A barrage of thick branches lunged at Natsu.
"Fists alone won't be enough to stop my attack!" Old T sneered, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips.
Natsu stepped back, inhaling sharply.
"Dragon Roar!"
A violent burst of flames surged forward, engulfing the incoming branches. Some disintegrated instantly, reduced to ashes upon contact with the searing heat.
Old T's expression tightened.
"Tree Shield!"
A dense wall of intertwining branches materialized in front of him, forming a solid barrier. The flames crashed against it, scorching the wood, but the sheer density of the branches prevented them from burning through immediately.
Seizing the moment, Old T shifted his position, swiftly repositioning himself to another vantage point.
"Again!" He slammed his palms against the ground, and new saplings erupted, twisting toward Natsu like living snares.
...
Meanwhile, Kaizen remained still as the earth beneath him trembled. Until now, Old T had barely paid him any attention, dismissing him as weak and unworthy of concern. However, the strange aura Kaizen carried had sparked a sense of unease in him. Still, it was Natsu's overwhelming strength that forced Old T to reevaluate the battle.
Determining that Kaizen was the easier target, Old T abandoned Natsu and redirected his attacks toward him. As someone well-versed in Nen Beast abilities, he understood their fundamental weakness—the summoner was typically the Achilles' heel.
Branches lashed toward Kaizen, but before they could reach him, a figure appeared in his path.
Lightning crackled.
"Chidori!"
Sasuke Uchiha flashed forward, slicing through the branches with ease. The splintering wood shattered into fragments, unable to withstand the raw power of his technique.
Old T's pupils contracted.
"What speed!" His mind raced. "Another Nen Beast? And it's A-rank? Impossible!"
Even Old K, at his peak, had not possessed such a powerful Nen Beast. Though Old K had many, most were lower-ranked, relying on numbers and strategy rather than overwhelming strength. Only one of Old K's Nen Beasts had ever reached A-rank.
Yet here was Kaizen, controlling two.
Old T analyzed Kaizen's age, comparing it to Old K's at the time. The difference was staggering—Old K had been far older when he achieved mastery over his Nen Beasts.
"This kid's talent surpasses Old K's by miles..."
In reality, Old T wasn't just comparing Kaizen to Old K—he was comparing him to himself. After all, the strength of the Kute Gang' members was roughly equal. If Kaizen's abilities dwarfed Old K's, that meant he also eclipsed Old T himself.
Kaizen observed Sasuke carefully. His aura had changed—vastly more potent than before. Previously, Sasuke had been B-rank, with offensive abilities bordering on A, but his defense had been a glaring weakness. Now, his overall rank had risen to A.
"It's similar to the transformation Raiken underwent," Kaizen realized. "The Nen Beast has completely vanished, leaving behind an evolution..."
Raiken had given Natsu two key upgrades—an overall boost in attributes and the Ghost Back (State) ability. His other abilities had become irrelevant.
Similarly, Akutagawa Ryunosuke had provided Sasuke with two major enhancements.
"One: increased base attributes. Two: a new ability—Rashomon, Susanoo!"
Kaizen processed the information, excitement bubbling within him. This new ability functioned like a hybrid of Rashomon and Susanoo, manifesting through Akutagawa's power. While not as formidable as the original Susanoo, it significantly bolstered Sasuke's defense, covering his previous weakness.
Unless Rashomon was destroyed first, Sasuke could not be harmed.
Sasuke engaged Old T, forcing him onto the defensive. Meanwhile, Natsu pressed from the other side, ensuring that any lapse in Old T's focus would be punished severely.
Two A-rank Nen Beasts—Old T found himself in dire straits. He lacked the luxury to target Kaizen directly. His priority now was surviving against Natsu and Sasuke's relentless assault.
Kaizen took a step back, allowing distance between himself and the fray. Standing beside him was Tessia, her presence a silent yet firm reassurance.
"Natsu and Sasuke have reached A-rank. My overall strength has grown significantly."
More importantly, Kaizen had confirmed a vital detail—Nen Beasts that had been replaced no longer carried their original works' lore.
"Raiken and Akutagawa Ryunosuke have disappeared completely. Their abilities merged with Natsu and Sasuke, boosting their core traits and granting them new techniques. But no trace of their original origins remains."
This meant Kaizen's power was evolving in a way that couldn't be traced back to its source.
"As long as I don't summon Fairy Tail or Naruto characters again, no one will be able to figure out how my abilities work."
The Kute Gang had once used fear and resentment to birth powerful disasters.
Kaizen wondered—how much stronger would Natsu and Sasuke become through the spread of Raiken and Bungo Stray Dogs?
(T/N: Ryūnosuke Akutagawa is a character from Bungo Stray Dogs, Raiken also came from somewhere, but I don't understand where, so I just put Raiken in to make it clear who it is.)
Old T's face darkened. He understood the Hunter Association's intent. They had stationed him here as a stepping stone for an up-and-coming candidate.
But he had no desire to be anyone's stepping stone.
He wanted to kill.
Yet, the battle was spiraling further and further out of his control.
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