First Battle [1]

Isaac sat with his legs crossed and eyes closed as he wore a face of discomfort while sweating profusely.

His breath was uneven as Netero sat behind him, his palm on the boy's back.

If one could see the aura emanating from the both of them, they'd be able to witness Netero's thin layer of aura shrouding the both of them as it jumped and wriggled in a chaotic manner.

It wasn't long until a similarly coloured aura slowly started to emanate from Isaac's body, soon coating his skin and moving in the same way as Netero's aura.

In the next second, Netero placed his hands off Isaac's back as the boy slumped forward, trying his best to catch his breath.

"Well done, boy. You're now able to use Nen in the Dark Continent, albeit barely." Commented Netero, staring at the near transparent layer of white aura coating Isaac's body.

Isaac put his thumbs up, unable to speak as he found comfort on the man eating dirt.

It had been a week since Isaac had requested Netero to train him.

Only now was he able to use Invisible Ten without the help of the aroze.

In the past week, he constantly trained as Netero hid the both of them by expanding his Nen, something that he only seemed to invent on the spot.

Despite Isaac being proud of his achievements, he could only watch in defeat as he witnessed the old man casually perform what took him many sleepless nights.

'How long will it take me to get to that level?'

However, despite his current appearance, Isaac could feel his connection to Nen strengthening.

His control and mastery of it was now more refined and smooth. He was incomparable to himself from a week ago.

He could feel it. He was getting stronger.

'I wonder how strong the Golden Six are.'

Isaac pondered, remembering the group Katlynn made such a fuss over.

At first, he didn't care about whoever the Golden Six were.

However, he found it somewhat amusing to compare himself to the best.

Isaac let out a sigh.

For all he knew, this was wishful thinking. They were the best for a reason.

"How long did it take you to get to that level of Nen master?" Isaac asked, finally catching his breath.

Turning his head, Netero chuckled as he sat beside Isaac, looking into the distance for a few seconds, as if he were reminiscing, then answered.

"All of my youth, and then some." Isaac couldn't help but feel slightly shocked, as well as disheartened when hearing this.

'I have to wait till I'm that old to reach such Mastery? You might as well laugh in my face and say it's impossible.'

"But hey, you can never be too old to still surpass your limits."

"This place isn't the best, but we might as well make use of its advantageous atmosphere." Netero nudged Isaac as he smiled.

Similar to how a child would smile when opening presents on Christmas day.

"Now that I think about it, why are you here? You haven't told me."

The most Netero had told Isaac was that he came from a far land in the middle of a lake.

Netero paused for a second, soon speaking.

"I'm looking for someone." Netero answered simply.

Isaac raised an eyebrow as this seemed out of character for the chatty old man.

"Who?"

"A…friend."

"How do you know they're here?"

"Because I'm the reason he's stuck here. It's my fault."

Isaac knew he was acting like the nosy Karen's that would always make his scams harder whenever he encountered them, however, this information could be what he needed to complete his quest and go back home.

He knew Netero must have gotten to the Dark Continent somehow, and he wouldn't be dumb enough to arrive without having a way back.

If he could figure out what that was and how he could leave this hell, he might just have a chance at completing his godforsaken quest.

However, before he could ask anything else, he noticed Netero's dark and complicated expression as he looked toward a far bush of vegetation.

"We have company."

Following Netero's line of sight, Isaac's eyes fell upon the usual peculiar plants that they had gotten used to.

There was nothing out of the ordinary.

Looking down at his compass, he noticed the needle pointing toward where they were facing rather than the usual east.

In the next second, something came into view as Isaac's eyes slowly widened and his heartbeat quickened.

Before them, standing upright was a 7 foot insect like creature. With large black beads for eyes, long antennas, 4 insectoid limbs, shiny exoskeleton with plush pink gaps between them and a set of human-like teeth, the creature stood unmoving as Isaac took a step back.

This was the first time he was coming face to face with a creature outside Aionthos.

Compared to the Cranium which had a few discernible weaknesses, he knew nothing about this insect.

Snapping him out of his trance, an old raspy voice echoed in Isaac's ear.

"It seems we were a bit too careless when training. Isaac, this particular old man has suddenly come down with a pained back."

"Be a good student and defeat this monster. No Aroze allowed." Netero spoke in a painful and strained tone, urking Isaac as it was obviously fake.

"Hey, wait a minu-"

Before Isaac could finish, the insect creature leapt at him with incredible speeds.

Taken aback, Isaac was barely able to yank out his bone sword and hold it up to defend himself.

In the next moment, the Insect's claws clashed with the sword as a loud CLANG echoed through the area.

In the same second, Isaac was sent skidding on the ground and soon coming to a stop as he winced in pain.

'So…strong.'

His Ten was able to resist small amounts of physical damage, however, it wasn't enough.

He knew if he were hit with an attack like that, he'd be in trouble.

Isaac picked himself up, trying to catch his breath as he noticed from the corner of his eye the absence of a particular white haired old man.

However, before he could have a moment of respite and curse his mentor, the insect dug its feet into the ground and soon once again swung its claws toward Isaac.

Isaac, this time prepared, tried his best to keep his eyes on the creature.

By no means was he a skilled fighter, let alone a Swordsman. Being a Con Artist, Isaac relied on his wits and preparation to survive on earth.

Therefore, he would rarely need to engage in a physical altercation.

However, he didn't need to be a martial artist to see and track the insect's claw as the creature pulled back its attack for maximum power.

Because of this, he was able to guess the trajectory and swiftly evaded the attack with a duck.

Holding his sword close to his body, lunged at the creature, his sword aiming to stab the creatures eye.

However, the creature was too fast.

It easily turned its head as the sword slashed past it.

Once again, pulling its arm far back, it swung at Isaac, to which he jumped, acrobatically leaping over the claw as if he were in the Olympics.

The both of them then engaged in a viscous back and forth, where Isaac would watch and dodge the attacks, then counter attack toward the eyes almost every time.

He had attempted to pierce through the exoskeleton of the insect, however, the vibration travelled through his whole body as he declared to not try again.

Meanwhile, in a nearby bush, a man watched intently as he stroked his beard every so often.

'He's doing better than expected. However, if this keeps going, he'll run out of stamina.'

Isaac also knew this, as he could feel his breathing becoming harder and harder.

As Isaac ducked another claw, instead of lunging with his sword like usual, he swung his bare hand.

"Special attack: Man Eating Dirt!"

Isaac tossed a handful of dirt into the creaute's eyes as it flinched and took a step back.

However, the creature didn't need eyes to remember the very obvious attack pattern of the boy.

Additionally, the heavy breath and loud footsteps gave him away.

The insect covered its eyes with both hands, prepared to end the battle with grabbing the bone sword and taking the only weapon the human had.

"KHREEEE!"

The insect let out a pained screech as one of its arms lay on the ground.

The man eating dirt quickly devoured the arm as it soon disappeared.

Netero watched with his mouth open in a zero shape and raised eyebrows.

'Interesting. He purposefully devoted every attack toward the creature's eyes in order to trick it when it was blinded, instead attacking the gapped jointed devoid of any protection.'

Netero would clap if he didn't want to expose his position. He was throughly impressed.

'Not yet!'

Meanwhile, Isaac dug his feet into the ground, summoning all the strength he could muster as he leapt at the distracted creature, swinging his sword toward the gap in its neck.

However, upon contact, the bone sword snapped like a dry stick striking a boulder.

Losing his footing and stumbling, the creature stared at him as bloodlust oozed from it.

Raising its arm, it was ready to decapitate Isaac, to which he widened his eyes and yelled inwardly.

'Crap, I'm dead!'