14 Duel Of The Sword [Edited]
After getting his foot out of the zeppelin, Rex bought a few trinkets and some fresh sweet drinks to cool off.
While doing this, he initially kept his EN set to a 20-meter radius to keep an eye out for any potential threats or hostile people, but because he didn't notice anything whatsoever, he decreased his radius to 10 meters since he didn't possess endless stamina.
He noticed the different atmosphere Jappon had to offer, and a delightful coolness, as soon as the automatic doors opened.
Rex walked a few steps further, so as not to get in the way of the people at the entrance, and took out of his pocket the note that Netero had given him.
But before he could analyse it, he heard a shouting.
"REX! HERE!"
It came suddenly and startled Rex a little.
'So this is the guy who was supposed to be waiting for me?', Rex thought as he remembered his long Zeppelin hours, having 'read' the note over and over again.
Rex increased the radius of his EN to its maximum, which was now 40 meters—just 5 meters short of Kite's record.
He embraced the man with his EN, he was sitting on the side of the road like a beggar with a paperboard next to him.
However, he had a fairly enigmatic appearance due to his tied-back hair, pointed straw hat, enormous coat, and a straw in his mouth.
[Naiki Illustration ->]
Should I observe him longer?
✹
After 10 minutes of stalking Rex came upon a realization.
'He... Doesn't look very strong.'
His Nen didn't have the same intensity that the Hunter examiner sensed. It was ridiculously weak and diluted. Which then was a key piece to Rex's realization.
So he walked up to him.
Rex walked up to the man. "Are you Naiki?"
The man gave Rex a quick glance before getting to his feet and wiping the dirt and dust off. "Don't you recognize me~♪? It's only been three months."
Do I know him? Who the hell is he? In my life I only know the orphans and Illumi... Damn is this a joke? And if at all, why these emphases when talking?'
Rex took a defensive stance for a moment, then loosened it a bit, since Netero had already promised him that the guys weren't villains.
Still, he made an effort to remember him.
"Your voice sounds familiar, but could you give me a little hint?"
However, the Hunter simply began to walk in front of Rex while grabbing a car key from his pocket.
"Oh, I'm not the biggest fan of playing guessing games, Rex", He said as he pressed the button on the car key, which flashed the headlights of a car. "I'm the Hunter who documented your fight in Heaven's Arena~♫!"
'!', Rex face made a small frown.
"So you're also wrapped up in this whole thing? Why were you in the Heavens Arena, answer!"
Then Naiki, who was now revealed to be Hunter, briefly turned to face Rex. "Your fight against that Snake guy, was Phenomenal! But...
I wonder how you even survived!"
...
Rex turned his head to the side because of shame.
...
"Aren't you actually...
Long since
Dead~♪?"
Instead of answering Rex's question, he questioned Rex himself.
"Damn!", Rex said angrily.
"I didn't know I'd be interrogated here! Just take me to your boss or answer!"
Naiki grinned as he flung open the car door and entered the drivers seat. "Just from your appearance and character, I could already tell that you're not really the small talk person~♩. It was worth a try though...
Now please get in the car."
"And how do I know this isn't a trap? What if you attack me so suddenly, in the middle of the car ride?", Rex asked him.
Naiki thought for a moment. "Oh I got it, just steal one of the cars in this park and drive behind me yourself, okay?"
Rex leaned against the car door. "How long will this car ride take?"
"8~9 hours!", Naiki opined. "But if you're strong enough, it's just 2!"
Rex contemplated what he meant by this.
✹
Rex stood leaning against the car, watching the people and when one of them was about to open her car door, Rex quickly went to her and gave her a big sum of money.
After a little talk, and also after showing her his Hunter License, she finally gave him the key.
As he fastened his seatbelt and after Naiki went ahead, Rex followed him.
...
...
...
Rex sleepy, and the heavy eyelids now made it even harder for him to stay awake. 'Huh? What's that? That... It shouldn't be like that, I shouldn't be so sleepy right now! I've already slept in the zeppelin! That can't be natural! He must be behind it.'
