Hello. Sorry if I took so long for the chapter to finally update. Stuff in life happened and yadda yadda yadda.

I was just introduced to One Piece last summer, loved a lot of things about it. There were very few low points I found in the anime, having been caught up ALL the way to the Wano Arc. Believe me it was exhausting, but it might be one of my favorite animes.

Now onto business with this chapter. For those of you who are familiar with The New Batman Adventures, this chapter is written based on one of the episodes. You'll know as you read further along.

Again, I appreciate every support this story gained so, thank you. And enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 6:

Pains X And X Aura

Robin somersaulted aloft the streets before he fired a grappling wire overhead, the hook piercing against the exterior of a building. A current of cool air blew against his face as he swung forward at high velocity. Robin released the grapple gun before he dove to a rooftop. His blood rushed with excitement, eyes watching the roof grow closer through his lenses. Then, he gracefully landed with his boots tapping lightly against the cemented surface.

Robin straightened his form from his crouched stance, his chest swelling with freedom. He had never known he could have the sense to be free when training to be the best he could be for Bruce. Tim thought of that year-long training before Batman allowed him to join as Robin. He prided himself in taking every step forward seriously, proclaiming his desire to leave the best impression to fill these boots through training. He rigorously planned and calculated situations as if they were a study session, only to be punched in the face by Bruce in a heavy spar. It felt like so long ago.

Robin allowed a content smile to play across his cheeks as he placed his foot against the roof's ledge. Inhaling deeply, Tim drew a deep breath when a gust of wind swept through his form. He couldn't care less if the air was lusterless.

It was one of the few times he was allowed to patrol Gotham unaccompanied by Bruce or even Barbara. Since Tim was the only one who came out not as injured compared to the others, he had to convince Bruce to allow him to go on his solo patrol, considering everyone else's condition. Tonight should be a short patrol, for he had to attend school the following morning.

Tim recalled the meeting with Diana and how it ended. He still couldn't believe she showed up so suddenly at the cave. Knowing that Bruce Wayne and Batman were the same, he had to consider his connections with Justice League members like Wonder Woman. Too bad things had to finish so loosely.

…

"Of all the things in the world you want me to do, you expect me to hunt down a child for you, Bruce?" Diana exclaimed disapprovingly, eyeing the image of the silver-haired boy on the Oracle Files Database set by Barbara.

"Well…I wouldn't call it hunting. I'd consider it more like searching for a missing child." Bruce replied. Diana switched her gaze to Bruce with a deadpanned expression. Anyone else would've recoiled under Diana's stare, but Bruce wasn't one to be intimidated. "Besides, he's a metahuman, forced into circumstances he should've never been in. What will happen when he falls under pressure and snaps?"

Diana softened her look and hung her head, uncertainly shaking her head. "I don't know, Bruce."

"You're the only one capable of handling him, Diana," Bruce said reassuringly.

Diana retraced her focus to the image on the screen, her face shifting to compassion. "He must have no one to reconcile with, no friend to bring peace in his heart. If you say he's from another earth, then he needs guidance. We can't give him any more reason not to trust us."

Bruce shook his head, "Easier said than done. I tried talking to him, but it didn't work. He was very distrustful from the start. Can't say I blame him."

Diana cracked a smile. "And here I thought you barred me from working in Gotham."

"Don't get the wrong idea. It's only a one-time occasion." Bruce replied, his tone almost sly.

Tim didn't hear Diana respond further as her still gaze remained on the silver-haired boy through the screen. Silently, Tim had been listening intently to their conversation. He could conclude that Wonder Woman would be joining the case on Killua after all.

He was glad. The thought of working with one of Bruce's Justice League colleagues brought a sense of excitement and wonder to the teen. Tim had been ashamed he couldn't do anything against Killua. Even he couldn't predict that Bruce decided to seek outside assistance from Wonder Woman in this case. Hopefully, Killua shouldn't be a problem for the amazon.

Dick, who stood to the side, raised his eyebrow as he looked at Bruce. "Yo, Bruce. Didn't you say you planted a tracker on Killua? Let's see if we can still track him."

Bruce eyed Dick before taking out the handheld tracker, and his eyes hardened at the screen. "Damn it.." He muttered.

A feeling of dread sank in Tim at Bruce's response. He dejectedly pressed his palm against his forehead, "Don't tell me he discovered the tracker."

Bruce's silence was all Tim needed to make the disappointing conclusion.

…

Tim looked down and analyzed the littered streets below through the lenses of his domino mask, occasionally tracing the pavement cracks that decorated the road and walkways as he scanned for trouble. Various signs and boards hanging overhead the local nightclubs, bars, and restaurants cast dazzling lights over the pedestrians, spawning a parade of shadows that danced in sync with the shimmers.

