And just like that, the world was red. The only thing he could see in front of him was Machi, the person who played a part in tearing his entire world apart.

He remembered telling Erza to go on ahead but he couldn't remember what exactly he said to her. She most definitely saw his Scarlet Eyes but at that moment, nothing like that mattered.

Kurapika had no idea what Machi was doing in this world but he didn't care. It was time to end this. Even if he had to have more blood on his hands, he was going to take the life of one more Spider. The chains on his hand clinked together, ready for battle.

Seeing the newest enemy of the Spider had come as a shock to Machi but she had learnt to be prepared for any situation. Getting out of this situation would be child's play. She smirked.

"So you really think you can take me on in a one on one? You probably already know this from Paku's sacrifice, but the Spider knows all your weaknesses. Your tricks won't work anymore."

Kurapika knew that but he hid his disappointment well. Besides...

"You're forgetting your own weakness." he said. "I chained your leader's heart. You can't kill me. Right now, you're probably trying to find a way to defeat me without killing me. But I on the other hand..."

Kurapika held up his chains almost like a knife, ready to cut through anything.

"... won't stop at anything to send you to the other side."

In one swift motion, his blue tabard was on the floor. It was time to fight.

Kurapika had to think. Machi would be on full alert and most definitely had Gyo activated. He wouldn't be able to use In on his Chain Jail and surprise her like he did with Uvogin.

Machi sighed. "If you think that not being able to kill you is a weakness, think again." She then smiled. "I think you should have been paying more attention before, while I was talking."

Suddenly, something appeared around Kurapika's right arm. It was one of Machi's threads! "Ahh!" he grunted, as the hold of the threads became tighter.

"You should have had Gyo activated. I can also use In on my Nen. My threads are strong enough to cut of limbs. Getting rid of your chain hand will be more then enough to defeat you." Machi said casually.

"Emperor Time."

Machhi's eyes widened.

The pull of her thread stopped and unraveled of Kurapika arm. It stopped in midair, in front of Kurapika.

"If you know everything about me, then you should know that Emperor Time allows me to have full mastery over every category. That includes Manipulation." His eyes became serious. "Controlling your threads is nothing. Don't waste my time."

He took out the chain attached to his thumb finger. "Holy Chain" The chain immediately cured the huge cut on his arm.

The thread suddenly made a beeline in Machi's direction. Machi quickly took control of it herself. She hadn't been expecting this. It was a good thing that...

Realizing his mistake, Kurapika activated Gyo and realized that he was surrounded by more of Machi's thread shrouded with In. To Machi's shock, he sent them all at her. It was Machi's quick reflexes that allowed her to control them once again.

This fight was at a deadlock. The only thing Machi could do now...

Was send more threads. That was her Nen ability after all. No matter how much mastery Kurapika had over Manipulation, she would prevail at the end.

For the next few minutes, the fight was like a tug of war. Machi was quick with her threads, looking for openings in Kurapika's defense. Kurapika was busy, stopping all the threads and reflecting them back at her.

And through all of it, Kurapika's mind was busy. He would keep on dodging and controlling her threads while looking for an opening in Machi's defense. Yes, keep your eyes open. Her focus is on her Nen threads and trying to attack me. Wait until you find an opening. And then, even at the smallest opportunity...

The minute Machi turned around, leaving her side open just for a second, Kurapika singled in and punched her in the face with an Enhanced fist.

Machi landed against the wall. When she opened her eyes, she was bound up by the originally concealed chains of Kurapika's chain jail. She had thought she had avoided all of them using Gyo but she must have broken it halfway through the battle!

Kurapika walked up to her. Machi could almost see her life flash through his Scarlet Eyes. Kurapika took out the Judgement Chain.

"I could do the same thing I did to you leader and prevent you from using Nen. Or..."

Kurapika angrily took out his wooden swords. "Maybe I'll just skip it and kill you right away."

If someone had walked into that room at that moment, they would have been met with pin drop silence and a menacing aura in the air, enough to make someone flee immediately...

A silence soon interrupted by a fit of laughter.

"Wha- Why are you laughing!?" Kurapika demanded.

"Because..." Machi said, smiling. "I think I've figured out why you're here."

She sighed. "I was never in danger in the first place. Because it looks like we're here for the same thing."

"And what would that be!?" Kurapika asked. Where was she going with this?

"The power source."

Kurapika's eyes widened and Machi smirked. "I was right. But since it looks like you're going to kill me anyway, I might as well not say anything more than that."

The choice Machi was presenting was plain and simple. Kurapika didn't have time for this. But what if her information was important? Kurapika quickly shot the Judgement Chain into her heart, Machi giving a small gasp.

"If anything you say from now is a lie, you die."

Machi shrugged. "Fine with me. However..."

Her eyes went dangerous. "As you probably figured out with Uvo, we would rather die than expose the secrets of the Spider. So choose your questions wisely."

Kurapika was unshaken. "You were talking about the power source. Explain."

Machi began talking. "I came to this world because I heard that there was a special source of power that had been found in special devices in our world. Naturally, I wanted to steal it. So I stole one of those machines, came to this world, and joined this guild."

"Anyways... tonight was the night I was supposed to abandon this guild. I found the power source and took a good amount of it using a storing lacrima. My job is done. However, in order to prevent the other guild members from discovering that the power source had been tampered with, I hid it in a different location. You know what that means, right?"

Kurapika's couldn't hide the surprise on his face at the realization. Machi nodded. "The pathways I assume you and your friends are taking do not lead to the power source anymore. And soon, once the higher ups realize this base has been invaded, they will send reinforcements. So... since I want to leave this place right now and you probably want to reach the remaining power source as soon as possible, I propose a deal."

"I will attach my thread to the power source and to you. It will lead you to the hiding spot. In return, you let me go and I make my escape."

"Of course, you could just kill me now and try to find the source yourself but how long will that take? You don't have much time before reinforcements are sent and I assume you and your friends want to be in here for as limited time as possible. And I assure you that I haven't hidden it in a very easy spot. How would you feel if you had an easy solution right in front of you and you let go of it for your revenge?"

Kurapika couldn't believe it. Another roadblock. Machi wasn't dead so she was definitely telling the truth.

He could kill her right now and be done with it. He could use Warren to relay Machi's information to everyone else. But how would they find the power source? They were on the clock now. Would he really make things more difficult for everyone? For Gon, Killua, Leorio...

Kurapika looked at his right hand, where the emblem was a burning reminder. No, not just those three. There were more people he had to think about.

In the end, the choice was simple. His revenge, or his friends?

His revenge... or his friends?

And just like that, the choice was so easy. It didn't matter what he'd been through or how much vengeance he carried.

Friends always came first.

He gritted his teeth. "Okay, I accept your deal. Show me the way to the power source."

Soon, a thread was attached to Kurapika's finger. He would just have to follow it and reach the hiding spot.

Taking advantage of the Judgement Chain still in Machi's heart, Kurapika said. "Do not tell anybody in the Troupe about meeting me or anything we discussed." He removed his Chain Jail.

Machi slowly got up. "That's a small price to pay so I accept." She began to go the opposite direction, back to the entrance.

"Wait."

Kurapika had remembered something important. He walked up to Machi and put his Dowsing Chain in front of her.

"What do you know about the whereabouts of the Scarlet Eyes?"