Chapter 311: Penacony Arc 『 Part Six 』
"No, I didn't at all…"
"Didn't even spare her a glance? KING?"
Atomic Samurai let out a dissatisfied grunt. He stood with arms crossed, staring at KING. He knew all too well that this man was absurdly powerful—a master whom even Bang held in high esteem.
No one had ever seen KING in action. Rumor had it that those who did were already dead, leaving no survivors to describe his techniques or fighting style. But thinking on it, didn't KING seem to share certain similarities with Acheron? For instance, those combat movements that no human eye could track…
Atomic Samurai was struck by a sudden realization.
No wonder he didn't spare Acheron a glance. Is it because they share the same combat style? It's not that no one has seen KING fight; it's that even when they do, the naked eye cannot perceive his movements! As expected of KING—his prowess actually rivals that of a Galaxy Ranger… No, KING didn't take her seriously at all just now. Doesn't that mean… he's even stronger than Acheron?!
Atomic Samurai broke into a cold sweat.
"KING, your face is flushed. Is it the thrill of battle? You're itching to fight that woman, too, aren't you? You truly are as fierce and battle-hungry as the legends say,"
He remarked, unable to hide his admiration as he noticed KING's reddened complexion.
"It's because of the chili peppers."
"Chili peppers?"
Atomic Samurai glanced down at the small dish of chili oil beside KING's noodle bowl.
"You mean… You usually rely on this stuff to maintain your fighting spirit? How unique. I've learned something today, KING. However, I still cannot comprehend how Acheron delivered that strike. I happen to have my blade with me—could you demonstrate it for us? Or perhaps explain the principle behind it?"
A flicker of displeasure crossed KING's face.
Thump— Thump— Thump—
Atomic Samurai swallowed hard. KING's Engine had started. Was he about to move? But with his own level of skill, could he truly hope to see it?
KING rose slowly and pointed to his wristwatch.
"It's almost seven o'clock."
"???"
"…KING, what do you mean by that?"
There was no answer—or perhaps, he simply disdained to give one. KING lowered the brim of his cap and walked downstairs with his head bowed, never looking back. The master and his three disciples watched his departing figure in a daze until he vanished into the sunset.
No one dared to stop him, for no one wished to die.
Once KING was far away, the disciples slumped back into their seats around Atomic Samurai, their minds racing as they tried to decipher the true meaning of seven o'clock.
"KING usually hunts monsters at night. Perhaps seven o'clock is the hour he begins his slaughter?"
Bushidrill speculated.
"No, that's not it."
Atomic Samurai took a deep, shaky breath, his back drenched in sweat.
"You only saw the surface; you failed to grasp the deeper meaning. A clock represents time. Do you remember how Stelle's movements seemed to slow down the moment Acheron's finger touched her sword guard?"
Okamaitachi seemed to catch a glimmer of understanding.
"Could KING mean that Acheron altered the flow of time within the dream?"
"No, it's more than that. To be precise… Acheron's drawing speed was so fast it warped time itself!"
"Huh?!"
The three disciples gasped in unison.
"Master, you're joking, right? How could anyone possibly do that?"
Atomic Samurai shook his head.
"No. If a person's speed exceeds the speed of light, they can distort time. That is the truth behind why we couldn't see her draw her blade."
Iaian stood dumbfounded.
"But KING not only saw it, he told us the principle behind it…"
"Indeed."
Atomic Samurai ran his hand over the hilt of his katana, letting out a bitter, dry laugh.
"…What a monster of a man."
.....
Elsewhere, Saitama's doorbell suddenly rang. When he pushed the door open, he found KING standing there holding two boxes of video games.
"Whoa, seven o'clock sharp. You're really punctual, KING."
—
「 "…S-sounds like you had a nightmare, Pam! To run into something like that right after entering the Asdana system… you'd better be careful. It seems your resistance to Memory Jogo is quite poor."
"Don't let it get to you. Dreams and reality are opposites. While you were asleep, the Express arrived at Penacony…"
Stelle walked to the window and gazed at the luxurious hotel exterior. It was hard to imagine this place had once been a prison.
Himeko and Mr. Yang had already disembarked. Stelle found March 7th, who had just finished packing, and the two headed out together. After passing through dozens of checkpoints of varying sizes, they finally stepped onto the grounds of the world-renowned hotel.
But the effort was worth it. March 7th looked toward the hotel lobby; rows of guest rooms lined both sides, their crystal glass shimmering under warm golden lights to form a vertical galaxy of light that stretched toward the heavens.
Attendants in pristine uniforms moved with the precision of clockwork components. Behind the glass curtain walls of the distant elevator shafts, hundreds of gilded lifts zipped up and down like shooting stars, resembling a flowing musical score.
March 7th couldn't wait to check in, but the priority was finding Uncle Yang and the others. The two hurried to the rendezvous point.
Suddenly, a cute young boy approached and bowed politely to Stelle. "Welcome to the Reverie Hotel. May you have an unforgettable vacation! If you need to check in, please walk straight to the front desk."
Why did those words sound so familiar?
"It's the child from the dream…"
The boy introduced himself as Misha, a bellboy at Penacony. He gave Stelle an enthusiastic introduction: Penacony in reality was this hotel, but the Penacony in dreams was a place where miracles were born—a land of extravagant hedonism. Everyone entered the Dreamscape via Dreampools. Rather than a dream, it was more like another reality. 」
「 ..... 」
〜Hunter x Hunter World〜
A faint scent of blood lingered in the training room, with the severed limbs of Chimera Ants scattered across the floor. Netero sat cross-legged on a piece of broken carapace, leisurely watching the projection in the sky.
"Those folks out in the cosmos certainly have a lot of nerve. Letting people enter a dream state… wouldn't that leave the physical Penacony completely defenseless? No wonder Duke Inferno dares to set his sights on that place."
Netero twirled a lock of his beard, deep in thought.
"Still, if you fight in a dream and die, what happens? Surely it isn't the end for real?"
Novu adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light.
"Based on that girl, Stelle, death in the dreamscape should just be a forced awakening. Like a 'GAME OVER' in a video game—you just restart the round."
"Oh?"
Netero's interest was suddenly piqued.
"That sounds like a wonderful way to train. You could go all out in a dream, and if you die, you just try again… If we could replicate Penacony's dream-weaving abilities here, it would be an effective way to train Hunters."
"Old man, let's not jump to conclusions just yet."
Morel adjusted the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose. "
Those 'Family' people might have some dark intentions. With the technological means available in the universe, I bet they could trap a person in a dream permanently. If a person only lives in a dream, wouldn't that be a form of imprisonment for their physical body?"
—
( Translator-kun: So, is everyone also under Ena's dream, or did the Sky Curtain/Light Screen protect them? )