Chapter 154: 154: Compared to Three Years Ago, You Haven’t Improved at All!
"This is the essence of Nen—your mistake lies in underestimating it."
Hisoka gave a sly grin, stretching his arms leisurely as if limbering up. He was about to move forward when he noticed Ronnel watching him with narrowed eyes.
"Oh? You want me to take the first step, huh?" Hisoka mused, his voice playful yet edged with anticipation.
With a graceful gesture, Ronnel extended a hand.
"Be my guest," he said with mock politeness, as if inviting Hisoka to a waltz.
Hisoka's smile twisted further, dangerous and hungry.
"I want to see if he's evolved to his peak state."
Ronnel arched a brow. "So that's why you didn't strike immediately?"
Hisoka didn't answer directly, merely keeping his gaze fixed on the door as the Nen aura inside the cabin swelled to its peak. Then, just as quickly, it dissipated.
"Seems like it's done," Hisoka murmured. Cards shimmered into his hand, ready to fly. He darted forward, but even as he did, he threw a glance back at Ronnel, a flicker of caution in his eyes.
Ronnel didn't react—he remained where he was, leaning against a tree in the shadowed woods, watching the events unfold with mild amusement.
With a flick of his wrist, Hisoka's playing cards sliced through the wooden door like butter. The cabin creaked, and the heavy scent of rot and old wood filled the air.
A sinister voice drifted from within.
"Long time no see, Hisoka... I never imagined you'd come to me willingly. The others in the Phantom Troupe are already mine, and you'll complete my collection!"
With a thunderous boom, the shack exploded, splinters scattering in every direction.
Machine-gun fire erupted in an unrelenting stream, as if the bullets cost nothing.
"Franklin's dual machine guns?" Ronnel muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the scene.
When the smoke cleared, two figures stood in the debris: Retz, lifeless and puppet-like, her empty eye sockets devoid of light. Beside her was Omokage—a wiry figure shrouded in a jet-black robe, his silver hair trailing down his back, and a sick grin twisting his lips.
Behind Omokage, a spectral image of Franklin emerged, his gun-barrel arms belching streams of bullets, forcing Hisoka to dodge.
Omokage chuckled darkly.
"How does it feel, Hisoka? Why not surrender and become part of my collection?"
Hisoka dodged nimbly between the trees, grinning like a madman even under the hail of bullets.
"Compared to three years ago... you haven't improved at all!"
His taunt was followed by an exaggerated sigh, as if he were disappointed by a dull toy.
Leaping through the dense forest, Hisoka used his Bungee Gum to catch stray bullets and flick them back toward Omokage. A few cards flew from his hand, seemingly at random, one sailing close to Ronnel's position.
Ronnel chuckled under his breath. "Ah, so you want me to join the game?"
He'd seen this look from Hisoka before—the same glimmer of irritation mixed with amusement, as if Hisoka were both annoyed and entertained by his opponent's lack of progress.
Without further hesitation, Ronnel drew his revolver: Unlimited Firepower.
(T/N: Create a firearm with limitless bullets, as long as air is present. He stole this ability from the Cruz Cemetery.)
Omokage sneered, confident in his superiority.
"You're too late, Hisoka. I've assimilated Franklin, Phinks, Feitan... even Uvogin. Their abilities are mine now!"
Omokage's laughter was cut short as a sudden, sharp pain lanced through his arm, then his leg. His grin faltered.
"There's a sniper!" Omokage hissed, summoning phantoms of his stolen comrades to shield him. Yet, even as they moved to intercept the shots, two more bullets found their mark—one in his chest, the other in his abdomen.
"These bullets... stronger than Franklin's," Mukage wheezed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
"A manipulator's Nen, in bullet form?"
The spectral puppets—featuring Phinks, Feitan, and Uvogin—shifted around him, their presence tinged with traces of their original Nen. The puppets gave him a brief reprieve, blocking the next volley of bullets.
Omokage cursed under his breath. "I underestimated you. Hisoka always works alone... or so I thought."
The pounding of Hisoka's footsteps grew louder, and Omokage's expression twisted into a snarl.
"Rock Storm!"
Omokage fired another torrent of bullets toward Hisoka while tossing out Uvogin's puppet. The puppet swelled upon impact with the ground, taking on Uvogin's massive, muscular form.
Other than the soulless gray pits where Uvogin's eyes had been, the puppet was indistinguishable from the real thing.
With a roar, the Uvogin puppet slammed a fist into the earth, sending rocks flying in every direction.
"Try hiding now!" Omokage taunted. "I'll find you, no matter where you run!"
Ronnel smirked as the rocks flew toward him. Casually, he deflected them with his revolver, still hidden deep within the forest.
Omokage coughed violently, spitting blood. Though he'd shielded his vital organs with Nen, the sniper's shots had already weakened him.
"Those bullets... they hit harder than Franklin's. I can't let my guard down again."
From the safety of the trees, Ronnel weighed the revolver in his hand, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
"Not bad for the first time in action."
The ability of Unlimited Firepower had its drawbacks—it only worked in pistol form. But it offered infinite ammunition, with each bullet growing more powerful the stronger the user's Nen.
And Ronnel's Nen surpassed Franklin's by far.
Omokage glared at Hisoka and Ronnel through the swirling smoke, panting heavily. Hisoka's grin only grew wider, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"You're a disappointment, Omokage. Even with all those abilities, you're still no match for us."
Ronnel adjusted his grip on the revolver, eyes sharp and steady. "Shall we finish this, Hisoka?"
Hisoka's laugh echoed through the shattered remnants of the cabin. "Let's make it quick, then. I'm getting bored."
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