When exactly had he fallen into the illusion?
The fact that Golden Experience and the First Bomb took down the archer proved he hadn't been caught in the illusion when he launched the attack.
That had been before the whip's cracking distracted him, before his gaze landed on the spinning top.
It was right after the whip drew his eyes that the momentary dizziness hit him—that was the likeliest point of entry into the illusion. Based on that, Joey estimated the illusion had held him no longer than three seconds.
Timing had always been second nature to Joey—an unconscious instinct during battle.
Not just because of his Third Bomb, Dust Eater, but also due to his training later on. So many abilities were tied to timing—whether it was duration, trigger delay, or activation windows.
And now, that habit paid off again.
The man with the whip gave no reply to Joey's earlier question. From the moment the archer died and vanished, he knew he had no hope of victory.
His eyes on Joey were complicated. Wordlessly, he reached behind his back and drew out a pack—from which emerged a grotesque head Joey instantly recognized.
Naru.
But before Joey could react, a massive Nen orb appeared in the man's hand.
It was a sphere forged from every last drop of his aura. With a faint smirk, he slammed it against Naru's head.
A scream erupted from Naru's twisted mouth.
But before its soul-rending ability could activate, the Nen orb detonated—consuming the man's arm and Naru's head in a blazing flash.
Joey had already sensed the killer intent gathering in the man's aura. He'd prepared for battle, and called down a twister from Weather Report to lift him into the air.
But the beast was too slow.
The mutilated corpse flew from the blast. Naru—likely harboring a dangerous ability—was obliterated without a trace.
Joey dissolved the forming tornado. He'd misjudged the man's resolve.
He'd expected a final, desperate attack. Instead, the man chose to annihilate Naru outright, giving Joey no chance to seize even a fragment of its ability.
Joey felt only mild regret. He already commanded a vast arsenal of powers. Even if he obtained another Naru, at most he'd gain a basic function—nothing game-changing.
A minor gain, more trouble than it was worth.
Not even a scrap remained of Naru or its user. But curiously, the intricate floor markings were untouched by the explosion—causing Joey to frown.
Because what he planned next was to obliterate this entire coffin zone.
He stepped toward the nearest coffin—the Fourth Prince's.
This was the one he'd personally erased using the First Bomb. He peered inside, half expecting an empty box.
But what he saw froze him.
Inside lay the Fourth Prince, perfectly groomed, face peaceful.
Even though he'd anticipated it, seeing that calm visage made Joey's eyelids twitch involuntarily.
"Surprised?" A cold voice came from behind.
Joey, completely unaware of anyone approaching, pivoted and raised his guard instantly—only to see a small figure.
Nugui.
The ever-present minister at King Nasubi's side. The one who'd delivered a ceremonial urn to each prince participating in the Succession War.
Joey identified him immediately—he'd memorized the man's profile long ago.
Nasubi's most loyal hound.
And now here he was—alone, and not even attacking. Joey's wariness deepened.
But as he expanded his En, confusion crept in.
He sensed no life from Nugui. Even if he used Zetsu, it was impossible to entirely avoid detection by Joey's En.
"You're formidable—a rare talent," Nugui said with genuine admiration. "Joey. The living weapon taken by Naru after walking out of NGL. You fought in the Chimera Ant War of the East Gorteau, witnessed Chairman Netero's death…
"That experience freed you from your criminal status, gave you temporary employment with the Hunter Association, and helped you forge ties with elite Hunters. Though you're not a licensed pro, your network reaches deep into the Association, and many consider you a rising star.
"No one expected you to join this voyage to the Dark Continent—especially since you never even took the exam."
As Nugui spoke, the real Joey, aided by Weather Report, slipped into Mirage, vanishing completely.
The one before Nugui was a mere clone.
The real Joey now touched the Fourth Prince's coffin, with Killer Queen at his side.
He'd already determined: the Nugui in the Coffin Zone was not real. A projection. A mouthpiece.
Without combat capability, Nugui couldn't stop Joey—so he was here to stall. With words. To buy time for royal guards or Nasubi himself to arrive.
Joey hadn't destroyed him outright. He even used Nen to craft a clone—just to extract intel.
Meanwhile, he ramped up his search and preparations within the zone.
As expected, Nugui continued with his speech, digging deeper into Joey's past.
Joey wasn't fazed.
His identity had long been exposed in the lower decks. It was easy for the royal army to learn the truth.
