HxH: I Will Be Supreme

"You've been in the mountains too long, old man. It's time to come down," Oboro stood before Netero, his voice cold with challenge.

His legs sank into a deep stance, the fabric of his black suit pants suddenly pulled tight against his surging muscles. At the same time, his aura contracted around him, forming a flowing "armor" over his skin.

"Oh?"

Netero stepped forward lazily, as if witnessing something fascinating, and smiled.

"I'm going to break through!" Oboro's resolve crystallized, his eyes hardening with determination.

He raised one hand while the other was at his elbow, then unleashed a blow with explosive force, like a compressed spring finally released.

Divine Fist!

"His aura is not only concentrated in his hands, but it is also spread out for overall defense against counterattacks. Not a trace leaks out, increasing the density in his striking fist. Excellent aura control, much more refined than when he fought Bisky," Netero's assessment flashed through his mind.

He raised his arm to block Oboro's blow.

Their collision produced a thunderous impact, the ground beneath them exploding into spreading circles of cracks.

Countless pieces of debris hung in the air.

The legs of Oboro's suit pants were instantly shredded.

"Though it appears to be boxing, the key lies in his footwork." The battle-generated wind whipped Netero's silver-white hair and eyebrows wildly, and his long sleeves rolled back to reveal deceptively thin, weathered arms. Though his expression remained relaxed, his eyes were wary as they followed Oboro's leg positioning.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Oboro's attack proved to be far quicker and more devastating than the old man had anticipated!

The first blow was followed by countless dense fist shadows.

Each blow carried the same power and intent as the first!

Oboro held nothing back!

His fists blurred through the air as Netero crossed his arms in defense, but no matter how fast or powerful Oboro's blows were, they couldn't penetrate the chairman's guard.

Suddenly, Netero shifted tactics, one hand threading through Oboro's storm of fists to aim precisely at his wrist. Though the movement seemed leisurely, it would connect before Oboro's next strike landed.

Just as Netero's fingers would have made contact, Oboro's arm recoiled as if electrified. Netero pressed his advantage, flicking his fingers toward Oboro's face.

But his target had vanished.

"Excellent body manipulation!"

Netero's eyes narrowed.

From behind him, a whip kick transformed into a massive black axe that slashed diagonally at his neck.

The attack combined martial technique with a perfectly timed aura release, each element enhancing the other.

The presence vanished instantly as his body shifted position.

"Young people really have no respect for their elders."

The old man complained as his palm tightened around Oboro's ankle like an iron shackle.

But Oboro had anticipated this, his finger already driving like a needle into the back of Netero's hand.

Another sharp crack split the air.

The fighters separated, landing ten meters apart.

Most of Netero's right sleeve had been ripped off, the edge cut perfectly straight as if by scissors. The cloth settled at his feet.

"Such different techniques, they don't seem to have a common origin. Familiar, yet I've never seen anything like it. Self-taught?" Netero feigned surprise, stroking his beard as he studied Oboro's defensive posture.

In his youth, Netero had attended countless martial arts schools. His knowledge and experience was unfathomable. He could discern the essence of fighting styles from different continents, identifying their lineage and evolution at a glance, as the saying went, despite surface changes, the core principles remained constant.

All of Oboro's techniques were deadly arts, each honed through specific body conditioning before being refined into new forms. The difference lay in his personal interpretation, mixing elements from different schools to increase both power and efficiency.

"Hah."

Oboro took a deep breath to steady himself.

Sweat had formed on his forehead.

His explosive attack and all-out assault had failed to reveal even the slightest opening in the old man's defenses.

Unlike Bisky, whose strength lay primarily in her transformed body, Netero possessed not only physical prowess, but also unfathomable martial knowledge and combat experience. From their first exchange, Oboro had sensed that Netero had instantly analyzed the flaws in his technique!

While Bisky's power came from pure physical ability, Netero gave the impression of complete mastery of both body and martial theory. Moreover, Oboro's aura control, though thorough, still required conscious effort and energy.

Netero, on the other hand, seemed to control his aura as naturally as breathing, completely integrated into his being.

Oboro looked to where he'd struck the back of Netero's hand. His diamond-hard finger strike hadn't even left a mark.

The Chairman's physical durability and aura defense were both impeccable.

It was hard to imagine that such terrifying power was contained within that diminutive frame.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Oboro's silence, Netero grinned and scratched his head: "Didn't you just tell that old man to come down from his mountain?"

Step!

Several afterimages burst into existence, making it impossible to track the original. Only deep impact craters in the ground marked his path.

Then, in an instant, he materialized in front of Netero.

Another strike was launched.

