"Spirit Embryo… a fragment of a Spirit…"
Everyone murmured the name softly, eyes fixed on the projection of that fetus-like creature, its gaze overflowing with malice.
Yes—this was no divine being. It was a monster.
To Finn and the others, the Spirit Embryo was something entirely unlike the Spirits they knew.
"Tsuna, what do we need to be careful about?" Finn asked, pointing toward the projection. "I mean this Spirit Embryo in particular."
"What you need to pay attention to," Tsuna replied, "is its unique trait—it has a high degree of corrosiveness toward both monsters and humans."
With a snap of his fingers, the image shifted. The projection now showed the Spirit Embryo infecting a stone giant.
They watched as the translucent membrane surrounding the embryo ruptured. The moment it touched the stone giant, its body sank in like water being absorbed into the rock. Veins spread rapidly from the point of contact, merging the Spirit Embryo into the stone giant's body—and soon, the giant began to change.
The once roughly shaped form grew more defined, gradually taking on a feminine outline.
"When the Spirit Embryo completes its corrosion," Tsuna explained, "it manifests a form resembling its original Spirit nature from within the host. Of course, the creature it corrodes also affects that external appearance."
He paused, his tone turning grave.
"But there's something even more dangerous—it can infect humans too. Its first target was me. If it had succeeded, I would've been completely consumed, losing all sense of self. That's what everyone needs to remember. If you see it lunge toward someone, don't touch it. Its corrosion works on all living things."
Tsuna's emphasis on "corrosion" carried weight. The thing's invasive power was terrifying—its speed, even more so. Once it made contact, escape was almost impossible.
"That said," he continued, "you don't have to panic. It's slow. Unless you're immobilized, it's not easy for it to reach you."
"The only rule is simple—don't touch it."
"Of course," he added, "that's not the real issue. The real problem is that the Spirits hidden in the Dungeon have started working with the Dark Faction."
That statement alone chilled everyone present.
"The Spirits collaborating with the Dark Faction's Gods… that's the real threat," Finn said grimly, eyes locked on the projection of the Spirit Embryo. He raised his hand, pointing at the image.
"Tsuna, how much damage can something like this cause?"
"The one I faced was at least stronger than a normal Level 3—though not quite a Level 4," Tsuna answered after a moment's thought.
"But the one I encountered had a symbiotic relationship with the Spirit Embryo. More accurately, that Enhanced Species seemed to be part of the Dark Faction's plan to infiltrate our Expedition, looking for someone unfamiliar among us. It wasn't particularly strong, so it's possible there are more powerful Spirit Embryos out there."
He pointed at himself.
"The Dark Faction suffered heavy losses against me before. Now, they're trying to find and eliminate me for good."
That much was obvious to everyone. The Dark Faction's methods hadn't changed in the slightest over the years. Finn's voice hardened as he stated their intent plainly.
"Those bastards…"
Tione clenched her fists, while Tiona's expression darkened.
"Tione, Tiona—calm down."
Tsuna stepped forward and took both their hands, his presence steadying their restless emotions. The sisters took a breath, regaining control—though they held tightly to his hands, unable to hide their worry.
"The Dark Faction just suffered two defeats," Tsuna continued. "One against Astraea, and one against you two. Their current losses mean they won't act rashly anytime soon. This time, instead of moving directly, they used a Spirit to attack me. That alone shows how weakened they are."
"To wipe out the Dark Faction's main force completely," he went on, "we need to rip them out from the roots. Since they're collaborating with Spirits, and both of their recent ambushes were staged inside the Dungeon, it's clear their hidden bases must be there."
"Finn, Gareth," Tsuna said, turning to them, "last time you went to the Great Falls without weapons. They must've thought you were trying to lure them out—that's why they stayed hidden. The reason for that…"
"The secret entrance concealed behind the Great Falls," Finn interjected.
"Exactly. The Great Falls must hide a passage. And there are likely more, deeper still—like the ambush Astraea's girls faced in the Large Tree Labyrinth. The Dark Faction has been digging tunnels beneath the Dungeon for years. I'm sure their network is far more extensive than we imagine."
"If we want to wipe them out for good, we have to strike at these hidden access points connected to the Dungeon."
"But of course," Tsuna added, "considering how long they've been operating down there, those places will be filled with traps. Charging in recklessly would be suicide."
He wanted nothing more than to launch a full-scale purge against them, but their current strength and preparation were still insufficient.
To annihilate the Dark Faction, they'd need to seal off every route of escape and crush them in one strike—while ensuring their own safety against retaliation.
A detailed investigation would be essential.
The purge had to be total. Once they acted, they needed to break the Dark Faction's spine completely—so that they'd never recover, never strike back.
"Besides requesting official support, we'll also need to gather strength," Tsuna said, his eyes sharp as he met Finn's gaze.
"If we're going to conduct a full annihilation, we'll need coordinated strikes across multiple fronts. I can't do that alone."
"Annihilation war… yeah, that's the best approach," Finn agreed with a nod.
Tsuna's plan was the right one. Against a coalition of the Dark Faction and corrupted Spirits, they couldn't afford to leave even a single survivor. Once they identified every entrance to their hideouts, they'd hit all of them at once—exterminate them entirely.
"We'll have to fine-tune the details," Finn added, "but I agree with your direction. It's the right path."
Both men understood: accumulating strength and pinpointing the Dark Faction's hideouts would take time.
"Tsuna," Finn asked, "did you handle everything outside?"
"Yeah. No problem. The Enhanced Species and the Spirit Embryo are both dealt with. The Dark Faction won't notice a thing."
"Good."
Having decided on their course, Finn knew what came next. They would strike hard and without warning—one perfect blow before the enemy ever realized it was coming. No chance for the Dark Faction or the Spirits to fight back.