Chapter 16: Strong X Weak

Illumi, in a certain sense, had provided Noah with tremendous help.

If it weren't for Illumi, Noah would never have been able to leave Kukuru Mountain, let alone encounter an opponent whose strength was just right for sparring.

He wouldn't have discovered his greatest shortcomings either, so Noah truly had to thank Illumi for that.

Seeing that Noah still refused to step aside, Cain's expression darkened once again.

"Kid, I don't have time to play house with you. Move aside quickly, or else…"

"Or else what? Are you going to kill me?" Cain's words were cut short as his pupils suddenly contracted. Using Zetsu, Noah launched a second attack on Cain.

This time, Noah didn't choose to attack Cain from behind but instead opted for a frontal assault. In a taunting tone, Noah's hand shook slightly, transforming into razor-sharp claws that aimed straight for Cain's throat.

"Oh?"

Seeing this scene, Illumi, hidden in the shadows, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Physical manipulation? Where did he learn that?"

Noah's transformation of his hand at this moment was almost identical to what Killua had done in the original story—extending his fingernails to create claw-like weapons to harm his target.

It was a unique technique of the Zoldyck Family. Although Noah hadn't learned this technique, his control over his body had reached a terrifying level through Qi Refining.

Whether it was muscles, bones, or cells, Noah's control was impeccable, making it easy for him to mimic this move.

But what surprised Illumi even more was not just Noah's display of physical control but the fact that he, who clearly wasn't Cain's match, dared to initiate an attack first. This was unexpected for Illumi.

In Illumi's belief, when faced with an unbeatable opponent, one should quickly retreat and never engage in combat with someone they couldn't defeat. That was Illumi's philosophy.

So, for Noah's actions, while Illumi felt surprised, he was also filled with disdain.

Foolish!

Seemingly not expecting Noah to have such means, Cain widened his eyes.

His body, looking somewhat disheveled, leaned back as Noah launched a second attack using his Nen-enhanced claws. This time, Noah chose to confront Cain head-on.

Seeing this, Cain clenched his fists slowly, and he wasn't a saint with a kind heart. Noah's repeated challenges had ignited a spark of anger, even in a clay figure.

"Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish." Without a doubt, at this moment, Noah had truly ignited Cain's anger.

Death!

Feeling Nen emanating from Cain, Noah had no doubts. The man before him had indeed decided to take his life.

The fear of death made Noah briefly consider retreating.

It was a natural response for anyone unless they had experienced and become accustomed to life and death.

However, Noah clearly belonged to the former category.

Desiring to become stronger and change his fate, Noah instantly extinguished any thoughts of retreat from his mind.

No retreat!

No escape!

If he ran away at this moment, he would never be able to do what he wanted to do.

In his sky-blue eyes, a resolute light flashed, and Noah also emitted an astonishing amount of Nen. He took a step forward and once again advanced toward Cain.

Defeat him!

That was the message conveyed by Noah's Nen.

Cain's pupils contracted slightly, and he keenly felt the change in Noah's Nen. Watching the young man boldly charge at him, Cain's lips gradually curved into a smile.

"Now it's getting interesting, but…"

Stepping on the ground, leaving behind an explosive aura, Cain moved ahead, reaching Noah's side in an instant. He delivered a heavy punch that thundered toward Noah.

"At this level, you still can't defeat me!"

Noah's current state had reached a miraculous realm.

Faced with Cain's incoming fist, he didn't choose to block it with his arms in front of him as he did before.

His rapidly spinning brain told him that this defensive approach would only put him in a passive position.

He had to block his fist in the most direct way possible, not allowing Cain to dictate the rhythm of the attack.

Ryu!

Left leg Nen intensity 15, right fist Nen intensity 85!

Diligent training played a crucial role. Noah used Ryu to instantly adjust the Nen intensity covering his body's surface, swinging his right fist to meet Cain's fist.

Boom!

The fists of the two collided in mid-air, producing a muffled roar. A ring of Nen flowed outward from their fists, making the trees in the surrounding park rustle.

His fist blocked, Cain's eyes revealed a barely perceptible surprise, but in the next second, he immediately launched the next attack.

His left leg shot up like lightning, resembling a massive steel rod as it swept past Noah's side.

The whistling sound in his ears made Noah instinctively block his right arm at his side, and once again, he used Ryu.

Left leg Nen intensity 10, right arm Nen intensity 90!

Bang!

Cain's strike sent Noah sliding to the side, leaving two conspicuous tracks on the ground with his legs.

Cain didn't stop after striking Noah. He turned his body and, like a fierce bear, lunged at Noah once more.

In the time that followed, Noah undoubtedly found himself in a passive defensive position again, but this time, it was passive defense with a fundamental difference from the previous time he had been on the receiving end of the attacks.

Left arm Nen intensity 40, right leg knee Nen intensity 60!

Chest Nen intensity 25, left fist Nen intensity 75!

Facing Cain's assault, Noah continuously used Ryu to adjust the Nen intensity in different parts of his body, using these reinforced areas to withstand Cain's attacks.

Even though Cain's strength far exceeded Noah's, and his punches had tremendous power, without using Ryu to adjust the Qi intensity in his fists, he couldn't harm Noah in the slightest.

Although there were times when the adjustments were not fast enough due to the pressure, as time went on, Noah became more proficient with Ryu, and the speed of his Nen adjustments also increased.

It wasn't just Ryu; Noah's combat skills were growing exponentially during this continuous defense.

They say that to learn how to fight, you must first learn how to take a hit. Moreover, Noah was facing a fighter in the Sky Arena, and the pressure Cain brought was no ordinary burden.

Under this pressure, the combat instincts of Noah's body were gradually being awakened.

You see, Noah's body hails from Meteor City. What are the people of Meteor City best at? Survival!

For survival, the residents of Meteor City may not all be formidable warriors, but they are by no means weak.

Noah, in particular, could be counted among the best. If not, how could he have been selected to participate in the apprenticeship butler assessment, or how could he have easily pushed open the second gate of the trial?

The reason Noah didn't know how to fight ultimately boiled down to the fact that he was a transmigrator, and his soul and body were not perfectly aligned.

Therefore, the combat experience and instincts accumulated by this body were like rusty gears, stuck at a certain point and unable to turn.

However, at this moment, under the pressure brought by Cain, the alignment of soul and body was gradually occurring, and Noah was slowly and truly mastering this body.