Chapter 80: Your Answer X A Clear Path
The Young Master's words allowed no refusal.
Gotoh felt a warmth spread through his chest. He said nothing; nothing needed to be said. Loyalty was his only reply. He took out his notepad and pen and began to copy the notes. Roy paid him no mind, retrieved Snow-Walker from its stand, held it in his hand, pushed the door open, and left for the training room.
At six in the morning in November, the sky had yet to brighten. Lamps still flickered along the corridor walls, their wavering light pulling the boy's shadow along with them. Roy savored the fresh mountain air blowing through the halls. At one point, his gaze shifted, looking far ahead.
At the end of the long corridor, Zeno emerged from around a corner, walking with his hands behind his back. Behind him followed Tsubone, carrying two large suitcases.
"Grandfather." The boy stopped and offered a respectful greeting.
Zeno walked unhurriedly until he stood before him, looking him up and down. "Roy, you've gotten taller."
From [Physique: 11] to [Physique: 71]—in just a few short months, a sixty-point increase couldn't be described as mere progress. It was a leap.
"It's gotten colder recently. I've been eating a bit more."
"Mm... it is the time to bulk up for winter." Zeno clapped him on the shoulder. "There isn't a father alive who doesn't wish the best for his son. I am very pleased to see you make this change."
"Everything is for the sake of moving forward," Roy said calmly.
Zeno agreed. "In that respect, you're stronger than Silva was at your age."
"Was he stubborn too?"
"Stubborn? Oh, he..."
"Ahem." A soft cough pointedly interrupted their conversation. Following Tsubone, another man rounded the corner. He was tall and imposing, his muscles coiled like ropes. Even as winter approached, he wore only his sleek, black combat uniform. His signature silver hair fell to his waist, and his face held its usual stern, cold expression. He strode forward with the imposing stillness of a deep pool or a towering mountain.
He stopped in front of Roy. Looking down, he asked, "The sun... is that your answer?"
He was supposed to leave on a mission with Zeno this morning, but then Gotoh's call had come. The man had listened in silence for a long time.
"Yes. And it's your answer too," Roy replied, lifting his chin, his eyes like torches. He spoke sincerely, "I just feel that sometimes you are too cold, Father. If I could let you feel what warmth is, I think... I would be very happy to do so."
"You really have changed."
"You taught me well, Father."
Silva: "..."
He looked deeply at the boy, momentarily speechless, finding himself countered by a single sentence. He didn't know what to say, so he simply turned and left. Behind him... Zeno shook his head, suppressing a laugh.
"Heh heh... Practice your Ren well. Let your grandfather see it when the time comes." The 'A Kill a Day' motto on his chest fluttered in the wind. Zeno clapped Roy's shoulder again and followed Silva at a leisurely pace. Tsubone nodded slightly at Roy as she walked past with the luggage.
Just as the sun began to rise, casting ten thousand rays of red light and dispelling the darkness, Roy watched the current and former heads of the Zoldyck family depart, a cloak of dawn draped over his shoulders.
'Visualize'... first observe, then contemplate. Go through drawing lessons, imitation, creation, and awaken your own unique Ren.
Combining the understanding of Ren gleaned from his father and great-great-grandfather, Roy pushed open the training room door, took the poison, and began practicing his sword under the sunlight. He continued until the poison took effect, then had Luke carry him into the garden, facing the sun, to bask in its light.
"What is he doing?" Illumi, having followed him in, witnessed the entire process.
Luke leaned on his shovel, originally intending to dig a pit, but now finding it useless. He shook his head, indicating he didn't know. In his view, the Zoldyck young masters were all a bit eccentric. He didn't understand, but he respected it.
"Young Master, it's your turn. Still the 'lethal dose' today?"
Illumi: "..."
"...'Semi-lethal' will be fine." Great-Great-Grandfather had just summoned him and told him to pay respects to Grandpa Zzigg this afternoon. He didn't want to appear before his ancestor in a weakened state.
And so, on this slightly chilly afternoon, three figures lay sprawled in the garden before the Zoldyck family's ancient castle. One rested peacefully, hands folded over his stomach, sunbathing. Another lay face down on the ground, possibly dead. The last was buried in a pit, only his head showing, shaded by a sun umbrella. It presented a strangely distorted, yet harmonious picture... until it was shattered by two figures approaching one after the other.
As the sun began to set, Roy sensed the weakening light and opened his eyes. He stretched comfortably, feeling refreshed. As usual, he got up and headed towards the basement.
Hearing the movement, Illumi, having recovered, regained consciousness and leaped out of his pit, shaking off the dirt. He followed Roy towards the basement.
"Are you going to pay respects to Grandfather too?" They noticed each other at the same time, spoke at the same time, and then fell silent at the same time.
Each kept to one side of the corridor, hands in pockets, neither getting close to the other.
Tap... tap...
