Hunter X Hunter: Tombbound Power

If Ronnel really intended to kill them, Feitan would have to be the first one to fall.

Feitan's Nen was no joke—it burned like the surface of the sun. If he fought with full force, Ronnel would be lucky to escape without third-degree burns. His skin would likely be scorched off in the process.

And even if Feitan were somehow defeated, Shalnark and Phinks would shift immediately into battle mode.

Ronnel wasn't sure how many times Phinks could unleash his deadly "Ripper Cyclotron," but once Phinks committed to the kill, his strength was terrifying, especially if he swung without restraint.

And Shalnark? His carefree demeanor belied the terrifying potential of his ability. He used to joke about how his power gave him no real sense of accomplishment. 

Ronnel sighed. These three were not to be trifled with.

He could only curse his luck. The deadliest members of the Phantom Troupe had gathered, leaving him no openings. He could only let fate play its hand and accept it with a resigned shrug.

After tonight's skirmish, Baker Creston was done for. His name would be as good as erased from the noble circles. That, at least, was some small mercy.

Ronnel smirked. Out of sight, out of mind.

With that thought, he closed his eyes, replaying his recent battle with Feitan in his mind, trying to learn from it.

Suddenly, he snapped awake, eyes alert. There was a faint sound above—a subtle shuffle, almost imperceptible. But with his Nen-enhanced senses, he picked it up within his Nen field.

Someone's on the roof. Probably just passing through.

Ronnel flipped onto his side, ready to return to sleep.

CRASH!

A deafening noise shattered the quiet as a figure burst through the roof, landing with a heavy thud in the room.

Ronnel rolled off the bed and, without hesitation, dove out the window just as the hotel began to collapse with an earth-shaking rumble.

Perched outside, he stared back at the crumbling building, listening to the panicked screams of guests inside.

"Does this count as sitting quietly at home and disaster falling from the sky?" Ronnel muttered, his brow twitching in irritation.

He scanned the area. The figure who had been walking on the roof earlier was nowhere to be seen.

The one who had fallen into the hotel wasn't the same person.

And the way they fell... it was way too sudden, like something straight out of a cartoon.

He sighed, ready to leave the chaos behind. Trouble seemed to follow him no matter where he went.

Before he could slip away, a new figure appeared to his left—silent and casual, but clearly on high alert. It was the man from the roof.

The stranger gave Ronnel a once-over but said nothing.

Just as Ronnel turned to leave—

BOOM!

Chunks of debris shot from the ruined hotel. One massive rock flew toward the stranger, while another was hurtling directly at Ronnel.

"...Really?" Ronnel muttered under his breath, his face dark with disbelief.

He narrowly dodged the debris just as a massive figure stormed out from the ruins of the hotel.

The newcomer had wild, bloodshot eyes that darted between Ronnel and the man to his left. His face twisted with fury as he pointed a trembling finger at the stranger.

"Lester! You bastard! I knew you wouldn't face me alone! You've got backup, don't you?!"

The man's voice boomed with rage. "You threw me here with your ability, didn't you? Planning to ambush me? Typical dirty tricks from the Nostrade Family—scum, all of you!"

The slender man, apparently named Lester, scowled. "Shut up, idiot! I don't need anyone's help to deal with the likes of you."

Without another word, Lester launched himself at the angry giant, throwing the first punch. The two clashed violently, locked in a fierce fight.

Ronnel, meanwhile, raised a curious brow.

Nostrade Family?

Kurapika had mentioned them once. They were the ones who helped him land that bodyguard gig with Light Nostrade—a shady organization, to say the least.

Seems like there's more to them than I thought... Ronnel mused, filing away the information for later. This might be worth investigating when the time was right.

But for now, the guards were starting to swarm the area, drawn by the commotion. Ronnel decided it was time to disappear.

He slipped into the night without a sound.

Better leave before things get messier.

Meanwhile, at Heavens Arena...

After meeting Zushi and Wing, Gon and Killua had finally reached the 200th floor, only to find someone blocking their way.

"Clah-la-la~"

Hisoka lounged lazily on the floor, shuffling a deck of cards with unsettling grace. His golden eyes sparkled as he watched the two boys approach.

"If you don't learn how to use Nen soon, you'll be nothing but meat on someone else's chopping block."

Hisoka chuckled softly. "Even if you survive the Initiation by sheer luck, you'll be halfway crippled."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a playful whisper.

"So, for my own entertainment... go to Wing. Tell him to unlock your Aura Nodes. If you can't manage it by morning... Well..."

He licked his lips with a slow, serpentine grin. "Don't disappoint me. Hehehe~"

The perverse sound of Hisoka's laughter echoed across the 200th floor, sending shivers down the spine of the receptionist at the counter. She shuddered, visibly unsettled.

Elsewhere, Kurapika sat silently, deep in thought. An agency had just rejected his application, dismissing him as a complete outsider.

But his luck hadn't run out yet. He had finally found a master who could teach him Nen.

In the luxurious villa of the wealthy collector, Battera, Kurapika signed a 50-billion Jenny employment contract, ready to enter a new, dangerous game.

As he stood, several men in suits bowed slightly to him. This was only the beginning.

Kurapika knew that beyond the door lay treacherous waters—filled with both opportunity and peril.

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