Gluttony crashed to the ground, his eyes turning blood-red.
"Such deception!"
"It's just a Nen beast!"
The next moment—
Boom!
Gluttony's body swelled, inflating into an enormous, bulky figure. His height shot up, and he grew broader as well. His form was strikingly similar to Rufus from Street Fighter.
In this form, his aura spiked noticeably.
"A technique like Raiken's Triceratops Strike!" Kaizen thought.
There are many kinds of Nen abilities—offensive, defensive, supportive...and then there's the transformation type. Just like Raiken's Triceratops Strike, which boosts strength after activation, or Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes. When Kurapika activates his Red Eyes, his power in all categories besides Conjuration rises to 100%, vastly boosting his combat ability.
In the original story, it wasn't long after Kurapika learned Nen that he managed to defeat Uvogin from the Phantom Troupe. At that time, Uvogin's strength was one of the top three in the Troupe—of course, excluding fighters like Hisoka.
Kurapika's ability, though bound by strict limitations and vows, became lethal against the Phantom Troupe due to the existence of his Scarlet Eyes.
With a surge of force, Raiken unleashed a blow.
Boom!
Gluttony, absorbing the hit, fared far better than before. His fleshy exterior quivered. It was unclear whether it was muscle or fat, but his body managed to cushion Raiken's attack. Gluttony only stepped back slightly, a mocking grin on his face.
"I'm in an absolute defense state now," Gluttony declared smugly. "In this form, my attack power drops, but my defense skyrockets. You can't harm me."
His intent was simple: Raiken's blade might be powerful and suited for close combat, but Gluttony's own fighting style could counter it. In a straight duel, he'd struggle to win against Raiken. However, Raiken was just a Nen beast. As long as he could locate the body of the Specialist-type Nen user controlling it, he could end the battle by taking them out.
"Carlisle, hurry up!"
Gluttony's voice was urgent, and Carlisle felt the pressure rising. Gluttony had urged him repeatedly, yet Carlisle had found no clues about the Nen user's presence. He searched thoroughly, but it was as if the Transmuter didn't exist. Carlisle knew Gluttony wouldn't tolerate failure; if he couldn't find the target, his life would be miserable.
"Yes, Master Gluttony, I'm trying my best!" Carlisle called out, feeling the weight of the situation.
Raiken eyed Gluttony sharply, his stance shifting suddenly.
"Steel Body Technique!"
Raiken's joints locked in place, his whole body assuming a stance as solid as steel. All his strength was now channeled forward, focused in his front teeth and ready to strike.
Gluttony's expression turned serious. He could sense that Raiken's next attack wouldn't be easy to withstand.
Boom!
Raiken's blade struck Gluttony's belly, sending visible shockwaves rippling through his gut, like stones cast into a still pond.
"Such power!" Gluttony thought, skidding back until he slammed into the wall behind him. Crack! The wall fractured, but Gluttony held his ground.
He grinned smugly. "That was your strongest move, wasn't it? Impressive power, but even your best couldn't break my defense. What else can you do?"
"I'll find your body, and you'll be dead!"
"But don't worry. I won't let you die quickly. I'll make you feel the depths of pain...and then devour you, making you a part of me."
Before Gluttony could finish, Raiken whipped a baseball bat from his waist. He swung it sharply, aiming straight for Gluttony's head.
Boom!
Gluttony sneered, unbothered by the impact. But his disdain quickly turned to horror. The moment Raiken's bat made contact with his head, Killer Queen's ability activated.
Gluttony's head turned into a bomb.
There was no sound, no flame—just the brutal impact as Gluttony's head exploded, taking part of his upper body with it.
Kaizen watched the monitor thoughtfully.
"Killer Queen's explosive ability has its limits," he mused. "It's effective when targeting vital points. If the entire body could be infected, there'd be no need to aim so precisely."
Killer Queen's bomb effect operates like an infection, fueled by aura to transform targets into detonations. When Raiken's bat hit Gluttony's head, Killer Queen infected the area, leaving Gluttony's head as the only possible target.
Boom!
Gluttony's massive body collapsed, a thick smell of blood filling the air.
Carlisle, noticing the commotion, whipped his head around, his eyes wide with fear.
"Master Gluttony?!"
Gluttony lay motionless, his head obliterated. Carlisle instantly grasped the situation. There was no surviving a headless body, not even for Gluttony. Without a second thought, Carlisle bolted, his mind racing.
"If Gluttony couldn't handle this, what hope do I have? I can't take revenge—I'd only be throwing my life away."
As he ran, Carlisle cursed Gluttony's foolishness. "Who did you provoke, you fool? Now my whole plan is ruined!"
------------
+135 chapters on patreon.com/FanficsHub