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

The most terrifying aspect of Manipulators is their ability to achieve a guaranteed kill once specific conditions are met.

Aside from this, they also possess the capacity to control multiple objects simultaneously.

Generally speaking, if a Manipulator's Nen Abilities lean towards 'one-hit kills', then the aspect of 'quantity' is correspondingly reduced. Conversely, when the focus is on 'quantity', the difficulty of achieving a 'one-hit kills' increases, or the feasibility of a guaranteed kill might be completely disregarded.

This dynamic usually depends on whether a Manipulator's Nen Abilities fall into one of three categories: suggestive, semi-coercive, or fully coercive types.

Take Shalnark's Manipulation-Type Nen Ability, for example—it's fully coercive. As long as he sticks his antenna onto a target, he can immediately exert full control and achieve a guaranteed kill. Therefore, Shalnark only has two antennae.

Compared to this, Illumi's Manipulation-Type Nen Ability not only possesses a coercive effect but also excels in terms of quantity.

Setting aside his natural talent, Illumi has only two limitations to fulfill.

One is that he must regularly nourish each beaded needle with Nen, and the degree of control each needle can exert depends on how long he has nurtured it.

The other condition is that his needles can only be used on humans, and he must insert them directly into the target's head to activate control.

Illumi's Nen Ability thus combines both 'quantity' and 'one-hit kill' characteristics.

In his previous encounters with Moses, Illumi was too focused on achieving a one-hit kill, which led to him being outmaneuvered by Moses's shadow clone twice.

This time, Illumi had adjusted his strategy, planning to rely on his Needle People to assist him in his combat strategy.

However-

The Needle People he had previously created were likely already dealt with by Moses's shadow clone.

After realizing this, Illumi decisively targeted Hanzo, who had just exposed his presence.

Even a single Needle People would suffice.

This was Illumi's motive in targeting Hanzo.

However, Moses's shadow clone intervened just in time, blocking the beaded needle and thwarting Illumi's plan.

"Three seconds."

Without paying attention to Hanzo's bewildered expression, Moses kindly reminded Illumi again.

Yet, to Illumi's ears, this reminder was gratingly harsh.

He stared icily at Moses, the killing intent in his body always in a boiling state.

With such a predatory stance, it was clear he had no intention of entertaining Moses's suggestion.

Atop the treetop-

Hanzo's brain hadn't yet recovered its function, and the shadow clone jumped to the ground under Moses's control.

At the same time-

At Moses's nine o'clock position, a second shadow clone emerged from the woods.

Without concealing themselves, the two shadow clones appeared openly in front of Illumi.

One shadow clone was positioned at nine o'clock, the other at three o'clock.

And Moses stood at six o'clock position, forming a triangular formation.

Seeing that Moses directly deployed his two Nen Clones so openly, Illumi's brow furrowed slightly as he stole a quick, almost imperceptible glance at Moses's feet.

As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.

Illumi knew that Moses could control two Nen Clones.

But that was two or three years ago.

So, seeing Moses act so straightforwardly now, Illumi couldn't help but grow a bit suspicious.

He had to guard against one possibility.

That is-

Moses might have a third Nen Clone.

On the treetop-

Hanzo's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw Moses's second shadow clone emerge from the forest, waves of shock crashing over him.

"Two…two of them… So, this isn't the Clone Technique, but the 'Shadow Clone Technique' recorded in the Legendary Scroll!"

The mythical ninja technique he had dreamed of was now appearing right in front of him, and Hanzo was so shocked that his voice began to tremble.

At the same time, remembering how he had bragged to Moses back in the underground passage, he felt he'd need to dig a deep enough hole to bury himself in.

At that time, he just wanted to find someone to chat, brag and kill time, but he never thought that a small pebble would hit an epic-level powerhouse.

'Huh?!'

Hanzo looked at the clearing, where combat was on the verge of breaking out, and tensed up instinctively.

'I need to go…I can't stay here.'

Although Hanzo wanted to see the Shadow Clone Technique in action, reason told him he needed to leave this dangerous place as quickly as possible.

After all, he'd been lucky that the powerhouse had saved him just now, but there was no guarantee he'd be so lucky again.

Hanzo suppressed his curiosity, then turned around and left decisively.

In the clearing-

Both Moses and Illumi ignored Hanzo's departure.

For Illumi, Hanzo should have been a good quality Needle People.

But with Moses in the way, he knew that the gains from turning Hanzo into a Needle People would far outweigh the costs, so he had no choice but to abandon the idea.

"Time's up."

Moses gazed calmly at Illumi.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the shadow clones at either side sprang into action, charging toward Illumi from both directions.

Illumi's gaze passed through the two shadow clones and landed on Moses, who was standing at the far end.

Without Needle People to assist him in battle, and with the two shadow clones blocking his path, he found it difficult to directly attack Moses.

It can be said that the current situation is very unfavorable to Illumi.

However-

Illumi hadn't stayed behind to face Moses simply to vent his killing intent.

Only a fool would wait for death without a plan.

The Nen that was surging around Illumi's body quickly sank, condensing into Ken state.

'I don't need to insert the needle into the main body...'

Illumi's gaze, full of killing intent, swept over the shadow clones charging at him from both sides as his thoughts raced.

He abandoned the possibility of bypassing the two shadow clones and attacking Moses directly. Instead, the strategy he could adopt was...

A battle of attrition!

The strength of the Nen Clone relies on the quantity of Manifested Aura to sustain them.

Conjuring two Nen Clones at once means the dispersion of strength.

Therefore, even without the help of Needle People, Illumi could still rely on his expert hand-to-hand combat skills and advanced Nen Techniques to dismantle the shadow clones and gradually deplete Moses's Potential Aura.

With this in mind, Illumi decisively retreated, swiftly withdrawing into the forest.

'Keeping a cool head, huh?'

Moses raised his eyebrows slightly, and while walking slowly forward, he controlled his shadow clone to pursue Illumi into the woods.

In a battle against superior numbers, an open space is the worst position to be in.

By retreating into the forest, Illumi had undoubtedly made the right choice, effectively turning the forest's density to his advantage in compensating for the disadvantage of lacking his Needle People.

Amidst the dense trees, Illumi looked at the two approaching shadow clones and, with a flick of his wrist, threw three beaded needles, which shot through the air toward the shadow clone on the right.

Seeing the beaded needles fly at it, the right clone reflexively dodged.

But then, the three beaded needles in mid-air collided, changing their flight trajectory under the counterforce provided by Nen.

Caught mid-dodge, the right shadow clone had no time to adjust and could only watch as one of the beaded needles pierced its left thigh.

Thud-

The needle sank deep into the right shadow clone's thigh, shattering muscle and bone under the amplified power of Nen.

Fortunately, it was just a clone, otherwise if the bead needle with Manipulation-Type Ability was aimed at the head, the battle would be ended instantly.

So strictly speaking, Nen Clone Ability has always been the nemesis of the Manipulators like Illumi.

With its leg bone shattered by the beaded needle, the right shadow clone's movements became noticeably stiffer.

'As expected.'

Illumi took in the scene without much surprise.

He knew that Moses's shadow clones could perfectly replicate the original, making it hard to tell them apart from the real thing.

But under the vow of perfect replication, they carried the limitation of 'real injuries'.

Just like now-

The power of the beaded needle wasn't enough to destroy the shadow clone, but it could affect its mobility by inflicting a localized injury.

In this case, Moses has to consider whether to retract the shadow clone.

Only by doing so could he reconjure a fully intact clone.

And each conjuration and recall would consume a portion of Moses's Aura.