Besides the several groups of people crowding around a club with an outstretch of chattering voices audited by the crowd, this block's environment was surprisingly tame. And this was Park Row of the East End, one of Gotham's most criminally infested blocks. The city was mostly quiet during the day, but when the city's shadows overtook its streets, the criminals came out of hiding like nocturnal predators. So Tim couldn't afford to have his guard down.

Robin drew his gaze to the clouded sky, which hung the full moon, glaring down its gothic light upon Gotham City. Tim hadn't thought much of it, but after learning Killua was from another earth, it was a reminder that there was so much out there. What kind of earth was Killua from? Of course, Robin knew there was a multiverse, but how many more universes were out there?

Robin retraced his eyes back to the crowd. 'It looks like this place is clear of crime.' He thought.

He fired his grapple gun to a higher rooftop and shot upwards. The grapple's rattling intensified as his speed picked up; the grappling hook detached from the rooftop the instant Robin ascended to the building's height, launching him a couple of meters upwards. His cape stretched wide with a flap by the wind, allowing Robin to glide in sync through the air.

Robin considered if running into the Joker was possible on this night. How could he forget about that unhinged clown at large? He and Batman had been so focused on the Killua case in recent weeks that the haunting forethought of the Joker was left unspoken between him and Bruce. Robin dreaded that these past three weeks were a buildup to Joker's scheme for Gotham. There were only two occasions when Tim helped Bruce take down Joker in his short, six-month career as Robin.

Bruce always had instilled in him to regard going against the Joker as the last day of his life, for the Joker was always looking to outperform even himself from the previous encounter. Which meant more lives were at risk every single time.

As Robin continued gliding, using his grapple gun to maintain height at intervals, a commotion of motorcycle engines accompanied by loud music quickly alerted his attention. Robin snapped his sight to the source's way with a suspicious glare and quickly steered his shoulders to his new destination.

'So things won't be quiet after all.' Thought Robin.

He shortly arrived at the scene atop a perch of a decaying building. Robin blinked in surprise at a group of punk bikers circling what seemed to be a girl at the center of a wide-ranged alley. What caught him off guard was that the girl looked around his age. He wondered why she was in a place like this at such a late hour.

He caught a whiff of smoke with his nose as the cycle's wheels scraped against the pavement. A flash of anger arose as Robin watched these men harass the clearly terrified girl, laughing with sneers on their faces, eyeing her like prey.

"Past your bedtime, ain't it, girl?" The punk with spikey blond hair grunted out. The girl didn't respond to his remark before turning to escape the opposite way. She saw the nearest exit ahead, which led to the public street; she focused her drive to outrun her watcher, hoping her instincts wouldn't run out of luck to keep her safe from him.

The sound of engines roared with heavy, metallic rattles as the bikers shot past the girl and blocked her only route to escape.

"What's the matter? Don't you wanna play?"

Yep. It wasn't hard for Robin to get the gist of the situation since arriving, and it was time to intervene. He glared at the punk below him with a perfect retort, "Maybe she doesn't like slime."

The punk jumped with a start before he snapped his head to the voice above him. "Oh shit, it's Robin! Shouldn't this brat be in bed already!?"

"That could mean the bat is close by, too!" exclaimed a biker with a violet mohawk tied into a wild ponytail.

The girl watched in surprise as she witnessed the boy — clad in a red spandex cloaked in a hooded cape — drop from the rotted forgotten structure with a hop. A tinge of gratitude sparked within her as the boy confronted the men with a glare.

Robin cautiously traced his eyes across the riled-up punks before him. He had half a mind to state Batman's absence tonight, but they didn't need to know that. It won't matter if they underestimate him; their arrogance would be an easy exploit to bring each of them down. He snatched his custom-made staff from his utility belt before extending the weapon to its maximum length.

"The girl leaves with me, or you guys will be the ones wanting to run."

"Us run from you? Bah, don't make me laugh." The leader sneered, "Who cares! Batman isn't here. He's just a kid! What'll this shrimp do to deal with all of us alone?" The blond-haired punk shouted indignantly. He steered his motorcycle before zipping towards the boy wonder at full speed. "Drop dead!"

Robin clenched his teeth before jumping right before the driving force of metal could run him over. The punk leader widened his eyes at the sight of Robin balancing his feet on the headlights. Robin skillfully spun his bo staff through his fingers before swinging hard against the man's face, right on the tip. The punk hurled midair in a violent twirl, flailing helplessly with every joint responding weakly against his fall. Every jaw fell at the sight of their leader landing with a thud on the concrete. He didn't get back up.

The punks backed away in surprise when Robin landed lightly in a crouch from across. The now-abandoned motorcycle behind him tilted and slid with an ear-piercing grind before crashing against a building's brick exterior. Robin stood up with a deathly glare, silently daring the thugs to take the next shot at him.

