I'm in HxH, Survive for Five Years!

Snap!

In mid-air, Ethan Wells spun violently. Just as he missed, he hit the ground with both hands. Then, with his feet pointing upward, he quickly spun into the air to catch up with Netero.

Like a diagonal tornado, while Netero was still airborne, Ethan struck again, spinning rapidly as his feet turned into afterimages in a barrage of kicks.

Netero reacted immediately, his eyes narrowing with a hint of surprise.

He hadn't expected Ethan's reaction to be so swift and his body coordination so excellent.

Surprised or not, Netero was certainly not incapable of countering.

Even using only his right foot and left hand, as he did in previous games with Gon and Killua, Netero displayed his prowess.

Not only did he showcase faster reaction speed, but his body coordination was also even more impressive.

Even in mid-air, with extraordinary control, he raised his right foot and countered Ethan's onslaught.

Bang! ! !

The numerous afterimages didn't faze Netero. With incredible precision, Netero collided with Ethan's right foot.

As the air cracked, Netero used the force of Ethan's kick to glide back "lightly."

Then, as he neared the ceiling, he flipped gracefully, planting his right foot on the ceiling and quickly rebounding to the ground nearby.

Landing only on his right foot, Netero dribbled the ball with his left hand and smiled at Ethan.

Having been countered by Netero, Ethan's upward momentum dissipated, forcing him to fall back to the ground.

Just before hitting the ground, Ethan flipped gracefully, landing on his feet and supporting himself with his right hand, assuming a poised stance.

"My reaction speed and body coordination are both better than mine. It's really hard to deal with..."

Upon landing, Ethan's eyes focused on Netero, not far away. Compared to Netero's relaxed demeanor, Ethan was clearly more serious.

Though he anticipated a tough challenge, after engaging, Ethan had to admit he underestimated Netero.

Even using only one hand and one foot, Netero's skills were so powerful and flexible that it was astonishing.

And this was with Netero being older and less vigorous. In his prime, he'd be even more formidable.

However, despite the challenge, Ethan didn't retreat but became even more eager.

Putting aside the questions he wanted to ask, the opportunity to fight someone like Netero, even without using Nen, was invaluable.

"Come again, you almost snatched it from me just now!" Netero, holding the ball, praised Ethan.

"Stop lying!"

Ethan's eyes glimmered with determination. He shouted and his legs exploded with power.

The solid floor cracked under his feet, leaving two small craters. With astonishing explosive force, Ethan dashed forward like a cheetah, closing the gap between them in a single bound.

Whipping up a roaring wave of air with incredible speed, Ethan executed the 'Spike Fist·Assassination,' punching rapidly like spear tips, creating a flurry of fist shadows around Netero.

Netero's skills were too agile. Without restraint, contact would be difficult, let alone stealing the ball.

His fists rained like a relentless storm.

Yet, amidst the onslaught, Netero moved gracefully, balancing on one foot as he deftly evaded Ethan's punches.

Throughout, he kept the ball securely behind him, denying Ethan any chance to seize it.

"That's amazing!" Gon watched the intense battle, eyes wide.

Whether it was Ethan's 'Spike Fist·Assassination' or Netero's evasive prowess, it was enlightening for him.

Gon's potential was immense, like the legendary Freecss lineage, and he stood among the world's elite.

Yet, having grown up in a free-spirited environment, his actions and fighting relied heavily on instinct.

This free-spirited approach wasn't necessarily bad, but for someone like Gon, who'd just ventured out, his perspective needed broadening.

Watching the battle between Ethan and Netero broadened Gon's horizons, revealing the vastness of the world.

As for Killua's reaction, he observed the battle closely, his expression serious.

"Damn it, this old man wasn't serious at all before..."

"And this guy. I really underestimated the Hunter exam. Though many aren't impressive, some true masters like Hisoka and this guy stand out."

Thoughts flickered through his mind, and Killua's emotions fluctuated.

The gap between Netero and Killua was vast. Even with rigorous training, Killua couldn't fully grasp the disparity when facing Netero.

Just like in the original plot, when his killer instinct was piqued, Killua believed continuing would end in him killing to grab the ball, leading him to withdraw.

But this was a misconception. Killua was unaware of Netero's true power.

Now, compared to his skirmish with Gon and Killua, Netero showed more strength against Ethan, making Killua realize Netero hadn't been serious before.

Though this was still only a fraction of Netero's power, it was enough to shift Killua's mindset.

And Ethan, despite not managing to seize the ball in his attacks, demonstrated skills that earned Killua's respect, even treating him as a worthy adversary.

There was no denying that, during the exam period, they were competitors. Though the next exam's content remained unknown, Killua's assassin instincts compelled him to strategize against Ethan, assessing his chances of success.