Swish swish swish!
Hisoka attacked in mid-air.
His signature playing cards!
Coated in Nen, these cards were sharp as steel blades, capable of slicing flesh easily.
But compared to the Ceros Ulquiorra just fired, they looked pathetic.
However, the angles were tricky. Even if Ulquiorra tried to block with Cero, he couldn't deflect them all.
So.
Draw sword.
Clang—
Clang clang clang clang—
A one-handed slash. Ulquiorra's face remained emotionless, like a cold machine.
All cards were struck down in mid-air.
Sparks flew with the sound of metal clashing.
Hisoka used the distraction to close in, weirdly grabbing Ulquiorra's shoulder.
"The fight is almost over."
Hisoka smiled.
With a flick of his other hand, invisible Nen threads pulled stones from behind like bullets.
To be safe, the fallen cards also "resurrected"!
In an instant.
Ulquiorra was completely surrounded!
"It's over! He was too careless! Hisoka can control stones remotely? How?"
Kastro watched in confusion, shaking his head in disappointment.
Gon and Killua's eyes widened.
"It's Nen threads! I saw them!" Gon shouted.
In the Ring.
Ulquiorra showed no awareness of being surrounded. Instead, he grabbed Hisoka's arm.
They grappled, locked in a contest of strength.
Crack!
To everyone's shock, Hisoka's right arm was twisted like a pretzel by Ulquiorra.
Then, with a ripping sound, it was torn off and tossed aside like trash.
Blood sprayed!
Hisoka hadn't even processed the shock of losing his arm.
The grapple lasted only an instant. He never dreamed his physical strength was so inferior to this kid.
The kid's arm felt like steel, and a strange electric current numbed Hisoka for a split second.
That moment of paralysis cost him the grapple—and his arm.
But the sneak attack landed!
Clang clang clang clang clang—
Teeth-gritting impact sounds.
Hisoka's pupils dilated.
The stones and cards controlled by Bungee Gum... couldn't break the defense!?
Is his whole body made of steel?
How can such a monster exist?
Enhancer!
He must be an Enhancer with an insane aura capacity to maintain such defense after spamming Ceros!
Hisoka was stunned.
Only Enhancers could do this.
But Hisoka was a Nen Master. This kid was a Grandmaster!
Countless thoughts flashed through Hisoka's mind.
He finally realized the horror of this fight.
Thunderclap · Flash Step!
Buzz~
An electric arc lingered in his original spot.
Everyone saw two Ulquiorras!
No! One!
He moved so fast it left an afterimage.
In reality, Ulquiorra was already in front of Hisoka.
"Bad!"
Hisoka's face changed. He tried to retreat at max speed.
But next instant.
Hum~~
Stones floated up from behind him.
Psychokinetic Nen!
What!?
This sudden scene shocked everyone.
They stared in disbelief at the floating stones, some as big as a person.
Compared to Hisoka's pebbles, this was heavy artillery.
"This guy! What ability is this!?"
Hisoka lost his cool. Fear appeared on his face.
He shot Bungee Gum to pull himself away.
BOOM—
A Cero exploded, severing his gum threads.
He could see my Bungee Gum all along!
Hisoka realized.
Then, his vision was filled with floating stones.
Ulquiorra looked at him with empty, cold eyes, raised his right hand, and clenched.
BOOM—
In the shocking gaze of everyone.
The floating stones crashed together, compressing.
Universal Pull (Bansho Ten'in)!
Ryker's developed ability. Not as strong as Pain's (Naruto), but telekinetic compression.
Rumble—
Hisoka was buried in the stone tomb. Screams echoed.
Then the stones fell, stained with blood.
A bloody figure dropped out.
Hisoka.
He had lost all strength to resist. Like a defeated wolf, he stared at Ulquiorra with shock, hatred, and unwillingness.
BOOM—
Another Cero fell.
It hit Hisoka's severed arm, vaporizing it instantly.
"That... was interest."
Ulquiorra finally spoke. Cold voice. Empty eyes.
Like a god looking down at an ant.
Ryker smiled internally.
Hisoka's traits were squeezed dry.
But a strange phenomenon occurred.
[DING! You defeated Hisoka.]
[Lucky Star Triggered! Designated Drop: [Super Intuition] (Red)!]
[Rolling (10%)... Success! Acquired [Masochism] (Purple), crushed for XP...]
Trait: [Super Intuition] (Red)
Effect: A special trait. In certain situations, you can relinquish control of your body to Super Intuition, gaining absolute reaction speed and combat instinct.
Tsk tsk tsk.
Hisoka's Red Trait finally dropped.
This description made Ryker think.
Relinquish control? Absolute instinct?
Budget Ultra Instinct?
Or something else?
Why didn't Hisoka use it?
Maybe it only triggers in absolute despair?
Or maybe, against Ryker's telekinetic trap, no amount of instinct could save a squishy fighter like Hisoka.
Hisoka was a trickster (like Genji/Shaco). Ryker was a Hexagon Warrior tank-DPS-mage.
Nice.
But Ryker was surprised by something else.
Upon defeat, Hisoka's trait list refreshed.
Not the cooldown. A new trait appeared.
[Vengeance · Ulquiorra] (Red)
Description: Absolute hatred for Ulquiorra. This will drives rapid improvement!
Ryker realized traits weren't static.
Killua gained [Chidori] (Green).
Hisoka gained a Vengeance trait.
This implies...
Hisoka is a leek.
Cut him, and he grows back stronger.
HAHAHA! Perfect.
That's why Ryker spared his life (but crippled him).
Kastro cut Hisoka's arms before, and Machi fixed them.
Can't leave without a souvenir, right?
Hisoka, go be a pirate captain (Hook).
Ryker sneered.
Ryker was innocent. The bad guy was Ulquiorra.
The arena paused.
Silent.
Then exploded!
"ULQUIORRA! ULQUIORRA! ULQUIORRA!"
The chanting became an ocean.
The audience, the fighters... everyone was stunned.
The floating stones, the instant finish.
Godlike operation.
Too strong.
This eerie genius crushed everyone.
Today, Heaven's Arena was shaken.
"So... so strong..."
Gon was speechless.
Killua stood frozen.
Strong! Heinously strong!
Killua felt even his father might not beat this monster.
And this guy was young!
It was a blow to his ego.
He thought he was a genius. But compared to Ryker and Ulquiorra... he felt mediocre.
Work hard! Only desperate effort can catch up!
Killua screamed internally.
Kastro sat slumped, eyes blank.
He replayed the fight.
If it were him... he'd be dead instantly.
Ulquiorra used less than 10% power against him.
Hisoka, his nemesis, didn't last long against Ulquiorra. Like a dead dog.
It was what Kastro wanted to see, but seeing it shocked him.
The gap was too big.
This guy was a generational genius, second only to Netero.
Is it an honor or despair to have fought him?
Kastro smiled bitterly.
In the Ring.
The referees were dumbfounded.
"Uh... Winner! Ulquiorra!"
Finally, one announced.
The arena ignited again.
Hisoka... was forgotten. Tossed into the corner of history like trash.
Bloodied, unable to move, he stared at the shoes approaching him.
He had to look up to see the face.
"Too weak... I look forward to your revenge. At least become stronger, little ant."
Ulquiorra looked down coldly.
His words carved into Hisoka's heart like knives.
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