The silkworm sheds its heart and spits out the old red; breaking the cocoon's bonds, its wings rise to the sky.
Following the Sage's announcement of [Limit Break Complete], the pain sweeping his body receded like a tide.
Sean unclenched his jaw and let out a long, turbid breath. The stream of air shot into the lake like a cannonball, blasting open a vortex with a *RUMBLE*.
His *qi* and blood were abundant and strong, his physical body flawless. 'It's no wonder that in the original work, Uvogin could rupture the Earthen Beasts' eardrums just with his voice!'
The vortex formed, and water splashed, rolling outward. Sean felt the transformation of his body and revealed a satisfied expression. He immediately ordered the Sage to open his status panel.
[Congratulations Host on achieving the second-layer limit break]
[Current information updating, regenerating...]
[Regeneration complete]
[Sean Zoldyck]
[Sex: Male]
[Bone Age: 13]
[Strength: 31,120. (Commoner 10) Note: Two-layer limit break]
[Speed: 30,051. (Commoner 10) Note: Two-layer limit break]
[Aura: 31,450. (Commoner 10) Note: Two-layer limit break]
[Nen Ability Level: Initial (Note: First-layer limit break incomplete)]
[Characteristic: [Wind] Current unlock progress 90%]
[Currently accumulated Reader Feedback Points: 7,893]
[Comprehensive Evaluation: C]
"C? I remember that Ma-niao guy was also at the second-layer limit break, but his three major stats of strength, speed, and aura were only just over 10,000, barely one-third of mine." Noticing that his attribute values far exceeded Joyce Mattel's, Sean raised an eyebrow.
The "Sage" popped up to resolve his doubts.
[Reporting to Host, the numerical increase after a limit break is determined by the Host's bloodline genes.]
[The best of the best, the Zoldyck family bloodline far exceeds that of ordinary people. The changes brought about by a limit break also far exceed those of ordinary people.]
"So... that's why the Ants are so strong?" A trace of understanding dawned on Sean.
In the original work, the Ants relied on devouring and absorbing the abilities of other species, intercepting their bloodlines and genes, to step onto the path of evolution!
Finally, they concentrated the wisdom and power of the entire colony to forge the Ant King—Meruem!
"In other words, as I break more layers of limits, my bloodline and genes will also become more and more outstanding, correct?"
[In the strictest sense, yes.]
[But there is one point that must be reminded to the Host—]
[An outstanding bloodline and genes will inevitably be accompanied by powerful reproductive barriers.]
[In the future, the Host may be unable, or rarely able, to produce offspring with a bloodline as outstanding as yours.]
"So that's why the Zoldyck family's white-haired generation is always a single heir." Sean nodded in deep agreement. When all the advantages of a race are concentrated in a single individual, it naturally becomes impossible to select a breeding partner from the remaining clan members who can match that single individual.
In short—at the end of evolution... it might truly be a case of "In all the world, I am the only law."
A faint sense of loneliness washed over him. Sean shook his head, and even the joy from the recent limit break was diluted.
At this moment, the shadows of the trees swayed. The sound of footsteps came from the forest.
Silva, leading Killua and followed by Illumi, walked to the lakeside under the rays of the setting sun. He looked at Sean with shining eyes. "13 years old, and already at the second-layer limit break. Are you still not satisfied with this result, Sean?"
"You could have watched openly, but you chose to peek. Be careful not to be a bad influence on Killua, Duo Sang."
The evening breeze had already informed Sean of Silva, Illumi, and Killua's location. He had been in a hurry to break through, so Sean hadn't chosen to point them out. But now...
The young man turned around and gave a simple stretch. His steel muscles and bones, like a full-moon bow, suddenly released, exploding with a thunderous crack!
It seemed as if every joint was cheering and rejoicing from that simple movement.
As Sean rode the wind and landed gently in front of Silva, the clamor finally stopped. "Satisfied? Compared to your 'Speed' and 'Aura' which have already broken the third layer, this son's shallow cultivation is nowhere near enough, is it, Duo Sang?"
The hexagram in his eyes flashed. Unlike two years ago, this time, Sean could finally "see" Silva's stats.
"Sage, analyze!"
[Silva Zoldyck]
[Sex: Male]
[Bone Age: 38]
[Strength: 81,120. (Commoner 10) Note: Two-layer limit break]
[Speed: 100,071. (Commoner 10) Note: Three-layer limit break]
[Aura: 111,850. (Commoner 10) Note: Three-layer limit break]
[Nen Ability Level: Unviewable (Note: Nen ability level difference is too great)]
[Comprehensive Evaluation: C+]
"Oh? The [Wind] characteristic has a function similar to analysis?" Silva noticed the hexagram that flashed in the depths of Sean's right eye.
He narrowed his eyes, slightly startled.
It was the first time he had felt this strange sensation of being stripped naked and hung under the sun for all to see in broad daylight. It was an indescribable discomfort.
"A 'draft'... a 'draft' passes through your body and enters my ears. Is that so strange, Duo Sang?" Sean looked at Silva with a smile.
After the second-layer limit break, his height and build had surged again. Without even standing on his toes, he could look Silva right in the eye.
Silva nodded in deep agreement. "Not strange. But—"
The current head of the Zoldyck family paused, his gaze fixed deeply on Sean. "The three-year agreement is almost up, my son!"
"Seeing you grow this fast... Dad's hands are getting itchy."
The shame of having the bell stolen was still fresh in his mind. Silva had suffered no small amount of lashing and humiliation from a certain old bastard over the past two years. Added to that, as a father, he wasn't even forty yet, still in the prime of his strength and vitality. The one thing he couldn't stand was having his paternal dignity trampled upon!
However... "It's 'almost' up, but not 'up' yet, right? What's the hurry?" Sean looked at Silva with a smile. A wisp of scarlet climbed silently into his left eye. The soul-snatching tomoe, honed by time, had already evolved into a Mangekyo.
The moment it was reflected in the pupils of Silva, Illumi, and Killua, all three of them trembled, freezing in unison!
"This exact location, this exact time. One year from now, at 6:49 PM."
"Believe me, Duo Sang... I will do everything in my power to let you experience what despair feels like."
The corners of the young man's mouth split open, revealing a set of white teeth. Just then, a murder of crows flew past. A boundless, blood-red curtain slowly drew open.
A longsword, glinting with a cold light, crossed the ten-meter distance and came to rest at Silva's throat.
[Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword]: An item redeemed by consuming 1,000 of Sean's Reader Feedback Points.
It was also Orochimaru's prized ninjutsu tool, forged from the hardest substance in the Naruto world. Its characteristic: it can be long or short, extending and retracting at will, with no limit. It once proved its merit in the great battle between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage.
And now, held in Sean's hand, it made its first appearance in the Hunter world!