Elsewhere, in a grassy clearing, a large, trembling figure buried itself in the dirt. Dongba had practically dug himself into the ground, his plump body wedged awkwardly between thick patches of grass. His hands covered his head, his entire form quaking as if an earthquake was shaking him from the inside out. Tears welled up in his wide, panic-stricken eyes. This was the same energy. The same beast from the Tower of Trickery. And there was only one explanation. Larry had released that thing again. "Why? Why did I even make it to the fourth phase?! I should've just quit during the third exam!" He wanted to run. He wanted to scream. But even the thought of making noise terrified him. This wasn't just about failing the exam anymore. This was about survival.
If Larry really planned to wipe people out, then it was over. Dongba was already picturing his own funeral. Unaware that Larry had already left the island, he curled into himself, muttering under his breath, "I should've written my will… I should've written my will…"
Back on the battlefield, Tyranitar's energy had reached its peak. Its aura roared outward like a blazing sun, consuming everything in its path. The sheer presence of the monster warped the air, distorting the battlefield with raw, crushing power. Larry could tell that Netero had settled into a proper fighting stance, unmoving. So that was his plan. He wanted Larry to make the first move. 'Fine.' Larry smirked. "Tyranitar—Stone Edge!"
The command was instant. A deep rumble echoed through the battlefield as massive chunks of earth detached from Tyranitar's body, forming jagged, razor-sharp stone blades. They hovered in midair for only a fraction of a second before launching forward in a devastating barrage. The sheer speed at which they moved ripped through the atmosphere, creating an ear-piercing shhkkk that echoed like blades slicing through flesh. The ground split under the force of the attack, the stones cutting through the air in an unstoppable onslaught, all aimed directly at Netero.
Netero's lips curled into a grin. This was it. This was exactly what he had been looking forward to. His feet slammed against the ground, his body shifting in an instant. He didn't just dodge. He flowed, as if he were weightless, his movements impossibly precise. It wasn't that he couldn't take the hit. But why take it if he didn't have to? The moment the first barrage struck, the battlefield exploded.
A deafening BOOM ripped through the air as chunks of rock shattered upon impact. The very earth trembled under the sheer force, sending thick clouds of dust and sand into the sky. The battlefield was momentarily lost in a swirling storm of debris, fragments of stone scattering in every direction like deadly shrapnel. The ground was torn apart, jagged craters left in the wake of Tyranitar's attack.
A lesser opponent would have been obliterated. But Netero was not a lesser opponent. From within the swirling dust, a single hand moved. At first, it seemed like just one palm slicing through the air. But then, as the dust began to settle, it became clear, There were countless hands. They flickered in and out of sight, a blur of movement that shouldn't have been possible. And then— With a single, subtle push, the dust was swept aside, as if guided by an unseen force.
Standing at the center of the chaos, untouched, was Netero. His body radiated pure, unshakable aura. A lifetime of martial arts mastery distilled into one presence. Larry's eyes sharpened. Behind Netero, for just a moment, he saw it, A shadow of a thousand hands. A phantom of the Guanyin Bodhisattva.
At this moment, Netero had fully assumed the opening stance of the Hyakushiki Kannon—the Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. This technique was the very core of his martial arts, a culmination of decades of refinement, discipline, and unwavering gratitude. The essence of love and compassion woven into his Prayer Fist philosophy perfectly aligned with the image of Avalokitesvara, making it a natural extension of his fighting style.
However, the manifestation of Hyakushiki Kannon existed only in Netero's mind. Others could not see it directly. They could only feel its overwhelming presence, the pressure it exuded through sheer force of will.
Even after the storm of Tyranitar's Stone Edge, Netero remained standing. The sharp stone barrage had only left minor tears in his clothes and a few scuff marks on his otherwise pristine white beard, now dusted with an earthy yellow tint—like a single blemish on an untouched canvas. "Such destructive power… Truly impressive for someone so young." His voice was steady, unshaken, but the glint in his eyes betrayed his excitement. Then, he moved.
Larry's sharp gaze caught the motion, but what he saw was impossible. Netero's right hand lifted ever so slightly, yet in that instant, countless afterimages filled the space around him. It was an illusion—a paradox. His movements seemed slow, almost deliberate, yet the sheer number of afterimages told another story. Netero was moving too fast.
Every gesture was fluid, mesmerizing, almost hypnotic in its elegance. But behind that refined motion lurked an unfathomable killing intent. Then, without warning—A brilliant golden light exploded into existence, bathing the battlefield in its radiance. The entire sky was swallowed by its glow.
Elsewhere on Sebisu Island, Hisoka froze. For the first time in a long while, his expression shifted, the perpetual amusement on his face faltering just slightly. Then, his eyes gleamed with understanding. "Ah… So it is someone on his level."He had already guessed who Larry's opponent was. And now, with this overwhelming presence reaching him even from afar, that guess was confirmed.Hisoka's lips curled into a wicked grin. Larry had surpassed his expectations yet again. But more than that, He was actually fighting him. "So you've already reached that level…?" Hisoka muttered to himself, his voice carrying a strange mixture of awe and anticipation.Standing beneath the thick canopy of a tree, he clenched his fists slightly, feeling the electric thrill of a future battle waiting for him.
Meanwhile, hidden in another tree, Hanzo was shaking uncontrollably. He had barely recovered from the first wave of pressure when the second one hit— And it was even worse. The first had been violent, wild, filled with an overwhelming force of destruction. The second was pure, refined, and utterly unshakable. Two monstrous auras. Two beings so far above anything he had ever encountered that he felt insignificant in comparison. For the first time in his life, Hanzo fully understood—There would always be someone stronger. And right now, two of those someones were locked in battle nearby.