"Ugh—!"
Uvogin groaned, a pain mask twisted across his face.
His wrist twisted grotesquely, bent into a crooked "7" shape.
Thick, white bone pierced out from his flesh—gruesome and shocking.
"Let him go!!"
"Iaijutsu — Draw and Slash!"
A silver arc split the air.
It wasn't the blade itself—just the illusion left behind from its terrifying speed.
Nobunaga had finally made his move.
The hem of his yukata fluttered as he vanished like wind—
And in a flash, appeared behind Roy, blade slashing clean for his throat.
He usually called Roy a "mutt," but when Nobunaga drew his sword, he never held back.
Yet—
The moment Nobunaga so much as twitched, Roy already had him locked in.
No—
Everyone in that room was already caught in Roy's Kenbunshoku Haki.
Shizuku. Franklin. Nobunaga.
So, a sneak attack?
Don't insult him just because he's blind.
Roy grinned. "So this is your idea of a 1v1 men's duel?"
He lowered his head slightly, his bangs covering the glow of his golden eyes.
"Got it. A group of garbage, pretending they're one-on-one. Fine by me."
"In the end, trash is still trash—doesn't matter if it's one bag or a heap."
With that, Roy threw Uvogin's body like a rag doll, sneered, and—
Gripped his gravity saber with both hands, raising it to his chest.
In that instant, his thoughts flashed to a middle-aged man, draped in a Justice cloak, smiling kindly:
"No matter how cruel the world gets, hold onto your kindness."
A corner of Roy's mouth lifted.
Nobunaga's sword came flying in—faster than lightning.
But Roy's blade, slow at first, began to hum.
Faster… sharper… until the draw slash blurred space itself—
And Roy whispered:
"Gravity Knife: Tiger."
The world twisted. The universe turned upside down.
Gravity flipped.
With a thunderous swipe, a storm of invisible force erupted from the blade.
Within the widened pupils of Uvogin, Nobunaga, and Shizuku—
A majestic, golden-eyed, purple-maned tiger roared into the sky, its body glowing with crackling pressure.
With a leap, it pounced, flattening the three onto the stone floor like rag dolls.
Unable to move. Unable to resist.
HUUU~
The world cleared.
CLANG~
Nobunaga's katana hit the ground, letting out a lonely wail.
The Zoldyck estate's courtyard, pristine and refined, now had three fresh human-shaped craters.
Two men. One woman.
A scene waiting for a grave-filler.
As for Uvogin, Nobunaga, and Shizuku—
Gone. Erased.
Zipo Nian stared at the impact holes, wiping his glasses with trembling fingers.
"…That's the end?"
Jeno and Silva sat in silence, watching the entire battle unfold via Zipo Nian's feed.
They looked at each other—
and saw a hint of disbelief… and shared awkwardness.
Jeno spoke first, breaking the tension:
"This is battle. This is real life and death."
"Not some flashy NT drama with fake powerups and a hundred-round exchange."
Silva was silent for a moment, then asked, "Father… you expected this?"
Jeno didn't answer immediately.
He was still chewing on Roy's last strike… like a fine cut of swordplay.
He sighed.
This brat's gotten stronger again. In just a few days.
It's like he's cursed—if he doesn't get stronger every hour, he dies or something!
Eating? Stronger.
Sleeping? Stronger.
Breathing air? Stronger!
If you left him alone for a week, he might be able to fight Maha!
Jeno placed a hand on Silva's shoulder.
"You don't have much time left."
"Give him a bit more space… or next time, you might not even be able to teach him a lesson."
Silva: "…You're scared of him?"
Jeno: "Hah. Which eye of yours sees fear on me?"
Silva raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Your sighing, frowning, and muttering tells me otherwise."
Jeno twitched—like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"I'm just saying… it's not shameful if you can't beat your son."
Silva snorted. "I admit, this brat surprises me."
"He's got solid Nen sense. Excellent sword skill. A Transmuter's vibe. And deadly calm under pressure."
"But if he wants to beat me? He still needs twenty years."
Jeno sneered.
"Replace 'years' with 'days,' and I might believe you."
Silva: "…Are you out of your damn mind?"
Jeno looked at him seriously.
"Some people grow stronger as easily as drinking water."
"Are you really sure you can beat someone like that?"
Silva narrowed his eyes.
"…Don't tell me it's Roy."
Jeno didn't blink.
"…It is."
Silva growled: "Ridiculous. That's just fantasy."
"Restrictions and vows don't work like that. Unless I see it with my own eyes—!"