Chapter 441: Hina, The Barrier Maker
"Shinko-sama, are you worried?" a bear-like Mink Tribe standing next to Shinko asked and said in a comforting tone, "Although the blood leech is very powerful, that person is also a terrifying gem-level double star hunter, and the legendary big shots are also here."
"Hahaha, do not worry, Barr!" Shinko replied.
He looked at his companion, who seemed concerned for him, and laughed heartily.
"I am not worried about anything. How could Zunesha’s mighty body collapse so easily?" he said.
His gaze turned toward the luxurious ships not far away.
Aboard one was a crown-level hunter possessing demi-god-level combat power.
Nozomi, known as Flower Queen, was one of two demi-god-level combatants in the Corti Kingdom.
The other was Darlene, the saint of the Holy Light Religion.
For Shinko, with a demi-god like Nozomi taking action, her formidable strength would surely force even the gluttonous pure demon Blood Leech to yield.
His sole concern was whether they could eliminate the Blood Leech.
If not, once the holy hunters departed, would Zunesha face danger again?
Such matters could not be hastened.
He could only respond to the situation as it unfolded, although Holy Knight Hina’s abilities were impressive. As a barrier user, perhaps the outcome would not be as grim as he feared.
Staring at the colossal Zunesha in the distance, Shinko sank into thought.
His mind drifted involuntarily, slipping into memories.
As hours went by, the two ships drew nearer to Zunesha.
At last, they reached the spot indicated by the Mink Tribe, beside the right hind leg.
"Wonderful, Lord Shinko has arrived!" many Mink Tribe members shouted.
In this sea region, their excitement surged as they watched the two ships approach.
Higher-ranking Mink Tribe members, especially, recognized the two flags on one ship—those of the Corti Kingdom, the Land of Miracles, and the Hunter Association.
This filled them with enthusiasm.
They had heard of the renowned Holy Wings, the official hunter group of the Hunter Association.
Residing atop Zunesha, their access to information was limited.
Zunesha wandered without a fixed home, never lingering in one place.
Its immense height discouraged even news birds, which rarely flew to such altitudes.
To ascend, birds relied on Zunesha’s strength, resting along the way, a journey left on luck.
Other methods existed, but they were highly cumbersome.
However, Shinko’s return had changed things.
He left behind Den Den Mushi capable of transmitting faxes.
Through Mink Tribe members who followed Shinko, news reached them, making it easier to stay informed about the outside world.
This allowed the Mink Tribe, in an era of great change, to understand more clearly and avoid partial ignorance.
"Is that the Blood Leech, one of the five great gluttonous disasters of the world?" Shinko asked.
Aboard the Yamata Sect’s ship, Shinko took a deep breath and gazed solemnly at the monster clinging to Zunesha.
He did not greet his fellow tribesmen or rush to confront the monster.
He knew his own limits.
This is due to the self-confidence accumulated after being severely beaten by the phantom beasts on the island called Phantom Beast Island.
His self-awareness was his greatest asset, and he held firm belief in it.
Thus, facing a globally infamous monster, he had no intention of humiliating himself.
The prudent choice was to leave such matters to the Hunter Association’s experts.
He approached the ship’s guardrail and looked at the leading woman in his sight and said, "I entrust this commission to you, Nozomi-sama."
Nozomi, on the other ship, nodded and smiled gently.
Hina, standing beside her, looked displeased.
"Hey, you tiger, this is clearly my commission!" she protested.
"Enough, please say less!" Nozomi said, tapping Hina’s head.
"You may act now. I will watch from the side. Be careful."
Hina clutched her head, muttering as she stepped forward.
"Nozomi, please do not hit my head, or I will not grow taller." she grumbled.
"Also, this bug is so fat and big. It is a bit disgusting."
Hina gazed at the Blood Leech, over twenty meters long, and felt a wave of disgust.
Though its surface was not slimy, its bloated, insect-like form unsettled her.
For a girl, it was natural to reject such a creature’s appearance, even to express hatred for it.
As Hina voiced her complaints, the Blood Leech, perched on Zunesha’s leg, halted its feeding.
It sensed a powerful aura approaching.
The red-striped areas on its body glistened faintly.
These red lines were its sensory organs, akin to human eyes.
Though it resembled a leech, it was no mere creature but a fearsome pure demon of gluttony.
The Blood Leech grew restless.
The blood fluctuations from the two humans on the ship below felt potent, and it craved such rich blood.
There was also an animal, an appealing addition.
Yet, despite its gluttonous desires, the Blood Leech retained reason.
It approached the humans cautiously, recalling a past encounter on land.
Soon after venturing ashore, it was nearly killed by a beige-haired woman.
It might not have understood her words, but it knew such beings were formidable.
It decided to test them, prepared to retreat if they proved too difficult.
With the vast granary beneath it, it had no shortage of food.
"Look how great Hina is!" Hina exclaimed.
While the Blood Leech schemed, Hina, on the ship below, took action.
She shook her pink hair and raised a slender hand.
A circular white light enveloped the Blood Leech’s entire body.
This forced it to detach from Zunesha, stripped from its hold.
"Done!" Hina declared.
She smiled brightly, gazing at the spherical barrier suspended in mid-air, containing the confused Blood Leech.
This was her ability, which she called the Hina Barrier.
It could restrain enemies or shield herself, a versatile power.
This ability made Hina the guardian among the Twelve Holy Knights, tasked with overseeing Wamy Prison as its warden.
Although she was an unreliable warden, she often wandered off, leaving the prison unguarded.
"Do not be careless, Hina." Nozomi warned.
Seeing Hina act as if the task was complete, Nozomi spoke from behind her.
Hina’s barrier was exceptionally strong.
Below demi-god-level combat power, breaking it without potent attacks was nearly impossible. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel※fire.net
Against Hina, enemies could only pursue attrition, draining the barrier’s energy with relentless assaults.
This turned battles into endurance contests.
When Holy Knights gained abilities, their physical and mental attributes grew rapidly alongside their powers.
Mental gains were the most significant, followed by stamina.
Holy Knight abilities relied primarily on mental attributes, ensuring their endurance rivaled that of monsters.
However, the Blood Leech was unique, a pure demon species.
Pure demons, part of the demon clan, possessed powers that countered one another.
This had been confirmed through past operations and studies.