"Water Breathing: Eleventh Form" × "Phantom Sword: Water Mirror Sun Flare"
The Point Scramble was forced to stop.
Faced with a storm, humanity's back-and-forth battles are insignificant.
In a dark corner of the cabin, the Freak's signature nail-like face gradually emerged. The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was to search for a certain figure.
I took a short nap because I had used up too much of my Nen Qi, but I never expected to lose my older brother when I turned around...
Illumi didn't find Roy in the captain's cabin. He stared at Roy's empty eyes out the window without hesitation...
He brandished his hand and fiercely cleaved the deck. To everyone's bewilderment and astonishment, he dove down and reappeared, suddenly appearing at Gotoh's feet. He broke through the deck, revealing a head that silently watched the storm ahead.
"Young Master Illumi?" Gotoh was startled and almost stepped on him. Luckily, he had sharp eyes, otherwise this day next year would be the anniversary of his death.
"Whoosh!" The wind picked up, the waves surged, and the "Poseidon" creaked and groaned as it rocked...
Roy danced against the storm, as if carrying a mountain on his back. Every swing of his sword was extremely difficult, far beyond the triviality of the waterfall.
"Fourth Form: Striking Tide... Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought... Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool..."
The seawater, guided by the tip of his blade, condensed into Water Hashira of water, constantly resisting the erosion of the storm, with flashes of sword light appearing from time to time... In this dark and unique environment, it shone with a dazzling light...
You can see it even through the window.
"Where did that glint of light come from?" They had barely entered the cabin two minutes before Yusuke and Kite rushed out again, leaping onto the roof of the cabin to look closely... The Sun-Earring Boy was wielding a knife in one hand, fighting the storm alone, fearless... It was truly shocking!
"Is this even human?"
"So that's how he practiced his swordsmanship..."
Yusuke dropped open, and Kite gripped her katana.
He had listened to King's teachings and clearly remembered him saying, "Humans are products of nature, and no matter how strong they are, it is difficult to challenge the power of nature."
A flood... a drought... a wildfire... an earthquake... all can bring unimaginable Calamity to humankind.
Therefore, people should respect nature and not presume to conquer it, in order to accurately find their place in the world...
But... Master, there are always some stubborn people who won't accept it...
Kite stared intently at Roy, wondering what he would have thought if Roy had heard Kim's words back then. He probably would have scoffed at them.
The flashing blades echoed as the water relentlessly pounded against the storm. The torrential rain lashed at people, leaving dents and welts wherever they went, especially for Roy was constantly on the edge of the storm...
The Sun-Earring Boy's strength was rapidly waning, his breathing becoming increasingly heavy. Each strike of his sword was heavier than the last, yet his spirit remained vigorous; the two suns in his eyes grew ever brighter. His mouth opened and closed unconsciously as he murmured, "Almost... almost..."
1
With... "Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust... Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin... Ninth Form: Water Flow Spray..."
As it unfolded, I vaguely felt as if I had grasped something, but as I clenched my fist, the ray of light slipped through my fingers again...
Unwilling to give up, he struck again, unleashing "Water Breathing - Tenth Form - Constant Flux," drawing water from the spot and unleashing a roaring Water Dragon that soared into the sky!
"Roar~" The boundless dark clouds were stirred up by the Water Dragon, creating a gaping hole...
A ray of dawn pierced through the clouds, the red sun climbing above the horizon, half above and half below, a mirror image existing, radiating morning glow, shining on Roy's face, the corners of the Sun-Earring Boy's mouth slightly turned up. "Got it."
With a sudden release, the Cane Sword fell vertically into the sea, and the instant the tip touched the water... ripples spread outwards from the blade...
In the blink of an eye, it radiated outwards... Wherever it passed, everything froze, as if a pause button had been pressed, rendering it incapable of movement...
["Water Breathing - Eleventh Form - Phantom Sword - Water Mirror Sun Flare"]
"Buzz..."
The wind and rain stopped, and the swaying "Poseidon" disappeared as it was swept away by the ripples.
The Gotoh at the bow, Illumi, Yusuke and Kite on the deck, the old captain Mark Sim looking on in shock on the deck, as well as Kurajing, the Bandage Man, the Snake Handler, the Bow-bearing Boy, and even the rats hiding in the storage room at the bottom of the ship, were all frozen in that instant!
The world before me seemed to blur for a moment, then all colors faded, leaving only a red sun and a mirror-like sea for company, which lingered for a long time.
[Note: "Phantom Sword - Water Mirror Sun Flare" is a self-created illusionary realm inspired by the host's observation of the fusion of water and sun. A single strike can paralyze the opponent for 0.1 seconds, trapping them in a "Sea and Sun" illusion, temporarily rendering them unable to think.]
"Pop~"
0.1 seconds later...
The ripples recede, the illusion shatters, the world reappears, and the wind and rain rage...
Suddenly a wave crashed in, causing the "Poseidon" to tilt and throwing several examinees into the air.
Everyone then realized something was wrong!
What was that just now?
"I felt like I lost consciousness for a moment!"
"You too? I thought I was the only one like this... I was so scared, I almost thought I was going to see my deceased great-grandmother!"
"Isn't the ghost's great-grandmother the sun and the sea?"
The commotion resumed... Kurajing cat, frowned and looked out the window from a secluded corner.
The storm continued, but a gap opened in the dark clouds, allowing a glimmer of light to shine through... perhaps it was man-made?
"That's it, it must have been that guy!" Yusuke, his gaze fixed on Roy.
Born into Ninja family, he participated in the Hunter Exam in search of the "Dream Scroll".
According to the clan elders, the scroll contains many incredible ninjutsu techniques, including "Illusion Jutsu" that can bewitch people's minds!
Yusuke suspected that, given his abilities, the fact that he had briefly lost consciousness meant he had undoubtedly fallen under a "Illusion Jutsu" (illusion spell).
"Thump... thump..." The Sun-Earring Boy sheathed his sword, stepped back unhurriedly on the crest of the wave.
The storm whipped his black hair into a tangled mess, making him appear disheveled, yet no one dared to underestimate him because of this...
Gotoh, Illumi, Kite... all eyes were fixed on him...
Roy leaped onto the bow, glancing sideways at Mark Sim: "If you hesitate any longer, you'll really be heading straight into the storm."
"Oh... oh..." The old captain snapped back to reality and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Gus, full rudder!"
"Everyone else, follow me and hold onto the sail lines!"
"Yes!"
The "Poseidon" sails fluttered, veered to the right, and avoided the storm...
A moment later, the wind and rain gradually subsided. Illumi raised his chin and silently looked at Roy. Noticing Roy's gaze sweeping over him, he shrank back and simply disappeared under the deck.
Without land, at sea, perhaps only hiding below deck could bring him a faint sense of security.
Roy noticed this, but didn't bother with it. He took the branch from Gotoh and continued fishing, honing his Nen Ability. The panel notification...
[Swordsmanship +70... Water Breathing +50...]
[current...]
[Swordsmanship: lv3 (160/10000→230/10000)]
[Water Breathing: Beginner (78/100) → Master (28/1000)]
Some progress has been made.