Ickshonpe pressed one of the buttons on the controller, and suddenly, a complete game console with a TV appeared out of thin air on the pixel grid ground in front of him.
This phenomenon is not the Nen Conjuration. It felt more like editing an image by copy-pasting an element into it. The process was effortless, like a single mouse click.
Moses stared at the suddenly conjured gaming setup and couldn't help but ask:
"Ickshonpe, if you can do this, why bother handwriting your messages? Wouldn't it be easier to just materialize the words?"
"…"
Ickshonpe, who was turning on the TV, suddenly froze mid-action.
Within seconds, beads of sweat began forming on his forehead.
These 'sweat droplets' were actually data-generated, but they still reflected Ickshonpe's current emotional state.
Moses looked at Ickshonpe's sweaty reaction and thought that this Hacker Hunter was really interesting in some ways.
'When meeting people he doesn't know well, he can only communicate by writing.'
'Although he clearly has the ability to create objects out of thin air, he has no intention of using this ability to communicate.'
Seeing more and more virtual sweat on Ickshonpe's forehead, Moses tactfully changed the subject and said, "Are infinite combos allowed?"
This was an unwritten rule in Dark Curtain. Before starting, they must first determine whether infinite combos were permitted.
Hearing Moses's question, the sweat on Ickshonpe's forehead suddenly disappeared. His emotions changed incredibly quickly as he nodded towards Moses with excitement on his face.
Moses sighed in his heart, realizing that Ickshonpe's 'gaming addiction' was even worse than Pyon's.
He sat cross-legged in front of the TV, and picked up a game controller.
Ickshonpe eagerly booted up the game, and soon they reached the character selection screen.
The exciting background sound of the game suddenly echoed throughout the transit station.
Ging stood behind the two men with his hands behind his back, watching with interest.
He was actually quite happy to see that Moses and Ickshonpe had found common ground.
He felt that this matter would undoubtedly benefit Moses in the long run.
Duang-
With the game's start signal, Moses and Ickshonpe focused entirely on their fighters.
Moses once again chose the slimy green monster.
And Ickshonpe's character is a robot.
After a brief probing exchange, Moses seized an opening, and controlled the sticky green monster to spray out disgusting mucus like snot, which stuck to the robot's feet.
Then the sticky green monster unceremoniously launched an infinite combo at the robot.
In less than ten seconds, the robot's health bar was emptied by the slimy green monster.
PERFECT!
A row of dark golden text appeared on the TV screen, announcing Moses's victory.
'Although I haven't played it for a long time, the feel is still there.'
Moses rubbed the controller lightly, thinking in his heart.
Beside him, Ickshonpe was having an existential crisis, and his mind was racing to figure out how his opening had been exploited.
At the same time, he realized-
'Birds of a feather really do flock together!'
'Someone who could hang with Ging wasn't just terrifyingly strong, but also has top-notch gaming skills!'
Despite being utterly crushed, Ickshonpe was very thrilled.
Because from today on, he will have a new rival to play with!
The second round began quickly.
This time, Ickshonpe was far more cautious.
But after a few exchanges, his robot was once again caught in the slimy green monster's combo and sent flying.
Looking at the robot falling to the ground and disintegrating, Ickshonpe was slightly stunned.
'So strong…!'
He murmured in his heart.
Then, with undiminished enthusiasm, he started into the third, fourth, fifth rounds...
Without exception, he lost every time.
However, instead of frustration, Ickshonpe only grew more excited.
Watching Ickshonpe's reactions, Moses couldn't help but feel like he was back playing with Pyon.
The only difference is-
The more Pyon lost, the more she refused to accept the defeat, so she was ready to play for seven days straight just to win once.
Ickshonpe, on the other hand, became more and more excited the more he lost, as if treating each match like a puzzle to solve.
Moses could almost imagine...
If his skills were no match for Ickshonpe, this gaming-obsessed Hacker Hunter would probably lose interest instantly.
In that case, the skills he'd honed while humoring Pyon had unwittingly become the bridge to forming a deeper connection with Ickshonpe.
'Perhaps I can ask Ickshonpe to help us find out more information about the owner of the Scarlet Eyes. It would be even better if he can directly find out where the Scarlet Eyes are stored.'
A thought crossed Moses's mind, as he thought of helping Kurapika retrieve his clansmen's eyes.
And Ickshonpe's abilities could be a huge asset in that mission.
On another note, after testing his combat prowess, Moses found himself genuinely intrigued by the so-called Digital World.
Now that he has lost his shadow-based Nen Ability, he is not sure what type of Nen Ability he will need for the time being, let alone starting to develop new Nen Abilities.
Perhaps this otherworldly Digital World could spark some inspiration.
He was looking forward to it.
…
In Kakin Empire, in a hidden chamber deep within the palace.
The Kakin King stepped into the dimly lit room.
The flickering candlelight from the wall niches cast shifting shadows, and a faint breeze made the flames dance between brightness and gloom.
At the junction of light and darkness, there was a man covered with fresh and old wounds.
These injuries were all self-inflicted.
Nasubi came up to the man, opened his arms, and said with a smile: "Become the bridge. Use your life… to bring glory to Kakin!"
"Ugh… ugh…"
The man fell to the ground, making unintelligible noises.
His tongue, teeth...
No, his entire mouth was a mangled mess of torn flesh.
This was also his own doing.
Old wounds healed, and new ones took their place.
It repeats itself over and over again, day after day without stopping.
This is the price.
The price that must be paid before using 'Curse-Type' Nen Ability.
This man would burn himself out for Kakin Empire, just as Nasubi said, becoming one of the bridges leading the Kakin Empire to unparalleled glory.
Now-
His mission was to bring death to those standing in Kakin Empire's way.
This time,
The obstacle was Isaac Netero!
The man slowly raised his head, his eyes gleaming like a wolf's.
His body was covered with new and old wounds, except for his eyes, which remained untouched.
Because-
He needed those eyes to lock onto the obstacles that Kakin Empire wanted to clear.
"Ugh…!"
An ominous black Aura emanated from the man's body.
The shadow cast by the candlelight silently swelled and twisted, morphing into what looked like a roaring Nen Beast...