"From what I saw in the fight just now, his actions and fighting habits don't match those of an Emitter.
As we all know, once an Emitter's Nen reaches its optimal conditions, it becomes nearly unstoppable.
Because of this, Emitters tend to develop combat styles that prioritize setting up those conditions for their abilities. There's a distinct difference between that and directly engaging in hand-to-hand combat to defeat an opponent.
Most people wouldn't notice the distinction, but for someone like Jed, who once stood at the pinnacle of his era, it's easy to tell.
"Manipulation can also be ruled out. If he were a Manipulator, he wouldn't have wasted that opportunity to land a decisive hit just now."
If his opponent had been a Manipulator, the strike to his lower left abdomen wouldn't have been just a simple punch. Manipulators typically imbue objects with Nen, like Kurapika's five-fingered chain abilities.
If Ronnel was a Manipulator, he wouldn't have let such a prime opportunity slip away. He would've used a manifested tool or ability to take full advantage of the opening.
Likewise, if he were a Conjurer, his aura would have immediately been converted into a powerful offensive technique to maximize damage at that moment.
"No doubt about it—only an Enhancer can make me feel this exhilarated!"
With a faint groan, Jed's crazed laughter abruptly stopped.
The wild ferocity on his face faded, replaced by an expression of solemn recognition.
"Kid, no wonder Netero holds you in high regard. You really do have what it takes! You're a worthy opponent!"
As he spoke, his hand, still laced with a lingering trace of On, brushed over his lower left abdomen. The injury that had been there moments ago was now completely gone.
"Kid, what's your name?"
Jed had already overheard Netero's two strange brats calling out to him earlier, but now, in this moment, he was formally asking. There was no doubt—Jed had acknowledged Ronnel's strength and saw him as an equal.
"Ronnel."
Standing on the opposite side of the tower, facing Jed, Ronnel wiped the dust from his clothes and responded.
Then, he turned his head to the side and spat out bloodstained saliva onto the ground.
During their intense exchanges, Ronnel had landed a heavy blow on Jed, but he hadn't emerged unscathed.
The erosion of On.
That last exchange had given Ronnel insight into the nature of this power.
The power of On was fundamentally different from Nen. Nen was the ability to control one's life energy—Aura. It was a force that allowed people to freely manipulate their own vitality, using it for attack and defense.
It was born from the natural strength of the human body, the most orthodox method of growth.
On, on the other hand, was its complete antithesis. It was a force born from hatred, purely destructive in nature.
During their battle, Jed had continuously bombarded Ronnel with malicious energy, restricting his movements. If not for that, Jed wouldn't have been able to endure the full force of Ronnel's punch.
...
"Well done, as expected of Ronnel!!"
"Go all out and win!!"
"Take that bastard down!!"
At the Battle Olympia arena, the spectators erupted in cheers.
Though the blue-haired guy had left earlier due to some urgent news, the armed security robots positioned around the venue ensured no one dared make a move.
The audience members who didn't understand Nen could only watch in awe. They saw the two combatants exchanging devastating blows, generating immense force with every clash.
And based on the results, the weirdo on the opposing side had coughed up blood, while Ronnel seemed relatively unharmed. To them, it looked like a clear advantage. Their excitement surged.
Of course, a layman could only see the spectacle, while those with knowledge of Nen understood the true depth of the battle.
"This is what a real master looks like."
In the Hunter Association's headquarters, inside a high-rise conference room, a man with a Peking Opera-style painted face—Botobai—remained silent for a long time as he watched the battle unfold. Then, he finally spoke.
"Yeah…"
On an electronic screen next to Botobai's hand, Mizaistom Nana, dressed in his signature cow-print outfit, nodded with a hint of melancholy.
"The last time I saw him was two years ago. I never expected that in just two years, he'd grow this much. If not for the power he gained through strict vows and restrictions, his raw talent alone would be terrifying."
...
As the proctor who had intervened when Hisoka attempted to attack an examiner two years ago, Mizaistom had crossed paths with Ronnel before.
Who would have thought that in such a short time, the young man who was once just an impressive examinee would now be someone worth fearing?
"There are certainly a lot of surprises when it comes to Ronnel."
On another screen, Saccho, wearing his usual calm smile, reminisced about his meeting with Ronnel aboard the airship. His smile grew even softer.
It was safe to say that the two of them had similar interests and got along well.
However, compared to Saccho's relaxed demeanor, Gel's expression was far more complicated.
Within the Marta family, the memory of being dominated by Ronnel's poison resurfaced. The lingering fear gnawed at Gel's mind.
"Alright, back on topic. The priority now is to minimize the fallout from this whole incident."
At the center of the screen, Cheadle Yorkshire pushed up her black-rimmed glasses, bringing the conversation back to the urgent issue at hand.
"That so-called 'Black Shadow' has revealed far too much sensitive information about the Hunter Association. Right now, people might be too caught up in the action to process it, but once this is over, we'll be facing a wave of scrutiny."
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