The new novel is out you can check it out from my profile or by searching The Hunter of Pirates ;)
"With such weak aura and Nen…"
The man with the hooked nose sneered, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.
"You seem impressive, but it's a pity—too weak!"
The aura around him shifted. Some of it coiled around his hands, morphing into sharp eagle talons, while another portion concentrated in his legs, enhancing his movement.
Leaning forward like a predator about to strike, he growled:
"Soaring Eagle, Sprinting Hound!"
With a burst of power from his legs, he launched forward at an even greater speed than before, closing the gap between him and Uvogin and Nobunaga in an instant.
"Take this punch!"
Uvogin's fist, wrapped in raw Nen energy, swung out with tremendous force, cutting through the air with a distinct whistling sound.
Boom!
The clash between the eagle talon and Uvogin's fist sent shockwaves rippling through the factory. Smoke and dust rose from the ground, and Uvogin was forced to take several steps back, each one leaving deep craters in the floor.
At the same time, Nobunaga's blade followed up, slicing through the air in a radiant arc of light.
"Retreat!"
With incredible agility, the hooked-nose man darted away, evading Nobunaga's sword by a hair's breadth.
Though he appeared unscathed, his hand, which had clashed with Uvogin's punch, trembled slightly.
"What monstrous strength," he thought, his face remaining impassive. But inwardly, he was shaken by the raw power of Uvogin's attack.
"I can't let them walk away alive!"
Determination and killing intent swirled within him. The aura on his hands and feet grew denser, while the Nen protecting his body thinned, shifting entirely to his offensive focus.
"So, this is his Nen ability?"
Uvogin examined his bloodied fist, now marked with deep claw-like gashes.
"Eagle talons, huh?"
Rather than worry about the injuries, he seemed intrigued, studying the wounds.
"He can transform his aura into eagle talons, and his legs mimic the explosive movements of wolves or hounds…"
Nobunaga, gripping his sword tightly, added, "It's likely he's a Transmutation type, changing his aura's properties into different forms."
"Right. And with his speed and sharpness, he's clearly a fast-attack specialist."
From just one exchange, the two analyzed much about their opponent's abilities. Despite this being their first encounter with an external Nen user, they were already absorbing a wealth of combat knowledge. Their innate talent for battle was shining through.
"But the more someone focuses on speed and offense…"
"The weaker their defense!"
Both spoke in unison, their eyes locking on their opponent.
By converting aura into speed and attack power, it was clear the trade-off was reduced defense. This was evident from how the hooked-nose man's defensive aura had diminished in favor of a more aggressive posture.
Hearing their blatant analysis, the hooked-nose man twitched in annoyance, his killing intent flaring.
"You're courting death!"
He growled and prepared to launch another attack.
Uvogin and Nobunaga instantly readied themselves, their aura surging as they anticipated the clash.
But just then—
"That's enough."
A calm, composed voice echoed through the factory.
At the same time, a shrill scream, like that of a pig being slaughtered, pierced the air.
"What…?"
The hooked-nose man's pupils shrank as he turned toward the source of the voice.
There, standing casually, was a handsome young man—or rather, a boy.
He had the bank manager and his accountant-bodyguard pinned beneath his feet, each trembling and groaning in pain. The bank manager let out anguished wails as the boy increased the pressure on his foot.
"There's another one?!"
The hooked-nose man halted, his eyes locked onto the boy.
The boy, Morin, stood with his arms crossed, his expression unbothered as he observed the hooked-nose man.
"Looks like we can have a proper conversation now, right?"
"Do you think this will threaten me?"
The hooked-nose man sneered coldly.
"To me, their lives are meaningless. At most, their deaths would only cost me a bit more time to recover my payment."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Morin's foot pressed down harder.
Crack!
The sickening sound of breaking bones echoed, the same as when the robbers' necks had been twisted earlier.
"Aaaaargh!"
The bank manager writhed on the ground, screaming in agony.
"This is just one arm," Morin said with a smile, his voice unnervingly calm. The accountant, trembling even harder, buried his face against the floor, not daring to look up.
"You still have one more arm, two legs, and a 'third leg.'"
Morin's smile remained, but his eyes were devoid of any warmth, his tone dripping with malice.
To the bank manager, Morin appeared like a devil whispering promises of torment.
"How long do you think you can endure?"
Morin's gaze shifted to the hooked-nose man, whose face had turned ashen.
"If you can't hold out, just let me know. I can send you off quickly, free of charge."
"Send me off…"
Sweat poured down the bank manager's contorted face. He could feel it—Morin wasn't bluffing. He meant every word.