Second round

With his newfound power, Ikki decides it's time to escape this prison and seek answers about the mysterious abilities he has unlocked. He approaches the bars of his cell, studying them carefully. His prana pulses around him, reflecting a renewed sense of determination.

Taking a deep breath, Ikki focuses his prana into his hands, expanding it's output creating a something akin to a bright star in his hand. He throws a punch towards the bars, and with a loud crash, the metal bars bend and break, creating a gap wide enough for him to pass through.

As he steps through the destroyed bars, he scans the area for any signs of guards or security. To his surprise, it seems as if the area has been largely abandoned. He takes advantage of the opportunity and moves stealthily through the dimly lit halls, his senses heightened and his prana at the ready.

Ikki's mind races as he contemplates what his next move should be. He knows that finding answers to his past and the origins of his newfound power is essential, but he is also aware that he is in enemy territory. As he navigates the maze-like corridors.

In a dimly lit cell chamber, a resourceful individual, unaware of the mafia-installed covert cameras strategically placed throughout the room, successfully managed to free themselves from their restraints.

The cameras recorded every subtle movement as this person cautiously navigated their surroundings, fully aware of the potential dangers lurking in the shadows.

The hallway outside the cell was laden with a myriad of traps and poisons, rendering the need for bodyguards obsolete. The mafia preferred the efficiency of these mechanisms over human error, believing the traps to be more reliable.

In a nearby room, an obese guard with greasy, fat-stained hands paused mid-bite of his delectable sandwich as he glanced at the security monitor. His eyes widened in disbelief as he observed the energetic child somehow evading the traps and emerging unscathed from the monitored area. His mouth hung open, and the half-eaten sandwich fell to the floor.

Frantically, the guard slammed his meaty palm onto a red button, releasing a sleep-inducing gas into the hallway. The gas, concocted from belladonna, a local remedy for insomnia, filled the air in a thick, misty cloud. Despite the noxious fumes enveloping the area, the child remained unaffected, as if protected by an invisible bubble. The gas seemed to repel itself from the child's presence, leaving them untouched.

Sweat beading on his brow, the guard bellowed for help, his voice cracking with panic. His assistant, a wiry and nimble individual, sprang into action, darting from the room to call for backup. The tension in the air was palpable as the mafia members scrambled to regain control of the situation, their faces etched with a mix of disbelief and determination.

Giuseppe entered the room, exuding an air of authority. He was a slim, dark-haired man with a round face and a light beard that framed his features. Just behind him followed a young man, his square face and powerful arms seemingly too lengthy for his frame. This young man had an eager and slightly mischievous glint in his eyes.

As Giuseppe took in the scene before him, his gaze settled on Ikke, whose small aura flickered with newfound power. Giuseppe could sense how quickly Ikke had managed to awaken and control his aura, and this caused him to smile uncomfortably, clearly impressed but also somewhat uneasy.

Suddenly, Giuseppe was startled by the square-faced young man at his side who blurted out, "Papa Papa, can I play?" Giuseppe turned to face his son, his eyes widening in a mix of amusment and resignation. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "Please go play with the boy, my son, Reimond. But remember, he's not a toy; you must treat him with care, he will be your little brother after all."

Reimond's face lit up with excitement as he responded, "You won't be upset if I break him, will you, Papa?" Giuseppe, his brow furrowed with concern, reassured his son, "No, no, my dear son. Just try your best to be gentle with him."

With a gleeful grin, Reimond bolted from the room, his long arms swinging wildly as he hurried towards the jail. Giuseppe watched his son leave, his face a mixture of pride and anxiety, unsure of what would unfold next.

The door to the room suddenly swung open with a loud bang, and a man known as 'the Fish' barged in, his face flushed from haste. Giuseppe, visibly annoyed by the interruption, snapped, "Enzo, what's taken you so long?" The two men proceeded to engage in a heated argument, their faces inches apart and their body language tense, with flared nostrils and clenched fists.

Their argument was abruptly halted as they both noticed Ikke concentrating all of his aura, preparing for an impressive leap across a pit – one of the many traps laid out in the hallway. Both men stared, their mouths agape in astonishment, as they witnessed the young boy's incredible feat.

