HunterxHunter: I Became Stronger After Death

Abandoning his paper fan meant abandoning any chance of winning.

Kalluto intended to retreat—

But that look in Moro's eyes deeply provoked him.

A surge of shame and fury bubbled up inside, making it harder to control his expression.

Moro casually unfolded the paper fan in his hand, his gaze lingering on Kalluto's shaken expression.

"You're awfully young… to already enjoy toying with your enemies."

"You—!?"

Kalluto leaped back, his pupils trembling.

Toying with prey…

Yes, he did enjoy that.

But in this fight, he had been on the receiving end—

There was no toying with prey; he was the one being toyed with.

Yet, how did Moro know?

How could he see through him so easily?

This feeling of being completely exposed made the pressure even more suffocating.

Moro snapped the paper fan shut.

His voice remained calm:

"There's no need to be so surprised.

A person's Nen ability is a direct reflection of their personality.

You use seemingly harmless little triangular paper pieces as your kill move.

Isn't that because you enjoy seeing your enemies' expressions of disbelief?"

"How do you know about—?!"

Kalluto clenched his fists, his heart pounding violently.

For a moment—

He felt true fear.

Moro's gaze lowered slightly.

"Because your attacks are too obvious.

You're overconfident, laying all your tricks out in the open.

That kind of deception only works on mindless beasts."

"…!"

Kalluto bit his lip hard.

Through gritted teeth, he spat out:

"Did you stop attacking… just so you could humiliate me?!"

"Not at all."

Moro shook his head slightly.

"The moment you tried to attack me with your fan… this fight was already over."

"…?!"

Kalluto's heart pounded.

For some reason…

He believed him.

His instincts screamed at him—

Run.

Without hesitation, he turned and fled.

His loose kimono sleeves fluttered like wings as he bolted through the narrow alleyways.

Moro watched him run, eyes calm.

He lifted a finger, conjuring a glowing green star.

Earlier, he had marked Kalluto using Starry Brand, activating Starry Convergence.

Since Kalluto's Nen output wasn't particularly high—

And since he had poured most of it into his paper attacks—

The mark was successfully planted.

"Deceitful Shooting Star."

Moro flicked his finger.

A small green star shot forward—

Upon rebounding, its size and power doubled.

Then, it chased Kalluto down like a guided missile.

Kalluto's Desperate Escape

Kalluto sprinted through the cramped alleyways,

but the glowing green projectile was right behind him.

His peripheral vision filled with green light.

"A homing attack…?!"

His instincts screamed: Dodge!

But when he reached for his paper fan—

He remembered—

Moro still had it.

A wave of panic surged through him.

For the first time in his life,

Kalluto felt completely powerless.

He threw himself against a wall, pressing flat against it—

The glowing green star streaked past, missing him by inches.

But then—

It curved sharply in midair.

Kalluto gritted his teeth.

With no choice, he poured all his remaining Nen into defense.

BOOM!

The star collided with Kalluto's chest—

Sending him crashing through a wall.

Debris exploded outward.

A moment later…

A bloodied Kalluto staggered out of the rubble.

"Hah… I… survived…"

He coughed up blood.

Then—

A green light flared in the alley.

Kalluto's pupils shrunk.

From around the corner,

Moro glided forward, standing atop a floating green star.

In an instant, he was right in front of Kalluto.

Kalluto forced himself to stand,

His gaze sharp and full of defiance.

He was prepared for a final struggle.

But Moro only stepped down from his floating star.

The moment his feet touched the ground—

The green star vanished.

Moro studied Kalluto's bloody face,

Then asked, "When you survived that attack…

Did you think the power was weak?"

"…!"

Kalluto's eyes trembled.

He realized—

Moro had been holding back.

A fresh wave of humiliation swept over him.

Had he been spared just to be toyed with?

Kalluto gritted his teeth in rage.

"Kill me if you want—!

I won't let you enjoy this!"

"I'm not going to kill you."

Moro's gaze lowered.

"Because your ability is valuable."

Kalluto froze.

"…What?"

But then—

He saw that expression in Moro's eyes again—

The cold indifference.

The look of someone who had judged their prey as worthless.

Shame.

Fury.

Boiled inside him.

He had never felt like this before.

A part of him wanted to strike back—

But reality was clear: he had no chance.

Moro ignored Kalluto's rage.

"If I were you," he said calmly,

"I'd focus all my efforts on making my kill move stronger,

instead of wasting time on unnecessary tricks.

Also… Your personality doesn't suit the Manipulator category."

He extended Kalluto's fan back to him.

"Hire children to scatter your paper unnoticed."

"Then set up the perfect kill."

"But you're too proud for that, aren't you?"

"Here. Take your fan."

"I don't want it!"

Kalluto spat, turning away.

Then—

He ran.

Moro watched him leave,

Then shrugged.

Since he was heading toward the city,

Moro decided to follow—

That way, he could leave this area too.

Meanwhile…

Kurapika leaned against an alley wall,

Heart still pounding from what he had witnessed.

The monster-like child…

And the overwhelming presence of Moro…

It was all too much to process.

Then—

TAP TAP TAP!

Fast, panicked footsteps echoed down the alley.

Kurapika snapped to attention.

His gaze locked onto Kalluto—

Running toward him, face pale with terror.

What… happened?!

Kurapika's breath caught in his throat.

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