A Worthy Opponent (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 52: Let Your Guard Down

Riv found himself more at ease to see Lua being taken care of, but he stepped to the very edge of Lilith to determine what was happening. Then he caught sight of Raine's lips moving. Talking to Lua. Raine finally rose her head to face Bisky, pulling her closer as well.

What?

Riv was baffled, as Raine stroked both of them in a caring gesture. How a mother would calm a child. Something Riv was robbed of.

Unconditional love.

Lua, that had knocked out Bisky. Bisky, who had stabbed Lua in the throat. And yet...Raine neither sought violence to punish nor scold them.

Riv tore his eyes away, remembering the matter at hand. His hands ran through his hair, his gaze facing the ground. Something in his heart churned. Something that didn't seem possible. His vision, his keen future based on evidence of the cruel, cruel world. But...maybe it wasn't cruel after all.

Riv buried his face in his hands.

Why wasn't she there when...why am I being shown this now. It's too late.

Riv's thoughts snapped as he was met with a forceful kick to the stomach. He staggered back, shaking his head.

Kurapika!?

Riv straightened himself out, ridding the previous scene, releasing his BloodLust. "You've come back for more?"

Kurapika resumed his fighting stance and kept his attacks consistent. Riv blocked with his arms, but the repeated blows didn't give Riv a chance to counter. Each punch was followed by another menacing rush of power.

What the- did he not give me his full strength before?

Riv's forearm cracked, his tape coming undone. He gritted his teeth as his wound exposed. His arm pulsed a deep purple color, blood spurting from a cut that seeped down to his bone. Kurapika latched onto his head, bringing his knee up for three quick blows before Riv caught on and swept Kurapika's leg out from under him, allowing an opening for Riv to slam Kurapika's body on the back of Lilith's bones. Followed by a solid punch to the gut.

Kurapika coughed up blood from his mouth as Riv hovered over him. "You bastard," Kurapika mustered out.

"Ridiculous," Riv mumbled. "Open your mouth." Riv crushed Kurapika's face with his bloody forearm, but Kurapika caught it in time with his hand. A smile formed across the chain user's face. They wrestled intensely for a moment, Riv surprised Kurapika could withstand his full strength with the gem and aura.

His attacks were too quick.

Riv pressed harder, both their arms shaking. But Riv smirked as the blood leaked off his forearm, dripping dangerously close to Kurapika's lips whose eyes dilated in disgust. But Kurapika was neither struggling nor winning.

Riv raised an eyebrow in realization. Throwing himself off of Kurapika.

Stalling? Another distracti--

Riv gripped his own throat choking. Swallowing something hard and circular as it plummeted down his body.

"What was that?!" He spun around but found nothing. Kurapika was gone. Then Lilith jerked right, a sudden movement sending Riv into the fin. He yelled viciously at the sudden chaos. The impact sending Lilith just over the field of webs.

Riv caught himself by leaping into the air, looking for the mishap. No one near him. But what caused Lilith to move? As Riv whisked in the air, a sudden grumbling vibrated his skin, shivers causing his heart to drop. Instincts forced him to face the sky.

His eyes widened, a large woman rocketed down on him. Her figure surged a stronger Nen as she crushed him and Lilith. Too fast to blink.

Both of them slammed painfully into the webs below. Stuck once more. Riv sure his body had crushed to dust. The lights thought to go out, but he sat up immediately. Short of breath. His eyes were bloodshot grasping the matter at hand. He stood up darting his eyes around.

They paralyzed Lilith with the Webs! To move her, to hit her, was only possible from that master.

Riv jumped off Lilith's unmoving body that settled in the middle of the field. Dust clouds covered the entirety of his vision until a figure loomed before him. A giant blonde figure with murderous intent.

"I'd love to see the look on your face before you die," she cracked her knuckles then cocked her head. Her pearl dress hung loosely against her bulked body.

Riv's eyes pinned her fiercely. His hair spiked out in rage. Riv popped his knuckles as well and initiated a brawl with Bisky. "Then let's not hold back."

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