Yesterday, the "old body" weathered and decayed, but today, the "new body" is reborn from the ashes... In less than a minute, the young boy walked out. His height might not have increased, but the tightly chiseled muscles of his body deceive no one's eyes.
Roy crossed his hands and stretched them towards the sky, twisting his waist and moving his body, gradually adapting to the current strength of his physique. He put on a training outfit, which was already fitting but now clearly a bit tight and would soon need replacing.
"Better get a bigger one."
So next time, it won't require frequent clothing changes... Roy planned to mention this to Wutong in the evening, then he reached out to pull open the door and walked out...
"Step... step...."
The sound of footsteps echoed in the ancient corridors filled with the aura of ages in the Zoldyck Family's castle...
The young man bore the sunlight on his back, walking slowly towards the basement. At a certain moment, he turned his head to look towards the garden... where, after the diligent repairs by the butler team, Silva was as usual accompanying Killua on a walk. The woman had a visibly high belly, with the due date said to be in two months.
In two months... when that lock of silver hair appears, it will also be the day the next heir of the Zoldyck Family is decided.
"So soon..." Roy extended his hand, letting a swirling leaf fall into his palm. Reflecting back on last year when he was troubled by the stagnation of his "constitution," now he had to run around for a greater concern... the "curse." Unconsciously, he had already become less concerned about matters of "heir" or "patriarch"...
At the right time, Silva sensed something and turned his head to glance at Roy.
"Gah oh~"
With a thought, the Golden Crow spread its wings and suddenly emerged above his head, opening its mouth to spit out a tongue of fire, incinerating the leaf that had flown into Roy's palm to ashes...
As if blaming him for not calling it for lunch.
Heavens above... at that time, his Nen was depleted, with the will but not the strength, so he hoped for forgiveness.
Roy laughed, smoothing the lock of golden hair on the Golden Crow's head. The plump crow, in annoyance, pecked at him, then settled as usual atop his head.
Silva quietly observed this scene, watching the boy and the bird playfully disappear around a corner... His sleeve was pulled, bringing him back to his senses. It was Killua, calling out to him.
"This one will surely have silver hair," the woman stated.
Silva withdrew his gaze, responding with a noncommittal "Hm," as this was the five hundred sixty-fourth time she had mentioned it since she began showing.
In silence, he supported her as they walked forward...
At three in the afternoon, the sun leaned towards the west.
"Young Master..."
"Young Master..."
Not seen for a month, the One-Eyed and Scarface stood guard in front of the basement door. Upon seeing Roy approaching, they bowed and saluted.
"Long time no see." Roy smiled.
"Long time no see." Scarface and the One-Eyed each stood on one side, opening the door for the young man, revealing the deep, quiet passageway behind it.
Since realizing that [re; death game] was actually connected to the real Dark Continent, upon seeing Jager again, Roy stood silently before the door for a moment, his emotions swirling, before taking a deep breath and stepping inside.
Scarface and the One-Eyed bowed to see him off,
as his footsteps grew distant in the passageway... Until they could no longer see Roy's figure, they exchanged a glance and closed the door.
"The Young Master has changed."
"He's become stronger... but also... changed in an indescribable way..."
"He must have something on his mind."
"Having something on his mind means he's grown up, matured..."
"Like Master Jager?"
"No... he's not the Master... but, the Master seems very fond of him...."
A few words of whispered conversation drifted away with the wind....
Roy walked through the passage, stepping softly under the dim yellow lights, slowly approaching the airtight door. He spared a glance at the chrysanthemums; the early spring blooms had faded, no longer as bright as they were in late autumn. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and "knock... knock..." knocked on the door.
"Grandpa Jager, I've come to see you."
"Whoosh——"
The airtight door swung wide open as thick tentacles reached out, grabbing Roy and dragging him inside....
And just then, the voice prompt from the panel arrived right on cue, echoing in Roy's ear...
[Demonology...has been recorded...]
