Crushing Victory

With the activation of the second phase of Star Cluster Convergence, the surrounding starlight immediately clung to the rational persona's clone, transforming into golden chains that bound him.

"The Nen intensity on my body hasn't been affected—this rules out any suppressive function. Then, is it purely a control-type ability? If so, what's his objective?"

Bound by golden chains, the rational persona's clone felt no immediate threat of death and calmly analyzed Moro's ability.

Moro, without hesitation, deactivated Star Cluster Convergence and slowly raised his right hand, brimming with potent aura, expressionless as he looked at both the rational persona's clone and the main body still halted by the previous presence of the Star Cluster—controlled by the berserk persona.

So far, everything was going exactly according to one of the simulated combat scenarios he had predicted.

From the moment Orien had thrown his clone, every move had been within Moro's expectations.

Had Orien attacked with his real body instead, the counter-strategy would have been different.

Now, only the final step remained.

But there was no need for verification.

The intel was sufficient.

Moro was certain that before the clone was struck, Orien's main body would always retract its aura.

He had tested this behavior during their prior encounter when trying to stop Orien from pursuing Kastro.

If his hypothesis was correct, then when a persona-based clone suffers critical damage, the main body must pay a price.

However, most of the time, Orien could avoid this risk by remotely retracting his aura.

Unfortunately for him, Star Cluster Convergence was designed to counter that very mechanism.

Outnumbered? Moro was far too familiar with that scenario.

"Your 'Nen clone' is certainly unique, but if I'm right—when your clone suffers critical damage, your real body takes the hit. That's your ability's restriction. So, the moment you used the clone as your main attacker… you already lost."

The Nen in Moro's palm crystallized into a sharp stalactite form, then into the shape of a tiger's head, radiating danger.

The rational persona's clone tried to break free from the chains but couldn't. However, in "In" mode, he began to covertly manipulate his aura and discovered that doing so allowed him to escape the golden chains. That settled him a little.

He relayed this info to the berserk persona at the back and cleanly exited "In" mode, calmly watching the dangerous Nen mass in Moro's hand.

Meanwhile, the berserk persona in control of the main body showed a sneering expression.

The fight had just begun. It was only probing—

Yet this guy was already talking big?

Ridiculous.

What's this about the main body taking damage?

Even if that were true, I can easily avoid it whenever I want.

The berserk persona laughed mockingly.

Moro didn't care about his response. Calmly, he said, "You said this move was trash? Then try it again."

Before his words finished, Moro leapt into the air, hurling the tiger-headed aura blast at the clone bound below.

The rational persona's clone looked up at the overwhelming aura with calm eyes.

Then—he suddenly felt the chains around him dissipate, as the golden bindings crumbled on their own.

"Huh?"

He froze momentarily, and before he could react, his body dissolved into aura, retrieved by the berserk persona.

BOOM!

The tiger-head aura smashed into the arena, unleashing a violent explosion.

Waves of force surged outward, sending dust and rubble flying, drawing shocked gasps from the crowd.

Then—

They heard Orien's contemptuous laughter.

"You guessed wrong, dumbass!"

He charged into the dust cloud, another Nen blast forming in his hand, which he hurled into the center.

The aura shot through the smoke like a wormhole—and with the berserk expression on his face vanishing, it materialized into his berserk persona's clone.

Unlike the rational version, the berserk persona's clone had significantly higher aura levels.

Having already scouted Moro's ability, it was now time for this offensive persona to attack.

"Huh?!"

As the berserk clone burst through the smoke, he saw Moro walking calmly away from the arena.

What?

This incomprehensible action left the berserk clone baffled.

"Moro's powerful strike missed! And Orien has used the smoke cover to close in—wait, what! Moro is turning his back on Orien? What is this…?!"

The commentator's shocked voice echoed across the arena.

Spectators watching from higher vantage points saw Moro walking toward the edge of the platform, just like the commentator—shocked and confused.

Even seasoned Nen users present were perplexed.

But it wasn't their fault.

Moro had perfectly timed the star mark transfer.

When he threw the tiger-head aura at the rational persona's clone, the exact moment he chose was when the golden chains broke—right before the star mark revealed itself.

And at that moment, Moro was already certain Orien would retract his clone's aura.

So the star mark silently transferred to Orien's main body.

And with battle happening so fast, after confirming Moro's ability, Orien's main body, driven by the berserk persona, launched an attack immediately.

Too fast—too eager.

There was no time to notice the star had transferred.

Meanwhile, under the smoke's cover, Moro had already launched a star projectile into the air.

So when the berserk clone dashed in, he was unknowingly crossing paths with that star.

"You guessed wrong? That was just a throwaway line. And you believed it, dumbass."

Moro casually walked toward the edge of the arena.

The berserk clone heard his words and burst into a rage, leaping toward Moro like an enraged beast.

But a second later, his expression shifted.

He looked up—eyes wide.

The rational persona, still controlling the main body, had already sensed something wrong when the golden chains vanished.

But the berserk side had rushed in too quickly, using a throwing technique to close the distance before the rational side could warn him.

By the time the rational mind spotted the star projectile above, the berserk clone was far away.

SWOOSH—

The hovering star suddenly accelerated, surging with power and locking onto the rational persona's main body.

"We've been played!"

In his mind, the rational side recalled Moro's words—"you lost the moment you attacked with the clone"—and his pupils shrank.

There was more to the golden chains—another effect.

And it had transferred along with the aura!

But maybe—just maybe—he could dodge it…

He stared at the star—then it split like a meteor shower.

At that moment, the calm on his face shattered like glass.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The meteor-like stars crashed down on the rational-controlled main body, triggering continuous explosions.

Back on the field, the berserk clone, stunned, turned to look at Moro calmly descending the arena stairs.

Sensing his stare, Moro paused and looked back.

Just like that day—

The same calm, indifferent gaze.

But this time, it conveyed one clear message to Orien:

"Insect."

The berserk clone froze—then roared in fury.

But his roar abruptly cut off.

Because his main body had suffered fatal damage, the clone was also disintegrating.

Moro didn't bother watching.

Expressionless, he continued down the steps.

From beginning to end—it was as if he'd only swatted a fly.

The fight had ended with stunning abruptness.

As the explosions faded, silence blanketed the arena.

The commentator, stunned, stared at the familiar aftermath, lips trembling.

Once again, it was Moro.

Once again, it was sudden.

Once again, it was over in a flash.

So familiar… so frustrating!!!

In the stands, even Biscuit Krueger couldn't hide her surprise at the outcome.

Only Netero, watching closely, had seen the full scope of the battle—the essence of Moro's execution and the precision of his strategy against Orien.

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