Enzo, known as 'the Fish', became increasingly shocked as he tried to process what he was seeing. He couldn't believe that the boy he had met earlier had no knowledge of aura. Had Ikke really learned to harness aura just by witnessing Enzo and Algabao use it? The very thought left Enzo reeling, his eyes widening in disbelief.

As Enzo replayed the videos of Ikke's escape, he studied the boy's actions using Gyo, a technique that allowed him to perceive aura. His eyes were glued to the screen, and his heartbeat quickened as he observed the young boy's rapid mastery of Nen techniques.

In his mind, a frantic internal dialogue unfolded. 'How is this even possible?' he thought, his brows furrowing in disbelief. 'He shouldn't be able to learn and control his aura so quickly. It takes years of practice for most people...'

He continued to watch as Ikke released his aura, then effortlessly contained it using the Ten technique. The boy's newfound abilities left Enzo feeling a mix of amazement and terror. 'What if he becomes even more powerful?' he wondered, his thoughts racing.

The realization that Ikke had also learned the Ren technique in a matter of minutes sent a shiver down Enzo's spine. His face grew paler with each passing moment, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The weight of the situation settled on his shoulders, leaving him feeling suffocated.

Enzo's thoughts spiraled, his inner monologue growing more and more desperate. 'This boy is a prodigy unlike any I've ever seen. We have to act fast or he will become unstoppable.' His heart pounded in his chest, fear and anxiety coursing through his veins as he fully grasped the gravity of the situation.

As Enzo stared at the screen, his mind raced with strategies to counter the threat that Ikke posed. But deep down, a creeping sense of dread took root.

Enzo and Giuseppe exchanged a worried glance, their bodies stiff with fear. They knew they had to act quickly – this prodigious boy had to be stopped before his powers grew even stronger. Their shared concern now overshadowed any lingering animosity, as they realized they had a far greater problem on their hands.

In the prison, Reimond burst through the door, his eyes wide with excitement as he locked onto Ikke. A wide smile spread across his face, revealing his anticipation for the fight. "Finally, a worthy opponent!" he exclaimed, cracking his knuckles and taking a step forward.

Giuseppe and Enzo, who were observing the scene from the monitoring room, couldn't believe their eyes as the encounter unfolded. They watched in shock, their jaws dropping in disbelief as Ikke seemed to effortlessly surpass Reimond.

Reimond, desperate to gain the upper hand, threw a powerful punch, aiming straight for Ikke's face. "Take this!" he shouted, his voice a mix of anger and determination.

However, in a split second, Ikke summoned his katana, Intesu, and swiftly cut through Reimond's aura with incredible precision. The blade met Reimond's hand, severing it in the process. Reimond let out a wail of pain, tears streaming down his face. "Aaah! My hand!" he cried out, clutching the stump where his hand had been.

But instead of weakening him, Reimond's cries seemed to enhance his aura. It swirled around him like a storm, growing more powerful as it responded to his childlike emotions. Ikke, witnessing this unexpected turn of events, couldn't help but be intrigued by Reimond's unusual reaction.

"What's going on?" Ikke wondered, his curiosity piqued. "How is his aura getting stronger even though he's injured and crying?"

Reimond, despite his pain, gritted his teeth and glared at Ikke. "You think this is over?" he spat, trying to muster the courage to continue fighting. "I'll show you what I'm really capable of!"

Reimond's inner thoughts raced as he struggled to keep up with Ikke's rapid growth and adaptation. He couldn't help but feel a sense of despair and inferiority creeping in. "How is this possible?" he thought to himself. "I've trained for years, honing my skills, mastering the techniques of Nen. And yet, this kid... he's just absorbing everything I throw at him, like it's nothing."

Sweat poured down Reimond's face, his breathing grew heavier, and his movements became sluggish. He tried to push through the exhaustion, to summon the strength and skill he knew he possessed, but it was as if Ikke was a step ahead of him at every turn.

As Reimond continued to fight, he couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness and defeat. The more techniques he used, the stronger Ikke seemed to become. "Is there nothing I can do?" he wondered. "Is there no technique, no strategy that can stop him?"

With each passing moment, Reimond's despair and feelings of inferiority deepened. He began to question his own abilities, his worth as a fighter. "I've spent my entire life training and perfecting my skills, and yet, I'm being bested by someone who's only just discovered their power. What does that say about me?"

