HxH: Apex Predator

After discussing their strategy, Binolt and Narcissist each moved according to the plan.

Binolt once again charged toward Ryker, intending to stall for as much time as possible, while Narcissist remained focused on aiming.

'Looks like they've finalized their tactics. Based on their movements, I'd say Binolt is trying to engage me in close combat while Narcissist is looking to fire as many bullets as possible'

'If that blond Narcissist's bullets stack in power, I'll have to deal with both Binolt's attacks and the incoming projectiles simultaneously.'

'By my current estimate, without using my intangibility ability, three bullets are my limit when it comes to physical evasion. Once the fourth bullet enters the equation, things will get much harder to manage, and the chances of getting hit increase significantly.'

'After all, it's not just these two bounty hunters I have to contend with—I'm also maintaining my clones outside, which is stretching my focus too thin.'

'So once that Narcissist fires his third bullet, I'll wrap this up. Two of my clones outside are already drained of their aura, and I might as well put them to good use before they vanish.'

'Right now, the heaviest fighting is in the southeast, so my clones there are burning through their energy fast. Meanwhile, the ones in the northwest can hold out a bit longer.'

'That means I'll have the southeastern clones detonate themselves at the right moment to maximize casualties. Then, I'll reposition the northwest clones to take their place and continue holding the line.'

'After I finish off these two here, I'll head outside to reinforce my clones and deploy two new ones to hunt down any survivors.'

Before long, the second shot from Bloodhound rang out.

'Alright, the situation is still manageable. That guy is clearly holding back—either that or he's treating this as a live combat exercise.

Arrogant brat. Let's see if you can still act so nonchalantly in thirty seconds.'

With two bullets chasing him down, Ryker continued to evade with ease, though his movement speed had subtly increased.

His assessment had been correct—three bullets were his current limit. Anything beyond that would force him to rely on his Kamui ability.

Time ticked away, and thirty seconds passed in the blink of an eye.

The third gunshot echoed through the hall, and at that moment, two of the three combatants smiled in relief.

Binolt and Narcissist believed that the battle was finally shifting, however slightly, in their favor. Though they were still at a severe disadvantage, they now had a glimmer of hope.

Ryker, on the other hand, had begun executing his plan.

Down below, two of his clones abruptly rushed into the densest pockets of enemies. In the next instant, two massive explosions erupted, engulfing everything within.

*BOOM* *BOOM*

The shockwave devastated the area, leaving no survivors within a ten-meter radius of the detonation points.

The destruction extended even further, wounding countless gang members. The air filled with agonized screams as severed limbs and broken bodies littered the battlefield.

Witnessing the carnage—their comrades torn apart, their supposed safe haven turned into a blood-soaked nightmare—the remaining gangsters broke.

They were no longer the swaggering thugs who terrorized the streets. Their minds blanked, consumed by a single desperate thought: survival.

Panic set in. The gang members scrambled to flee in all directions, completely abandoning the fight. Seeing this, the remaining clones pressed their assault, unleashing relentless attacks to prevent any organized retreat.

Meanwhile, inside the building, Ryker assessed the outside situation and made his decision. He needed to finish things here as quickly as possible.

His aura surged in an instant.

Facing Binolt's incoming attack, Ryker activated Hardening on his right hand, turning his limb into a blade. In a flash, he found an opening and struck with blinding speed.

*SWISH!*

A severed arm flew through the air.

The detached limb still clutched a pair of barber's shears in its stiff fingers, as if refusing to accept reality.

Before Binolt could even register the loss of his right arm, Ryker's hand stretched out again—this time pressing against the fresh wound.

*WHOOSH!*

A space vortex formed beneath Ryker's palm, swallowing Binolt whole in the blink of an eye.

Only the severed arm remained, a silent testament to the fate that had just befallen its former owner.

'I have to run. There's no way I can win against this monster!'

Narcissist didn't hesitate. Abandoning all battlefield discipline, he turned and bolted toward the exit, even exposing his back—something every warrior knew was a death sentence.

His mind was consumed by one thought: Escape.

Escape the building. Escape Ryker's sight. Escape before it was too late.

Five seconds later, a figure burst through a third-story window, landing amid the fleeing mob. Without hesitation, he unleashed a rapid barrage of aura-infused bullets, mowing down anything in his path.

At the same time, Ryker conjured two more clones, dispatching them in different directions to hunt down any remaining survivors.

....

Meanwhile, at a concealed vantage point, a man named Wuto remained in place, observing the battlefield through binoculars while speaking into a phone.

"Young Master Ryker has exited the building and is currently coordinating with his clones to clean up the battlefield."

"He detonated two of his clones earlier, likely after eliminating the two bounty hunters inside. Now, he's fully focused on slaughtering the remaining fodder."

"Understood. Wuto, signing off. I will withdraw immediately to avoid exposure."

Ending the call, Wuto stowed his phone, lowered his binoculars, and vanished into the darkness without looking back.

....

An hour later, at the Solomon Family Headquarters~

Had an ordinary person arrived at this location, they wouldn't have even needed to step inside. The sheer stench of blood hanging in the air would have drained them of all courage before they got close.

Ryker stood atop the rooftop, gazing down at the aftermath of his handiwork. A satisfied smirk played across his lips.

"Ahhh, now this was a real jackpot. The haul was even better than I expected."

"They say quantity leads to quality. Seems like even cannon fodder can become a valuable resource if there's enough of them."

"At the very least, the points I earned from this make it all worthwhile.

The underworld really is a treasure trove. Compared to other sources, the risk is much lower.

"Still, the Nen abilities in this world are downright insane. The sheer variety of effects is staggering. That Narcissist guy's ability was more dangerous than I gave him credit for."

"Then again, with the level of aura he could imbue into his bullets, there was no way he could pierce my Hardening anyway."

"But this whole fight was a good reminder—I should just end battles quickly in the future. You never know what kind of surprises an enemy might have up their sleeve."

With that, Ryker opened his system interface.

The same unlock option he had seen before was still there, waiting for him.

A genuine smile spread across his face.

...

At the same time, miles away, a bat-like figure soared through the night sky at full speed, heading straight for the Solomon Family estate.

He had received his orders.