"Useless, the same approach won't work twice"

Netero's warning came with a smile. Before he could finish speaking, he noticed that Oboro's fist went through several transitions!

Oboro had integrated techniques from every master he'd met over the years, combining their insights with his own understanding; this synthesis marked his growth! It also explained his eagerness to fight!

The fist brushed Netero's stomach, grazing his clothes.

"Hohoho!"

The seemingly successful strike dissolved as a palm materialized.

Netero wrapped around Oboro's fist, applying a slight twist that sent violent tremors through the younger man's arm. The force threatened to shatter bone. Oboro's expression changed as he was forced to pull back, twisting his waist to dissipate the massive energy.

The maneuver threw him off balance, allowing Netero to strike his chest and send him tumbling back several meters.

"Phew, that was dangerous, so dangerous, almost got hit"

Netero wiped the non-existent sweat from his brow.

""

Oboro remained silent.

A feeling of powerlessness washed over him. At that moment, the old man before him appeared absolutely perfect, without a flaw.

Body, martial arts, experience, aura control, and fighting sense.

Complete supremacy in every aspect.

Of course, this was to be expected from Netero, it would have been impossible to gain any real advantage.

Even though Oboro hadn't been seriously injured, this realistic assessment left him deeply unsatisfied.

He'd grown tremendously in the past year, but

Such a revelation could shatter the resolve of a weaker mind.

"I spoke from honest observation. There is no need to be so petty. I may not respect my elders, but I've never seen you show kindness to the young Lucky it was me. Someone else's spirit might have been broken by such overwhelming force. A potential talent reduced to mediocrity." Oboro's tone remained even.

"If you could be defeated so easily, I wouldn't have bothered to come to you."

Netero smiled.

His gaze shifted slightly.

Suddenly he took a deep breath.

The inhalation was long and strong. When he exhaled, the cool air in the hall transformed his breath into a visible "white line" almost a meter long.

The breathing technique.

"Hmm?"

Netero's smile disappeared.

He watched Oboro's body temperature rise rapidly, as if his blood had begun to boil.

Then, movement.

This time, even Netero instinctively concentrated, feeling real pressure because Oboro's speed had multiplied many times over!

Every organ in Oboros body was now working at maximum capacity, generating enormous energy.

Both his brain and his muscles had better control, while his aura underwent a subtle transformation!

Bang!

Netero jumped into the sky, his instincts screaming danger!

But Oboro matched his speed perfectly. The moment Netero left the ground, a black shadow materialized next to him.

Both hung in the air.

The attack pattern became indecipherable.

The limbs moved with such speed that they created intertwined black lines, attacks that targeted every angle of the chairman's body.

Netero's expression turned serious, his eyes constantly tracking as he used both hands and feet in defense, blocking each attack with the endless percussion of blows. During one exchange, however, Oboro's fingers transformed into razor-sharp blades, finding an opening to counterattack by gripping the back of Netero's hand.

Netero immediately reinforced the targeted area with aura.

But his hand still received a scratch!

The Chairman's heart skipped a beat as he prepared for a decisive counterattack.

Suddenly, he noticed that Oboro's breathing became erratic and his movements slowed. The younger man fell out of the air, sprawling on the ground.

Netero's wooden sandals clicked as he landed. "Reached your limit? In this state?"

"Most can only control their external movements, but you used the breathing rhythm to regulate the internal organs, didn't you?" Netero's eyes gleamed with interest. Oboro's performance had surpassed his expectations!

This rare technique was one that Netero had considered and tried himself He could replicate Oboro's feat, but without a complete theoretical and practical framework, he could only experiment In essence, this technique could form the basis of an entirely new school.

Most importantly, the technique was closely related to "Ki"!

And this young man clearly had systematic knowledge.

Such a legacy

The human body was a treasure trove of potential. Internal cultivation proved to be far more challenging than external!

Humans maintained a clear awareness of their skin and muscles, but the internal organs remained largely beyond conscious control, even basic sensation was dulled.

"Had enough fun?"

Oboro deflected the question. His chest heaved like a bellows as he struggled to his feet and retrieved his dust-covered jacket.

"Leaving already? Why not show me your Hatsu? Maybe you can teach this old man something new," Netero encouraged.

"I'll pass, I'm no masochist."

Oboros lips curled. If both of them unleashed their full abilities, he had no chance, raw power would overwhelm technique.

Although his Hatsu was complex and powerful, it was far from Netero's level. All the enhancements of the system couldn't match a single strike of the "100-type Guanyin".

"Oh well."

The old man's disappointment was obvious.

"Need a ride?"

