Chapter 137: A Family War on the Dark Continent x Illumi's Madness
If Roy had to describe [Nanika] in one sentence, it would be: "Beyond reason." If he had to define [Nanika] with one word, it would have to be: "Wish-granter."
His father, Silva, had once bluntly stated that [Nanika] was not human, could not be viewed as family, and was, quite simply, "darkness" from another world.
The truth was, an existence like [Nanika] was already beyond the scope of human cognition. Based on the original story, Roy preferred to call them "Gods who have lost a portion of their 'subjective agency'!" They operate entirely on [Rules], while still retaining a tiny bit of "humanity." For example, [Nanika]'s "demands" versus "requests," and its future dependence on Killua, where it could ignore both to directly obey his "commands" to heal Tsubone and Gon, was a perfect example.
Roy fell into deep thought. To kill an existence comparable to [Nanika], one would clearly have to transcend the "human" category and enter the realm of "Gods." This was something even the "Strongest Human" standing before him couldn't do.
'This kid is actually contemplating how to kill a god.' Netero looked at Roy, astonished that the boy didn't find the idea absurd. "Zzigg has a fine successor," he sighed. The same fearlessness, the same wild imagination. It seemed that "neurotic" Conjurers always ended up developing in ways beyond ordinary comprehension.
"I understand." Roy calmed himself and smiled. "It's late. I won't keep you and Grandfather from your rest. Gotoh, see them out."
Creeak. The young butler opened the door. "Please."
Netero glanced at Zeno. "You're not leaving?"
Zeno: "I'm his grandfather, not a guest."
Netero: "..." He chuckled, "Ho ho," flicked his sleeves, and left the room to the grandfather and grandson. Bang. The door closed.
Zeno spoke directly. "You'll search for an Exorcist, but you must also work hard."
"Your Great-Great-Grandfather and I will both find a way. If that day truly comes, we will overturn the heavens, storm the Dark Continent, and kill that thing!" The old man, though stooped, reached up and rubbed Roy's head. "Just remember, you are not fighting alone."
The boy seemed to have grown taller again. Zeno had to stand on his tiptoes, his arm fully extended, just to reach.
Roy dutifully lowered his head, a relieved smile on his face. "Perhaps this is a revelation left to me by my great-grandfather. Since that 'existence' could sense my aura through Grandpa Zzigg's memory, it means Great-Grandfather is likely still alive."
"Then we have even more reason to kill It!"
"I agree."
Grandfather and grandson exchanged a look and smiled. Outside, Netero hadn't left. He stood by the door, hands behind his back, his sharp ears listening. His old eyes glistened with an emotion he couldn't hide: envy.
Look at their family, and then look at mine. Comparisons are odious.
News had come from Kakin that his孽畜 (rebellious son, Beyond) had sired a bunch of children, infiltrated the royal family, and was building some "Black Whale" ship, all while convincing the old king to move the entire nation to the Dark Continent. After so many years, he still hadn't learned to "behave," insisting on repeating the same mistakes, rushing off to his "death." It had gotten to the point where he, Netero, wanted to hold a grandchild, but didn't even know which one to hold, let alone spend time with one or even pat his head.
"Aah..." A long sigh drifted away on the wind.
Creeak. The door opened. Zeno walked out, his hands behind his back. He glanced at Netero. "Let's go?"
Netero stared at him for a moment, then aimed a kick, which the old man dodged with a simple side-step. "What's wrong with you?"
"I just don't like the look of you. Is that a problem?"
"You burst my volleyball. It's only fair I get to kick you."
Zeno: "..." 'Beyond is the one who's a pain, not me.' He snorted, too lazy to argue with Netero, and turned to leave.
Netero took a deep breath, finally feeling a bit better, and followed at a leisurely pace.
Behind them, creeak, the door closed again. Gotoh was left watching Roy, who was studying Zzigg's notebook, his page stopped on [Will Shears].
The annual Demon Slayer Final Selection was only a few days away. Factoring in travel time, he'd need two days. Roy had already made his decision. Tonight, he would enter his dream and begin hunting "demons" to harvest "Life Energy."
But before that, he had to learn Shu. It would be a "farewell gift" for Sabito, Makomo, and the others, a thank you for their tireless companionship over the past half-year.
[The essence of Nen is inseparable from imagination.]
[Conjurers and Transmuters are especially prominent in this regard.]
[One "creates from nothing"... the other "shapes from nothing"...]
[Simulate shears, "shape" your imagination into a pair, and "cut" the Nen thread connecting your body to the object. This is how you achieve Shu while ensuring the Nen remains on the object after separation.]
Night. The lamplight cast a long shadow of the boy. Roy read intently, not missing a single detail. He occasionally asked Gotoh, "How did you learn Shu back in the day?"
The young butler took a coin from his pocket, placed it on the back of his hand, and chose his words carefully. "Brute force, mostly."
