[The First Trial]
Immortality, in exchange for an eternal cage. If they had known better, they would never have entered this place.
But it was too late for regret. Everything came with a price... And sometimes, what was free was the most expensive of all.
Ron loosened his grip and stepped into the mist.
Ordinarily, defending against residual Nen was nearly impossible. But this place was different.
The mist wasn't composed entirely of leftover aura. At intervals, the tree itself released Ren, weaving the fog into something like a living labyrinth.
To find the correct path, one had to distinguish which currents of aura led forward. In a way, it was not merely a maze but a baptism.
While ordinary people could enter, only a few ever managed to succeed.
Navigating the trial required at least one of three things to succeed:
Luck.
A guide.
Skill in Ten, Ren, or Ken to defend against a hostile aura.
For Ron, who's extremely proficient in the last, passing this trial was practically a walk in the park—literally. All he had to do was follow the paths with the least resistance.
The journey was long, but hardly difficult.
[The Second Trial]
The next trial was trickier. Only a select few knew the details, but the valley had become a women-only domain.
Legends said that long ago, the ancient beast had taken a liking to a woman, imprisoning her, but she escaped successfully and rallied an army to kill the beast.
Feeling betrayed, the creature merged with the tree and cursed every woman who wanders around, binding them for eternity.
There were countless versions of the story, but Ron didn't care which was true.
What mattered was this: if the residual Nen and Ren barrier awakened the individual, they became nourishment for the tree. The inhabitants who cannot leave choose to kill anyone who wanders around uninvited. This has been going on for a long time.
So how could one pass the second trial?
One needed an invitation or some special means to gain access.
The difficult part was either earning acknowledgment from those inside... or being escorted by aguide.
***
An Amazonian girl with short grey hair stood guard at the valley entrance. She wore a classic white, primitive outfit with a hint of fantasy.
Ron simply showed her the invitation, and she let him pass.
Looking around, he felt a flicker of nostalgia.
"It's been a while since I've been here... and nothing's changed. It's still as beautiful as ever..."
The houses were carved from the roots and veins surrounding the massive tree, and waterfalls cascaded from the top, like something out of a fantasy.
Ron suspected this TreeofLife had come from the DarkContinent, deliberately planted by someone.
Don Freec's journey had begun over three hundred years ago.
Could others have arrived here before him?
While fivecalamities were known, who could say how many hidden threats remained undocumented? Or is it because they are no longer a threat?
Ron ascended the StairwaytoHeaven, his destination set at the top of the giant tree.
After taking thousands of steps—
Ron arrived at the establishment. A strict security check stood between visitors and the second floor—only authorized personnel were allowed.
Seeing a familiar figure, the lady made way for him.
Ron ignored the guard and proceeded without hesitation. Upon finding the room he had been searching for, he kicked the door open and yelled.
"Hey, old hag!"
The door went clink, revealing a slender, long-haired woman seated inside. Her face was hidden behind a black mask extending all the way to her lower body, leaving only her dull eyes visible.
This was Renko, one of the MeteorCity elders — also known as the Witch.
Renko spoke in a monotonous tone, her eyes shifting sideways.
"Sit down first... I have company..."
Following her gaze, Ron saw a short-haired blonde girl practicing water divination.
Pakunoda?
Recognition hit him, and he smirked inwardly as a mischievous thought popped into his mind.
Pointing at her, he asked,
"Old bag, who's this—your biological daughter? She grew up 'pretty and well.'
... Seems like the father's genetics won by a large margin."
Renko's eyes flicked sharply, yet chose to ignored the jab with practiced calm.
"Keep quiet, Ron... you're interrupting her practice."
Ron grinned, knowing she had understood his intention perfectly. He casually slid into a seat and continued eyeing Pakunoda.
"I see. So she's your new disciple?"
Nothing about her seemed different from what he'd seen in the manga—except Machi, whom he had personally trained in Nen.
Feeling his intense gaze, Pakunoda stared back without blinking.
Ron pretended it was their first meeting and introduced himself.
"My name is Ron Komacine; I prefer to be called Ron.
Strictly speaking, I'm your senior. What's your name, little girl? "
Pakunoda let go of her wariness and replied flatly,
"...It's Pakunoda."
He nodded repeatedly.
"Pakunoda. That's a good name.
By the way... Did you shave your head before? Is that why it looks like this now? "
Pakunoda remained silent. Seeing his genuinely serious expression, her lips pursed. Originally, she wanted to say something but decided it wasn't worth it.
Unknowingly, Ron had left a rather foolish first impression—one that would shape her perception of him forever.
Pakunoda had heard of him before but had never actually met Ron.
According to the elders, he was responsible for rescuing kidnapped children and was considered the acting guardian of their area.
