Yet Child Emperor did not budge.
An instant before Jackie Chan's foot struck him, a translucent barrier shimmered into existence, visibly warping the air. It stopped the heavy blow dead, ripples spreading across its surface like water.
Yeto stood just behind Child Emperor, hands thrust forward. Light flickered rapidly in her violet eyes, and fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
She had raised her Nen barrier in the nick of time.
Jackie Chan's strike had failed. A calculating glint seemed to flash through his crimson eyes.
He pulled back his leg to change tactics, but his body suddenly stiffened!
The space around him seemed to turn into invisible amber, suspending him in midair!
Yeto shifted her Nen from defense to restraint. Unseen force pressed in from every direction, trying to pin him completely.
"Gah!" Jackie Chan growled and thrashed. His muscles bulged, and even the invisible field restraining him began to tremble!
He forced his arms outward as though wrestling an unseen giant python.
"He's too strong!" Yeto gritted her teeth. Her face rapidly paled, and her body trembled. "I can't hold him for long! Shikadai! Child Emperor!"
"Got it!" Shikadai had already finished forming his hand signs. He pressed both hands to the ground. "Shadow Imitation Technique!"
With Yeto's Nen holding Jackie Chan in place, Shikadai's shadow stretched and twisted until it barely connected with Jackie Chan's wavering shadow, cast long across the ground by the firelight.
Together, they had him bound twice over!
Jackie Chan's movements weakened noticeably, but the strain on Shikadai and Yeto surged.
Both felt as if they were using every ounce of strength to hold back a rampaging elephant. Veins bulged on their foreheads, and sweat poured down their faces.
"Shikadai! He's practically a superman!" Yeto forced the words through clenched teeth.
"Shinki!"