As the battle raged on, Reimond's inner turmoil grew, his confidence waning. He knew he couldn't give up, that he had to find a way to turn the tide, but the overwhelming sense of inadequacy was becoming harder and harder to ignore.

Enzo's face turned pale as he witnessed Ikke's rapid growth and understanding of aura. He couldn't comprehend how a boy who had only recently discovered his abilities could outmatch someone who had trained for years. Giuseppe, too, was visibly shaken, his fingers nervously tapping on the table as he realized the potential threat Ikke posed.

"By the gods... How can he learn so fast?" Enzo muttered, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear.

Giuseppe's eyes narrowed, and his expression darkened as he clenched his fists. "We cannot underestimate this boy any longer. We must eliminate him before he becomes an even greater threat," he growles " Enzo quick go and reinforce my puppet if he dies we will be at even bigger disadvantage."

As the intense battle between Ikke and Reimond continued, Ikke began to feel his body weaken. He realized that his rapid growth and use of aura were taking a toll on his body, and he needed to find a solution quickly. Ikke's eyes narrowed in concentration, attempting to redirect the energy that usually kept his body warm and transform it into a powerful source of kinetic energy.

With his newfound energy source coursing through his veins, Ikke glanced at Reimond with steely determination in his eyes. "This ends now," he declared, his voice firm and resolute. In one swift motion, Ikke infused his katana with the powerful aura, causing the blade to shimmer and hum with the sheer force it now contained.

Reimond, realizing the imminent danger, struggled to maintain his defense, his eyes wide with fear. "You can't do this!" Reimond stammered, desperately trying to regain his footing. But it was too late. Ikke had already spotted an opening in Reimond's defense and didn't hesitate to seize the opportunity. With a swift and decisive strike, Ikke's katana sliced through the air, leaving a trail of vibrant energy in its wake. In a blink of an eye, Reimond's head was severed from his body, his eyes still open in shock as it tumbled to the ground.

*thud*

The fierce battle was over, and the room fell silent, the echoes of the clash fading away. Ikke stood there, panting heavily, his body trembling from the exertion.

As Ikke stood amidst the carnage, he felt his aura beginning to wane. He knew he couldn't afford to waste any more time or energy, as there was still much to do. Taking a deep breath, he focused his mind and quickly contained his aura within himself, conserving his strength for what lay ahead.

Glancing around the room one last time, Ikke muttered to himself, "I have to get out of here. Now." With a sudden burst of adrenaline, Ikke sprinted towards the entrance of the prison. He could hear the footsteps and shouts of the mafia members echoing through the halls, but he was undeterred. He knew that he couldn't afford to be captured or slowed down by any obstacles in his path.

As Ikke reached the exit, he barreled through the door, shattering it into splinters. The night air was cool and crisp, providing a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of the prison. Without pausing to catch his breath, Ikke continued running, his legs carrying him towards the nearby forest that loomed in the distance.

The branches and leaves rustled gently in the breeze, offering a sense of solace and safety from the chaos he had just left behind. He knew that his journey was far from over, but for now, he was one step closer to achieving his goal.

..................

Kurapika stood in the dimly lit alley, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble. He was here to meet an underhanded dealer who claimed to have information about recent dirty business in Bari. Kurapika knew that dealing with such people was a necessary evil, but it still left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The dealer, a gruff man with a heavily scarred face, finally appeared from the shadows. He approached Kurapika with caution, sizing him up before speaking. "You're the one looking for information, huh?" he grumbled.

Kurapika nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "I'm searching for a pair of young boys who have gone missing.They could have been taken by child traffickers . "

The dealer shrugged, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Child traffickers, you say? They're not here in Bari. They operate out in Genua, mostly."

Kurapika's eyes narrowed, feeling a mix of disgust and anger. "Tell me everything you know about these operations and the people involved. I won't hesitate to make this... difficult for you if you're not forthcoming."

The dealer's grin faded as he realized the seriousness of the situation. He began to recount the details he knew about the child trafficking ring operating in Genua, including names and locations. Kurapika listened intently, committing every piece of information to memory.

As the dealer finished speaking, Kurapika tossed him a small bag of money, the agreed-upon price for the information. "This is the last time we'll meet," he warned, his voice cold and resolute. "If I hear you've continued to engage in such despicable activities, you won't be so fortunate next time."

With that, Kurapika disappeared into the shadows, leaving the dealer to contemplate his own fate.