"What kind of technique is this?"
"The air alone catching fire from a punch…?"
Killua's eyes widened in disbelief.
"'Towards the Peacock'…?"
"Flames fanned out like a peacock's tail… How much is Lan Fei hiding from even Aunt Mito and me?"
Gon stared at Lan Fei, whose body steamed with a vivid green mist, stunned beyond belief.
They had grown up together on Whale Island, practically like brothers. Yet in all that time, Gon had never seen anything even close to this level of power from him. With strength like this, Lan Fei wasn't just qualified to be a Hunter—he might be strong enough to rival licensed professionals.
BOOM!!
The blaze finally dissipated. Out of the scorched air stepped an old man, unharmed, bathed in radiant golden aura. His eyes gleamed with wisdom and calm, his body devoid of even a singe mark. Despite taking the brunt of Lan Fei's fiery assault, Netero remained unscathed, the basketball still firmly in his grasp.
"What?"
"He took that hit after I opened the Gate of Life and didn't even flinch?"
"This golden aura… it must be Netero's Ten, reinforcing his body."
Lan Fei's brows furrowed. He had used the Gate of Life, the third gate of the Hachimon. The technique placed heavy strain on the body but vastly increased his speed and power. And still, Netero didn't budge.
As expected of someone who was once regarded as the world's strongest Nen user.
Lan Fei clenched his fists. "Even 'Towards the Peacock' couldn't scratch him…"
"That's right," he thought. "This man stood toe-to-toe with the Chimera Ant King, Meruem… He's the Hunter Association's ceiling."
"Little brat, are you really just thirteen?"
Netero eyed Lan Fei with an expression bordering amusement and awe. That green steam… It was eerily reminiscent of Meruem's aura after his En had evolved. Lan Fei's power might not be as monstrous, but for a kid barely in his teens, it was unimaginable.
Lan Fei grinned, "A thirteen-year-old virgin, sure thing."
Netero couldn't help but chuckle.
"You live up to your reputation, President Netero," Lan Fei continued. "Even with my Gate of Life open, I couldn't land a decisive hit. Let alone snatch the basketball."
"Hachimon… That's what you called it, right?"
Netero's eyes narrowed. "Is that your Nen ability?"
Lan Fei shook his head. "No. It's not related to Nen at all. Just a kind of internal physical training."
"Taijutsu, huh…"
Netero frowned further. He had traveled to the peaks of the East Gorteau Mountains in his youth, trained under martial artists from the Shingen-Ryu style, and seen many powerful techniques. But none quite like this.
"And this isn't even my strongest state," Lan Fei said with a smirk. "If I opened all eight gates, this airship wouldn't be left in one piece."
That wasn't an empty threat. Lan Fei remembered how, during training, even opening the Gate of Pain had obliterated half a boulder. If he reached the final gate, The Gate of Death, there was no telling how destructive his power might be.
Netero fell silent, taken aback. This kid was not only strong—he was layered with unknowns.
Fwoosh—
As quickly as it had appeared, the green steam evaporated, and Lan Fei's breathing stabilized. His aura returned to normal.
"Oh?" Netero blinked. "You giving up?"
Lan Fei shook his head. "No. Just changing my method. I'm going to win by speed."
"Speed?"
"That's what I'm most proud of."
He smiled.
Gon and Killua both gaped.
"I came to the Hunter Exam for fun," Killua muttered, "but compared to Lan Fei, I look like a toddler. Even Hisoka wouldn't dare take that punch from earlier head-on."
Gon nodded. "Even after all these years, I barely know anything about Lan Fei. He's always smiling, but… he's on a completely different level."
"You say speed is your best trait," Netero mused. "Then come. Show me."
Lan Fei closed his eyes briefly, then whispered:
"Pika Pika no Mi… Activate."
The golden light engulfed him. His body turned radiant—elemental. His form blurred as if refracted light, and then—
Whoosh!
"Yata Mirror!"
He launched himself, golden and formless, streaking toward Netero like a beam.
"What in the—?!"
Netero's eyes widened. Even using Ken and Ren to bolster his perception, he barely caught a glimpse of Lan Fei's movement.
"This kid… turned into light?"
Netero retreated instinctively, shifting backward with Shu-reinforced footwork, but—
BOOM!
Too late.
Lan Fei materialized behind him mid-flash, his foot driving into Netero's arm with pinpoint precision. The basketball shot into the air, spinning.
In a blur, Lan Fei spun, caught it, and landed softly, light fading from his body.
"I won."
His grin was cocky, but his eyes gleamed with respect.
This was the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit—the same devil fruit that granted Kizaru, the Marine Admiral, his light-speed capabilities. In this world, it manifested through Lan Fei's hybrid ability, fusing with his mastery of Nen and body.
He had doubts at first. Netero's En covered a vast area. If Lan Fei entered it—even as light—he risked being detected.
But in the moment, even Netero's En couldn't keep up.
Lan Fei remembered the Chimera Ant arc clearly: even Netero, with his Hyakushiki Kannon, couldn't avoid Meruem's overwhelming speed. In the end, he had to resort to the Miniature Rose.
And now…
"My speed is faster than Meruem's."
Lan Fei held the basketball tightly and looked up at Netero.
"Thanks for going easy on me, old man."