"T-that was the boss…" One commented.

"No way…"

The punks soon got over their shock, replaced by scowls of their own. "Oh, you're going down, kid!"

The bikers rattled their cycles to life and rushed towards Robin on a vengeance. The punk in front grabbed for his chain line that hung to the waistline of his pants; he swung the chain at Robin, looking to ring the chain around his neck. However, Robin readily calculated his next move.

Robin held his staff in place for the chain to wrap around and pulled the thug forcefully off the motorcycle. The man yelped in reaction before roughly falling to Robin's feet; Robin immediately knocked him out with a rough jab from the tip of his staff, effectively driving his head against the ground.

Two down. Robin stated internally and quickly shifted his attention to the other two rapidly approaching offenders. After putting away his staff, Robin revealed a firearm-like device from his cloak and shot it at the biker to his right. The projectile attached itself against the man's chest with a thump, and to his surprise, the opposite end of the grapple outreached a lining to a trash can at a distance, hooking onto it. The hook tugged the metal cylinder back to the origin so fast that the punk flew from his motorbike on impact.

Simultaneously, Robin threw an accurately aimed Birdarang to his last target, which hit its mark on the motorcycle's frontal wheel. The Birdarang ceased the bike's movements almost abruptly, and the rider shot forward with a shout in Robin's direction. Robin's glare tensed as he tightened his fist. As soon as the flying biker got in range, Robin's punch collided against the punk's cheeks so hard that the rest of the man's body shot forward in a suspended manner. A loud growl of effort rumbled through Robin's throat, so he pushed forward with his punch, driving the man's head into the ground against his fist. Out cold was the man.

Robin stood up and took a deep breath, shaking his throbbing hand from the impact. He turned to the girl he saved with an assuring smile, "You alright?"

Robin's lips fell while his eyes blinked at the empty spot where she was. He quickly scanned his eyes toward the nearest exit, and there, he caught a glimpse of the fleeing girl disappearing through the narrow route. "You're welcome," Robin said sarcastically, shrugging his arms.

The nameless girl continued to work her feet as she ran. She couldn't stop. She wanted to thank the nice boy for rescuing her, but she couldn't stay in that spot any longer. She still wasn't safe, not even close. She saw the view of the public street growing closer. It would be easier for her to hide her presence from him if submerged in a dense crowd.

Suddenly, a police car appeared from around the corner of the building in a rush, stopping at a halt with the sound of rubber grinding against the rigid concrete. The nameless girl froze in her place, her eyes immediately drawn to the blinding red and blue light that flashed her dilated pupils. She couldn't help but back away with shaky footsteps.

She perked in shock after her back bumped against a figure behind, gasping in fright as she spun around, her arms hovering in front of her protectively. She slightly eased herself after seeing it was the boy from before.

Robin looked at the girl, confused. "Is that what you're running from? Are you in trouble with the police?" He asked. Robin took a step forward, causing the girl to step back, which didn't go unnoticed. "I just want to help."

The girl shook her head, "You can't. I gotta go."

"Is there somewhere I can take you? Do you have a home? A family?"

He saw the girl look down hesitantly, "I..I can't remember." She shook her head fiercely, grasping her head like she was in pain.

Robin looked at her in concern. Who was this girl? Why was she suffering from amnesia? He watched her turn before she dashed away. She had his attention now. Forget about searching for some mysterious superhuman kid with white hair or the fear of a mad clown on the loose; whatever made this girl scared made him want to put all those delayed problems aside and help her any way he could.

Robin ran forward with his hand held out for the fleeing girl. "Wait!" He called out. He watched her turn a right on the sidewalk, vanishing out of view from the alley. He was just about to turn the same way before he looked above him, pausing his sprint to a stop. "Oh no, not now!" He said frustratedly.

He continued to eye the hovering bat signal towering over the buildings in the East End at a far distance from Old Gotham. Robin wondered what Gordon was calling Bruce for tonight.

As he waited on the rooftop, Commissioner Jim Gordon released a breath before he raised the coffee to his lips, only to find out he was sipping the now empty coffee mug. He sighed at himself for trying to drink from an empty vessel for the second time tonight. This last month gradually became a low point for Gotham; first, the Joker decided to escape Arkham Asylum just over three weeks ago; second, Black Mask's reign over Gotham's organized crime relentlessly continues. What else was new?

Until he learned there was a new superhuman in town who happened to be a boy at a middle-school age who may or may not be a threat to the public in the future; that very same boy who keeps slipping from Batman's fingers, which was a feat of its own if you asked Gordon.

And now, a suspect with no fitting identity known to the GCPD's database committed three separate robberies, disappearing without a trace before any of his officers could arrive. What dumb luck Gotham Police have these days.