""

Oboro turned to look at the smiling chairman. "Suddenly, I'm reconsidering the Hunter's Exam. Joining the Association might not be so wise."

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Netero's laugh turned awkward as he added worriedly, "Go get some rest, I'll see you at the Association."

""

Silence.

"Tch."

Oboro shook his head and left the hall, disheveled.

Outside, when he found himself alone, his composed expression cracked as he clutched his chest in pain. The Chairman's blow had left its mark.

His current breathing technique couldn't withstand such an intense fight, his body couldn't handle it.

His internal organs were still spasming painfully.

At least ten days to two weeks of recovery needed

"As expected, the distance is huge, but at least I can see the top of the mountain, it's not unreachable," Oboro looked back at the third exhibition hall and muttered softly.

Then he left the amusement park.

"Troublesome brat"

Back inside, after confirming Oboro's departure, Netero shook his slightly numb hands and sighed, "I must admit I'm getting old.

He had noticed that Oboro was barely holding himself together!

Still only twenty years old, the young man's future was bright.

Such talent and potential reminded the old man of someone from his past.

Yet they were completely different in their path of growth, their innate qualities, and their personalities.

Netero examined his bleeding hand, then his tattered clothes, and smiled. "Rather embarrassing, can't let anyone see me like this."

Beep beep.

His phone suddenly rang from the lining of his robe.

He checked the number and saw Bisky's call.

Right on schedule.

"Hello, hello, Mr. Chairman, how did your 'chat' go?" Bisky's excited voice broke through as soon as he connected.

"Hohoho, he's gone!"

The old man laughed heartily.

"Well? Did you give him a proper warning? That boy is usually so arrogant, I thought he'd skip the preliminaries," Bisky's words tumbled out quickly.

"Well, as you said, he's extraordinary, but someone like him is not easily intimidated. He was the one who surprised me." Netero replied.

"Huh?"

Bisky fell silent.

She'd briefed the chairman about Oboro several times to make sure he had a solid understanding. What could have surprised someone of Netero's caliber?

"His growth rate exceeded your predictions," Netero explained. "He knows far more than simple martial arts, especially that remarkable breathing technique! His physical talent is extraordinary. Compared to normal practitioners, he can quickly condition his body to extraordinary levels, honing not only the external muscles and bones, but the internal systems as well! His physical development reminds me somewhat of my younger self As for his aura control, based on your reports, it's grown significantly, largely due to the experiences of the past year. His body really impressed me. However, one crucial point - after your warning, I noticed he has a deeper understanding and direction in aura manipulation, actively training that aspect, but he hasn't grasped its true essence."

Netero reflected on their recent encounter. "He has probably never fought a truly deadly battle, or rather, no opponent has truly threatened his life. True aura refinement requires a baptism of death. He sees the path, but lacks true experience and understanding.

"Moreover, while his body is formidable, his martial arts have only developed certain aspects, while flesh and blood form a unified whole. Still young, he must progress step by step."

"As for his Hatsu, he didn't show it. Cautious fellow, keeping his guard up against me."

"At his age, few reach such heights."

"But his character interests me more."

Netero's voice became steady.

"Character?"

Bisky echoed.

"He is brilliant, his mafia operations show organizational skills and strategic thinking. Maintaining his position among the Ten Dons is no small feat. But such people often go their own way. For him, good and evil are fluid concepts. Given serious responsibility, two outcomes are possible - light or darkness, all depending on his mindset. He won't listen to the opinions of others, and outside forces rarely sway him."

Netero's words made Bisky silent.

She'd noticed these traits in Oboro early on.

"The boy is more like my wayward son."

Netero's next words made Bisky hold her breath.

"But they're not identical. Both have personal codes and standards for judging the world. Oboro's nature is to maintain certain moral boundaries; once he has chosen a path, he pursues it relentlessly. Since he prioritizes practical benefits, we should align his interests with positive development and gradually guide him".

"The question remains, how long will he stay on the right path?

The mention of Beyond cast a heavy shadow over their conversation.

"Of course, they only share some personality traits, not complete similarity. Don't worry too much, hahaha."

Netero's laughter suddenly returned, "This young wolf prefers solitude. He probably avoids attachment to others. But without accepting certain responsibilities, his growth will stagnate. You see, sometimes things more important than one's life can unlock hidden potential."

"That's why I want him to quickly become a hunter in the association. Maybe leading a team or making friends will change things."

Bisky spoke seriously.

"Change perhaps?"

Netero echoed.

Bisky's wish was admirable, but the old man knew well that it was incredibly difficult to change such natures.

He'd tried it before and failed.