No matter what, the gaze from the bottom of a well cannot see the world clearly.
Climbing out of the well is merely the first step most people must take.
Once that process is complete, one might finally glimpse the face of the world… and encounter the monsters born amidst flashing blades and crushing fists.
But Zigg was different.
As someone who is born into the Zoldyck Family, he had understood the weight of the word 'monster' long before he ever took his first step.
His father is a monster.
And Isaac Netero, standing behind him, was also a monster.
The only difference is-
He respected his father, but he had never aspired to become a stronger assassin than him.
He admired Netero, but deep in his heart, there existed a desire to surpass him.
'I will win.'
A sharp glint gradually surfaced in Zigg's eyes.
With no intention of playing defensively, Zigg chose to strike first. His body swayed like a willow branch in the wind.
In the next instant-
Footwork techniques ingrained into his very instincts propelled his body, allowing him to melt into the breeze without a sound.
No presence, no noise, not even the faintest trace of lingering Aura...
Zigg appeared beside Spademen like a ghost.
The execution of this footwork seemed to incorporate the refined transition from Hatsu to Zetsu, and back again… exuding a fleeting, ethereal beauty, reminiscent of the 100-Type Guanyin.
Such a display of skill should have served as the prelude for Zigg to complete a brilliant attack.
But-
The enemy Zigg had chosen as his target-
Was not a human like those he had faced before.
But a magical beast who thrived in the Dark Continent.
A strong physique and Manifested Aura that is beyond human understanding.
These were the weapons and capital Spudimen wielded as a Gatekeeper.
And because it had already exchanged blows with Zigg once, Spademen understood the gap between them.
There was no need to exert effort in evading Zigg's attack-
Even if Spudimen couldn't track the attack's trajectory, it could still maintain absolute control over the battle.
In that split second, Spudimen didn't waste energy on defense, allowing Zigg's palm, which had become as sharp as a blade, to strike his temple.
Then, the condensed and powerful Aura completely blocked Zigg's strike.
Spudimen wasn't surprised by this outcome. Immediately after, it manipulated the slender black tail coiled near its thigh, and like a venomous snake striking, it whipped it toward Zigg.
The reason why it did not choose to counterattack with both hands was because Spudimen had already accounted for Zigg's defensive instincts.
Under these circumstances, Spudimen believed that suddenly deploying its hidden tail would catch Zigg completely off guard.
In other words-
Spudimen wanted to end the fight as quickly as possible.
Because for Spudimen, this battle was not a competition, but a hunt.
And in a hunt, seeking a single, fatal strike was the mercy a hunter owed their prey.
Just as Spudimen had predicted, after its attack failed, Zigg focused his defenses on Spudimen's more threatening limbs.
So when that shadow suddenly lashed out from behind Spudimen, Zigg was caught utterly unprepared.
Despite this, Zigg's Nen Ability still took effect at this moment.
At the critical moment, he unconsciously mobilized his Aura to reinforce the point of impact.
Snap!
The next moment-
The black serpent-like shadow struck Zigg's abdomen, sending visible shockwaves rippling through the air.
The tremendous force sent Zigg's body flying backward like a bullet.
At the same time, Zigg had severely underestimated the power behind Spudimen's strike, and the Aura he had managed to redirect in that split second wasn't enough to form a perfect defense.
As a result, Zigg, who took the blow head-on, suffered severe internal injuries in an instant, and his consciousness became temporarily blurred.
What was even more dangerous is-
The impact on Zigg's body was too overwhelming. If he couldn't disperse the force or brace himself before crashing, the secondary damage could leave him severely wounded.
He might even die on the spot.
Obviously, the outcome had already been decided.
Hum-
In that very moment, a faint Buddhist chant seemed to resonate through the air.
Spudimen, who had been about to pursue Zigg, suddenly halted, its eyes widening slightly as it looked toward the direction Zigg had been sent flying.
Under Spudimen's gaze, a golden light enveloped Zigg in mid-air as he flew backwards like a bullet.
Before Spudimen could see the true form of the golden light, the light vanished, appearing and disappearing in an instant.
And Zigg, who caught within that golden light, seemed to freeze in place, transitioning from extreme motion to absolute stillness, before dropping straight to the ground.
Whoosh-
Linne flashed forward and caught Zigg firmly with open arms.
Not far away-
Netero, with his hands still clasped in prayer, glanced briefly at Linne, who had caught Zigg, and nodded slightly.
Then, he turned his gaze to look at Spudimen, who stood motionless.
