Chapter 111: Water Breathing: Eleventh Form x Phantasmal Sword: Mirrored Sun Kagerou
The Point Scramble was forced to a halt. In the face of the storm, mankind's petty squabbles were utterly insignificant.
In a dark corner of the cabin, the strange man's signature pinstriped face gradually emerged. The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was to scan the room for a certain figure. He had only dozed off for a moment because he'd expended too much Aura, but in that short time, Big Brother had vanished.
Illumi didn't find Roy in the captain's cabin. He stared out the window with his vacant eyes for a second, then, without hesitation, formed a hand-blade and began tearing at the deck. Before the shocked and confused eyes of the others, he dove straight through, reappearing at Gotoh's feet. His head poked through the deck as he silently watched the storm ahead.
"Young Master Illumi?" Gotoh jumped, nearly stomping on his head. It was a good thing he was sharp-eyed; otherwise, today would have been his death anniversary.
Whoosh! The wind howled, and the sea surged, making the Sea God groan and creak.
Roy danced in the heart of the storm, a figurative mountain on his back. Every swing of his sword was exceptionally difficult, far beyond the child's play under the waterfall.
"Fourth Form: Striking Tide!... Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought!... Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool!..."
The seawater, guided by his blade, coalesced into pillars of water, constantly fighting back against the storm's erosion. Flashes of sword light illuminated the darkness, blooming with a brilliant radiance that was visible even through the cabin windows.
"What is that light?" Yusuke and Kite, who had been inside for less than two minutes, rushed back out, leaping onto the cabin roof to get a better look. The boy, sword in hand, was fighting the storm alone, fearless. It was an utterly stunning sight!
"Is that even human?"
"So this is how he trains..." Yusuke's jaw dropped. Kite silently gripped his own katana.
He had listened to Ging's teachings and clearly remembered his words: "Man is a product of nature. No matter how strong we become, it is difficult to challenge nature's power. Floods, droughts, earthquakes... each one brings unimaginable disaster to mankind. Therefore, one must respect nature, not foolishly dream of conquering it. Only then can one find their proper place in the world."
But... Master, there are always those who refuse to accept that.
Kite's gaze was fixed intently on Roy. He couldn't help but wonder what Roy would have thought if he had heard Ging's words. He probably would have scoffed.
The flashes of the blade merged with the water, relentlessly crashing against the storm. The torrential rain pelted down, each drop striking like a stone, let alone for Roy who was on the edge of the storm. The boy's stamina was dropping rapidly, his breathing growing heavy. Each swing was more sluggish than the last. But his spirit was sharp, the twin suns in his eyes burning brighter and brighter. His mouth moved unconsciously, murmuring, "Almost... just a little more..."
He unleashed the forms. "Seventh Form: Piercing Rain Drop!... Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!... Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow!..."
He felt he had grasped something, but when he tried to clench his fist around it, the spark of insight slipped through his fingers. Unwilling to give up, he raised his blade again. "Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!" He drew upon the water around him, forming a water dragon that roared as it charged into the sky!
"ROAR!" The water dragon tore a hole in the endless dark clouds. A single ray of light pierced through. The red sun crested the horizon, half-visible, half-hidden, a perfect mirror image on the sea. Its dawn rays shone on Roy's face. The boy's lips curved. "Got it."
He released his grip, letting the cane sword fall vertically towards the sea. The instant the tip touched the water... ripples spread out from him as the center. In the blink of an eye, they radiated outwards. Wherever they passed, all things stood still, as if the pause button had been pressed on the world, their ability to move stolen.
[Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Phantasmal Sword: Mirrored Sun Kagerou (Heat Haze)]
Voom...
The wind and rain froze. The rocking Sea God was caught in the ripple and fell silent.
Gotoh and Illumi on the bow, Yusuke and Kite on the cabin roof, Captain Mark Seam staring in shock from the deck, along with Kurapika, the man in bandages, the snake charmer, the boy with the bow, and even the rats hiding in the ship's hold—in that one instant, all were frozen!
They felt the world blur, then fade to monochrome, leaving only a red sun and a mirrored sea, lingering, refusing to fade.
[Note: "Phantasmal Sword: Mirrored Sun Kagerou" is an original illusory domain created by the Host's contemplation of the union of water and sun. When used, the blade can paralyze an opponent for 0.1 seconds, trapping them in the "Sun on the Sea" illusion, briefly robbing them of the ability to think.]
Pop!
0.1 seconds later...
The ripples vanished. The illusion shattered. The world reappeared, the wind and rain resuming their assault. A massive wave struck, tilting the Sea God violently and flinging several candidates overboard.
Only then did everyone snap back to reality, realizing something was wrong!
"What was that just now?"
"I think... I lost consciousness for a second!"
"You too? I thought it was just me! Scared me to death, thought I was about to see my dead grandma!"
"What grandma? Wasn't it a sun and the sea?"
The chaos resumed. Kurapika, hidden in a remote corner, frowned and looked out the window. The storm still raged, but there was now a distinct hole in the clouds, with a faint glow shining down. Was it man-made?
"It had to be! That guy definitely did it!" Yusuke came to his senses, his eyes locked on Roy. As a ninja, he had only come to take the Hunter Exam in search of the "Legendary Scroll." According to his clan elders, the scroll contained records of unbelievable ninjutsu, including "genjutsu" that could deceive the mind! Yusuke suspected that for someone of his skill to have lost consciousness, even for a moment, it had to be a "genjutsu"!
Tap... tap... The boy sheathed his sword and walked back across the waves, unhurried. The storm had whipped his black hair into a disheveled mess, making him look ragged, but no one dared to underestimate him for it. Gotoh, Illumi, Kite... all eyes were fixed on him.
Roy leaped onto the bow, glanced at Mark Seam, and said, "If you keep staring, you'll sail right back into the storm."
"Oh... oh!" The old captain snapped out of it, roaring, "Gus, hard to port! Everyone else, secure the sails!"
"Aye!"
The Sea God's sails billowed as it turned sharply, steering clear of the storm's path.
Moments later, the wind and rain began to subside. Illumi tilted his chin up, silently watching Roy. When Roy's gaze swept over him, he ducked his head and burrowed under the deck, disappearing. Without land, perhaps only hiding beneath the deck on the open sea could give him a faint sense of security.
Roy noted this but didn't bother with him. He took the branch from Gotoh and continued fishing, honing his Nen ability. The panel updated.
[Swordsmanship +70... Water Breathing +50...]
[Current]
[Swordsmanship: lv3(160/10000) → lv3(230/10000)]
[Water Breathing: Novice (78/100) → Proficient (28/1000)]
A small, but significant, achievement.
☆ ☆☆
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