Chapter 22 : Netero X Ball X Game (3)

Killua looked at Shinji as if he was looking at an idiot, which is of course true.

"Shinji, I thought you are smart, you should have already seen the gap between us and the old man, there is no chance we can snatch the ball from his hand!"

Shinji stood in his place, he wasn't affected the slightest by Killua's words.

"So what? Do you intend to give up like this? We haven't even used all of our strength! Victory or defeat can't be decided until the battle ends!"

"Killua, I also want to continue playing with Netero-san, after all, we still have plenty of time." Gon agrees with Shinji, he didn't do his best before, and he wants at least to make Netero use his right hand.

"The two of you…are really, idiots!" Killua sighed helplessly at the stupidity of Gon and Killua, his family always thought him that in the face of stronger enemies he must run as far as possible and only think of saving his life. Although they aren't in a deadly fight, the same principle applies here, in the face of the big gap between them and Netero, no matter what they do, any trick and strategy, the latter can break it with absolute power.

"At least hear my plan first, then decide whether to continue or not." This plan he thought of, killua must participate in it or else it will fail, so he must let him agree!

Then the three of them quitted the room in order to avoid Netero eavesdropping on their plan.

...

"It looks the same as the previous one?" Killua looked weirdly at Shinji, he found that what Shinji said was similar to the previous plan.

"Moreover how are you supposed to get the ball, with your speed, the old man can instantly bypass you!"

"just trust me." Shinji patted his chest and promised he will not let them down.

Then he looked at Gon and said.

"Gon, you are the core of this plan, we will rely on you, if you failed then there will be no choice other than to give up."

Gon nodded his head and said with a serious expression: "don't worry brother Shinji, I will definitely succeed, no matter what!"

"Let's GO!" Shinji shouted excitedly.

…

Netero stood in the center of the room playing with the ball, when he saw the three of them entering the room, he stopped his movement.

"Now…shall we start?" Netero looked at them playfully.

The three of them didn't speak, they start walking toward Netero.

Then they encircled him, Gon from the front, Killua behind him, Shinji on the side. The latter already toke his Leopard Hybrid form.

'Huh even if one hundred of you surrounded the old man, you won't be able to achieve anything.' Netero calmly stood in his place, waiting for their attacks.

Then he looked sideways at Shinji who become a Magical beast again.

"Weird…this brat doesn't have the smell of beasts on him, moreover his aura isn't fierce at all which shows that he didn't kill a lot, which is something rare for a magical beast'

The three of them stood for a while in order to intrigue Netero so that he won't know who is going to attack first.

Suddenly, the three of them attacked at the same time.

"Useless!" Netero with the ball in his left hand, using simple and a little bit of movement avoided all of their attempts.

The three of them didn't give up, they kept chasing and attacking from all directions.

But he was just like a leaf that will easily slip through your hand when you try to catch it

*bang*

"Ouch!"

Netero dodged their attack at the last minute which made them bump into each other.

"These brainless attacks are far away from touching even my clothes…so when do you intend to start your plan."

'They intend to mislead me into thinking that this is their plan, so once I let my guard down they will launch it…alright, since you want me to drop down my guard then I'll satisfy your wish.' Netero smiled wickedly in his heart.

He wants to trick them into thinking that he fell into their trap so they could make their move.

A trap is called so because of its surprising and unexpected factor, once he knows when it will be launched, then it isn't a trap anymore!

"Netero-san you're really amazing, you didn't even shed a drop of sweat!" gon looked at Netero with admiration, the power and speed of the latter really shocked him.

"You haven't seen anything, boy." Netero smiled mysteriously, since he wants to have fun, he deliberately suppressed his power in order to give these kids a chance. or else, with his body strength alone, they can only dream of taking the ball from him.

'Now, it's show time!' Shinji nodded his head toward Killua and Gon, the latter immediately understood his meaning.

Gon attacked Netero from the front just like before.

"Your attacks are getting boring, boy!" Netero stood in his place feeling bored.

'Is he going to repeat the same trick, attack from above?' Netero tried to guess the intention of Gon.

Just when Gon was a step away from Netero, he tried to kick Netero's chin, but the old man just simply moved his head back and avoided it.

*BANG*

'What!' Netero thought he avoided the attack, Gon in the last moment used his shoes to extend his attack range and hit him in the chin directly!

*BANG*

Netero didn't have time to react as Killua appeared Behind him when Gon hit him. Seizing this opportunity when Netero is surprised and then kicked his head heavily.

"We got you!" Killua shouted excitedly. this kick contains all his anger toward Netero.

Because of the sudden attack, the ball in Netero's hand slipped, and Killua jumped over Netero trying to reach for the ball.

"mine!" Killua shouted as he was able to catch it.

"No, you didn't." At the last moment, Netero made a front flip to get near the ball. when he was about to touch it.

*whoosh*

Gon repeated the same trick, using his Shoes he sent the ball far away from Netero.

