But that feeling was fleeting. The moment she became fully aware of it, the presence vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there.
"What... what was that?!"
Bisky rubbed her arms, feeling the lingering cold stiffness of goosebumps. No, that wasn't just her imagination.
"That aura... it wasn't just powerful—it was primal, like being stared down by an apex predator at the very top of the food chain. It made my body tremble, made me feel utterly powerless..."
Her breath hitched slightly, and her eyes widened.
"How long has it been since I last felt something like this?"
That thought alone was enough to calm her down. Years of experience took over, and she began analyzing the sensation rationally.
"This definitely wasn't Nen."
She ruled that out immediately—she could distinguish the difference between Nen and something else entirely.
"If something nearby could emit a presence like that... then the only possible source is—"
Her gaze snapped to the door of the room behind her. And just as she looked, the doorknob turned, and the door slowly creaked open.
"Looks like I really did get plenty of rest~"
A voice chuckled from behind the door before a figure emerged.
Bisky blinked, and her lips twitched. "You certainly did! My dear apprentice!!"
It was the same familiar face, the same carefree grin. The sight of him made her relax instantly.
The retreat was officially over.
And yet... something still felt unfamiliar.
His eyes.
Those deep, unfathomable eyes that seemed to look down from a place beyond mortal comprehension. For a brief moment, she felt as if she were standing before a god.
"Been a while, huh~"
Ronnel stretched as he stepped out of the room. Strangely, there was no sound from his joints.
Smacking his lips, he turned to Bisky, his gaze clear and sharp.
"I'm starving. Got anything to eat?"
"Shizuku went out to buy groceries. She'll be back soon."
As she spoke, she took the opportunity to assess him. He still had that extraordinary physique—strong bones, well-defined muscles, and a robust frame that exuded health and power.
But something was different. Before, he carried an unmistakable edge, an ever-present aura of explosive strength, his Nen constantly swirling just beneath the surface in a quiet but unwavering readiness for battle.
Now, none of that was there.
Even standing right in front of him, even with her keen perception, she couldn't sense a single thing.
Was he suppressing his presence?
That was the only logical conclusion Bisky could draw.
But what unsettled her even more was the feeling she got when she looked at him now—he was... natural. There was no better way to describe it. He looked as though he had been sculpted by nature itself, a seamless embodiment of perfect balance.
That sensation brought back memories of another person.
Netero.
She had encountered him when she first started learning Nen, when she joined Shingen-ryu and by chance met the legendary chairman. His presence back then had been like the vast ocean or an unshakable mountain—deep, calm, and boundless.
And now, standing before Ronnel, she was reminded of that exact same feeling.
Back then, Netero had already reached the pinnacle of martial arts. Though his overall strength had begun to wane with age, his mastery had only deepened over time.
Ronnel was nowhere near that level of refinement... and yet, in terms of raw power, Bisky was convinced.
Ronnel had already surpassed the Netero she once knew.
Not just in stamina and Nen, but in the fundamental physical attributes of a fighter.
She even wondered—had he reached a level that even a young Netero might not have?
What exactly had he gone through to refine his body to such an unimaginable extent?
Curiosity burned in her, but she knew better than to pry. Everyone had their own secrets.
"What time is it?" Ronnel asked, glancing out the window at the scenery outside.
"Mid-July," Bisky replied. "Gon and the others left for East Gorteau two days ago. The king of that country is under the control of the Chimera Ants, and he's holding a national assembly to gather humans."
She gave him a quick summary of the current situation.
"So it's already been a month..." Ronnel murmured, lowering his head in thought.
"The assembly started two days ago. I remember it'll last for ten days. That means Gon and Netero are planning to take down the Ant King within that timeframe..."
His mind was made up.
"Guess I should get moving too. But first—"
His eyes flickered toward the doorway.
Just then, the door swung open, and Shizuku walked in, carrying a large bag of groceries.
"Might as well rest for one more night~"
With a smile, he stepped forward to help her.
Bisky shook her head at the sight of them, unable to suppress a small smile herself.
"This guy..."
Seeing the way they naturally gravitated toward each other, Bisky let out a sigh.
This atmosphere—it really wasn't bad.
...
The Next Morning
After spending the night with Shizuku, Ronnel set off for East Gorteau.
He had turned down Bisky's offer to accompany him, choosing to travel alone.
Before parting, she returned something to him—a phone she had been holding onto for him.
"Some guy named Morel has been calling you non-stop for the past month. After I told him off, he finally calmed down. Seems like it's something urgent. If you get the chance, give him a call."
With that, Bisky took Shizuku and headed straight for the capital shopping district of the Republic of Padokea.
She had been stuck in that retreat for a month—it was time to let loose.
Ronnel glanced down at the phone in his hand.
"Morel, huh?"
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)