"Kurapika, I asked Grandpa about the Phantom Troupe," Killua said suddenly.
"The Troupe?!" Kurapika's head snapped up.
"I know, don't jump ahead. On September 1st, there's a huge auction in Yorknew City. Grandpa's intel says there's a high chance the Phantom Troupe will show up."
"Yorknew City? The biggest auction in the world!" Leorio's eyes widened.
Kurapika's gaze sharpened to a blade. His lifelong goal—making the Phantom Troupe pay—finally had a concrete target.
The Zoldycks sharing this information was no small gesture. It was a clear olive branch to their new ally, Ryker.
"Yeah. At least fifty thousand people will attend. But the Troupe usually moves in small groups. Kurapika…" Killua hesitated, voice lowering in warning.
"Thank you, Killua. And Brother Ryker, Gon, Leorio—I think we should split up here for a while. I'll head to Yorknew City ahead of you. Don't worry, I won't charge in alone and challenge the entire Troupe. I'm not strong enough for that yet."
Kurapika's tone was steady.
"My plan is simple: find legal work, earn money, and prepare properly."
Carrying the vengeance of his entire clan had forged in him an unshakable [Absolute Calm]. He would not act rashly.
"Go ahead. Follow your path, Kurapika. But don't face them alone," Ryker said quietly.
"Brother Ryker?!"
Kurapika looked at him in genuine surprise.
"We're friends. In six months, meet us in Yorknew City. When the time comes, I'll help you take your revenge."
Ryker's voice remained even, almost casual.
To Kurapika, it rang like thunder.
"Brother Ryker…"
Kurapika's eyes reddened. He nearly dropped to his knees in gratitude.
With Ryker involved, the odds of success skyrocketed.
Ryker was terrifyingly powerful. Together, they could actually do it.
"But… if you get involved, I'll be dragging you into my personal war. This is my burden, Brother Ryker…"
Kurapika tried to protest, but Ryker cut him off gently.
Bro!
The Phantom Troupe are top-tier talents straight out of Meteor City!
Their traits are premium-grade loot.
Wiping them out is basically community service. Zero guilt.
Helping Kurapika get revenge while farming high-quality traits? Triple kill.
"We're friends. Me, Killua, Leorio, Gon… and Canary. All of us."
Ryker placed a firm hand on Kurapika's shoulder.
His system thrived on proximity to strong people.
Gon and the others were protagonists—their traits would only grow stronger over time.
He needed to farm them repeatedly once cooldowns reset.
You guys are my trait banks. Friends, absolutely. But also walking banks.
Of course, he genuinely cared about them.
"Brother Ryker! Waaaa… I'm so moved! Friends forever! Kurapika!!"
Gon burst into joyful tears.
"Brother Ryker! You're my big brother for life!"
Leorio was openly snot-crying.
Killua and Canary's eyes glistened too. For Canary, this was the first time she had ever truly felt the warmth of real friendship.
So this is what it means—protecting each other with our lives.
She felt safe. Truly safe.
"Okay. Brother Ryker… thank you. I don't know how I'll ever repay this kindness, but I'll remember it forever!! I'm going now, everyone. See you in six months!"
"See you in six months, Kurapika!!"
"Safe travels!!"
"I'm heading out too. Brother Ryker, everyone—now that I've got my license, I'm going home. I still want to become a doctor. If I can get into a public medical university, the tuition won't bankrupt me. Time to study hard!"
Leorio flashed his Hunter License proudly. His dream had never wavered.
"Good luck, Leorio!!" Ryker grinned.
"Study hard!"
"We believe in you!"
Leorio departed with a wave.
"Brother Ryker, where to next?"
Gon, Killua, and Canary turned to him in unison.
He was undeniably the leader now.
"We're almost broke. Anywhere we can make money fast?"
Ryker rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Netero hadn't handed him cash. The 2-Star License was priceless, but it wasn't edible.
And there was one place perfect for both money and trait farming.
"Heaven's Arena! I know it! We can rake in a fortune there! It's great for training too—but it takes two days by airship!"
Killua's eyes lit up.
"Airship it is. We'll be flat broke after tickets, but whatever."
