Chapter 66: The Deal Between the Big and Little Foxes
A clash between powerful Nen users isn't merely a simple exchange of blows one tiny miscalculation, and the battle is over.
Having determined that Phinks' physical strength, combat ability, and Nen output were inferior to his own, Aldama unleashed a barrage of brutal attacks.
While Haze watched, Phinks slow to transfer his aura failed to reinforce his defenses in time, reacted too late, and took a crushing punch to the face.
Aldama, like a raging lion, mounted him and rained down punches.
The ground beneath them rippled, sand swirling violently around the two fighters.
Phinks grabbed his head, his body sinking deeper into the sand… unable to resist.
Then, Haze narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly, Phinks abandoned his defense entirely, letting Aldama's fists crash into him mercilessly and instead raised his own arms to strike back with equal ferocity.
But the angle and power were against him.
He was clearly outmatched.
This reckless attack seemed utterly foolish.
"One… two…"
Haze murmured softly as Phinks took blow after blow. At this rate, he'd be dead within seconds.
By the count of five, there was a crack! their fists collided, breaking several of Phinks' fingers instantly.
"You're using just enough Nen to maintain your core stability keeping your damage under control while using the rest to boost your offense," Haze analyzed calmly. "But since the total amount of Nen remains constant, your opponent senses that balance. He adjusts his output, increasing his destructive force, which disrupts your defense. You're forced to divert your aura back to blocking, weakening your strikes. Otherwise, you'd die faster. In short… you've been completely outplayed."
Telekinesis wrapped around Aldama's fists, intensifying as Phinks struggled.
Aldama instantly understood that Phinks intended to trade blow for blow a suicidal exchange.
Their fists met again, but Aldama's superior control forced Phinks to redirect aura from his arms to protect his head. His punch weakened and his bones shattered instantly.
Yet even with broken fingers, Phinks didn't stop.
Aldama grabbed his arm and tried to snap it.
Phinks, face bloodied and grinning, stared straight at him.
His teeth, stained red, gleamed with feral amusement.
"Damn it!"
Aldama ruthlessly twisted and broke one of Phinks' arms, white bone tearing through the flesh.
But then his expression changed.
He realized what Phinks had done.
The man had released his hardened defense entirely and was channeling all his Nen into his other fist a full-force strike, pure telekinetic might.
He could block it… but at a heavy cost.
Even if he survived, he'd suffer severe injuries.
In that instant, Aldama hesitated.
Would he risk his life to kill this lunatic or dodge?
Instinct took over.
He leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the strike.
In his mind, Phinks was already finished too injured to continue fighting. There was no need to gamble.
"He's lost…"
Haze sighed in the distance.
But the loser…
was not Phinks.
It was Aldama.
The examiner was too calm, too logical.
His decision wasn't wrong his mistake was realizing that his opponent's mind didn't work like normal.
"Hehe… What's wrong? Why're you backing off? Weren't you gonna kill me?"
Phinks stood up shakily from the pit, one arm hanging broken and useless. He looked terrifying blood streaming down his face yet that single remaining eye gleamed with mocking defiance.
Aldama's pupils shrank.
Again Phinks' aura flared violently, his fighting spirit reigniting.
Impossible!
By all calculations, both his stamina and Nen reserves should've been completely depleted.
But he had done it through sheer willpower.
He had forced his aura to rise again through a kind of "battle meditation."
His spirit had reached its peak.
"So, your 'heart' still moves you…" murmured Haze. "The mind is full of uncertainty and infinite possibility. Your logic was right, Aldama, but you underestimated the awareness of your opponent."
Phinks had transformed mid-battle.
His entire presence had evolved.
Even from afar, Haze could feel the violent intent and pressure radiating from him a qualitative leap.
Few ever grow stronger in the middle of combat.
Aldama was unlucky.
"It's… the edge of death," Haze whispered.
Phinks could feel it too that surge of newfound strength.
He began spinning his still-functional arm, slowly at first then faster and faster.
Each rotation built up more and more terrifying aura.
"Hold on tight…"
His voice was cold then he lunged.
Aldama's instincts screamed.
He tried to dodge again —
—but Phinks was faster.
Much faster.
With a twist of his waist, the browless man appeared right before him.
Aldama unleashed his own telekinesis, gathering every last drop of energy from the prior fight into one defensive punch.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the entire arena.
Sand erupted into the air like a storm wave.
Aldama was blown away, crashing to the ground like a ragdoll.
"Hey, hey, hey… don't die yet! Get up! I haven't even gone all out!"
As the dust settled, Phinks emerged from the swirling sand, grinning arrogantly. He marched toward Aldama, his arm still spinning menacingly.
Aldama struggled to rise, his eyes wide in disbelief at the man he thought he'd already defeated then he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
BOOM!
Another hit even stronger than the last.
High above, Aldama's body was sent flying again, blood scattering like crimson mist.
Beep beep.
Haze slipped his hands into his pockets, ready to leave.
No need to watch any further.
Then his phone rang.
A strange number.
He answered.
"Hohoho… Haze…"
That voice unmistakable.
The President.
Netero had somehow gotten his number with ease.
With Bisiji and Wing nearby, that wasn't surprising.
"The President himself calling… must be important," Haze said slyly, realizing what was happening.
"You're there, right? Has Aldama started fighting that candidate yet?" Netero's calm, aged voice came through between sips of tea.
"Yes… He's about to be killed," Haze replied with a faint smile.
"Oh? Then… could you lend a hand and save him?"
Haze's eyes twitched.
"Old man, what are you saying? I'm just a candidate right now not a Hunter. I'm only watching the show! That guy's strong enough to kill even an examiner; I'd rather not get on his bad side. If he turns on me next, I'd be the dead one."
He smirked faintly.
"If Aldama can't even beat a single-star Hunter, then he's beyond saving. I'd like to help out of compassion, but… sorry, I'm powerless. Hope you understand."
"Hahaha… you sly little fox," Netero chuckled. "Already scheming your payback, huh?"
"Oh… Aldama's not looking good," Haze muttered, feigning surprise.
Phinks wouldn't kill him too easily that'd be boring.
"You could always blame it on Aldama and the Association," Netero said lightly. "Has nothing to do with you."
Haze narrowed his eyes.
"Old man… are you seriously asking me to kill someone?"
"You joined the Association to become stronger," Netero replied. "The Association has vast resources, intelligence, and countless missions to hone your skills. More importantly, it houses many powerful figures interacting with them benefits you greatly. In short… for someone like you, it's a stepping stone, isn't it?"
The old man sipped his tea again.
"Aldama's finished. His fingers are breaking one by one… now his limbs…" Haze narrated calmly, not answering directly.
"I told you, I can make you stronger," Netero said cheerfully. "No need to hesitate."
"…Of course," Haze's lips curved slightly.
"Save him, and I'll tell you the method. You'll gain an enormous boost in power… and I'll even grant you one small request within reason, of course."
A promise from Netero himself.
To Haze, that was an invaluable offer.
The man was a living fossil and if he could extract even a fragment of his secrets, it would be a major gain.
After all, there were many things even a time traveler like her didn't know.
"Well… since you put it that way, I see no reason to refuse."
"Really? You think I'm a nice guy now?" Netero chuckled. "I'm old, I don't have many years left might as well keep my reputation clean. I've always been fond of you young folks."
"Hehe…" Haze laughed awkwardly and hung up.
"All right then. If I wait too long, your man's a corpse and then there's no saving him."
He pocketed the phone, sighed, and muttered:
"Guess I'm working overtime."
With that, he stepped into the battlefield eyes fixed on Phinks and the broken examiner.
(End of Chapter)