'My body won't move.' I couldn't even react to the sudden abnormality. Did it have something to do with the mysterious device that had appeared on Six's body?
'This phenomenon is likely caused by some kind of Nen ability. It's a unique technique called "Hatsu," which is on a different level from standard abilities like physical enhancement. However, while Six's appearance has changed, it wasn't me who used Hatsu. At least, I have no recollection of doing so.'
"Guh... what on earth is..."
"Nuoooo... My body...!"
I wasn't the only one affected by this ability. Just as I thought Blade and Velvet had begun to suffer, they collapsed on the spot.
The two of them, who had been fine just a moment ago, were now at death's door. Abnormality had struck their bodies as well. Black, bruise-like markings were appearing all over their skin. It was easy to tell on the shirtless Blade. Velvet was showing the same symptoms on her face.
"Is this all you've got!"
Blade forced himself up. However, it was clear at a glance that he was pushing himself too hard. He remained in a kneeling position, unable to move properly from the spot. Still, compared to Velvet, who lay prostrate and motionless, he seemed to have some strength left.
"Noah, Six! Can you hear me! This is a "Hatsu" rampage! Don't lose yourselves! Calm your hearts!"
I had heard that Hatsu is normally a technique one creates for themselves after sufficiently mastering the other Four Major Principles, but in rare cases, some learn it unconsciously without any training. They say it only happens to those with immense talent, but it was a possibility. Noah Heliodor had been active as a top iTuber and had shown glimpses of Nen ability.
'An ability created without awareness carries the danger of producing reckless effects or restrictions because the user doesn't understand its full scope. For someone who has just awakened to Nen, their control would be all the more unstable.'
"Mamaaaaa!"
No black bruise symptoms could be seen on Noah's body. He was crying out frantically, but he didn't seem to have any physical abnormalities. If this was his ability, he might not even realize what he was doing. It didn't seem like he was using his power with malice to trap us, but the resulting situation was dire.
With the crazed audience members swarming toward us, even if they were just a crowd of ordinary people, we weren't in a state to deal with them properly. However, this worst-case scenario fell as a disaster upon the approaching audience as well.
The same effect that hit Blade and the others appeared on the audience members once they reached a certain distance. I could deduce that the activation condition for this ability was based on distance. It seemed to trigger symptoms in those near Noah.
Because of this, the audience couldn't get any closer, but that distance was only about ten meters. And yet, they still had a means to attack us from that range. With tranquilizer guns, they could attack without approaching.
Normally, we could easily block such needles with the defense heightened by "Ten," but now both Blade and Velvet were battered. Their Ten didn't have the brilliance it had earlier. If a needle hit a bad spot, the attack might get through. With this many opponents, it was only a matter of time before we were out.
I had to stop Noah's rampage somehow, or Blade and the others would be put to sleep. After that, I didn't know what would happen to me. Noah was acting and speaking strangely, as if he were a different person.
"Ah, Mama...! Inhale, exhale...! It really is Mama's scent! I knew it, I've thought so from the moment I saw you. You're Mama's reincarnation! It's like a dream... to be with Mama like this again..."
One moment he was trembling in fear, and the next he was laughing happily, clinging to me as if seeking affection. While burying his face in Six's chest, he repeatedly called out for Mama. It seemed he was overlapping Six with his mother. You'd think the age difference would make it obvious.
'I think his ability generates a "disease" in the people around him. The symptoms of this disease are extremely severe; black bruises form all over the body, and it's enough to render even Nen users unable to act. And the focal point of this ability is likely Six. The area of effect is a ten-meter radius centered on Six.'
As the one who activated the ability, Noah was naturally not affected by the disease, but Six's body showed no symptoms either. It was a harmless ability toward Six. The various angel-like devices might represent the symbols of his ability, but I didn't feel any special effect from them themselves. They were just for show.
However, Six's freedom of movement had been lost. At first, I suspected body manipulation through a Manipulator ability, but I soon discovered the cause. His ability only causes disease in "living things" around him, excluding himself and Six.
In other words, even something that isn't human can fall ill. In fact, my main body—my insect body—was being assaulted by abnormalities. Even now, I was being tormented by pain so intense I felt like I might lose consciousness. My usual self would have passed out long ago. No wonder Blade and the others couldn't move. I was experiencing that agony firsthand.