He felt a shift in the air behind him, which brought an ironic chuckle out of him. "It looks like you're earlier this time." He called out. Gordon turned around to see Batman's shadowy figure across from him.

After finding Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and even Nightwing licking their wounds in that ravine-like alley the night before, Jim Gordon couldn't believe his eyes at such a sight. Gordon hoped Batman wasn't in a rough mood tonight after what happened. It seemed that whoever was this young metahuman, he cemented himself to be more troublesome than Gordon realized.

Batman did not comment on Gordon's offhand joke, " Did anything new happen?" He asked, straight to the point.

Robin suddenly touched down on the spot beside Batman. "Sorry, I'm late."

Jim gave a slight grin to the Boy Wonder, "It's fine, you're on time." He retraced his eyes to Batman, his face turning serious. "There's something I have to show you in my office. It's a security feed sent to us from someone who owns a gas station up north."

Batman and Robin eyed each other before nodding and following Gordon to the rooftop door. As they climbed down a metallic staircase, with Batman and Gordon walking side-by-side and Robin towing not far behind in his thoughts, Gordon turned to the Dark Knight, "So… found out anything interesting about the boy?"

If Batman glanced at him, it wasn't noticeable to Gordon, "The boy's name is Killua, but every information we have so far is classified, so it'd be better to keep this between us."

Gordon couldn't help but agree, "Right. So Killua is his name, huh?" Gordon mused, his eyes darted to the floor as they entered the highest floor in the department. "Speaking of his name, I'm sure you've heard the media's dubbed him as the 'Silent Blur' or something like that in the papers."

A tired sigh escaped Batman at the name, "Don't even get me started on that," He groaned.

'The Silent Blur'.

Batman found it almost comical to learn that many news outlets in Gotham had already given Killua a name from when Barbara had looked up the news articles on the Bat Computer earlier today. "I can tell giving the media his only known image wasn't your idea, Jim," Batman said.

Gordon couldn't help but let out a small chortle, "Psh. Not a chance. I guess they snuck in one of their scouts and leaked it to the public."

They entered his office with Gordon shutting the door. He went to his desk and turned his monitor, the screen blurring to life. After Gordon played the footage, Batman glared at the monitor, which displayed the playback image of a tall, burly man walking up to the visibly terrified cashier.

"My men searched tooth and nail to find any shred of the suspect's identity through our database, but we still can't figure out who he is." Gordon began, "He committed three separate robberies with the same M.O.; he's gone without a trail before any of our squadron cars could arrive at the scene, and the stores are vandalized and the cashier murdered at the counter."

Batman narrowed his eyes as the man's bulky arm violently snatched the cash register off the counter like a child's toy before tearing the object in half. And a rain of dollars and coins exploded out of the cash register before the video paused.

"And, of course, his inhuman strength. Look at that power he displayed. Do you have any idea who he is?"

Batman shook his head, visibly concerned through his stern face. "No, I don't know that face either."

Gordon sighed, "That's unfortunate. We have so much work on our plate this month," He said. His eyes trailed back to the screen before he winced at the large man's face. "Man, look at those eyes. How does someone even get a face like this? You could mistake this footage for a horror flick."

Those last few words from Gordon's comment set Batman's mind in a gallop. 'You could mistake this footage for a horror flick.' Batman internally repeated. He wondered why it sent his instincts into overdrive. He knew someone out of his enemies who was always looking for a 'role of a lifetime.'

Gordon's other words replayed in his thoughts before his jaw slowly started to part. If what his instincts told him were exact — which usually was — it would be at least two years since he saw him. He turned to Robin abruptly, startling Gordon. "Robin, it's time to move. I have a vague idea of what's going on."

Robin jumped out of his train of thought at Batman's strong voice. He had been busy viewing the city through the window with a certain amnesiac girl not leaving his mind. "Right," Robin mumbled out.

Jim turned to Batman next to him, impressed, "You figured it out already. I should've expected as much." He retracted his head to the video and squinted his eyes through his lenses. "What'd you see in the video that made you think of something?"

When silence was all that responded, Gordon turned away from the monitor to see his office devoid of the duo. "Dammit…"

Time passed as Batman and Robin traveled the city through the countless rooftops. Robin explained to his mentor everything that happened before the meeting. About the girl harassed by a group of punk bikers, her claims to 'not remember' anything, and her insistence on being on the run.

"...and then she ran off." Robin finished. Worry seeped through his expression, "I don't know what's got her so spooked. At first, I thought those punks I beat up were the problem, but it looks like she's running away from something else and blocked it out from her memories." Robin said as his foot pressed a stomp on a ledge before bounding forward.

Batman hummed musingly, leaping the brick structures. "That does sound suspicious," he said. Batman suddenly halted his advancements, causing the younger boy to do the same.

