When it comes to the most authoritative tool in the Hunter world to test bone and muscle strength…
Moro could only think of the Zoldyck family's Trial Gate.
And as long as you don't break the Trial Gate, the Zoldycks couldn't care less about outsiders trying to push it.
So Moro originally planned to visit the Trial Gate every half month to track his physical progress.
But plans never keep up with change.
It wasn't until after his training was complete that he made his move to test the results at the Trial Gate.
Two days later—
The airship landed at the airport in the Dontoara region.
Moro didn't rush to take the shuttle to Kukuroo Mountain; instead, he went to the airport's parcel pickup to collect a package.
Inside were Dazzle Frog–branded items—glasses, headbands, clothes, slippers—mostly daily goods.
But all of these were upcoming seasonal releases from the Dazzle Frog IP.
Moro got them thanks to his status as the Arena Combat Olympics Champion.
After unpacking, he tossed the Dazzle Frog items into a canvas bag and left the airport.
Outside, a bus happened to be headed for Kukuroo Mountain, so he hopped on.
Inside the bus, he quickly noticed several burly men sitting at the back, next to long, cloth-wrapped items—clearly blades or weapons.
Judging by their builds and spirit, they weren't ordinary passengers.
Moro didn't pay them much attention and found an empty seat.
This bus route's destination was the Trial Gate, designated as a sightseeing landmark in Dontoara.
So those burly men were clearly yet another group of clueless bounty hunters heading for the Zoldyck estate.
Sometimes, Moro really couldn't understand these people.
The Zoldyck family had stood tall for generations—like a giant, bottomless abyss swallowing up life.
And yet—
People still threw themselves at it in droves.
It was like they only saw the unimaginable wealth and reward in defeating the Zoldycks… while completely ignoring the cliff they were standing on.
The only explanation?
Desire.
Desire that blinds people to danger.
Hours later—
The bus arrived.
Tourists disembarked, marveling at the imposing, deep gray Trial Gate.
The solemn, mysterious air of the gate crashed into their vision like a tidal wave, evoking gasps of excitement.
Moro ignored it all and headed straight for the Trial Gate.
But just a few steps out, he heard a commotion behind him.
The burly men had rudely shoved aside tourists and were making a beeline for the gate, unveiling gleaming blades as they walked.
The terrified tourists immediately fell silent.
Moro slowed his pace, letting the bounty hunters pass, and pulled out his phone to text Kurapika: "I've arrived."
Before coming, he had notified Kurapika and also intended to discuss a long-term contract.
To level up faster, he planned to use Kurapika's tracking Nen to locate appropriate high-value targets—like A-rank fugitives or the Shadow Beasts under the Ten Dons.
Back in September, he had killed Worm and Mosquito.
Months had passed since then. With the Ten Dons' resources, they had likely replaced their dead with new Shadow Beasts.
If possible, Moro planned to pick them off one at a time, letting the Ten Dons keep replacing them.
Of course, he'd have to consider retaliation.
But where there's risk, there's reward.
He knew that well.
Pocketing his phone, he turned to watch the bounty hunters.
They were now at the Trial Gate, laying down their weapons to try pushing it open.
In the nearby security booth—
Gotoh had put down his tea, eyes glued to the hunters' movements.
He wasn't worried they'd get in—only that they'd damage the gate, or worse, try something uncivilized like slicing at it with their swords.
Each of the hunters tried in turn, but none succeeded.
The most they could push open was a palm-sized gap.
"Damn, I'd heard the rumors, but it's seriously heavy."
The bearded one cursed, giving up.
Frustrated, they slumped nearby to rest.
Tourists whispered to each other, curious but cautious not to mock the armed men.
Moro stood silently to the side, letting them struggle.
He wasn't in a hurry to test his progress and could wait for Kurapika.
Gotoh watched them from the booth and relaxed a little, taking another sip of his tea.
Then—
He spotted Moro among the tourists.