[Demon Eye: Class B "Rare Beast"]
[Manifested Nen Amount: 177851/1000000 (Note: Referencing ants. Elite Squad Leader is D, Master General is C, Three Guards are B, Ant King is B+)]
[Potential Nen Amount: 177851/1000000 (Note: This is a "Demon Eye" that has been "artificially" modified, its potential exhausted, suspected to be used as a "memory" vessel, extinguishing the "true consciousness")]
No doubt about it...'It must be Grandpa Jager's handiwork.' Roy suddenly recalled something Zeno once told him... Grandfather Jager's "Nen Beast" "Cookie Soldier" had brought the Demon Eye home. In a moment of wavering spirit, consciousness blacked out, and when he came to....
He found himself beside Grandpa Jager, saw the profile of a young Netero and Linne...
"Roar!" The towering Sand Worm rose from the ground, its overpowering Ren sweeping across the land... Roy's gaze moved beyond the others, towards the vast, lush forest formed by interweaving towering trees. Behind him, waves crashed against rocks, spraying the ocean in endless splendor...
Indeed, this was the landing point — the southern shore of the Great Forest of Uduki — where grandpa once accompanied Netero and Linne upon their first entry into the Dark Continent!
"Why are you standing there dazed?"
"Get down now!"
A familiar reminder echoed...
Unlike the past, this time, Roy chose... to stand his ground!
"No... I want to see the entirety of this creature!"
[Demonology... has expanded...]
The young man rejected Jager's suggestion; concentrating his thoughts, he gathered aura in front of him, forming a sturdy shield entwined with a "Magnetic Purple Aura" to defend himself... His silver hair, unlike Silva's sleek mane, stood upright like Killua who was soon to be born, every strand exhibiting the flamboyant personality of Jager. Unexpectedly, Jager glanced over, surprised to see...
This unremarkable young man could skillfully utilize an advanced Applied Technique of Nen —[Ten].
Thinking quietly to himself: "I wonder whose child he is, he has some talent."
"Boom...boom...boom..." Sand and stones flew as the Sand Worm, bearing its Ren, formed a wind, devastating everything... Ripping up the ground, destroying ships... Trees, planks, and rudders continuously crashed over....
This time, relying on a nearly "300-point" constitution boost, Roy glanced at his own Nen amount....
[Manifested Nen Amount: D+ (6874/10000→9825/10000)]
[Potential Nen Amount: C- (1542/100000→22580/100000)]
It had increased many times over since he departed for the Hunter Exam!
"Oh ho... good lad, standing firm..." Netero stood next to Jager, with Linne on the other side.
The two of them cast a surprised glance at Roy. One had a Buddha's glow before him, the other a large iron pot... appearing much more at ease than Roy...
Young Linne, with two ponytails, wore a Lolita-styled red dress, conjured a spatula with a swift movement, "bang~" shattered a plank that flew towards her, and turned to Roy, asking: "Young man, what's your name? Which faction do you belong to?"
Young, yet able to proficiently use[Ten],a talent indeed. In the upcoming exploration of the Dark Continent, he might offer some assistance...
"Roy." Roy raised his shield to deflect a flying stone, not providing any more information.
According to information Netero revealed in the Sithmello Wetlands, at landing, they had been forcibly separated, evidently encountering something... uncontrollable!
Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears,
The towering Sand Worm stirred up a storm, noticing from above that several "small bugs" were still standing firm... seemingly unimpressed by the destruction it caused....
Enraged... it let out a skyward roar!
Its massive body abruptly shook, shedding countless scales, which landed and turned into lice towering over three people tall, their abdomen and legs writhing, forming an endless army of lice, charging headlong at them....
Roy felt his scalp prickling, as a message panel suddenly popped out and embedded itself in his brow...
[Demonology...has been recorded...]
[Frenzied Louse: C-class Magical Beast]
[Manifested Nen Amount: C- (2451/100000)]
[Potential Nen Amount: C (14280/100000)]
[Note: Parasite, its strength varies significantly with different host entities. As it often feeds on the host's Nen, it establishes a symbiotic relationship with the host, often driven by the host...]
To sum up...
Charging towards Roy and the others now is... an army of Frenzied Lice at Ant Master General level!