Batman eyed Robin through his glare, "It sounds like she belongs in a runaway center. But you need to stay focused. And believe me, in this line of work, one misstep is too many." Batman said, thinking about the previous Robin. Jason had fallen for the bait before Joker got him, and Batman had no clue what he would do if the same happened to Tim. He couldn't let Tim suffer the same fate.

Robin couldn't stop himself from hanging his head as his teeth gritted. He knew his mentor was right, but he couldn't help but believe that girl was genuine. His head shot up to Batman with a determined glare. "Batman, I know you're protecting me, but I can't turn away from someone who needs help. All I'm asking is for you to trust me." He then worked a grin, "I'll be fine."

Tension erupted between the two as Batman looked down at him with his dark glare while Robin looked at him, confident in himself. Neither knew how many seconds had passed before Batman turned away with a grunt, hiding the barely visible smirk on his face. "Fine. Have it your way."

The duo then fired their grapple guns and shot off. Their respective capes spread as they both glided into the night.

Elsewhere, at a retail store in Gotham with a more public façade, a short figure donning a dark hoody emerged through a pair of bathroom doors. Killua sighed before he pulled the hood over his white hair, pulled up a navy blue mask over his mouth, and advanced toward the aisles with a shopping basket that hung from his hand. He had managed to adjust to his new makeshift home after being forced to move there since meeting the stupid Batman.

To make his new home as lively and comfortable to stay in, which was in a quiet part of Gotham, Killua simply decided the best choice was to go to a shopping district and gather as much food to last for days. And then he would train, sharpen his senses, skill, technique, and power up his strength. Then, the stupid Batman will experience the large gap between them, which already existed.

Stupid Batman. Killua found the name appealing personally, so that's what Batman was to him. Stupid. Yeah, that's what he would call him until they meet again for their next fight. And boy, Killua counted on him to find him again. But this next time, Killua decided to bruise the stupid Batman with a few broken bones.

As he browsed through the many items on the shelves, Killua massaged his forehead to ease his temper. Killua thought of everything that happened last night through the rest of the day. The stupid Batman had already caused enough irritation, and he would not allow him to live rent-free in his head. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. STUPID.

After a shaky breath, Killua found himself at the snack aisle. He inhaled a ball of air before smoothly releasing it, and he allowed a smile to graze his cheeks. These sweets could serve as a good distraction from his issues. He could feel his taste buds watering at the imagination of savoring all the sugary candy stacking these columns of shelves.

After grabbing at least five of each type of snack one after another, Killua stuffed the items into the basket and proceeded to the next aisle. He also figured he needed to buy some drinks to help quench his thirst. He squinted his eyes at each brand in front of him. While it was difficult to read each name on the tags, he could still analyze the flavor from the colors of the cans and liquid through the transparent plastic bottles. His scanning gaze paused on a particular juice box that had the shape of a grape plastered on the cover; he automatically grabbed for a couple of packs.

Satisfied with the shop basket weighed heavily by the combined snacks, Killua hurriedly made his way to the check-outs. He was confident he had enough money to afford all these sweets after pickpocketing several people on the way there. He made sure to duck his head below his hood from any watchful eyes as he secured his spot in line, wanting to get it over with the check-out and get out of there.

Some time passed, and Killua noticed he was next in line for the check-out and wordlessly placed the snacks on the belt for the cashier to scan.

Suddenly, a stabbing, suffocating sensation immediately reached his senses. Killua's rigid gaze shot toward the front entrance, seeing nothing through the glass panes making up the door but the dark void of blackness outside. But there was no mistake about what the spine-chilling feeling was. 'Bloodlust. It's nothing like I get from every common crook I encountered in this city so far, not since my last meeting with my brother.' Killua thought.

Unanticipated by everyone else in the store, a shattering explosion of clanking glass rang across the front, causing everyone to cease the routine and switch their frantic gazes to the entrance.

To everyone's horror, an unrecognized burly figure emerged through the entrance, seemingly unarmed. A shroud of murmurs crowded the store at the sight of the intruder. Killua simply flicked his eyes at the tall intruder, annoyed that drama kept following him anyplace he went. Killua felt so over with this crime-ridden city after all the effort he went through to keep his head down. He only came to this place to gather things to sustain his hunger!

'Dammit all!' Killua thought bitterly.

The man quickly scanned his murderous eyes across all the patrons in the store. He growled before he cocked his arm forward, palm open, and — to Killua's surprise — shot out blobs of mud-like projectiles at blinding speeds in all directions.

"Everyone get down!" Shouted one security guard, drawing out his pistol.

Everyone in the vicinity immediately fell flat to the floor, while others were too slow to react, finding their bodies encased in the brown, gooey-like substance. The muddy material smeared among the screaming victims' skins, looking to suffocate their entire being in the gooey prison. Killua's gaze caught one blob of goo speeding his way, forcing himself to tilt his head to the side, having the brownish substance splattering against a wall of products behind him.

