Summer in the Republic of Padokea was hotter than usual.
Before five in the morning, a sliver of light could be seen creeping up from the horizon.
Taking advantage of the fact that the heat hadn't fully risen yet, Roy woke up early, put on a vest and shorts, and began his morning run around the entire Kukuroo Mountain.
From the family's ancient castle deep in the mountain, to the butler's villa halfway up, then to the security room at the foot of the mountain, and finally back the same way, a journey of nearly ten kilometers... By the time he returned, he was drenched in sweat as if he'd just been pulled from water, yet he felt an indescribable exhilaration.
Science proves that running stimulates the body to secrete endorphins, bringing a certain thrill and pleasure... But after a few short breaths, Roy didn't feel the expected happiness; instead, he frowned, somewhat depressed.
The reason was simple: he, the eldest son of the Zoldyck Family, the world's number one assassin family whose name alone was enough to strike fear into hearts, and also a transmigrator from Earth, had recently noticed that his physical growth rate was slowing down.
While it's true that exercise has a plateau period, the initial stages are when muscle gain or fat loss are most effective, after which it's a steady decline, stabilizing at a fixed value.
But this only applies to adults, not to children like Roy, who was currently eight years old and still in a period of rapid growth and development.
Moreover, his surname was Zoldyck; his physical constitution was naturally superior to others.
It was just that his black hair meant he hadn't perfectly inherited the Zoldyck Family's bloodline talent... However, adhering to the principle of "slow is fast, fast is slow," Roy's mindset was well-adjusted; he wasn't anxious or disheartened. He returned to his bedroom and took a quick shower.
When he came out again, he had changed into a clean training uniform and was seated at the dining table.
It was now six in the morning, and as an old wooden grandfather clock in the corner chimed... Gotoh, the butler, promptly pushed a dining cart and placed a sumptuous breakfast before him.
Cream of mushroom soup... bacon sandwich... a fresh salad made with wild vegetables dug from Kukuroo Mountain, paired with eggs and drizzled with rice vinegar... and finally, a glass of milk... absolutely balanced nutrition, except for the lack of flavor... Roy casually picked up a sandwich, dipped it in a bit of mushroom soup, and took a bite, listening to Gotoh report the day's training plan while quietly opening his system panel and examining it carefully.
[Name: Roy Zoldyck]
[Bone Age: Seven years and eleven months]
[Constitution: 10 → 10.001 (Note: Average person is 1)]
[Nen Ability: Aura Nodes unopened, awaiting development]
[Combat Experience: Lv2 (15/100)]
[Applied Techniques — Dark Step: Proficient (78/100); Limb Bend: Proficient (64/100); Snake Living: Beginner (83/100) (Note: Applied techniques are categorized by mastery level: Beginner, Proficient, Mastered, Perfect)]
[Title: Novice, easily perishing "Tender Shoot"]
"Tender Shoot"?
This evaluation really didn't pull any punches... Roy bit hard into his sandwich, venting his frustration.
Just then, he heard Gotoh clear his throat and quietly remind him, "Young Master, the Mistress has been in a bad mood lately. You'd best be careful."
The Mistress referred to Kikyo, Roy's birth mother... Having three consecutive children with black hair, none with silver, was like a "grave sin" in the eyes of an ordinary family wanting a son but having three daughters instead, none with a penis.
So, it was completely understandable that she would be anxious, even a little irritable.
Fortunately, the next child, Killua, would not disappoint her again.
"That Milluki kid is good. Aside from being a bit fat, a bit ugly, having small eyes, and farting a lot, there's nothing wrong with him... Mother doesn't like him, but I don't see anything wrong with it," Roy said indifferently after finishing his sandwich and taking a sip of milk.
Gotoh: "..."
He fell into a brief silence, unsure if his young master was praising Young Master Milluki or deliberately insulting him. Then, recalling that his young master never really liked Young Master Illumi, always finding him cold and his eyes as hollow as a ghost's... he simply pretended not to hear... and instead brought up another matter: "Young Master, the Master has decided to open your Aura Nodes."
The young butler, who hadn't yet grown a full beard, pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose and said solemnly, "The time is set for eight o'clock tonight... He will be waiting for you in the training room."
Roy's expression faltered for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. He casually pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth. Beneath his calm demeanor, his emotions were inevitably stirred... The bad news was... through observation over the past few years, everyone in the Zoldyck Family, from Sliva to Zeno, had realized... he was just an ordinary genius. Opening his Aura Nodes early might train him into a competent assassin in the future, but inheriting the Zoldyck Family was entirely his own wishful thinking... The good news was, if he opened his Aura Nodes and successfully awakened an Enhancement Type Nen Ability... this might be an opportunity to compensate for his "frail" physique.
In any case, the matter was settled.
Tonight at eight, whether Roy wanted to or not, he had no choice but to step into the world of Nen Ability ahead of schedule!
And this step was the one he had anticipated the most in the nearly eight years since his rebirth into the Zoldyck Family.
A flash of undetectable brilliance flickered deep within the young man's pupils, and he quickly finished his breakfast.
Afterward, at Sliva's instruction, he unusually skipped training, spending the entire day in meditation and breathing exercises to adjust his state to optimal, waiting until night fell and a bright moon rose into the sky.
He stood up tall, and guided by the flickering wall lamps, he left his bedroom. Following the deep, quiet corridor, he made his way to the training room.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
The door was knocked... "Enter."
A very strong voice came out... The door then opened, revealing a corner of the room... A tall man stood with his back to the door, his legs spread in a split, resting on two heavy stone blocks. His silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, and the aura he inadvertently emitted was so powerful it made it difficult to breathe.
Sliva Zoldyck, a top-tier assassin in the world, once single-handedly killed member number 8 of the A-rank criminal organization Genei Ryodan and escaped unscathed. In the Chimera Ant arc, he descended from the sky and instantly killed a squadron leader-level leopard with a single punch... Every time they met, Roy could directly feel the overwhelming pressure and suffocating sense of danger emanating from his father.
This wasn't about father and son; it was more like the natural dimensional crushing of a higher-dimensional being upon a lower-dimensional one.
He calmed his emotions, took a deep breath, and said, "Father."
"Bang ~" The door slammed shut.
Sliva turned, his gaze like a knife, and looked over: "Come here."
Roy silently stepped forward.
Then he was met with a palm as large as a fan, which struck his chest lightly yet as fast as lightning!
"Crack!"
The extremely condensed [Nen]'s force directly pierced through Roy's body, then, without the slightest pause, heavily struck the wall behind him...
Visibly, the thick wall cracked into a spiderweb pattern... and with it, a certain restraint within Roy's body instantly shattered!