Everyone fell silent at once.
Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu—these were the absolute basics. Not every Nen user had the chance to systematically learn the Four Major Principles, but powerful Nen users knew them inside and out. Knowing them wasn't enough—they had to master them.
Harrison obtained his Hunter license ten years ago. According to the Association convention, they'd match him with a teacher. So he'd learned comprehensively and thoroughly, resulting in the steel body he'd forged over a decade of Nen training.
Yet now he was being told his chosen opponent was still a rookie who hadn't even learned Ren?
Harrison truly didn't know whether Roy was stupid enough not to gather intelligence, or so arrogant that he believed opening his aura nodes meant entering the world of Nen.
"Whatever. Either way, meeting me means death." Harrison rubbed his fists together, stepping forward.
Below the stage, Biscuit's expression turned serious as she looked at Gotoh. "This is no joke. Has Roy developed his own Nen ability or not?"
Biscuit didn't believe the Zoldycks were ignorant of the Four Major Principles. Since Roy said he hadn't learned Ren, he couldn't skip ahead to Hatsu. Without Hatsu, he couldn't develop a proper Nen ability—unless Roy was naturally gifted, directly awakening a Nen ability the moment he opened his aura nodes and touched the realm of Nen. This situation was beyond rare—practically unheard of.
"The young master opened his aura nodes less than a month ago."
"That's insane!" Wing caught on, glaring at Gotoh. "As his butler, why didn't you stop him? Fighting a mature Nen user without learning all Four Major Principles—do you understand what this means?"
"Shut up!" Heaven's Arena never lacked self-taught Nen users. Not knowing the Four Major Principles was normal.
Biscuit slapped Wing, making the young man shrink back. Then, looking intently at Roy on stage, connecting how his aura quantity had suddenly surged after just one day, her heart already had an answer—Roy belonged to the latter category. His Nen ability was innate!
Incredible. I have to see this. Biscuit was like someone discovering a sparkling gem. Eyes blinking, locked on Roy, she unconsciously licked her lips. The lollipop in her mouth didn't taste sweet anymore.
One step, two steps, three steps. Harrison swaggered forward. Three meters from Roy, he stopped.
Roy's blade tip pointed diagonally down, watching him calmly. "Why stop?"
"I'm deciding how to torture you," Harrison spoke evenly.
"Funny. So am I."
A gust of wind blew. Their gazes sharpened. Both moved simultaneously!
Harrison charged forward, shoulder lowered. Roy swung his sword—a flying slash!
The crescent-shaped energy wave tore through the air with ear-splitting shrieks, crashing toward Harrison head-on.
Harrison's reaction was immediate. "Cunning bastard! You said you didn't know Ren!" Without Ren, where would Hatsu come from?
"A Nen attack?" Wing was confused too. Yeah—without Ren, where would Hatsu come from? The young man instinctively looked at Biscuit. Had Master already known something, which was why she told him to shut up?
No, there's no Nen signature. The woman frowned, staring at the slash. It was clearly just sword wind, sharp enough to tear the air and form a cutting wave. Like when she returned to her true form—swinging her fist with enough force could compress air into projectiles to bombard enemies. Roy's swordsmanship was simply that refined!
"I've been practicing swordsmanship recently, and I've just gained some insights." The young man's words still echoed in her mind—crystal clear now!
Harrison finally caught on. Braking mid-charge, he forcefully twisted his body to dodge Roy's slash.
"Something's wrong. Why did he dodge?"
"We've all been played. Ilo isn't some amateur—he's a real swordsman!"
Gotoh suddenly felt the hairs on his neck stand up. Behind him, Guy and Kikuta Tadashi glared furiously! Ten days—playing them all for fools?
"A loyal dog indeed. Master's fighting on stage while you're spreading misinformation below. Impressive."
The slash flew past Harrison's side, plowing a straight, thin line along the arena floor, finally stopping one meter behind Harrison.
In the dark corners, Kastro witnessed everything. He had to admit Roy was right yesterday—he'd been living in ignorance, unaware of the wider world.
That was close, just a bit more... Harrison quietly swallowed, raising his guard to maximum!
Strange—the slash wasn't coated with Nen, couldn't be tracked with Gyo. "Good thing this kid doesn't know Shu." Otherwise, if the slash was enhanced with Nen aura, Harrison didn't dare imagine how powerful it'd be. It might actually pierce his flesh!
This is what you're relying on? Nothing special. Harrison tried to encourage himself!
Then why did you dodge?
Roy agreed with something Silva once said," When someone instinctively felt fear and chose to flee, that was the beginning of their defeat."
The young man switched from one-handed to two-handed grip. Too lazy to waste words on small fry, feet employing mastery-level Shadow Step—he vanished!
Reappearing pressed against Harrison's body, blade aimed at his eye!
Speed defeats all. Even cultivating an iron body, eyeballs wouldn't truly become steel.
"Ahhh!" An agonized scream rang out!
The audience erupted instantly. "He broke through! The defense is broken! Major reversal, ladies and gentlemen! Invincible Harrison's eye just got pierced by 'Piercing Hand' Ilo!"
The host grabbed the microphone, bellowing with excitement. The entire venue went wild!
Some cheered for Roy, some sat in stunned silence, others cursed Harrison, urging him to counterattack quickly before their bets became total losses.
"Fast. Too fast. His Shadow Step improved again." Wing noticed Roy's blade didn't stop after the first strike. Two more, three, four—relying on matchless speed and agility, he circled Harrison, stabbing continuously. Soon blood splattered. The "Meat Grinder" lost his strength, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Still as ruthless as ever. Good thing I didn't challenge him." "Divine Spear" Guy and "Ninja" Kikuta Tadashi exchanged knowing glances, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.
This Harrison isn't weak. He tried consciously covering his eyes. Unfortunately, Roy's speed was too overwhelming—finding the vital points and striking mercilessly, giving no chance. Biscuit saw clearer than anyone. Noticing Gotoh glancing over, she lowered her head, fiddling with her skirt pleats, pretending to be preoccupied.
Below the stage, everyone showed different reactions. On stage, Roy sheathed his sword, ignoring Harrison's pleading eyes, quietly waiting.
A graceful figure and three or four blurred shadows accompanied Harrison as his sounds gradually faded, drifting away into nothing.