That was the truth.
Even a direct hit was insufficient to kill Beyond.
However, he was not entirely unscathed.
Beyond slid down the wall to the ground. His chest was slightly caved in, and his long beard was stained with considerable blood.
"You really got me, old man."
Beyond spat a mouthful of bloody saliva to the ground, then rose, looking towards Netero's direction.
The two sides were separated by a considerable distance, and the light filtering down through the cracks was limited, so only blurred darkness was visible at the far end of their sight.
But both could sense each other's Aura.
"Did you find my weakness in just this single exchange?"
Beyond strode forward.
That punch had injured him, but it would not affect his combat ability.
After all, he was a peak-level Enhancement-type Nen User.
He just hadn't expected Netero to see through the weakness of his ability.
What surprised him even more was that Netero had returned to the path he had once walked.
Beyond's brow furrowed, his killing intent intensifying.
He didn't know the reason for this change, nor did he need to find out.
The only thing that surprised him somewhat was that Netero, using a small amount of information, had found a way to overcome his ability.
After taking over ten steps, a name suddenly surfaced in Beyond's mind… Triple-Star Disease Hunter.
'Is it her?'
Beyond thought to himself.
But soon, he stopped thinking about it.
He strode into Netero's field of view.
Covered in dust, his long beard and chest stained with blood.
Looking quite disheveled, yet his fighting spirit undiminished. Netero felt regret.
He knew that direct hit couldn't kill Beyond, but he hadn't expected the impact to be so weak.
If it had been a peak punch from his prime...
But there were no ifs.
Netero narrowed his eyes, assuming a striking stance.
Seeing this, Beyond said coldly, "What, not planning to use the 100-Type Guanyin anymore?"
Netero said nothing, his Aura steadily rising.
Beyond's brow furrowed, his own Aura building in response.
Netero, having abandoned the 100-Type Guanyin, was enough to make him stand ready.
His own path to strength originated from Netero.
From beginning to end, he had always followed that philosophy without the slightest deviation.
Therefore, when Netero deviated from his path, Beyond scoffed at him.
But now, Netero had returned, standing on the same path as him.
'Even so...'
'The age gap between you and me is the cruelty forged by reality.'
Just then, Netero moved again. It was still a painstakingly honed punch.
Giving no time for reaction, it was delivered directly to Beyond's chest.
Beyond had no awareness of dodging at all.
He hadn't even thought about dodging. He also knew very well he couldn't completely avoid this punch.
So, he didn't bother to dodge.
Withstanding the attack was the prerequisite for a counterattack.
Relying on his thick-skinned durability, Beyond withstood Netero's punch.
The counter-damage phenomenon did not occur.
Because Netero's punch was too fast, giving Beyond no time to operate.
Speed was precisely the bane of Beyond's ability.
If an attack could surpass Beyond's consciousness and reaction, then the counter-damage ability naturally wouldn't work.
After all, for any Nen Ability to be powerful, it must bear corresponding restrictions.
Beyond's counter-damage ability was overwhelmingly strong, so after activating it, he couldn't apply it to his entire body.
Given the limited range of his ability, it worked like blocking arrows with a shield: he needed to track the arrow's trajectory to raise the shield and block the arrow.
The difference was that Beyond could not only block the arrow but also send it back.
Sensing that Netero had seen through his ability's weakness, this time Beyond relied purely on his physical body and Nen intensity to withstand Netero's straight punch.
This punch still harmed Beyond, but it also gave him an opportunity to counterattack.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed Netero's right wrist, which was pressed against his chest.
Using both hands to restrain one hand meant exposing his defenses.
This was a risky gambit, showcasing Beyond's adventurous spirit.
Netero, naturally, didn't hesitate. He decisively swung his left fist towards Beyond's neck.
If Beyond didn't back down, this punch could bring victory.
If Beyond did back down, it would give Netero the initiative to continue pressing the attack.
Bang!
The fist struck Beyond's neck without hindrance.
Within the invisible flow of Nen, a sharp, circulating trajectory was drawn.
The Nen from Netero's fist infused into Beyond's Nen, then flowed back like a tidal wave, affecting Netero's own fist.
Suddenly, over a dozen wounds split open on Netero's left fist, and blood spurted from each.
That was Beyond's ability.
Netero's pupils contracted.
'He adapted to the speed within three exchanges?'
'Impossible!'
"It seems I guessed right."
Beyond laughed heartily.
He had predicted Netero's attack point and laid a counter-damage zone in advance.
If he had guessed wrong, Netero's punch would have been enough to inflict fatal damage.
Of course, this wasn't entirely a gamble. Before making this move, he had pressed Netero step by step, reducing Netero's options and thus increasing his chances of guessing correctly.
With his goal achieved, Beyond pressed his advantage. He channeled force through both hands, brutally tearing off Netero's right arm.
Netero groaned, staggering backward.
Beyond's expression was cold. He casually discarded the torn-off arm, stepped forward, and flashed before Netero.
His cold, merciless eyes bored directly into Netero's gaze.
Beyond put his five fingers together and thrust.
He had mentally prepared himself for Netero to summon the 100-Type Guanyin to defend.
But beyond his expectation, the 100-Type Guanyin did not appear.
'Had he given up...?'
The joined hand thus pierced Netero's body without hindrance.
A spray of blood shot out from Netero's back.
Netero's body jolted. He calmly looked at Beyond, who was right before him.
"Why didn't you use the 100-Type Guanyin?"
Beyond met Netero's calm gaze.
Netero coughed, his brow slightly furrowed, a great volume of blood flowing from his mouth. He sighed, "I've already lost."
'That was the reason?'
Beyond was silent for a moment, then stepped back, withdrawing his arm.
With a squelch, blood gushed from the large hole in Netero's chest as if it cost nothing.
The lost blood was like Netero's strength, making his whole body sway.
Beyond watched the dying Netero in silence.
Thus they gazed at each other.
After a moment, Beyond said coldly, "You are a complete failure."
His words were like a knife, cutting into the dying old warrior.
Netero slowly closed his eyes and said to himself: "Yes, a complete failure. I failed to completely eradicate the risk hidden within you. Beyond, you are different from Law... different..."
When he opened his eyes again, Beyond was gone.
Netero couldn't help but laugh at himself.
He had thought...
'Indeed, one must accept their age.'
This being the case, he could only hope that the environment of the Dark Continent would defeat Beyond...
When masters clash, every move is lethal.
The outcome is decided in a short time.