The strong only befriend the strong—not the weak.
From this, we can roughly gauge Jed's strength.
Even if he isn't quite at the level Netero was in his youth, he isn't far behind.
What's more, Jed has now returned to his prime and mastered an entirely new system of power fueled by resentment.
Under these circumstances, Ronnel can't afford to be careless!
Having formed a rough estimate of Jed's abilities, Ronnel moved strategically, dodging while gradually closing the distance between them.
"In terms of Emission, his power surpasses Franklin's Double Machine Gun. Jed's ability, Rakshasa, makes him an Enhancer, like Netero. According to the Six-Type Affinity Chart, an Enhancer can use Emission at about eighty percent efficiency."
"He may not be able to wield all six categories like Kurapika, but with the power of resentment and his revival from the dead, anything is possible."
"And considering that Jed still isn't fighting at full power..."
Boom!
Dodging another flaming projectile, Ronnel's eyes flashed with determination.
"If it comes down to a head-on clash, I won't lose!"
In the next instant, his figure blurred as he accelerated forward.
"Close combat? Then I can rule out Emission. Generally speaking, fighters who prefer melee tend to be Enhancers, just like me."
Jed quickly noticed Ronnel's change in movement and turned his head slightly, his excitement growing.
"Transmuters excel in close combat by transmuting aura into deadly natural elements like fire and electricity for unexpected attacks."
"Emitters, on the other hand, can be nearly invincible if they fulfill certain conditions."
"Manipulators can pull off surprising feats by revealing hidden weapons at the right moment."
"And then there's the Specialist category, with its unique, unpredictable abilities... but—"
As Ronnel closed the gap in a blink, Jed lowered his head slightly. The flames in his palm flickered and vanished, replaced by a fist wreathed in seething resentment!
"It doesn't matter what category you belong to—if you take this punch head-on, you're done!"
With that thought, he swung his fist at an impossible angle, aiming to strike Ronnel down.
"A direct clash? That's just what I wanted!!"
Seeing Jed's attack, Ronnel didn't retreat. Instead, his expression sharpened, and his right hand condensed an overwhelming, almost tangible aura as he met Jed's punch.
The instant their fists collided, the sheer force of their power clashed with explosive intensity!
BOOM!
A thunderous roar, reminiscent of an atomic detonation, erupted at the point of impact. The resulting shockwave and fiery aftershocks spread outward, shaking the battlefield.
"Ugh!!"
Gon and Killua struggled to withstand the blast. Their aura, formidable in its own right, flickered like candle flames against a raging storm, barely holding up against the force.
In such an overwhelming environment, their only option was to divert more aura into defensive reinforcement. But this came at a cost—they could no longer maintain their foothold as firmly.
To make matters worse, this shockwave was even stronger than the last—
"Crap!"
Gon and Killua barely had time to react before they felt themselves lifted off their feet, hurled from the top of the tower once more.
Whether they survived or not... well, that would depend on just how strong their protagonist's plot armor was.
Meanwhile, suspended midair by his oath of resentment, Netero remained unfazed.
Not only was he completely unharmed, but the very resentment that bound him also acted in self-defense, shielding him from the explosion's force.
Despite being so close to the impact zone, he remained untouched. His piercing gaze stayed locked on a single point within the thick cloud of dust left in the wake of the collision.
From within the dust cloud, the sound of gritted teeth and the unmistakable clash of fists could be heard.
Then, the noise grew louder—
Until suddenly, it escalated into a rapid exchange of blows, fists striking flesh at dizzying speed.
In that moment, dozens of thunderous impacts rang out!
And then, following the most deafening impact yet, two figures shot out of the dust cloud in opposite directions.
Screech!
With the sound of sudden friction, both fighters managed to halt their backward momentum at nearly the same moment.
Pfft!
As soon as they stopped, one of them coughed up a mouthful of blood, spattering the ground beneath him.
"Hah... that was a solid punch." Jed wiped the blackened blood from the corner of his lips with his free hand.
The arm he had used to throw the punch felt slightly numb, hanging at his side as he flexed his fingers to shake off the sensation.
"This kind of power... it's just like Netero in his prime!"
He stared at his bloodstained hand, then clenched it into a fist once more.
"But this is what makes it worth killing for, isn't it?! Heh... hehehe!!"
A beast-like grin stretched across his face.
Yet, despite his manic laughter, his mind remained eerily clear and calculating.
Almost instinctively, his numbed hand moved to touch his lower left abdomen.
A distinct indentation marred his torso—a clear imprint of a clenched fist.
"To think that someone could injure this body of mine... Only an Enhancer could possess such power! Of course, there's always the possibility of a Specialist's unique ability at play."
From the moment their fists met, Jed had been able to feel Ronnel's power.
It was beyond anything he had expected.
For the first time, genuine surprise flickered in his eyes. His mind wavered for just an instant, and in that brief lapse of focus, Ronnel landed a flurry of well-placed blows in their dozens of exchanges.
Yet, despite taking damage, Jed now had a much clearer grasp of Ronnel's strength...
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