If conditions allowed, Illumi would prefer to settle Moses with a single needle.
However, Moses was well aware of the threat posed by Nen needles and seemed to have guessed that Nen needles could only generate effects when inserted 'above the head'.
Therefore, his conscious vigilance during the confrontation made it difficult for Illumi to find an opportunity to insert the needle into Moses's head.
This was also the straightforward reason why Illumi sent Moses flying with a single punch.
Although the Manipulation System's combat tactics are more inclined to end the battle with a single strike, if conditions didn't permit, he could also choose to take it slowly.
After all, injured prey was easier to capture.
Moses was sent flying by Illumi's punch.
Due to the fluidity and intensity of Nen flow, this punch caused substantial damage to him but still within an acceptable range.
So the battle continued.
Seizing the advantage, Illumi pursued at the fastest speed towards Moses, who had yet to land.
In mid-air…
Moses adjusted his posture, landing with his feet first, sliding a distance on the ground before stopping his momentum.
'Fortunately, my 'physical strength' has been enhanced once.'
Ignoring the pain coming from between his ribs, Moses stared at Illumi, who is rapidly approaching.
'With just two correct moves, this guy easily broke through my defense...'
'If I'm not physically strong enough, I might have to endure more injuries.'
'There is no chance of winning in close combat.'
Moses muttered to himself, and then continued to retreat.
He knows Illumi's strength very well.
Not only the physical skills nurtured by Zoldyck Family, but also the Nen needle that showed threats everywhere between offense and defense.
If it weren't for the Nen needle that could kill with one blow, Moses wouldn't be helpless. Not to mention that there is Tsubone, who is hidden somewhere.
'There's still some distance…'
While retreating, Moses glanced roughly at the situation on the shadow's side.
The Needle People captured his shadow clone, but his shadow clone could directly transform into a two-dimensional shadow, thus breaking free from the Needle People's restraint.
However, returning from that side required crossing a distance.
And Illumi, who had anticipated this, naturally had this information.
Before the shadow returned, Illumi had to strive to insert the Nen needle into Moses's body or make Moses endure two more attacks.
Otherwise, after the shadow clone returned, his chance of success would decrease accordingly.
Moses's retreat speed was far inferior to Illumi's.
In just a moment, Illumi had shortened the distance between them, forcing Moses to stop.
Then the two engaged in close combat.
"Bang bang—!"
As fists and feet collided, shockwaves erupted.
In the end, in terms of physical skills and Nen techniques, Illumi had the upper hand.
After several rounds of close combat, he seized an opportunity and sent Moses flying with a knee strike.
Thud—
Moses's body heavily crashed onto the ground, bouncing a few times before rolling and colliding with a street lamp.
Clang!
The tremendous impact directly bent the iron rod of the lamppost.
"It seems that I've overestimated you."
With another successful strike, Illumi concealed the Nen power on the needle in his hand and continued to charge towards Moses.
During battles, Manipulators generally manipulate a puppet to lead the way or directly resolve the enemy, or create opportunities to capture the enemy with a puppet.
While Manipulators like Illumi, who possess formidable close combat abilities, can disrupt the opponent's response rhythm using the inherent 'deterence' of Nen needles in close combat.
To guard against Nen needles would mean enduring striking damage.
To guard against striking damage might mean being defeated by a single strike.
This is where the combination of physical skills and Manipulation abilities is most terrifying.
With the inherent intimidation of Manipulation ability, Illumi, who already had the upper hand in physical skills and Nen techniques, felt no pressure whatsoever.
Or rather –
Illumi thought Moses was too weak.
After several rounds of fighting, there was no pressure nor threat.
He presumed that Hisoka's disastrous defeat was due to the 'information gap', just like him.
Now that he had information about Moses's ability, he felt no pressure to deal with him.
Another onslaught from Illumi caused Moses to receive another punch.
The reason why he hadn't managed to insert the Nen needle into Moses's body was because Moses focused on defending against the Nen needle.
In this way, Illumi naturally resorted to inflicting damage on Moses with punches and kicks. After all, as the injuries accumulated, Moses would inevitably succumb.
"You, who are so fixated on waiting for your Nen Clone to return, have no chance of winning."
Hesitant, hesitant to act.
That's how Illumi saw Moses.
In his view, Moses's focus on defending against the Nen needle was because he wanted to reorganize his formation by waiting for his Nen Clone to return.
In order to implement this tactical idea, he could even accept the injuries from close combat.
'Once the needle is inserted, it's over.'
Illumi roughly guessed what was on Moses's mind.
'When facing the enemy, he had actually shackled himself with thoughts of hesitance and constraint.'
'He's truly weak.'
'I've really overestimated you.'
After these few rounds of fighting, Illumi saw through Moses's nature.
'In order to deal with such a weak opponent…'
'I had even made careful plans before starting the battle.'
'But it doesn't matter anymore.'
'Just clean it up.'
A cold killing intent emanated from Illumi's Aura.
At this moment,
Moses's shadow clone finally returned to defend the main body.
But by now, Moses had withstood several attacks from Illumi, and his movements had noticeably slowed down.
In this case, the shadow clone's return has lost its meaning.
At this time, Illumi confronted Moses and his shadow clone without any pressure.
The injuries he inflicted on Moses earlier had weakened the joint offensive power of Moses and his shadow clone to a considerable extent.
'The intensity and strength are surprisingly consistent.'
Withstanding several waves of attacks from the shadow clone, Illumi keenly noticed this.
'This is probably the advantage of using shadows to materialize Nen Clone.'
'Unfortunately, the main body's condition had declined.'
Illumi, in one against two situation, had fought back and forth for just ten rounds, finally finding an opportunity to insert the Nen needle into Moses's body.
He had been waiting for this moment.
Chi!
Illumi gathered Nen power with Ken to withstand the shadow clone's punch, then inserted the Nen needle into Moses's body as his movements slowed down.
As the evil Nen power emanated from the Nen needle, Moses's body stiffened.
'It's over…'
Although Illumi thought so, he didn't stop there.
Just in case, he quickly inserted another Nen needle into the shadow clone.
At this moment.
Killua, who rushed over after breaking free from the Needle People, and Tsubone, who had been hiding in the dark, both witnessed this scene.
Illumi glanced at the dumbfounded Killua, his face showing no ripples.
And in the darkness, Tsubone watched calmly as Moses was controlled by the Nen needles.
'The difference in strength is too great.'
In fact, since the moment the Needle People descended, she had seen that Illumi completely dominated Moses in all aspects.
So she felt that it was only natural for this result to occur.
"Huh?!"
Suddenly, a look of astonishment appeared in Tsubone's old eyes.
Under her gaze, Moses, who had been pierced by the Nen needles, suddenly swung a punch at Illumi's chin.
Crash!
Illumi's expression changed, and a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.
Under the strike from the fist powered by gathered Nen, his slightly slender body soared into the sky, his consciousness lost momentarily.
'What happened…?!'
'Could that one also be a Nen Clone?!'
While he was in the air, he struggled to move his eyes downward and looked at Moses below.
Subsequently, he saw Moses's eyes that seemed to be looking at a fool.
As if to say—
You really don't have a long memory.