The summer in the Batokia Republic was hotter than usual.
Before five in the morning, a sliver of light could already be seen climbing from where heaven and earth met. Taking advantage of the cooler hours before the heat fully rose, Roy got up early, put on a tank top and shorts, and began his morning run around the entire Kukuroo Mountain.
From the family's ancient castle deep in the mountains, to the butler's villa halfway up the slope, then to the security booth at the foot of the mountain, and finally back the same way—a journey of nearly ten kilometers. By the time he returned, he looked like he'd just been pulled from water, drenched in sweat from head to toe, yet felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
Science has proven that running stimulates the human body to secrete endorphins, bringing a certain thrill and sense of pleasure. But after Roy caught his breath briefly, he didn't feel the expected happiness. Instead, he frowned with some frustration.
The reason was simple—he, the eldest son of the world's foremost assassin family, the Zoldyck family, whose mere reputation was enough to strike terror into hearts, and also a transmigrator whose previous life was from Earth, had recently discovered that his physical enhancement rate was slowing down.
While it's true that training has plateau periods, and in the early stages, whether building muscle or losing fat, effects are at their best before gradually declining to stabilize at a fixed value, this only applies to adults—not to someone like Roy, who was currently only eight years old and in a period of rapid growth and development.
Moreover, his surname was Zoldyck, meaning his physical capabilities were naturally superior to others.
It was just that his black hair meant he hadn't perfectly inherited the Zoldyck family bloodline talents...
However, adhering to the principle of "slow and steady wins the race," Roy's mindset was well-adjusted—neither anxious nor discouraged. Returning to his bedroom, he took a simple shower.
When he emerged, he had changed into a clean training outfit and sat at the dining table.
The time was now six in the morning. As the ancient wooden grandfather clock in the corner chimed, Butler Gotoh punctually pushed the food cart and placed a sumptuous breakfast before him.
Cream mushroom soup, bacon sandwiches, fresh salad made from wild vegetables dug from Kukuroo Mountain mixed with eggs and drizzled with vinegar, and finally paired with a glass of milk—absolutely nutritionally balanced, though rather tasteless.
Roy casually picked up the sandwich, dipped it in mushroom soup for a bite, and listened to Gotoh report today's training schedule while secretly opening his status panel to examine it carefully.
[Name: Roy Zoldyck]
[Bone Age: Seven years and eleven months]
[Constitution: 10→10.001 (Note: Average person = 1)]
[Nen Ability: Aura nodes unopened, awaiting development]
[Combat Experience: lv2 (15/100)]
[Applied Techniques - Shadow Step: Proficient (78/100); Limb Bend: Proficient (64/100); Snake Alive: Beginner (83/100) (Note: Applied techniques are categorized by mastery level: Beginner, Proficient, Master, Perfect)]
[Title: Rookie Not Yet Initiated, Easily Perished "Tender Grass"]
Tender grass?
This evaluation really didn't leave any dignity at all. Roy viciously bit into his sandwich, venting his inner frustration.
Just then, Gotoh coughed softly and reminded him quietly, "Young master, the lady has been in a poor mood recently. You'd best be careful."
The lady referred to Kikyo, Roy's birth mother. Three consecutive children all with black hair, not one with silver hair—in the eyes of ordinary families wanting sons, this was like having three daughters in a row with none being boys, all "grave disappointments."
So her anxiety and even slight irritability were completely understandable.
Fortunately, the next child, Killua, wouldn't disappoint her.
"That child Milluki is fine, except for being a bit fat, ugly, having small eyes, and passing gas frequently—nothing wrong with him. I don't think it matters that Mother doesn't like him."
After finishing his sandwich, Roy drank some milk and said indifferently.
Gotoh: "..."
He fell into brief silence, unsure whether his young master was praising young master Milluki or deliberately mocking him. Combined with how the young master didn't particularly like young master Illumi either, finding him cold as ice with hollow, ghost-like eyes, he simply pretended not to hear.
Instead, he brought up another matter: "Young master, the master has decided to awaken your Nen."
The young butler, who hadn't yet grown his full beard, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses on his nose and said solemnly, "The time is set for eight tonight. He'll be waiting for you in the training room."
Roy's expression paused momentarily before returning to normal. He pulled out a napkin and casually wiped his mouth, his face calm though his heart couldn't help but fluctuate.
The bad news was that through these few years of observation, everyone in the Zoldyck family, from Silva to Zeno, had realized he was just an ordinary genius. Early Nen awakening might cultivate him into a competent assassin in the future, but inheriting the Zoldyck family was completely wishful thinking on his part.
The good news was that if he awakened Nen and successfully developed Enhancement-type abilities, this might become an opportunity to compensate for his "weak" constitution.
In any case, the matter was decided.
Tonight at eight, whether Roy was willing or not, he would have to step into the world of "Nen abilities!"
And this step was what he had most anticipated in the nearly eight years since his rebirth into the Zoldyck family.
A barely perceptible gleam flashed in the depths of the young man's pupils as he quickly finished breakfast.
Afterward, under Silva's instruction, he unusually skipped training and spent the day in meditation and breath regulation, adjusting his condition to its peak, waiting until nightfall when a bright moon rose into the sky.
He stood up and walked out of his bedroom by the flickering wall lamps, following the deep, quiet corridor all the way to the training room.
"Knock knock knock..."
The door was knocked upon.
"Enter."
A very powerful voice came from within.
The door swung open, revealing a corner of the interior.
A tall man stood with his back to the door, legs spread in a split position resting on two heavy stone blocks. Silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and the aura he unconsciously emanated was so powerful it was suffocating.
Silva Zoldyck, a world-class assassin, who had single-handedly killed member number 8 of the A-rank criminal organization Phantom Troupe and escaped unscathed. In the Chimera Ant arc, he descended from the sky and killed a Squadron Leader-level leopard with a single punch. Every time they met, Roy could directly feel the overwhelming pressure and suffocating sense of danger emanating from this father.
This had nothing to do with father and son—it was more like the natural dimensional crushing of a higher-dimensional being over a lower-dimensional one.
He steadied his emotions, took a deep breath, and said, "Father."
"Bang!" The door slammed shut heavily.
Silva turned around, his gaze sharp as a blade: "Come here."
Roy silently stepped forward.
Then he was met with a palm the size of a fan, striking his chest with deceptive lightness yet lightning speed!
"Crack!"
The extremely refined Ten created a gust of wind that penetrated directly through Roy's body, then without any pause, heavily struck the wall behind him.
Visibly, the thick wall immediately cracked in a spiderweb pattern.
Along with it, a certain shackle within Roy's body shattered instantly!