Roy looked up. Gotoh rubbed the coin, smiling sheepishly. "Tsubone always said I was dense. I'm an Emitter, so Shu should have been easy for me, but I just couldn't get it. In the end, it was only because I had to sever the Nen to fire the coin like a bullet... After massive amounts of practice, just desperately thinking 'I must sever the thread,' one day... it just severed."
Severing it just by wanting to... that's not 'dense'. Roy closed the notebook, mused for a moment, then looked at Gotoh seriously. "When we get back, prepare a sword. After the exam, I'll teach you a 'sword style'. Practice it diligently."
The importance of Breathing Styles, which could forcibly erase the statistical gap between humans and demons, was obvious. Now that he had the 'Water Breathing', there was no reason not to teach it to Gotoh. In the future, he could grant it to other "loyal servants" as a reward, bolstering his own side's strength, preparing for the "god-slaying" to come.
"Yes, sir!" Gotoh bowed respectfully.
Roy waved him off. He used the last bit of time before sleep to delve into the [Will Shears Method]. He sat cross-legged on the bed, letting Goldie roll around, his hands resting on his knees, palms up. He closed his eyes, meditated, and controlled his breathing, maintaining the 'Sun Breathing' cycle. With a thought, he began to construct the "Will Shears" in his mind.
The handles... the pivot... the blades... the spine.
The components formed and shattered, shattered and formed, over and over. After more than half an hour... they finally held together.
Roy opened his eyes, summoned his cane sword via [Magnetism], and enveloped it in a layer of Nen. He tossed it in the air, then willed the [Will Shears] to cut the "Nen thread" connecting it to his palm.
A sharp snip echoed in his mind.
He looked. The cane sword, wreathed in milky-white Aura, landed on the bed, the Nen not dissipating. It had successfully become a Nen-imbued object using Shu!
"As expected of the Young Master!" Gotoh had watched the whole thing. From inquiry to meditation to success, it had taken less than forty minutes. Tsubone was right. Compared to the Young Master, he really was a dense blockhead.
Success. It wasn't as complicated as I thought.
Roy summoned the cane sword back and repeated the process several times, succeeding every time. A realization dawned on him. Humans are instinctively awed by the [Unknown], not because it's terrifying, but because they are unwilling to take risks, unwilling to make contact. They prefer to stay in their "comfort zone" of the [Known] to gain a pitiful sense of security. But... once someone takes the first step, finds the right method, and pierces the veil of the [Unknown], that "fear" vanishes. Just like how he, with the help of the [Will Shears Method], had grasped Shu so much faster than Gotoh.
'My fear of that 'Unknown Existence' is purely because I don't understand It.'
'The moment I find a single foothold, just like Killua did with Alluka/Nanika, It will no longer be frightening.'
Tick... tock...
Though the "time mark" on the back of his hand was still counting down, Roy's mind was clear. He treated it as if it didn't exist, planting a seed in his heart: Sooner or later, I'll storm the Dark Continent and show that 'Unknown' what the world's number one family of assassins is all about!
DONG—! Eleven o'clock. The large clock in Zaban City's center chimed the hour.
Goldie, tired of rolling, clumsily climbed up Roy's arm and pecked his head, reminding him to sleep.
Roy dismissed Gotoh. "Goldie's on watch. You can rest easy."
Gotoh nodded, no longer insisting. He gently closed the door behind him... and saw Kurapika. The girl was clutching a notebook, wearing glasses just like his, and had clearly been waiting for a long time.
Seeing him, she pulled out a pen, opened the notebook, and asked seriously, "I have some questions about Nen that I don't understand. I'd like to ask you."
Gotoh looked at her, surprised. The girl met his gaze, unflinching. Finally... the young butler was defeated. He nodded. "Alright."
Under the dim yellow light of the corridor, he began to explain.
"Caw..." Inside the room, Goldie yawned, urging Roy to sleep. The boy's ears twitched, hearing the faint sounds from the hallway. He smiled, and glanced out the window.
A pale face, hair spilling, hung upside down, its vacant, lifeless eyes staring straight at Roy, silently... as if to say... 'If you don't let me in, I'll hang here until I die!'
A dark line formed on Roy's forehead. He glanced over. "What?" You got eliminated, why haven't you gone home?
Illumi didn't answer, just kept staring at Roy. "Why was Grandfather in your room?"
"None of your business."
"What happened to your hand?"
"Nothing."
"Who did it? Tell me, I'll kill them!" His black hair writhed as my foolish, dear little brother, having finally noticed the bandage on Roy's hand, uncontrollably released his killing intent!
Cheep! A few unlucky birds, drawn to the light, flew too close, their eyes rolled back, and they fell from the sky.
Swish—! Roy pulled the curtains shut, blocking Illumi from view. He released his magnetic hold on the window. "I said it's nothing. Go to sleep."
Illumi hung outside the window, swaying in the wind. His face, illuminated by the moonlight, was so dark it could practically drip water. Terrifying.
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