There are two kinds of evil: one is innate in the genes, the other is cultivated...
Meritonio belonged to the former. Because he enjoyed the astonished expressions of his audience, he chose to perform magic. Because magic shows always end, the astonishment fades, leaving only emptiness. Meritonio would seek greater astonishment, until... he could no longer capture even a shred of emotional value from the astonished expressions of his family.
Meritonio knew he was bored. So, he killed his own sister. From her expression of disbelief, he reaped one last wave of pleasure.
He remembered that day clearly, trembling with excitement as if he had discovered a new continent. Using "The Truth After Mending" as a disguise, using the magnetic pressure generated by "Iron-Stained Bipolarity," he constantly roamed the darkness, savoring the terror and despair people showed before death. From then on, he embarked on a path of no return.
"I often feel empty after a performance,"
"To fill this emptiness, I constantly seek more stimulation, developing more magic tricks."
He had once said to Hisoka after a show... But now, that girl wasn't important, and "Hisoka-kun" wasn't important either.
Meritonio stared intently at Roy. Just like the day he chose to kill his sister, he once again felt the kind of excitement that made his soul tremble. 'A genius! A young genius! A genius who can be reaped without needing to be cultivated! Is there anything more pleasurable than killing him?'
"Hehehe... The leader seems very excited ¤."
"The show is just beginning. It seems I've arrived at the perfect time Q..."
Tap... tap...
From out of the night, two pointed clown boots appeared. Hisoka materialized on top of the wall, his arms resting on his knees.
His gaze swept the battlefield... Gotoh was calming the little girl, simultaneously raising his guard and quietly moving closer to Roy.
"Ignore him." The cane sword was struggling, its tip trying to stab forward, but a gentle stroke from the boy calmed it down.
"A swordsman's blade is above all. Where the blade is, the man is. If the blade breaks, the man dies." This is what his master, Urokodaki Sakonji, had warned him on the very first day Roy touched a sword.
And he had always been an obedient child, and had always done so.
Shing— The cane sword let out a sharp hum, furious at being controlled, urging Roy to hurry up and cut him down.
The corner of the boy's mouth curled up. With no discernible movement, his figure flashed, executing a perfected "Dark Step." In an instant, he was in front of Meritonio, thrusting forward with a stab!
"Sun Breathing: Parhelion Rainbow!"
The sword tip ignited as it cut the air. Meritonio was close enough to feel the scorching heat wash over him. Startled, he activated [Refine], channeling it into [Release], enveloping magnetic force and compressing it into refined iron, forming several iron shields in front of him.
Crack... crack... crack... One shield shattered, a second shattered, the third shield broke, revealing the unobstructed perverted murderer. Before Meritonio's horrified gaze, the sword stabbed into his shoulder socket!
"Such a fast blade ◇..." Hisoka narrowed his eyes.
"What sharp swordsmanship!" The bleeding shoulder socket of Meritonio rippled, shedding a layer of "Nen skin" and slipping away from the cane sword, revealing the wall behind him, which Roy's blade had pierced a large hole through.
Gotoh noticed that thin, handkerchief-like "Nen skin" and frowned. "An illusion?"
'The young master was clearly aiming for the throat, yet he ended up stabbing the wall. He couldn't believe he would be off by that much...'
"Not just that... there's also magnetism..." Having followed Meritonio for so long, Hisoka had long since noticed that whenever the leader performed his "Air Swimming" trick, the metal accessories worn by audience members in the front rows would always involuntarily pull towards him.
Like a magnet, they were firmly drawn in.
"The blade veered off because of magnetic pressure,"
Hisoka spread his arms wide, praising, "This is our leader. He can attract and, unfortunately, repel. Refined iron can't get near him ¤~"
"Hisoka-kun... I really should have killed you sooner..." Meritonio flung out a "magnetic force" with his hand, hooking onto a streetlight behind him and swinging up, putting distance between himself and Roy.
To have his information revealed so easily... for a mature "Nen user," it undoubtedly put him at a disadvantage. This was the experience summarized over many years by a failed Hunter exam candidate.
That's right. In that exam, only one person passed. His name now resonates throughout the world, and he is called... Botobai Gigant!
"Meritonio, you are strong. Unfortunately, you met me." That year, the straightforward Chen Long had given this honest evaluation of his old rival. He even said... if Meritonio continued to take the Hunter exam, a winner's spot in the next exam would surely be his.
'But... I came looking for excitement, not to be humiliated...' Meritonio couldn't accept a performance ending in failure. He left the Hunter Association, chose to perform around the world, and then... picked up Hisoka.
The old magician clutched his severed arm, standing atop the streetlight.
Without any hesitation, he waved his hand down. "Iron-Stained Bipolarity" activated, and dozens of sharp spikes materialized in mid-air, hurtling towards Roy!
He would use this opportunity to escape the scene and break free from today's predicament.
"Hehe... He's going to run Q..." Hisoka suddenly stood up, shedding his lazy posture. A piece of chewing gum was cupped in his palm, ready for action.
Gotoh shot him a glance. "We don't need you to point that out."
And then... Roy gave chase, sword in hand, his focus absolute. Without even sparing Hisoka a glance, he cut down spike after spike with his blade, effortlessly kicked off the wall into the sky, and transformed into a great bird taking flight. Overtaking his opponent, he arrived above Meritonio, and then... unleashed a sharp, flaming blade technique!
"True Meaning of Scorch: Sun Breathing: Raging Sun!"
The cane sword blazed, coated in a searing red glow. The circular slash crossed space, attacking suddenly... Meritonio's pupils shrank. "Magnetism, come!"
Bzz— Magnetic pressure instantly fell upon Roy, attempting to stall the boy, even if only for one second. It would be enough for Meritonio to escape... However, what the old magician didn't expect was that besides his "flaming blade technique," the boy also had "flame magic." Before the magnetism could even touch him, it issued a tsss, tsss sound and was burned to cinders!
Meritonio's eyes widened in disbelief. While he was still stunned, a sharp pain shot through his chest. He had been sliced in two, from shoulder to waist!
Thud... thud... A rain of blood flew. Meritonio crashed to the ground, looking just like his favorite "hamburger patty," split in half, with a pile of scattered flesh and blood in the middle...
"Wow~" Hisoka formed an 'o' with his lips and put away his "chewing gum."
High in the night, Roy floated down, bathed in moonlight. Behind him was a full moon; in his eyes were two suns. He landed lightly on the breeze, the tip of his blade angled down, stopping at Meritonio's throat.
"Cough... cough... Bungee... Gum... The play ends..." Meritonio coughed up blood, looking on weakly. "A pity... the audience... is a bit small. Only a few kids."
Before his words faded, Roy's sword pierced through his throat.
"If you're going to die, die quickly. No need for so many words."
"I... you..." The blade tip twisted, mangling the throat. The perverted murderer's head lolled to the side. Before his eyes, a revolving lantern of memories began to dimly appear....
"Brother,"
T/n:
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