Chapter 143: God-Slayer Hunter x Zzigg's Legacy: The Giant's Medal
I once witnessed the fires of purgatory in hell, and I struggled and rolled in the mortal world, tasting the warmth and coldness of human relationships, the changes of the world, keeping that pathetic little flame in my chest from extinguishing...
In my dying year, I shed my mortal coil, my soul returning to the Spirit World. Over a millennium, I experienced countless slaughters, leading various Shinigami, forging an era that belonged to me... Looking back, however, even I could not resist the cycle of time, the decay of the spirit...
I was unwilling... unwilling to sink like this. I often asked myself... what is eternity? And how does one become "eternal"?
Until I looked up and saw the sun.
Fwoosh... Orange flames raged, a terrifying white at their core! Heat waves scorched the air, creating distorted ripples...
Roy's slightly disheveled face gradually calmed. Gripping his twin blades, it was as if he held two suns. Under the shocked gazes of Beyond, Pariston, Netero, and Zeno, he calmly raised his swords and swept them horizontally...
A thin, crimson line drifted out from the blade's edge...
It passed through the army of "Ghost-Head Spiders," silent as scissors cutting paper, slicing them in half.
BOOM!
Time seemed to freeze for an instant. Then... the remaining nearly eight hundred "Ghost-Head Spiders" exploded simultaneously!
The shockwave tore up the ground and rolled towards Roy. But before it could even reach him, the flames burning on his twin blades melted it on the spot!
Hah...
A few seconds later, the world finally fell silent.
The boy exhaled lightly, turned with a flourish, and sheathed his swords... In a flash, he vanished from the devastated wasteland.
[Notification: Life Energy +8]
At this moment, in the barbecue restaurant at the entrance.
Netero and Zeno looked at each other. For a moment, neither spoke.
The "Sword Aura" flowing with flames was clearly Ken, formed by the boy visualizing the "Sun" and concentrating a massive amount of "Nen" on the blade's edge!
"I seem to recall someone saying my grandson couldn't hold out," Zeno said, his white hair flowing, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he looked at Netero. "Tell me, did he hold out?"
Nearly a thousand "Ghost-Head Spiders" incinerated in a single slash. Besides Ken, this demonstrated the immense "Aura Quantity" Roy was hiding! How could anyone say he couldn't hold out?
"Ho ho ho..." Netero played dumb, not responding. What could he say? Argue with Zeno? Speak ill of the child? Netero wasn't stupid! The boy was taking the "Hunter Exam." Once he passed and got his license, he would belong to the Hunter Association... The old man would have plenty of opportunities to cultivate a relationship with the kid.
'Sooner or later, I'll make him change his surname to Netero!' The Strongest Human thought deviously to himself...
Clap, clap, clap...
Applause echoed in the luxurious study...
Kakin Empire.
Beyond stood before the massive TV, watching the army of "Ghost-Head Spiders" obliterated by Roy's single slash. The ground was littered with wreckage and debris, like a scene from hell. He clapped his hands in praise. "He has the same flavor as the old man back in the day."
Just as "domineering," just as "unreasonable"...
The only difference was... one used "fists," the other used "swords."
The man glanced at Pariston. The boy had his legs clamped together, head buried, trying hard not to moan. Beyond frowned. "Rein it in."
"You're not his match right now. Going back to find him is useless."
"Heh heh heh... I know... I've always known..."
Pariston was both excited and in pain, his face twisted in a grotesque grin. "That's why I told you to hold me down!"
"Roy Zoldyck... he's truly amazing! I almost wish he'd just stabbed me to death back then, save me from suffering here..."
Understood... he understood it all. Beyond looked out the window. At four in the afternoon, the seaside docks were bustling with the construction of a massive ship. That was Beyond's only hope for the second half of his life.
Just as Roy Zoldyck was to Pariston... the Dark Continent was Beyond's eternal and only dream.
To love and not attain is the greatest pain. The old man wanted to destroy his dream, so he, Beyond, had no choice but to destroy the old man, even if he was his father!
Milsy Wetlands.
