Chapter 175: The Warm Taiichi x Generalized Dream Gate, Open!
"Oh."
Illumi climbed out of the pit expressionlessly, hooking his leg to hang upside down from the willow tree. His black hair dangled like a ghost's as he stared straight at Roy. "Are you going to whip me?"
A ripple stirred in the boy's vacant, lifeless eyes... he seemed to be looking forward to it?
He said, "If it's you, you can do whatever you want to me."
Roy: "..."
He took a deep breath, said nothing, and walked straight away.
Out of sight, out of mind. Maybe for my foolish, dear little brother, whipping him wasn't a punishment, but a reward?
Whoosh~ A breeze blew, swaying the budding willow branches. Roy walked faster than a run, using Mastered Shadow Step to leave afterimages in the garden. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing at the basement entrance.
"Young Master."
"Young Master."
Scarface and One-Eye bowed and opened the security door.
Roy stepped inside. For the next few days, using Grandpa Zzigg's Nen ability [Re: Game of the Dead], he entered and exited the Dark Continent. With Silva's guide in one hand, he slowly explored deeper into the Uzuki Great Forest. While broadening his horizons, he also encountered many bizarre magical beasts and monsters.
[Magical Beast Encyclopedia Recording...]
[1. Iron-Armored Rhinoceros: D-Rank Magical Beast. (Note: Rating based on Chimera Ant benchmark. Elite Squadron Leader D, Division Commander C, Royal Guard B, Ant King B+)]
[Aura Output: D+ (7481/10000)]
[Potential Aura: C- (1250/100000)]
[Boost: Life Energy +7...]
[Innate Nen Ability: "Iron Skin" (Note: When attacked, the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros turns its skin to "iron" for attack and defense)...]
[Notification: "Iron Skin" extracted... suspected high overlap with Ken... Ken +10...]
[2. Dead-Leaf Chameleon: D-Rank Magical Beast. (Note: Rating based on Chimera Ant benchmark...)]
[Aura Output: D+ (4715/10000)]
[Potential Aura: C (72540/100000)]
[Boost: Life Energy +10...]
[Innate Nen Ability: "Background Board" (Note: When attacked, the Dead-Leaf Chameleon blends into the natural background, camouflaging itself as part of nature to hide, confuse enemies, or launch surprise attacks)...]
[Notification: "Background Board" extracted... suspected high overlap with Zetsu... Zetsu +10...]
Tyrant Porcupine, Innate Nen Ability "Spines." When stressed, it mimics Emitters, firing "Nen bullets" using its quills, creating absolute suppression over opponents...
"One-Tsubo Pink Mist," Innate Nen Ability "Heat." Note: A mist-form Phantom Beast that feeds on "lust." It releases pink mist that enters humans or magical beasts—any life form with reproductive consciousness—stimulating their reproductive desires, making them burn with heat... If not released in time, they may fall into a frenzied state, unable to calm down...
That night, in Roy's bedroom at the Zoldyck castle, a lamp was lit.
Under the soft light, the boy ate dinner served by Gotoh while taking stock of his recent gains. He opened Silva's guide and looked closely. It was only two or three days' journey to the human settlement mentioned by his father... "The Home of the Lost"—Bintie City...
"Young Master, I've instructed Kastro. Flight at 9 PM tomorrow, arriving in Yorknew City at 7 AM the next day. Then a transfer by car north, less than two hours to Meteor City..." Gotoh poured Roy a glass of milk and asked tentatively, "Do you really not need me to go?"
Several days had passed, but the young butler, pushing up his glasses, still hadn't forgotten... the "Me" Roy had spoken of so meaningfully...
Humans truly cannot imagine things beyond their own cognition...
Roy washed down the last bit of bread with milk. He calculated the time. Less than a minute until the "Clone" unlocked.
The panel notification sounded in his mind...
[59... 45... 32... 10... 5... 3... 1... 0...]
[Notification: Individual named "?" has hatched. Please name immediately...]
A "blood bond" so strong it couldn't be dissolved surged in his heart. Roy calmly pulled out a napkin, wiped his mouth, and said, "Come out, Taiichi."
"Tai" (Sun/Great), "Ichi" (One/Unique)...
BOOM! Milky-white Nen poured from his body, exploding outward with Roy as the center. The wind made Gotoh's face tight. In his surprise, the butler narrowed his long eyes and saw...
