Just as Blackstone Family didn't know the level of the Association's defensive line, the Association also didn't know the strength of the force Blackstone Family had dispatched tonight.
Cheadle had already committed all the allied forces she could currently mobilize. But she still vastly underestimated Blackstone Family's boldness in this operation.
The combat style prioritizing 'capturing alive' put the Hunters at a disadvantage.
This was an obvious result because the attacking assassins were not weak.
After Candy's suicide, Cheadle didn't hesitate long. Through communication means, she directly informed every Hunter stationed in the hospital of the plan change.
Although she didn't hesitate too long, once a disadvantage emerged, it wasn't easily reversed.
Candy was the first casualty on Blackstone Family's side, while the Association had lost four.
From a numbers perspective, the Association had the advantage.
From a casualty rate perspective, Blackstone Family had the advantage.
In a long corridor, Blackstone Family's ninth-ranked Afro faced off against the Sheep Zodiac, Ginta.
Ginta was also a member of the moderate faction and naturally participated in this operation.
Afro encountered Ginta after killing an Association's Hunter, as Ginta had also killed an assassin.
Although they hadn't clashed yet, both sensed the other was strong.
Blackstone Family's goal was to kill the crippled Netero. Before that, they had to break through the Association's defensive line.
Infiltration, assassination.
These methods were useless against the Association, which was full of elites.
There was no shortcut to killing Netero… only frontal assault and defeat!
Afro's body surged with ample Aura. As he released it, his fluffy afro turned into tight curls close to his scalp.
Then, he actively attacked Ginta.
In response, Ginta simply stood still, like a great mountain, blocking Afro's path.
…
Multiple places in the hospital began to be stained with blood.
Central Courtyard.
Botobai and Beard's figures continuously collided, producing dull, heavy sounds.
Each collision's shockwave could easily tear apart an ordinary person.
'Purely enhanced physical body. This type of enemy is originally what I'm good at dealing with. But this man's level exceeds existing knowledge.'
Every punch Botobai threw held nothing back. Relying on exquisite martial skills and experience, from the start of the battle until now, he had landed three punches on Beard.
However, the effect seemed only about ten percent, not even reaching the level of a minor injury.
Logically, his attacks carrying the [Tremor] characteristic never feared hard shells. But the opponent's hardness simply couldn't be measured by common sense.
Day and night tempering
Hellish self-torture?
Compared to these two... what deserved the most praise was willpower!
Even as an enemy, Botobai couldn't help but give high praise.
Of the above three points, no matter which one, this man had taken it to the extreme, hence this level.
While paying his respects, Botobai also delivered his strongest attack again.
[Ground Tremor]
Fists imbued with Aura, attacking Beard simultaneously.
At the same time, both feet also carried the [Tremor] characteristic, stepping on the ground, spreading Aura within a one-meter radius.
Boom!
Beard met Botobai's fists.
A fierce wind suddenly exploded, blowing back the hair and clothes of both men.
"Useless."
Beard sneered coldly, immediately discerning Botobai's simultaneous upper and lower body attack.
After their fists collided, he had taken precautions.
The hard cement road was shattered. The fine debris along with the Aura blasted at Beard's lower body, still ineffective.
Boom boom boom!
Fist shadows intertwined, crashing out continuous dull impacts.
Moments later, Beard was punched back several meters.
"Impressive, impressive."
Beard spat a small mouthful of blood to the side, staring expressionlessly at Botobai.
In terms of martial skills, he had to admit he was no match for Botobai.
Botobai's brows were tightly furrowed, 'Too hard.'
'This kind of opponent was truly troublesome.'
After so many exchanges, Botobai couldn't help but wonder whether he could actually breach the opponent's hardness.
"Truly worthy of the Zodiacs. I can't kill you."
Beard took a deep breath, Aura surging over his body like waves.
"But you also can't kill me."
Letting out a loud laugh, Beard charged straight at Botobai.
At the moment they first clashed, Beard had genuinely intended to kill Botobai. But after so many exchanges, he understood.
Neither could overcome the other.
This was a battle of endurance.
But in terms of victory or defeat, who could last was actually meaningless.
Because, before tonight's assassination outcome was clear, neither he nor Botobai would exhaust their stamina. That was clear enough.
So the essence of this battle was clear from the start… go nowhere!
Restraining Botobai also restrained himself, equivalent to confining both sides' best cards to one place.
Thus, they could only place their hopes on their own comrades.
Success or failure.
Boom!
Another powerfully impactful fist clash.
Accompanied by fierce winds, Beard distanced himself, saying coldly, "We can only wait here for the result. Who do you think will receive good news first?"
Botobai's expression remained cold, showing no intention of responding to Beard. But inwardly, he felt a sliver of pity for the Blackstone Family's assassins.
'The moment you attacked the hospital, failure was guaranteed.'
'Piti that you still don't realize.'
Botobai moved toward Beard in silence.
Facing Botobai's rock-like silence, Beard didn't mind either, clashing with Botobai again.
Not far away, Kurapika walked over slowly, seeing the intense battle between Botobai and Beard, his eyes showing gravity.
'These two... are very strong.'
No outsiders could be seen around the courtyard… the ground was covered with destroyed cars.
Kurapika's arrival drew Botobai's and Beard's attention, but neither paid him any mind, focused on attack and defense.
Silently observing their clash, Kurapika imagined himself inserted into it. What he felt was only mountain-like pressure.
Even using [Emperor Time] to achieve one hundred percent Enhancement effects, it would be hard to withstand Botobai's and Beard's attacks.
To say where the real gap lay, it was in technique and physical strength.
Lacking effects like Chain Jail, facing opponents like Botobai and Beard, the chances of winning were too low.
Thinking this, Kurapika raised his right hand and suddenly flung a chain at Beard.
Strike with one hit!
The chain accurately seized an opening, binding Beard's body.
While observing, he also sought opportunities, striking fast, ruthless, and accurate.
Not only keeping up with the speed, but succeeding on the first try.
"Oh?"
After being bound by the chain, Beard looked astonished, thinking this kid wasn't simple.
"Not bad."
Botobai also felt surprised, then took advantage to land several punches on Beard.
Beard was sent flying and directly broke Kurapika's chain.
"..."
Kurapika looked at the broken chain, his expression calm.
This was... a natural result.
'Redesigning my ability?'
Kurapika thought about what Law had once told him.
Botobai looked at the re-standing Beard. Under the premise that attacks were ineffective, restraints became useless measures.
This man was truly hard enough.
Not only was his will astonishingly strong, but his Nen Technique was also extremely refined.
Both were indispensable, combined with a sufficiently abnormal physical strength, and being Enhancers.
Even though Botobai had always fought with fists and kicks, at this moment he truly wished he had a knife to chop at Beard.
He didn't even know who among the people currently in the hospital could break through Beard's defense.