Chapter 230: The Gate Contest Between Father and Son x Netero Wants to Visit the Zoldycks
"Splash~"
The boundless Sea of Cognition surged with waves. Several doors standing on the sea level lined up in a row. Some were formed, some unformed, and some were even just a small cluster of faint light spots, spreading to the horizon...
Roy rolled up his pant legs, letting the waves wash over his feet. He slowly paced to the side of the Demon Slayer Gate, with his back to the closed Naruto Gate, looking up at the pitch-black Dark Continent Gate. Inside the gate led directly to the other world, holding his enemies, and also holding the answers he must explore and seek to continue surviving.
"Tick tock~"
The [Curse] on the back of his left hand was still stubbornly counting down his life. The dream of his Great-Grandfather burying the whole country with him felt like yesterday. The boy took a deep breath, reaching out a palm, gently stroking the intricate and complex patterns on the door, until... his heart throbbed, interrupted by two calls.
Roy looked towards the source of the throbbing. It was the dream channel leading to reality.
[Prompt: Your humble and devout Potential Believer Vanessa Siren, grateful for your grace of bestowing a song, respectfully prays to you, begging for your official acceptance...]
[Prompt: Your humble and devout Potential Believer Kohler Spencer, grateful for your grace of bestowing a method, respectfully prays to you, begging for your official acceptance...]
The faces of the Snake Woman and the Kobold automatically outlined in his mind. Just a period of not seeing them seemed like several years had passed.
The boy took a deep breath. He didn't step into the dream channel leading to reality immediately as usual. Instead, after simply adjusting his fluctuating mood, he summoned the [Generalized Dream Gate] obtained from the Demon Dream and later merged into his own Nen ability. He took a step forward... a portal suddenly appeared in the void, and he entered...
A temple rose, clouds and mist generated. He situated himself above the clouds, a great sun above his head. He pointed two fingers towards a vast, ethereal cloud bed in front of him...
The dream vortex opened, carrying Roy's unsmiling words containing endless majesty...
On the east coast of the Dark Continent, in the Republic of Valentia, which had the beautiful name of Pure Capital, in that inconspicuous bathhouse on 7th Street of the Suiran District, and... in the Northern Frontier, the Howling Moon Wolf King's territory, the Kobold settlement, inside that inconspicuous remote village in Shattered Bone City's Hegu Town...
A female snake... an old dog were suddenly stunned. In a flash, they heard leisurely...
"Tomorrow night at ten, you are permitted an audience."
Vanessa and Old Kohler returned to their senses, placed their right hands on their chests, and bowed together: "Praise the Sun."
With their heads buried, they were full of excitement and anticipation...
"Buzz..." The dream vortex opened and closed, reflecting the unfamiliar yet familiar faces of Vanessa and Old Kohler...
Roy sat under the sun. Seeing that one's tail toxins were completely gone, and the other was strong and robust, no longer showing his previous old state, he pondered and waved his hand to dispel the [Generalized Dream Gate]. Then... he stepped into the familiar dream channel and opened his eyes again...
After leaving the Naruto World and the Sea of Cognition, he returned to the Hunter World, to that familiar Zoldyck family castle, on that familiar soft large bed. "Dong..." At four in the morning, the wooden clock in the corner struck the bell for the morning run.
Roy turned over and sat up from the bed, put on a vest, put on his sneakers, tied his shoelaces, and went out for a run as usual...
Amidst the snoring of a certain fat younger brother, who was already developing towards the fat pig posture of the original story...
Amidst the infatuation of a certain expressionless younger brother, combing his hair in front of the mirror, changing his face countless times, disguising himself to look like Nii-san...
The boy closed his door, rounded the corner, passed through the mottled castle corridor, passed by that dim little room, bowed slightly, and then stepped forward. Facing the fresh breeze of early summer, he exited the main gate of the castle and plunged into Kukuroo Mountain...
The so-called slow is fast and fast is slow. Under the premise that the [Physique] column was approaching the [1000] mark, as long as Roy wanted to, going up and down the mountain, he could completely finish it in less than five minutes.
But, the boy didn't do that.
He maintained his normal breathing rhythm as usual, an unhurried stride frequency, both for running and for enjoying the scenery, but mostly... for that morning glow just rising on the horizon...
It was the sun... the sun that grants warmth to people... "Child, are you ready to become that sun in other people's hearts?"
His Great-Grandfather's profound question still rang in his ears, accompanied by the lush trees rapidly sweeping past his ears...
Roy left the mountain peak, arrived at the mountain path, and in a blink reached the mountainside. Seeing the butler's villa brightly lit, there were already butlers bustling about, chefs preparing meals, reserve butlers exercising... a scene of fireworks and daily life...
