"You're here."
"Yes, I am."
"You seem confident."
"What if I'm not?" Roy drew his sword with a deep gaze at Silva, "Does that mean you'll hold back, Father?"
"No, it'll just make me stronger." Silva paused as he played with the soft whip, stood tall, and the murderous intent roared like an ocean as it rushed towards Roy.
Roy gripped Yubashiri with both hands, remembering the teachings of Urokodaki Sakonji. His feet were rooted to the ground, not moving an inch, as his thick black hair blew wildly in the wind!
He could barely keep his eyes open...
"Sizzle~" Arcs of electricity danced... The surveillance camera in the corner flashed red, quickly transmitting the scene outward.
Early in the morning, Killua got up from bed holding his waist, having tea served by Tsubone. A few meters away outside the window, Milluki, wearing a Lolita dress, exposed his belly as he lay in the garden, while a nearby butler tended with ointment.
A few curious butterflies fluttered by, encountered the training room, as if hitting an invisible wall, falling down one after another...
Illumi saw clearly that it was the overwhelming murderous intent that knocked them unconscious.
At some moment, the wind stopped inside... A shadow of a whip cracked through the "air" with a loud "snap" and abruptly lashed towards Roy's chest.
Fast... Too fast... So fast that Illumi only glanced away at the butterfly, and when he looked back, the whip was already right in front of Roy!
'Snake Life?'
With his improved constitution, Roy's "Snake Life" had formally reached the mastery level.
As soon as he stepped into Silva's domain of murderous intent, he had used Gyo, and so he could vaguely see that Silva's whip had a hint of "Snake Life".
Or rather... just as Urokodaki Sakonji evaluated "swordsmanship", the sword was merely an extension of the arm... Similarly, the whip was an extension of Silva's arm; swinging the whip was akin to a hand blade. If it hit, it was far more serious than just scraping the skin!
It's near!
Roy could already smell the killing aura coming from the whip, up close!
He remained calm, reminding himself to stay composed. He gripped Yubashiri with both hands, as he did during his daily "Ten Thousand Basic Swings" training in the Snow Country, and at the moment the whiphead was about to hit his chest, he unleashed a downward slash!
"Clang——"
The sword tip scraped the air with a shrill screech. Yubashiri drew an arc and, moving even faster, accurately struck the soft whip, separating it from his chest.
"Bang——" A mighty force like an avalanche came crashing... The attack didn't stop due to Roy's slash, only stalled for a moment, then struck Roy's chest with renewed force.
Roy felt as if he was hit by an oncoming hundred-ton truck. Yubashiri nearly slipped from his grip as he was flung across a ten-meter hallway, crashing into the stone wall at the corner!
"Crack... Crack..." The stone wall fractured like a spider web around him!
Severe pain assailed him as Roy slid down the wall, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Clearly... with just one hit, his internal organs were shaken.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
This test's subject was—Zetsu,
Zetsu was best at concealing aura and enhancing the five senses—
Using Zetsu to dodge attacks was what Roy should be doing right now...
"Why should I dodge?" Roy wiped the blood from his mouth and gripped Yubashiri tightly, responding to Silva, "Since you're testing me, Father."
"Then of course I should also test you; it's... the most basic courtesy..."
'Lies... You just want to fight back.' Illumi sensibly hid deeper in the corner, considering himself a venomous snake in the shadows, with hollow eyes locked on Roy, looking impassive yet feeling turmoiled inside, unlike his serene appearance.
Since childhood, their family taught them that assassins shouldn't take on targets they can't kill... It's suicide to accept tasks beyond one's ability!
In Illumi's view, Roy was seeking death!
"Do you think you're that tough, or because you're my son, I wouldn't go all out?"
Silva also noticed this, watching Roy coldly.
Roy stayed silent.. In truth, he simply hated the feeling of getting hit without hitting back.
Faced with an enemy, even if it's his father, he should defeat him honorably... Roy had to admit he deceived Urokodaki Sakonji, knowing that in his current state, he's no match for Silva, but he couldn't accept dodging around like a mouse.
"At least, try to touch his clothing."
Ignoring Silva's question and completely disregarding Illumi, Roy employed Zetsu, closing his Acupoints and enhancing his senses. His eyes sharpened as he performed the Great Success "Dark Step" and vanished right in front of Illumi!
"Whoosh——" A whirlwind rose in the training room... When he reappeared, dozens of Roys wielding Yubashiri, ears adorned with sun and mountains, leaped in front of Silva, delivering a furious vertical slash!
"Sun Breathing: First Form: Dance!"
"Phew~" The blade sparked as it scraped the air, drawing dozens of fiery circles that sliced down...
Silva's nostrils flared, closely sensing the heatwave, a faint smirk forming on his lips....
"Zetsu combined with Dark Step and Limb Curvature is indeed a good choice, but...
Only 'Dark Step' barely remains visible."
The man stood unmoving as a mountain, without visible action, just flicked his wrist, sending another lash. This time it carried multiple whistling winds, faster and more fierce than the previous strike, surfacing countless whip shadows, dazzling Illumi's sight...
"Pfft... Pfft... Pfft..." One after another, the Roys were scattered, leaving only one, which was again sent flying, crashing through the window and landing in the garden.
Milluki, who was previously in a daze, was startled awake, sitting up with bewilderment as he saw Roy tumble to the ground, a strand of mucus inappropriately trailing from his right nostril.
"Young Master," the perceptive butler quickly picked him up and ran to the side.
In the training room, Silva stood with his back to the broken window, speaking in a deep voice: "Continue."
From a distance, Illumi ventured another glance... Beneath the willow tree, which had witnessed the ups and downs of the Zoldyck generations, a figure wobbly stood up, supporting himself with his sword.....
The silhouette was tattered, with a gash on his forehead from glass, bleeding profusely, half of his face stained with blood.
"Cough... Cough... That lash sure was heavy, Father, how about making a deal...."
"If you concede, we'll end it here..."
"Heh heh... Cunning boy, playing tricks with his father, huh...." In a dimly lit room, the old man rocked in a chair, amused at himself.
Beside him stood Zeno with En deployed....