The Succession Ceremony Begins, X Takes the First Victory

December 31st.

Perhaps it was because of the clear weather during the day that the sky resembled a giant curtain after nightfall, adorned with twinkling stars.

The moon is exceptionally bright tonight, its pure white light like a sacred veil, gently bathing the entire Village.

The Village was no longer as quiet and peaceful as it usually was at night; instead, it was immersed in a festive Festival.

All the villagers gathered in the square and the surrounding streets.

They cheered and danced with joy.

Various decorations purchased from outside were carefully pasted around the square.

Colorful lanterns, vibrant floral decorations, and other festive ornaments have given the place a fresh new look, and they can be seen everywhere.

Kevin and his companions did not participate in the lively Festival below, but instead stood on the highest rooftop nearby, quietly overlooking the celebration.

At this moment, Men Qi felt more at ease than the others, and the tension she should have felt in her body had also lessened considerably.

The reason for this is naturally due to the short figure beside Kevin —Biscuit.

"You really know how to time this perfectly, Biscuit."

"Um."

Biscuit responded without even looking up.

In the past, she would first correct Kevin's way of addressing him, but today she wasn't in the mood for it.

Her gaze was completely drawn to the gem in her hand.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she examined the gemstone from all angles, occasionally holding it up to the moonlight, and letting out strange "hehe" laughs from time to time.

"Baby, my baby, how can you be so beautiful? Ahhh! You're absolutely gorgeous."

Biscuit's strange cry completely shattered the slightly serious and tense atmosphere.

Kevin sighed and rubbed his forehead, feeling a little regretful that he had given the jewel to Biscuit as soon as they met.

But Biscuit's personality is such that if you don't give it to her, she might actually bite you.

He had never seen Biscuit look like this when she received the jewel, and he never expected her to be like this.

"Biscuit, there's plenty of time to appreciate this later, so let's stop here."

2

Biscuit ignored Kevin's complaints and remained engrossed in her own world.

Unlike Men Qi and the others who were becoming increasingly at ease, Gowen broke out in a cold sweat and became even more nervous looking at Biscuit.

Was this really a powerful outside help Kevin had invited? Or was it Kevin's mentor? He was filled with doubt.

"But how did you get your hands on this? It doesn't seem like something you'd expect to find here."

Biscuit suddenly calmed down and asked.

Kevin glanced down at her, pointed to the Festival that had already been set up, and said, "It, like what I'll be facing later, comes from the outside world."

Upon hearing this, Biscuit immediately understood, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.

"But it's not as powerful as you imagine; that monster is still..."

"Ah, so this is the gem of the Dark Continent? No wonder it's so beautiful."

Kevin was speechless. So she was more concerned about the jewels? Shouldn't she be worried about her apprentice's safety at a time like this?

Or is it the terror of what we are about to face?

Biscuit seemed to sense his thoughts and said without looking up, "You're already amazing. In just two years, you've grown from someone who couldn't even control their Nen freely to where you are now. You've surpassed the most talented person I've ever seen."

"Like a flawed piece of jade, you have undoubtedly polished your flaws into a unique beauty. And your abilities are clearly more suited to fighting these monsters than people, aren't they?"

Kevin nodded; that was indeed the case.

What he pursues now is simplicity and directness; he focuses on enhancing his destructive power and speed.

Compared to fighting people with all sorts of Nen ability, fighting these massive, straightforward monsters is much better.

This is clearly more in line with his fighting style.

Actually, there was another reason that Biscuit didn't say: Resentment.

Although she hadn't studied this in depth, she was well aware of Kevin's unique circumstances.

Resentment is the root of Kevin's peculiarity, and now he's facing another creature born from Resentment —isn't that exactly what Kevin's "appetite"?

So Biscuit wasn't worried at all.

She then comforted her, saying, "I did some research before I came. The Curse here has been going on for almost three hundred years, and I know some of the inside stories."

To be honest, they're not as powerful as you think. Those from the Dark Continent are either incredibly terrifying, capable of causing irreparable damage in an instant, or they're just malnourished guys.

This guy here is 100% malnourished, am I right?

Kevin nodded.

These words put everyone's minds at ease.

An expert, indeed.

Biscuit's status Two-star Hunter allowed her to uncover more in-depth information before she arrived.

Besides, the old man came to visit when he was young, so there's nothing to worry about.

The crowd waited in silence.

The Festival officially began.

Everyone was hungry, and a large amount of carefully prepared food was placed on huge trays. These dishes were not only tempting to eat, but also carved with exquisite patterns, achieving both beauty and deliciousness.

They were then placed on the altar in the center of the square.

The two supports that Kevin and his friends had initially regarded as ordinary sights have now been rearranged.

Several Chain hung from above; these Chain were undoubtedly Nen tool.

"I never imagined there was Village full of Nen user. Although the intelligence reports mentioned it, seeing it in person is still quite shocking," Biscuit exclaimed in surprise.

"You didn't know?" Kevin asked, somewhat puzzled.

Biscuit glanced at him sideways. "A person's energy is limited; I can't possibly pay attention to everything."