Roy smiled, moved his feet, and looked up again. He had already reached the entrance of the mountain path, where he saw a person with neat blonde hair, and... the mountain-guarding cane gripped in her hand.
It was Kurajin.
"Young Master." The girl, her blonde hair tied into a ponytail, bowed.
Straightening her back again, feeling the wind brush past her shoulders, the girl shouted at Roy's retreating back: "Young Master, I opened my Nen... I have officially become a Nen user too..."
Roy paused his steps, then lifted his foot again, the smile on his lips growing wider...
"Congratulations," he said.
"Mm," she replied.
The girl gripped her cane and gazed afar... The boy advanced unhurriedly but firmly towards the mountain gate. The morning glow broke the dawn, draping a layer of rosy light over his back, and at the same time stretching his shadow very, very long...
Until a leisurely breeze blew, bringing a leaf, separating the master and servant into two worlds. As Kurajin watched him go, Roy recalled the tragic fate of the entire Kurta Clan. These Scarlet Eyes were both a misfortune and an opportunity... The misfortune lay in being coveted by others, while the opportunity lay in "once the red eyes open, all six Nen categories are at maximum capacity". They should have been able to cultivate more and more formidable Nen users. Unfortunately... by the time the clan was exterminated, only Kurapika and Pairo had emerged. Of course, now, there was one more, Kurajin.
"Tap... tap..." Footsteps echoed in the silent mountain forest. Out of the mountain path, the tall mountain gate could be seen not far away.
Only, today's mountain gate seemed... a bit livelier than usual.
Roy slowly reduced his pace, nodded from afar to Zebro who took off his hat and bowed, then shifted his gaze entirely to the tall man beside him.
"Your mother is about to give birth. I made an appointment with the doctor and will bring her over today." Silva rarely appeared in front of the Testing Gate. He turned his head and said a sentence to Roy.
It was now Hunter Calendar Year 1987, also the birth year of Gon and Killua in the original story. Yesterday... Roy just heard Gotoh mention that Killua's due date was in these few days. Since Gon is older than Killua, presumably... Ging's side already had a child in his arms.
Roy's eyes flickered, remembering the unfamiliar woman with a cold face he had once seen in Ging's heart, and nodded silently: "It's safer for Father to pick her up personally."
Kikyo obviously valued this child exceptionally, to the point of near obsession. If something really happened, Roy dared not imagine what kind of ghostly state she, who was already somewhat insane, would eventually turn into.
"Mm." Silva snorted lightly and didn't speak further.
He turned his head and looked at the boy, who seemed to have grown a bit taller after not seeing him for a day. Facing the tall Testing Gate, he said faintly after a long while, "I heard you can already push open five doors."
One door is two tons, two doors four tons, three doors eight tons, four doors sixteen tons, five doors thirty-two tons...
Roy looked up with Silva at this towering mountain gate that symbolized the Zoldyck family's pivotal status in the assassin world. He neither admitted nor denied it, telling the truth: "That's in the past."
"I thought Father would know."
"What about now?" Silva tilted his head and looked at the boy. He moved his feet, stretched out a palm, and pressed it against the Testing Gate. Then, with a loud "Rumble~"... the sixth Testing Gate was actually pushed open by him with one hand effortlessly!
A sliver of light suddenly expanded into a beam, pouring in from outside the gate, illuminating Silva's entire person to look tall and mighty.
The man held against the Testing Gate and looked back at the boy: "Want to try?"
Roy took a deep breath and stepped forward without a word. He rolled up his sleeves, took over from Silva, and fiercely pressed both hands against the large gate. Then... as Silva released his hand, he only felt it was as heavy as Mount Tai, nearly crushing him breathless!
So heavy!
His bones were groaning...
His muscles were trembling...
His elbows uncontrollably wanted to yield and bend...
But, since he had taken it on... Roy simply hardened his heart and activated Sun Breathing!
"Sun Breathing... Total Concentration: Constant!"
He lifted his abdomen, his nostrils flared, and facing the morning glow coming from outside the door, he suddenly took a fierce breath!
A muffled "Thump~" sounded... Roy's heart jolted, his body temperature rapidly rose, his entire imposing manner instantly changed, and his body visibly shuddered violently!
He gave a low shout, "Open!"
"Rumble!" The sixth Testing Gate, which was about to close, was suddenly swept by a massive force and burst wide open!
The gap in the door expanded... expanded... and expanded again... until it completely accommodated the father and son!
Silva enjoyed the warmth of the morning glow, then looked at the boy, his eyes faintly brewing with anticipation and battle intent.
