As the Super Speed: Crossbolt struck Netero's back-
For an instant, a fleeting thought flickered through Moses's mind.
'Maybe... I can win?'
But at the next moment, Moses was pulled back to reality.
Despite creating what he thought was an ideal opening, the result didn't even tear through Netero's clothing, let alone inflict any damage.
If he could create a wound, even if it was just a scratch, Moses would have had the chance to implant the black tendrils to activate Kyoka Suigetsu Ability into Netero's body.
In this way, it is not impossible to shake the mountain in front of him.
Of course, this is based on the premise that Netero gives him a 'handicap'.
"I completely… overlooked this."
After witnessing Netero's perfect Ryu, Moses took a deep breath.
No matter if it was his experience in this world or his knowledge of [Hunter x Hunter]...
In Moses's cognition, Netero has always been closely bound to the extremely powerful 100-Types Guanyin.
Or rather-
The overwhelming presence of the ultimate skill, 100-Types Guanyin, was too terrifying, which completely attracted Moses's attention, causing him to subconsciously overlook Netero's own mastery of Nen.
As the former strongest Nen User, even though Netero was over a hundred years old and his physical abilities had visibly declined, his refined Nen Techniques, honed through countless battles over many years, hadn't diminished with age.
On the contrary, they'd grown even stronger.
It's just that the 100-Types Guanyin's intense presence had overshadowed the brilliance of his Nen Techniques.
Moses was deeply aware of this at this moment, and the little optimism in his heart was instantly shattered.
While he could use Soul Echo and Divine Script combo to evade 100-Types Guanyin's strikes and even create a seemingly foolproof attack opportunity, Netero's masterful Ryu was another matter.
To truly injure Netero...
Was incredibly difficult.
'Although my combat style is not aligned with the Enhancer, my Manifested Aura is still far too low.'
While Moses was trying to regain his strength, he murmured to himself:
'If I'm dealing with a Nen User who's slightly stronger than me, I can use my abilities and tactics to make up for the difference. But if it's an expert like this old man, it's hard to break through his defense with the limited amount of Manifested Aura I have...'
In Nen Battles, Manifested Aura is just one of the many factors that determine victory.
But in a battle between different classes, Manifested Aura often becomes an insurmountable barrier.
This gap is reflected in the way-
A weaker combatant can concentrate all their Manifested Aura in one powerful strike, yet still fail to penetrate the Manifested Aura uniformly covering a stronger opponent.
It is equivalent to Gon, who has just learned Ko, won't be able to break the Ken of Uvogin, who has entered the world of Nen for more than ten years.
And if both use Ken in a head-on clash, the one who'll be injured is Gon.
This demonstrates how crucial Manifested Aura is under certain conditions, and why Enhancers have a notable advantage.
Why does the Enhancer's water divination result in water overflowing?
Because Enhancers can generate a stronger, more potent Manifested Aura.
'This old man's Ryu is too abnormal. The success rate of a one-stage attack is basically zero. That means, I'll need a two-step or even three-step setup...'
Moses temporarily stopped attacking, strategizing his next move while steadily reforging his Ken: Bone-Plated Armor again.
'If I had controlled two flying cards just now and suspended them in front of and behind the old man, perhaps I could have attacked faster than his Ryu.'
'But if I use the same trick, the old man will definitely be on guard. Forget it, let's just adjust according to the situation.'
With that thought in mind, Moses took another deep breath, and his eyes gradually became sharper.
Netero hadn't taken the initiative to attack this entire time, allowing Moses to recharge his Ken: Bone-Plated Armor in the brief respite.
The fact that he could achieve the Ken: Bone-Plated Armor state before each attack was likely the only chance he had to claim victory.
Netero's gaze remained steady, watching Moses as he gathered his strength.
Compared to the Bone Plating that could temporarily withstand 100-Types Guanyin's attacks, Moses's teleportation ability was the real obstacle preventing this battle from reaching a conclusion.
If not for this, when Moses was hit by 100-Types Guanyin's descending palm, he would've been overwhelmed by the torrent of strikes.
In other words-
Unless a single blow could prevent Moses from using his teleportation ability, this match would continue until his Potential Aura was depleted.
That wasn't an outcome Netero was interested in.
"Hmm…"
A glimmer flashed in the depths of Netero's eyes.
It was at this time that Moses finally launched another attack.
This time, he didn't manifest his black sword beforehand. Instead, he leaped into the air.
When Netero saw Moses's actions, his brows creased slightly, but in the end, he did not take the initiative.
100-Type Guanyin wasn't limited to manifesting behind him, and it could also appear directly behind its target.
By jumping into the air without any place to anchor himself, Moses was, in theory, placing himself in a vulnerable position where Netero could summon 100-Type Guanyin behind him, extending its reach and finishing him in one strike.
But what Netero didn't know was...
Moses was aware about the mechanism of 100-Type Guanyin's ability to appear behind the target and attack.
The reason why he dared to do so was simply because he was sure that Netero would not take the initiative.
And even if Netero took action, the tolerance provided by Ken: Bone-Plated Armor would allow Moses to adapt and adjust his strategy in time.
'Let's create an opportunity first...'
As he soared into the air, Moses raised his right hand, channeling a unit of shadow into his palm and releasing its full size.
In an instant, a massive black shadow sphere appeared above Moses's right hand.
The shadow can only exert its maximum strength when it is in the form of a shadow clone, which is a limitation of Soul Echo.
If it wasn't for the purpose of attacking, then Moses could actually shape the shadow with ease.
For example, now-
The shadow expanded to its full size, morphing into a giant shadow sphere.
[Super Speed: Raging Tempest]
Moses, who was high in the air, looked down at Netero. The shadow sphere on his palm rippled with Nen, and then suddenly split into countless raindrop-shaped shadows, cascading down toward the ceiling and floor.
Netero tilted his head to watch, a faint look of surprise passing over his aged eyes.
This move-
It reminded him of Zeno's signature ability, Dragon Dive.
'The drops aren't targeting me…'
In a glance, Netero saw the paths of each shadow droplet and understood that none were aimed directly at him.
Obviously-
These raindrop-like shadows were intended to serve as a diversion, blocking his line of sight.
Just as Netero had expected, the countless shadow droplets struck the ceiling and floor, setting off continuous explosions.
Fragments of stone flew everywhere, dust filled the air, and even the ceiling trembled under the assault, showering debris down below.
In just a few seconds-
The entire ring was shrouded in smoke and dust.
The onlookers outside, being at a safer distance, weren't entirely engulfed in the smoke, but they could no longer see what was happening on the ring.