"Your little tricks again!" Netero screamed angrily!

"Close!" Suddenly Shinji screamed. issuing the code they agreed on before.

Hearing his words both Killua and Gon closed their ears tightly.

"Huh?" Netero looked at this scene and felt something off.

But Shinji didn't give him time to think.

"Paralyzed scream!"

*Roar*

Shinji roared with all his might.

The moment Netero heard the roar his body nerves suddenly froze.

His eyes widened with shock.

'What the hell is this!' a scream made him freeze in his place. he, the dignified president of Hunter Association!

Killua and Gon who weren't affected by the scream hugged Netero tightly from his legs.

Repeating the same tactic of before again.

All of these things didn't even exceed ten seconds to happen.

Shinji who already determined the possible way where the ball would fly just need to extend his hand to catch it and they will win.

Netero could see the excited smile on the face of the three kids.

"Don't underestimate me!" Netero did something that no one will ever expect.

*Ptui*

*whoosh*

*BANG*

The three of Gon, Killua, and Shinji heard the sound of something breaking through the air, just like the sound of Arrows.

Then in Shinji's dog eyes, the ball as it was hit by something changed its direction unexpectedly.

"S-Spit!" Killua who was close, looked at Netero dumbfounded.

He can't process what he just saw now, who can tell him why a spit will have so much power? does this old man has a machine gun in his mouth?

He saw it clearly, Netero gathered saliva then his mouth bulged, then a drop of water, which was clearly a spit came out like a bullet and precisely hit the ball!

'He must have enhanced it with Nen for sure!' Shinji was also caught off guard but he wasn't afraid at all.

He already thought of the possibility of Netero doing something at the last minute to prevent him from getting the ball just like the previous attempt.

so this time he is already prepared for this trick.

Netero's strong body quickly escaped the paralyzed stats then he dragged Gon and Killua with him toward the ball.

"For god sake why do you like sticking to the old man so much!" Netero wants to complain, these two brats hugging his legs gave him a headache, no matter how much he tried to shake them off they were glowed to his legs not moving an inch.

He can't punch them off even if he wants, or else he will break the rules, so he has to jump like a bunny again.

*whoosh*

"Where do you think you're going."

Suddenly Shinji launched a straight punch toward Netero, the latter can only move his head to the side to dodge the punch.

"No one can stop the old man from getting his ball!"

"Then you have to walk on my corps if you want to get it!" Shinji with the attitude of sacrificing his life stood in front of Netero, ready to use his life to delay Netero a little bit.

"It's just a game there is no need to sacrifice your life Shinji-kun." Netero looked at this fool of Shinji and couldn't help but to wonder why he is so stupid like this?

Shinji didn't answer, he kept sending punches and kicks to Netero, the latter received most of them but he wasn't affected at all.

'Damn! now I feel the pain Killua.' His fists and legs start tingling from impact on Netero's iron body.

Now the situation is in a stalemate, Netero is held by Gon and Killua in his place, and Shinji is blocking his road, so neither of them went after the ball.

It just…

"Netero-sensei…you lost!" Shinji suddenly smiled and said.

"Huh?" Netero was puzzled, it's obvious that neither of them went after the ball, so why did Shinji say this?

Netero looked behind Shinji and his Eyes opened wide.

"No way…" He saw something he never expected to happen.

The ball is suspended in the air as if it was held by something indivisible.

Not only Netero even Gon and Killua were shocked.

Killua looked at Shinji and remembered what the other party told them.

"Don't worry, Just leave the matter of catching the ball to me!'

But he can't understand, how Shinji did this. Magic? Psychic? He didn't see any thread or something else.

'Gyo.' Aura gathered in the eyes of Netero and he instantly was able to see the thing holding the ball.

'What the hell is that? Nen Beast?…no!' He was shocked to see the black humanoid thing holding the ball. At first, he thought it was a Nen beast, but he immediately rules this possibility after feeling no aura around it. Moreover, all these kids don't know Nen, their aura isn't entangled around their bodies which shows they didn't learn Nen.

'The question is…who summoned this thing?' Netero looked at the shocked face of Gon and Killua, then his eyes landed on the smiling Shinji.

"Shinji-Kun…that thing…" he pointed at the black ghost, then asked: "that thing, is yours?"

Shinji already guessed that Nen users can see his black guest since he first used it against Hisoka. Which made him disappointed, obviously the black ghost isn't made by Nen so why they can see it? This question really intrigues him.

Shinji pretend to be shocked and asked with a surprised expression on his face.

"Netero-sensei you can see the black ghost?"

"The black ghost? So you're the one who summoned it!" Netero wasn't interested anymore in the ball game, seeing the black ghost and remembering the previous two abilities Shinji had shown.

'I'm sure this Shinji mustn't be some kind of magical beast, if he was one, then I should already smell the usual bloody and stinky aura on them.'

