A Worthy Enemy (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 8: A Rooftop Convention

Darnell swiftly ducked a blow and leaped away from the man in green. It was surprising sight to see his hands harden, his fingers sharpen just a hairsbreadth away from slicing his neck. His heart sped up, darting around the perimeter of the flat roof where the hypnotized guards and employees couldn't follow or he'd push them off the edge.

Darnell surveyed his opponent, never relaying his eyes to distraction. He's no amateur. 

The cold winds surged against his face as the assassin shot pins-like projectiles, left and right, but his movements were fairly readable as Darnell dodged accordingly, just enough to keep analyzing, though it still tugged an amount of effort out of him. This was no time to test the waters because this fight was unique. The most unsettling feeling Darnell had ever experienced, similar to Corrins' Nen, was unheard footsteps that didn't require Zetsu. It just wasn't natural and never clicked in his brain. He knew his body was, at the moment, sensitive to his opponent's movements by sound, yet his ears couldn't pick up on the assassin's specific movements. He had to physically watch the man's attack, stepping out of reach from a swipe, a kick, or a jump.

Darnell cursed, still dodging last second, almost too fast to counter with his own blow. The assassin kept his blackened orbs on him and Darnell almost thought he was battling a robot, battling Red. It had only been a few minutes since their encounter, and so far, Darnell was still on his toes, pleasantly surprised. The thrill...when was the last time he had a decent one-on-one match?

He gritted his teeth, dodging another throw as each second instilled unnerving vibes. The pins of the man weren't rattling when they were supposed to because the swiftness of the assassin seemed to suppress its sound within his speed in the wind, and his footsteps started to blur, disrupting the patterns he anticipated. The puppets kept chasing allowing his opponent to throw pins where they cornered him, like wolves rounding sheep into a pen. Manipulators. How annoying.

"I'm surprised," the assassin said, though he didn't, at all, sound surprised in the slightest. This time, Darnell caught the assassin's arm and used him to shield a tackle from a nearby guard. Unconsciously, he'd been listening to the movements of each puppet, keeping tabs on their location. Twelve of them were aimlessly scattered over the squared roof and only attacked when he was near. A subtle, but effective technique for a manipulator to conserve energy. But the assassin killed the puppet in that instant to keep his movements swift. "You're not dead yet."

Darnell scoffed. He wasn't bothered by the high talk. You get used to it when growing up in fighting rings so he was pretty much immune. The opponent would always say something to get under your skin. But by the looks of the blank expression on this man, it would be difficult to get under his skin too, unless Darnell truly knew his deepest desires.

Preparing for another attack, Darnell leaped over the assassin's punch, but suddenly heard the pattern of a puppet's footsteps, preparing for something. He was forced to turn his head to look, but another pattern caught his ears, then another. Darnell held his breath, noticing that all the puppets were evenly surrounding him. Stationed in a lunge stance. All because he retreated to the center of the roof instead of staying at the perimeter where the assassin stood Shit. How is he able to intricately control all of them at once to do such an accurate task?!

It was impossible. Impressive. The puppets paused, all surrounding him with guns in their hands. The green assassin with long, black locks scowled, ceasing his chase, and stood composed across the roof. "This has been a complete waste of time," he said, "but I can't help but wonder why you're stalling. Or rather, what you're waiting for." He brushed his hair out of his face. "Perhaps for your partner to finish the job?"

Darnell pressed his lips together yet at the same time, smiled from curiosity. "How did you know?" Sweat trickled down his forehead. He was completely surrounded, buying time to resituate. Could these puppets accurately shoot me? Or can I dodge their attacks or is this a bluff?