"Killua! Gon! Stall him! It's our only chance! Don't fight him head-on!" Kurapika shouted.
He realized it immediately. Examiner Kenpachi's stats were in a different league. He was a tank, a DPS, and a speedster all in one.
Killua's emotions were in turmoil.
Leorio had sacrificed himself to save him. Gon and he had a perfect plan.
Yet, Ryker broke it effortlessly.
"My, my! You seem to be the smartest one. So... you go first!"
Kenpachi Ryker laughed.
His aura exploded like a volcano. A tiger descending from the mountain. A demon crawling out of hell.
"KURAPIKA! RUN!!"
Gon screamed, gritting his teeth. He yanked his fishing rod with all his might.
Impressive, Ryker thought.
Ging's fishing rod was no joke. The line was incredibly durable. For a normal person, being strangled by this line would be game over.
Unfortunately for Gon, he had hooked a whale.
[Iron Tank] (Gold).
[Divine Strength] (Red).
Ryker didn't even flinch. He just flexed his neck.
Sorry, Gon. Just testing you.
Vroom.
The line went taut.
Gon dug his heels into the ground, bracing himself against a crack in the floor, trying to leverage Ryker off balance.
It was like a kitten trying to leash a T-Rex.
The T-Rex bit the leash, but the kitten went flying.
Crack! Crack!
The floor beneath Gon shattered.
Ryker didn't budge. Instead, Gon was launched into the air by his own momentum.
"Hah!"
Ryker yanked the line.
Gon flew toward him like a yo-yo.
Flash!
A sharp glint.
The fishing line snapped.
Gon tumbled to the ground, safe but disarmed.
Killua had cut the line.
Rhythm Echo.
Shadow Step.
Snake Awakens.
Killua was in peak condition. His hands were transformed into lethal claws, veins bulging, eyes cold and sharp. He radiated pure killing intent.
Multiple afterimages surrounded Ryker.
"Enthusiastic! I like it!"
Kenpachi Ryker grinned.
Killua was everywhere.
But then—
Vroom.
One Kenpachi became two. Two became four. Four became eight.
[Taijutsu] (Gold).
Ryker copied the technique perfectly.
"Ah!!" Ponzu covered her mouth, eyes wide.
Menchi and the other Examiners were stunned.
"That's the Zoldyck assassination technique! How does Examiner Kenpachi know it?" Satotz gasped.
"He made eight clones too!!"
"Amazing!!"
Illumi narrowed his eyes. He had forfeited, but seeing someone steal his family's secret arts...
Annoying.
"Hehe. Rhythm Echo... looks like the little kitty is in trouble," Hisoka chuckled, enjoying the show.
"It's not Rhythm Echo," Illumi corrected flatly.
"Of course not," Hanzo muttered, his eyes shining. "It's pure speed! But to move that fast... he must be a Taijutsu Grandmaster!"
"Too bad. Your clones don't work on me, Killua-kun."
The eight Kenpachi clones laughed in unison.
Slash!
BOOM!
Eight tangible slash waves erupted.
Seven of Killua's afterimages vanished instantly. The real one was blasted backward.
Ryker used Explosive Step mid-air.
He appeared above Killua.
Pommel Strike.
THUD!
Killua slammed into the ground in a spread-eagle shape, embedded into the concrete.
Knocked out cold.
[DING! You defeated Killua.]
[Rolling for Copy (10%)...]
[Trait: [Strong Luck] (Purple) triggered! SUPER CRITICAL!]
[Effect: Guaranteed Copy of Specific Trait!]
[Please select a trait to copy.]
Jackpot!
Strong Luck, I love you!
Super Critical?!
This was the protagonist halo in action.
Select Target: Hidden Trait.
[Copying Hidden Trait: [Lightning Nen] (Red)!]
[Warning: Host does not have Transmutation affinity. Ability requires [Scarlet Eyes] activation for full potential.]
ZZzzzt.
A surge of electricity flooded Ryker's cells.
His aura crackled with blue lightning.
Deep within his pupils, sparks danced.
Trait: [Lightning Nen] (Red).
Effect: Transmutes aura into electricity. Increases reaction speed to god-tier levels. Adds paralysis/shock damage to attacks. (Budget Rumble-Rumble Fruit / Godspeed).
Killua had endured years of torture to gain this affinity.
Ryker just copied it in one second.
Thanks for the donation, Killua. You gave me one Red and two Golds. MVP.
"KILLUA!!"
Seeing his best friend down, Gon snapped.
His aura spiked. Rage took over.
"GON!!" Kurapika screamed, trying to stop him.
But Gon was gone.
[Monster Strength] (Gold)!
[Super Endurance] (Gold)!
Gon's fist slammed into Ryker's chest.
BOOM!
A shockwave rippled through the hall.
The spectators gasped. They didn't expect the small boy to have such explosive power. It exceeded every other candidate's output.
But...
His opponent was Ryker.
[Divine Strength] (Red)!
Crash.
The two collided.
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