Sizzle.
The slash arrived abruptly, slamming heavily into Netero, who was in the midst of his mimicry stance.
The Chairman had barely steadied himself when he felt as if a mountain had smashed into his face.
With a loud bang, he flew backward, crashing straight into the ground and planting himself upside down like an onion.
"Good!"
In the Chairman's office, Maha sat up abruptly, staring excitedly at the TV. His sudden movement nearly scared Beans to death.
"What kind of fit is he throwing now?" Beans followed Maha's gaze. The Chairman, whom he relied on for help, was currently head-down in the earth, his feet sticking up in the air. The wooden clogs on his feet swayed back and forth in the wind. It looked rather pitiful.
'Is... is the Chairman going to be okay?'
Beans was speechless.
Just like the many candidates on the scene, as well as Buhara, Menchi, and Satotz, everyone was dumbfounded.
'Is the matter of the Chairman I admire most being sent flying by a single slash... actually real?'
sounds of gulping saliva echoed one after another. Menchi could not believe what she was seeing. She lifted her foot and rushed toward Netero, attempting to pull him out. Unexpectedly, she was stopped by a shout of "Don't come over." Unfortunately, the stubborn Gourmet Hunter refused to believe in heresy and continued her course.
One step, and she entered the range of Sean's slash. She was immediately struck by Sean's blade and sent flying. With a thud, Menchi landed buttocks-up, slamming her head into the ground and eating a mouthful of dirt.
"Brainless woman, who do you think you are?" Sean showed no intention of being chivalrous. He twirled the Kusanagi Sword in a beautiful arc and landed lightly on the ground.
The dignified Single-Star Gourmet Hunter never dreamed she would see the day she ate dirt. It was unknown if it was ironic or just sad. regardless, it was extremely embarrassing.
"Ohohoho. Is mud a delicacy too? If you wanted to eat it that much, you should have told me earlier."
A ruthless mockery hung on Hisoka's face, his eyes curving into crescents. That beatable expression was reflected in Buhara's eyes. If Satotz hadn't quietly held him back, he might have given Hisoka a big slap.
"Sigh. Menchi, your temper will be the death of you one day."
A faint, long sigh was heard. With a pop, Netero pulled himself out of the ground. He strolled over to Menchi, reached out to scoop her up, and tossed her out of the battle circle.
"Sumimasen..." Menchi's back was numb from the slash; she had learned her lesson the hard way.
She flipped in the air and landed steadily, bowing her head, afraid to look Netero in the eye. She hurriedly ran to the side to vomit.
Sounds of retching rang out continuously.
The candidates listened, looking at each other, feeling an unspeakable sense of satisfaction.
'Serves her right! Ruining someone else's future is like killing their parents. Teacher Ben An did a great job!'
However, by doing this, he had certainly offended the Hunter Association Chairman right to his face.
"Brat, when did you learn swordsmanship? It's quite sharp!"
Netero exercised his palm; he was unharmed. Although the slash from Hawkeye was sharp enough, Netero had not been defenseless. He had activated Ko in time to nullify the blade's edge.
So, he was the strongest human after all. A single slash was merely an itch to him.
Sean ran his fingers along the blade of the Kusanagi Sword toward the tip and chuckled. "Swordsmanship? Isn't that something anyone with hands can learn?"
"Old man, don't make a fuss about nothing."
Swish.
Backhandedly slashing at Netero again, Sean followed the blade, rushing toward the Chairman close behind the slash.
Netero glanced at Satotz, Buhara, and the candidates, laughing, "I'm warning you all, step back a bit. If you get caught in the crossfire, the Hunter Association won't be responsible."
Battles between top-tier powerhouses could not be measured by common sense. A single shockwave could cost an ordinary person their life.
Even without Satotz's reminder, no one would be foolish enough to drill into the battle circle.
Whoosh.
While Netero was speaking, the slash closed in on his face again.
The old man stood with his hands on his hips, unmoved, looking up at Sean with a smile. Power reaching five hundred thousand points suddenly erupted. He knocked the slash away with a punch, his momentum undiminished as he hammered toward Sean's chest.
