Blitz... Is that you?

"Boom!"

After a loud bang.

The shaking of the entire Ruins then stopped.

Ian stood quietly in place, as if watching a cutscene in a game, his expression calm.

Just then...

On the ground of the Ruins.

An arrow icon appeared, seemingly indicating that Ian should move forward.

Ian raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Interesting, is this the third level?"

"Hey, the second level was way too easy, Jin. Your game design is a bit outdated..."

Then.

Ian then got back into the dump truck and drove off in the direction of the arrow.

Jin, who was located in the Observation Space, naturally heard Ian's words.

He simply shook his head, ignoring Ian's provocative words.

He knew very well that the problem wasn't with his game level.

Rather, it was Ian's approach to dealing with monsters that exceeded the capabilities of ordinary Nen users; this kid was truly exceptional.

Ian was driving a car made up of stone statues acting as guards.

Along the way.

Inside the Ruins' Passageway, many stone statues could be seen crouching on the ground, ceasing all movement, as if they had once again turned into stone statues.

Following the direction the arrow pointed, Ian drove for ten minutes before finally leaving the massive Ruins.

What came into view was a desolate, Mechanical City.

Rows of regular cubic buildings stand in the distance. There are many such buildings in sight, smooth all over, like deep blue stone tablets, with no gaps on the surface, as if they were one piece.

However, these buildings are now surrounded by weeds and shrubs.

Ian frowned.

He was trying to figure out the purpose of this third game level.

Ian believes that, given Kim's mindset, it's highly unlikely he would design such a game setting out of thin air, from Forests to Ruins... and next up is this strange, seemingly futuristic city?

Could this be a record from some Ruins that Jin once witnessed?

And...

Ian was also a little curious, because just a moment ago, outside the pyramid where he was, there was an endless Forest.

They were moved here through that Ruins.

Or has that Ruins moved to the sky or underground?

Since arriving here, there have been no arrow markings on the ground.

Ian understood.

What follows is another new exploration.

However, he also admitted that Gin's Nen Ability was far too complicated.

But then I think of how, in the original story, the Leopard Gido from the Ants also developed his own Nen Ability— a chase-and-run style—not long after he mastered it.

After spending several hours with Morel, neither of them could get out until the game ended, so they understood.

I drove the dump truck to the edge of the city.

I then realized that every building was very tall.

However, in no time, one after another, round, bronze-colored Steam Robots emerged from the bushes, their chests burning with glowing red energy furnaces.

Ian's eyes widened when he saw them. Although he realized that these might be monsters from the third level, he really wanted to ask them a question.

"Blitz... is that you?"

But.

Before Ian could ask any questions, he was immediately met with a barrage of scorching laser beams!

"Biu!" "Biu!" "Biu!"...

About seven or eight Steam Robots moved forward slowly.

Once an intruder is detected, their mission is to clean it up; each Steam Robot's forelimbs have been modified into laser cannons.

It's unclear how it works; its massive, bronze-colored body is clearly constructed of steam and gears, yet, thanks to the energy furnace in its chest, it can emit scorching lasers.

"Whoosh!"

Several laser beams shot directly at Ian, but he dodged them instantly.

The dump truck driver wasn't so lucky.

This unique vehicle, formed from stone statues, was incredibly sturdy, but it was eventually melted and destroyed under the continuous heat of seven or eight laser beams.

Located within the Observation Space.

Jin floated in mid-air, arms crossed over his chest, though his swollen face made him look somewhat comical.

But at this moment, this guy's eyes widened, his face serious and focused, as he carefully observed Ian's every move on the projected screen in front of him.

In fact, this is also one of the functions of Gin's Nen Ability.

Kim understood early on that intelligence was of paramount importance to Nen users.

Therefore, his Nen Ability "Game World".

Once the conditions for use are met, here's the first ironclad rule against the enemy!

It was he who decided that the other party could only contact him after completing a certain number of game levels.

During this period.

He could be in Observation Space completely isolated from the enemy, observing how the enemy fights against the different types of Nen Ability monsters he designed in the game, thereby obtaining intelligence about the enemy's abilities.

Certainly.

At this stage, Gin's Nen Ability is not yet fully developed.

This guy, in some ways...

He's also a bug-hunting fanatic.

That rainbow-colored Rabbit is one of the manifestations of Jin's ability that he separated from the Game World through a new round of "Restriction and Vow".

At this very moment.

Her golden eyes were serious.

"Ian, let me see what actually happened when you used that megaphone prop!"

The monsters in the third level are designed with Emission abilities, and the Steam Robots have similar attributes to the stone statue guards.

His golden eyes widened like saucers, like a detective solving a case, filled with anticipation...

It is located on the edge of the Mechanical City.

Ian stared intently at the Steam Robot before him, a smile involuntarily spreading across his face.

"It can even fire lasers..."

"However, unfortunately, I am precisely the kind of enemy I fear least!"

Ian slowly raised his arm.

Inside the Observation Space, Jin held his breath, staring intently at the magnified image.

The next moment.

Ian's mind was immersed in a chaotic Four-Dimensional Pocket, and then he quickly locked onto an item.

From Kim's perspective.

In the scene, the fair-skinned, handsome young man with slightly tousled hair simply closed his eyes and raised his arms.

The next second, when he opened his clear, black and white eyes.

He now held a red cloak that resembled a bullfighting cape!

Item [Reflective Cloak]!

It looks like just an ordinary red cloak, but when faced with attacks, especially energy-based attacks, you can perfectly deflect them by waving the cloak!

This item can be described as an excellent tool for turning the tide of battle when the weak are at a disadvantage. Its main feature is that the stronger the enemy's attack, the more fiercely I counterattack!

Although.

Ian was already wearing a [Disaster-Repelling Sticker] at this point.

Even if he stood still, those Steam Robots probably wouldn't be able to hit him!

But... he couldn't resist the urge to use laser weapons...

Located within the Observation Space.

Kim's expression was somewhat surprised. He widened his eyes, couldn't help but bring his face closer to the screen, and stared intently at the red cloak in Ian's hand before shaking his head vigorously, frowning and looking exasperated.

"What's wrong with this kid? He changed the props again!"

"Hey kid, how many Nen Ability items do you actually have?!"

At this point, King seriously doubted Ian's abilities, believing they were most likely related to Nen Abilities.

They either possess the ability to locate Nen- Nen Ability items, like the "Treasure-Hunting Mouse," or they can imbue items with imaginary, magical abilities.

Surely they can't produce Nen Ability items every single day!?

However, what interested him most at this moment was the [Nonliving Hypnosis Loudspeaker]!

He scratched his head, looking somewhat perplexed.

"Damn it... keep using that green speaker!"

He's now extremely interested in that loudspeaker; he can't wait to see it...

Ian, of course, could not possibly know what he was thinking.

He smiled, casually waving his red cloak as he walked forward until he saw the Steam Robot cannons turn towards him.

Ian stood still, his expression serious, and raised his hand to wave.

"Brothers! Fire on me!!"

Then, in unison, the cannons in front of the Steam Robots began to gather scorching light!

"Buzz!" "Buzz!" "Buzz!"

Several thick, scorching laser beams, carrying destructive heat, shot directly at Ian.

(Please stop criticizing the water... I have low tolerance... 3 updates today)