A Single Fatal Strike

Tricks or methods—it made no difference.

If they could not decisively deal with the opponent in the end, they were meaningless.

Moyu's frontal combat ability was currently lacking. Even with the trump card he had obtained through Exorcism, he might not be able to take down his opponent in one go.

Under those circumstances, openly showing weakness could make the opponent suspicious and hesitant.

Or the opponent might choose to break through the paper tiger.

No matter how the opponent reacted, Moyu was prepared.

Of course—

Moyu actually hoped the opponent would attack first.

Only then could he exploit the unequal information at hand to find and seize an opportunity to kill the Long-Haired Man.

And that opportunity—

Existed only in the instant after the Long-Haired Man believed his attack had succeeded.

I can't even use Gyo right now. Breaking through his Ken would be nothing but a fool's dream.

But as long as I can lure him into applying more aura to offense, the aura he uses for defense will decrease accordingly.

Then I can use the Emotion Fragment extracted from Post-Mortem Nen to increase my attack power. If things go smoothly, I might be able to finish him in one stroke!

The question is whether this Emotion Fragment can achieve the effect I'm expecting.

Moyu pondered silently.

After gaining an opportunity for Exorcism from Perception, information regarding Exorcism and Emotion Fragments had flooded into Moyu's mind when he touched that photograph entwined with Post-Mortem Nen.

An Emotion Fragment was something refined from Post-Mortem Nen.

It had a variety of uses, one of which was offense.

Though he did not know whether its exact effect would meet his expectations...

At the very least, he had to make sure he could use it properly.

No rush. I only have one chance.

Moyu waited in silence.

In his field of vision, one side was pitch-black, while the other held the Long-Haired Man, caught between advancing and retreating.

The two sides remained locked in a stalemate.

Judging from their positions and current circumstances, their situations were actually quite similar. Both were willing to wait during the stalemate for their companions to produce a result.

If Cheadle, Ken, and Sivir remained deadlocked—

Then it would depend on whether Hawk or Genbul fell first...

That would determine who made the first move.

Moyu simply had not expected that moment to arrive so quickly.

Bang!

A dull boom suddenly rang out from within the battle zone.

Hawk had been sent flying by a single blow from Genbul, crashing heavily into a large tree and spitting out a great deal of blood.

The injuries he had suffered several days ago, combined with the need to devote at least half his Nen to maintaining Rat Treasure, severely limited the combat strength Hawk could bring to bear.

The same was true for Cheadle.

As a non-combat type, even with the effects of her ability, she could at most restrain her opponents.

She lacked the ability to kill them in battle.

When Hawk was severely struck down, Cheadle's already inadequate "attack power" became even weaker. The chain reaction this caused instantly clarified the situation in the field.

Genbul prepared to deliver the final blow to Hawk, while Cole finally pulled his thoughts free from the mire.

"Hawk...!"

Cheadle's expression shifted slightly. Yet her first thought in that instant was not concern for Hawk's life or death, but to have Moyu—who had awakened Nen less than half a month ago—run immediately.

Just as she was about to act on that thought, gunfire suddenly erupted through the mountain forest.

The figure standing in the darkness had somehow produced a submachine gun and pulled the trigger at Genbul.

Amid the rapid gunfire, scorching bullets shot toward Genbul one after another.

As the muzzle flashed, the flickering firelight outlined the figure's clothing and the Nen steadily growing stronger around him.

"Hmm?!"

Genbul moved at the sound. Rather than taking the bullets head-on, he dodged aside.

However, the barrage that poured toward him followed closely behind, seemingly trying to force him away from Hawk.

"Heh."

Genbul noticed his opponent's intention and sneered inwardly.

He went along with Moyu's plan. Rather than insisting on finishing off the incapacitated Hawk, he kept dodging the bullets while drawing Moyu's attention toward himself as much as possible.

That way, he could create an opportunity for Cole to attack.

And Cole did not disappoint Genbul.

The moment Moyu opened fire and focused his gaze on Genbul—

Cole drew a short blade and attacked Moyu, who was firing his gun, from a blind spot with utmost ferocity.

Before making his move, Cole had caught sight of the opponent's clothing through the aura surrounding him, which was growing ever brighter.

He also saw the night-vision goggles covering more than half the opponent's face.

"Just this level of Ren?"

Other than that, the only thing that drew Cole's attention was the opponent's mediocre Ren.

In a flash, Cole entered attack range and drove the short blade, condensed with Nen, into Moyu's chest.

Squelch!

The powerful Nen carried by the strike instantly shredded Moyu's clothes into countless fragments.

Ren at that level simply could not stop Cole's attack. This strike was undoubtedly a single fatal blow!

Pathetically weak...

That was the thought that arose in Cole's mind as he ended Moyu with one strike.

Yet in that very instant, Moyu, whom he had stabbed, suddenly vanished into thin air.

The night-vision goggles Moyu had been wearing, his remaining clothing, and both submachine guns all fell from midair.

"!!!"

Cole's pupils abruptly contracted.

At that moment, a hand glowing with Black Nen swept cleanly across his neck from a dark corner, appearing behind him.

That was—

Moyu, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.

"That really hurt."

Moyu muttered softly.

Behind him, Cole's head slid from his neck and hit the ground with a thud. It rolled two or three times before coming to a stop.

Before his consciousness completely faded, Cole struggled to roll his eyes upward and stared fixedly at the person who had cut off his head with one hand.

A... brat?!

Why had it turned out like this...?

He had clearly been using Gyo to observe the situation the whole time...

If this brat had hidden himself with Zetsu, then after closing his Aura Nodes, the double he had materialized with Nen should have dispersed...

What exactly had happened?!

With endless doubt, Cole died full of resentment.

Even in death, he could not figure out what had happened.

"Cole?!"

The sudden turn of events left Genbul, who had believed victory was assured, utterly shocked.

Leaning against the tree trunk, Hawk—who had been bitterly cursing his own lack of strength—also saw the scene and froze.

What had just happened...?

How had Moyu done that?!

Hawk felt as though his brain was not enough to process it.

After recovering from the pain, Moyu looked rather surprised at the Black Nen wrapped around his palm.

Its effect was even better than he had expected.

**A splendid single fatal strike. Your proficiency in the Four Major Principles has increased by 1.**

Huh?

I've been overwhelmed by enrollment matters, so the update came late. Sorry...