1.5 million reserve aura... just gone like that?
That old geezer really is a piece of work!
Dammit! What a massive loss!
After checking the remaining reserves inside the red dragon, Allen felt like his heart was bleeding. That was an amount of aura equivalent to nearly two "Menthuthuyoupi"s! Calculating by the current quantity and quality of his cocoons, it would take at least several months to recover that amount before the Chimera Ant army arrived.
Evidently, as he continued to develop Aura Burst, it had essentially become no different from a jet engine, or perhaps a rocket or missile motor. Once it exceeded a certain threshold of speed, the "fuel" consumption increased exponentially. During the battle, he was too caught up in the "thrill" to notice these details, but now that he had come back to his senses, Allen realized just how "wasteful" his behavior had been.
As he stood staring despondently at the barren canyon landscape, Chairman Netero walked up from behind at some point and asked in a relaxed tone, "You've defeated me, yet you don't seem particularly happy?"
"Happy? Do you have any idea how high a price I paid for this ridiculous victory? Besides, you still have your strongest move held back. I don't feel like I won at all. On the contrary, I feel like I fell for your trap," Allen replied, rolling his eyes in annoyance.
"Hahaha! It seems that the bottomless pit of aura you possessed after the possession all came from that dragon-like red Nen beast. And its aura must be snatched from the enemies you've defeated and devoured, right?" Chairman Netero chuckled, voicing his suspicion.
Ever since the Hunter Exam ended, he had been keeping a close eye on this young man. He knew that almost every time a battle concluded, the red dragon would breathe fire, reducing opponents into cocoon-like objects to be swallowed. These cocoons clearly contained the post-mortem Nen of the deceased, providing a steady, continuous supply of aura.
With that in mind, the terrifying explosion of aura from Allen during his possession was easy to understand. It wasn't his own aura; it was the result of dozens, if not hundreds, of Nen users being funneled together and accumulated over time. In the face of such sheer volume, any experience or technique became secondary. If there was a flaw, it was simply that it required a period of accumulation after each use. But as a trump card to turn the tide in a crisis, this ability was already powerful enough.
"Yeah. Vaelstrasz is an ability that truly belongs to me, a Nen beast of my own creation. She can manifest in two forms during combat; you just saw one of them. Anyway, thank you for your guidance. I've gained a lot from this fight. I finally know which path I should take in the future."
Allen didn't hide anything, candidly admitting to a part of the red dragon's capabilities while expressing his gratitude to the old man. He knew that it wouldn't be long before the Chairman reached the end of his life in the battle against the Ant King. However, he had no intention of sabotaging that meticulously designed plot, nor would he stop a martial artist from pursuing his dream. That was Netero's own choice. Rather than slowly fading away into old age and death, perhaps ending everything with a heart-pounding battle was the best end for a warrior.
"The future..." An envious expression appeared on Netero's face. "Unfortunately, I have no future left; only continuous decline. If it were possible, I'd really like to wait a few years and fight you again. I'm sure that would be quite a thrill."
"Don't sound so gloomy. If I'm not mistaken, you must have prepared two doses of the medicine Cheadle developed for yourself, haven't you?" Allen asked, staring meaningfully into the old man's eyes.
Netero nodded slightly. "Yes. I've prepared two doses for myself. Though I don't know when I'll actually use them. Why? Do you want a life-and-death duel with me in my prime? As a trade-off, if you win, I'm willing to hand over the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva and let you devour it."
"The Guanyin Bodhisattva? That sounds tempting indeed. But unfortunately, you aren't on my hunting list. However, I believe it won't be long before you encounter an opponent that requires those two doses. When that time comes, you can go all out in a magnificent battle to conclude your life."
As he spoke, Allen glanced out of the corner of his eye at Pariston, who was standing not far away.
"Oh? You mean..."
Netero certainly noticed the look. Instead of shrinking back, he showed an expression of excitement and anticipation.
"The Dark Continent holds too many temptations; some people simply can't wait anymore," Allen hinted with a double meaning.
"I see. So this old man is standing in their way. In that case, let them come. I'm quite looking forward to seeing what they've prepared to kill me." With that, Chairman Netero turned and walked away without hesitation.
Watching the old man's receding back, Allen couldn't help but sigh softly. "The conviction to never take a single step back regardless of the challenge? Such a terrifyingly unwavering will."
"Are you complimenting yourself in a roundabout way?" Illumi suddenly emerged from a hidden corner.
"Why do you say that?" Allen asked with a smile.
"Because you defeated the Chairman. Grandfather says that since he mastered the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, no one has ever managed to do that. Also, I have some good news. Father has decided that from today on, we will no longer accept any contracts related to you. You're too dangerous; we can't afford the consequences of failure."
Illumi's voice lacked any inflection, as if he were discussing a trivial matter rather than a major decision by the Zoldyck family of assassins.
"Is that so? That's certainly good news worth celebrating. But regarding defeating the Chairman, you shouldn't take it too literally. First, Chairman Netero's physical status and aura are less than half of what they were in his prime. Second, he has a move meant to take his enemy down with him that he didn't use. Strictly speaking, this was just a sparring match, not a life-and-death duel," Allen corrected him seriously.
Truthfully, he wasn't certain he could withstand the Zero Hand of the Guanyin Bodhisattva. Dragon scales, after all, weren't quite as tough as a Chimera Ant's exoskeleton. Furthermore, King Meruem's aura capacity had always been a mystery. Some judged it to be only around one million to 1.5 million based on his attack on Neferpitou, while others believed he had at least three million. Only a tenfold difference in aura can guarantee that an opponent cannot break one's defense, a fact best demonstrated in Youpi's battle against the Extermination Team.
Because there were too many uncertainties, outsiders had no way of judging the true power of Zero Hand. At least, as someone who had just tasted the Guanyin's massive palms, Allen felt the Chairman's attack power wasn't weak at all; it just didn't have the explosive burst of pure power-type Enhancement finishers like those of Gon or Uvogin. If not for his superhuman reflexes and his mastery of Ryu, Ken, and Ko, he surely would have been injured or even suffered broken bones under that overwhelming barrage.
"Eh? Really?" Illumi showed a rare expression of surprise, though he quickly returned to his deadpan look. "Even so, you're very impressive. After today's battle, the whole world will recognize you as one of the strongest Nen users. And you're only fifteen; reaching the absolute peak is only a matter of time."
"The strongest? I won't deny that's my goal. But for now, I'm still a distance away from that title. Oh, I almost forgot, last time, Chrollo was killed before he could pay, so here is the compensation I promised you." Allen casually pulled out two bottles of Major Healing Potions and tossed them over.
"No matter how many times I see it, this magical liquid is so beautiful, just like fresh blood. Thanks." Illumi caught them steadily and stuffed them into his pocket without ceremony.
Allen smiled dismissively. "Glad you like them. Remember to clear your schedule next May. I'll be hiring you to help with some things."
"OK. I'll wait for your call."
True to his profession as an assassin, Illumi didn't even bother to ask about the job description and agreed immediately.