'The reason for your downfall was using your Nen Clone too hastily to deal with the Needle People.'
This is the conclusion that Illumi came to during the battle.
In fact—
All the subsequent events, whether good or bad, victorious or defeated, began at that moment.
By utilizing the Needle People's siege, Illumi gained relevant information about 'Moses's ability usage'.
Using the shadow as a vessel for the Nen Clone made Illumi understand this ability even further.
Hence, Illumi, armed with this information, began to make plans.
The Needle People descending from the sky was the crucial step for Illumi to turn the tide.
Using this to restrain the Nen Clone, he went straight to put pressure on Moses.
From that moment on, Moses fell into a disadvantage and was thoroughly suppressed by Illumi.
In the process, Illumi, with the upper hand in physical skills and Nen techniques, coupled with the inherent threatening deterrent of the Nen needles, forced Moses to consciously avoid the risk of being pierced by the Nen needles during close combat.
'Once the needle is inserted, it's over.'
'So to avoid being pierced by the needle, you wait for the Nen Clone to return, which can alleviate the pressure and even allow for a counterattack.'
Moses's actions of consciously dodging the Nen needles at the expense of getting injured were crowned by Illumi with the most reasonable reasons and motivations.
As the battle progressed to this moment, Illumi realized that he had overestimated Moses's strength.
At the end of the day—
Putting aside his Nen Abilities, Moses's physical skills and Nen techniques were far inferior to his.
So once he restrained Moses's Nen Abilities, winning this battle was only a matter of time.
The reality also developed step by step as Illumi had predicted, gradually progressing until he accurately inserted the Nen needle into Moses's body...
The battle should have ended from that moment on.
The sources of pollution that would affect Killua would also disappear completely.
What Illumi had in mind at that moment was to take off Moses's head, now transformed into a Needle Person, in front of Knuckle Killua.
In this way, he wanted to instill the concept of 'assassins don't need friends' into Killua's cognition in advance.
But with Moses's punch, Illumi's world turned upside down.
'Could that also be a Nen Clone?!'
When flying in the air, this was the first possibility that came to Illumi's mind.
Because he had failed here last time too.
'But…'
'When exactly is it?'
'How exactly is it done?'
As Illumi's consciousness was fading, he recalled the look in Moses's eyes, as if he's looking at an idiot.
The meticulously laid plans, the calculated tactics to gain the upper hand, all the punches landed on the cotton-like entity called the 'Nen Clone'.
So after seeing Moses's gaze…
Illumi seemed to hear Moses saying: You really don't have a long memory.
Shame, anger, unwillingness.
This monster from the Zoldyck family, for the first time, harbored so many, and such intense emotions in his heart.
'Why don't you understand?'
'I merely... showed you the 'phenomenon' you wanted to see.'
Moses bent his knees slightly, looking up at Illumi flying in the sky with cold eyes.
When being besieged by Needle People, why would he need to openly conjured his shadow into a Nen Clone?
This is to send a message to Illumi.
'The reason your 'Nen needle' failed last time was because you inserted the 'Nen needle' into the Nen Clone.'
'See, this is my ability, see, both me and the Nen Clone are here.'
'So what are you waiting for?'
'Come at me.'
With this move, Moses pinned a fixed 'source of information' in Illumi's mind.
And the final opportunity to win still relied on waiting for the moment when Illumi inserted the Nen needle into the Nen Clone.
The reason for this confidence was that Moses firmly believed one thing...
That is, Illumi, who possessed a strong desire for control, no matter how he gained the advantage in battle, would ultimately choose to end the fight with the Nen needle.
So from that moment on, winning this battle is only a matter of time.
But for Moses…
Actually, when Illumi couldn't control his Aura due to jealousy, Moses had already secured the victory in this battle.
Now—
'A person always has to pay for his actions.'
Under Moses's control, the shadow clone's right hand gathered bright Nen, its bent knees suddenly straightened, and its figure shot toward Illumi's landing position like an arrow.
The real end of the battle is not just 'unconsciousness'.
However, just as the shadow clone was preparing to end the battle, a robust figure suddenly appeared.
Because the speed was too fast, it looked as if it appeared out of thin air.
This figure is none other than Tsubone.
As the butler of the Zoldyck family, how could she just watch Illumi fall into danger?
Snap-
The moment she appeared, Tsubone slapped the shadow clone on the head.
Even though the shadow clone had considerable strength, it was inevitable that it would be shattered into countless Nen fragments by Tsubone's slap.
In Moses's view, he only saw Tsubone suddenly appear.
When he reacted, Tsubone's palm had already struck the shadow clone's head.
'Such a fast sneak attack, but the really scary thing is her Zetsu...'
Moses frowned.
In this case, obviously there was nothing more he can do.
'So be it.'
Moses prepared to retreat first.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Moses realized something, and his eyes slightly changed.
Immediately afterwards, he turned the remaining shadow clone in the field into a two-dimensional form at the fastest speed.
But it's still a step too late.
Under the effect of shared vision, Moses saw Tsubone flash onto the two-dimensional shadow.
"Your technique is excellent. Even until now, I haven't been able to find your location."
Tsubone pinched the shadow and said calmly: "But 'shadows' will always return to where they should be. If you understand, then come out yourself."
Because the Nen Clone uses shadow as the vessel, regardless of how the Nen Clone disappeared or disintegrated, there would always be a trajectory for the shadow to return.
Then, by following this trajectory, Tsubone could probably directly find the hidden Moses.
"…"
In the darkness, Moses frowned.
'She got me…'
'None of these older Nen Users were to be trifled with.'
"It can't be helped."
Moses stepped out from the darkness, appearing in Tsubone and Killua's field of view.
Seeing Moses obediently revealing himself, Tsubone released the shadow.
"Moses…!"
Killua looked bewildered.
Until now, he still hadn't figured out what had happened.
Moses did not respond to Killua, but looked at Tsubone calmly and asked: " Are you trying to help Illumi regain his footing?"
:…"
For a moment, Tsubone remained silent, but the Aura emanating from her body exuded a strong sense of oppression.
Most likely, the monocle on her right eye had already transmitted the recent battle process back to the Kukuroo Mountain, so it is impossible for her to do nothing.
"Killua, step back."
Moses glanced at Killua out of the corner of his eye and warned him aloud.
Then, he took a deep breath, his wolf-like gaze fixed on Tsubone.
"Come on then."
The Aura on Moses's body actually exuded a strong sense of oppression, and even had the tendency to overwhelm Tsubone.
Seeing this, Tsubone's expression immediately changed.
For some reason, she felt a hint of danger emanating from Moses.
'What's going on…?'
Tsubone stared and said nothing.