I'm Really Not A Nen Exorcist (HxH Fanfic)

While Hanzo retreated with his injury, Kurapika was advancing, his wooden twin swords slicing toward the shadow clone.

Since the shadow clones will not attack actively, Kurapika had the advantage of the first strike.

However, the shadow clone effortlessly dodged Kurapika's slashes, then raised a foot and kicked him in the stomach.

The entire motion was fluid and seamless.

Kurapika hadn't even processed what happened before the clone's kick sent him flying.

And so-

This disjointed offensive from Kurapika's team was dismantled by the shadow clone within mere seconds.

Although they didn't have to worry about injury, that didn't mean they could easily take the number plate.

At least after these two rounds of combat, Kurapika's team had already realized just how tricky the shadow clone was to handle.

"If it weren't for the sixth rule..."

Kurapika got up from the ground, pressing a hand against his abdomen, which, thankfully, didn't ache noticeably.

Without the protection of the rule, they'd likely be injured and lying on the ground.

'His control over his strength was frighteningly precise.'

Kurapika thought to himself, quietly admiring it.

Hanzo stepped back to Kurapika's side, frowning.

"And this is just 'yellow' difficulty..."

For a moment, Hanzo felt unexpectedly grateful that Hisoka had broken the red locator.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have thought to steal other teams' locators.

At this time, Raizo, who was knocked away at the beginning, also came to Kurapika's side.

"This guy doesn't look like a fake… we should join forces."

Raizo said seriously, raising his sword before him.

"…" x2.

Kurapika and Hanzo fell silent.

In those two rounds, only Raizo hadn't shown any sign of teamwork. He'd just recklessly charged in on his own.

The shadow clone looked at the trio, who now seemed ready to fight as a unified team, with an unchanging expression.

The vision was synchronously transmitted back to Moses.

'A shadow clone with two-thirds strength should be able to hold Kurapika's team off for at least a day. As for the one with one-third strength...'

Moses's attention was focused on the shadow clone marked by the green locator.

Both the shadow clones were attacked by the examinees at this time.

The shadow clone with two-thirds strength was managing well enough, but the one with just a third of his power was in a precarious situation.

Because it was facing Killua's team.

Controlling both clones while also managing his strength was no easy task.

No matter how powerful Moses is, he cannot guarantee that he can take care of everything.

Glancing over, Moses noticed the direction in which Pokkle's team was retreating.

The test rules he'd set allowed the examinees to constantly regroup and make comebacks.

When Pokkle and his team failed to land a decisive blow in their first attack, they decisively retreated and regrouped.

They'd likely return any moment, prepared for a fresh assault.

But what Moses was more interested in right now was...

'Which other team had drawn the red locator?'

Moses raised a hand to his chin thoughtfully.

He had already been to the island when the lottery draw began, so he was not clear about the distribution of the locators.

Moreover, from the perspective provided by his shadow clones, only three teams: Pokkle, Kurapika, and Killua's teams had made any moves so far.

As for the remaining three teams, they hadn't even shown themselves.

"Are they planning to reap the rewards by sitting back and watching?"

Moses murmured to himself, not taking it too seriously, and focused his attention on the two shadow clones.

As long as his main body remained unaffected, his dual-line operation could at least maintain basic strength.

"Let's prioritize handling Killua's side for now."

With a slight shift in focus, Moses directed most of his attention to the shadow clone operating at one-third power.

In a clearing within the forest.

As Killua walked, he left behind a series of afterimages, constantly revealing his attack intentions to the shadow clones as he switched between reality and illusion.

Leorio held a knife in his hand and stood on the left side of the shadow clone, ready to attack at any time.

Geretta and Gon stood side by side, also ready to leap into action at any time.

Since Killua's team only assumed a ready-to-strike stance, the shadow clone couldn't attack freely and could only stand there waiting for Killua and the others to attack.

Clearly-

Killua's team had figured the rules and developed a strategy around them.

Compared to Kurapika's team's aggressive tactics, Killua's team's restrained stance gave Moses a bit more of a headache.

After all, Moses is currently managing two battlefronts...

If he only had to focus on one, Killua's stamina-draining maneuvers would be amusing to watch.

"Your Ten is still in the beginner stages, so don't overestimate your endurance."

Moses muttered as he watched Killua's elaborate display through the shadow clone's perspective.

About a few minutes later.

Killua suddenly made a move, and the many afterimages he created all made the same move to pounce on the shadow clone.

The instant Killua made his move, the clone reacted like lightning, reaching out with its right hand to grab Killua from among the afterimages.

In an instant-

The numerous afterimages suddenly melted away like spring snow.

'I've been completely seen through!'

However, Killua was not surprised, and calmly extended his hands to grab the shadow clone's arm, which was gripping his collar.

Seeing this, the shadow clone didn't fling Killua away. Instead, it spun around and held Killua in front as a human shield.

Whoosh-

A blow dart shot toward them, hitting Killua right in the butt.

Killua's body jerked slightly from the unintended friendly fire.

Not far behind him, Geretta's face stiffened.

Their teamwork was so lacking that the dart, coated with a tranquilizing agent, ended up hitting Killua's butt.

Leorio and Gon witnessed the mishap of Geretta striking his own teammate.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Leorio charged in with his knife, while Gon gripped his fishing rod tightly, his eyes fixed on the number plate on the shadow clone's chest.

Leorio rushed to the shadow clone, only to be confronted by Killua's back.

"Uh…"

Leorio was momentarily at a loss.

Killua also realized that this was not going to work, so he swiftly let go.

But the instant he did, the shadow clone's hand shot forward, delivering a slap to his forehead.

With a loud smack, Killua was sent flying through the air, colliding with Leorio.

Gon's pupils shrank, and he suddenly cast the fishing rod. The fishhook drew an arc and flew towards the number plate on the shadow clone's chest.

Unfortunately, Moses had anticipated this and dodged Gon's fishhook one step ahead.

After one round of attacks, the shadow clone stood unshaken, quietly watching Killua's team.

"Damn it, isn't this supposed to be the lowest difficulty?"

Leorio gritted his teeth.

Two hours later-

Kurapika, Hanzo, and Raizo lay sprawled on the ground, too exhausted to move after expending their energy without success.

On the other side, Killua's team was similarly drained and collapsed.

'It's impossibly difficult…!'

Everyone shared the same thought.

By the riverbank.

Moses sat on the stone with a faint smile on his face.

'It seems... there's a reward to be earned.'

In the depths of his consciousness, a crescent moon appeared in the night sky.

This was something Moses had just discovered.

Or rather -

It had suddenly appeared while he was toying with Killua's team.

As long as he maintained this pace, the crescent moon would gradually transform into a full moon.

Then, through this accumulation, he'd unlock the final reward.