Jed Three

PS: Currently at 231 votes—can't I get an extra chapter for that? Baa, baa, baa~ Still, thanks for the support. Thanks to the book friends "Wrong Door Opening Method" and "Gold Au Silver Ag" for the tips.

"Ah, hahaha, ora ora ora, check this out!" Evil Spirit kept firing attacks like the energy blasts from Dragon Ball at his opponent. But his opponent wasn't the self-defense forces from the movie version or the lord of Heaven's Arena—it was Shen Hou, one of the Anbu Twelve Stars and an elite Chimera Ant Squad Captain.

Shen Hou, known for his agility, easily dodged wave after wave of incoming attacks.

"Not bad. Then I'll get serious." Evil Spirit's massive fists began to burn with pale blue flames. He kicked off the ground and charged straight at Shen Hou. Close-quarters strength was what Evil Spirit excelled at.

"You want to fight? Then I'll fight!" Shen Hou's body rapidly swelled. If before he looked like a scrawny little monkey, now he resembled a giant black gorilla. His thick arms and bulging chest suggested he was no slouch in strength either.

"Ah da da da." As Shen Hou's arms were about to meet Evil Spirit's fists for a head-on collision, they changed again. The fur on his arms turned as sharp as steel needles, and the color shifted from black to a cold metallic sheen.

But Evil Spirit didn't care at all. He swung his fists and clashed violently with Shen Hou's. The impact produced a sharp screech like metal scraping against the ground.

"Not bad, kid." Evil Spirit rubbed his right hand, which ached from the collision. The blue flames on his hand flickered weakly. Flesh hitting metal was bound to hurt, but Shen Hou wasn't much better off.

Some of his steel-needle-like fur had started to melt, and his right fist was red and swollen. Evil Spirit's flames were no joke either. Both were now surprised by each other's strength and began to take the other seriously.

Evil Spirit's fists erupted with even hotter, fiercer blue flames, while Shen Hou's arms turned somewhat translucent—an upgrade from the metal state to diamond.

"Mechanical Devourer - Phantom!" The tall, black-haired, straight-locked Asura conjured countless deep blue threads between his fingers. Using them, he created a duplicate of Xu Gou right in front of him.

"Heh, no matter what move you use, my Mechanical Devourer - Phantom will copy it exactly. You have no chance."

"That's not certain!" Xu Gou said confidently. Then he started inhaling repeatedly toward Asura's position, sucking in air over and over. This created a massive suction force centered on Xu Gou, pulling in grass and flowers all around.

"All show. Do you really think a little suction like this can deal with me?" Asura and his Xu Gou phantom stood firm in the suction, completely unimpressed.

Xu Gou's belly swelled bigger and bigger with each breath, until it reached a critical point. It looked like it might burst.

"Are you planning to blow yourself up to kill me?" Asura crossed his arms, watching Xu Gou's next move like it was a show, utterly dismissive.

But though Asura didn't act, his Xu Gou phantom rushed toward Xu Gou at full speed.

"Damn, that dog's about to use that move! Quick, cover your ears!" The other three Anbu Twelve Stars—aside from Wei Yang, Shen Hou, and Xu Gou—immediately plugged their ears at the sight, all smirking at Asura.

"Huh? Not good. This looks bad. Attack now!" Only then did Asura realize that Xu Gou's earlier actions were just setup for what came next. The real killing move was about to land.

"Too late." Xu Gou's lips curled up.

"Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!" A thunderous roar erupted from Xu Gou's mouth, the sound forming tangible rings of sonic waves. Their target was Asura, who had just realized the danger and tried to strike. But the sonic waves also temporarily deafened everyone nearby.

"Ah, you damn dog! Why didn't you warn us before using that crap!" Shen Hou, who had been fighting Mohawk—er, Evil Spirit—stopped and covered his ears, digging at one. "Ah, got it out. Much better."

"Damn, that hurts!" Asura, right in the center of the sonic assault, was far worse off. His clothes were shredded as if hit by countless flying blades, and dark red blood trickled from his ears. Xu Gou's move had likely deafened him. It was like the Lion's Roar technique from the Zhonghua Family—an attack based on sound, impossible to guard against. Even bulletproof glass could be shattered by it, let alone fragile eardrums.

