Thousands of water droplets surged upward—
Following Roy's backhanded upward slash, they transformed into countless water swords and shot into the sky!
"Shhhhhhh!"
The wind howled with the force of the slash, sharp and piercing.
Leorio cried out, "My briefcase!"
That briefcase—his treasure—he wouldn't have sold it even if he starved. But unfortunately, a passing water sword grazed it. Slice! It was nearly pierced through. Thankfully, Leorio reacted just in time, snatching it into his arms and narrowly avoiding disaster.
"Whoa~! Can water drops become swords?" Gon was dumbfounded by the scene before him.
Mouth agape, eyes wide, he watched the droplets stretch and reshape before his eyes. His gaze sparkled with excitement. "So cool!"
But no matter how cool it looked, "Don't touch those water swords!" Kurapika warned, his voice sharp as he dove behind the mast. A faint red gleamed in his brown eyes.
He could clearly see the thick, dark color covering the water swords—a dangerous luster that sliced through the mast with ease. Their piercing power was terrifying!
Is this the "Nen" that Captain Red Nose mentioned earlier?
Kurapika's mind raced. A thought bloomed suddenly:
If I can master this "Nen"… can I finally avenge my clan?
His heart surged like wildfire, uncontrollable and consuming.
Kurapika stared at Roy with blazing eyes—then, all of a sudden, his body felt weightless. Hayden Maxey had flung him, Leorio, and Gon into the cabin!
"Idiots! Trying to die out there?" The red-nosed old captain shouted, bursting in after them and slamming the door shut.
He gasped heavily, a faint aura of Nen enveloping his body. As soon as he landed, he collapsed headfirst.
"Captain!" First mate Gus rushed over with the sailors to help him up.
The old man's legs trembled. Leaning against Gus, he finally exhaled and peered fearfully out the window. His ever-present pipe had fallen with a clack, its smooth-cut tip proof that it had been sliced clean through by one of the water swords.
"Pass the order—no one leaves the cabin!"
Ignoring his weakened body, Hayden gestured to sailors to guard the door. Looking at Roy standing atop the ship's side, his voice trembled slightly.
"This isn't a battle humans can join."
"Rookies, you're lucky…" he added solemnly, "To witness a battle like this—one you'll never forget for the rest of your lives."
Yes… that blind man wasn't human. He was a god.
Meanwhile, the men who'd followed the nose-ringed thug and tried to surround Roy exchanged horrified glances. Regret sank in like cold lead.
"Damn it… all this trouble because of that guy with the nose ring!"
If they'd known that blind man was this powerful, who in their right mind would've stepped up?
While those people wallowed in regret, Kurapika, Leorio, and Gon didn't spare them a glance.
Their eyes were locked outside, refusing to miss a single moment of the unfolding spectacle.
Even Leorio, briefcase-loving as he was, understood what Hayden meant—this was a once-in-a-lifetime battle.
And sure enough—under countless gazes—thousands of water swords ascended and, under Roy's control, transformed.
Some became the head.
Some the belly.
Some extended into the claws…
Gravity rebelled against the storm's fury. The swords converged and condensed into a massive, awe-inspiring form.
"ROAR—!"
A thunderous roar tore through the wind, shaking the heavens. Even a fraction of its shockwave slipped into the cabin, making everyone's skin prickle with goosebumps.
"W-What the hell is that?!"
Everyone looked up—
Where Roy's blade pointed, a beast rose.
With deer-like horns, a camel's head, rabbit eyes, a serpent's neck, a fish-scaled body, eagle claws, tiger palms, cow ears—
It walked on auspicious clouds, its body wrapped in Nen, flicking its tail, stirring up monstrous waves.
A divine being—not mortal at all—more like a mythical creature from legend.
A dragon.
"Rising Dragon…" Fujitora murmured, awe in his voice. "The name fits."
He looked at the divine dragon formed by countless water swords and black "armament lines," then slowly nodded. Even Kaido of the Beasts in his Zoan form might not be more imposing.
As Roy had said… "This kid has taken his first step beyond me."
Fujitora sighed softly. When the dragon rises, the clouds follow. And now, it soars to stir wind and rain.
At the ship's edge—
The moment the dragon appeared, Roy released its restraints. Gently caressing its aura, he narrowed his eyes at the storm.
"Go. Tear the storm to shreds. I don't want another dark cloud above my head."
"ROAR—!"
The dragon obeyed.
With a flick of its whiskers, it twisted and shot upward, cutting through the heavens, carrying Roy's will and defiance straight into the heart of the storm.
It slashed, tore, bit, and thrashed with its tail—each strike relentless and sharp.
Each moment imprinted itself on the watchers' minds, leaving them speechless, slack-jawed.
"So cool!!" Gon jumped and raised his fists. "Go, Dragon!"
In his excitement, he stepped on Leorio's foot.
"GAAHH!" Leorio winced in pain—but couldn't even bring himself to hit Gon.
Not now.
Even this "uncle" felt his heart surge, his spirit yearning to rush to the skies alongside the dragon.
"We're all exam takers… but this gap is insane!" Leorio adjusted his glasses and smacked himself. "He makes dragons with his sword—me? I cut apples."
"Please don't let me meet this guy during the exam!"
"Click—"
As if that's something you can avoid if you want to.
Kurapika stood beside him, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. The blond boy stared skyward, emotions churning as his crimson eyes flickered in and out of activation.
His thoughts boiled over—
"This is power.
I need it.
I want it.
My clan is waiting.
I cannot stop here!"
"That blind man… he's no ordinary person. Maybe… maybe he recognized me the moment I boarded the ship…"
"He said my eyes were beautiful. Maybe… I can talk to him."
"Yes. I must talk to him. For power. For my people."
His usual calm shattered. In the face of overwhelming strength, nothing else mattered.
Captain Hayden Maxey seemed to sense something. He removed his sailor's cap, looked to the skies.
Above…
The storm, torn apart by the dragon's claws, was fading fast.
The black clouds that had pressed on everyone's hearts couldn't withstand the dragon's fury.
The sun pierced through the gaps—scattering the haze.
"Looks like it's ending." Hayden finally steadied himself and waved to Gus.
"Get me today's boarding list."
"I want to see who this blind man—no, this lord—really is."
"With strength like that, this year's Hunter Exam… something big is going to happen."
"Understood," Gus nodded, heading into the cabin.
Above, just as the captain foresaw…
The fire of the sandstorm faded. The tsunami ceased. The Sea God that had slapped the ship was finally slain beneath the dragon's claws.
In an instant—
The clouds dispersed.
The sun returned.
And light flooded the world.
Only the dragon's head and horns remained, roaring once more before diving into the sea below.
"Magnificent~"
Clap clap clap
Fujitora applauded slowly, watching the young man standing with his back to the sun, sheathing his blade.
Only one thought echoed in his heart:
"You're incredible."
"Hehe~ Teacher, are you alright?" Roy asked, walking along the waves left behind by his "Nen Dragon."
Fujitora clenched his fists and coughed lightly. "I'm fine, but… that wasn't enough to beat me."
"The old man has a move too. One day, you should taste it for yourself."
"A meteorite falling from the sky~?" Roy smirked and winked.
Fujitora froze, then chuckled, nodding at Roy as his form faded away.
"Yes… a meteorite falling from the sky. When you can block that, then we'll talk about surpassing me."
Roy grinned. That hard-to-admit-defeat look—classic master behavior.
Far away, at the Zoldyck estate…
"Bah! Who's talking behind my back?"
Maha sneezed, looked toward the sky, and muttered—
"Tch… that brat Roy again… probably complaining about me."
"…Still… without him here, it's been kinda boring."