Before this, she knew nothing about this Secret Realm, let alone this Village.

The moon hung high overhead, its cool light shining down on everyone without reservation.

The celebratory Festival seems to be gradually reaching its climax.

Kevin glanced at the clock in his hand; it was already past eleven.

As a strange melody and bizarre music began to play, the sedan chair we had seen before slowly made its way to the center of the square, with Melusina sitting in it.

At this moment, Melusina was dressed in her finest attire, all in pure white, making her appear incredibly holy.

The silver embellishments on the clothing, resembling Snake Scale, added to its mystique.

Her ruby-like eyes stared straight ahead.

"Oh my, what a beautiful little girl." Biscuit's eyes lit up at the sight of something lovely.

She saw the "gem" again.

At this moment, Melusina seemed to sense some kind of gaze, and slightly raised her head to look at the rooftops in the distance, instantly locking onto Kevin was standing at the very front.

A radiant smile Emission on her face, showing no trace of the sorrow of her impending sacrifice.

This genuine smile added a captivating radiance to her overall demeanor.

The surrounding villagers were stunned by Melusina's smile.

"This—this sacrifice, is it really necessary?"

She was still smiling.

Some villagers murmured softly, their mood growing heavy.

A wave of guilt washed over me.

Kevin smiled and waved to Melusina in the sedan chair.

Just then, he felt an eager gaze from below. Looking down, he saw Biscuit staring wide-eyed, her face full of curiosity.

Now was not the time to satisfy her curiosity. Kevin pretended not to see her, ignoring Biscuit's disapproving gaze, and refocused his attention on the Festival.

Not far away, several of Melusina's maids embraced and wept.

As the Saintess Melusina arrived, the Chain seemed to come alive, automatically drooping down and wrapping around Melusina's arms, slowly lifting her upwards.

Melusina was suspended in mid-air. A gentle breeze blew by, and her silver hair fluttered in the wind, creating a poignant beauty.

The smile on her face, in the eyes of the villagers, was both a kind of resilient beauty and a touch of desolation.

At this moment, the villagers stopped making any other moves and stood quietly around the altar, remaining silent.

Suddenly, the sound of Handbell rang out.

Strangely, there were no bells in sight; the sound of bells drifted everywhere with the wind.

Everyone felt a biting cold wind blow by.

Kevin, however, saw it clearly: those Resentment began to gather with the wind.

More and more Resentment gathered together, forming a black sphere.

Immediately afterwards, the Black Orb cracked open, transforming into a Shadow Creature serpent shrouded in black mist. However, at this moment, ordinary people could not see this serpent.

And so, without anyone presiding over it, the Festival seemed to proceed automatically.

Kevin leaped off the roof, followed closely by the others.

The villagers reacted in various ways upon seeing Kevin and his group arrive.

Some people seemed to have expected it, their faces beaming with smiles; others appeared quite surprised; and still others frowned, their faces filled with resentment.

"If you are a guest coming to participate in the Festival, you are very welcome," the Village Chief said loudly.

Kevin ignored him completely, looked up at Melusina, and said, "Wait a moment, I'll come to rescue you."

Melusina smiled and nodded.

"Are you trying to disrupt the Festival? You damned outsiders, you always like to interfere with our Festival according to your own will!" a guard standing nearby roared angrily.

"We're here to save you, don't be ungrateful," Men Qi replied, arms crossed.

"We don't need your salvation, get out of the Festival, you're not welcome here!" a radical villager shouted. "That's right, get out!"

"Please, please stop disrupting this sacred Festival!"

Some villagers joined in, shouting loudly.

Annoyed by the noise, Kevin shouted.

"Shut up!"

Along with the sound, a surge of his Nen Aura, imbued with intense malice, erupted forth.

Wherever the Nen Aura swept, everyone instantly fell silent.

What we do is none of your business; even if we're trying to save you, it's none of your concern.

Kevin's domineering words left the villagers speechless for a moment.

"What kind of twisted logic is this?" someone couldn't help but mutter under their breath.

"Foolish people, kneel down, plug your ears, and pray that the god you fear will not be killed by my punch."

"Cowards, now follow your fears and hide away until dawn, then embrace the freedom I have won for you."

"And you brave ones, rise up and rebel! Roar! This Cage cannot hold you. Join me in reclaiming your freedom!"

Fighting for freedom is the reward for your Courage.

In this quiet environment, Kevin's words, carried by his Nen Aura, emanated and reached everyone's ears with his unwavering will.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on him.

"This is the moment! This is the moment I've been waiting for!"

Gowen roared inwardly.

Suddenly, he gripped the impressive greatsword with both hands and, before anyone could react, knelt on one knee before Kevin.

This was not part of the plan.

Kevin had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do.

Gowen raised the greatsword high with both hands, bowed his head, and said respectfully, "Your Courage and your benevolence are what I seek. I am willing to offer my Loyalty to you and serve you for life. I long to be your Loyalty Knight."

Kevin immediately realized that this must be Gowen's Nen ability.

Regardless, time is of the essence.

Kevin trusted the other man, so he took the sword from his hand.

