Within the field, Zeno focused solely on evasion, facing no immediate danger in the short term.
His arrival was equivalent to saving Kite and the others.
Although Youpi had become stronger during the battle, his nature remained that of a power-type fighter. Facing an old-timer like Zeno, with his nimble footwork and rich experience, Youpi found himself unable to land a decisive blow.
To some extent, Zeno's elusive nature was more direct and troublesome than the smoke soldier tactics.
The Zoldyck Family's lineage, passed down to this day, possessed mature movement techniques. Employed by Zeno now, they managed to stir a trace of irritation in Youpi's previously calm mindset.
The reason was that Zeno only dodged and never attacked, leaving almost no openings. Although superficially, it appeared as if Zeno was forced into evasion by Youpi's relentless assault, this was largely the truth.
Based on his extensive experience, Zeno, from the brief exchange, had a rough judgment of Youpi's strength.
He knew well that attempting to attack could expose an opening, allowing Youpi to land a hit. So, he could only dodge.
Typically, for assassination targets of this type, no matter the price offered, Zeno would not accept the contract… because they simply couldn't be killed.
By the time Law arrived on the scene, this fast-attack versus evasion standoff had lasted over a minute.
Throughout the process, Zeno remained silent, but deep in his eyes flickered a look of astonishment.
He noticed that Youpi was continuously adjusting and simplifying his offensive methods. In other words, his opponent was like a sponge, constantly absorbing water during the fight, growing stronger at an extremely rapid pace.
'A monster truly born for slaughter...'
Zeno's old eyes were filled with surprise. Sensing that Law had arrived, he decisively left a deliberate opening, then quickly disengaged, withdrawing from the fight.
He had no interest in being a whetstone for a monster.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Zeno disengage and retreat swiftly without any desire to continue the fight, Youpi gave a cold glance but had no mind to pursue.
Why this decision?
Perhaps because it was simply uninteresting.
Compared to the smoke-man trio, this old man held absolutely no killing intent. Even though Youpi himself had maintained a relentless assault and suppression, it lacked a certain sense of satisfaction.
Of course, there was an even more critical reason.
Youpi silently turned, looking up at Law standing atop the tower. He grinned soundlessly, revealing a terrifying fighting spirit.
Kite and Morel within the combat zone, and Knov on the edge, still conscious, all saw Law's arrival.
This meant that while they were in a difficult battle, Law had already dealt with one of the three Royal Guards.
Thinking this, the trio felt a slight easing in their hearts.
What they could think of, Zeno naturally could as well, sighing inwardly with admiration.
Only those who had truly fought the Royal Guards were qualified to evaluate a Nen User capable of eliminating one.
Zeno clasped his hands behind his back, glanced back at Law standing on the tower, and calmly said, "My task is complete. I won't involve myself in what comes next."
Law simply nodded at him to acknowledge understanding.
He understood the Zoldyck Family's working style well. That Zeno had managed to stall Youpi in the previous situation was already extending the greatest courtesy.
One must know that even with Netero's friendship with the Zoldycks, it still required a massive sum to hire Zeno.
That was the Zoldyck Family's style: friendship was one thing, work was another.
Seeing Law nod, Zeno also gave a slight nod in response, then left the scene without looking back, heading towards the wasteland outside.
He chose the northern direction, as his home lay to the north, beyond two continents. The place where Netero and the King were fighting was to the south.
As he departed, Zeno took a glance towards the south.
Palace Courtyard.
Youpi had no reaction to Zeno's departure, staring intently at Law. "You killed Pitou?"
"Correct."
Law replied casually, taking a step forward, walking on air.
Confirming Pitou's death, Youpi felt no grief. In his view, the King was paramount. Pitou was killed because she wasn't strong enough, there was no one else to blame.
Suddenly, Youpi raised his gun-arm. The grotesque head behind the muzzle bulged, then contracted, firing a beam of Aura-packed energy towards Law walking in the air.
Law leaned forward, then pushed off with his foot, actively meeting the formidable beam.
Raising his hand, Shin materialized.
Aura coiled around the rusted blade, emitting a bright light. Then, with one slash, he cleaved the beam in two.
Swish!
The beam was forcibly split, flying towards the cloud-filled sky behind him, instantly piercing two large holes through the clouds.
After splitting the beam, Law's momentum didn't diminish. He brought the blade down squarely towards Youpi's head.
Facing this slash, Youpi swung his flesh-and-metal scythe arm, viciously hacking upwards.
Clang!
A circular shockwave erupted. Youpi, receiving the force from below, felt the ground beneath his feet instantly sink.
After a moment's pause, under the stunned gazes of the trio, Youpi's body sank deeper. This time, his entire calf was driven into the ground, countless sand and stones flying up around him.
At that moment, the White General conjured, swinging a blade that sent Youpi flying.
Nearby, Kite and Morel, seeing Law suppress Youpi with a single slash upon arrival, regained their fighting spirit and moved to join Law, preparing to fight together.
Despite losing his weapon, despite having a broken arm… as long as they could move, they could join the fight.
As for life and death, they had long been resolved.
"You'll get in my way."
Law tossed out this sentence, then actively charged towards Youpi.
Kite and Morel were momentarily stunned by his words. Looking at Law's clothes, not a speck of mud on them, then looking at their own miserable state and soiled garments, they couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness.
'Get in the way...'
Even though they didn't want to admit it, the fact was just that.
Their three-man team had been utterly dominated by Youpi, left with no fight. Law, fighting Pitou alone, missing an arm, had not only killed her but also emerged without injury. In this waterlogged environment, his clothes remained spotless.
Moreover, in their current condition, forcibly intervening in the fight would indeed burden Law.
Thinking this, neither of them was overly sensitive. They decisively withdrew from the combat zone, moving towards Knov.
Knov, though severely injured, was still conscious. Being farther away, he hadn't heard Law's words. Seeing Morel and Kite leave the combat zone and approach him, his expression changed slightly.
Even with guilt in his heart, he couldn't help but ask, "You two...?"
Kite stood silently, not speaking, his gaze fixed on the battle within the field. Unbidden, a past conversation with Ging flashed in his mind.
"How strong is Law?"
"Hmm, probably stronger than me."
He remembered Ging saying this without a trace of frivolity in his tone.
But he always felt that the 'strength' Ging described back then wasn't about combat prowess, but some kind of power he didn't understand.
Now, however, he firmly believed it was indeed about strength in terms of combat power.
Compared to Kite's silence, Morel sighed, looking at his hand pierced by several pipe fragments, blood still flowing. He explained, "If we joined the fight, we'd become a burden."
Knov fell silent upon hearing this.
'A burden...'
Wordlessly shifting his gaze to the field, a gleam of light suddenly appeared in Knov's dim, somewhat lifeless eyes.
That incredibly powerful monster was actually being suppressed by Law.
In Knov's eyes, the stern-faced Law seemed tinged with a layer of dazzling light, completely dispelling the gloom within his gaze.
'So powerful, so dazzling...'
For some reason, he felt a sense of being saved.