The aftershocks of the explosion faded...
Botobai, hiding in the rear command post, shuddered, forced to sever his Nen connection with the "Ghost-Head Spider" army.
Captain Uke's walkie-talkie emitted static. Krzzt... krzzt...
He reported immediately: "Report!"
"The suicide squad has been wiped out. The enemy has not been eliminated. Requesting Special Operations Team deployment!"
"Denied!" Botobai rejected the request outright.
He crossed his arms, staring at the boy through the camera. Whether comforting himself or explaining to Captain Uke, he said gravely, "This is an exercise, not a counter-terrorism operation. There's no need for the soldiers to make meaningless sacrifices."
"Sir!" Captain Uke clicked his heels and gave Botobai a solemn salute.
In an instant, at Botobai's will, he turned into a stream of Nen and returned to Botobai's body through his forehead.
The man then waited quietly in the command post... Before long, the door to the underground bunker was pushed open. Looking at the monitor again, the boy was gone.
"Congratulations." Botobai turned around. He seemed to have known the boy would find him. He looked deeply at Roy. "That slash was stunning!"
"I had no choice," Roy admitted. "If there were any more of those exploding spiders, I wouldn't have lasted."
The power of [Zanka no Tachi] imbued with Ken was immense. While it cleared the enemy in one strike, it also nearly drained Roy dry. In the future, he would need to use it with caution unless absolutely necessary.
"Regardless, you made it here in the end." Botobai dropped his stance and extended his right hand to Roy, his expression serious. "Roy Zoldyck... Congratulations, you have passed this stage of the Hunter Exam."
"Thank you." A large hand and a small hand clasped together. Roy looked at Botobai earnestly. "May I ask you a presumptuous question?"
"Speak."
The boy narrowed his eyes. "How much of your strength did you use in that test?"
"Twenty percent."
Ever straightforward, Botobai looked down at the boy. "I wasn't as good as you at your age, but the current you... is still too green."
Roy nodded. "Thank you for telling me."
Botobai waved his hand nonchalantly. "Turn right out the door. There's a small room five kilometers away."
"Go there to collect your Hunter License."
"Okay." The boy turned to leave. Just before he stepped out, he heard Botobai call out to him, "Young man, I look forward to your growth!"
Roy smiled and walked out the door.
At that moment, a gust of wind blew, separating the large and small figures into two different worlds.
Botobai leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the boy leave. In a trance, he seemed to see that boy with the headband from years ago—just as young, with just as much infinite potential... It was truly enviable.
Knock... knock... knock...
About ten minutes later.
Roy, having leisurely admired the unique scenery of the Milsy Wetlands along the way, found a small wooden cabin hidden among the trees and knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Creeak~
The door opened.
He saw Netero sitting behind a rough wooden table, waiting for him. He glanced around but didn't see his grandfather, Zeno.
"No need to look, he's gone."
Netero pointed to the chair in front of him. "Sit."
Bean poured a cup of black tea for both him and Roy.
Steam curled up from the tea... Roy didn't stand on ceremony and sat down openly.
Netero signaled Bean with his eyes... "Bean, give him the license."
"Yes, sir." Bean cleared his throat, took out the prepared Hunter License, handed it over, and proceeded with the routine, reading the Hunter Association's rules and regulations—the "Ten Hunter Commandments"—to the candidate who had passed the exam!
"One: Hunters must hunt something."
"Two: Hunters must require a minimum level of martial proficiency."
"Three: No matter what happens, one who has become a Hunter will never have their title revoked. However, no matter the circumstances, a Hunter License will never be re-issued."
"Four..."
Roy took the license from Bean, listening quietly. To him, the so-called rules weren't important. Only one thing mattered: Strength!
Possessing "absolute strength" allowed one to ignore rules, or even create them as one pleased.
Just like Netero. Because he was the "Strongest Human," the Hunter Association held immense influence in the world... was granted various privileges... and attracted hordes of elites every time it "recruited."
