Suddenly, her body froze, and her expression shifted dramatically. Though it lasted only a moment, she clearly heard Netero voice. Yet Netero himself seemed motionless, slowly descending through the air without speaking.
This was an example of the skill called Shinraku Kencho, a technique all great fighters possess.
When two strong opponents clash, theres often a moment where time seems to stop, allowing them to see each others movements in slow motion. Thats the essence of Shinraku Kencho
As a master martial artist, Netero had honed this skill to perfection. Whether during casual walking or while using his nen, the Hundred Styles of Guanyin, Shinraku Kencho was seamlessly integrated into his movements.
In the next instant, Netero slowly raised his hands, traced a circular path in the air, and finally brought them together.
The entire sequence unfolded smoothly and naturally, like a flowing stream. Netero's mind was eerily calm, almost as if it were completely still and unmoving.
After over a hundred years of rigorous training, Netero had honed both his body and spirit to an extraordinary degree. His sharp, aggressive edge had transformed into a quiet, focused calm, making his power even more formidable.
No living being could predict his next move by reading fluctuations in his aura. Battles between mind users often rely on advanced techniques like flow and firmness, which cause aura to shift visibly, allowing opponents to anticipate actions through condensation.
But Netero was different. His mind remained utterly silent, and even when he employed advanced techniques, no one could detect them. This made it nearly impossible for his opponents to react appropriately.
At that moment, Neferpitou felt as though time itself had frozen; everything around her seemed to slow down. All she could do was watch as the old man moved his hands.
This was the effect of Netero Shinraku Kencho. Though it appeared as if time had stopped, it was actually Netero incredible speed that created the illusion. His entire movement was completed just as Neferpitou was about to use her nen to rush forward.
Then, suddenly, Netero swung his folded left arm, unleashing a golden light.
'This is...!' Neferpitou struggled desperately but couldn't move. Netero speed was simply too fast for her body to respond.
Boom!
A massive golden beam struck Neferpitou from below, engulfing her small frame entirely.
'The attack came from an impossible angle?!' Although Netero had been positioned above her, the strike came from beneath.
Neferpitou's eyes widened in shock as she poured all her aura into resisting the blow. Though she barely managed to withstand the damage, her body was sent flying backward at high speed.
'I'd be thankful if she could just fly out like this,' Netero muttered quietly, watching Neferpitou hurtle through the air with no sign of stopping.
No! If this keeps up, well just keep drifting further and further away from the palace!
The anxious Neferpitou suddenly had an idea and quickly activated her mental ability, [Doctor Blythe]. However, this ability had its limits: once used, the repairer would stay fixed in one spot, and Neferpitou had to remain within 20 meters of it.
Without wasting a moment, she summoned [Doctor Blythe], knowing that if she didnt, it would be impossible to fly back from so far away. In an instant, the massive form of the repairer materialized, halting Neferpitous flight and holding her body in place.
Just as she thought the crisis was over, an unexpected sight caught her eyes. Above her, two bright moons suddenly appeared in the sky, one large and the other much smaller.
The smaller moon flickered like a ghost, as if it could vanish at any moment.
Gardevoir!
Neferpitou gasped in disbelief as the strange, glowing moon suddenly lunged toward her. It was a fairy skill, Moonblast!
Boom!
Since her body hadn't fully stabilized, the huge luminous moon crashed into her with full force. The nearby doctor blythe shattered under the impact, and Neferpitous body plummeted toward the ground.
"Terpsichora!" Just before hitting the ground, she shouted, unleashing a surge of aura that burst from within her.
In just 0.1 seconds, the blood-red aura took shape around her, suspending her mid-air and stopping her fall.
Though she managed to steady herself, Neferpitou was still badly affected by the moons power. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and several holes marred her body.
This was the first time she had ever been so thoroughly humiliated, first knocked out by an old man, and now struck down by a mysterious moon attack for no reason.
Furious, Neferpitou lifted her head, her eyes glowing with a fierce red light as she stared up at the figure above.
Bathed in the bright moonlight, Gardevoir's posture became increasingly graceful, like a celestial being with an otherworldly presence. Soft pink auras swirled gently around her, lending her an ethereal fairy-like aura.
Ka, ka...
The sound of joints cracking echoed sharply in the silent open space. Under the puppeteers control, Neferpitou twisted into an awkward, unnatural posture, one she could never hold on her own.
"I'm going to tear you apart!" Neferpitou growled, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that almost twisted her face. Her sharp gaze was bloodshot, filled with raw fury.
The moment she spoke, a powerful wave of aura erupted from her, dark and crimson like fresh blood. It surged upward like a raging flood, flooding the sky with a deep red glow.
For a brief moment, the entire sky seemed drenched in blood-red light, as if they had been transported straight to hell.
Gardevoir quietly observed the wild Neferpitou, completely unfazed by the chaos around her.
Meanwhile, on the palaces second floor, Gon caught sight of a terrifying blood-red aura in the distance as he hurried past a window. Startled by a sharp scraping sound, he quickly stopped and peered out again.
Killua, noticing Gon sudden pause, stopped as well and followed his gaze, spotting the massive aura looming in the sky.
"Found it!" they both exclaimed in unison, grinning.
"Haha, I found it here too." Morel looked out the window as well and saw Pouf flying swiftly into the tower, moving forward without hesitation.
When Pouf rushed to the room where the Ant King usually stayed, all it found was ruin. The ceiling was riddled with holes, clearly the aftermath of the Dragon Lance attack.
The Dragon Lance had pierced through the ceiling and kept going, leaving holes everywhere, even in the floor. The room was filled with crumbling stone slabs and dust, the ceiling barely holding on, but there was no sign of the Ant King.
The kings whereabouts are unknown!
Even his safety is uncertain!*
Pouf stood frozen, berating itself silently for its failure. Its loyalty to the Ant King was so deep that any bad news related to him sent it into a panic.
"No Im not even qualified to be his guard! Only death can atone for my failure!"
Tears streamed down its bloodshot eyes and dripped to the floor.
At that moment, Pouf wished the Ant King would appear and end its misery with his own hands. "Pouf, you deserve to die!" It closed its eyes slowly, lost in its sorrow.
After a long pause, still sensing the changes around it, Pouf whispered, "Can you let me go find the king?"
The reply came coldly, "Im afraid thats not possible.
"I finally caught a little butterfly, no, maybe its more like a little ant, "Morel said, standing beside him with a large pipe in hand.