The security guard approached the man and continuously fired his gun at the man. The man showed no reaction to the bullets, the metallic projectiles sinking into his abdominal chest. The man grinned wickedly and shot his opposite fist at the guard, punching the security guard and dragging him away with his stretched arm before slamming him into a faraway wall. The elongated, muddy arm retracted back and snapped into place.

Intrigued, Killua stared back at the hulking offender. What had he just seen? Each of these projectiles he fired did not possess an ounce of Nen. Who was this guy? He didn't look like much based on his appearance aside from his gigantic stature. He certainly seemed like he was physically stronger than Stupid Batman, but obviously, it didn't stop there. Killua's eyes began to narrow, not sure what he was facing. If this man hadn't used those muddy projectiles, Killua certainly wouldn't have anticipated it.

People not within the range of the intruder's attack attempted to sneak past him to the entrance. Without turning, the robber shot out a massive spiral of mud from his backside, and thick coats of layers of the substance formed into a barrier in place of the walkway.

The man switched his attention to the main counter and slowly advanced in a predatory walk. Once he approached, he noticed the short person wearing a hoodie in front of him. "Outta my way!" He roared out.

He roughly side-swung a heavy arm, intending to throw the puny pest in the way of his cash to take. But his arm had only struck hollow air.

Killua appeared midair over the giant's shoulder and struck his head with a solid kick. His foot collided with the giant's face, and a gush of mud exploded with pop, splattering brownish spots all over the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. Killua landed cooley and looked up at the giant, his tall body headless and seemingly stunned into place.

The store went drop-dead silent soon after the exchange. Everyone present had their mouths wide open at the lone stranger who went ahead and took action against the intruder.

Killua's eyes widened as mud suddenly began to sculpt itself from the base of the shoulders, reshaping a head. The regenerating substance emanated gurgles before the material solidified and returned to color.

The man blinked to regain his focus and returned his attention to Killua across him, looking equally shocked as the hooded boy in front of him. "What the hell did you just do?" He asked lowly.

Killua didn't bother replying to his question, slightly bending his knees and tensing his muscles into a stance. 'This guy is not normal. I can't afford to let my guard down like last time.' Killua thought.

How was this guy producing this gooey stuff out of his body? His attacks were similar to a transmuter with efficient emitter abilities, but there was no sign of aura anywhere. Killua subtly snuck a glance at the bystanders, noticing that most who survived the onslaught were avoiding all the stray splatters near them before he refocused on his foe. 'These people even seem to be aware of the substances. These attacks are very much physical!'

The man had long gotten over his shock, emitting a growl, "Kid. I don't know you, but hiding your face like a chump won't save you if you're picking a fight with me. So move out the way!"

When silence was all he received from the teen, further provoking his rage, "Not listening, eh? Fine!" The man shouted, his voice toning to a monstrous roar.

His bulky arm raised overhead, and his upper arm quickly morphed into a giant mallet before driving it down to Killua. Killua swiftly hopped from the spot before the mud-solid hammer slammed into the floor, and pieces of the tile erupted around the area.

Killua's eyes tensed before he sped to the monstrous man's back. He leaped up and delivered a swift chop to the base of his nape. Killua yelped as his hand only submerged into the man's mud-spluttered neck. He quietly gasped as his eyes immediately caught the bubbling from the upper center of the giant's back; Killua quickly pressed one foot onto his foe's left shoulder and sprang away in time before a thick pillar of mud gushed out. The horizontal spike protruded and impaled through a wall on the far side of the store with a violent rumble.

Killua gritted his teeth as he forced his body upright, and his feet grazed to a squeaking halt against the floor. 'Well, that didn't work. Damn, what's he made of?' Killua thought.

"Just stand still so I can kill you!" The man exclaimed.

The giant man pulled his fist back, his skin melting and enlarging the fist. He punched forward for it to shoot at blazing speeds at the ex-assassin. Killua straightened up and effortlessly maneuvered his form around the giant fist. Killua twisted around, and his gaze trailed a second fist rapidly closing in, forcing himself to hop over the attack.

Killua quickly rushed along the outstretched arm with silent footsteps and shortly was upon the enemy. If attacks meant to dislodge weak opponents won't work, it was time to stop pulling his punches. Killua bent his knee forward and connected a powerful strike to the giant's chest. The man couldn't prevent his jaw from hanging as Killua's heavy blow sent a shockwave throughout every molecular cell in his broadened form.

To the man's misfortune, Killua's attack led to a chain reaction in his body, prompting his entire form to dissolve its color into the messy, mud-colored matter that Killua distinguished with his attacks. Killua blinked and backpedaled away for a clear view of the new development.

