Clang~ clang-clang~ clang-clang~ clang-clang-clang~
A rhythmic chime flowed from the loudspeakers of the coastal fortress, rising and falling like waves brushing against the shore.
It stirred the slumbering residents awake and marked the start of a new day—8:00 AM.
Germain opened his eyes.
He stared blankly at the steel frame of the top bunk for a moment, then glanced at a wrist dangling off the edge above.
A soft smile tugged at his lips.
No matter how hard yesterday had been, it had passed. And with the arrival of a new day came a kind of ease—as if the struggles of yesterday weren't as impossible to overcome as they had seemed.
He rolled over and climbed down from the narrow bunk, his feet finding the cold floor.
After slipping on his shoes, he turned and looked up again—this time at the sleeping face of Shizuku, curled sideways on the top bunk.
She was sound asleep, completely dead to the world. Her slightly flushed cheeks were squashed flat against the stiff pillow, and her right wrist rested loosely over the edge of the bedframe.
The way she slept always gave off a sense of danger—like she could tumble off the bunk at any moment and crash straight to the floor.
There weren't many private rooms available inside the coastal fortress, and comfort had never been a priority here.
This was, after all, a semi-militarized zone—built for function, not luxury.
Germain and Shizuku had managed to secure a private room, but the bed was still a cramped bunk setup, with no trace of a plush mattress or warm bedding.
Technically, the fortress could have arranged something more comfortable for them, maybe even customized a room. But—
One, there was no real need to go through that trouble.
Two, by the time they returned last night, it was already close to midnight. Everyone was exhausted—body and mind.
They had all agreed to get some rest first. Whatever issues needed to be discussed could wait until morning, when they were gathered again.
Even if Germain had the kind of stamina that let him function with little to no sleep, the others weren't so lucky.
Rest was necessary.
The music from the loudspeaker came to an end, but Shizuku slept on peacefully, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
In the end, Germain had to wake her up himself so they could go to breakfast together.
After a quick wash and brushing their teeth, the two of them stepped out of the room. Shizuku let out a big yawn, rubbed her eyes, and looked like she'd rather crawl right back into bed.
Even half-asleep, she clung to the back of Germain's shirt, following him like they were playing a game of eagle-catches-chicks.
But her steps were unsteady, and Germain kept glancing back to make sure she didn't trip and fall in her daze.
They reached the dining hall, where a long line had already formed. Survivors stood quietly in line, their expressions a mix of anticipation, numbness, and quiet sorrow.
At the end of the line, staff members were serving food. Behind them was the kitchen—now fully under Menchi and Buhara's control.
Neither of the two were especially talkative.
Germain and Shizuku ate breakfast in silence, not bothering to force small talk.
If something came to mind, they spoke; otherwise, they simply ate together in quiet understanding.
Originally, they'd planned to wander around the coastal fortress after breakfast, checking out each area—but suddenly, a buzzing sound came from Germain's pocket.
He pulled out a communication orb—it was vibrating.
"Germain, can you hear me?" came List's voice from the orb.
"Loud and clear," Germain replied. "What's going on?"
"Chairman Netero has called for a meeting. It'll be in room X-2320. I'm informing each of the core members one by one."
"Got it. Shizuku and I are on our way."
Once the call ended, Germain wasn't the least bit surprised that Netero had called everyone together.
For the past two months, all the strange incidents aboard the BW-1 had been leading up to that ritual, that storm, that chaos—and finally, the last battle.
Everyone had managed to get through the crisis, but the deeper mysteries behind those events remained mostly unknown.
On the way back, Kanzai, known as "Tiger of the Zodiac," asked a few curious questions. But Netero had deliberately cut him off.
That was when everyone realized—Chairman Netero had no intention of discussing the matter publicly while surrounded by too many people.
Since that wasn't the right time, it was clear Netero would find another opportunity to gather all the core members for a proper discussion—like now.
When Germain and Shizuku arrived at Room X-2320, they discovered it had been transformed into a temporary meeting hall.
All the core members of the Hunter Association were already present.
Well—except for Shizuku.
The attendees included Chairman Netero, the full Zodiac Twelve, Biscuit Krueger (Bisky), and Shizuku. This was about as high-level a meeting as the Hunter Association could have.
The moment the two walked in, they were warmly welcomed—especially Germain, who had played a crucial role the previous night.
After surviving such a near-death experience and getting some rest, everyone woke up with clearer minds.
They now fully realized just how dangerous the situation had been—and just how important Germain's contribution was.
Netero eventually put a stop to the Zodiac members' barrage of gratitude and curiosity directed at Germain, and forcefully moved on to the first agenda item of the meeting.
What exactly had they faced during that time?
Was there a risk it might resurface in the future?
And how should they prepare themselves to deal with such terrifying pressure going forward?
Germain, Ging, and Bisky exchanged glances—then began sharing what had happened that night: their unexpected encounter with Don Freecss, and the knowledge he passed on to them about the gods.
A heavy silence fell across the room.
Even these veteran Hunters—each seasoned through countless battles and bizarre experiences—were shocked and bewildered by the sudden emergence of divine beings.
Many only now realized the terrifying event they had been swept into during this long voyage.
Fortunately, for now, they had escaped the clutches of that monstrous force.
Even so, unease lingered in everyone's heart.
Netero stroked his white beard, quickly honing in on the crux of the matter.
"Gods—it's just a flashy term. They can just as well be understood as Nen users far more powerful than us, powerful enough to influence vast domains."
Netero's words jolted many from their daze.
What made these gods terrifying wasn't their divinity—it was the overwhelming power they possessed, a force no one among them could resist.
However, what Don Freecss had mentioned—the fate of this entire planet—worried everyone even more.
Although the so-called "Outer God Devouring the Star" was expected to occur centuries in the future, the mere thought that all their current efforts—exploration, sacrifice, creation, discovery—might one day amount to nothing... cast a heavy gloom over the scene.
Germain didn't repeat his earlier conviction like he had in front of Don Freecss. Instead, he remained silent.
After facing the god war between Curse of Resentment and the Deep Sea, Germain realized something.
As he continued down the path of hunting gods, the number of people who could walk alongside him would only grow fewer and fewer.
Not even Netero or Ging might be able to help him—let alone anyone else.
This was destined to be a lonely journey.
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