Of course, it couldn't be denied that over the years, the Hunter Association had absorbed many outstanding talents who upheld this "organization" and made it bigger and stronger. Like Geru... like Botobai... like Ging!
"Ten: Everything not mentioned here is to be decided by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and the advisors. The Chairman has the right to appoint the Vice-Chairman and advisors."
With the ten commandments finished, Bean stepped aside, leaving the space to Roy and Netero.
The old man with the topknot and pierced earlobes sipped his tea, looking at Roy with a smile. "Little Roy, you heard. Interested in being this old man's advisor?"
Advisor? Or a 'toy' for you to spar with when you're bored?
Roy didn't deny that the future Zodiacs held a transcendent status in the Hunter Association. But status came with responsibility, with "work," with "endless meetings," with "intrigue and tangled colleague relationships"...
The boy showed the back of his hand. Half a day had passed, and the mark reminded him that his life had shortened by nearly eight hours. So...
Without a second thought, he refused Netero's offer. "Let's focus on staying alive first."
Netero nodded, seeming to have expected this answer. With a flick of his wide sleeve, he tossed a "round object" over. Roy caught it one-handed. Examining it closely, it looked like a "medal." The front bore a portrait, the back an engraving of two crossed axes!
"This belonged to your Grandpa Zzigg. It's just gathering dust here, so you might as well have it."
Roy weighed it in his hand. It was quite heavy. Puzzled, he asked, "Does this have any special significance?"
Netero drank his tea. "He said it was a 'Knight's Medal' granted to him by the Giant King, Domiel. With this, he could enter the Giant's Palace without announcement and didn't have to bow to the King. Precious stuff..."
The old man mimicked Zzigg's accent and chuckled, "Ho ho... your grandfather loved to brag back then. Whether it's true or not, this old man doesn't know. After all, I never made it to Doragon..."
Wait... didn't Grandpa Zzigg go to the Dark Continent with Netero and Linne? Did they get separated?
But not halfway... Netero, old and shrewd, seemed to see Roy's confusion. He glanced at him. "Your grandfather said you've already paid your respects to Zzigg. You must have seen that 'Sandworm', right?"
The old man said softly, "Thanks to it, we were separated right from the start..."
So that's why.
Roy thought of the "Sandworm" that could suppress people with just its Ren. He wondered what rank of creature it was!
Thoughtful, the boy solemnly put away the "medal."
Seeing this, Netero put down his teacup, his gaze burning as he looked at the boy. "Alright, down to business... Child,"
"What kind of Hunter do you want to be?"
"Hunter Commandment One: Hunters must hunt something."
"Professional Hunters" are divided by "profession" and "rank." There are Bounty Hunters who arrest criminals, Gourmet Hunters who seek ingredients, Beast Hunters who collect rare "Magical Beasts," "Rare Beasts," and "Phantom Beasts"... and Ruin Hunters like Ging who love exploring ancient sites...
A person's energy is limited. Different paths lead to different destinies.
Netero waited silently for the boy's answer.
Roy looked at his reflection in the tea, rubbed the mark on the back of his hand, and looked up calmly. "It seems I don't have a choice. I'll just have to hunt a god for fun..."
"So, 'God-Slayer Hunter' it is."
Bean: "..."
Listen to this. Is this reasonable? "Hunt a god for fun"? Please... that's not even a "profession"!
"Why, is that not allowed?"
"Ho ho ho..." Netero laughed loudly, scattering a flock of birds roosting on the roof. He narrowed his eyes at Roy. "Allowed!"
The old man's eyes flashed. Remembering his conversation with the boy by the river yesterday—about pursuing freedom—he said gravely, "If that day truly comes, and this old man isn't dead yet... please, let me bear witness!"
Tick... tock... The "curse" was counting down like a death knell.
Roy took the license, pocketed it, stood up, and pulled open the door.
"I hope I won't keep you waiting too long."
Bang~ The door closed.
Tap... tap...
The boy's footsteps faded into the distance...
Like Botobai, Netero sat behind the desk, watching through the glass window as the boy left. He tilted his head back and drained the tea in one gulp...
"Good tea!"
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you