Kalluto was fiercely competitive by nature.
Seeing Morrow emerge victorious from a disadvantaged position, he felt a surge of determination rise within him.
He had already made bold claims; even if it meant death, he would drag his opponent down to hell with him.
Behind his competitive nature lay a madness that surged forth uncontrollably.
Kalluto's eyes suddenly sharpened like blades as he swung his paper fan to deflect Caleb's whip-like kick.
However, the force he couldn't fully dissipate still forced his arm aside, leaving an opening.
Caleb's peripheral gaze flickered toward Morrow, who was observing from the sidelines, but despite his doubts, he didn't hold back. Ruthlessly, he aimed for the exposed gap in Kalluto's defense.
His punch, carrying astonishing power and gleaming with bright aura, shot straight toward Kalluto's ribs.
Gritting his teeth, Kalluto twisted his ankle with effort, using Rhythm Echo to evade the strike.
Rip!
Caleb's fist struck only an afterimage, but the residual force tore through Kalluto's kimono sleeve.
With another missed attack, Caleb pressed his advantage mercilessly, stepping directly onto Kalluto's Lifeline and launching a relentless assault aimed at vital points.
Faced with Caleb's rabid onslaught, Kalluto could only defend, suffocated under the pressure.
"Damn it…!"
Kalluto struggled to dodge, his teeth nearly drawing blood from his lips.
The frustration of being constantly suppressed, unable to even counterattack, was unbearable.
Yet, the more unbearable it became, the more it fueled his growing madness.
A ruthless glint flashed in Kalluto's eyes as he diverted a portion of his aura output to activate his ability.
At that moment, a gap appeared in his defensive stance.
Caleb's pupils contracted. He instantly seized the opportunity and drove his fist forward.
Kalluto raised his left arm to block.
Caleb's punch landed squarely on the weakened limb.
Thud!
Crack!
A dull impact, followed by the sickening snap of bone.
At the same time, a swarm of white paper, guided by Kalluto's Nen power, coiled around Caleb like a python.
In the blink of an eye, Caleb was engulfed by the flood of paper.
Kalluto's wooden sandals had long since fallen off. Now, balancing on his toes like a dragonfly skimming water, he leaped backward to create distance.
His left arm hung limply at his side, but despite the severe injury, his expression remained unchanged.
For a member of the Zoldyck family, who had endured electric shocks since birth, pain was the most trivial of sensations.
Dance of Return.
Kalluto flicked his right wrist, guiding his paper fan to gather the scattered sheets around him.
At the same time, Caleb tore through the swarm of paper surrounding him.
The flimsy sheets lacked any real cutting power; they couldn't even pierce his clothes.
Emerging from the fluttering white storm, Caleb charged forward, his aura razor-sharp as he closed in on Kalluto.
Expressionless, Kalluto raised his paper fan above his head, then swept it downward in a crescent arc before reversing the motion upward.
The fan snapped open, stirring the wind.
The gathered sheets of paper, caught in the gust, swirled into the air above him.
Caleb barely spared a glance at the rising mass before closing the distance and throwing another punch.
Kalluto barely managed to bring his fan back to block, but he was too slow.
Caleb's fist collided with the fan, breaking through the defense before shifting into an uppercut that slammed into Kalluto's abdomen.
Thud! Kalluto's petite frame was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, scattering bright red blood in the air.
But just as Kalluto was punched away, the paper cluster hovering above suddenly poured down onto Caleb, swallowing him whole once more.
Yet in the next instant, Caleb flared his aura, scattering the paper covering his body, emerging completely unharmed.
Kalluto's body crashed heavily from midair, bouncing several times on the ground like a ball before finally rolling to a stop on the grass.
"Cough, cough..."
Propping himself up with one hand, Kalluto coughed violently, staining the grass before him with large patches of crimson. Trembling, he struggled to rise, blood dripping from his chin and soaking his chest, making him look like a broken doll.
One more hit... and I'll have my chance...
With great effort, Kalluto raised his paper fan, tilting his head slightly to glance at Morrow not far away.
Morrow, who had just taken a few steps forward, froze under Kalluto's gaze.
No need!
That was the message conveyed in his eyes.
Kalluto averted his gaze, turning instead to the flurry of paper swirling behind Caleb.
For the first time, Kalluto took the initiative, charging straight at Caleb.
He's on his last legs!
Caleb took in Kalluto's pitiful state while keeping an eye on Morrow's movements. Though Morrow hadn't made any substantial moves, his presence alone weighed heavily on Caleb.
Seeing Kalluto charging at him now, Caleb could no longer hold back. Killing intent surged within him as he decisively lunged at Kalluto once more.
Yet this Nen user, his body in a state of heightened excitement, failed to notice the small, unremarkable slip of paper lightly embedded in his neck.
As the distance between them closed, Kalluto repeated his earlier tactic, sacrificing his defenses to send a swarm of paper biting toward Caleb.
Intent only on finishing Kalluto quickly, Caleb ignored the papers and struck again at the weak point in Kalluto's aura.
Boom!
Kalluto was sent flying once more.
And once more, the swarm of paper engulfed Caleb.
Dance of the Serpent's Bite.
Blurred vision swimming before him, Kalluto kept his eyes locked on Caleb, now wrapped in paper.
Sssshhk!
Under his watchful gaze, a fountain of blood erupted, tearing through the white paper.
At the sight, Kalluto smiled, indifferent to his own impending crash.
But the expected impact never came.
Kalluto blinked in surprise, opening his eyes to find himself cradled in Morrow's arms.
"That was brutal."
Morrow looked down at Kalluto's blood-streaked face, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Weakly, Kalluto turned his head, resting it against Morrow's arm, concerned with only one thing: "Did I... win?"
"..."
Morrow didn't answer immediately, instead glancing toward Caleb.
Caleb had broken free of the paper, clutching his neck with a vicious snarl on his face.
The Deep Addict's ability, like adrenaline, allowed him to ignore the effects of severe blood loss for a short time, seemingly leaving him with fight still in him.
Though in truth, death was already at his doorstep...
"Yeah, you won, Kalluto."
Morrow said slowly.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a Shooting Star cut through the air, piercing Caleb's heart.
Caleb shuddered, his face frozen as he toppled backward, crashing onto the sea of white paper.
In an instant, the white paper was dyed crimson with blood.
Lv.43 → Lv.44
Morrow's gaze swept over Caleb's corpse, then turned to the mansion shrouded in night.