He mimicked the scenes from the stories Gowen had told him before, gently tapping Gowen's shoulder three times with the tip of his sword.

He wasn't sure if he had done the right thing, but Gowen had indeed discussed these topics with them before, perhaps sowing the seeds of future problems.

Kevin then handed the sword back to Gowen, saying, "I accept your allegiance."

Gowen took the sword back.

A certain Succession Ceremony was completed, and Gowen's Nen Aura increased to a visible degree.

But there was no time to ask for more details at that moment.

A great deal of Resentment gathered behind him, the cold wind howled around him, and even the cries of wailing ghosts and monsters could be heard.

The pure white moonlight seemed to be blocked by something, becoming dim and lackluster.

All the Resentment converged, and a gigantic Giant Snake appeared out of thin air before everyone's eyes.

This was the largest creature Kevin had ever seen; it was a true behemoth.

The silver scales are covered with black patterns and spots, resembling some kind of mysterious design.

The enormous triangular head, with its blood-red pupils like two bright, blood-red lamps, shone above everyone's heads.

It opened its blood-red maw and hissed.

"Another bunch of overconfident ants."

The Giant Snake spoke, its voice sharp and hoarse, yet unusually loud.

But it doesn't seem like sound; it's more like a special sound wave that can be understood.

"Do it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kevin rushed over at top speed, with Gowen close behind him.

The bizarre, exaggerated Giant Snake lashed out with its tail, the force of which was like a speeding truck charging towards it, creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere.

That's not enough!

Kevin roared, channeling his Nen Aura into his fist and slamming it hard into the snake's tail that was whipping around.

The violent collision was like an explosion, and the resulting wind pressure surged outwards in all directions.

Gawain, who was close behind, gripped his Gowen tightly and slashed twice at the Chain that Melusina.

This sword, capable of Initiation Nen, easily severed the Chain.

Melusina fell, but Biscuit, who was already waiting below, easily caught her and they jumped back to the outside of the altar in a few leaps.

Seeing its offerings taken away, the Resentment Snake, which hadn't experienced anything like this for almost a hundred years, was instantly enraged.

After the battle began, the villagers consciously stepped aside and watched from a distance.

But they did not flee; even those who had previously clamored remained focused on the center of the battle.

Some villagers even used their Nen ability, wielding weapons.

As the battle continued, the light in the villagers' eyes grew brighter and brighter.

The younger villagers may never have experienced such Festival, but the older villagers have all experienced it at least once.

They had seen Hunter x Hunter from outside before, and they had seen people try to disrupt the Festival, but without exception, those Hunter x Hunter couldn't even last two moves against this Giant Snake. They were usually dealt with in a single sweep or a single devour, appearing utterly powerless.

To some extent, these seemingly overconfident Hunter x Hunter also extinguished their hopes of resistance.

Kevin was in the middle of the fight, shook his hand and cursed inwardly, "Damn it, this snake's scales are too hard, and its strength is beyond imagination."

Moreover, each strike against the Giant Snake leaves a certain amount of Resentment attached to his body, which is similar to a continuous weakening state. In other words, the more times he clashes head-on with the serpent, the faster his condition declines.

Now, he must carefully choose the timing and method to confront the Giant Snake head-on.

Moreover, ordinary punches and powerful swings cannot break through the opponent's defense; instead, they only make one's own fists turn red.

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

A sharp sonic boom rang out, unheard by many villagers, but Kevin noticed it. He frowned, as if realizing something, and suddenly roared, "It's sending a signal! The monsters outside are coming!"

"That Giant Snake is truly shameless."

Kevin thought to himself that he originally thought the Giant Snake would only call for help once he gained the upper hand in the battle or injured it.

Unexpectedly, after only a few exchanges, the Giant Snake began to call its companions without hesitation.

This Giant Snake was still a cub after all, and it had been attacked countless times during the initial Succession Ceremony, so it still lacked a sense of security.

Having figured this out, Kevin realized he couldn't delay any longer and had to act quickly.

The longer the time drags on, the more monsters will be summoned.

Although the number of monsters that can rush into the Village is limited, once we win and the barrier disappears, those monsters that were originally blocked outside will swarm in, and that would be a serious problem.

Without the slightest hesitation, Kevin took out a needle and pricked himself.

[Wind Rider Potion]

He then gave himself another injection.

[The Blazing Potion].

Given his current physical condition, injecting these two vials of medicine is already the limit, but he can still take it orally.

He picked up the [Surging Potion] and poured it directly into his mouth.

This was the first time he had ever taken so many medications.

But his body is still capable.

"Boom!"

The combined effects of the three potions, along with Kevin's own abilities, caused his Nen Aura to erupt like a raging fire, becoming dazzling and eye-catching.

At this moment, Kevin's face was flushed, and his whole body was as red as a boiled shrimp.

The surging Nen Aura was even visible to the naked eye, and due to the extremely high temperature, it distorted the surrounding air.

A fierce wind howled, and a Hot Wind blew in all directions. The sudden gust of wind made everyone instinctively raise their hands to shield their eyes.

I really underestimated you.

Biscuit muttered to herself.

This is truly a wonderful surprise.