Chapter 39: The End of the Final Phase!

As they returned to the arena, Killua's eyes gleamed with newfound determination, ready to give it his all this time.

"..."

Illumi remained silent, his expression unreadable, as he subtly activated the needle he had implanted in Killua's head.

With Masta's declaration, the battle commenced.

"You can't fight, Kill. You need to flee. I'm much more powerful than you, even without my arms..."

As Killua prepared to act, these words seemed to blur his vision, casting a shadow of darkness and purple hues over his surroundings.

His consciousness began to fade, his senses numbing as if he were losing grip on reality.

"He must have done something to Killua!"

Gon's eyes widened in shock as he watched Killua's vibrant eyes gradually lose their sparkle, turning dull and lifeless, mirroring his brother's gaze.

Raymond watched with interest as he observed Illumi using his Nen to manipulate Killua's mind.

"Hmm, so he has different kinds of needles?"

During their fight in the fourth phase, Illumi used his regular needles to control Siper's mind, forcing her to attack him.

"The one he used for Siper was definitely life-threatening for her..."

However, he couldn't see any visible needles on Killua, indicating that the ones used on him were much smaller.

"And the fact that he used them on his own brother..."

Raymond concluded that the needles in Killua were probably not lethal, as Illumi wouldn't want to kill his beloved little brother.

Seeing that his manipulation worked, Illumi nonchalantly nodded as Killua slowly raised his hand and forfeited.

"Huh?"

Hanzo observed with sharp eyes as an unexpected turn of events unfolded.

He noticed Killua was about to give it a try considering the sharpness in his eyes, yet he suddenly gave up.

Gon was also surprised by this sudden change. He began to approach Killua, but Netero intervened.

"Isn't the fight over? I need to speak with him," Gon objected, but Netero just shook his head and signaled Masta to continue with the final round.

Raymond casually strolled over, coming to a halt in front of Killua, who suddenly emanated a strong bloodlust.

"Oh?"

His attention shifted to Illumi, whose expression remained devoid of emotion which made him slightly chuckle.

"What a coward..."

Raymond grasped the situation.

Illumi was using Killua to try and fight him, understanding that he wouldn't kill Killua due to the rules in place.

"Not only that, but it seems like he was trying to figure something out..."

Raymond murmured to himself, realizing that Illumi must have noticed Raymond holding back during their previous fight.

"I don't expect you to respond to anything I say, but I'll give you a handicap..." Raymond began to speak, catching Netero's interest.

Remembering how Netero had faced both Gon and Killua with just one hand in the original canon, Raymond smirked.

He slowly raised a finger on his right hand and continued, "I'll only use one finger..."

"What? That's risky!"

Hanzo's voice echoed loudly, his concern evident.

Having fought Killua before, and only knowing Raymond as a cook, he couldn't comprehend how Raymond would attempt such a feat.

Hisoka's smile widened slightly in anticipation of the entertainment that would follow, while Gon stood silently with a serious expression on his face.

"Ohohoho..."

Netero chuckled lightly, noticing Raymond casting a glance his way as if affirming that he was a man of his word.

Meanwhile, Illumi's eyes briefly flashed with a frown.

He was clearly caught off guard by Raymond's unexpected handicap.

"...I want to see his intention to my family, yet he only uses a finger, huh?"

This left him even more puzzled, silently wondering. "Is his problem really just with me?"

"If that's true, then good... Once I understand who you are..."

Illumi gaze hardened with a hint of bloodlust as he observed the situation, Masta signaling for both fighters to prepare as he shouted, "Begin!"

Killua swiftly disappeared from view, reappearing right next to Raymond in the blink of an eye.

He launched a spinning kick towards the back of Raymond's head, but Raymond simply leaned back, avoiding the attack effortlessly.

Not missing a beat, Killua adjusted his position mid-air, twisting his body to the side.

His arm tensed as veins bulged beneath his skin, and his nails elongated into sharp points, resembling knives.

With precision, he slashed his arm towards Raymond's exposed side, aiming for a decisive strike.

Raymond chuckled lightly at Killua's attack, then swiftly closed the distance between them instead of just dodging.

Killua flinched in surprise as Raymond appeared right in front of him, moving so quickly it caught him off guard.

"This is going to sting..."

Before Killua could react, Raymond extended his hand and flicked Killua's forehead with unexpected force.

Despite its seemingly gentle nature, the flick packed a punch, sending Killua flying backward.

With a loud crash, Killua slammed into the nearby wall, creating a noticeable dent.

Dust and debris filled the air as Killua slumped to the ground, momentarily stunned by the impact.

"Urgh..."

Killua's body slumped to the ground, his movements unsteady as he groaned in discomfort.

He shook his head vigorously, his entire body aching with pain.

"What's going on..."

But the worst of it all was the searing agony in his head.

It felt like his skull was being split apart, the pain so intense that he almost wished he could sever his head to make it stop.

Meanwhile, Hanzo stood in disbelief, his eyes wide at the sight unfolding before him.

"Isn't he just a cook?"

"...Just a cook?"

Hisoka shook his head slightly, a small chuckle escaping his lips at Hanzo's reaction, finding it amusing.

"Ohohoho, that's one way to wake a kid up..."

Meanwhile, Netero rubbed his beard thoughtfully, recognizing that the flick had surprisingly helped Killua snap out of his brother's influence.

Raymond slowly approached Killua, who remained on the ground.

As Killua noticed Raymond approaching, he lifted his gaze, trying to make sense of the situation despite feeling disoriented.

It all felt like a strange blur, but he gradually pieced things together.

He realized that he truly tried his best to kill the person standing before him.

"W-Why?"

Killua's voice quivered as he voiced the question lingering in his mind, "You... could've killed me, couldn't you?"

Raymond didn't reply immediately to Killua's question. Instead, he extended a finger to offer assistance, causing Killua to flinch slightly, recalling the earlier flick to his forehead.

Despite his hesitation, Killua found himself accepting Raymond's help, slowly rising to his feet.

"I only kill those who deserve it..." Raymond said softly, his words causing Killua's eyes to widen in shock.

Though there were some exceptions, Raymond would only resort to violence against those who wish to harm him and his family, as well as those who wish to harm his interests.

These words stirred something deep within Killua, leaving him feeling shaken to his core.

It was like a flood of emotions surged through him, overwhelming his senses.

"Do you still want to go on? I'll stick to using just one finger..."

Killua avoided Raymond's gaze, feeling a pang of shame.

"I forfeit this round, too," he admitted quietly.

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