Hunter x Hunter: The Strongest Zoldyck

In any case, I've managed to survive for now.

As long as you're alive, there's hope.

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and Roy staggered and struggled to his feet, leaving his two unnaturally twisted arms hanging limply to the side, as he slowly walked toward the deck.

With each step, the broken joints rubbed and scraped against each other under the skin, making a fine, squeaking sound, like shards of glass being squeezed together.

Accompanying these sounds was a pain and discomfort, like being pricked or stabbed.

These negative feelings kept surging up, but were constantly suppressed to the deepest level of consciousness by Roy's Zoldyck training, piling up together with fear, exhaustion, and despair.

As he walked, he also pondered a solution in his mind.

It's clear that Jumongad is not someone any of them can handle right now.

That extraordinary posture was not like a crushing force, but more like a crushing of levels, like an ant trying to move an elephant. The ant could calculate the elephant's weight, strength, speed...

But those numbers are meaningless, because an ant can never move an elephant.

Judging from what can be seen, Yumongard's physical strength is at least three times that of his own, and his speed is nearly five times greater.

Combining these two is not a matter of addition and subtraction, but multiplication; it's a matter of no chance, a cruel reality where defeat is inevitable!

The reality is that once a battle begins, one will undoubtedly die...

Silently, Roy made a basic assessment of the difference in strength between the two sides.

Beyond this judgment, there's even one variable he didn't take into account...

That is recitation!

If he wasn't mistaken, Yumongard already possessed the natural ability to use Nen.

It wasn't learned, nor did it awaken naturally; it grew out of us.

This is its innate ability.

It's just that it's not familiar with this ability yet; it only knows the most basic entanglement.

It will only keep the Qi stable around the body and prevent it from being lost.

But even with such a basic application of thought, Roy's fist felt like it was hitting a steel plate, his knuckles cracked, his skin abraded, and blood splattered everywhere.

If we wait for it to become more familiar with the process, and for it to learn how to practice, how to generate the power, and how to master the skills that human Nen users take years or even decades to acquire.

No, that's not right. It doesn't need to learn; it just needs to grow.

It only needs to sprout like a seed, allowing something more natural than learning to slowly and irreversibly awaken within its body, and it will naturally learn everything.

So... is there no way out?

The more Roy thought about it, the more serious his expression became.

No matter how many times he mentally rehearses what will happen next, he is absolutely certain of one outcome: he will be completely absorbed and devoured by Yumongard.

"Is there only one way out—death?"

As despair took hold, Roy murmured to himself.

The voice was very soft, so soft that it sounded like talking to the wind, to the moonlight, or to the boundless darkness that was swallowing everything.

"Boss, what did you say?"

At the edge of the second deck, Fika, who had just woken up, looked at Roy, who appeared at the doorway and was talking to himself, and couldn't help but ask a question.

"Fica?...You're awake..."

Luo Yi, whose thoughts were interrupted by the red-haired boy, couldn't help but look up at the distance on the deck. He saw the familiar red-haired boy standing at the other end of the deck, looking at him with a worried expression.

"Fica?!..."

Roy's tone was initially hesitant, then became certain, and finally somewhat joyful.

"Yes, you're awake... but how did you get so badly injured, boss?"

Fica's eyes swept over Roy's entire body, taking in his bleeding chest and irregularly twisted arms.

"Ah... this..."

Following Fica's gaze, Roy looked himself over again and said:

"It's nothing, just minor injuries. Many areas are already starting to heal; it just looks exaggerated now..."

At this point, Roy paused, inserted his right hand into the gap in the railing at the edge of the deck, and first secured his right hand.

then.....

Crack!

With a crisp crack, Roy restored his right arm on his own, and then his left arm.

Within just two or three seconds, Roy had resolved the issue with his arm, and despite enduring the pain of the broken bone, he hadn't uttered a single sound.

But if given a choice, Roy wouldn't want to have that kind of willpower, because this abnormal, almost obsessive-compulsive willpower was forged through the Zoldyck family's inhumane training.

"See, you're alright now."

Roy, having restored his arm, smiled at Fica, seemingly unconcerned about his injury.

Fica was stunned for a moment. He didn't quite understand. How could his arm be restored just by inserting and twisting it like that?

What kind of amazing skill is this? Is the boss a doctor?

Shaking his head to dismiss the thought, Fica blinked hard.

Now is not the time to think about these things... As long as our leader can recover, live, and walk... that's enough.

As for how he did it, that's the boss's business, not his place to ask.

The most crucial question now is how to defeat that monster....

Amidst his flustered state of mind, Fica recalled what Saen had told him about Yumongard, and couldn't help but worry:

"Boss..."

"What do we do next?"

Tap tap tap.....

Roy didn't answer. He walked to the edge of the deck, his silver-gray pupils gazing into the distance.

Under the soft moonlight, his eyes, which could see in the dark, could see quite far.

As far as the eye can see, there are no islands, no ships, and no lights on the sea.

The horizon disappeared into the sky, and the sky and the sea merged into one in the darkness, indistinguishable from each other.

The bright moonlight drew a small halo through the clouds, and the few rays that pierced through illuminated the deck of the Ogilvy and Roy's white hair.

He pressed his right hand against the gunwale, his fingertips wedging into the gaps in the railing.

He could feel the ship swaying slightly... as if a pair of invisible hands were pushing and stirring it.

"Ah...it's boundless!..."

"There's not even a way to retreat!"

With a sigh, Luo Yi released his grip, took a step back, and turned around.

He no longer looked at that sea.

There's no need anymore. The sea will neither give him answers nor a way out. Now, he can only rely on himself or them.

Lost in thought, Roy looked back at everyone, his gaze first sweeping across the resolute face of the red-haired boy Fica, then landing on the Kurta girl who was breathing steadily and about to awaken, and finally focusing on the silent Saen standing to the side.

"What are you looking at?"

Saen's voice was hoarse and rough, like water squeezed from sand.

The corners of his mouth curved slightly... not a smile, but an unconscious pretense.

"I didn't see anything. I just felt that if we wanted to survive, we might have no choice but to stick together for the time being to deal with Jumongard's attack."

"And you happen to be the strongest among us. If I remember correctly, you are also a Nen user."