Constraint

Sivir's instincts were not wrong.

As an Enhancer, her speed was clearly superior to Cheadle's.

Yet no matter how she attacked, she couldn't even touch a corner of Cheadle's clothing.

This was despite Ken attacking alongside her.

What was going on?

Sivir knew it might be related to Cheadle's ability, but she couldn't understand the principle behind it.

Ken, however, caught on.

It wasn't a physical enhancement of eyesight, but an enhancement of conceptual observation.

No.

That phrasing wasn't quite accurate either.

Because even with enhanced observation, one could at most see surface details...

To make someone involuntarily think, "Do you have precognition?" required insight that broke through conventional limits!

Exactly.

It was insight laced with analysis and judgment.

But having reached this conclusion, Ken was more curious about something else.

That was—

While evading attacks, Cheadle had many opportunities to counterattack, yet she didn't seize them.

Ken raised this question, naturally not expecting an answer from Cheadle—only to relay information to his companions.

Unexpectedly... Cheadle responded.

"Caution is my answer."

Cheadle's expression was calm. As she spoke, she raised her right hand in a white glove, palm up, making a gesture akin to an invitation.

It was a subconscious movement she made when "lecturing."

"Because of caution?"

Ken's eyes narrowed into slits. He quickly glanced at Cole, who was "standing by," then at Genbul, who was "spinning the slots."

"Ah, I see."

He feigned a look of realization and smiled. "I don't mind indulging your desire to 'buy time.' With that in mind, I have a question."

As he spoke, This man, whose fighting style was especially suited to Enhancers, actively closed his aura nodes, entering a state of Zetsu.

Without the protection of aura, a single shot could end his life.

Ken's sudden, inexplicable action didn't change Cheadle's expression at all, but—

It wasn't entirely without effect.

The fingers holding Cheadle's "Medical Ledger" moved imperceptibly.

For a moment...

She wanted to cancel her ability and deliver a fatal blow to Ken.

Given the current situation, as a non-combat Nen user, it was difficult for her to defeat four Nen masters.

But if she could reduce their numbers by one, there would be an opportunity to turn the tide.

Ken seemed not to notice Cheadle's faint, almost invisible movement. He maintained an elegant smile and said, "Of course, the question I want to ask doesn't require your answer."

"..."

Cheadle remained silent.

She was indeed buying time, and the other's words and actions seemed deliberately to accommodate her.

Sivir was silent as well.

Trusting her companion, she held back her urge to attack while Cheadle made no move.

But as an Enhancer, holding back was excruciating.

"Cautious Dog of the Zodiac. Normally, seeing an enemy with an unknown ability on standby, staying alert and acting cautiously is a normal response. But don't forget, my other companion is already in a state of 'using his ability.'"

Ken leveled the long blade in his hand, assuming an offensive stance, and said seriously:

"A conjured slot machine and my companion's constant spinning—anyone with half a brain can see that's a 'preparation-type' ability. In a Nen battle, it's like an hourglass counting down. Yet you didn't interfere. So..."

Abundant aura returned to Ken.

As he spoke, he opened his aura nodes, letting aura cover his body once more.

"It's not that you won't, but that you can't. So back to my original question: why didn't you counterattack? It's not that you wouldn't, but that you couldn't. That's the restriction of your ability!"

Before the words faded, Ken stomped his foot.

Boom!

The ground split apart.

Wrapped in Nen, Ken shot toward Cheadle like a streak of light.

Aside from two Enhancers going head-to-head in the ring, fights between Nen users often played out more like an "intelligence war."

And from Ken's analysis, Sivir had picked up a crucial piece of information.

This Zodiac, slippery as an eel, seemed to have a restriction like "cannot attack."

Sivir trusted Ken's judgment. She erupted with a powerful aura and struck at Cheadle from the other side.

This time, she left no room for retreat.

The frontal assault from two experts once again put pressure on Cheadle.

"Hmm, basically right. Is this guy really an Enhancer..."

Cheadle's eyes locked onto the incoming Ken and Sivir.

When she materialized the "Medical Ledger," it granted her abilities beyond the norm, and insight was one of them.

The original intent behind wanting this ability was to solve various "difficult cases" more smoothly and efficiently, while also drastically reducing the chance of "misdiagnosis."

Given that intent—

the restriction on this ability was "Benevolent Healer."

Because a doctor of high moral character and compassion could never bring themselves to harm others.

Even though the ability's restriction had been seen through by Ken, Cheadle wasn't shaken by it.

The reason, of course, was—

restrictions only existed while the ability was active.

Cheadle channeled her Nen, easily evading Ken's attack, while also responding to Sivir's Nen flow and the subtlest habitual movements of her body.

Dodge, and dodge again—

Ken's blade, along with Sivir's Fist Tiger and Wheel Blade, still couldn't touch Cheadle under the storm of relentless attacks.

However, because Sivir had thrown all her focus into offense, Cheadle's evasions this time looked even more perilous than before.

In contrast, Ken hadn't poured everything into his attacks.

After all...

not being able to attack and not being able to counterattack were different things.

What Sivir had understood carried a slight nuance of error.

And that error left her wide open in her all-out assault, a vulnerability she hadn't shown before.

"An opening."

Cheadle's pupils contracted and expanded like a camera shutter in that instant, and she smoothly dispelled the "Medical Ledger."

With the ability gone, the "Benevolent Healer" restriction naturally vanished, and it freed up one of her hands.

Ryu!

Cheadle rapidly channeled her Nen, using her freed hand to deflect Ken's attack trajectory, then swiftly flowed Nen to her right hand, landing a precise punch on Sivir's weak point.

Boom!

Sivir let out a muffled groan and flew backward.

Ken's expression shifted slightly. He wanted to press the attack, but Cheadle had already rematerialized the "Medical Ledger."

"As expected of a Zodiac..."

Outside the battle circle.

Genbul, who was "spinning the wheel," and Cole, who appeared to be doing nothing, both let out the same sigh as Ken at that moment.

"Cole, aren't you 'ready' yet?"

Genbul turned his gaze to Cole.

"It's already 'sprouted.'"

Cole replied.