True skill reveals itself in the first move.
That's exactly the kind of master Biscuit is.
Using just a single Shooting Star to set up an offensive was, in the end, Morrow underestimating the situation.
Moreover, against an opponent like Biscuit, there was no point in hoping to utilize the treachery tactics of the Deceptive Shooting Star.
Better to use it openly.
"Deceptive Shooting Star."
Morrow naturally extended his arms, aura swirling above his palms, quickly condensing into two basketball-sized Shooting Stars before hurling them backward.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...!
In an instant, the two basketball-sized Shooting Stars split apart into a cluster of stars, hovering in place about a hundred meters behind Morrow.
1 to 5 seconds.
Morrow had set different hover durations for each star.
So as the second hand ticked forward, the first batch of hovering stars abruptly reversed course, streaking toward Morrow's back like a meteor shower.
"Starlight Convergence."
Just before the star rain could strike, the aura around Morrow shattered into starlight, forming a two-meter radius around his body.
"Rhythm Echo."
In the next moment, Morrow shifted his footing with irregular pacing, trailing starlights as he flickered forward in a series of afterimages, closing the distance toward Biscuit.
Meanwhile, the meteor-like Shooting Star Cluster that had shot toward him from behind passed harmlessly through his afterimages before continuing along their straight trajectories, now aimed at Biscuit.
This was Morrow's combination technique.
The key to executing it lay in his current physical prowess, which allowed him to employ footwork like Rhythm Echo.
One after another, the split Shooting Stars, now amplified to double their original power, surged relentlessly toward Biscuit.
After hovering and reversing, the Nen bullets' power and speed roughly doubled. And their initial trajectories all pointed back at Morrow, that must be the Limitation. So… the Vow effect that enhances their power is likely conditioned on "Self-Inflicted Wound."
Biscuit's eyes darted rapidly, instantly analyzing the trajectories of the first wave of Shooting Stars while deducing the mechanics of Morrow's ability.
However, lacking critical information, she couldn't yet discern the effects of his other external starlight ability.
But that didn't affect her next decision.
"Martial Skill: Finger Tap Enlightenment."
Biscuit abruptly lunged forward, her fingers curled, striking the incoming Shooting Stars with precise knuckle strikes.
Thud, thud, thud...!
Each swift, pinpoint tap shattered the endless barrage of Shooting Stars one by one.
Morrow's eyes gleamed with admiration.
Incredible.
Just this one martial skill, when breaking the Shooting Stars, she didn't waste a single ounce of strength or a wisp of aura. It was the epitome of perfect efficiency.
And it was precisely this kind of technique, where not a shred of excess effort was expended in battle, that formed the true foundation of a master.
As Biscuit shattered the first wave of Shooting Stars, the second wave passed through Morrow's afterimages and arrived.
But by now, Biscuit had already used "Finger Tap Enlightenment" to create more reaction space.
Instead of breaking the next wave, she sidestepped while advancing toward Morrow.
Had Wing been watching from the stands, he would've noticed that every step Biscuit took now positioned her in opposition to Morrow's trajectory.
This way, the Shooting Stars couldn't possibly hit her. Because Morrow was always positioned in front of Biscuit, he essentially served as a measuring stick to confirm the trajectory of the Shooting Stars.
Moreover, as she maneuvered, Biscuit continuously closed the distance between herself and Morrow.
This tactic subtly synchronized with the returning Deceptive Shooting Stars, placing Morrow in an awkward pincer attack from both front and rear.
Has she figured it out… the mechanism of the Shooting Stars?
Seeing Biscuit mirroring his footwork, Morrow's expression shifted.
As the creator of the Deceptive Shooting Star, how could he not recognize Biscuit's intent?
She had clearly deciphered the mechanism of the Shooting Stars and was countering with that unreasonable footwork technique of hers.
His ability… was being exploited by Biscuit.
And earlier, to prolong the setup time, he had divided the hovering stars into five batches at 1–5 second intervals.
This decision now backfired, creating immense trouble for himself.
Morrow was inwardly stunned by Biscuit's explosive thinking.
The time it took her to discern the mechanism and devise a countermeasure was equivalent to the time it took her to shatter the first wave of Shooting Stars.
In other words…
One second?
Though shocked, Morrow's composure remained unshaken.
Facing Biscuit's counter, he abruptly retreated, widening the gap between them while shortening the distance to the hovering Shooting Stars.
This way, he no longer had to face the combined threat from Biscuit and the Shooting Stars, instead dealing solely with the latter.
It was a last-resort countermeasure, because…
As expected, the ability can't be canceled. After all, it's a charging-type ability that converts motion into stasis, and it clearly has a timed function. For an ability structured like this to work, it must bear the Limitation of being irreversible once activated.
Biscuit smiled faintly as she watched Morrow suddenly retreat.
At first, it was just speculation, but Morrow's actions now confirmed her guess.
But you're clever.
Her gaze fixed on Morrow, she noticed he prioritized lateral movement in his footwork.
This meant that if Biscuit wanted to align her footwork with his, she too would have to sidestep, making it difficult to close the distance in a straight line within a short time.
In other words, even though Biscuit had turned the Shooting Stars' mechanism to her advantage, she couldn't immediately capitalize on the "result."
Meanwhile, Morrow, while evading the returning Deceptive Shooting Stars, gained some breathing room to respond.
But this was merely a slow death.
The third wave of Shooting Stars, the fourth wave…
All were dodged by Morrow's crab-like sidestepping.
Yet Biscuit remained unhurried, mirroring his lateral movements while steadily closing the gap.
She's not taking the bait at all.
Morrow sighed inwardly.
What he wanted was for Biscuit to tank a wave of Shooting Stars in order to instantly bridge the final distance.
But Biscuit was terrifyingly steady.
There was no choice, he had to reveal his hand early.
As the fifth wave of Shooting Stars flew past Morrow...
Starlight Convergence
Suddenly, he expanded the Starburst's coverage, enveloping Biscuit, who had already drawn near. For most people, encountering such a sudden area-of-effect phenomenon ability would prompt them to temporarily slow their offensive, if not outright stop to observe the situation first.
Thus, the abrupt expansion of the Starlight Convergence carried an additional effect, intimidation.
But Morrow was certain Biscuit wouldn't halt her assault like an ordinary person would.
For Biscuit specifically, this wasn't a threat, it was an open-armed invitation, eagerly welcoming her to charge in.
And just as Morrow predicted, even as she was enveloped by the starlight, Biscuit pressed forward without hesitation, closing the distance in an instant.
A straight punch.
Faster and fiercer than Wing's.
Yet, aided by the supportive effects of Starlight Convergence, Morrow barely managed to evade Biscuit's strike.
One.
Morrow silently counted the first attack he had dodged.
But what came next...
He knew he was about to face the most relentless offensive he had ever encountered.
At the same time, however, he could glean invaluable information from it...
In the next instant,
Biscuit's ruthless assault descended upon him.
The surrounding air seemed to vanish in an instant.
All Morrow could do was...
Rhythm Echo, save me!
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Bonus chapter 30 power stones.