And once they did, considering Kakin's partnership with "weapons," it was natural they'd recognize Joey—a former NGL narcotics enforcer who'd survived and even gotten "clean."
Nugui saw Joey's indifference, so he shifted to the main point. "You're planning to destroy this place, aren't you?"
Before Joey could respond, Nugui pressed on: "Impossible. This place is protected by the ancestors of Kakin. Not even a high-yield bomb can destroy it easily. And what would you gain from destroying it?
"With your abilities, if you joined Kakin, you'd be second only to the King. His Majesty deeply values your potential.
"But if you continue on this reckless path, even if you succeed in destroying this place, you'll face eternal pursuit. Kakin will place a permanent bounty on your head. Surely, you can see which path is wiser?"
Nugui's words blended flattery with threat—but his logic was solid.
Wrecking the Coffin Zone might end the Succession War, but in exchange, Joey could become Kakin's most wanted.
Being hunted by a V6-level superpower? Not exactly a desirable future.
But that all hinged on whether Nasubi truly wanted Joey on his side—or was just tossing him bait.
Unlikely.
From the moment in Tier 2, when Joey broke protocol, he'd been on Nasubi's kill list.
Even if talent might've changed his mind, when Fatty yanked Nasubi from the inner realm, Joey felt that king's raw, murderous aura before he entered the zone.
Nasubi hadn't just wanted him dead—he wanted him annihilated.
Second only to the king?
Bullshit. In Kakin, the royals were the state. Everyone else existed to serve them.
Even if Joey accepted their offer, he'd just be a dog—beneath the royal heel.
And Joey wasn't the leash-wearing type. No matter how sweet the pitch, Nugui's offer was dead on arrival.
Besides, Joey doubted even the sincerity.
"That's it?" the clone said coldly, a few seconds after Nugui's pitch ended.
Nugui blinked, confused.
That's it? What did he mean? There was a mocking undertone he couldn't quite place.
But if Joey was willing to talk, that was enough. It meant negotiation was possible.
Just as Nugui opened his mouth to speak again, a flickering flame died out behind him.
He choked on his words—uttering garbled, meaningless syllables.
The extinguished flame was only the start. As he stared in shock, three more flames blinked out.
It all happened so fast. Too fast for Nugui to even brace himself.
He stared at the spots where the flames had burned. His eyes reddened. His face flushed. His trembling finger pointed at Joey.
"You… you—!"
A prepared windstorm lashed across his body the moment he spoke, cutting shallow gashes across his small frame. But he didn't flinch. He just stared at Joey.
His eyes brimmed with rage, hatred, and a thin film of fear.
And then—the Coffin Zone began to tremble.
"What did you do?! Stop! STOP IT! You want the entire ship to die for your madness?!"
Joey's clone stared calmly. "You really think I'm that easy to fool? Or do I just look dumb to you?"
He stepped forward.
Nugui instinctively backed up.
At that instant, another identical voice spoke by his ear: "Where's His Majesty Nasubi now? Will he use his ability remotely, or is he coming in person?"
As Joey finished speaking, flames reappeared in the zone—not in the center, but above the four coffins where the dead princes lay.
Black tendrils of Nen leaked from them.
And Nugui finally saw it—the coffins had been opened. The princes' corpses were gone. Jagged holes had been carved into each.
"You… what did you do?" Nugui's teeth chattered.
He couldn't fathom it. How had Joey pulled it off?
Each coffin was guarded by the "souls of former princes." Cracking even one should've been impossible.
But now—all fourteen had gaping, smooth holes.
As if carved by the sharpest machine known to man.
Some unknown Nen ability…?
Could Joey really have done this? Wasn't his power weather-based? Could there be a "weather" that performed precision cuts like this?
Joey didn't answer.
His eyes were drawn elsewhere.
Unlike Nugui, fixated on the damage, Joey stared at the black haze that evaporated under the flames—revealing the ominous Guardian Beasts beneath.
Everything he'd seen in the top-spinner's illusion… it was happening now. For real.
"Looks like he's not coming back," Joey murmured, a crooked smile curling on his lips.
Only the Fourth Prince's beast was a real threat. The Thirteenth's was unpredictable. The others? Trash.
With that thought, Joey saw a skeletal war chariot slam into the Fourth Prince's beast—just as it began to emerge from the shadows.
You're the hardest to deal with? Then I'll end you while you're still down.
You all better brace yourselves...
(End of Chapter)