Chapter 104: Fierce Clash x Pariston's Nen Ability
It was him!
The sudden, shocking turn of events shattered all the commotion.
Clark's severed arm flew into the air, was caught by the wind, and fell into the sea, instantly swallowed by the waves.
Splat—! Blood spurted. Pariston and Golem both froze. The slash had shot past their shoulders, torn through the ship's railing, and left a perfectly straight gash on the deck.
"Hey, hey, my ship!" Mark Seam, who had been sleeping soundly, jolted and fell off his chair. Through the window, he saw a shocking trench that ran from the bow all the way to the railing, more dramatic than a lightning strike!
"Roy Zoldyck..." The blonde boy snapped back to reality, the smile completely gone from his face.
Golem quickly tore a strip of cloth to bandage Clark's stump, performing simple first aid. Clark gritted his teeth, holding back his screams, glaring furiously at Roy. He took the opportunity to close his aura nodes, using Zetsu to begin healing.
The boy walked forward unhurriedly, following the gash the slash had carved. At this moment, all other fights seemed to stop. The crowd parted, clearing a path for him.
His face was blank, showing neither joy nor sorrow. He just quietly watched Pariston's trio.
Pariston pulled his hands from his pockets, asking calmly, "Why?"
"You know we don't want to be your enemy. That's why we've been avoiding you. I trust you're smart enough to have seen that."
The man who loves to be hated is now hating someone else... This stifling feeling nearly drove Pariston mad. His hands involuntarily began to radiate Aura.
Tap... tap... Roy walked down from the bow, past Kurapika's gaze, past the stunned man with the dagger, and stopped beside the strange man.
A flicker of light appeared in the strange man's vacant eyes. He craned his neck to look, snorted, and said, "I didn't ask for your help."
"Shut up! I'll deal with you later!" Roy leveled his cane sword, pointing it straight at Pariston's throat. "All three of you, come at me. My stupid little brother isn't strong enough to take on three at once, so let his big brother test your quality for him."
What does that mean? "He's your family?" Pariston glanced at the strange man Roy was now shielding, and understanding dawned. He immediately retracted his Aura, held up his hands, and put on an apologetic smile. "A misunderstanding... this is all a misunderstanding. If I had known he was your family, we would never have attacked him."
This was a terrible mix-up.
Clark, who had just stanched the bleeding from his stump, processed this. A rush of stifled blood rose in his throat, and he almost passed out. "Another Zoldyck?!"
"Why the hell didn't you say so?! I wouldn't have attacked you if I'd known!"
"Calm down, you're bleeding again." Golem clapped Clark on the back, his cold eyes sizing up the Roy-Illumi brothers. Since Roy had boarded, the palpable pressure had intensified infinitely.
Roy held his cane sword aloft, showing no intention of lowering it. This had nothing to do with the Zoldyck family, nor with ordinary people.
"If you choose to attack, you must be prepared for the consequences."
Now... it's too late for that!
[Magnetism: Oppression!]
Voom—! The air seemed to form invisible lines, wrapping around the arms and legs of Pariston, Golem, and Clark! The three of them felt their bodies suddenly grow heavy, as if a giant boulder had been dropped on them. With a krak, their feet were pressed right into the deck!
In the next instant, a brilliant flash of a blade, a "Nen Pin," and several "coins" flew at them, all aimed at their vital points in the single moment they were immobilized.
"I told you, I didn't ask for your help!" Illumi flashed forward, charging Clark, stubborn as a mule.
Beside him, a step faster, was Gotoh! The young butler pushed up his glasses, brushed past Roy's shoulder, and rushed Golem, unleashing a bullet-like torrent of coins. "My apologies, Young Master. I cannot bear to simply watch. Please understand."
One... two... "You're both just making more trouble..." A slash flew out, faster than the Nen Pin, faster than the coins.
Roy strode calmly towards Pariston.
Krak... krak... With a few dull sounds, the deck planks tore upwards, creating a screen of splintered wood that blocked the Nen Pin and the coins, but not the flying slash. It grazed past Pariston's ear, flew into the sea, and took a lock of his golden hair with it.
BOOM! The sea's surface exploded, forming a whirlpool.
Pariston's eyebrow twitched. He could clearly feel the sharp intent from that slash. He unbuttoned and removed his suit jacket, revealing his white shirt beneath. "Honestly, I greatly dislike fighting. But... since you refuse to listen..."
"Clark, Golem. No holding back. Kill them."
The man who would one day become Vice-Chairman of the Hunter Association was not without decisiveness! When reason fails, one must resort to force—to beat the enemy into submission, to make them hurt!
Clark and Golem received their orders. Their hearts hardened. Who cares if they're Zoldycks? Kill them first! Auras flared as they engaged Gotoh and Illumi, respectively.
Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of clashes echoed relentlessly. Mark Seam nearly fainted from the damage. He kept yelling, "Gently! My ship! My ship!" Beside him, the crew and the remaining candidates were all huddled in the captain's cabin, heads down, none daring to suggest breaking up the fight.
Roy flourished his sword, Nen coating the blade, gleaming with cold light. He slashed a flying piece of debris in two, then, using mastered 'Shadow Step', thrust towards Pariston.
"Sun Breathing, Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust!"
The tip of the blade ignited from friction. Backed by a Physique of over 100, Roy's thrust was so fast it shrieked through the air, nearing Pariston's heart in the blink of an eye.
The blonde boy narrowed his eyes, raised his right hand, and snapped his fingers. "Come forth, chessboard!"
A black and white checkered floor instantly spread out from him as the axis. It was followed by the sound of horses neighing. From the white squares, eight armored warhorses suddenly leaped forth, carrying armored knights with lances leveled, blocking Roy's path!
'Chessboard... cavalry... controlling the whole board. A game-strategy-type Nen ability. Gotta say, it suits you, Pariston.' Eight lances thrust at him. Roy changed his move mid-thrust, switching from a stab to an uppercut slash. Another 'Circular Slash'...
The flame-wreathed slash, carrying a cold light, cut through the lances and the knights' hands that held them. It was followed by several rearing hooves, as the knights pulled their reins, directing their mounts to trample Roy!
"Good god... what am I seeing?"
"Why is his sword on fire?"
"Why did my body get heavy?"
"And those armored horses... and armored knights... what are they?"
Flashes of blades and light flickered before their eyes. A stray 'sword aura' sliced through the window and into the captain's cabin. Everyone—except Mark Seam—shivered and huddled together.
So... "This is the real Hunter Exam?"
Kurapika, hidden in an empty corner, watched, stunned. Her beautiful eyes reflected only the image of the boy wielding his cane sword, unleashing a storm of fiery slashes.
☆ ☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you