'The only reason I can think clearly like this now is thanks to the sense acceleration I entered for combat. I can think as if my consciousness is in a different place from my body, but conversely, I feel like my connection to the body has become extremely thin. I naturally cannot move my main body, and I'm even struggling with the operation of Six, which I should normally be able to do unconsciously.'
'There is a way to break this situation. One thing that comes to mind is using the "Power of Salvation." With the single determination of wanting to save someone, one can obtain power that defies common sense. With that overwhelming violence, there's a possibility I could overturn this situation. However, it's not an ability so convenient that I'd want to use it lightly.'
'Once I enter that state, all control is lost. The "me" inside me spoke of it as if it were a power of justice, but I doubt whether that is the truth. Once activated, it might not stop until everyone here is slaughtered. I couldn't predict what would happen.'
'And that terrifying sensation I felt when I activated that ability, as if I were ceasing to be myself. I never wanted to taste that again. I can endure physical pain, and if it becomes unbearable, I can let go of my consciousness. But that pain felt like it was destroying my very soul. I was allowed neither to endure nor to escape.'
"Mama, I worked hard... I became a great singer just like you, Mama. So praise me, come on, praise me, Mama!"
'I want to avoid using that power. Isn't there some way to stop Noah's rampage? I'll try one more time to see if I can move Six's body.'
I concentrated all my nerves and willed it intensely. My arm moved, barely. But I didn't have enough strength to attack Noah and make the ability stop. Placing a hand on top of the head of the clinging Noah was the best I could do.
"No... ah..."
I called his name. No words followed. At this rate, it didn't seem like I could stop Noah at all. Or so I thought.
"...Haha... ha..."
I had only called his name. But with that one word, his attitude changed dramatically. His eyes, which had been unfocused until then, were now fixed on Six. As if he finally understood who was there.
"Sorry, I actually knew... that doing this wouldn't let me see Mama again..."
The angel devices attached to Six vanished. The ability must have been deactivated, as the pain in my main body disappeared instantly. Blade returned to normal and set about dealing with the swarming audience.
"But, I thought that maybe if there really was a mysterious power called Nen, I might be able to meet her again. No matter how much I prayed to God, it never came true, but just once more... I thought that, but the ability I got was completely different from what I wanted. It's pathetic..."
Noah had regained his composure. He laughed quietly, as if mocking himself. That smile lacked the madness from moments ago.
"Actually, deep in my heart, I understood, but there was a part of me that couldn't admit it until the end. Maybe that's why such a terrible ability was created. But I feel like I've finally gotten over it. It's thanks to you."
He thanked me. I didn't understand even half the meaning of those words. But there was certainly something I did understand. Should I tell him?
That behind him, Velvet was standing like a guardian deity, staring this way with an absolute zero gaze.
"Are you finished with your talk with your beloved Mama?"
An aura carrying a chill approached, crawling along the ground. It wasn't a metaphor; it was truly cold. Frost was forming at her feet. Abilities that give special properties to aura are classified as Transmutation. In this case, it looked like she was changing her aura into cold air. 'Wasn't she a "Controversial iTuber"?'
Noah tried to look back, but Velvet's hand grabbed the scruff of his neck before he could.
"Cold!? Gack!"
"I wonder why you're trying to end this as if it were a nice story all on your own? Do you have any excuse for us, who were caught up in your miserable special fetish?"
"Guh... gah... I can't... breathe...!"
"None? Then fine."
Velvet held Noah up by the neck with a single hand. Her strength was extraordinary, but the one being held was hanging without hurting his neck, so I suppose even a novice is still a Nen user.
"Oh right, on another note, if you love your mama that much, it seems a crowd of fans who are eager to become your mama are swarming right over there."
"LORD NOAHHHHHHH!!"
The female fans of Noah crowding with bloodshot eyes—for some reason, I also saw the figure of a burly man wearing makeup in the front row—were waiting like hungry beasts eyeing their prey, drooling. None of them were sane.
Noah looked at me desperately. He was probably asking for help, but I gave him a thumbs-up to mean 'do your best.'
"Please, go and give them plenty of fan service. You mother-complex brat prince."
Velvet hurled Noah. He landed perfectly as a projectile in the crowd of fans. It became a scene of carnage, like throwing raw meat into a pond inhabited by a large number of crocodiles.
"HELP ME, MAMAAAAAAAA!!"
'He had it coming.'