"Master, I think it's time to begin the next stage of training."
The red glow dissipated as Roy skilfully sheathed his sword, which reverted to its original form.
[Tip: Swordsmanship +70]
The flames faded, revealing the scorched ground and burning birch trees... Urokodaki Sakonji stared absentmindedly at the young man, with the memory of the sword cutting through the mist to greet the light replaying in his mind, unlikely to be forgotten even in death.
"Reached your limit?" The master didn't forget his disciple's words; Roy had mentioned learning the Breathing Technique after reaching his limit, and Urokodaki Sakonji respected his wish, patiently waiting... Sabito and Makomo leapt down, arriving one on each side of the old man. The young boy and girl regained their composure, their eyes shining as they gazed at Roy, unable to conceal their amazement despite being shocked time and again.
A genius defies logic, and the exhilarating feeling of having one's understanding repeatedly shattered filled their hearts...
Sabito said with blazing eyes, "Eiichiro, I agree with your idea."
The fox-like boy looked at the gathering mist that once again blocked the sunlight beyond the forest and spoke softly, "Sagiri yama can no longer contain you, and you... deserve a broader world."
"Whether you take up the sword to slay demons or journey down the mountain, in the future, if you go to Mount Fujikasane to avenge us, please carry our spirit with you and live brilliantly..."
"And count me in too~" Makomo smiled, her pretty eyes curving like crescent moons. "That creature hurt me so much, don't let it escape next time, cut it up for me piece by piece!"
Sabito glanced at her, wondering why she wasn't this fierce usually, but in his heart, he fully agreed with her sentiment.
Demons are just demons, not deserving of sympathy.
"All right." Roy replied concisely, silently memorizing their words. After undergoing a round of "Red Sun Heart Refinement," when he looked at Urokodaki Sakonji once more, there was a trace of reflection and liberation in his eyes. "Dare to let Master know, earlier, this disciple harbored selfish motives, always wanting to surpass myself, at least not being worse than some people..."
The image of Netero flashed in his mind...
The young man said, "Now I want to venture out, bringing with me my people and my heart, stepping into this vast world together..."
"Do more, learn more, save more people, reducing the number of Evil Ghosts in the world is always a good thing..."
"Of course," Roy smiled broadly, revealing a row of pearly teeth, "If given the chance to kill the Ghost King, ensuring that no more Evil Ghosts dare to cause trouble wherever sunlight reaches, I think by then, if I return to honor my senior brothers and sisters, I'll have some dignity, without being gossiped about..."
"Ha~ Eiichiro, while we weren't around, you snuck in a little report, didn't you..."
"When that day comes, you don't have to say anything, just have Fukuda perform a 'suicide' to celebrate!"
"It's not out of the question, I'll finish you along with it!"
"..."
"Woosh~" A chilling wind passed, swaying the branches... Shinsuke and Fukuda swooped in, each placing an arm around the young man's shoulders. Behind them were Shimizu, Watanabe, Kujo, and a group of senior brothers and sisters...
At that moment, as the sunset descended, through the thick mist, a faint red glow appeared on the horizon...
Urokodaki Sakonji listened quietly as the young man spoke, knowing even without Nen's assistance that everyone was here...
As long as everyone is here, it's all good...
The old man gave the young man a deep look, "Tomorrow morning, meet me at the waterfall."
With hands behind his back, he walked away on the snow...
The Celestial Dog Mask was left in the woods, leaving him with a premonition that soon, neither he nor a group of retired old friends, nor millions of ordinary people in the world, would have to hide in the shadows cast by the Evil Ghosts.
Just as his disciple said,
"Sunlight will eventually disperse the darkness."
"Tap... tap..." Footsteps gradually receded...
Night fell, as dark as ink.
Three days' journey from Sagiri yama,
A young man pressed the hilt of his sword, dashing through the moonlight, eager to return home.
He had a pair of sea-blue eyes, his black long hair tied in a low ponytail, his black Demon Slayer Corps uniform simply girded with a white sash, a red and yellow-green interwoven haori draped over his back, swaying with his swift run... Tomioka Giyu was advancing!
Having accepted the order, he had to carry it through to the end; it was his mission.
An additional junior brother entered his field of vision, out of curiosity.
Testing his talent kindled emotions, it was anticipation... Beneath Giyu's silent and reticent face was hopes for this journey, but also nervous apprehension, fearing disappointment, and worrying about not returning for the holidays, facing his master's reprimand. In any case, his heart remained unsettled...
Conversely, the person he anticipated quietly accompanied the one he cared for, enjoying a sumptuous wild boar feast, then lay down under the gentle breeze and bright moon, fully clothed, sweetly entering a dream.
It was still the familiar feeling of falling,
When Roy left the Demon Slayer World, stepping over the Sea of Cognition, traversing the dream passage, back to the Hunter World,
The sky outside the airship window had brightened.
Looking down from high above, the red sun could be seen rising from the horizon.
This rare sleep lasted until six in the morning for Roy, which was quite unusual.
He got out of bed, following his daily routine of washing and jogging, with toothbrush and cup already prepared in advance by Wutong.
The young butler glanced at the boy, "Master is in a good mood today."
Usually, even without a call, his biological clock would have woken him by four in the morning.
But perhaps due to purging the underlying negative emotions deep inside, Roy felt unprecedentedly refreshed and cheerful and thus slept a little longer for once.
"Not bad." His lips curved slightly upward, the young man began to run around the airship, finally dashing straight to the deck, spreading his arms to embrace the sunshine, closing his eyes to enjoy the rare peaceful times,
A phone call came, disrupting the tranquility...
"It's a call from home, Illumi left without informing the family, heading for the Hunter Exam."
Wutong hung up the call, cautiously observing Roy, "The master instructed, asking the young master to watch over Master Illumi and make sure he doesn't get killed."
"Killed by someone else or him killing someone?" The young man sneered.
Wutong: "..."
Thinking about Master Illumi's temperament, it's really hard to say.
Looking up again, the young master's figure was no longer in sight...
He hurriedly quickened his pace to catch up...
"Ding-a-ling... ding-a-ling..."
"Attention all passengers, this flight is approaching Narita International Airport, the United States of Saherta. Please ensure you check your belongings and prepare to disembark...."
At eight in the morning, the airship reached the United States of Saherta.
Leaving the airport and then taking a ferry, the master and servant stood one after the other on the deck. In less than an hour, a whale-shaped island appeared in view at a distance....
This is an "entrance" to the Hunter Exam, and where the entire Hunter story unfolds,
With the sea breeze in his hair, Roy recalled Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, after a moment, stepping a decade back in time, setting foot on the land where this dream began.