Surging Nen split in two by Roy's "imagination," "Conjuring" a human figure...
The figure glowed with specks of light, going from blurry to clear, hazy to real, gradually solidifying to reveal... shoulder-length black hair, a strong jawline, a back straight as a pine... resembling the Young Master—no... looking exactly like a carbon copy of the Young Master!
Gotoh stared, dumbfounded!
"Cl... Clone?"
"Yes, clone."
[Taiichi: In the name of the "Sun," possesses the reality of a clone. Can exert 80% of the Host's "original body" strength...]
[Current Physique: 503.52 (Note: Average person is 1)]
[Aura Output: C- (14283/100000) (Note: Rating based on Chimera Ant benchmark...)]
[Potential Aura: C (54992/100000)]
[Nen Abilities: 1. "Shared." (Note: "Taiichi" can share all of the Host's abilities, including "Vision," "Smell," "Taste," and "Nen Abilities")]
[2. "Divine Descent." (Note: "Taiichi" can silently recite the Host's name in his heart to receive 100% of the Host's true body's power. Duration: 10 seconds... Cooldown: 1 day)]
Roy tossed a prepared training suit to Taiichi. Taiichi caught it one-handed, quickly put it on, and smiled brightly. "I'm going out for a stroll to get familiar with the environment."
Roy waved his hand. Taiichi brushed past the stunned Gotoh. Before leaving, he patted the butler's shoulder, and under Gotoh's frozen gaze, walked out the door... Strolling leisurely along the mottled corridors of the old castle, feeling the joy of "life."
Tap... tap... His steps were unhurried...
He met a butler and smiled at him. He met Mike and rubbed the dog's head. He met Illumi... seeing him just returning from a mission, he took three steps in two, pulled him into a hug, stroked his back, and said gently, "You've worked hard."
The briefcase full of money in Illumi's hand fell to the ground with a smack. Thousands of bills scattered, blown by the wind into a "rain of money"... My foolish, dear little brother stood there in the dim light, messy... Looking again, Taiichi was walking away, that warm smile still on his lips. Soon...
He arrived outside the dimly lit small room.
"Great-Great-Grandfather."
The newborn boy, wearing Roy's face, bowed respectfully to the room.
The old man, who had just eaten dinner and was dozing in his rocking chair listening to cartoons, grunted, rolled over, and turned his skinny back to Taiichi.
Taiichi smiled, straightened up, and continued his stroll... Suddenly, a voice sounded in his ear... "Child, have you chosen a name?"
"Yes. Taiichi. 'Tai' from Taiyang (Sun), 'Ichi' for One."
"Heh heh heh... Good... good name... Scram. And remember, when you're out, don't disgrace your master's name."
"Please rest assured, Great-Great-Grandfather," Taiichi stopped, turned back, and said calmly, "If the Master is insulted, I die."
"Nonsense! You can't die either!"
"Yes."
Taiichi took a deep breath, lifted his foot again, bid farewell to Maha, exited the castle's main gate, and headed down the mountain path. Passing the garden, he turned his head and saw... Silva supporting Kikyo on a post-dinner walk, just as usual. He stopped, bowed slightly to the couple, and called out, "Dad... Mom..."
Silva froze while supporting Kikyo. The woman, with her huge belly, had a "?!" flash across her electronic eyes. She stared at Taiichi in disbelief. "What did you call me?"
"Mom."
"Silva, something's wrong. The child smiled at me... He must be sick!"
"He's not Roy..." Silva stroked Kikyo's back, his gaze sharp as a knife, scrutinizing Taiichi from above. After a moment, his gaze moved past the boy to the depths of the castle. "Roy, aren't you going to come out and explain?"
"Father asks despite knowing the answer; what is there to explain?" Taiichi's gentle eyes opened and closed, and in an instant, he seemed to become a different person... A "stubbornness" flowed freely in his eyes, just like Silva's. He looked at Silva calmly. "He is me, and not me. Just like Father isn't the Father in the dream, right?"
Silva: "..."
His tall body stiffened. Taiichi's eyes opened and closed again, returning to that gentle, smiling look. He waved goodnight to the couple, lifted his foot, and went down the mountain.
A gust of cold wind blew...