The outfit the man appeared to have worn dissolved into the muddy formation. What was left in place was a towering giant, his hulking body dripped with mushy clay. His monstrous appearance sent a shockwave to all the witnesses that were present.

"Is that Clayface!?" One bystander shouted.

"It is!"

After his rage rose to its peak, Clayface let out a roar, his voice vibrating across the store like a boisterous storm. "YOU RUINED THE ENTIRE ACT! YOU SHITTY BRAT!"

Killua remained wordless through Clayface's brief tantrum, dumbfounded from one glance at his opponent's new appearance, "Is he even human?" he muttered.

While it was hard for Killua to understand English, after a brief survey of the bystanders' reactions, Killua could presume this monster in front of him was known as a notorious figure. This entire exchange was starting to feel freaky.

Clayface hung his neck from his monstrous shoulders, gazing darkly at Killua through his hooded eyes, his orange orbs full with the intent to kill. Clayface drew out his trunk-like arms, and with a wet squelch, his limbs lengthened into massive, slender tentacles.

Killua blinked before dodging the tentacles in quick succession. He flipped over the next set of whips, using his extraordinary agility to curve around the long, flexible arms. He made sure to avoid closing in on the patrons. These attacks were zoning in at a higher rate, thanks to the reveal of the monster man's unmasked form. Killua could acknowledge it was impressive.

Killua rightened himself on his feet after weaving the countless whips. He watched Clayface make one more attempt to fling those tentacles at him, only for Killua to reach out with his arms and grab the muddy tentacles out from the blinding rapid-fire thrashing in his grasp. "But still too slow."

Clayface gasped but instantly wiped his surprise away with a smirk. A massive muddy sphere ejected from his chest, forcing Killua to release the tentacles and bolt out of the path. The cannonball crashed into the wall behind in a shake, puncturing a gaping opening that led to the outdoors.

Killua glared at the action. He was starting to grow bored of these continuous feeble attacks. Killua sped towards Clayface and was upon him instantly with both arms at the ready. Both his palms sparked with blinding electricity before shoving them forward. The monster was caught in that painful sensation that caused smoke to seep from his shoulders.

"Lightning Palm!"

Clayface roared with agony, his giant body shaking from the relentless shocks. Killua felt he had enough before backpedaling at a distance to inspect the results. Clayface's body was bent forward, shadowing his face from view. Thin streams of smoke rose from various parts of his body.

To Killua's surprise, Clayface smirked before a deep chuckle ran from his lungs. The monster shot his massive head up with an arrogant grin clear in his monster-like features. "Back then, a shock like that would've been enough to stun me to sleep. But I've since gotten used to it!"

Clayface pulled back his tentacle arms, "Try something else!" He shouted before flying his whips.

Killua only sighed as he watched the whips approach in a whirlwind. He shut his eyes, and the temperature around him dropped. Killua would show the monster how inferior he was to him in ability, "It's been a while…"

A couple of snaps sounded from his arms. The mud-matter limbs were drawing closer. "Since I flipped the switch. Snake Awakens."

As the clay tentacles reached his proximity, the tips were just about ready to touch Killua before being blown and torn into splatters. Killua saw Clayface drop his jaw from the corner of his eyesight as he continued his onslaught against his tentacles with his whip-like arms.

Killua took advantage of Clayface's stunned state before rushing in at a blinding speed, bulldozing Clayface's entire upper body with his wriggly arms, causing a widespread shower of brown in a large portion of the retail store.

Killua allowed a satisfied smile behind his mask after he turned to view that all of Clayface from the waist down was what remained. He didn't miss the dozens of agape mouths aimed toward him.

His grin soon fell as Clayface's lower half dove down and dissolved into a stomach-churning brown blob on the floor. The splatters, stains, and pieces that lay prone around the store crawled toward the large mass, which made Killua and everyone present recoil.

The brownish mass continued to grow as every piece merged. Soon, the blob took shape, and a pair of hollow eyes with orange orbs in their center rendered in. It wasn't long before Clayface regenerated to his horrific form. Clayface towered over everyone, huffing down at Killua with animalistic anger.

Killua couldn't believe it. Every attack he used against the monster was having no effect!

He struck a vital point but to no avail.

He used brute force, but the monster shrugged it off.

He shocked him to a crisp but had since recovered.

And he shredded him to pieces, and the monster could still put himself back together!

'Is he… unkillable?' Killua asked himself.

No, that couldn't be it. There was no living thing in any reality that could be invincible. The most powerful creature that Killua had ever seen was the great Meruem of the Chimera Ants. When he saw the ant king in person, it was out of the world to see such power possessed by one being. When he learned that such a mighty creature had fallen at the end of the Chimera Ant War, it was big news in his mind.

Killua knew that there was a way to put this clay monster down. There had to be. He looked at his palms, and a thought came to mind.

What about Nen?

