Seeing these unfamiliar yet familiar figures, Don Freecss felt a surge of emotions, his heart brimming with joy.
Had Don Freecss ever visited Earth, he might have known exactly what this feeling was.
"Meeting an old friend in a distant land"—this was one of life's greatest joys.
Having spent centuries in the Dark Continent, it was an exceedingly rare occasion for him to encounter "fellow countrymen" from the same homeland.
And yet...
When Don Freecss turned his gaze to Akira, his heart skipped a beat.
In his perception, this young man's strength was already approaching his own current level.
This was extraordinarily rare.
After all, he had endured countless trials and trained for centuries in the Dark Continent to reach his current power.
And this young man?
Only in his twenties?
Already achieving such heights?
Or had the Six Continents, during his long absence, produced many warriors of this caliber?
For a moment, Don doubted his own understanding of the world.
What he didn't know was that Akira would soon show him what true "psychological devastation" felt like.
What Akira had revealed so far was merely the most superficial and ordinary fraction of his power.
Then, as Don assessed the auras of the others, his slightly furrowed brows relaxed.
The energy the rest of the group displayed aligned more closely with his expectations for the Six Continents' power levels.
None of them came close to the strength of their young leader.
Even so, this team was likely among the very best the Six Continents had to offer.
Don's judgment was sharp—with just a glance, he had grasped the general composition of the group.
It was clear they had come thoroughly prepared.
Their preparations accounted not just for combat but for every aspect of surviving adventures in the Dark Continent.
Each member likely had specialized roles and areas of expertise.
While their individual strengths might not be extraordinary, they were undoubtedly top-tier within their respective fields.
Nodding slightly in approval, Don found himself quite satisfied with this team.
Though a lone wolf himself, he couldn't help but admire fellow humans who took the unknown dangers so seriously.
Suddenly, Don's eyes flicked to Ging, meeting the gaze of the man who'd been watching him intently.
Seeing that vaguely familiar face, Don froze momentarily, lost in thought.
Simultaneously, an inexplicable sense of blood connection welled up in his heart.
Yet the thought that surfaced in his mind was—
The Ging before him was experiencing similar emotions, though mixed with something far more indescribable.
He didn't know what to say or do.
After all, he'd never anticipated encountering this ancestor he'd never met before.
This reunion across countless generations was unbearably awkward.
Akira watched the two with amusement, especially smiling at Ging.
It was fortunate that Ging and Don Freecss were strangers—had they shared the same close relationship as Ging and Gon,
Given Ging's usual tendencies, he'd probably have bolted by now.
Though it depended on the person.
With Gon, Ging could leave without hesitation.
But with Don Freecss...
Not that Akira looked down on Ging, but the power gap between him and Don Freecss was simply too vast.
If Don truly wanted to keep Ging, there was absolutely no way he would have let him escape.
It wasn't until this moment that everyone belatedly realized the truth, looking at Don's face with growing astonishment.
Don had an unkempt appearance, with stubble covering his chin and surrounding areas—clearly someone who didn't bother much with grooming.
His hair was somewhat messy, yet it was obvious he sported a spiky, upward-styled haircut.
It resembled a shorter version of Gon's hair, closer to Ging's usual style.
However, Ging typically covered his hair with cloth strips, so few had ever seen his spiky hairstyle.
Beyond that, Don also shared the same youthful, doll-like facial features as Gon and Ging, even the same face shape.
The difference was that perhaps due to the many hardships Don had endured, his eyes carried a turbid, clouded quality.
Akira had seen this condition before.
He'd seen it in Linne!
Back then, Linne had been gravely ill, with her life hanging by a thread and her strength drastically diminished.
It was only through the [Herbs] he provided that she recovered.
Just looking at his eyes alone, one might mistake Don for an elderly man nearing the end of his days.
But observing his entire face would quickly dispel that notion.
Because Ging also possessed that youthful, doll-like face that made him appear much younger.
Yet, many subtle details still revealed his advanced age.
The pallor of his skin, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, the streaks of white in his hair...
Each detail spoke volumes about his years.
In other words, Don looked like an aged-up version of Ging—almost exactly how Ging might appear when he's old.
It had to be said that the Freecss family's genes were remarkably strong.
Even after generations, their children's talents remained formidable.
Even their facial features bore striking resemblances.
One glance was enough to recognize their blood relation.
After a moment of contemplation, Don's gaze grew even more profound as he slowly asked.
"Might I know your name?"
As he posed the question, he was already mostly certain of the answer in his heart.
And this inquiry would confirm it.
Ging exhaled softly, trying to ease the awkwardness—he'd never been good at handling these "emotional" situations.
"Ging... Ging Freecss," he murmured, his bright eyes meeting Don's clouded ones.
'So it really is...'
Don's eyes widened slightly before slowly closing, complex emotions swirling within him.
He hadn't expected that among these "fellow travelers," he would actually find his own kin.
It wasn't an exaggeration to call them family, as they shared the same bloodline.
Though judging by Ging's appearance, Don couldn't quite determine how many generations separated them.
One thing was certain, though—they were indeed family.
At this realization, the warmth in Don eyes deepened.
Akira observed this "family reunion" with quiet satisfaction.
Back when he'd read the original work on Earth, he'd often wondered if Ging would ever get to meet Don Freecss one day.
Who would have thought it would happen today—and right before his eyes, no less.
Hmm...
If only Gon were here too.
Then they could have had a "three-generation gathering" spanning who knows how many generations.