panic, and with a clear thought, he intended to use brute force to break the chain.
But just as the thought formed and he tried to act, the extremely thin chain wrapped around his body instantly thickened, becoming as thick as an adult's arm.
"!!!"
Veins bulged on Franklin's forehead, his face slightly flushed, muscles bulging all over, yet he couldn't budge the chain in the slightest.
"Where are your companions now?"
The source of the chain led straight into the smoke, and the voice came from within the smoke.
Kurapika walked slowly out of the smoke, his eyes terrifyingly cold.
[Middle Finger Chain: Chain Jail]
It could only be used on members of the Phantom Troupe. Once the chain bound a Troupe member, it could forcibly place the target into a state of Zetsu.
If used on a target outside the Troupe, he himself would die for violating the condition.
Franklin remained silent, his gaze towards Kurapika somewhat gloomy.
After several attempts, he found he simply couldn't break free from the chain. In other words, he had stepped into a dead end.
If he could still use Nen, he could at least form a layer of defense. But now, in a state of Zetsu, even an ordinary pistol could kill him.
Seeing Franklin remain silent, Kurapika slightly raised his middle finger, and the chain binding Franklin suddenly constricted.
"Pfft."
The powerful constricting force immediately made Franklin spit blood.
Following that, cracking sounds came from within his body… the sound of breaking bones.
Kurapika maintained a constricting force that wouldn't kill Franklin but would make him suffer immense pain. He walked to a distance of a few steps and asked coldly, "Where are your companions now?"
Under the intense pain, Franklin merely stared at Kurapika with a gloomy, cold gaze.
Just then, shouts from Mafia members came from the other end of the street.
"Over here!"
"Hurry up, kill them!"
Lingering due to the fight had given the Mafia members time to catch up.
Franklin knew he was doomed, but in the face of death, he was chillingly calm, his heartbeat even identical to its usual state.
It was a manifestation only found in those who held no reverence for life, who fundamentally disregarded it.
Kurapika ignored the mafia members rushing towards them and increased the constricting force again, intending to continue the interrogation, when his phone rang.
Even without looking, he knew it was Law calling.
Kurapika picked up the phone with his left hand and pressed the answer button.
"Withdraw."
Law's voice came through the phone.
Kurapika gritted his teeth, his face filled with unwillingness.
His unstable emotions caused his chest to heave slightly.
Crack.
The chain wrapped around Franklin's neck and crushed it directly.
Franklin's expression froze on his face, his tall body collapsing towards the ground.
After killing Franklin, Kurapika retrieved the chain and quickly left the scene.
A moment later, the mafia members arrived, only to find Franklin's corpse.
They gathered around, each with a ferocious expression, raising their guns.
"Don't shoot the face."
One of them said coldly.
As soon as his words fell, dense gunfire immediately erupted over the street.
They were actually desecrating the corpse.
The numerous bullets fired at close range hit Franklin's body, causing the still-warm corpse to spray blood repeatedly.
Skin, flesh, bones... were torn apart piece by piece by the powerful firepower.
After desecrating the corpse for a while, a member who seemed to be a leader stopped them. Looking at the corpse with its face intact but body mangled beyond recognition, he said coldly, "Enough. Get a good photo of it."
At a street corner in the distance, Law leaned against the wall, watching Kurapika walk over, and said flatly, "You could have just finished him with a gun. Why use the chain?"
Kurapika had no words to reply.