(bonus chapter for +100 power stones)
Nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds was Botobai's fastest clear record.
And that was an achievement he only managed by taking an axe blow from the [Pig-headed General].
Although the young man hadn't cleared it yet, just enduring for ten minutes—and looking like he'd last even longer—was enough to say a lot.
"Hey," Geru looked at Botobai seriously, "One hundred million Jenny, for one vial of Zoldyck blood. How about it?"
'A great reputation is never unearned...'
"Poison resistance" was no longer at the top of Geru's "research list." Compared to "testing poison," she was more interested in Roy's blood!
Geru had seen outstanding people, many in fact. Every Hunter Exam more or less had one or two such guys. But... to be as outstanding as this Zoldyck, this was beyond Geru's comprehension.
Her intuition told her Roy's blood was extraordinary!
"Get it yourself. That is... if you don't want to die."
Botobai was straightforward, his warning couldn't be more direct. The woman was becoming obsessed with her "research." If that... man with silver hair down to his waist were here, he'd probably kill her directly!
"Researching everything will only harm you."
The "Dragon" crossed his arms, his face hidden under the Peking opera mask unreadable. He looked up and saw Gotoh looking over, and snorted two long dragons of air from his nostrils.
Eleven minutes... twelve minutes... Time was flying. All the examinees had already left.
In the barbecue restaurant at the entrance, the two old men silently drank their black tea. The space behind them was empty, the passing examinees gone.
Beanman was wedged between them, obediently refilling their tea.
The busy barbecue chef behind the counter didn't dare to breathe loudly, terrified of offending the two "distinguished guests."
He was also an observant man. Doing small business backed by the Hunter Association, he had earned a lot of money and naturally knew what his "big patrons" looked like... From time to time, he'd cut some fruit or bring over tea and snacks.
Thirteen minutes... fourteen minutes...
In the illusion.
Having finished off Sajin who held two axes, Roy stepped on his corpse and charged straight at Dasuo.
The Pig-headed Man acting as the [Scout], responsible for recon, was the smallest. His "Manifested Aura" was also less than the [Barbarians] Sajin and Gordian. The panel showed... [Aura (Manifested/Potential): C (10/100000)].....
He was clearly the easiest one to deal with. Roy understood the principle of picking the softest persimmon to squeeze....
"Dong... dong... dong...." Gordian sensed Roy's intention. Coordinating with the spiked mace thrown by the [Rogue] Walun, he used "Barbarian Charge," swinging his five-meter-long broadsword at Roy's head... A piercing sonic boom exploded!
He had immediately used his Nen ability... [Heavy Strike · Crescent Slash]!
Unlike the hand axe, whose strength was "vertical chops," the broadsword focused on sweeps and slashes. Its attack surface was larger, its range wider. In a group fight, one sweep... could inflict massive damage to enemies in a fan-shaped area. It was clearly superior, but... the cost was also greater!
The "crescent-shaped slash" started later but arrived first, catching up to Roy in an instant.
From the side came the spiked mace, and from the front, "Swoosh swoosh swoosh," Dasuo fired a volley of arrows... Roy was in mid-air with no foothold.
He had already prepared a plan in his mind this time. 'It doesn't matter if I die. As long as I can take out the [Scout] Dasuo before I die, this reset won't be a waste.'
The young man's expression was grim but calm. He opened all his aura nodes and, within 0.01 seconds, instantly erupted with [Ren], converting all his "Nen" into [Magnetism]. He formed a milky-white magnetic field to interfere with the incoming broadsword and mace. His right hand grasped his short-hilt, pointing it diagonally down....
He used [Phantom Sword] without hesitation!
"Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: [Phantom Sword] · Water Mirror Mirage..."
"Drip..." The sound of a water drop echoed. Ripples spread out from Roy as the center, instantly enveloping Gordian, Dasuo, and Walun.
Their large, bell-like pig eyes were visibly dazed for a moment, as if they saw a red sun slowly rising from the sea level... They instantly realized something was wrong and quickly shook their massive pig heads to throw off this illusion forced into their minds, swinging their swords or maces to follow up.
Unfortunately, a moment's hesitation is an eternity!
"Aargh" A miserable shriek... Gordian and Walun had just regained their senses when their pig eyes widened at the sight....
The young man, with two "Crimson Swords" in hand, had fiercely stabbed into Dasuo's chest. The blade tips emerged from his back, taking his life in an instant.
[Tip: "Swordsmanship" +50... "Life Energy" +9...]
"Whoosh" The crescent slash was half a beat too slow, but it had sealed Roy's escape route. But... Roy knew he couldn't dodge, so he didn't even try.
He turned back, smiled at Gordian, and his head was sent flying. As it spun in the air, he watched the red-eyed Pig-headed Man roar and charge at his "corpse." He closed his eyes and disconnected.
The "memory" "saved" at "fifteen minutes and twenty seconds," the moment Dasuo died.
"Splash" The waves crashed against the reef, shattering into fine spray.....
In Roy's world of cognition.
Specks of light gathered into a human form.
Exiting [re: The Game of the Dead].
Roy once again connected to the illusion via the "Gate to the Dark Continent," his consciousness "reborn" on the soft sand of the sea of cognition.
He touched his neck, which had just been sliced by Gordian. 'Good, still there.' He let out a long sigh of relief....