Two sets of footsteps echoed through the hall. At one point, Illumi stole a glance at Roy out of the corner of his eye. Seeing him walk straight ahead, minding his own path, he spoke calmly, "I won't accept your things for free." The training methods for the Four Major Principles recorded in Silva's notebook were exactly what he needed, especially since he had successfully learned Zetsu a few days ago but was still clueless about Ren. It was like receiving a pillow just as he was falling asleep.
"I told you, Father gave them." Roy knew Illumi was talking about the notes and didn't mind repeating himself.
But the vacant-eyed boy ignored him, insisting stubbornly, "You gave it to me, so it's from you." Anyway, it passed through your hands.
"Whatever you say." Roy quickened his pace, not bothering with him.
Seeing this, Illumi used 'Shadow Step' to catch up, arriving at the basement even faster, where he encountered Scarface and One-Eye.
"Young Master."
"Young Master."
Scarface and One-Eye bowed respectfully. Roy arrived right after and gave them a slight nod.
Now, the question was... who goes first?
Illumi glanced at Roy. Taking precedence, he stepped forward as Scarface and One-Eye pulled open the security door.
Then... less than two seconds later, he stumbled out, leaning against the wall, his legs trembling violently.
"One point five seconds," Scarface noted, stopping his watch. He exchanged a look with One-Eye and pulled the door open again.
This time, Roy went in as Illumi came out. The brothers brushed past each other without a glance.
"Get down!"
Deep within the passage, the airtight door opened. The tentacle reached out, pulled Roy in, and connected him to [Re: Game of the Dead].
The familiar roar and the sandworm's Ren washed over him. Roy, relying on Nen shape transformation, erected a "Nen Shield" in front of him. He weathered the first wave of impact from the tail sweep, once again successfully attracting Zzigg's attention.
"Whose kid are you? Your Ren training isn't half bad... Watch out, the big one's coming!"
The sandworm charged low to the ground, beginning its second wave of attack. This time, Roy silently visualized the sun, imagining its scorching heat, its blinding glare, its unbearable intensity. Under the immense pressure, the milky-white "Nen Shield" began to show faint red spots.
The red spots radiated wisps of heat, searing the air. Zzigg suddenly felt warm. He raised his own "iron shield" again and looked over. The red spots spread, connecting into patches, radiating heatwaves that incinerated the sandworm's Ren upon contact!
Zzigg's eyes flashed. "The Essence of Fire?" he blurted out.
"No... it's the sun... the Essence of the Sun."
[Notification: Nen Property Change Activated...]
[Note: "Essence of the Sun", Current Level: lv1(1/100)]
[Effect: Searing Heat. (Note: Host can imbue Nen with the searing property to burn away opponent's aura)]
Sizzle... hiss... Flames ignited. The waves of Nen and debris assaulting Roy were burned to ash.
This time, the boy lasted two and a half minutes. His downfall... was insufficient aura!
"Impressive. A pity you're still young, your understanding of your reference point is too shallow. Otherwise... you might have had a chance of surviving."
CRUNCH! The sandworm bit the landing craft in half. A piece of the ship's railing flew towards him, smashing through Roy's "Nen Shield." As his consciousness dimmed, Roy thought he saw an expression of deep regret on Zzigg's face. Then, everything went black. He lost consciousness completely, disconnecting from the game.
And... this time, Roy didn't return to his Sea of Cognition. The world spun, and when he opened his eyes again, the tentacle was depositing him back in reality. He stood outside the airtight door, dazed, beside the pot of yellow chrysanthemums he had brought earlier.
Too overpowering!
The sun is blinding. Imbuing his Nen with searing heat consumed a massive amount of aura, even draining the reserves he kept for entering and exiting the Gate of Cognition. Used well, it was a powerful weapon... used poorly...
It's just a burden.
Exhausted, unspeakably weary, feeling completely drained, Roy stood by the door, taking a long moment to gather himself before finally regaining control and forcing his legs to move toward the exit passage.
One step... two... He walked slowly, carefully. When he emerged... Illumi, Scarface, and One-Eye all looked over. The latter two checked their watches and reported a number: "Two minutes and thirty-one seconds."
Looks like I lost again. Illumi ran a hand through his hair. The boy had thought learning Zetsu would allow him to catch up to his older brother, but... his brother was still on the far bank, while he was floundering in the river, seemingly unable to reach him.
Illumi watched Roy silently for a long moment, then turned and walked away, looking dejected.
A gust of wind blew past, swirling dry leaves. Roy also left the basement and returned to his bedroom. He took out the notebook Silva had given him and placed it next to Zzigg's, comparing them carefully.
After a while, looking thoughtful, he picked up a pen and wrote a sentence on a blank page: "A loyal heart follows the sun..."
The 'Sun Breathing' was created because of the sun. His 'Nen' coalesced into Ren using the sun as a reference point. All paths led to the same destination.
'Ask the heart'... 'Ask the heart'... As long as the sun does not extinguish, his heart will not perish.
Roy closed the notebook. Never before had he felt such a clear understanding of the path ahead. When lost... he just needed to follow the sun's guidance!
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