Ryker checked his empty pockets.
Should've asked Zeno for walking-around money.
"I have money, Lord Ryker, Master Killua."
Canary spoke up shyly, offering a small purse. "This is my salary card. Please take it."
"Uh… your salary card?"
Ryker chuckled and gently pushed it back. "Keep it. Once we reach Heaven's Arena, we'll have plenty. You'll need yours later."
Meteor City.
That was the real reason he had brought Canary along. But first—the perfect nearby dungeon: Heaven's Arena.
On the Airship
"Brother Ryker! What was that move you used to beat Killua's dad? It was so cool!!"
Gon, Killua, and Canary crowded around him.
Gon had finally remembered to ask.
"Nen! Specifically, a special application of it. Canary, you know the basics, right?"
Ryker explained lightly.
With [Transmutation Grandmaster] (Red) now in his arsenal, he could teach—but explaining fundamentals to newbies wasn't his strong suit.
Canary was far better at patient breakdowns.
"Don't worry—you'll all learn it soon enough."
Ryker left the "100,000 Whys of Nen" session to Canary and retreated to his private cabin.
His eyes gleamed.
In the Hunter world, Nen was near-omnipotent. Time manipulation, monster summoning… one particularly versatile path was Nen Beasts.
"I already have [Nen Clone] and [Transmutation Grandmaster] (Red). Time to develop my own signature ability."
Ryker sat cross-legged and focused.
The system flooded him with every memory, instinct, and experience stolen from the copied traits.
He was a Grandmaster now.
"Nen… Nen Beast!"
Lightning gathered in his palm, pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat trapped in a cocoon.
It worked.
Nen Beasts were fundamentally advanced Nen control—Bisky's masseuse, Goreinu's gorillas—all built on the same foundation.
The difference lay in execution.
Ryker fused [Nen Clone] with pure Nen Beast principles.
The lightning cocoon throbbed.
Outlines began to form.
A humanoid silhouette!
A Humanoid Nen Beast!
Born from Ryker's will!
He felt an intimate connection. It wasn't merely a summon—it was an extension of his senses. He could see, hear, smell, and feel through it. A fragment of his consciousness could pilot it perfectly.
[DING! Combining the strengths of many schools, you have created your own ability — [Thunder Nen Beast] (Red)!]
A heavenly chime rang in his mind.
The figure solidified.
Two Days Later – Heaven's Arena
The fourth-tallest building in the world: 251 floors, 991 meters of pure fighting glory.
"Wow! So many people! Are they all here to fight?"
Gon gaped at the endless line snaking toward the entrance.
"Unlike the Hunter Exam, the rules here are brutal. Knock your opponent down to win. Prize money scales with floor level. It's paradise for savages," Killua explained.
He'd been here before.
Ryker's eyes swept the crowd, scanning for potential loot.
Plenty of fighters. A few Pro Hunters mixed in.
But… mostly White, Green, and Blue traits. Low-value trash.
Farming garbage traits was inefficient.
No Luck traits in sight either.
"First time at Heaven's Arena? Please fill out these forms."
The receptionist handed over clipboards.
Rules were straightforward: Win on the 50th floor to advance to 60. Lose, drop to 40.
Reach the 100th floor for a private suite.
Ryker quickly spotted the problem.
From floor 1 to 251, roughly twenty-six fights per person.
Twenty-six chances to farm traits.
At a 10% drop rate (unless he killed them), the yield was abysmal.
Low floors offered trash opponents. Real loot only appeared past 100.
But killing was permitted…
Ryker's lips curved into a smirk.
He focused his mind.
Hundreds of meters away, in shadowed corners and blind spots throughout the arena…
Thunder Hearts flickered into existence.
They rapidly expanded, shaping into humanoid forms.
Thunder Nen Beast (Red)!
His custom ability—versatile shadow clones on steroids.
"What a perfect day. Soon, this entire arena will kneel before my throne! Hahaha!"
Ryker laughed inwardly.
Thunder Nen Beast: Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez!
Thunder Nen Beast: Ulquiorra Cifer!
Thunder Nen Beast: Saitama~
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