Kikyo pressed closer to Silva, snuggling into his arms. "What's wrong, Silva?"
The man stood like a statue, frozen for a long, long time... Finally, he took a deep look in the direction Taiichi had gone and said, "Nothing."
"It's cold. Let's go back inside. Don't freeze the baby."
"Mm."
The couple left the garden and returned to the bedroom... Passing a corner, Silva suddenly glanced at a dark spot. Illumi's figure flashed, having watched Taiichi go down the mountain. He left Silva's line of sight and headed towards Roy's bedroom.
Dong~ 8 PM. The corner clock chimed...
Roy had finished dinner and was hunched over his desk, sipping hot tea, contemplating "doctrine," occasionally jotting down a few lines on the blank paper before him. His ears twitched, hearing footsteps. He looked out the window...
Illumi was pressed against the glass, staring straight at him. "You say one thing but mean another."
Roy: "..."
Illumi: "You ignored me, but you still hugged me."
"That wasn't me."
"It was you."
"It wasn't me!"
"It was you... it was you... it was you! It was your clone!" Illumi lifted his chin. "Father said so!"
Roy: "..."
Illumi: "That's a clone conjured by your Nen ability. It represents your true inner thoughts. So..."
The boy's lips pulled into an unprecedented smile. He looked at Roy seriously. "You have me in your heart."
Roy: "Come here."
The window opened. Illumi's heart leaped. He poked his head in. "Closer."
Illumi closed his eyes.
Then...
BANG!
A loud thud. The boy's head exploded with pain, and he went flying into the night sky!
Roy, face dark, shook out his fist. "Now, that wasn't me!"
He hadn't expected "Taiichi" to cause trouble the moment he hatched.
As Illumi said, the "Clone" carried Roy's will and represented his innermost thoughts. So, based on the expectations Roy projected onto "Taiichi" using the "Visualization Object" [Sun], he hoped Taiichi would be warm and gentle to those close to him, like the "Sun," but also fierce and merciless to enemies, like the "Sun" banishing "Darkness."
Because "Illumi" was his brother, "Taiichi" automatically adopted the "warm and gentle" role upon birth. Looks like it's time to set some boundaries for him...
Night was hazy, the moon and stars sparse...
That night, after letting "Taiichi" run wild for a bit, Roy recalled him with a thought and taught him "propriety and limits."
Then, checking the back of Taiichi's hand, he noticed the "curse" had been copied—it was on him too, counting down his life... Roy unsurprisingly sent him to sleep, waiting for tomorrow to depart for Meteor City with Kastro to preach.
He sat alone under the lamp, spinning his pen in thought...
The gaze from a [God] clearly couldn't be dissolved by "cheating" with a clone or two. Just like [Nanika] targeted the Zoldyck [Bloodline]... Taiichi, created with his blood as a guide and Nen as a base, naturally couldn't escape the fate of being "marked" by the [God].
But it wasn't a big deal. Taiichi wasn't him, and he wasn't Taiichi. Using Taiichi as a vessel to transfer his main consciousness would be no different from killing Taiichi and killing himself.
Thoughts raced in this chilly night.
Roy gathered his thoughts, deciding not to dwell on it.
He turned off the light, threw himself onto the soft bed, relaxed his mind, and soon fell asleep.
Hss... yah... Soft snores echoed... Taiichi had been sent to sleep in an empty room Gotoh prepared... Roy passed through "deep sleep," crossed the multicolored dream tunnel, and arrived at the familiar Sea of Cognition.
This time, he didn't immediately push open the Demon Slayer gate to enter that world. Instead...
With a thought, he stepped into his own "unconscious domain" and, through "dreams," changed the channel...
He began to test the second Blood Demon Art he had acquired from Enmu a few days ago, which he had since fused into his own Nen ability, upgrading it into the [Generalized Dream Gate].
[Note: "Generalized Dream Gate" can open a gate randomly through "dreams," pulling people in. The target is somewhat random and not controlled by the Host...]
So, that means... who the person is, and where they come from, is entirely determined by "generalized" randomness...
Roy's eyes flickered. He said softly, "Open the gate."
Splash~ Waves crashed against the reef, shattering into foam...
Ethereal mist melted into the "collective" unconscious ocean, splitting into two wisps drifting in different directions...
☆☆☆
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