The tea cup trembled mid-air.
"That boy…"
His hands froze. He quickly set down the cup and squinted to confirm.
Yes. It was him!
Memories of their last encounter rushed back, and Gotoh still felt a lingering unease.
Twenty years of guarding this gate, and he had never seen someone like that.
Moro noticed the look and nodded politely.
Gotoh quickly looked away, moved by the young man's courtesy.
He remembered how Moro had remained calm and respectful even under the terrifying pressure of Madame Zoldyck's wrath.
A remarkable young man, truly.
Suddenly—
The bounty hunters decided to try pushing the gate together.
Just as they moved—
A deep rumble echoed from the Trial Gate.
"Someone's coming out!"
They raised their weapons, backing off fast.
"Good! Saves us the trouble—wait, WHAT?!"
The gates creaked open—six slabs thick.
Tourists gaped in shock.
Gotoh stood up and rushed outside to await orders.
Moro, watching the gates open six-fold, instantly knew this wasn't Kurapika.
His eyes dropped—
And saw a tall figure stepping out in a green outfit covered with needle heads, black eyes, and shoulder-length hair.
"Illumi."
Moro recognized him immediately.
Illumi stepped through the gate, glancing at the terrified hunters.
"How nice," he murmured.
"What… what?!"
The men were frozen with fear.
They had tried with all their strength and failed to open even the smallest slab.
But this man had pushed open six.
It finally dawned on them—
The Zoldyck family was real. And terrifying.
Too late.
"I'll use you as a valid reason," Illumi said, raising a finger.
A volley of needleheads pierced their foreheads.
Illumi's manipulation Nen instantly activated.
Their consciousnesses were erased.
They became mindless puppets—needlemen.
A scream erupted.
"He's killing people!"
Panic broke out. Tourists scrambled for the bus.
The driver, thankfully, opened the doors and helped them board.
"Don't drive yet! Someone's still out there!"
"Huh?"
The driver stopped. Through the window, he shouted, "Hey! Get in!"
Moro didn't respond.
He turned, gaze cold.
A wisp of killing intent swept over them all.
The driver froze—then slammed the gas.
As the bus sped off, Moro dispelled the killing aura and turned to face Illumi and his needlemen.
Illumi examined him calmly.
"Killing intent is more efficient than persuasion," he said, "but I wasn't planning to waste needles on them."
"I noticed," Moro said, throwing his bag aside and drawing the Crimson Avian Blade.
Nen surged like a rising tide.
"But if they hadn't run, you'd have turned them too, right?"
"Yes. In battle, everything changes."
Illumi twirled a needle, asking, "So were you protecting them, or were you trying to block my technique?"
"Think what you want," Moro replied. "No point asking why you're so hell-bent on killing now."
"Oh, but there is…"
Illumi smiled faintly, pointing at the corpses. "Because you're with them."
"…"
Moro acted.
With a flash of Nen, he launched a Flying Star from his palm.
The needleman's head burst.
Blood spattered. The puppet dropped, lifeless.
Illumi raised a brow—impressed at Moro's accurate countermeasure.
"Attack," he ordered.
The three remaining needlemen lunged, eyes wild.
Controlled by Nen, their bodies were unnaturally enhanced.
Still—no real threat.
Moro activated his ability:
Stellar Convergence.
Starlight shimmered around him.
And he saw it.
Illumi—approaching at blistering speed, far faster than the needlemen.
Of course.
The puppets were just distractions.
The real danger was Illumi's sudden rush, and that deadly needle—
In close combat, few things were more dangerous.
But the stars let Moro read his movements ahead of time.
SWOOSH!
He dodged—quickly and precisely.
Illumi's needle stabbed only air.
"Fast reaction. Must be those lights…"
Illumi, master of blind-spot ambushes, instantly understood the truth.
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50 Powerstones? (5 Bonus Chapters)
20 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/milezen