Kilua stood at the edge of the cliff, his gaze lost in the endless horizon. The wind whipped through his hair, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside him. His body ached from the battles, but it was his mind that truly suffered. Alluka's words echoed in his ears, haunting him, reminding him of the truth he had spent so long trying to escape.
We are all part of the Zoldyck legacy... You can't run forever...
The very idea that he couldn't escape the darkness of his family gnawed at his soul. Every part of him screamed to break free, to distance himself from the chains of his past, but deep down, Kilua knew that he couldn't outrun the inevitable. His bloodline was too powerful, too influential. He had always been a part of something much larger than himself, and no matter how hard he tried to sever those ties, they would always pull him back.
But Kilua wasn't ready to give up. Not yet. He clenched his fists tightly, his resolve hardening. Hisoka had almost defeated him, and Alluka's power was overwhelming, but neither of them had truly crushed him. They had come close, but Kilua knew his strength wasn't just in his Nen. It was in his will to survive, his refusal to be broken.
He turned away from the cliff's edge, his steps steady as he walked deeper into the forest. The shadows around him seemed to lengthen, and the air grew heavier with each step. But Kilua had no intention of fleeing. He had to face what was coming, no matter how painful it would be.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted the silence.
"Kilua."
Kilua froze, every muscle in his body tensing at the sound of the familiar voice. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The voice was unmistakable. It was the last person he wanted to see right now.
He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he faced the person who had once been a friend, a brother in arms. But now, there was nothing but betrayal in his gaze.
"Leorio," Kilua said, his voice cold, distant.
Leorio's expression was filled with sorrow, but there was also a deep, undeniable anger in his eyes. "I never wanted it to come to this, Kilua. But you're running out of time. The Zoldyck family has already marked you. You can't escape from them forever."
Kilua felt his heart tighten at Leorio's words. He had always thought of Leorio as a friend, but now, standing before him, he realized that even the ones he trusted most could be agents of the very fate he had been fighting against.
"What do you mean?" Kilua asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Leorio took a step forward, his hand raised as if trying to reach out to him. "I didn't want to be the one to tell you, but you need to know the truth. The Zoldycks have put a target on your back, and they won't stop until you're back where you belong."
Kilua's heart pounded in his chest. The weight of Leorio's words hit him like a punch to the gut. The truth was undeniable, and the feeling of inevitability crushed him.
"No," Kilua whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're wrong. I'm free. I won't go back."
Leorio's face hardened. "You can fight all you want, Kilua. But the truth is, your blood will always call you back. The family you tried to escape will always come for you."
For a moment, there was silence between them. Kilua's mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together. Leorio was no longer the ally he had once been. The Zoldycks' influence had extended farther than he could have ever imagined, and now even his closest friends were being pulled into the web of lies and manipulation.
Kilua's fists clenched, the raw emotion threatening to spill over. "I won't be a puppet for them," he said through gritted teeth. "I won't let them control me."
Leorio's expression softened, but there was still a sense of urgency in his voice. "You don't understand, Kilua. It's not just about you anymore. The Zoldycks are willing to destroy anyone in their path to get what they want. You're not just a target—you're the key to something much larger."
Kilua's mind reeled as he processed Leorio's words. He had always known that the Zoldycks were powerful, but he had never fully understood the depth of their reach. Now, standing before Leorio, he realized that the family he had spent so long running from was more dangerous than he had ever imagined.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and a low, ominous hum filled the air. Kilua's senses flared as he prepared for another attack. His Nen pulsed around him, ready to defend against whatever threat was coming. But Leorio's voice cut through the tension.
"Get out of here, Kilua!" Leorio shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "They're here. You need to go!"
Before Kilua could react, a massive shadow loomed over them. The trees around them seemed to bend and twist, as if the very forest was being torn apart. In an instant, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, imposing figure with an aura of malevolent power.
Kilua's heart sank as he recognized the figure. It was one of the Zoldyck family's elite assassins, a deadly force that was sent only for the most important targets. And Kilua was their target.
"You should have never run, Kilua," the assassin said, his voice cold and unyielding. "Now, you'll pay the price."
Without warning, the assassin lunged forward, his speed almost blinding. Kilua barely had time to react, his Nen flaring in defense. But it was too late. The assassin's blade cut through the air with terrifying precision, and Kilua felt the sting of steel against his skin.
Pain exploded in his side, and he staggered back, blood spilling from the wound. His vision blurred as he struggled to stay upright, the weight of his injury threatening to drag him to the ground.
Leorio's voice rang out again, desperate. "Kilua! You need to get out of here—now!"
But it was already too late. The assassin's strike had left its mark, and Kilua's body was beginning to give way to the overwhelming pain.
As darkness crept in at the edges of his vision, Kilua couldn't help but wonder if this was the end. Had he truly escaped his family's grasp, or was he simply fooling himself? No matter how hard he fought, the truth remained: he was a Zoldyck, and his fate was sealed.
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