Ging rubbed his sore throat, muttering under his breath as he observed the aftermath of their battle. He had pushed himself far, enduring the backlash of strict restrictions and oaths. It was truly terrifying—the kind of power that left him unable to act recklessly.
After taking a moment to diagnose his battered body, he turned to look at Ronnel, who lay nearby, pale and motionless. Ging sighed, his lips curling into a faint, resigned smirk.
The injuries were severe. Ronnel couldn't fight, let alone move much. Ging could only hope the young man would recover quickly and return to treat his wounds properly.
"This whole ordeal with the Sonata of Darkness… I really paid a steep price this time," Ging muttered to himself.
Still, it hadn't been all bad.
Unraveling the secrets of Braga Canyon, forging a bond with Ronnel, and surviving another life-or-death ordeal had left Ging with new insights. He understood his limits better and had grown stronger through this experience.
With a wry chuckle, he thought, If I really reflect on it, maybe this wasn't such a loss after all.
He glanced upward thoughtfully. "Gon's progress should put him just a few months away from breaking through to the next level."
Once Ging returned, he planned to heal properly, then retreat into seclusion to digest the gains from this journey.
"And with Gon's stubborn temperament, he'll definitely use Accompany instead of Magnetic Force," Ging mused aloud. "He'll have to come to me on his own. If he tries to drag others along, I'll send him to Kite instead!"
(T/N: Magnetic Force the user to be instantly transported to another player in the game, providing that they have previously met them. Similar to "Accompany", but it only allows for the user to be transported. This card is particularly useful when a player wants to meet with another player in person.)
Ging snorted and rubbed his nose. His smirk widened until a sudden coughing fit forced him to stop. Blood spewed from his mouth, and he dropped to the ground beside Ronnel, rummaging through his pocket with shaky hands.
This time, he didn't pull out his usual apple but a silver ring and a small medicine bottle.
In Ging's world, apples were more valuable than gold.
Ignoring his own humor, he tossed the ring into the air above them. As it ascended, the ring expanded, becoming wide enough to accommodate several people. A soft, circular silver light emanated from it, covering both Ging and Ronnel.
As the light solidified, their figures disappeared, leaving the ring suspended midair.
"That'll do," Ging muttered, relief evident in his voice.
He unscrewed the bottle's cap and poured out a few red-and-yellow capsules, swallowing them in one gulp.
The pills worked almost instantly, bringing a faint flush of color back to his face. Though his wounds remained severe, the bleeding stopped, allowing Ging to relax a little.
"Staying inside this Absolute Silver Bracelet should keep us safe for now," he said, inspecting the silver glow around them.
Ging scratched his head. "Figures. I made a bet with Emuksu that I wouldn't use the bracelet this time, but here we are. He's going to mock me for this."
(T/N: Emuksu wasn't just any Nen user—he was one of the brilliant minds behind Greed Island, the creator of many of the game's most iconic designated cards)
The Absolute Silver Bracelet was one of Emuksu's many ingenious creations. Its effect allowed users to create a concealed space for refuge. Hidden within its field, they would enjoy "absolute" privacy—shielded from detection by the outside world.
Ging reached into his pocket again, pulling out several oddly shaped stones. He scattered them outside the barrier.
"These guard stones should give us enough warning if anything approaches," he murmured, leaning back against the wall of light and closing his eyes.
...
Meanwhile, in the darkened space…
"Looks like this level of restriction and oath couldn't preserve the eyes."
Ronnel raised his hand, watching as the remnants of what was once in his palm crumbled into powder and scattered into the void.
"It's not just the eyes," he muttered. "His body must've taken a beating, too. But with his wits, Ging's survival isn't in question."
Trusting Ging's judgment, Ronnel shifted his focus to the thousand undead bone demons surrounding them.
Most had been wiped out in the earlier fight, leaving only a few scattered remnants. Still, Ronnel knew the true threat wasn't the horde.
The Bone King stood at the center of the battlefield, an aura of malice radiating from his skeletal form.
Ronnel sized him up, carefully analyzing his opponent.
"This guy's power is leagues above most fighters on the Six Continents," Ronnel thought. "The undead feed on resentment and death energy, so my Nen isn't going to have much effect on them. And he's got tricks honed from battles on the Dark Continent itself. That makes him even more dangerous."
The silver-haired warrior smirked. "Good thing his Sonata of Darkness ability is all but spent. That'll make this fight a lot more manageable."
As Ronnel tightened his fist, preparing to engage, the Bone King suddenly raised a bony hand, halting his minions.
"You will all stand down!"
At his command, the remaining undead bone demons retreated, merging into the jagged peaks of the bone mountains surrounding the battlefield.
Ronnel didn't interfere. He merely stood his ground, his piercing gaze locked on the Bone King.
"This ends with you," Ronnel said softly. "Only by defeating you can I end this madness and claim the Sonata of Darkness for myself."
The Bone King's hollow eyes gleamed in the dim light as the two combatants prepared for the final clash.
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