"In other words, when facing an enemy skilled in Emission abilities, if you rely on your projectile attacks as your primary combat method, your aura consumption will be much faster than theirs.
Are you still thinking, like in your previous matches, that as long as you finish the fight before your aura runs out, you'll win? "
"Let me tell you this: the reason you've been able to achieve victory after victory in Heaven's Arena isn't just because of your tactics, deceptive appearance, or luck.
The main reason is that your base attributes are far superior to those of your opponents."
"Although your body hasn't reached its peak due to your age, you were born as a natural Nen user and have been trained with the best resources your family could provide since childhood.
Compared to most self-taught wanderers and lucky amateurs in Heaven's Arena, your growth rate far outstrips theirs."
"In essence, the gap between you and them comes down to one thing—you were ahead of them at the starting line.
Now, when you face opponents at the same level as you, your chances of winning drop dramatically."
"I don't know why you've chosen to focus your training on Emission abilities, but you need to accept reality. You're an Enhancer. That's your nature.
If you continue relying on your current abilities, you'll become addicted to the illusion of dominating higher-level opponents."
"Deep in your subconscious, you'll start believing that as an Enhancer, using abilities from other categories is enough to win.
Over time, your battle habits and muscle memory will default to these abilities."
"When you finally face an equally skilled opponent or find yourself in a life-or-death situation, you'll realize that your Enhancer abilities, neglected for so long, have become feeble and ineffective.
No one can guarantee they'll never face someone stronger than themselves. Set aside your arrogance, Ryker! Not everything will unfold according to your plans. To prepare for the unknown, you must always maintain your best condition."
"Now, your projectiles are useless against me. What will you do? If I'm not mistaken, your spatial ability requires physical contact with your opponent to send them into another dimension, doesn't it?"
How much of Silva's words Ryker actually absorbed was unclear, but they undoubtedly stoked a fire within him.
It felt akin to a child who, despite not listening in class but still acing an exam, returns home only to be accused of cheating by their parents.
Ryker himself didn't fully realize it, but Silva's words had ignited his fighting spirit.
He believed that as long as he won, the method didn't matter. A prodigy shouldn't be judged by ordinary standards. He wanted to prove that some people are simply born different.
Despite his newfound determination, Ryker didn't let his emotions cloud his judgment. He knew that long-range attacks were unlikely to succeed in the current situation.
However, a direct approach for close-quarters combat wasn't easy either. Silva would surely suppress him with projectile attacks to maintain his distance.
Having relied on such "kite and strike" tactics himself, Ryker knew how difficult it was to break the stalemate.
But Ryker's abilities weren't ordinary. Without hesitation, he activated his Kamui ability, pulling himself into his spatial dimension. He intended to bide his time and launch a surprise close-range assault.
The other three observers immediately expanded their En to search for Ryker's presence.
Their En varied in size but without exception covered the entire training ground. (Kikyo, being the wife of a Zoldyck, clearly had considerable strength.)
Yet none of their En detected even the faintest trace of Ryker. Not even lingering aura fluctuations remained.
'So, it really is a spatial ability, completely outside this dimension?'
'Though I investigated the site after his last match, seeing it up close is much more intuitive. This ability seems tailor-made for assassination—able to silently close in on a target.'
'I wonder if there are any limits to where it can teleport.'
As the three of them deactivated their En upon realizing it was futile, Ryker abruptly opened a spatial portal and appeared behind Silva.
The moment he emerged, Silva was already within his attack range. Whether or not Ryker had taken Silva's earlier lecture to heart was unclear, but at this moment, Ryker was focused entirely on one thing—victory.
Pouring almost all his aura into enhancing his speed, he reserved a small amount for a secondary strategy. Ryker dashed forward, his right hand reaching for Silva's right leg—his closest target due to their height difference.
Meanwhile, Ryker had his gaze locked onto Silva's head, preparing to execute his secondary plan.
Sensing Ryker's ambush, Silva instinctively turned and locked eyes with him. At that precise moment, Ryker activated his 'Sharingan Genjutsu', aiming to disrupt Silva's focus, while simultaneously extending his right hand toward Silva's leg.
Caught off guard, Silva faltered briefly under the illusion. For someone of Silva's mental strength, the effect lasted only a fraction of a second before he regained clarity.
But in a high-stakes clash like this, even a moment's delay could tip the scales.
As Ryker's fingertips brushed Silva's pants, the spatial vortex began to twist and distort reality. Silva, recognizing the danger, unleashed his full speed without hesitation.
In an instant, he retracted his right leg faster than the eye could see and propelled himself out of the vortex's range.
The spatial distortion managed to capture only a tattered piece of Silva's pants as he retreated to a safe distance. For the first time, Silva's expression turned grave, his gaze fixed on his right leg.
Where once his trousers had covered both legs, his right shin was now bare, exposing his pale, muscular calf to the air.
In this frozen moment, the battlefield stood silent.
Beyond the father and son who had just exchanged blows, and the two spectators, no one else could comprehend the peril and intensity hidden behind that missing piece of cloth.
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