Pathetic.
Using the Tiger Head technique to control the Poultry Scarlet Knife, Morrow pulled it back from the side and cleanly beheaded Eve in one swift motion.
This process and outcome confirmed one thing for Morrow:
The princess before him, despite possessing an abundant aura output, was nothing short of a disaster in actual combat.
Morrow raised his hand and, utilizing the control of the Tiger Head Nen, retrieved the Poultry Scarlet Knife from midair. His gaze then shifted to the severed head falling from above.
Thud.
The head hit the ground like a bowling ball, producing a dull sound.
Her silver-white hair splayed out like a bouquet, now splattered with glaring crimson.
Morrow's beheading technique was precise; when he severed Eve's head, he hadn't cut through her long silver hair.
As a result, when the head landed, the hair spread out, the bloodstains resembling plum blossoms blooming in snow, a bleak yet haunting beauty.
Dream Maker… Is this her own ability, or one activated through the Eye of Truth Card?
No Tree Rings experience feedback… So, this isn't true death in the literal sense.
Morrow silently pondered as he stared at Eve's head.
Just then, as if time had reversed, the head on the ground retraced its trajectory, flying back into the air in an arc before neatly "reattaching" itself to Eve's body.
Not even a single drop of blood remained out of place, as though the beheading had never happened.
A flying knife control ability?
After reviving in such a manner, a glint of excitement flashed in Eve's eyes, though her tone carried a hint of self-reflection: "I should've been more cautious. The fact that I don't have to worry about death makes me more prone to carelessness."
"…"
Morrow didn't respond. Instead, he threw the Poultry Scarlet Knife again.
Eve immediately entered combat mode, narrowly dodging the incoming blade.
She split her focus, tracking the knife's movement while once again closing the distance toward Morrow.
However, the moment she moved, the Poultry Scarlet Knife abruptly reversed its path midair.
Though Eve sensed the change, this time the knife moved at an astonishing speed, far too fast for her to evade.
Sshhk…
The Poultry Scarlet Knife sliced through Eve's silver-white hair and slender neck.
In an instant, strands of silver hair scattered like celestial petals, blood gushing as another head soared into the air.
Within her violently swaying vision, Eve once again caught sight of Morrow's expressionless face.
To this man, beheading someone seemed as effortless as swatting a mosquito.
Eve smiled, though inwardly puzzled… why had the knife suddenly become so much faster?
Unaware of the principles behind Gyo, the princess had no way of understanding the trick.
During the first beheading, Morrow had controlled the knife using the Tiger Head Nen.
Control meant restraint, so the knife's speed was relatively slower, but its angle was precise, allowing for a seamless follow-up strike that cleanly took Eve's head.
For the second beheading, Morrow still used the Tiger Head Nen to recall the Poultry Scarlet Knife, but this time, after flinging it back, he released his control entirely.
Freed from the Nen's restraint, the knife naturally accelerated.
Morrow raised his hand, catching the returning Poultry Scarlet Knife with ease.
At the same time, another dull thud echoed from the ground.
Eve's head had landed once more. Then the phenomenon of time reversal occurred once again.
—--
After Eve's "life" was restored, her excitement waned slightly as she began to contemplate more deeply.
The battle of Nen abilities…She wasn't entirely clueless, but her knowledge was indeed limited.
After the airship attack last year, the moment she was resurrected from death, she naturally awakened to Nen.
This miraculous experience and power ignited a deep fascination with "Nen" within her, often making it difficult to suppress her excitement.
It was truly strange.
Eve knew herself well, since childhood she had rarely felt emotions like excitement or anticipation toward anything.
She had always been like an observer, indifferently watching everything, including herself.
But upon encountering the power of Nen, it was as if she had found the meaning of "life."
Any phenomenon related to Nen, even the most mundane thought, would fill her with exhilaration.
Driven by this intense "desire," she yearned to learn and experience everything about Nen.
Thus, she had to avoid the price of "resurrection."
Under this overwhelming emotion and pressure, she awakened her Specialization ability… Life as Dust.
The ability wasn't complicated; it was born purely to transfer the cost.
Through this ability, she could shift the heavy toll imposed by the Harp Sonata onto anyone who had ever "acknowledged her."
This transference wasn't targeted but entirely random.
This was also the root cause of the frequent appearance of "victims" in Bright Pearl City.
After all, this was her domain, most citizens had acknowledged her status, actions, or words at some point.
However, this transference couldn't completely erase the cost of the Harp Sonata.
Over time, the number of "victims" might continue to rise.
If the last person who had acknowledged her fell to the Post-Mortem Nen, the cost would eventually return to her.
Therefore, when Morrow absorbed the Post-Mortem Will from the harp, he had effectively resolved this burden for her.
The reason she hadn't sought Morrow out herself was that the Post-Mortem Nen on the harp possessed a unique consciousness.
If she took any action detrimental to it, she would face its violent retaliation.
This was also why she had used "words" to keep Kanzai around earlier.
Everything was to increase the possibility…The possibility of using others to eliminate the Post-Mortem Nen on the harp!
—--
Now that the lingering threat was resolved, Eve finally had the "leisure" to truly explore the possibilities of Nen.
In this fabricated space, she would use every inch of her senses to immerse herself in the essence of Nen.
"Ha, ha…"
Eve's thoughts abruptly ceased as excitement surged uncontrollably, her breath turning into visible puffs of white.
She didn't know how to describe what she was feeling.
It was like a musician touching the finest composition, a gamer opening the greatest game, a gourmet tasting the most exquisite flavor...
Morrow noticed Eve's reaction.
This woman...
His eyelids lowered slightly, but what concerned him more was one thing.
In this space, death was trivial, and when releasing Nen, he felt no expenditure. Perhaps this was an opportunity to take advantage of...
Morrow raised his palm, focusing intensely as he systematically closed all other aura nodes across his body, channeling every ounce of his aura output into his hand.
He intended to release a Nen wave in the form of Ko!
One second, two seconds...
After holding this stance for over ten seconds, an intensely radiant and powerful aura finally coalesced in Morrow's palm.
Eve, still caught in her exhilarated state, merely glanced up and saw the breathtakingly beautiful Nen sphere glowing in Morrow's hand.
"Ah..."
Her eyes widened slowly, unable to fully take in the robust, dazzling orb of light.
The next instant.
That luminous sphere rapidly expanded in her vision.
In a split second, she felt the excruciating pain of her entire body being torn apart.
The sensation was fleeting, more like being pierced by a hundred needles simultaneously.
BOOM!
Eve, who had never been adept at manipulating aura, was instantly reduced to dust.