"I almost forgot. There are quite a few great swordsmen in Pirate King. This slash... should belong to that Hawkeye Mihawk."
During the Summit War, that kid who nearly split Diamond Jozu in half with a single strike had left a deep impression on Netero.
Sean pursed his lips noncommittally. He knew he couldn't hide it from Netero's eyes. gazing past the Chairman to the space behind him, he said indifferently, "Ice Dragon, how long do you plan to sleep?"
Roar.
The Ice Dragon, which had previously been slammed into a daze, recovered its strength. It suddenly drilled out from underground, biting toward Netero.
A muffled pop was heard. Sean's physique, already exaggerated at nearly three meters, suddenly swelled another size. A layer of red fluorescence could be seen slowly seeping from his body. That was the manifestation of overflowing vitality being fully activated.
"Paper Art: Fighting Form!"
Ignoring his own volume and concentrating his attributes on a single point. In the Battle of Enies Lobby years ago, Rob Lucci of the Leopard form used this move to raise his agility stats to the limit, transforming into a true cheetah.
Unlike him, what Sean increased was his strength.
The young man brushed past Netero's fist wind, stomping his feet to create a sonic boom. He then dove straight down, fast as lightning, thrusting straight at Netero's face.
That speed was impossible to capture with the naked eye. Candidates led by Hanzo, Bourbon, Cherry, Ponzu, and Geretta could only see a black thunderbolt flash by. The next moment, he was already in front of Netero.
"What exaggerated speed! Why can't I see anything?"
Holding their breath, the candidates despaired when they imagined facing such speed.
If that stab were aimed at them, they would all be dead in less than 0.1 seconds.
But it wasn't just them. Buhara and Satotz both touched their chests, falling into self-doubt. They couldn't help but wonder: if that sword stabbed at them... could they block it?
No one gave them an answer, but a familiar perverted laugh provided a reference.
"Ohohoho. Dying from that slash would be a form of enjoyment."
'Ah, as expected of my Ben An. You are not only tempting, but you also have thorns.' Hisoka craned his neck and grabbed Illumi's arm. "Help me, I can't take it anymore."
'Hmm... I can see that. You've been incontinent a lot lately.' Illumi expressionlessly gave Hisoka a big slap.
He didn't use needles; that was out of love. Otherwise, seeing this change of heart and bootlicking appearance, Illumi wouldn't feel satisfied even if he killed him ten times.
'However... this bastard has actually grown to the point where he can fight Netero.'
Illumi felt a blockage in his heart. Watching Sean and Netero fight was even more uncomfortable than being completely crushed by Sean himself. He couldn't help but deliver another slap to Hisoka with a smack.
Hisoka was silent.
'I think one slap was enough.'
Illumi replied, 'No, one isn't enough. Two is just right. Look, aren't you speaking normally now?'
'What you said makes so much sense.' Hisoka's mouth twitched slightly. 'I'll kill you later.'
Snap!
Suddenly, a heavy sound exploded, forcing Hisoka and Illumi to frown and look over.
Sean's downward thrust happened in a flash. Just as it was about to pierce Netero's chest, Netero brought his hands together.
With a snap, he clamped the blade between his palms.
The name "Guanyin" was not given in vain.
"Hohoho. Almost let you succeed there, brat."
Netero kicked the Ice Dragon over while firmly clamping Sean's Kusanagi Sword. The straight blade trembled violently at the tip.
It seemed about to break free from Sean's control. Unexpectedly, all of this was merely an illusion.
"I don't need to remind you specifically, Kusanagi Sword."
"You should have some idea in your heart when to extend."
Sean glanced over indifferently. With a swish, the Kusanagi Sword suddenly extended, thrusting toward Netero.
Netero narrowed his eyes. "I've been guarding against this move for a long time, stinky brat."
Fortunately, he tilted his head and dodged the strike from the Kusanagi Sword. Unfortunately, the sword couldn't turn corners. Otherwise, it might have truly given Netero a "big surprise."
However... a miss was a miss. Sean shook his head and sighed, "This is why I really hate you old geezers sometimes. Since that's the case..."
"Shinra Tensei!"