Chapter 101: Escape
The battle between Nen abilities isn't complicated.
Each Nen ability defines a different style of combat.
Haze had always focused on close-quarters combat because anyone who has set foot on the Dark Continent and returned alive…
All flesh and bone is susceptible to corruption.
Besides, before a creature on the level of the Ant King, any sophisticated Nen ability is meaningless.
It's not that Nen abilities are ineffective on the contrary, both skill and physical strength are essential… necessary.
In most cases, many Nen users tend to neglect their bodies, relying too much on their abilities.
Snap!
Haze crossed his arms over his chest. The terrifying force and heat radiating from his body caused his fingers to leave white trails in the air.
His fierce strikes threatened to tear the old man apart.
But Netero raised an arm and blocked the blow. Haze's fingers grazed the old man's arm, leaving streaks of blood… and the next moment, a punch to the abdomen nearly detonated his own Nen, sending him flying.
Then, just a few meters away before hitting the ground he vanished from Netero's sight.
It was nothing more than a frozen image of one of their countless exchanges.
The old man disappeared as well.
On the ground, bursts of explosive energy echoed from different directions.
Haze slipped behind Netero and threw a powerful punch.
The white-haired elder was already there, his calm expression shifting as he countered with a strike of his own.
Their fists collided, sending a sharp pain shooting through Haze's arm.
He didn't flinch, but as he stepped back, the fingers of his other hand brushed against Netero's elbow.
That motion made Netero narrow his eyes.
It wasn't the first time Haze had used a technique to mask his contact the impact was faint.
Knowing Haze well, Netero realized he wouldn't waste effort on something so insignificant. Something was off.
Haze backed away, feeling pain in his arm and exhaling deeply.
Netero had reduced his strength to the bare minimum his aura, his focus, even the flexibility and power of his muscles.
Still, some things never changed…
Haze was a Materialization type, while the old man was Enhancement type. In terms of attack, the advantage was his.
Then there was experience those were the only two differences.
Of course, the old man had weaknesses too.
It had probably been a long time since Netero had fought seriously… and he wasn't in perfect shape.
His past training and battles hadn't been enough to restore his form, mostly due to lack of intensity.
Only in the last ten days had the old man's aura shifted especially his eyes.
And even now, Netero didn't seem entirely aware of his own full arsenal.
Precisely because this wasn't a contest of knowledge, Haze decided to test his newly learned technique a special skill the system had urged him to cultivate!
He hadn't mastered it yet, and his application was still rough…
But if it worked against Netero, it could become a lethal move on par with breathing techniques.
With that thought, both men attacked simultaneously again.
Their punches and kicks clashed, causing devastating shockwaves. The old man was clearly superior.
After a few minutes of fierce combat, Haze dodged attacks, drenched in sweat.
Netero's breathing was also labored the intensity of this battle was far beyond their previous one.
"Seems like you're still going to lose…"
Netero smiled.
He had a few minor wounds. Compared to him, Haze though not bleeding was in worse condition.
His mental energy was nearly depleted.
Because to withstand those attacks, Haze had to expend far more energy both physical and mental to defend and evade.
The degree of exhaustion was very different between them.
"Seriously… never draw conclusions about victory or defeat until the very end. You should know that better than me, right?"
Sweat trickled down Haze's face, dripping onto his feet as he forced himself to speak.
"How many times can you still raise your hands? And your ankles… they must be heavy by now, right?"
"If you'd just surrendered, we wouldn't have to struggle this much… We agreed this would be a lesson for you. Now I'm in a bind I have to get serious… Young people should know when to stop. Why be so stubborn? If word spreads that you bullied an old man, it'll look bad."
Netero let his hair down it fell over his eyes as he stared at Haze's arms and legs, speaking word by word:
"When you used to intimidate me… you really enjoyed it."
Haze's pace suddenly quickened, and he appeared beside the old man.
He crouched, aiming to stab Netero's neck at an odd angle.
"You've slowed down…"
Netero remained calm, raising a hand to block.
"Even if I'm slow, that doesn't mean you can stop it…"
Haze muttered softly.
"Hmm?"
A second later, Netero's pupils contracted.
He sensed something wrong.
Suddenly, numbness spread through his arm and his consciousness faded instantly.
Slash!
Haze's hand, sharp as a blade, struck Netero's neck the weakest point in his telekinetic defense.
Netero convulsed as if struck by lightning, saliva bursting from his mouth.
He was stunned.
Clearly… Haze hadn't held back.
Naturally, Haze wouldn't waste this chance his other hand shot forward, two fingers like spikes piercing toward Netero's eyes.
And then Haze, who had been smiling, suddenly went pale.
He leapt backward, hair bristling, staring at the unmoving old man.
The overwhelming pressure radiating from Netero made the ground tremble slightly.
The old man's power had faltered…
Though Haze hadn't truly damaged his eyes, the hostility emanating from him along with the sheer will projected through his telekinesis caused Netero to instinctively unleash his power at that critical moment.
It was a subconscious reaction.
Sensing the danger, Haze immediately retreated somewhat shaken.
In the distance, Netero raised a still-trembling hand to cover his neck, where Haze's blade-like strike had landed.
His face carried the resigned smile of a child who'd lost a game.
"You're truly ruthless…"
He finished the words, then sighed softly.
"Well… you win."
"What do you mean I win? If you were really my enemy, you'd already be blind… I was just testing things out. If I'd aimed for a vital point, you might've fallen."
Haze clicked his tongue.
"You caught me off guard…"
The old man flexed his recovering hand and said with a smirk:
"A very interesting technique… It can sever the flow of qi and blood and seems to affect the nerves too?"
He glanced at Haze, though clearly not expecting an answer the boy wouldn't say a word.
"Under normal circumstances, you'd be the loser."
"Cheating? Real combat doesn't follow those rules," Haze scoffed, lying flat on the ground, exhausted.
"So let's call it a draw…"
"A child, huh…"
He refused to admit defeat.
"Hey, Doumianren… Yeah, yeah, got it. I'm coming back now."
Then Haze saw the old man pretending to answer a call
and without even saying goodbye, he ran off.
(End of Chapter)