Killua knew the risks of using aura carelessly, so he avoided using Nen ever since being transported to this world, aside from the occasional electric attack and non-offensive principles like En. However, using a Nen-enhanced attack was different than shocking people with his aura. If he were to use a Nen-coated attack against the monster before him, how would it affect the results in the long run?

This world and its people were separate from his own, after all. It was hypothetical, but if the inhabitants of this world didn't have any aura nodes to open if they tried, then it could be safe for Killua to use Nen, right? Killua knew it was a gamble, but it was a theory he had to experiment with. After all, Stupid Batman and his band of followers seemed like masters at their craft, yet they could not use Nen.

Although he hated him, Killua would be astonished if someone like the Bat were born in his world and never learned Nen. Killua turned back to the monster with a glare. If the clay monster did end up having any aura nodes opened after a single Nen strike, then Killua would be forced to go full throttle.

He would have to kill him.

Clayface ceased his puffing and ejected a deep groan, "You…" Clayface reared back and inhaled deeply before lunging his body forward, "YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD!" Clayface howled with all his might.

Clayface flexed his arms to their respective sides before molding themselves into lethal spiked maces about the size of wrecking balls. He immediately hurtled towards the hooded brat, intending to trample and leave him bloody on the ground.

Killua relaxed his stance and applied a small portion of Ren around his form. It had been a while since he had used Ren offensively, having kept up his passive Ten for the remainder of his time in this world while remaining in Zetsu in any fight. He watched Clayface's gigantic frame overshadow him.

Clayface drew back one mace before swinging it upward straight into Killua's gut. The witnesses winced at the supposedly lethal attack; if such an attack were to hit them, every bone in their bodies would break into pieces!

Killua hovered for a few seconds before a second mace was slammed against the side of his head, forcing the rest of his body to take a short step back. Clayface paused his attack with a convinced grin sprawled around his mud-dripping face, inspecting Killua intently. Dread sunk in Clayface as he caught Killua sharply eyeing him with a side glare through his hoodie.

'Who the hell is this brat?!' Clayface thought. 'H-he didn't flinch!'

In a flash, Killua was underneath Clayface's torso, a Ren-coated fist pulled back before casually driving it into his massive body. Clayface's orange orbs popped open, and a hoard of mud exploded from his backside.

Pain. Basil Karlo hadn't felt so much pain since transforming into this freakish state after that scumbag Roland Daggett endlessly distributed to him that skin-damaging drug of his. A deep, throaty moan escaped him, and he forgot to breathe.

'How could this kid hit so hard? What is he!?'

Killua slowly pulled his hand out of the monster's stomach as he studied Clayface slowly back away, gasping and desperately clutching his arms tightly around his abdomen. Clayface continued to choke and gag, forcing himself to drop to his knees into an arched position. A wheeze then escaped from the giant.

Killua ignored the disbelief in everyone's faces as he intently kept a close eye on Clayface's form. In the same way that Wing opened up his aura nodes forcibly, he watched for any signs of aura leaking.

'So far, so good.' Killua thought.

It was quite a sight to see this monster on his knees after receiving a blow with only ten percent of his Nen, a clear demonstration of the vast differences between physical and Nen attacks.

After finally catching his breath, Clayface looked up to see the short figure towering over his crouched body. Gritting his teeth, how could he be humiliated like this?! He morphed his hand into a drill away from view.

Killua knew what he was doing and dealt a hard punt to the face. Clayface's entire face caved in behind the force of Killua's foot, his head exploding. The power behind the kick was enough to fling Clayface to the opening, his muddy body leaving a trail on the floor until it touched the concrete in the parking lot.

Clayface soon rejuvenated his head, revealing the constant terror in his expression. He bent over to a sitting position in time to see Killua casually emerge through the hole, his hands stuffed into the front pocket of his hoodie. It was the first time Clayface caught a clear glimpse of the boy whose mouth was unobstructed from the mask. The sight caused Clayface to back away on his haunches. "G-get away from me!"

Before Killua could do anything else, the howling sirens in the distance alerted him. The teen detached his attention from Clayface to the distant highlights of the streets, "Crap!" He cursed out.

He quickly turned back to Clayface only to see the trail of mud creeping through a manhole to the sewer. "No!" Killua yelled out. He was about to rush to the small opening until red and blue hues entered his vision.

"Dammit!" He immediately turned around and rushed to the store with all his speed.

Taking advantage of everyone's stunned expression, Killua crept to the front counter and grabbed the basket containing his sweets before rushing out. He turned the corner of the store before jumping to a rooftop, just in time before the entire squad of officers arrived at the store.

And done. What do you guys think? While I'm not sure this chapter will be final before a full proofread, I'm happy with it.

Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the reviews, and support it anyway you can if you enjoy the read. Thanks for all the support.