The tension in the air thickened as the tall, wild-haired man approached, his dark nen aura flaring around him like a storm ready to break. His eyes gleamed with anticipation, a predator's grin spreading across his face as he took in the sight of the group standing before him.
"Looks like I'll get to have some fun today," the man said, his voice a low rumble as he cracked his knuckles. "It's been a while since I fought anyone worth my time."
Tanjiro's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, his senses sharp and focused. He could feel the weight of the man's nen aura pressing down on them, a sign of just how powerful their new opponent was. This wouldn't be an easy fight.
"We need to be careful," Tanjiro muttered to the others, his eyes never leaving the man. "His aura is strong—he's been on this island for a long time."
Killua stepped forward, his silver eyes narrowing. His Godspeed aura crackled faintly around him, a sign that he was ready for action. "We'll handle him. Let's see what this guy's made of."
Gon, ever full of energy, clenched his fists, his nen flaring around him. "We can take him down if we work together!"
Biscuit stood beside the group, her sharp eyes analyzing the situation. "Don't underestimate him. He's been waiting for us, which means he probably knows more about us than we do about him."
The man laughed, his aura intensifying. "I'll give you credit—you've got guts. But it won't be enough."
Without warning, the man dashed forward with blinding speed, his fist glowing with dark energy as he aimed a powerful strike at Gon. The sudden burst of movement caught the group off guard, but Gon reacted quickly, dodging the blow by a hair's breadth.
"Whoa!" Gon exclaimed, his eyes wide as the man's fist slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth. The ground cracked beneath the force of the blow, dust rising into the air.
Killua moved instantly, his Godspeed activating in a flash of electricity. He zipped behind the man, aiming a sharp, lightning-infused strike at the back of his neck.
"Thunderbolt!"
But the man reacted faster than expected, twisting his body at the last moment to block Killua's attack with his forearm. Sparks flew as the two forces collided, and the man grinned, clearly impressed by Killua's speed.
"You're quick, kid," the man said, his grin widening. "But speed alone won't save you."
Before Killua could pull back, the man's other fist shot out, aiming for Killua's chest. Killua barely managed to block the blow, but the sheer force of the punch sent him flying backward, skidding across the ground.
"Killua!" Gon shouted, rushing forward to help.
But Tanjiro was already in motion. With a deep breath, he activated his Hinokami Kagura, flames flaring to life around his sword as he charged toward the man. His movements were swift and precise, each strike aimed at vital points.
"Hinokami Kagura, Raging Sun!"
Tanjiro's sword ignited as he swung it in a fiery arc, the flames cutting through the air as they aimed for the man's midsection. But just as the blade was about to connect, the man sidestepped with incredible agility, his grin never fading.
"Nice try," the man said, his voice taunting as he unleashed a powerful counterattack. His fist, glowing with dark nen, crashed down toward Tanjiro.
Nezuko, ever protective of her brother, moved in a blur of speed. Her claws, glowing with demonic strength and nen, slashed at the man's arm, deflecting the blow and forcing him to retreat.
The man's grin widened as he looked at Nezuko, his eyes gleaming with interest. "A demon, huh? You're not like the others."
Nezuko's glowing eyes narrowed, but she didn't respond. Her demonic aura pulsed around her, mixing with the nen she had learned to control. She stood ready, her body tense and prepared for the next attack.
"Looks like you've got some bite after all," the man said, his voice laced with excitement. "Good. I was getting bored."
Coordinating the Attack
The group quickly regrouped, forming a loose circle around the man. Each of them knew this fight wasn't going to be easy—this opponent was faster, stronger, and more experienced than anyone they had faced on Greed Island so far. But they also knew that their strength came from working together.
"We can't take him down one by one," Tanjiro said, his voice calm but focused. "We need to attack at the same time, from different angles."
Killua, who had recovered from the earlier blow, nodded. "He's strong, but he's not invincible. If we hit him from all sides, he won't be able to block everything."
Biscuit, standing back to observe the battle, chimed in. "Be careful. He's used to dealing with groups. You'll have to be unpredictable."
Yūka, who had been quiet so far, stepped forward, her shadowy hatsu flickering around her like a dark mist. "I'll use my hatsu to restrict his movements. If I can bind him, we'll have a better chance."
Tanjiro nodded, grateful for Yūka's support. "We'll create an opening for you."
With the plan in place, the group moved in unison.
Killua activated his Godspeed again, his body moving like lightning as he zipped around the man, aiming precise strikes at his legs and arms, hoping to weaken his defenses.
At the same time, Gon charged forward, his fists glowing with nen as he prepared to unleash a powerful attack.
"Jajanken: Rock!" Gon shouted, his fist slamming toward the man with incredible force.
The man blocked Gon's punch with one hand, but the impact sent a shockwave through the air, pushing him back slightly.
That was when Tanjiro and Nezuko struck.
"Hinokami Kagura, Flame Dance!" Tanjiro shouted, his sword blazing with fiery nen as he swung it toward the man's exposed side.
Nezuko followed up with a series of quick, powerful slashes, her claws glowing with demonic energy as she aimed for the man's other flank.
The man's eyes widened as he realized he couldn't block all the attacks at once. He twisted his body, deflecting Tanjiro's strike with his forearm, but Nezuko's claws raked across his side, drawing blood.
"Got you," Nezuko hissed, her voice low and fierce.
The man staggered, his grin faltering for the first time as he glanced at the blood on his side. "Not bad," he muttered, his tone grudgingly respectful. "But I'm not done yet."
Before he could react, Yūka moved in, her shadowy hatsu surging forward like living tendrils.
"Shin'en no Seirei, Bind!" Yūka whispered, her voice filled with concentration.
The shadows coiled around the man's legs and arms, binding him in place as they drained his energy. The man struggled against the shadows, his nen flaring as he tried to break free, but Yūka held firm, her focus unwavering.
"Now!" Yūka shouted, her voice strained from the effort.
Tanjiro, Gon, Killua, and Nezuko didn't hesitate. They moved in unison, each of them delivering a final blow to the man while he was trapped by Yūka's shadows.
Tanjiro's sword slashed through the air, his fiery aura blazing brighter than ever.
Gon's fist glowed with raw power as he delivered a powerful punch.
Killua's electricity-infused strikes hit with deadly precision.
Nezuko's claws tore through the air, striking with demonic strength.
The combined force of their attacks hit the man at once, overwhelming him completely. His nen aura shattered, and with a final roar of defiance, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Victory
The group stood in silence for a moment, catching their breath after the intense battle. The man lay motionless at their feet, his once-formidable nen aura now gone.
"We did it," Gon said, a wide grin spreading across his face as he wiped sweat from his brow.
Killua smirked, though he was clearly relieved. "Yeah, but that was way tougher than I expected."
Tanjiro sheathed his sword, his body still tense from the fight but his heart filled with relief. "We worked together—that's why we won."
Yūka, pale from the strain of maintaining her hatsu, let out a long breath as her shadows faded. "That was… difficult, but we made it through."
Nezuko, always silent but fierce, gave her brother a gentle nod, her glowing eyes softening now that the battle was over.
Biscuit, observing from a distance, nodded approvingly. "You've all improved. But remember—this is just the beginning. There are more powerful players out there, and they won't be as easy to take down."
The group knew she was right. This victory was just one step forward on their journey through Greed Island. But with each challenge they faced, they grew stronger, and their bond as a team deepened.
As the sun began to set over the distant horizon, the group set off once more, ready for whatever came next.