All living beings exist within the cycle of life and death.
Time passes, enacting birth and death.
But within the bodies of the Gatekeeper Clan resides an eternal time named Mobius… that is, eternal life.
They age, but they do not die.
Coo is the oldest member of the Gatekeeper Clan, and the only one to have boarded the final train.
She is the strongest existence in the clan, arriving here bearing a so-called [Heavenly Duty].
Her diluted Nen can spread its range to an unimaginable extent, a technique far surpassing Tonpa's ability.
However, relatively speaking, the precision of this Nen is very low.
Nevertheless, Coo still perceived a slight tremor, located very far away.
She could not discern what had happened there. Perhaps the tremor was caused by a bronze mechanical lifeform colliding with a wall, or perhaps it was produced by the collapse of a wall due to aging architecture.
But, adhering to the action principle of 'better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one go', Coo needed to go to the location of the tremor and confirm what had caused it.
Her speed was remarkably fast, not at all like an aged Magical Beast.
Underground Ruins, Negative First Floor.
Golem's overwhelming firepower had become a sharp tool for suppressing the Hunter Association's team.
The width of the ruin's passageway was acceptable, but it still gave Golem considerable room to maneuver.
By simply swinging the gun barrel, the straight-flying Nen Bullets could almost fill the entire passage, compressing the space for dodging to a very low degree.
It is often said that on a narrow path, the brave prevail.
But now, it seemed that within the ruin's passage, whoever could set up a big artillery piece had the higher chance of winning.
Golem's continuous assault placed immense pressure on the Hunter Association's side.
Initially, Netero used his 100-Type Guanyin to easily block Golem's overwhelming firepower.
With Netero as a great wall, the defensive pressure on the Hunter Association's members was nearly zero.
However, when Beyond entered the fray, that defensive wall was directly removed, exposing the Hunter Association's members to Golem's gun barrel.
The method Beyond employed was consistently simple and brutal, and he also knew Netero would actively cooperate.
He drew Netero away from the battle circle.
Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals.
It had always been this way.
This seemed quite normal to the members of both sides.
Beyond and Netero moved to another battle circle, while the remaining members of both sides engaged in fierce combat within the passage.
For a time, the glow of Nen, colored in various hues, manifested as diverse abilities, intertwining in the air of the passage.
The two sides, holding different motivations, finally engaged in a decisive battle here.
Elsewhere, father and son looked at each other across the distance, the battle on the verge of eruption.
"No matter how many years pass, you've always been a stubborn old man."
Beyond slightly adjusted his arm guards, a cold killing intent brewing in his expression.
He believed that Netero had dared to face him alone last time because Netero had a life-saving charm, the golden-patterned lucky bag that had whisked him away.
But this time was different. Both sides' personnel were here, and neither had a path of retreat.
Even so, Netero had still decisively accepted his challenge to battle.
That was why Beyond said Netero was always a stubborn old man.
Such a statement was made under the premise that Beyond had a one hundred percent chance of victory.
Of course, Beyond was unaware that Netero had consumed a stalk of Nitro Rice a week prior.
"Hmph."
Netero did not respond, merely letting out an ambiguous laugh.
He had regained at least twenty percent of his strength. This did not mean he could secure victory, but that he possessed the power to fight.
As long as the probability of victory was not zero, this was a battle from which one could delude oneself into thinking victory was possible.
Even if he had changed from the challenged to the challenger, it did not matter.
Threads of golden light thus flickered and vanished in Netero's eyes.
The solemn and majestic golden Guanyin materialized behind Netero.
Without pause, it struck out with a palm.
Swift and decisive.
The golden light arrived before the palm wind.
Beyond calmly raised his arm, holding it before him.
The Guanyin's palm slammed onto the arm guard, sending out a wave of force.
Then, the golden palm, along with the arm, instantly disintegrated into fragments.
This scene was just like that day.
But this time, Beyond made a different move.
After shattering the Guanyin's arm in a defensive posture, he suddenly stepped forward two paces and thrust out a sharp palm strike towards the front.
A powerful palm wind responded, pushing against the yet-to-disappear fragments of the Guanyin's arm, forming a rainstorm of projectiles that shot towards Netero, who was right in front of him.
Using another's power to strike another's body.
This move of Beyond's displayed the characteristics of his own ability to the fullest.
However, although the projected palm wind carried fragments of the Guanyin's arm, its essential power still originated from Beyond's hand.
It was like brass knuckles worn on a fist. A punch creates wounds torn by the knuckles, but the force fundamentally comes from the fist.
The palm wind, carrying the golden fragments, came like a sharpened sword.
Surprised, Netero had the golden Guanyin's palms clasp together, holding them before him.
The golden fragments struck and mutually annihilated with the Guanyin's palms.
Under the collision, the form of the golden Guanyin completely collapsed.
Netero raised an eyebrow slightly, realizing Beyond's intention.
Beyond intended to accelerate his consumption of Nen.
Thinking of this possibility, a subtle smile tugged at the corner of Netero's mouth.
'My son, you're right. I've always been a stubborn old man.'
'That's why I'm standing here, trying every means to make you return to your homeland.'
'It doesn't matter in what way you return. What I want to end is your insatiable, bottomless desire.'
Within the collapsing golden afterglow, Netero pushed off the ground and charged, turning into a black shadow that, with swift speed, reached Beyond in an instant.
No longer in a praying gesture, no longer summoning the golden Guanyin, just a straight, square, honest punch… a punch that surpassed the speed of sound!
That's right, thrown openly and directly.
And that fist seemed plated with a layer of gold.
Beyond's pupils reflected Netero's solemn face, yet the image formed in his mind was of Netero, decades younger.
'He had abandoned the 100-Type Guanyin?'
'Was this... an illusion?'
'No!'
Beyond reacted fiercely.
But it was too late.
That fist carried the courage of his younger days.
It was a punch thrown by abandoning compromise, truly leaving time and the years behind.
Bang!
Direct hit.
Beyond flew backward.
In the air, blood sprayed.
Netero stood in a horse stance, his right arm stretched straight forward, maintaining the punching posture.
Wispy white smoke coiled around him like threads of incense.
After a moment, Netero glanced at his unscathed fist and revealed a smile.
From the moment of impact to sending Beyond flying, the counter-damage phenomenon had not occurred.
Just as anticipated, this method was the only way to deal with Beyond's reflective ability.
'I owe this to Cheadle.'
Netero thought to himself, then withdrew his fist, looking in the direction Beyond had flown.
He was very satisfied with that punch, but it was not enough to kill Beyond.