[The Airship Deck]
"So beautiful!" Gon pressed his face against the glass. "This is what it looks like from the sky!"
"Yeah. It's my first time seeing stars like this too," Killua admitted, though he tried to act cool about it. "Hey Ryker, check out that constellation!"
Ryker smiled, leaning against the railing with a chicken leg in hand. He had promised Mito-san he'd look after Gon, and honestly, the kid was good company. Killua had even warmed up to him, probably because Ryker didn't treat him like a Zoldyck heir, just another brat to feed.
The three of them were munching on snacks stolen from the galley.
Whoosh.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the corridor.
Ryker narrowed his eyes.
He saw him.
The Walking Treasure Chest.
Isaac Netero had just passed behind him.
Fast. Like a glitch in the animation.
Finally. The Raid Boss appears.
Gon didn't react. Killua, however, stiffened instantly, his assassin instincts screaming Danger.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of wooden geta sandals echoed from the other end of the corridor.
They turned.
Netero was walking towards them again. From the opposite direction.
He circled the entire ship in seconds.
Ryker smirked. Show-off.
"Mr. Netero?" Gon asked, confused, pointing behind him. "Didn't you just walk past us that way?"
"No," Netero lied smoothly, eyes twinkling. "I was just taking a stroll. Looking for someone to play with."
His gaze swept over Gon and Killua, then settled on Ryker.
This boy...
Netero sensed it. A faint, new energy radiating from Ryker.
Nen.
Yesterday, Ryker had been a physical powerhouse with zero aura. Today? His pores were open. He had awakened Nen on his own, without a baptism.
A true genius.
Netero's interest spiked from "curiosity" to "delight."
"Old man, you're pretty fast for your age," Killua said, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Ho ho! Just staying active to keep the joints loose," Netero chuckled. "So, how are you three finding the exam?"
"It's fun!" Gon chirped. "No written tests!"
"Boring," Killua scoffed. "I expected a challenge. Is the next phase going to be interesting?"
"And you, Ryker?" Netero turned his gaze to the oldest of the trio.
"Very rewarding," Ryker replied calmly. "Every phase has been a harvest."
Netero paused.
He could tell Ryker wasn't lying. But for someone of Ryker's strength, the exam should be trivial. What was he harvesting?
Mysterious.
"Well then," Netero grinned, holding up a volleyball. "Since you're bored... want to play a game? If you win, I'll give you your Hunter Licenses right now."
[The Gym]
The rules were simple.
Take the ball from Netero.
Any method allowed. No time limit.
Gon and Killua went first.
It was humiliating.
Netero moved like he was lagging in a video game—jerky, unpredictable, and impossible to catch. Gon was run in circles. Killua, despite his Zoldyck training, was sweating buckets.
They came close once. A perfect pincer attack.
But Netero simply moved faster.
"I quit!" Killua snapped, sitting down on the floor.
"Eh? Why? We almost had him!" Gon pouted.
"Idiot. Didn't you see? He hasn't used his right hand or his left leg the entire time. Even if we tried for a year, we wouldn't touch that ball. Ryker... this old man is a monster."
Killua knew when he was outclassed.
"Hehe. Giving up so soon?" Netero teased, spinning the ball on one finger. Then he looked at Ryker, who was leaning against the wall.
"What about you, Ryker-kun? Care to try?"
This was what Netero really wanted.
He liked the kids, but they were seedlings.
Ryker was a sapling ready to be pruned.
He wanted to see what the "Harvest" boy could do.
Ryker pushed off the wall.
[Combat Mode Engaged: Isaac Netero]
[Victory Condition: Defeat Opponent.]
Defeat Netero? Are you crazy? Ryker thought.
[System Update: Victory Condition Adjusted. Acquire the ball to win.]
That's better.
"Sure, Chairman. I'll play," Ryker smiled, walking to the center of the court.
"Careful Ryker! He's faster than he looks!" Killua warned.
"Go Ryker!" Gon cheered.
Netero assumed a relaxed stance, bouncing the ball.
"You have a different aura than those two," Netero noted. "It feels... heavy. Like I'm facing an equal. But don't worry, I won't attack. Just take the ball."
Netero was confident. Cautious, but confident.
But he didn't finish his sentence.
Ryker vanished.
[Godspeed] (Gold).
[Natural Assassin] (Gold) - Passive.
[Super Copy] (Gold).
Ryker didn't just use his own speed. He copied Netero's skipping footwork. And Killua's Rhythm Echo.
Suddenly, there wasn't one Ryker. There were fifteen.
Afterimages flooded the room, circling Netero from all sides.
"What?!" Killua's jaw dropped. That's my Rhythm Echo! But better!
"Oho?" Netero's eyes widened slightly. "You learned that just by watching? You really are a martial arts genius."
"But..." Netero chuckled, shifting his weight. "To take the ball, speed isn't enough."
He prepared to dodge. He wouldn't use a fraction of his power like with the kids. He'd use a bit more.
Just a casual game.
"Is that so?"
The fifteen Rykers spoke in unison.
Suddenly, they all stopped.
They didn't lung for the ball.
They didn't lung for Netero.
They raised their fists... and aimed at the floor.
[Divine Strength] (Red).
Netero's face changed. The smile vanished.
"Oh shit."