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Third-Person POV
The moon hung high over the estate, its pale light casting long shadows across the manicured gardens. Zephyr stood face-to-face with the Hunter, his Nen threads still crackling in the air. The tension was thick, and every fiber of his being screamed that this fight was inevitable. The Hunter's aura was powerful—refined, controlled—and Zephyr knew they wouldn't make this easy.
"So, what brings a Hunter to this place?" Zephyr asked, his voice low, betraying none of the anxiety he felt.
The Hunter didn't answer immediately. Instead, they took a step forward, their hand resting on the hilt of their sword, the faint glow of Nen pulsing around their body.
"I was sent to retrieve something that was never meant to leave," the Hunter said, their voice sharp. "And you're in the way."
Zephyr narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time for this." With a flick of his wrist, he sent his threads toward the Hunter once more, this time encircling their entire body in a dense web. The threads moved quickly, attempting to bind them and leave no room for escape.
But the Hunter's speed was beyond anything Zephyr had expected. In a blur, they cut through the threads with a single motion, the blade singing through the air with unnerving precision.
Zephyr gritted his teeth. "I see. You're not just any Hunter."
The Hunter smirked, their gaze never leaving Zephyr. "I'm far from ordinary."
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Switch to Zephyr's POV
This wasn't a normal fight. My threads, normally so precise, felt sluggish against their attacks. Every movement of theirs was too fast, too clean. But I wasn't about to back down.
I adjusted, forming a new plan. I sent more threads out, this time invisible to the naked eye, wrapping them around the surroundings to create a web that was as much about misdirection as it was about control.
I knew one thing: I had to get them off balance.
The Hunter moved again, this time launching toward me with incredible speed. But I was ready. I pulled the threads from the trees above, dropping them onto the Hunter's path like a trap.
For a moment, they hesitated, and I seized the opportunity, tightening the threads. The Hunter's arms were restrained—just enough.
But before I could act, they twisted their body with the elegance of a dancer, their sword slashing in a sweeping arc that severed my threads.
"Clever," the Hunter murmured, still holding my gaze.
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Third-Person POV
Zephyr growled in frustration, his fingers twitching as he prepared for the next wave. This fight wasn't going the way he wanted, but he couldn't afford to hesitate. If the Hunter reached the others, the entire operation would fall apart.
He extended his threads again, this time encircling the Hunter's blade. The metal hummed under the pressure, and for the first time, Zephyr felt he was gaining the upper hand.
But the Hunter was more than a mere swordsman. They shifted once more, and suddenly, a second layer of Nen erupted from their body—an overwhelming force that pushed back against Zephyr's threads. The web unraveled as if it were paper, the force of the Hunter's Nen overwhelming him.
For a brief moment, Zephyr felt the weight of his own vulnerability.
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Chrollo's POV
Back inside the estate, Chrollo had heard the distant clash of battle. His eyes narrowed, and he raised his communicator.
"Zephyr, status report."
Static crackled briefly before Zephyr's voice came through, strained but composed.
"I've got company. A Hunter, here for the artifact."
Chrollo's lips tightened. "Do what you must, but do not jeopardize the mission."
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Switch to Zephyr's POV
I could feel the Hunter's Nen pressing against me, a heavy force that threatened to crush my threads. But I wasn't about to let it end here. My threads surged, snapping and weaving with greater intensity, as I tried to overpower the Hunter's force.
"I'm not done yet," I said, my voice more determined than before.
But the Hunter smirked again, their blade flashing once more. "I'm afraid you are."
Just as they lunged forward, Zephyr reacted instinctively, wrapping his threads around their body and pulling them into the air. The Hunter's eyes widened as they realized the trap.
With a swift twist, Zephyr brought them crashing to the ground, their sword clattering from their hand. The fight wasn't over, but Zephyr had managed to gain a critical advantage.
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Third-Person POV
The Hunter lay on the ground, their breath shallow, clearly winded but not defeated. Zephyr moved quickly, his threads tightening around their arms and legs to keep them restrained. He didn't need to kill them—he just needed to keep them out of the way long enough to finish the mission.
"Who sent you?" Zephyr demanded, his voice cold.
The Hunter's gaze flickered with a mix of contempt and amusement. "You don't get it, do you?" they rasped. "I'm not the one who's in your way. It's them."
Zephyr frowned, his threads tightening around their chest. "Who?"
Before the Hunter could respond, a sudden explosion rocked the estate, shaking the walls.
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Switch to Chrollo's POV
Chrollo's eyes narrowed as the explosion echoed through the building. "Everyone, move out," he ordered, his voice cold and decisive.
The mission was no longer a simple heist. Now, it was a race against time.
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Back to Third-Person POV
Zephyr's heart raced as the sound of footsteps grew closer. He quickly disabled the Hunter's weapon, leaving them alive but immobile, and then sprinted toward the vault.
He knew one thing for sure: the night was far from over.
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