Throne of Shadows: The Conqueror (HxH)

Warning!

Read it with caution! Some of you might find these scene to be disturbing!

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As Grizzly drew nearer, his imposing figure towered over Raymond's 6'2" frame, casting a shadow over him.

Yet, his demeanor defied everyone's expectations.

Instead of hostility, his expression held a surprising hint of compassion as he addressed Raymond with a sigh.

"Oh, young man, would you consider surrendering peacefully?" he implored.

"..."

Raymond remained silent, processing Grizzly's unexpected plea.

"I've spilled too much blood already. I'd rather not add to it by causing harm to you," Grizzly continued earnestly.

"What?"

Ponzu exclaimed in surprise.

"He seemed so menacing just moments ago..."

The sincerity in Grizzly's words left everyone bewildered, especially Ponzu, who was all too familiar with the atrocities he had committed to end up in the Trick Tower.

"Hah! Enough with the nonsense. Just tell me what game you want to play..." Raymond retorted, his displeasure evident.

Despite the seemingly sincere words, Raymond couldn't shake the feeling of intense bloodlust emanating from Grizzly the moment he entered the room.

He scoffed at the apparent contradiction.

These conflicting signals prompted Raymond to shake his head, thoroughly unconvinced.

Though the name "Grizzly" rang a faint bell in Raymond's mind, he couldn't recall any significant details.

His extensive network ensured he was familiar with many individuals across the globe, but the lack of substantial information about Grizzly suggested he wasn't particularly noteworthy.

Raymond typically kept a close watch on powerful figures who posed a threat to his interests.

However, Grizzly remained composed, unfazed by Raymond's dismissive words.

He sighed once again as if lamenting an unfortunate situation.

"If you insist, then know that I have no desire to harm you willingly..." Grizzly stated, his tone oddly calm given the tension in the room.

Observing Raymond's lean physique, Grizzly's smile grew gentle.

"Would you be willing to wrestle?"

As he contemplated the prospect of overpowering Raymond and potentially consuming him, Grizzly felt a primal urge coursing through his body.

He had been deprived for far too long...

...of human flesh.

"Sure, why not," Raymond replied with a casual shrug, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of the situation.

With the challenge accepted, Grizzly's smile widened, albeit unintentionally.

"Let's begin on the count of three," he proposed, his voice filled with eager anticipation.

"3... 2..."

The tension in the room reached its peak as everyone's eyes fixated on the impending clash, the countdown continuing, "...1..."

In an instant, Grizzly lunged towards Raymond, a strange expression contorting his face.

A small drool escaped his lips, intensifying the unsettling atmosphere.

In response, Raymond deepened his frown.

"Hehehe, you're mine!"

Silently exclaiming within his mind, Grizzly seized Raymond, his powerful hands closing in.

The intention was clear – to bring Raymond down, immobilize him, and relish the feast that awaited.

"...Huh?"

To his surprise, the figure in his grasp seemed unmoved. Confusion washed over Grizzly as he glanced down, only to freeze in terror.

A pair of striking crimson eyes met his, their cold gaze piercing through him.

"I thought I had him..."

Before he could comprehend the situation, Grizzly felt a sudden, powerful grip on his hand.

He stared in disbelief as Raymond, despite his slender frame, exerted an astonishing amount of strength.

In the blink of an eye, Grizzly found himself hurtling towards the ground, his face meeting the hard surface with a resounding thud.

"Arghh!"

Grizzly's face contorted in agony as Raymond effortlessly restrained him, pinning his arms behind his back.

"Wh-what are you! Stop, it hurts!!"

Despite his struggles, Grizzly found himself completely at Raymond's mercy, unable to break free.

"Disgusting creature..." 

Raymond's voice, calm and collected, cut through the tension.

To Raymond, Grizzly had crossed a line that rendered him unworthy of being considered human.

"A simple death would be too merciful for you," Raymond continued, his tone chillingly composed.

With a swift motion, Raymond snapped both of Grizzly's hands as a sickening sound echoing through the room.

"..."

Yet, Raymond's expression remained unchanged, his gaze cold and unwavering.

The onlookers couldn't help but flinch at the gruesome sound of bone snapping, and their faces contorted in horror as Raymond inflicted punishment upon Grizzly.

With a firm grip on the prisoner's hair, Raymond dragged him towards the edge of the platform, the sense of impending doom palpable in the air.

"I've calculated the distance below," Raymond's voice rang out, the gravity of his words sinking in.

Grizzly's expression shifted from confusion to realization as the truth dawned on him.

Desperation flickered in Grizzly's eyes as he pleaded silently, his survival instincts kicking in.

But Raymond's resolve remained unyielding as he spoke, his tone firm yet devoid of malice.

"Given your physique, you should survive the fall," Raymond stated.

A flicker of hope crossed Grizzly's pained face.

The desperation in his eyes turned into a silent plea for mercy as he clung to the possibility of survival.

"So, die a slow and miserable death down below would be my punishment for your sins..."

Raymond's merciless judgment echoed through the room, and Grizzly's desperate hope turned to horror.

"N-No, please!"

"...of wanting to eat my flesh, you scumbag."

Without a shred of hesitation, Raymond callously tossed Grizzly over the edge, his screams fading into a deep, gut-wrenching thud.

The atmosphere in the room became thick with dread as the gruesome sound settled, leaving an unsettling silence.

All eyes were on Raymond, and an unspoken fear gripped everyone.

The once seemingly casual participant had revealed a dark, unforgiving side that sent shivers down their spines.

"...He looks amicable on the outside yet so cruel on the inside," Bodoro whispered.

The unexpected brutality had left him questioning the true nature of the seemingly composed participant.

Ponzu, although familiar with the atrocities committed by Grizzly, now found herself cowering in fear.

The stark contrast between Raymond's outward appearance and his merciless actions unsettled her.

Bourbon, though visibly affected, maintained a stoic expression while Kenmi observed in silence, exhaling a resigned sigh.

"Damn..."

Lippo muttered under his breath from his observation post, his disbelief ringing clear in his tone.

"I was instructed to keep an eye on this participant, but damn..."

Despite the cruelty of Raymond's actions, Lippo couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for his calculated approach.

Raymond seemed to have recognized the inherent inefficiencies of the Trick Tower's system, leveraging it to his advantage.

He knew the Trick Tower wouldn't expend much effort to save such a prisoner below, deeming it cost-effective to let him meet a slow demise.

And, as Raymond had suggested, die a slow death.

"We've got quite the lineup of participants this year," With a grin, Lippo chuckled to himself.

"..."

His subordinates exchanged weary glances, clearly accustomed to Lippo's eccentricities.

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