"But I'm just deaf. Do you think you've won? I told you, my Mechanical Devourer's phantom can perfectly copy your moves." Asura's expression turned manic. That damn dog had such a disgusting trick and made him lose face in front of Jed-sama. Unforgivable. "Now, taste the power of your own move!"

"Lost." Jed's face darkened. That idiot Asura had let his mind be rattled. He still hadn't noticed.

"Idiot, you still haven't figured it out?" Xu Gou sneered. Though Asura couldn't hear him, he could roughly read his lips.

"Figured out what? My Mechanical Devourer phantom—" Asura panicked. His prized phantom had vanished, and he couldn't summon it again. What was this bizarre situation? That damn dog must have done something.

"Nen Remover." Jed slowly uttered three words. He hadn't expected to find one of the world's rarest Nen users in such a remote place—someone who could seal the grudge he'd bestowed. And this Nen Remover appeared as a combatant. Asura's defeat by such a powerful Nen Remover was no disgrace. The dog's earlier suction and massive sonic attack were just a facade for removing and sealing Asura's Nen.

A Nen Remover is someone who dispels the Nen used by Nen users. Generally, Nen Removers are even rarer than Nen users. If Nen users appear once in ten thousand people, then Nen Removers appear once in ten thousand Nen users. Nen Removers typically have little combat ability compared to Nen users of the same level, and their removal methods are very cumbersome. Many Nen Removers have to wait months after a ritual before they can remove Nen again. But this dog had overturned that concept. The man his companions called Xu Gou seemed to have energy to spare, as if he could perform another removal if needed.

And the man fighting Evil Spirit was no pushover either—he didn't seem to be going all out. The three beside Jed, after receiving his grudge, were considered top-tier worldwide. Yet they'd run into people who could suppress them on all fronts. Was the world producing more experts in his absence, or was this Chimera Ant organization cultivating such talent? Either way, he grew more curious about the "King" these people mentioned. Maybe he'd be worth a fight. Interesting.

"Enough, Asura. Withdraw. You're no match for him." Jed's voice echoed directly in Asura's mind. Though Asura was deaf now, it was a minor injury that would heal with time.

"Jed-sama, I can still—" Asura was reluctant, but he couldn't defy Jed. "Yes, Jed-sama."

Current score: Shadow vs. Anbu Twelve Stars, 1:0. (Shadow: The organization Jed founded during his time in the Hunter Association, later purged by Netero for its unacceptable practices.)

The last of the trio, Wei Yang, faced Purgatory. Both were girls, neither inclined to fight. The key point was that Purgatory's ability, Refuge Vajra, was something Jed had long prepared to counter Netero. She couldn't use it here. So this matchup was the most boring of the three. Two cute girls fighting—aside from their looks, there wasn't much to see. One was a kuudere (Purgatory), the other a shrinking violet (Wei Yang).

Their fight went like this:

"Stare." Wei Yang used "Big Sheep Stare." It was somewhat effective. She fixed her big eyes on Purgatory.

"Eep!" Startled by Wei Yang's sudden move. Hmph, my turn! "Stare!" Purgatory used "Eyes Kill You." It was super effective!

Me too! "Stare!" Wei Yang fired back with "Death Gaze." It was somewhat effective.

Again! "Stare!" Purgatory used "Eyes Kill You Ver. 1.2." It was super effective!

"..."

"Sigh, Purgatory, I told you, you're actually strong." Jed's expression was helpless. He clearly had no idea how to handle this timid girl either.

"Wei Yang. You can use Nen! Use Nen!" Chou Niu cheered from the sidelines.

"Mmph!" Wei Yang puffed out her cheeks and pouted, looking like she was angry. But it didn't do much—just made her seem cute.

To be chosen as one of the twelve strongest Squad Captains and serve in the Anbu, none of them lacked strength. Chimera Ants were generally battle-hungry. But there were exceptions. Wei Yang had a very gentle personality and loved quiet. She was the type who could stare at the road all day if left alone. But setting that aside, her Nen ability was incredibly powerful—almost terrifying. When it was fully developed, even Meruem was startled. The catch was that unless you pushed Wei Yang to a certain point, you'd never see her Nen ability in your life.