Netero who lived for a long time, even closing his eyes he could tell whether Shinji is a Warcraft or a human.

maybe only half of his blood is that of the warcraft, the other half should be pure human bloodline, which gave him the ability to transform between human and warcraft.

'could this black thing be the result of his hybrid bloodline? No, it shouldn't be.'

'Or maybe…there are other mysterious forces other than Nen in this world!'

This bold idea made Netero excited!

He who had been seeking to reach the pinnacle of Power his whole life, He who reached his limit both in Nen and Physical powers, is for sure excited to see a new kind of power, which mean new possibilities…possibilities to break through his limit!

Netero looked at Shinji and couldn't help but ask.

"Shinji-Kun…how did you obtain that Black Ghost?"

If he knows how Shinji obtained this power, although the black ghost seems very weak to him, it's a new power after all. So he can't help but be curious, maybe he can also obtain it?

"Huh?" Shinji was caught off guard, shouldn't Netero think that the black ghost is a product of Nen, in this way he can pretend to be a genius who created his Nen ability on his own than accept him as a disciple, teach him the real Nen, etc…?

'Of course, I got it from father inheritance Boundary.'

Shinji swore he will never reveal the existence of the Inheritance boundary to anyone, to avoid any possible accident.

So he must think of a lie now, he doesn't care if Netero trusts It or not, he just needs a cover-up.

Shinji's brain turned fast then an idea came to his mind.

"I'm really surprised Netero-sensei you can see the black ghost, as for your question, I myself don't know, because since I was born, it always was with me, protecting me!"

Hearing the answer of Shinji, Netero was disappointed.

"Sorry the old man was excited now, I apologize for prying on your privacy."

Only now did Netero realize that his question is not polite, asking others to tell you their secrets, nobody will like it.

Shinji waved his hands pretending he wasn't offended, but in his heart, he was sighing with relief, fortunately, Netero didn't ask more questions.

The two of Gon and Killua let go of Netero's hands, they were still looking at the floating ball with amazement.

"I feel as if an invisible man is standing in front of us holding the ball!" Gon looked at this scene, with his keen senses he can feel the presence of the black ghost.

"Black ghost? Are there even ghosts in the first place?" Killua who heard the conversation between Netero and Shinji felt that his worldview got shattered.

He always heard that people, when they die and have strong grievances and resentment, will turn into ghosts and chase those who killed them.

'Don't tell me…' Killua thought of a dangerous idea and felt terrified at this possibility.

'The ones I assassinated in the past…would they turn into ghosts and come after me!'

The picture of getting attacked by an army of ghosts while he is sleeping appeared in his mind.

Killua shook his head kicking these scary ideas from his mind.

"Well, since it's your ability then I have nothing to say."

"Gon, KIllua, Shinji…"

"Congratulation you won!"

Netero gave a smile to the three boys, he enjoyed this little game with them.

"Horyaaa!!!" Shinji lifted Gon high and started cheering, killua also cheered with them, after all, they have done their best together to win this game.

After calming down, the three of them looked at Netero, Shinji took the lead to say what they wants.

"Netero-sensei, I hope you will respect your promise and let us become Hunters now!"

Gon was excited, he is about to become a hunter, just like his father…he is one step closer to find him.

"Don't worry, I'll respect my promise to you and let you become Hunters, but you have to wait until the last day of the hunter exam to get your Hunter license."

"How many phases are still there?" Killua asked, he wanted to know when they will receive the hunter license.

"Three phases." Netero didn't hide it, since the three of them already become hunters.

"Three phases! we will have to wait this long to get the hunter license! Where is the privilege!" Killua was dissatisfied, he can't endure this amount of time waiting for the hunter exam to end before getting the hunter license.

"Mmm, Netero-san can I ask you something?" Suddenly Gon lifted his hands attracting their attention.

"What?" Netero looked at Gon waiting for his question.

"Can we still take the hunter exam, and if we fail in one of the phases, would we still be Hunters?" Gon asked the question.

Shinji looked at Gon and immediately understood why he made this request, in fact, he himself was ready to ask the same question.

"Why you would want to put your life in danger when you already become a hunter?" Netero asked curiously, shouldn't the normal thing Gon do is to wait until the hunter exam end then take his Hunter license and leave?

"I can't leave my friend Leorio and Kurapika to face the Hunter exam alone, I want to help them!" Gon said with firm eyes, I'm afraid even if Netero refuses Gon won't change his mind.

Netero nodded his head, at the same time appreciating the loyalty of Gon.

"Well, there is no problem but you mustn't tell anyone that you already become a hunter, or else we will get into trouble."

"Don't worry Netero-san, I promise you, we will not tell anyone."

"By the way Shinji…" suddenly Netero's eyes landed on Shinji.

"What?" Shinji looked puzzled at Netero, what does he want from me? Don't tell me he will ask me about my powers again?

But unlike what Shinji thought, the words of Netero were something he never expected.

"Would you like to be my disciple?"