Chapter 65 - Nobunaga vs Axel - First Fight Against The Troupe

Axel knew that he had to be on his guard as soon as he got the chance to talk to Squala. He braced himself for the worst, knowing that the troop members wouldn't hesitate to attack him if he posed a threat.

As Squala was brought forward by Pakunoda, Axel prepared to defend himself. But before he could react, Nobunaga suddenly unleashed his nen and shot forward, his sword flashing in the air.

Axel barely had time to react, dodging to the side as the blade sliced through the air. He quickly regained his balance and prepared to counter-attack, his own nen sparking to life.

The battle was fast and intense; each move was calculated and precise. Nobunaga was a skilled swordsman; his movements were swift and deadly. Axel knew he had to be careful if he wanted to stay alive.

As the two clashed, Pakunoda watched on, her gun trained on the fight. She knew that Axel had to have some kind of ability, and she was ready to use her own nen if necessary.

For about ten to fifteen seconds, the two men attacked each other, each dodging and parrying the other's blows. Axel was quick on his feet; his movements were almost dance-like as he evaded Nobunaga's attacks.

But Nobunaga was a formidable opponent, and he quickly picked up on Axel's style. With a swift movement, he managed to land a hit on Axel's arm, causing him to stumble back.

Axel gritted his teeth, his determination growing stronger. He launched himself forward, his nen blazing as he aimed a fierce strike at Nobunaga's side.

Nobunaga dodged just in time, the force of the attack sending him back a few steps. He grinned, impressed with Axel's skills.

The two men circled each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. They knew that this battle could go on forever, but they were both determined to come out on top.

As Nobunaga continued to battle with Axel, he began to understand the situation a bit better. He could tell that Axel was fast and strong, but not nearly as experienced as he was. And he also realized that Axel had not yet used any NEN abilities, which made him wonder if the other man was taking this fight seriously.

But just as the two fighters seemed to be locked in an intense stalemate, Pakunoda suddenly screamed out. "I got what I needed to get! "We're backing away and heading to the side of Machi and Shizuku!"

Nobunaga quickly realized that this was their cue to retreat. He knew that the troop's mission was far more important than this fight, and he didn't want to risk losing anyone unnecessarily.

With a final nod to Axel, he sheathed his sword and turned to leave. "We're done here. "You're lucky we're in a hurry," he said, before following Pakunoda and Kortopi away from the scene.

As they disappeared into the distance, Axel couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. He had managed to hold his own against the feared troop and had come out of the encounter relatively unscathed.

But as he took a moment to catch his breath,

"At least, I was able to make them spend time here. If I risked my life, I may have protected information on Kurapika, but that was necessary." "At least, Squala was alive and will be able to meet her lover, Eliza; that is a positive change and acceptable for me."

For now, however, Axel knew that he had to focus on his own mission. He had to find the answers he was looking for, no matter the cost. And if that meant crossing paths with the Phantom Troupe again, then so be it.