That golden light just now-
Was Netero's 100-Type Guanyin, which caught Zigg at the critical moment.
Spudimen fell silent as it met Netero's gaze. Recalling the fleeting golden radiance and the seamless transition from extreme motion to absolute stillness, a ripple of unease stirred in its heart.
'This human...'
'Is extraordinary!'
With just one glance, Spudimen saw in Netero a state of mind that had been tempered through countless trials.
'I can't afford even the slightest carelessness. I must take this prey seriously...'
Spudimen slowly tensed the muscles in its legs, and its gaze, which is pure and unclouded, locked onto Netero.
For Spudimen, every hunt is an opportunity to make itself stronger.
With that thought, Spudimen's desire to attack surged abruptly to its peak. Its coiled legs exploded against the ground.
Bang-!
The earth shattered as Spudiment's figure twisted into a blur, hurtling toward Netero like a bullet.
Faced with Spudiment's ferocious assault, Netero, who was now at his peak, remained unfazed. But the prayer-like gesture before him shifted subtly.
[100-Type Guanyin]
A dazzling golden light surged in the depths of Netero's eyes, which were filled with tenacity. The air around him grew heavy, and a slender, golden Guanyin materialized behind him.
At the same time-
A palm strike, wreathed in golden radiance and unstoppable as a shooting star, descended from an unavoidable angle, slamming into the top of Spudimen's head.
Spudimen had no time to react before the overwhelming force hammered it into the earth.
In that instant-
For the first time in its life, Spudimen understood the meaning of 'disbelief'.
'Humans who stowed here-'
'Actually possessed this kind of power?!'
Outside the battlefield.
Linne's expression remained calm, as though this outcome was entirely expected.
'That tall, eccentric man-'
'When it came to serious matters, he could indeed give his comrades absolute reassurance.'
After emerging from unconsciousness and awareness, Zigg looked at the lingering golden afterimages in the air, his eyes filled with complexity. Then, he silently broke free from Linne's hold.
Perhaps due to some meaningless stubbornness, Zigg ignored Linne's concerned gaze. He dragged his wounded body upright, then wordlessly watched as Spudimen was utterly crushed by Netero.
Admiration, reverence-
'Go beyond...'
'Was such a thing even possible?'
Zigg's gaze remained fixed on the violently clashing Auras in the battlefield.
"If this is what you desire..."
Suddenly, a voice flickered through his mind.
At the same time-
The inexplicable 'gaze' that had vanished with Spudimen's appearance suddenly regained its presence.
Zigg's expression shifted slightly and he suddenly turned back to look.
The abrupt movement attracted the puzzled look of Linne next to him.
But Zigg paid her no mind. As his pupils contracted, all the scenes in his vision faded away like a tide, and soon only darkness was left… And-
A pair of white-gloved hands, suspended motionless in the air, were hovering at the edge of Zigg's vision.
He's not sure if it was an illusion, but Zigg could vaguely see an eye as dark and deep as the abyss between the two suspended hands.
'An illusion…? Or… a Manipulation-Type Ability...?'
'Is this the magical beast's power…?'
The sudden change put Zigg on high alert.
At this time, the pair of white hands that appeared out of thin air suddenly moved, and began kneading the 'air' itself, shaping it into a clay doll identical in size to Zigg.
But Zigg noticed-
The facial features of the clay doll kneaded by white hands were hollow, black voids.
And within those empty eye sockets, Zigg felt the same lingering, intangible gaze that had haunted him all this time.
The source was actually not Spudimen, but this unknown thing in front of him!
"Hah...!"
In a dimly moonlit room, a sharp gasp broke the silence.
Zigg jolted upright from the empty bed and put his hand over his throbbing chest.
"…"
After a moment of silence, Zigg lowered his gaze to the pale moonlight spilling across the floor. His eyes traced its path to the windowsill, and then he immediately got out of bed and walked over.
Standing before the open window, Zigg stared at the sea of trees in the distant night without saying a word.
This is Kukuroo Mountain.
The stronghold of the Zoldyck Family… His home.
"Dark Continent..."
Zigg raised his eyes and looked at the shimmering night sky.
Even Netero, whom he admired and respected, had abandoned the exploration of the Dark Continent.
Then-
"If I can go further there… I can 'surpass' Netero."
Zigg murmured to himself.
Just as Zigg finished speaking, a crisp, childlike voice answered from the darkness behind him.
"Ai."
"Hmm?"
Zigg turned his head sharply.
But what came into view was a room with only a bed and a darkness where nothing existed.
He was the only one in the room.