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"I knew it,"
Mika chuckled, shaking his head. He was well aware of Netero's battle-loving nature, having trained under him.
As Chairman of the Hunter Association—Netero enjoyed mentoring young Hunters—not simply to pass down his knowledge, but to train potential rivals—opponents who could challenge him and satisfy his thirst for battle.
He was particularly fond of those with exceptional talent, like Mika.
"Then let's change the venue." Mika clapped his hands.
Snap!
The world around them shifted.
The forest vanished, along with the Chimera Ant Queen, her Royal Guards, and the unborn King. They now stood on the surface of a vast, seemingly endless ocean, the water stretching out as far as the eye could see.
"What a beautiful view," Netero remarked, taking in the scenery: the clear blue sky, the bright sun, the fluffy white clouds, the calm, serene ocean. It was a picturesque scene.
"Is this...your Nen ability?" He asked, turning to Mika.
"Indeed. I created this arena. What do you think?"
"It's lovely. And a suitable location for our—discussion. We won't be interrupted here." Netero adopted a fighting stance, his gaze fixed on Mika, his entire being focused.
Netero could sense the immense power hidden within Mika—though he wasn't concerned about his rapid growth. He simply wanted a good fight.
"Hold on." Mika chuckled, raising a hand to stop him, then, with a flick of his wrist, produced a vial and tossed it to Netero.
"Drink this. It will—benefit you."
"Oh?" Netero caught the vial, glanced at it, then, without hesitation, drank its contents. He trusted Mika implicitly.
Just as Mika understood Netero's battle-loving nature. Netero—during their time together, had come to understand Mika's character. He knew Mika wouldn't betray him.
As he swallowed the liquid, a wave of heat surged through his body.
As a seasoned Martial artist, his awareness of his physical state was exceptional. He could feel the potion permeating his very cells, revitalizing them. Strength surged through him, his blood boiling, his bones and muscles rejuvenating. A thick mist erupted from his body, enveloping him. Within the mist, Mika could see Netero's body—changing.
Everything was proceeding as planned.
The potion he had given Netero was a special concoction created by Airmid—called the Elixir of Vitality.
It revitalized aging cells—restoring youth and even extending one's lifespan—Mika carried several of these elixirs. He had given one to Sakonji Urokodaki during his visit to the Demon Slayer World.
And now, Netero, having consumed the elixir, was regaining his youth, and with it, his strength. Netero, the man who had stood at the pinnacle of power for half a century, even in his old age, had been one of the strongest in the Hunter x Hunter world. However, that wasn't enough for Mika. He had anticipated this and wanted to face Netero at his strongest – his prime.
"I never thought I'd feel this young again—" Netero exclaimed, his voice filled with an almost childlike wonder, an emotion he rarely displayed. He was genuinely moved.
"It's a small gift. I hope it's to your liking."
"It's perfect. But this isn't Nen, is it?" Netero could instantly tell that the potion wasn't Nen-based.
"Indeed, it isn't—While Nen could achieve a similar effect, it wouldn't be through such...crude methods." Mika knew the versatility of Nen. After all, Alluka Zoldyck possessed the potential for practically any ability.
"I imagine you're curious about its origins, and the—secrets I'm hiding."
"Then come. If you can entertain me, I'll answer your questions after our—discussion." Like in the Demon Slayer world, he held absolute power in this one.
Therefore, Mika didn't need to hide his true nature—his ability to travel between worlds, though he wouldn't reveal it unless asked.
"Very well. Then let's begin." Netero adopted a fighting stance, his Nen, now far more potent than before, both in quantity and quality, surging around him.
A massive, Thousand-armed statue materialized behind him.
—[100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva].
This was Netero's Nen ability, a culmination of his martial arts mastery, his willpower, and his refined control over Nen.
It was his ultimate technique.
"As expected, this is the version I wanted to face," Mika said, a grin spreading across his face. He could feel it; Netero's power had increased several fold, his age having been a significant handicap. His rejuvenated body had unleashed his full potential.
