Chapter 113: Illumi's Move
The ship had exploded at sea.
The old butler was the most composed about this outcome; his expression suggested he had anticipated something of the sort long ago.
Ronin felt a sudden surge of Chakra and a flood of memories return to his mind.
The Shadow Clone Jutsu was truly a divine technique. Even across such a vast distance, the destruction of the clones still allowed the return of information and residual energy—likely a byproduct of the space-time bridge established during the casting.
On that doomed vessel, it wasn't just Ronin's clones. There was a cargo of people who had left Meteor City with dreams of a new life.
It was clear that the city's extremists took the creed "We reject no one, but take nothing from us" to heart. If you try to leave, you take nothing—including your own life. They were willing to pay any price to enforce that rule.
Fanatics. That was Ronin's final judgment on the hardcore residents of the Junkyard.
Miria's proxies were scheduled to arrive on September 24th. From then on, they would manage the district under the butler's guidance, acting as Ronin and Kurapika's representatives.
As for the district's long-term future? Ronin wasn't particularly invested.
The "Infinity Castle" idea was just a whim, a mental exercise with no concrete blueprint for implementation.
What surprised Ronin, however, was the midnight breach. Someone had infiltrated the villa and located his Shadow Clone—who was still wearing the face of Elder Ryan.
The battle erupted in a heartbeat.
A single needle shot toward the bed where the clone was resting. Ronin's reflex was sharp; he flicked the thin duvet upward to intercept the projectile.
The distraction lasted only a fraction of a second, but it was enough for the clone to roll off the bed and drop into a combat stance.
Illumi Zoldyck stepped into the room.
His large, cat-like eyes showed a flicker of mild surprise as he watched his needle get deflected.
Decent alertness, Illumi noted mentally.
But before he could throw a second needle, a barrage of high-velocity air bullets screamed toward him.
Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets.
Like the Fire Style: Phoenix Flower, this was a breath-based attack. However, unlike the slow-moving fireballs, the Wind Nature Chakra compressed the air into "bullets" that moved with the speed of a machine gun.
Illumi's form blurred. The bullets riddled the spot where he stood, but the Shadow Clone saw the truth through the Sharingan: he had only hit an afterimage. The assassin had already shifted positions.
A specialist. This might be a headache, the clone thought.
The room was suddenly illuminated by a sharp, chirping sound and a blinding discharge of electricity.
The clone manifested a Chidori in his right hand, exposing Illumi's position in the flash.
Illumi had closed the distance during the transition between the vacuum bullets and the lightning. His hand was flattened into a blade, veins bulging with aura—a lethal strike aimed at the clone's spine.
The Chidori was complete. As the clone spun around, he swept the lightning-clad hand toward Illumi's midsection.
This suicidal, trade-damage style was exactly what Illumi hated most.
He aborted the thrust, shifting his arm to deflect the clone's elbow, while his other hand blurred, launching a cluster of silver needles at the clone's pressure points.
This isn't Ryan.
Illumi reached the conclusion the moment the Chidori appeared.
"Nen bullets" could be categorized as Emission, but turning aura into visible, high-frequency electricity was pure Transmutation.
To master both to this level required a Specialist's genius.
And according to the intel, Ryan was a Manipulator who specialized in blood.
So who is this man wearing Ryan's face?
The answer wasn't hard to find.
Ronin.
Which meant the ship that exploded at sea only carried a decoy. The real Ronin had never left Meteor City.
But is this the real one standing in front of me?
Illumi scrutinized the fighter. No. This reckless, all-or-nothing style... it's not a man who values his own life. Another clone.
His reinforced hand chopped at the clone's arm, bypassing the lightning, but the clone blocked his return needles with a kunai pulled from nowhere.
Even as a Shadow Clone, he possessed the Sharingan's insight.
Illumi's every twitch, every subtle shift in footing, was telegraphed.
Despite that, the close-quarters struggle was intense. Illumi was a master of his craft.
In the brief clash, Ronin recognized his opponent.
Illumi Zoldyck.
The Phantom Troupe must have hired him.
Ronin felt a ping of amusement. The Zoldycks were truly masters of the "double-dip." Silva and Zeno were working for Kurapika to kill Spiders, while Illumi was working for Chrollo to kill Ronin.
I hope they don't bankrupt themselves paying for each other's heads.
The clone retreated a few steps, opening the distance. His hands blurred into seals.
The damage to his elbow from Illumi's chop was negligible.
Even as a clone, his Enhancement affinity was at 100%. He had focused a massive spike of aura to the point of impact using Ryu, shielding himself from the blow.
But he noticed something about Illumi. The assassin wasn't using a complex Hatsu. His strikes were pure, refined killing techniques—cold, efficient, and non-magical. The needles were his primary tool.
Arcs of lightning began to race across the clone's body.
Lightning Style Chakra Mode.
Illumi saw the retreat and prepared for another ranged assault. But seeing the clone's hair spike up as he wreathed himself in electricity, Illumi realized getting away wouldn't be easy.
And if he was stalled here, the main body would eventually arrive.
Wait. My investigation said Ronin had left.
If this is a clone, then the real one is likely already right behind me.
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