"Acceptable." The man stuffed both hands into his pockets and strolled out the door.
"Rumble!" Without Roy's strength supporting it, the Testing Gate quickly fell back... Just before the door closed, he saw Silva get into a black sedan.
With faint smoke rising from the top of his head, Roy suddenly asked: "To what extent do you think I need to achieve to surpass you?"
"Vroom..." The black sedan shot out as the driver stepped on the gas, leaving behind only a trail of exhaust and a sentence drifting leisurely in the wind...
"We'll talk when you can easily push open seven Testing Gates with one hand."
One hand, seven doors. That's far more than just doubling Physique... Roy dispelled Constant, exhaled lightly, and as the Testing Gate closed heavily, completely blocking out the last sliver of light from outside... he looked back...
At some point, with a head of striking white hair, Zeno walked out from the squirming silent mountain forest. The old man hunched his back, walked down the mountain path with his hands behind his back, and appeared beside Roy like a phantom. The Shadow Step under his feet was almost played to perfection. One flash, another flash, and another flash; in just a few breaths, he almost crossed a distance of hundreds of meters.
"Tell me, why did you provoke him back then?"
The eight large characters One Kill a Day, Active for Life on his chest swayed in the wind... The old man wore black cloth shoes, stopped and looked up, teasingly looking at Roy: "Will Grandpa be able to see you actually manage to slash your father next year?"
"One year isn't a long time..."
Obviously, he had heard the one-year agreement between the father and son.
"Who knows?" Roy said frankly, "I definitely can't do it now."
"But a year from now,"
The boy looked at Zeno seriously and said, "When the time comes, if I really injure Father, you're not allowed to feel heartache."
Hmm... hmm?! Zeno: "..."
He froze for two seconds, looked at Roy strangely, and laughed with a suppressed voice.
"Heh heh heh... hahaha..." His grizzled beard trembling, the old man imitated Silva, gently slapping a hand against the Testing Gate in front of him. "Rumble~"
Seven Testing Gates burst open. Then, like a fluttering leaf, he flashed into the light and shadows outside the door and disappeared.
"If you have the ability and really beat him to death, maybe... I will stop you, heh heh heh..."
"Rumble~" The Testing Gate fell back again, and the laughter was seamlessly completely blocked out. Zebro, who had been serving on the side all along, bowed and saw him off: "Have a safe trip, Master."
Straightening his back again, he stole a glance at Roy. The boy stood fixed before the gate, carefully replaying the scene of his grandfather lightly patting the mountain gate. He pondered for a long while, turned around... and resumed his steps...
Grandpa had people to kill every day... He also had people to kill... Whether it was the Shinobi World War... or Muzan in Demon Slayer... Even the Dark Continent close at hand seemed not as peaceful as he imagined or as his father recorded.
"Busy... it's good to be a little busy... It's best if everyone is busy..." A few minutes later, when Roy returned to the castle along the mountain path and passed by that dim little room again, Maha was wearing a small white tank top, loosely wearing a pair of large shorts on his lower half, listening to cartoons in such an untidy manner, rocking in the rocking chair, turning over, and blowing a bubble from the tip of his nose...
He mumbled leisurely and went back to sleep. "Zzz~" The slight snoring sounded, accompanied by a few faint cicada chirps.
Before five o'clock, Roy returned to his bedroom, took a quick shower, and sat down at the dining table.
"Ding dong~" Gotoh pushed the dining cart, arriving on time as usual, and reached out to uncover today's breakfast for him.
Fried bacon... eggs scrambled with butter... a large plate of salad, paired with a bowl of tomato and egg soup... A mix of Western and Eastern styles that fit the current culinary characteristics of the Zoldyck family... culinary characteristics originating from him...
"Young Master, Ging Freecss called,"
"Said his son, Gon, was just born not long ago."
Gotoh used a knife and fork to cut the fried bacon for Roy, saying at the same time: "He asked me to ask you when you'll go to Greed Island for a gathering, and conveniently leave behind some means."
Roy scooped a spoonful of egg into his mouth, raised his hand to summon the [Game Strategy] given by Silva, opened it, and read it carefully. Without raising his head, he said: "Tell him, no time."
Not to mention that Killua was about to be born, right now... the Third Shinobi World War, and the medicine for his father Tanjuro all required him to spend time and energy to deal with. Even the Dark Continent that he would continue to explore next, without months or years of effort, he couldn't expect a result.
"What about the Chairman then?"
"Who?"
"Netero." Gotoh met Roy's surprised eyes, pushed the glasses resting on his nose, and said: "I heard, he's coming."
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