Ryker let out a guttural, beast-like roar, playing right into their expectations as if grief had shattered his mind.
"IT WAS YOU!!"
His voice thundered, eyes bloodshot with feigned fury as he charged straight at Illumi.
Illumi smirked, his deadpan gaze never wavering. "Hehe. I overestimated you. Now you're just a mindless beast. No matter how much raw power you have, it's worthless without control."
He had lost to Ryker once before—back when he was disguised and holding back. This time, he was at full strength. In Ryker's reckless charge, Illumi spotted a dozen openings. He had ten different ways to end this.
Behind him, Silva stood with arms crossed, content to observe. He wanted his eldest son to measure the so-called genius's true limits.
"Found it. An opening."
Illumi chuckled softly. He slipped aside with effortless grace, dodging the rage-driven strike. His poison-laced hand darted forward, aimed straight for Ryker's heart.
Of course, he held back. No killing blow—just enough to cripple.
But disappointment flickered in his mind. He had thought Ryker a worthy rival. Yet the man had lost his composure so easily. Too emotional.
If their positions were reversed, Illumi wouldn't have blinked. The Zoldyck training demanded absolute detachment. Even if his father or family were held hostage, he would never waver.
Never drop your guard for the enemy.
"You lose," Illumi thought, a whisper in his own mind.
His glowing purple nails stabbed toward Ryker's back.
CLANG!
Metal struck metal. The impact rang out, jarring Illumi to his core.
His hand could slice through steel. But this man's skin… was harder than steel?
Illumi's expression shifted for the first time.
Before he could recover, the "berserk" Ryker twisted violently.
A fist wrapped in searing energy slammed downward.
[Divine Strength] (Red)!
[Taijutsu] (Gold)!
[Iron Tank] (Gold)!
[Lightning Nen] (Red) — Lightning Drum Fist!
Invisible lightning crackled into Ryker's right fist.
His explosive power surged to an entirely new level.
Every trait maxed out in unison.
BOOM!
A deafening blast erupted. A violent shockwave ripped outward from the point of impact.
Illumi coughed blood as he was hurled backward like a ragdoll.
This strength far surpassed anything he had shown before.
Illumi tumbled across the floor, body riddled with gashes. Both arms hung limp, fractured.
Blood dripped from his mouth. He looked utterly broken.
A twenty-meter crater scarred the stone beneath them.
One punch.
Terrifying.
[DING! You defeated Illumi.]
[Rolling for Copy (10%)…]
[Copy Failed.]
Tch.
Ryker clicked his tongue inwardly. No loot.
Pity I can't finish him here. A 100% drop rate would've been nice.
"Amazing explosive power. Beast-like instincts. Rage pushed his Enhancement to new heights. And that skin hardness… extreme."
"Enough, Illumi. You've lost."
Silva's voice cut through calmly. He glanced at his struggling son, then stepped forward, locking eyes with the "berserk" Ryker.
"Little guy. Your opponent is me now. Hurting my family in my own home is the greatest insult to the Zoldyck name. But since you've lost your senses, I'll have to snap you out of it."
His tone was ice.
A crushing wave of aura rolled off him, pressing down on Ryker.
As expected.
Sensing the new threat, the "mindless" Ryker pivoted toward Silva.
Emitted Orbs!
Silva wasted no words. Twin massive spheres of Nen launched from his palms.
BOOM! BOOM!
They detonated like missiles, carpet-bombing the floor in explosions of force.
Yet to Silva's surprise, Ryker evaded every blast with razor-sharp instinct.
"Ranged attacks won't land easily. Time to get personal."
Silva cracked his knuckles and neck.
In the observation room, Zeno watched through the reinforced window.
"Tsk, tsk… Incredible power, reflexes, defense. A prodigy in every category. Only flaw is the lack of composure. Too emotional."
"In this state, he might last three minutes against Silva."
In the monitor room, Milluki and Kikyo stared at the screens.
"Ah?! Brother… Brother lost?!"
Milluki sat frozen. In his mind, Illumi had always been untouchable.
But the fight had ended in a single move.
The shattered floor made him shiver.
Ryker was a human-shaped monster.
"Illumi!!"
Kikyo's scream was equal parts heartbreak and horror.
Ryker's rage mode was nightmarish.
In the castle hall, Silva vanished.
The next instant, he appeared beside Ryker. A whip-like kick lashed out.
BAM!
Even in his frenzied state, Ryker was sent skidding back ten meters.
Silva's raw strength outclassed him.
"Wake up, kid!"
Silva closed in, unleashing a relentless barrage.
Every strike was lethal—elbows, knees, palms. The Zoldyck assassination style turned the body into a living weapon.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed.
Silva's hand pierced Ryker's right shoulder. A follow-up elbow shattered the arm, sending him flying.
"ROAR!!"
Ryker didn't falter. Pain only made him roar louder.
Silva frowned. He surged forward to end it.
"Silva, watch yourself. That's enough. Killua's waking up soon," Zeno warned through the earpiece.
Silva ignored the caution. He blurred behind Ryker, leaving afterimages.
He seized Ryker's uninjured arm.
It's over. No more resistance.
Splurt!
Another stab.
He relaxed his guard.
GRAB!
In that split second, to Silva's shock, a bloodied hand clamped onto his arm.
With monstrous strength.
Ryker's shattered right arm was visibly knitting itself back together.
"Gotcha! Heh!"
Ryker grinned, teeth bared, eyes blazing crimson.
Silva felt as though a Dark Continent predator had sunk its fangs into him.
Or as if he had roused something ancient and horrifying from slumber.
Bad!!
Silva tried to wrench free, but Ryker's grip was unbreakable. He felt his own bones groan under the pressure.
Old man! You enjoyed beating me down earlier. Now you've taken the bait. Showtime!
Ryker's excitement surged.
His wounds meant nothing. [Super Regeneration] (Purple) and [Healing] (Purple) were already mending everything at terrifying speed.
Now it was his turn.
[Divine Strength] (Red)!
[Lightning Nen] (Red) — Lightning Drum Fist!
[Scarlet Eyes] (Red)!
[Enhancement Nen] (Purple)!
[Taijutsu] (Gold)!
[Iron Tank] (Gold)!
[Assassination Art] (Gold)!
BOOM!
Ryker's eyes snapped open.
Unlike Kurapika's, his Scarlet Eyes carried no visible glow—but the boost was undeniable.
Top-tier cheat mode: fully activated. All affinities maxed.
You should feel honored, Silva. You're the first to face my Scarlet Eyes!
Ryker laughed inwardly.
The next instant—
A fist wreathed in lightning and scorching heat smashed toward Silva.
Half-meter range. Pure close-quarters carnage.
Fist met flesh.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
Deafening detonations rocked the hall.
The entire castle trembled.
Ryker's punches were blocked, but the sheer force of each impact blasted craters into the floor behind Silva.
Like sustained artillery fire.
On the balcony, Zeno stared, mouth slightly agape.
"That power… it's on Netero's level!"
Is he really just a rookie? That force isn't human. Does he carry Dark Continent blood?
Zeno watched his son give ground for the first time.
Silva's fists were being overwhelmed. His skin split, bled, pulped under the onslaught.
In the monitor room, Kikyo and Milluki sat in stunned silence.
Is this real?
That's Silva Zoldyck—the head of the family!
And he was losing?!
Ryker attacked like a living missile battery, unleashing wave after wave of destruction.
They feared the castle itself might collapse.
Their mouths hung open, wide enough to swallow goose eggs. They looked like they had seen a ghost.
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