Fairy Tail: Igneel's eldest son in Anime Multiverse Chapter 494 494: All Sides Take Action

The young man's power brought back memories for Charles of his true identity: Kaname Hagiri, a Demon World envoy bearing the codename Sniper.

Kaname Hagiri's power, known as the Death Mark Cross, was precisely the mark appearing on Charles's chest; it enabled him to guide objects with pinpoint accuracy toward that mark.

Regrettably, even though Kaname Hagiri struck Charles, the attack still counted as a failure.

Hagiri at last comprehended why Sensui had cautioned them upon his return that encountering Charles meant steering clear at all costs.

Yet for him, escape was now impossible!

Hagiri emptied his pockets of every throwable item and launched them all toward Charles, then spun around and bolted without a second thought.

Among the Demon World envoys, aside from Itsuki who had joined from the beginning, Shinobu Sensui placed the greatest trust in Hagiri for both his steady demeanor and exceptional skills.

He had picked this location in advance, ideal for a quick getaway. Hagiri vaulted onto a red motorcycle nearby and fired it up without delay.

The engine roared just once, but before the wheels could spin, the entire bike shattered right there.

Hagiri clutched the bike's handlebars, a drop of cold sweat sliding down his brow.

A round crater marred the ground, faint trails of blue smoke rising from its depths.

As a skilled sniper, Hagiri possessed sharp dynamic vision, allowing him to faintly discern the events.

Moments ago, an object had torn through the motorcycle at blinding speed, causing the frame to explode apart before crashing into the earth.

If his eyes didn't deceive him, that supersonic projectile was none other than the glass marble he himself had flung.

In an instant, Charles had demolished every incoming object, seized the final glass marble, and hurled it right back.

Hagiri could infuse spiritual power into something as simple as a rubber eraser to strike with sniper bullet force. Yet replicating Charles's effortless toss would demand every ounce of his spiritual power.

Letting the handlebars fall, Hagiri whirled to confront Charles once more.

Initially, Hagiri had lamented his impulsiveness, believing better preparation might have led to victory.

Now he realized defeat was inevitable; his opponent could end him whenever desired.

Nevertheless, surrender wasn't in his nature.

With a quick wrist flick, a pistol emerged from his sleeve. But before he could lift it to shoot, Charles stood before him.

"The flow of your spiritual power is way too noticeable. For a true sneak attack, concealing your killing intent isn't nearly enough!"

While Charles delivered his lesson, Hagiri experienced a stabbing pain on his neck's side, and blackness engulfed his sight.

Seizing Hagiri and ensuring no witnesses remained, Charles soared skyward.

Returning to the makeshift camp, Charles promptly delved into examining Hagiri.

Charles wasn't some deranged scientist; his "study" involved using magic to probe Hagiri's power.

Similar to Hagiri, other humans' awakened abilities manifested as domains, generating rule-based effects in an area around the user.

Even with just Hagiri as his subject, Charles derived several key insights.

True to Charles's suspicions, Hagiri harbored innate potential as a spiritual power user, essential for such an awakening.

Typically, individuals like him could learn to wield spiritual power through guidance and practice, but the trigger for their ability awakening without training was the miasma flooding from the Demon World Tunnel into the Human World.

Regular folk can't detect Demon World miasma whatsoever, unlike those with dormant spiritual power.

To them, the miasma acts like an invading toxin; their inner spiritual power creates a domain to drive it out.

Spiritual power originates from the human soul, and variations in personality and mindset shape the unique abilities within that domain.

The soul truly remains the greatest enigma; mere ordinary humans suddenly gaining rule-like powers.

Yet this direct conversion of soul power into a domain allowed Charles to observe soul energy more directly, deepening his comprehension of spells he once knew only superficially.

As Charles pursued his analysis, the rest stayed busy too.

Devil's Cave stood as a notorious suicide spot in Mushiyori City.

The artificial link between Human World and Demon World, the Demon World Tunnel, lay here—the very site Sensui intended for opening the gateway.

With the Dark Tournament drawing eyes away, including Koenma's, the initial phases of expanding the Demon World gateway advanced without hitch.

Merely three days separated them from the climactic fourth phase.

A striking man sat in lotus position by the hyperspace tear, channeling demonic energy to widen the Demon World Tunnel.

No human, he was a demon of rare breed, one capable of manipulating hyperspace and its inhabitants.

Only such a power could anchor the ritual to expand the Demon World Tunnel.

He was Sensui's earliest follower, Itsuki, the Gatekeeper.

Itsuki's green locks flowed freely, swaying amid the ceaseless Demon World miasma spilling from the hyperspace crack.

Hands tucked in pockets, Sensui remarked, "Low-level demons are slipping into the Human World via the Demon World Tunnel already. The fourth stage nears completion. Excellent job, Itsuki."

Itsuki merely shook his head—no words needed between them.

Suddenly, one of the four shadowy figures in the cave spoke up: "Sniper's been gone a long time, hasn't he?"

Sensui's face hardened as he stated, "The fourth stage approaches completion, requiring an ability user who shatters dimensions.

"From what I know, only one matches: Kazuma Kuwabara from Team Urameshi, Dark Tournament champs.

"I dispatched Sniper to scout intel on Kuwabara, but no sign of him. Trouble's afoot."

Sensui never imagined Hagiri crossing paths with Charles and charging in blindly; he assumed Yusuke Urameshi's crew had intercepted him.

"The present Spirit World Detective proves tougher than expected, yet nothing halts our plans.

"Prepare yourselves. We move as one to claim the last piece we need."

At the same time, Yusuke Urameshi and his team reached Mushiyori City.

Though they claimed Dark Tournament victory, Yusuke avoided the original story's complacency that needed Genkai's tests to snap him out of it.

This win felt like a stain to Yusuke, since he hadn't beaten Younger Toguro through pure personal might.

Post-return, he intensified training relentlessly, vowing inwardly to rematch Charles and validate his worth.

On this Koenma mission, beyond Human World salvation, he sought the resolve Charles mentioned.

True to canon, ability-awakened youths like sensitivity-plagued Kuwabara approached Genkai for aid.

Genkai led them to link up with Yusuke, heading together to Mushiyori City.

In Spirit World, the Demon World Tunnel's slow expansion caught Koenma's eye.

He harbored suspicions about the culprit's identity sans evidence, so he prioritized probing the tunnel's circumstances.

Thus, every faction converged on the Demon World Tunnel, collision imminent.

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