On the lakeside at the center of the island, the tranquil water reflected a sparkling, beautiful scene under the sun. Two or three birds chirped from the branches of the trees lining the bank, and through the clear water, a school of colorful fish was visible below.
If not for the clown-dressed figure standing beneath a tree, anyone would mistake this for an ideal vacation and leisure spot. Unfortunately, the intense killing intent emanating from him instantly scared away all the surrounding animals.
"Heh heh, you've finally arrived."
Hisoka smoothed his hair with a finger, his eyes flashing with undisguised excitement and enthusiasm.
"My apologies for the wait."
Allen stretched his limbs, his ten fingers cracking with a series of pops.
Clearly, finding Hisoka on this island, which was filled with pristine nature, was not difficult for him at all. Whether using his skill in tracking humanoid creatures or Lupos's nose, which was even more sensitive than a dog's, locating the target was simple. Furthermore, Hisoka hadn't bothered to hide his Aura at all. Not only did he not hide it, but he was actively releasing killing intent, as if afraid others wouldn't be able to find him.
Now, Allen was no longer in a playful mood; he was completely serious. His previously calm Aura instantly surged forth like a dam break.
"It doesn't matter! I said you were worth the wait. Also, it's fine if your pet joins in. If I recall correctly, you two are a two-in-one deal, aren't you?"
As he spoke, Hisoka directed his gaze toward Lupos, who had already entered a state of high alert. It was clear that he had figured out how his previous trap had been seen through.
"I will, if it becomes necessary. Shall we begin now?" Allen countered with a smile.
He wasn't nervous that his opponent had noticed Lupos's minor actions. To be precise, what difference did it make if Hisoka knew? Could Hisoka really abandon Allen and attack Lupos directly? If he did, he would quickly realize how foolish it is to attack a Beast Master Hunter's pet.
Setting aside the fact that the pet could be revived with a skill if it died, just Allen simultaneously activating Intimidation and Bestial Wrath would be enough to give Hisoka a headache. Coupled with Lupos's unique Nen ability, the Shadow Wolf Pack, the fight could be over in five seconds.
"Of course! Game on!"
The moment the last word left his mouth, Hisoka immediately launched the first attack. This time, he didn't rashly charge in. Instead, he moved quickly while frantically scattering an endless stream of playing cards. It was impossible to tell what tactics he was planning.
Against these harassing, sight-disturbing attacks, Allen still didn't reveal his own ability. Instead, he borrowed Shadow Energy from Lupos, using it to turn all the incoming cards into a pile of something resembling withered leaves.
However, where Hisoka couldn't see, Allen's other hand was quietly injecting his Transmutation Nen into the air. He then used In to conceal his Aura and finally employed Manipulation Nen to guide this air around Hisoka's body, causing the opponent to inadvertently inhale it. The Nen-infused air then attached itself to the fragile and sensitive areas of the lungs, trachea, and throat.
At the same time, Hisoka was doing something similar on his end. Having realized that Lupos was using Gyo to observe his Nen and transmit information to Allen via some unknown method, he decisively shifted the focus of his deception from Allen to the Shadow Wolf Alpha.
Texture Surprise!
An ability that creates a skin-like substance out of Nen, which can be used to mimic any thin object, such as a tattoo on the skin, or to alter text or images on paper. Crucially, this ability cannot be seen through by Gyo because it is an actual Conjured material, not just pure Aura.
Utilizing the visual obstruction and angle coverage provided by the card attack, Hisoka successfully created a decoy that was indistinguishable from himself, all without being noticed by either Lupos or Allen. Unlike a simple dummy, this decoy was covered in skin made from Texture Surprise and filled with the rubbery Bungee Gum, while its feet were connected to the main body with sticky Bungee Gum for manipulation. A perfect, convincing dummy was thus completed.
However, because Bungee Gum vanishes the moment it leaves the body, Hisoka knew he had only one chance. He had to risk being crippled by using Zetsu to completely hide his Aura, thereby launching a perfect surprise attack.
What he failed to notice, however, was that while his attention was focused on deceiving his opponent, his lungs had already inhaled a large amount of air coated in Transmutation Nen. This air, at a moment's notice from its master, could instantly transform into liquid at -192°C. In a fraction of a second, this could destroy the fragile respiratory system, causing the victim to die slowly from oxygen deprivation in unimaginable agony.
"If I'm not mistaken, that black-purple Nen projectile you have can't travel too far from your body, can it? Is that why you only use it as a defensive measure, rather than an offensive one?" Hisoka suddenly spoke, confidently pointing out a flaw in Allen's ability.
Of course, this was only his speculation. The true purpose of this action was to draw his opponent's attention and prepare for the next step of his deception plan.
"Oh? Are you sure?"
A strangely shaped, extremely eerie and evil-looking bone bow suddenly materialized in Allen's hand.
The next second…
He molded the Shadow Nen projectile in his hand into the shape of an arrow, drew the bowstring, and shot it out.
Swoosh!
The black-purple energy arrow struck a tree trunk just a step away from Hisoka at an extremely high speed.
Bang!
Sizzzzzzz—
A massive hole, large enough for two people to encircle, was blasted right through the center of the tree trunk! But that wasn't the most terrifying part.
The most terrifying sight was the shadow energy rapidly corroding the entire tree around the hole. In a short while, the tree swiftly withered and died, only to be resurrected in an extremely twisted, morbid state, presenting a breathtaking sight beyond words.
Sensing the unusual Aura, Hisoka became thoroughly excited, a beautiful, faint curve lifting his lips. "Oi! Oi! Oi! That's not something a normal Transmuter or Emitter could do. What exactly did you add to your Nen?"
"Trust me, you don't want to know," Allen replied meaningfully.
Undoubtedly, in that moment, he had completed all his preparations and held the key to victory firmly in his hands. All that was left was to watch Hisoka's performance, and then, the moment the other man thought he had won, detonate the remote "bomb" planted inside his body.
It must be said that sometimes Allen possessed a truly wicked sense of humor, intending to first give hope, then personally extinguish it, simply to enjoy the reaction of his opponent as they plunged into the abyss of despair after such a high.
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You can read the ahead chapter on Patr if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]