He quickly parked the car on the side of the road, and opened the car door. He was ready for a confrontation with Naiki, but when his legs touched the ground they became all wobbly.
'Is that his Hatsu?!'
He examined his body with Gyo, but could find nothing.
When he saw Naiki's car coming towards him, he wanted to run away, but he fell on the ground.
'Dammit!'
He wanted to crawl away, but could not, he was already sleeping.
✹
A pain.
Rex felt a pain on his cheek. "Ouch!"
He put his hand on his cheek, which hurt, and widened his EN, only to catch sight of a hunched-over Naiki to the side of him at the open side door.
Rex got out and analyzed the area around him, only to discover a desert with minimal vegetation and limestone soil. The car itself wasn't even parked in a Parking lot either.
"Where? No... What did you do to me?!"
"Get your sword", Naiki said in a serious, earnest voice as he pointed to Rex's backpack.
Again Rex took an extremely defensive stance and for the time it took him to pull out the two Ben's Knifes he hid under his pants, he turned an extremely tight Ren on himself to be protected in case this Naiki attacked him.
"Okay, I'm ready. Can you tell me for a second why you let me draw my two Knifes?", Rex asked him. "After all, it's obviously not a really a trap to kill me... You would've had dozens of opportunities for that during my sleep."
"Don't bullshit me! Murdering someone in their sleep is the lowest thing in the world! If you are powerful enough, I will spare you, but don't be hasty—this was just meant to be a duel.
And don't be relaxed.
You should be aware that it's hard not to trample an ant!"
In Naiki's hand, something blazing grew until it took the shape of a sword that was about half a meter (~1.64 feet) long.
It could just barely avoid being called a dagger.
"Now follow me."
✹
The two faced each other, not too far, but not too close either, yet perfect to be in Rex's EN.
The ground was straight and close to perfect for fighting.
Rex was armed with two Ben's Knives, while Naiki, the samurai, carried his short Nen Sword on his waist.
Rex was just exploding with adrenaline, which is why his Nen strengthened to the maximum, he had never felt this sensitivity before in his life, which is why he was forced to make the first move.
He slammed into Naiki at full speed, his legs, which he used to jump were like both of his knifes, fused with Nen, which is why he was in front of Naiki in less than a second.
Rex took advantage of the X-shaped pattern created by him crossing his two blades to exert as much pressure as he could.
But Naiki's sword hit the X that Rex's two daggers formed perfectly in the middle.
The air waved vigorously behind Naiki as he moved a few inches, yet the complete force Rex had actually pressurred on him vanished in an instant.
"Was that all?"
Rex briefly jumped and retreated.
When he saw that he was at a disadvantage with pure strength, he wanted to take advantage of the fact that he had one blade more than naiki.
So he dissolved the X, his two daggers formed.
But before he could think of a tactic, Naiki stood in front of him and swung at Rex.
What makes you assume that your adversary is waiting off on you to finish handling thoughts?"
A huge cloud of dust had been formed by the swinging of Naiki's sword, and when it cleared, there was noone under it.
Naiki swiveled. "Your quick reflexes rescued you...
So I guess all those years spent honing your skills in Heaven's Arena paid off, huh? You would be in pieces on the ground right now if you had hesitated for just a moment."
But Rex barely paid attention to Naiki talking instead, he was sweating profusely and gave off a nasty frown. 'This guy, is he trying to kill me?
"Don't you underestimate me you scum!"
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Fast chapter, you probably thought that it would come after a week, right?
Well, I have to restructure a bit.
I have to write smaller chapters, but they come faster.
Why?
Well, because now the story/plot finally begins!
And you don't want the need to remember what happened the last chapter after 5~6 days, do you? That's why the faster updates!
Everything that was before, was like a video game tutorial.
Now it all starts!
I hope the plot won't disappoint you when it really dropps...
And I was also able to write this chapter faster and better, because now I have much better in mind what will come... Previously I was still wavering what Rex will experience, but now everything is set in stone...
I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
