A true master reveals their strength in an instant.
That was exactly the case with Biscuit.
Trying to set up an attack with just one Star Shot—Moro had clearly underestimated her.
And against an expert like Biscuit, it was best not to rely on deception tactics like the Feigning Star Shot Return.
Better to use it head-on.
Feigning Star Shot
Moro stretched out his arms, his palms surging with Nen as he quickly formed two basketball-sized Star Shots and hurled them backward.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…!
In an instant, the two Star Shots split into a cluster of smaller stars, hovering a hundred meters behind Moro.
1 to 5 seconds.
Moro had preset different suspension times for each batch of stars.
So as the second hand ticked forward, a portion of the hovering stars suddenly reversed direction, streaking toward Moro's back like a meteor shower.
Star Convergence: Simplified Domain
Before the starry rain could strike him, the Nen around Moro's body shattered into a field of shimmering starlight, spreading within a two-meter radius around him.
Flow Step
In the next instant, Moro took a fluid, shifting step, weaving through space with afterimages trailing behind him, all while closing in on Biscuit.
Meanwhile, the Star Shots that had been fired backward now pierced through his afterimages, continuing their trajectory straight toward Biscuit.
This was one of Moro's combination techniques.
And the key to executing it was that his physical strength was now sufficient to use Flow Step in real combat.
One after another, the split Star Shots surged toward Biscuit, now doubled in power from their reversal.
—
"After rebounding, the Star Shots' power and speed roughly double. Plus, the initial trajectory always targets the user—probably a restriction. That means... his ability strengthens under the condition of 'self-harm.'"
Biscuit's sharp eyes flickered as she quickly analyzed the incoming Star Shots, piecing together the mechanics behind Moro's ability.
However, lacking key details, she couldn't yet determine the effect of the glowing starfield around him.
But that wouldn't affect her next move.
Martial Technique: Precision Finger Strike
Biscuit suddenly lunged forward, curling her fingers and striking with her knuckles at the oncoming Star Shots.
Pop pop pop…!
With flawless precision, she crushed every single one in rapid succession.
Moro's eyes lit up in admiration.
So strong.
She didn't waste an ounce of extra energy or Nen—every strike was executed with absolute efficiency.
This battle-honed economy of motion was what separated true experts from ordinary fighters.
After shattering the first wave of Star Shots, the second batch pierced through Moro's afterimages and approached.
But this time, Biscuit didn't strike them down.
Instead, she began sidestepping, maneuvering closer to Moro.
If Yamen had been here to watch, he would've instantly recognized her footwork—every step was taken in perfect opposition to Moro's movement.
Which meant—
The rebounding Star Shots couldn't hit Biscuit.
Because Moro was always in front of her, blocking their trajectory.
Biscuit was now using Moro himself as a measuring stick to predict where the Star Shots would go.
And while maneuvering, she was constantly shortening the distance between them.
In a subtle but masterful way, she was turning Moro's own ability against him, trapping him between her and his own Star Shots.
—
"She saw through it…"
Moro's gaze shifted.
As the creator of Feigning Star Shot, he immediately understood Biscuit's intentions.
She had analyzed his ability and was now countering it with sheer footwork mastery.
She was using his own attack mechanics against him.
And because Moro had pre-programmed his Star Shots into five different waves, with delay timers of 1 to 5 seconds, he had unintentionally trapped himself.
Moro was shocked by how fast Biscuit's mind worked.
From understanding his ability to formulating a counter-strategy, she had done it all within the time it took to shatter one Star Shot.
That meant…
One second?
Despite his surprise, Moro remained mentally composed.
Faced with Biscuit's flawless counter, he abruptly retreated, widening the gap between them while also getting closer to his suspended Star Shots.
By doing this, he no longer had to deal with both Biscuit and the Star Shots at the same time.
Now, he only had to focus on dodging his own attack.
This was the only move he could make to salvage the situation.
—
"As expected, he can't cancel his ability midway."
Biscuit observed Moro's retreat, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Her initial guess had been correct.
Moro's ability required him to set the Star Shots in motion—once launched, they couldn't be canceled.
His current behavior confirmed that.
"But you're smart."
Biscuit watched as Moro prioritized horizontal movement, deliberately making it harder for her to close the gap in a straight line.
Essentially, if she wanted to fully capitalize on her counter-strategy, she would need to keep matching his movement while whittling down the distance little by little.
In other words—
Even though Biscuit had turned his ability against him, she couldn't immediately end the fight.
Meanwhile, Moro continued dodging his own Star Shots, gradually gaining room to breathe.
But it was just delaying the inevitable.
The third batch of Star Shots.
The fourth batch.
All of them were dodged by Moro's crab-like sidesteps.
And Biscuit?
She didn't rush things.
She kept mirroring his movements, all while subtly getting closer and closer.
—
"She's refusing to take a direct hit, huh?"
Moro sighed inwardly.
What he had hoped for was for Biscuit to get impatient, forcing her to take a hit in exchange for a faster approach.
But Biscuit was too stable.
No choice—
Time to reveal his next move.
As the fifth wave of Star Shots soared past him—
Star Convergence
Moro expanded his starlight field, engulfing Biscuit within its range.
Typically, when faced with a sudden area-of-effect ability, most fighters would slow down or hesitate to gauge its effects.
At the very least, they would hold back momentarily to observe.
And for most opponents, this move would act as a psychological deterrent.
But—
Moro knew Biscuit wasn't like most opponents.
For someone like her, this wasn't an intimidation move.
It was an invitation.
As expected—
Despite being caught in the Star Convergence field, Biscuit didn't stop.
Instead, she closed the distance instantly.
With a punch.
Faster.
Harder.
Even stronger than Yamen's.
Moro barely managed to dodge thanks to Star Convergence's assistive effects.
"One."
Moro mentally counted his first evasion.
But he knew—
What came next would be the most overwhelming barrage he had ever faced.
At the same time—
It would be his chance to extract invaluable combat data.
The next instant—
Biscuit's furious onslaught descended upon him.
The air around them seemed to vanish.
Moro had only one thought left—
"Flow Step, save me!"
----------
50 Powerstones? (5 Bonus Chapters)
20 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/milezen