"Then let's begin." He swung his arm, and a giant figure materialized behind him, mirroring Netero's Guanyin, but with a crucial difference: This one was clad in armor, wielding a sword in one hand and a spear in the other, Mika's preferred weapons, the tools he had mastered in countless worlds.
———
With his enhanced Cosmo, Mika's Nen abilities were practically limitless. He could create any ability he desired.
And now, inspired by Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, he had created his own:
—[Hundred Strikes: Sword and Spear.]
After all, his Nen training had been under Netero's guidance; Mika had even used 100-Type Guanyin as inspiration for some of his earlier Nen creations:
Enlarging his weapons—Creating a suit of armor that could also expand in size.
However, these techniques, initially promising, had been quickly replaced as his power grew. But he still had a fondness for them.
Previously, limited by his strength and experience, he had focused on developing Nen abilities that maximized his current power. But now, having grown stronger, and with his Cosmo enhancing his Nen, he could explore new possibilities.
He had created a giant, armored warrior, wielding his preferred weapons.
"Let's begin, Sensei."
"Indeed, Mika."
———
They locked eyes, then unleashed their attacks, their giant avatars clashing, a whirlwind of fists, swords, and spears.
It was a battle of Nen, a battle of martial arts, a battle of wills.
Their attacks, each one powerful enough to shatter a mountain, echoed through the air, their battleground, the vast expanse of ocean, chosen specifically to contain their destructive power.
If they had fought in the forest, they would have likely obliterated it, along with the Chimera Ant Queen and her Royal Guards, whose loyalty, ingrained in their very being, prevented them from fleeing.
However, even if they had tried, they would have been helpless against such a clash of titans.
———
Clang!
Mika's spear struck Netero's Avatar, ending the battle.
The outcome had never been in doubt.
Netero, whether in his prime or in his old age, was no match for the current Mika.
"That was...refreshing!" Mika exclaimed, his voice filled with exhilaration. He had used only his Level 7 physical abilities and Nen techniques in their duel. His advantage had been his enhanced physique, granted by his Falna, and his immense aura reserves.
In terms of Nen technique—Netero, with his decades of experience, was his superior.
Netero, even in his prime, possessed Level 6 physical abilities. After all, humans in this world had incredible potential.
Even children, before awakening their Nen, could achieve superhuman strength through training, easily lifting several tons, a feat unimaginable in other worlds.
And Netero had pushed his physical abilities to their absolute limits. Furthermore, as an Enhancer, he could further strengthen his body with his Nen.
Therefore, this rejuvenated Netero, combining his peak physical condition with decades of Nen training, was truly a force to be reckoned with.
He was at his absolute strongest.
Moreover, during their battle—Netero, already a master martial artist, had, inspired by Mika's Godly Sword and Spear Techniques, achieved a similar breakthrough in his own hand-to-hand combat skills. Netero had reached the Godly Domain in unarmed combat.
While this had surprised Mika, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
Netero had always been at the pinnacle of human martial arts, lacking only the—vision to see beyond.
Mika's techniques had shown him the path—the possibility of transcending human limitations. And with his existing foundation in martial arts, such a breakthrough was—inevitable.
It was this sudden improvement that had allowed him to last so long against Mika.
———
"I lost,"
Netero admitted, sitting up, his voice filled with a grudging respect. Only after facing Mika in battle could he truly understand his power—And even then, he suspected Mika was still holding back, his true strength hidden beneath the surface.
"I finally defeated you, Master Netero. That was—invigorating," Mika said, sitting down beside him and placing a hand on his shoulder, a gentle, healing light emanating from it.
"So, are you going to answer my questions, as promised?"
"Ask away," Mika replied with a smile. As he had said before, he wasn't concerned about revealing his true nature. He was powerful enough to handle any consequences.
"Excellent!" Netero's eyes lit up. He had many questions. He had simply refrained from asking, respecting Mika's silence. But now...
"Then I'll begin."
"Go ahead."
———
———
"So that's how it is..."
"You're from another world."
"A traveler between worlds—While it seems like we only parted ways recently, for you—years have passed," Netero murmured, stunned by the revelation. He hadn't imagined Mika's secret would be this extraordinary.
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