Other details came from Chrollo and her teacher, Renko, who claimed Ron possessed unmatched talent in Nen and combat.
She rarely complimented others, so Pakunoda had held a measure of respect for him—a respect that evaporated the moment he asked that ridiculous question earlier.
Oblivious to her thoughts, Ron changed the subject.
"Anyway... how far have you come in mastering Nen?"
Pakunoda smiled politely.
"... I'm only at the basics; I haven't gone that far yet."
Ron nodded approvingly.
"I see... so you started learning roughly a week ago?
Although the awakening was forced, you've grasped the basics well."
Pakunoda's eyes twitched ever so slightly. Inwardly, she seethed.
If you already know, why ask? Showing off!
Even though his analysis was precise, she had intentionally said "only the basics" to keep the exact timeline vague—and yet, he had still pinpointed it.
"How did you know?" she asked, a mixture of surprise and annoyance in her tone.
Ron looked at her indifferently and explained,
"I observed the way your aura flows. Those who undergo natural meditation have more stable, firm control over their aura, while forced awakenings often leave small irregularities in the early stages.
Additionally, your Hatsu was clumsily executed — typical of someone who hasn't grasped the basics yet. Just a simple observation. Nothing special."
The corner of Pakunoda's mouth twitched.
Nothing special...? No wonder Master hated his personality. This guy is insensitive to the core.
Unaware of her thoughts, Ron continued.
"It doesn't necessarily affect your potential or powers later on. Regardless of the awakening process, with addition on risk, it only shortens the time needed to master it.
Normally, this old bag shouldn't teach Nen clumsily, so it must be your decision. But you shouldn't rush things—
Succumbing to the desire for power rarely ends well. Think long-term."
Pakunoda fell silent, clenching her fist and biting the back of her teeth.
Does she even have a choice? There's not much time left...
The tension thickened until Renko's teacup clinked, cutting through the silence. She looked at Ron with disdain.
"So why did you come in here? I don't think this is a casual visit..."
Pakunoda stood, ready to leave, but Ron raised a hand.
"You don't have to leave. Just stay still and keep practicing... Not that we're strangers or anything."
Pakunoda turned to Renko for guidance. Seeing her neither agree nor disagree, she reluctantly stayed and resumed her practice.
Ron leaned back and crossed his legs as he explained his purpose.
"Old hag, I'm planning on leaving MeteorCity today. I only came here to say goodbye to you."
Renko's dull eyes gleamed briefly before fading, unnoticed by anyone.
The small cub... Has it become a tiger now?
She sighed deeply. She couldn't leash someone bound to wander in the jungle.
"I'll allow it... However, you must not forget your obligations."
"I know! Just contact me if anything happens. I only came here to say goodbye. Since I've fulfilled my purpose... well then, old hag,"
Ron waved his hand, but before leaving, he wrapped an arm around Pakunoda's neck and whispered something to her.
Seeing their closeness, Renko wanted to eavesdrop but couldn't hear a single sound—a fact that additionally annoyed her.
When he was gone, Renko stood and stared blankly out the window. Watching his departing figure, her finger traced the glass, leaving a faint line. Her mind wandered back to their previous interactions.
***
Ron pinched his chin, studying the corpse with interest.
"So your ability restores dead bodies to their peak state before death? That's as good as the real thing—impressive!
Maybe I should dig up the corpses of famous actresses and have you restore them to their prime."
Renko chose to ignore the meaning in his remark and corrected him.
"An embalmer, if you will... And my ability isn't for that kind of use."
"Embalmer... hmm..."
His grin widened knowingly.
"From what I know, specialists fall into two categories: those naturally born and those who evolve into one.
The latter emerge after extremetrauma, and their manifested abilities are tied to that experience—"
Ron suspected that her attire had something to do with being a specialist. If not, an external factor must be at play — similar to how Melody obtained her power.
Renko's eyes sharpened, a rare glint of danger flashing as she stared at him narrowly.
"It's not good... to pry into someone's secrets."
Threats?
He wasn't the type to be intimidated.
Ron shrugged and smirked at her.
"I'm just kidding... but it's kind of cute when you're angry. You make my heart race."
Cringe. Why is this kid so cringe?
Renko: "..."
Feeling the awkward tension, Ron cleared his throat.
"There's something called 'BreathofArchangel.' It can heal any injury or disease..."
She pursed her lips, knowing his personality. He wouldn't mention it for nothing—there was likely a scheme involved.
Renko eyed Ron suspiciously.
"You're thinking of going after my body... once I'm healed?"
Ron's eyes widened, caught off guard. His gaze darted away as he retorted,
"How could there be such a thing? I'm simply trying to repay a debt. I'm a good man with entirely sin-free intentions."