088: Is This Really the Speed and Power That Humans Can Possess?

"If the ball doesn't hit its target, it'll be boring~~~"

Ronnel's lips curled into a smirk as he faced Netero's intense gaze.

"Not bad, young man."

Netero smiled quietly, feeling something long dormant stir within him.

Both of them were in a standoff, each pressing against the ball, their aura clashing in silence. But while one hand battled for control, their free hands moved in swift actions.

"Your speed isn't bad~"

Netero commented casually, raising his other hand and throwing a punch at Ronnel's face.

The punch appeared slow, as if time had been slowed down, and Ronnel could see its trajectory clearly. Yet, each time he moved to block it, the fist was already upon him.

This wasn't just ordinary attack. Seemingly slow, yet impossibly fast, powerful, and unwavering in its execution.

Netero was testing Ronnel's strength, deliberately throwing punches just within Ronnel's ability to block, then gradually increasing the speed, pushing Ronnel to his limits.

Even though Ronnel's speed had surpassed someone as swift as Feitan, he struggled to keep up. It was a stark reminder of the sheer power Netero commanded.

But…

"Don't underestimate me, old man!"

Ronnel grinned, his voice rising in intensity as his punches grew faster, inching closer to matching Netero's rhythm.

Fighting against the world's strongest was a rare privilege. The experience and insight gained from such a battle would shape Ronnel for life!

With his talents in high-level martial arts, strength, and speed, Ronnel was absorbing every nuance of the fight, pushing himself beyond his limits!

"To grow in battle is a rare and remarkable gift. No wonder Bisky trained you for so long!" Netero remarked, pleased by Ronnel's progress. Even someone with Netero's vast experience felt a flicker of admiration.

Netero increased the speed and power of his strikes, yet always kept them just beyond Ronnel's reach, nudging him toward further growth.

Ronnel, aware of Netero's intentions, focused on pushing his limits rather than showing gratitude. Now was the time to improve, to take every opportunity to grow stronger.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fists and shadows collided, echoing through the room. Gon and the others, who had been watching, stood frozen in awe.

"At this speed, I can't even follow the punches," Gon muttered, his eyes straining to track the movements until tears formed.

"Is this really the speed and power humans can have?" Leorio stammered, his voice shaky.

Killua and Kurapika, who had guessed at Netero's power before, now stared at the combatants with wide eyes, as if a door to a new world had been opened before them.

"What kind of training does it take to reach this level? Could I ever reach that?" they wondered, each silently shouting in their hearts:

"If I had this power, I could take down the Phantom Troupe and avenge my clan!"

Under their watchful gazes, time seemed to slow as the fight raged on.

Finally, as dawn's light began to filter into the room—

Boom!

The sound of something cracking reverberated through the space. All eyes turned to the source—the ball, caught between Ronnel and Netero, had finally shattered under the force of their clashing auras.

At the moment of the explosion, both fighters stopped and retreated, their battle coming to an end.

"Hah! That was refreshing. It's been a while since I had such a good fight," Netero said with a smile, his sportswear-clad figure standing relaxed, hands behind his back.

"Thank you, old man!" Ronnel exhaled deeply, feeling the aftereffects of the intense battle. He gave a respectful bow to Netero.

"You gave me a real workout today. No need for thanks—we both got what we wanted," Netero replied with a wave of his hand, turning his gaze toward Gon and the others, who were still in shock.

"The ball's done for. So, how about it? Do any of you want to go next?"

"No... no way!" they quickly responded, shaking their heads.

After witnessing Netero and Ronnel's fight, how could they even consider stepping in?

"That's a shame," Netero sighed, smacking his lips as though he was still eager for more.

"We'll be arriving at the third phase location soon. Better get some rest while you can."

"Yes!!"

Gon and the others answered instinctively. Once Netero had left, they collapsed onto the ground, sighing in relief.

"That was terrifying... as expected of the President of the Hunter Association," Leorio muttered, trying to make sense of the overwhelming power they had witnessed.

"Yeah, not just Chairman Netero. Ronnel, are you okay?" Kurapika asked, waving at Ronnel, who responded with a calm smile.

"It's nothing. Just need a bit of rest."

Ronnel sat cross-legged, meditating as he absorbed the lessons from the battle. His already immense strength had grown even greater after surpassing several personal limits.

Moreover, fighting Netero made him realize just how far he still had to go.

"I need to keep training. At this rate, I won't even be able to survive a punch from the Ant King next year," Ronnel thought to himself, opening his eyes as he sensed the others gathering around him, clearly wanting to say something.

"...So, what do you guys want to ask?"

--------------

+136 chapters on patreon.com/FanficsHub