I've been set up!
The Stalin family angering the Ten Dons was just a smokescreen…
The real aim was to let the enemy, knowing I'm a member of the Shadow Beasts, lure me out into the open.
Very few people know my current identity in the underworld—
I've even cut off contact with the military for the time being.
Countless thoughts flashed through Xiang Nan's mind at once.
The other side clearly knows who I am…
Thinking back on everything to date, the only place where his identity was at all public was the Hunter Association.
"Not just a player… but also a Hunter of the Association!"
Xiang Nan reached a conclusion.
The Zatobi family, also Mafia, couldn't have betrayed him—Mia is still counting on him to help her become one of the Ten Dons.
The military is beyond suspicion, and Beishi's group has already teamed up with him.
After weighing all possibilities, one name crossed Xiang Nan's mind… Pariston.
When he'd spoken with Pariston before, the man had said there were several players in the Association, just like him, from the Nowhere Town—and he'd even wanted to introduce them. They must be the three people in front of him.
And the long‑haired man outside this space…
If Pariston had used the Association's platform or name to manipulate lower‑level players, it would all make sense.
"Level 8, huh…"
Judging from the strength of these four and the path each had taken so far, Xiang Nan could only think of one group—the very top‑tier players of the main world.
"So it's Pariston?"
Calming himself, Xiang Nan realized the ability really had only pulled him into this independent space; nothing else was restricting him.
He smiled faintly and looked at the three.
"Hmm? Pretty sharp… you guessed who we are in one go. No wonder you've grown so terrifyingly strong in just a few years," one of them said in surprise.
"It has nothing to do with Pariston. We only got your info from him, nothing more," another sneered.
"Looks like… you mean to kill me. I don't recall offending you. We're all players, all members of the Association. If you're not Pariston's men, why target me?" Xiang Nan pressed on.
"You've got a grudge with Pariston?"
The blond hulk raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah… we've crossed swords."
Xiang Nan curled his lip.
"Then you're out of luck. Going against him usually ends badly… But if he's marked you, it also proves your talent. It's quite possible you'll become this world's bound representative player," the blond man said, gloating.
"To stop me from becoming Hunter x Hunter's representative player? You're out to eliminate the highest‑level batch of players?"
"Not by level—by potential. People like you. Lots are level 8, but if they blunder into the game again, they'll die in Round 9 or 10. Those types aren't our prey."
"I don't get it… Why kill fellow players from the same world when there's no vendetta?"
"Heh‑heh…"
The blond man laughed. "You've been in HxH for a few years, yeah?"
"Right."
"Ever notice the system panel? The top level has always been 'Extinction 8,' hasn't it?"
"…"
"Once a player reaches level 8, before Round 9 of the Extinction Game, the system gives a subjective choice: continue or quit. Round 9 is a qualitative leap in difficulty—survival odds are minuscule; Round 10 and full clear are basically impossible. Yet monsters like you do exist, with a small chance."
"I see… If you quit, you stay forever at Extinction 8 and exit the game, turning from player into native. You lose the system's boosts and cross‑world resources. You're stuck living in Hunter x Hunter like any other local…"
Before they could speak, Xiang Nan had pieced it together.
"And without those resources, your power growth slows drastically. Still, it frees you from the game's lethal risks. Live out your life normally—unless you get yourself killed."
One of the three applauded his intellect again.
"So, the reason you have to kill me… is simply envy."
"How perfectly you embody the ugliness of human nature."
Xiang Nan laughed bluntly. "Of course, as players our souls are filthy already; otherwise we wouldn't be here."
Even Pigeon and Orban didn't know this intel—clearly it was sealed off.
These people must have been in the HxH world a long time and gathered exhaustive player data.
After all, no one who pushed into Rounds 9 or 10 ever succeeded.
They must have had ties to those top players who died, learned this truth, and told no one—monopolizing it.
Despicable…
Players strong enough to reach Round 9 are already hardened in mind and skill and rarely back down.
They aim to clear the game—yet continuing likely means death.
Thus these old‑timers remain the "strongest players" of the main world, even after losing the system, still enjoying the hidden perks of the title.
"That's only part of it… Once someone binds a world and becomes its representative, they can seize most of its resources, leaving little for other players. We still have to live and grow here. If the resources are monopolized, our transmigrant edge is wasted—you understand."
The blond man grinned.
"This isn't your first time doing this, is it?" Xiang Nan asked with a smile.
They were clearly veterans; even he had fallen into their trap.
"We prepared a long time for you. Once you're dead, even if a player someday clears the game, it'll be much later. Time for us to loot this world. And the Stalin family, by crippling the Shadow Beasts, can force the Ten Dons to bow—since they need the Beasts against the Spiders… So your death benefits a lot of people."
As he spoke, the three focused their Nen, entering combat stance.
From Xiang Nan's sleeve slid a scalpel into his palm.
"What exactly did Pariston tell you?" he asked calmly.
"We're not interested in your mess with him. Thanks to him, though, we know you're no ordinary powerhouse. Killing you won't be easy. But freakish rookies like you? We've taken out plenty—we've got experience."
"Every one of them had talent while alive… Too bad, geniuses die young, don't they?"
With that, led by the blond brute, the three lunged at Xiang Nan.