Maha shot him a glare but didn't respond. He wasn't about to let this brat get under his skin any further. Today had been one hell of a learning experience. One that he never wanted to go through again. Just as Maha admitted defeat, the experience bars in Larry's mind surged forward. Tyranitar and Happiny's growth was evident, but Happiny in particular seemed almost intoxicated with the rush of progress, its experience bar filling up like it had been injected with pure energy.
For an A-rank Pokémon, absorbing experience from an S-rank opponent—even if only half—was an enormous boost. Happiny's rank stabilized at A+, but the real shock came from Tyranitar. After consuming half of Maha's experience, Tyranitar had finally ascended to S-rank. Though it seemed like a small step forward, the reality was a monumental leap in power. And Tyranitar wasn't shy about making that clear. As if declaring its new status to the world, it unleashed its full aura without restraint, sending a chilling wave of pressure across the battlefield.
Maha felt it immediately. His usually squinting eyes snapped open in disbelief. His sharp gaze darted between Tyranitar and Happiny, their newly amplified auras radiating an overwhelming presence. His mind raced. Had they been holding back the entire time? "You… You…" Maha's voice faltered, his finger trembling as he pointed at the two beasts. It was rare for him to be at a loss for words, but the sheer absurdity of what had just happened was too much. The blows he had taken today weren't just physical—they had left a deep mark on his very understanding of battle itself.
Larry, watching Maha's bewildered reaction, quickly pieced together what had happened. The old assassin had misunderstood. He thought that Larry had been toying with him, holding back his real strength the whole time.
Maha let out a long, weary sigh. His gaze lingered on Tyranitar and Happiny for a moment before he finally turned away, his steps slow and heavy. His back seemed to carry the weight of his realization, and for the first time in a long time, he looked… old. He truly felt it now. His time had passed. The younger generation was terrifying.
At that moment, Silva arrived on the battlefield. His eyes widened at the sheer destruction surrounding him. The land was devastated, trees reduced to rubble, the terrain reshaped entirely. He swallowed hard before his gaze landed on Maha, who was visibly disheveled. A strange sense of dread crept into Silva's mind. 'No. It couldn't be.'
Maha glanced at him coldly. His narrow eyes, now filled with a storm of emotions, locked onto Silva's. He gritted his teeth before spitting out the words. "I lost. Miserably."
Silva froze. The very thing he had feared had come true. Maha Zoldyck—the man whose strength was once on par with the former World's Strongest, Netero—had been defeated. Not just defeated, but utterly crushed. Silva's brain struggled to process it. He knew his grandfather's strength. Maha was a legend, a relic from an era where only the strongest survived. And yet, standing before him, he admitted defeat. And not just defeat. A miserable defeat.
For a moment, Silva felt like the world had turned upside down.
Larry, watching the two generations of Zoldycks silently come to terms with reality, smirked slightly. He wondered how they would react if they found out he had also fought Netero. And won. Maha, however, was done. He walked past Silva, ignoring everything else. He had no desire to linger in this place any longer. His mind was in turmoil, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. If only he had stayed inside and watched cartoons instead. This had been, without a doubt, the most aggravating battle he had ever fought.
A skill that slowed movement. (Gravity)
An inescapable control ability. (Rock Slide)
An ever-growing defense boost. (Iron Defense)
A monstrous attack that scaled with defense. (Pounce)
A tracking ability that ignored all stealth. (Swift)
And finally… an egg that instantly restored lost aura. (Soft-Boiled.)
'How the hell did Larry create a Nen Beast with so many ridiculous abilities?' Maha's brows furrowed. He needed more information. When he returned, he would personally go through the Zoldyck family's intelligence network and compile everything he could about Larry.
***
Maha sat across from Larry, a chessboard between them. The scene was almost surreal. The legendary assassin, the man who once stood at the peak of the world, was quietly playing chess and drinking tea, the same way he spent his time watching cartoons. It was hard to reconcile these images together. Maha casually placed a piece on the board with a soft clack, his dark eyes scanning Larry's face. Even now, he still hadn't fully processed what had happened. Not only had he lost, but after returning home, he had immediately dug into every piece of intelligence they had on Larry. And what he found was even more absurd than he had imagined.
Larry wasn't just strong. He was a Exorcist. And not just any Exorcist. He was an unprecedented top-tier specialist, capable of erasing even lingering curses from ancient ruins at will. That alone was enough to make him one of the most terrifying figures in existence. But it didn't stop there. Larry had multiple Nen Beasts. At least four had been publicly revealed so far. And that didn't even include the pink and white thing he had fought against.
Meaning, conservatively, Larry had at least five Nen Beasts. Possibly more. If each of them had their own unique and ridiculous abilities, then… Maha exhaled deeply. Yeah. It wasn't unfair that he lost. Larry was simply a monster.While Maha was lost in thought, Larry's mind was elsewhere as well. Though the battle had been a success, it wasn't without cost. Repairs. Labor fees. Dark Continent intelligence expenses. Silva had handed him a bill listing every single damage cost. And knowing the Zoldycks, each one was priced at an astronomical rate. If anyone else saw the total, they would probably faint on the spot. Luckily, for Larry, it was only about one-fifth of his total wealth. Sweeping through two ancient ruins had left him richer than most nations. If money was ever an issue, he could simply pick another ruin to raid, and his wallet would be overflowing again.
He glanced at Maha, who was still staring at the chessboard in deep contemplation. Yeah. This guy had been through enough. There was no need to rub it in. Instead, he simply smirked and placed his next move. The lingering death auras in the ruins weren't just a source of information and experience—they were also a way to strengthen Gengar. Every bit of value was squeezed out, leaving no waste behind.