First, he checked his panel, confirming the nine points of "Life Energy" from "Dasuo" were secured. He briefly recovered his mental energy, rolled over, got up, conjured his "short-hilt" in one hand, and once again dove through the fissure opened by the "Gate to the Dark Continent"...
This time, right in front of Gordian, he took out the [Rogue] Walun.
[Tip: "Swordsmanship" +50... "Life Energy" +10...]
The "memory" "saved" at "seventeen minutes and thirty-eight seconds," the moment Walun was beheaded.
Thus, three of the five were gone. Only Gordian and... that big guy deep in the jungle remained!
'Why is it indifferent? Just letting its kinsmen die one by one?'
After fighting Sajin, Dasuo, and Gordian several times, Roy was very clear... Pig-headed Men were not unintelligent magical beasts. On the contrary, they were good at coordinating, they had emotions, they could get angry. Although he couldn't understand what they were roaring, it was likely a "language" similar to humans... Like the Kiriko, they were an "intelligent species."
So, while Roy was entangled with Gordian and the others, he was also wary of the depths of the jungle, afraid that the other party would suddenly interrupt his battle plan.
But, the other party showed no intention of acting, just watching coldly as Sajin and Dasuo were killed one after another, becoming souls under Roy's sword.
'Is it disdain?' After killing Walun, Roy collapsed on the soft sand of the sea of cognition, thinking of a possibility.
'Because I'm too weak, it can't be bothered to act... That's pretty insulting...'
Roy laughed at himself, then stopped thinking about it. Once rested, he again dove through the fissure from the "Gate to the Dark Continent." This time... only to take Gordian's pig head!
Twenty minutes and twenty seconds... [Tip: "Swordsmanship" +50... "Life Energy" +12.....]
It took three minutes. Without the help of Sajin, Dasuo, and Walun, Roy stood on Gordian's massive body, plunged a sword into his mouth, shredded his windpipe, and took his life.
"Whoosh." A mountain wind blew from the jungle of interwoven giant trees, ruffling the young man's black hair... Thus, "four" of the "five" were gone. Only one remained....
Roy leaned on his cane sword, standing straight. His Asauchi circled around him. He looked into the depths of the jungle and said, "Are you coming out, or should I come find you?"
A moment of silence...
"DONG!"
"DONG!"
"DONG!"
Giant feet stomped the ground, each step leaving a crater....
Roy's eyes narrowed. He saw a massive shadow, nearly ten meters tall, push aside the giant trees and walk over unhurriedly. A chain as thick as a man was wrapped around its neck, the ends connected to an axe and a spiked mace. It looked down on Roy... Its eyes, as big as human heads, glared, flashing with a bloody light.
[Monster Encyclopedia expanding, recording....]
[Pig-headed General]
[Manifested Aura: C+ (99950/100000)]
[Potential Aura: C+ (99950/100000)]
[Evaluation: C+ (No weaker than an average Ant Squadron Leader)]
(Note: Known aura capacity of Youpi: over 400,000... Average Squadron Leader: approx. 100,000... Neferpitou, Shaiapouf: between 200,000 and 300,000)
Roy's eyes flashed. In just an instant, he judged... this "Pig-headed General" before him was in no way inferior to Uvogin at his peak!
Receiving the panel notification, the young man raised his hand, grasped his short-hilt, and raised his vigilance to the maximum.
How strong was Uvogin at his peak? Wiping out most of the Shadow Beasts single-handedly was proof enough.
If Kurapika hadn't used "Vow and Restriction," fueled by hatred, turning himself into an "anti-Spider weapon," activating his Scarlet Eyes, triggering [Absolute Time], and using "Chain Jail" to force Uvogin into a state of [Zetsu]... it's unknown who would have won.
"Gurarara... The clan elders forbid me from eating people... I must thank you for helping me kill them..." The Pig-headed General opened its mouth, its tusks like ivory. It spoke a string of strange words in a booming voice, impossible to understand.
Roy frowned, quietly tightening his grip on his cane sword and short-hilt. The blades were dyed with [Scorching True Intent], emitting a scorching red glow, as he searched for an opening....
However, the Pig-headed General seemed oblivious. It bent down, grabbed Walun, who had just died, and took a bite, chomping off half of his head!
?
"Chew chew..." Walun's head burst. His legs dangled as he was eaten, bite by bite. Next was... Dasuo... then Sajin... and finally... Gordian, who was under Roy's foot!
[Tip: Pig-headed Man]
[Racial Talent: Creeping Hunger]
[Note: As long as one breath remains, they will be plagued by hunger. Cannibalism of their own kind can strengthen them. Eating other species can restore aura and acquire information from that species, including "Nen abilities"]
"ROAR!" After eating three, the [Pig-headed General] let out a satisfied roar... Its aura changed in that instant!
[Tip: "Pig-headed General" is suspected to be evolving...]
[Pig-headed Marshal]
[Manifested Aura: B (10000/1000000)]
[Potential Aura: B (99999/1000000)]
[Evaluation: B- class magical beast, upper limit B+, approaching the Ant King]
The string of notifications was like a death knell, constantly urging Roy to flee...
Roy: "So... I'm fighting the Ant King?"
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down...
He had just overcome his fear and mustered his fighting spirit....
His consciousness suddenly wavered....
His head was smashed to pulp by the Pig-headed General's thrown mace.
Twenty-one minutes and fifteen seconds. The "memory" "saved" at the moment of his death.