Zeno displayed a hint of impatience.
"How did the fight with Silva go?" he asked.
"Mr. Loki, as expected of Netero's disciple, is incredibly strong. I was outmatched," Silva replied.
"Oh, is that so? Unexpected. Let's see what's so special about this kid Netero chose," Zeno said, rising and walking to the other side of the room, fifteen or sixteen meters from Loki.
"Kid, your eyes are eager. Attack. Don't worry about me," Zeno said, raising his hands. "I'm old, but I can take a beating."
Loki calmly replied, "Very well. Let's begin."
Nen surged; Ko activated, Nen intensifying like a tidal wave. Zeno's eyes narrowed. 'He's only just learned Nen, yet he has such abundant Nen! He's a carbon copy of the old monster! I can't give this kid too much time.'
"Doragon Heddo, lit. Dragon-Head Caricature…" Zeno raised his hands, Nen erupting with astonishing speed. Loki was taken aback. This level of Nen control was terrifying.
"Doragon Ransu, lit. "Fang Thrust…"
Roar!
Loki heard a dragon's roar. A beam of Nen shot forward. Loki dodged, his figure flashing repeatedly.
'This speed… a monster. Trying to get close? I won't let you,' Zeno thought. He manipulated Doragon Ransu, lit. "Fang Thrust, pursuing Loki. The pursuit angle forced Loki to move only left, right, or backward, preventing forward movement.
Zeno's reaction was instantaneous. The pressure was far greater than Silva's.
'As expected of Father! Dragon aura perfectly controls the rhythm. Even this kid's speed can't get close,' Zeno thought, maintaining a mid-to-long-range distance, forcing Loki to evade.
'Can I use Soru to approach?' Loki considered but dismissed it. Dragon could fly; he couldn't advance on the ground, and Soru was slower.
The sounds of Ken echoed repeatedly. Zeno couldn't match Loki's speed, but he saw Loki's movements. He only needed to maneuver Loki to the desired position.
Ten seconds into the fight, Zeno had grasped Loki's movement patterns and began to lure him into a trap.
'A kid is a kid. Though talented, he lacks combat experience. In a year, I might not be able to easily defeat him,' Zeno thought.
Loki dodged repeatedly but couldn't attack. He needed to attack.
"Rankyaku!!"
Swish!
Light erupted from Loki's leg, striking Dragon.
Dong!
Zeno felt Dragon tremble slightly.
'Good technique. He blocked Fang Thrust!'
'An Emission type! But only for a moment.'
Dragon aura continued its attack. Loki felt immense pressure.
"Rankyaku! Rankyaku!…"
Blue light erupted repeatedly, striking Dragon. Loki, seizing the moment, used Soru. He leaped over Dragon, landing and using Ken to charge towards Zeno.
Zeno wasn't surprised.
'Still too young!'
He retracted Dragon and prepared another attack.
Loki's face changed. His Rankyaku couldn't be retracted, but Zeno could.
"Dragon Dive!!"
Dragon lunged at Loki. Loki gathered Nen, pushing Dragon open.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
Loki slid several meters. He was back where he started.
'Damn it!'
He couldn't get close. Gritting his teeth, Loki broke free and tried to circle around Zeno. Dragon blocked him.
"Approaching this old man isn't easy," Zeno said, admiring Loki's skill. Even if Loki got close, Zeno wasn't afraid. But close combat was risky, so Zeno maintained distance to protect Netero's disciple. Loki wanted to get close to use Shinsō.
"Snake Dance!"
Loki clasped his hands; his hair flowed, transforming into snakes imbued with Nen, creating a serpent comparable to Dragon. It collided with Dragon, stopping it.
Silva was surprised. 'He created that technique after seeing Father's Dragon! It actually worked!'
Though not carefully developed, Loki's Snake Dance, combined with his vast Nen, could withstand Dragon for a while. But Silva shook his head. This was only possible due to Loki's massive Nen. In a prolonged fight, Loki would run out of Nen faster. Dragon consumed little Nen.
Seeing Loki imitate his technique, Zeno chuckled. The Snake Dance didn't last long. After tens of seconds, it was broken, wasting Nen without effect. Dragon lunged at Loki.
Loki drew his Zanpakutō. 'It's time.'
Zeno's expression softened; he'd gauged Loki's strength.
Loki held Shinsō; Dragon lunged, but the Zanpakutō blocked it. The Nen-imbued Zanpakutō was incredibly sharp, cleaving Dragon.
Loki charged towards Zeno.
Zeno jumped back, retracting Dragon. It reappeared, attacking Loki.
'He wants to get close. He has a powerful weapon.'
Zeno's Dragon attacked faster, smaller, but denser with Nen.
Clang!
Loki struck Dragon, tearing through Zeno's Nen, but not as easily. Shinsō seemed stuck.
Loki jumped back; Dragon pursued. It formed a straight line.
Loki's eyes gleamed. He stomped on the ground. Shinsō lunged at Dragon.
'A good idea, but Dragon will bite off his arm! He's lost his composure!'
Shinsō and Dragon collided. Dragon was about to bite off Loki's arm.
"Shoot him—Shinsō…"
The blade suddenly extended at incredible speed, a streak of white light. By the time you see the blade lengthen, it's already before you.
The cold tip appeared between Zeno's eyebrows.
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