Once a second dangerous situation occurred, Killua would definitely break his vow.
Illumi knew that day would come sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.
Moreover, this Chimera Ant was clearly stronger than the one just killed. In doing so, not only could Killua realize his true self, but that annoying brat could also disappear.
So, Illumi restrained his Aura, withdrew from the combat circle, also conveying a subtle message to Harrison.
Harrison received the message but had no interest in exploring the reasons.
In his view, the three special humans in the area were all his food, and it was just a matter of the order of consumption.
Eat the appetizers first, then the main course.
Isn't that a matter of course?
Harrison shifted his gaze and directly launched an attack on Gon and Killua before him.
No special ability, just an extremely abundant amount of aura covering his body surface, along with speed leaving afterimages and strength capable of stirring the air.
Swish!
Bat wings spread, fanning out a gust of air.
Harrison instantly charged in front of the two, raising his slender-fingered hands… actually intending to kill two birds with one stone, using his left and right hands simultaneously to finish off both.
Such greed was blatant contempt.
Gon and Killua each surged with Nen, dodging to the left and right.
"Not bad reactions."
Harrison's attack missed. He instantly concluded Gon's speed was slower than Killua's.
Leaning towards personal interest and habit, Harrison, of course, wanted to pick the soft one first. So he hardly paused, pursuing Gon on the right.
Killua, who had dodged to the left, saw this and instinctively halted his steps, causing a fatal stagnation in his speed.
This kind of foolish mistake in combat had happened several times today.
Logically, with deeply ingrained training and combat experience, the probability of making such mistakes was very low, let alone making several in a row.
Strange, or a feeling like having a small pebble in one's shoe.
Hard to describe what it felt like, as if his thoughts suddenly went blank for an extremely brief moment, or as if a gear or part in a machine had rusted and broken. In any case, it was very uncomfortable.
'I have to provide cover.'
Killua's heels dug hard into the soil, like a car braking sharply.
Afterwards, he should have rebounded as usual in combat, attacking the enemy while the enemy focused on Gon.
This was the most basic point of coordinated combat… not only could it distract the enemy, but it might also cause damage.
However, after braking to a halt, Killua felt as if both feet were stuck deep in mud.
Here it comes again.
As if a javelin had brutally pierced his body and exploded inside.
Killua was stunned.
His body once again wouldn't obey.
An unshakeable voice kept bombarding his ears, reminding him he shouldn't attack now but turn and run.
'Run, run when you're not completely sure.'
'The enemy's strength is greater than yours. Run.'
'You can't win. Run away.'
'An assassin doesn't need friends.'
In that even less than a second, Killua's heart withered.
Gray, withered petals fell rustling, covering the ground like shadows, just like his eyes.
The feelings previously triggered by Warwick were like an alcohol-occupied stomach, constantly churning and churning, unable to be suppressed or shaken off, leaving one in a state of wanting to vomit but being unable.
Now, Harrison's entrance thoroughly shattered Killua's 'stomach' in a rather direct way.
Like a puppet on strings, he just stood there motionless, watching Harrison press down on Gon like a giant mountain.
Outside the combat circle, Illumi squinted his eyes with considerable pleasure.
"An assassin doesn't need friends. Starting today, remember that well, Killua."
These words naturally couldn't reach the two humans and one ant within the combat circle.
And now, without Killua's assistance, Gon was undoubtedly sent flying by Harrison. The sound of bones breaking was especially piercing in this quiet forest, followed by crashing into several large trees.
"Commendable."
After Gon crashed into a tree with a loud noise, Harrison's calm, low voice followed immediately.
He was praising Gon.
The reason was that in the exchanges within a few seconds, which could be called five moves, Gon was at a complete disadvantage. But at the critical moment, he mobilized sufficient Aura with what could be called wild instinct to defend against a fatal blow.
Thus, what should have been an instant kill only resulted in serious injury.
A direct clash between two Enhancer-types was always this straightforward and simple.
Whichever side had weaker Manifested Aura, slower Nen Mobilization for attack and defense, would lose quickly.
Gon was the Enhancer who lost in the attack and defense.
Manifested Aura… lost.
Strength… lost.
Speed… lost.
Technique… lost.
The only thing possibly comparable was experience and reaction.
So, Gon was only seriously injured now, not killed on the spot.
Watching Gon get sent flying, life or death unknown, Killua almost collapsed on the spot. He had never hated himself so much.
'You must swear never to betray a friend.'
'I swear, I will never betray a friend, never!'
"Killua, run!"
Just then, Gon's cry, laced with pain, came over.
Not elaborating on the enemy's various strengths, but choosing the most concise vocabulary in the time-pressured battle.
Killua felt as if struck by lightning. Crystal tears welled up in his gray, defeated eyes, looking down at his own hands.
"What on earth am I doing...?"
Among the very complex emotions, the most prominent was regret.
Harrison stepped menacingly towards the fallen Gon. Upon hearing Gon's words, he said in a flat tone, "Your warning is meaningless, because everyone here must die."
Initially, he was very interested in the electrical signals from Warwick's death, so he wanted to investigate deeply.
'Now it seemed that that delayed-death experience wasn't the doing of these two brats.'
'It should be... that special human outside the combat circle.'
Gon's face showed pain as he struggled to stand up.
Compared to Warwick's teasing, the enemy before him was the most terrifying.
In every aspect, it was complete overwhelming, giving a sense of despair that they weren't on the same level at all.
This was an enemy they couldn't defeat at this stage no matter what.
Without reason, this conclusion emerged, which was why he told Killua to run quickly.
"Take one more step, and I'll kill you."
Suddenly, a sentence filled with intense killing intent came over.
Harrison, Gon, and even Illumi outside the combat circle were stunned.
It was Killua's voice.
Harrison stopped.
It wasn't that he obediently listened, but he felt the threat from Killua.
Originally a harmless kitten, but now has turned into a fierce tiger.
The span of the transformation was incredible, but it truly happened.
Harrison paused for a moment, then without hesitation charged towards Gon.
Although Killua had undergone some incredible change, Harrison still adhered to his habit: deal with the weak first, then handle the strong.
But the moment he moved, a faint burning sensation came from behind, along with a low buzzing of electrical current.
Harrison suddenly smelled the scent of death.
'How?'
He couldn't help but feel puzzled, then made the fastest move to avoid death.
Tear!
A large chunk was ripped from his right abdomen.
Harrison abruptly distanced himself, staring gravely at Killua covered in electricity. He could also see the large chunk of flesh from his right abdomen held in Killua's hand.
If he hadn't dodged in time, what was in the other's hand wouldn't be flesh, but his heart.
Killua coldly stared at Harrison, his hand tightening, crushing the flesh.
He had pulled out the needle stuck in his head on his own, and severed the heavy ropes binding his limbs.
He clearly knew this needle was Illumi's handiwork, but from pulling out the needle to tearing the flesh from Harrison's abdomen, he hadn't glanced at Illumi even once.
'Why?'
Outside the combat circle, Illumi involuntarily became dark.
Both in expression and mood.
'He... pulled it out himself?'
'This means the semi-forced type isn't suitable for Killua.'
Illumi's eye sockets seemed like cold black holes.