Phinks grinned, his expression twisting with anger.
At the same time, Feitan's murderous aura became palpable, sharp and oppressive.
"Make us pay? This is our territory. Don't get ahead of yourself, you bastard," Feitan sneered coldly, his voice dripping with venom. His final insult came in his native tongue, giving the words an even sharper edge.
It was clear he was livid.
Finding an intruder bold enough to spew threats while cornered in their base was audacious, even by his standards. Feitan had encountered plenty of idiots before, but none as brazen as this one.
"So, this is the kind of trash the Zoldyck family breeds?" Feitan hissed, his voice low and menacing. "The more you tell me not to act, the more I will. After I kill you, I'll find that silver-haired kid—and then I'll kill him too."
Feitan's smile widened, his words turning cruel. "I'll make sure he suffers a fate worse than death…"
A sharp whistling sound interrupted him. Shadows darted through the air, streaking toward Feitan at incredible speed.
"Clang! Clang!"
Feitan drew his umbrella sword, parrying the attack with precise rotations. A few white projectiles fell to the ground, glinting ominously in the moonlight. Silver needles, tipped with spherical heads, rolled across the floor. They looked deceptively delicate but radiated a deadly chill.
Feitan's gaze sharpened as he turned to Illumi Zoldyck. The assassin stood calm and composed, his body radiating a suffocating pressure, his intent unmistakably murderous.
"Not bad. Quick reflexes, strong aura…" Feitan murmured, his eyes narrowing. "And some impressive killing intent."
Illumi's long hair floated eerily in the windless room, his face obscured by dark lines of malicious energy.
"If you dare to target Killua…" His voice was low but sharp, each word like a dagger. "I'll kill you right here and now."
Feitan chuckled darkly, tightening his grip on his umbrella sword. "Then come and try. After I finish with you, I'll—"
Whoosh!
Illumi didn't wait for Feitan to finish, lunging forward like a shadow. Feitan met him head-on, the umbrella sword flashing as it clashed with Illumi's needles.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of their battle filled the room, each blow sharp and deliberate.
From the sidelines, Phinks watched the duel with a blank expression.
"Wait... wasn't I the one who insulted him first? Shouldn't he be fighting me?" he muttered, utterly baffled.
Shaking off his confusion, Phinks retreated to join Franklin and the others. Still, he couldn't help complaining under his breath.
"Feitan, you jerk! Stealing my target like that! Once this fight's over, I'm coming for you."
Feitan, locked in battle with Illumi, ignored Phinks entirely. If he'd heard the grumbling, he would've just told him to shut up.
Ronnel observed the fight silently, his expression thoughtful. "This wasn't supposed to happen," he mused. "In the original timeline, Feitan never fought Illumi. If they had, Pakunoda would've mentioned it to the rest of the Phantom Troupe."
Ronnel sighed inwardly. "Illumi must've panicked when I exposed him earlier. Instead of sneaking out unnoticed, he blew his cover and confronted the troupe, all to protect Killua."
A wry smile crossed his face. "It's touching—being such a protective big brother—but couldn't he have picked a better time? With Feitan's temper, this was bound to explode."
Still, Ronnel couldn't help but think: Go ahead, fight it out. The harder you hit, the more injured you'll both be—and I'll be the one to reap the rewards.
Meanwhile, Machi frowned as she glanced at her phone.
"Should we call Pakunoda? Let her know about Hisoka?" Shalnark asked, his eyes fixed on the duel.
Machi shook her head. "No. Hisoka might've broken the deal, but I don't think the boss is in any danger. I've had a strange feeling ever since Pakunoda left. It's like... I know the boss will be fine."
Shalnark raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. Instead, he turned his attention back to the fight.
In the arena, Feitan and Illumi clashed relentlessly. Illumi's skill, honed to near perfection, met Feitan's ferocity blow for blow. Neither showed any sign of backing down.
Though silent, both combatants radiated intent so intense that even the seasoned Phantom Troupe members watching couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Feitan, ranked second in the troupe's hierarchy, was no stranger to fighting top-tier opponents. His strength, sharpened further by intense training after Ronnel's taunts, allowed him to hold his ground against Illumi, one of the deadliest assassins in the world.
The air crackled with tension, as if the building itself couldn't contain the weight of their clash.
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