This was Kentucky's subconscious reaction.
After he did it, Kentucky realized what he had done. His face flushed with embarrassment, and he felt a bit humiliated.
Even so, having curled into a ball, Kentucky showed no intention of unfolding himself.
"This is my absolute defense."
"Kid, can you break it?"
Since he had already lost face, why bother worrying about it anymore?
Kentucky calmed down.
Ron was too agile, making it nearly impossible for Kentucky's attacks to land.
In that case, he decided to adopt a defensive counter-strategy.
He activated his absolute defense form.
From Kentucky's perspective, Ron's offensive capabilities were limited. He couldn't even break Kentucky's defense in its normal state and could only target weak spots.
With his absolute defense activated, Kentucky believed Ron wouldn't be able to harm him at all.
However, Kentucky's counterattacks would undoubtedly deal significant damage to Ron.
"This is a secret technique I developed. I've never used it in front of anyone."
"Ron, how will you respond?"
Ron looked at Kentucky and suddenly recalled something.
Among Hanma Baki's offensive techniques, there was a move called *Rigid Body Technique*.
It involves locking all the body's joints to concentrate strength to its maximum.
It was specifically designed to break through defenses.
Now was the perfect time to use it.
Ron stepped forward, standing before Kentucky.
The sound of joint movements echoed.
Ron's posture became peculiar. He no longer looked like a moving person but more like a machine.
*Rigid Body Technique!*
Ron unleashed a punch.
Kentucky noticed Ron's fist heading toward him and felt a flicker of joy.
"But Ron, your fist can't break my defense."
"I'll use this opportunity to catch you."
"Then it'll be my turn."
"I'll make sure you don't get a single chance to fight back!"
Ron's fist touched Kentucky.
Kentucky was prepared.
But at that moment, the tremendous force carried by Ron's fist stunned Kentucky.
He knew something was wrong!
The power in Ron's fist was overwhelming.
So overwhelming that Kentucky had no chance to react.
In an instant, the force spread throughout Kentucky's entire body.
Kentucky shot out like a cannonball.
In the blink of an eye, he flew beyond the edge of the ring and slammed into the surrounding wall.
His entire body became embedded in the wall.
The sudden turn of events plunged the venue into silence. Everyone had believed that Ron and Kentucky were evenly matched, exchanging blows back and forth just a moment ago.
Why had things changed so drastically in the next instant?
Killua's pupils contracted slightly.
"Putting aside speed, agility, and technique, Ron's strength also surpasses Kentucky's."
"This is a total, all-around domination."
"But why did Ron act like that before? Wouldn't it have been simpler to crush the opponent right from the start?"
Killua thought for a moment. If it were him, he definitely wouldn't have fought the way Ron did.
"Killua, your judgment was correct. My own eyesight was too poor."
Sadaso looked at Killua, feeling a bit complicated.
Sadaso knew Killua's talent was far beyond his own, but right now, Killua's strength wasn't very high and he was still in an early stage of growth. Even so, Killua's powers of observation and judgment were already far superior.
"So this is what a genius is like."
The referee snapped out of his daze and announced the result.
A medical team rushed in and carried Kentucky away on a stretcher.
Kentucky was unconscious and wouldn't wake up for a while.
"What just happened?"
"Ron knocked Kentucky out of the ring with a single hit?"
"That strength is incredible!"
"Were they really that far apart? Just now they seemed evenly matched."
"Or did Ron just hide his strength before?"
"Ron is really strong!"
"He's completely on the Floor Master level!"
"He's only eleven, and he already has this kind of power. How strong could he become in the future?"
"Could he even reach the position of Tower Master someday?"
As Ron had anticipated, he won the match without any surprises. The moment the referee announced the result, Ron left the venue.
"Big Brother, congratulations!"
"Captain, that was amazing!"
"Captain, congratulations!"
Nina and the others greeted him.
Ron smiled, then looked at Nina.
"Sally, are you ready?"
"All right, tonight we'll all go out for dinner. Tomorrow, we'll depart. Nina, Shizuku, you two stay here at Heaven's Arena and train hard. Don't slack off."
After the match, Ron planned to head to the Kingdom of Fiora.
Meanwhile, Sally would head off to take the Hunter Exam.
Although the Hunter Exam hadn't officially started yet, Sally needed to gather information beforehand.
The Hunter Exam had two stages.
The first was a preliminary stage.
Information about the exam location would be spread around, and certain individuals would be hired to filter out candidates preparing to participate. The preliminary stage was basically outsourced.
Only after passing the preliminary stage could one enter the official exam phase.
Sally would have to figure it out on her own. Ron wouldn't help, and there was no need. After all, Sally was a C-level Nen user, and something shouldn't be beyond her abilities.
-----------------------------
TST base, one of their locations.
Mitani Doppo looked at the figure beside him and smiled.
"It looks like before long, TST will have another Floor Master. My judgment wasn't bad, right?"
The person next to him agreed with a slightly helpless expression.
Mitani Doppo had already boasted about this many times.
"By the way, Doppo, do you think those lower Floor Masters will resort to extreme measures?"
Mitani Doppo frowned. "Unlikely. Ron still needs three more victories to earn the right to challenge a Floor Master. For Ron, that's nine months. After choosing a Floor Master, basically a year will have passed."
"Who knows what things will look like after a year?"
"And even if Ron does decide to challenge them, he can only pick one person."
"If they're not even sure they'll be picked, would they really attack Ron?"
"That would be irrational."
"Unless someone's brain isn't working right."
Mitani Doppo couldn't imagine anyone acting that way.
----------------------------------------
Ron and his group of four took the elevator down and headed to a nearby hotel with a highly recommended buffet restaurant. Ron had never been there before.
Now was the perfect time to try it.
Soon, the table was piled with dishes.
Of course, the price was steep.
One person, 100,000 Jenny.
About the cost of over six hundred cans of cola.
After breakfast, Ron and Sally packed up their things.
"No need to see us off any further, this is good enough."
Nina and Shizuku had originally planned to escort them to the airship station, but Ron found it unnecessary.
He told them not even to leave Heaven's Arena.
A car waited at the entrance of Heaven's Arena.
Ron and Sally got in.
Both needed to head to the airship station, but would take different airships.
As the car's engine started, it slowly moved toward the airship station.
But at that moment, Ron realized something was wrong.
Ron sensed a hint of danger.
He expanded his En, covering the surrounding area.
Ron sensed it immediately—there was a bomb.
Right beneath them, under the car.
Ron looked at the driver.
But the driver was just an ordinary person, a normal chauffeur with nothing suspicious. More likely, someone else had planted the bomb on the car.
Suddenly, in Ron's perception, the bomb became unstable.
As Ron spoke, both of them opened the car doors and leapt out instantly.
A huge explosion resounded.
The entire car was blown sky-high, and the driver, along with it, was killed on the spot.
Ron hid his presence.
Then, with a single thought, Ron took action.