Your Answer X A Clear Path

The Young Master's words brook no refusal.

Gotoh felt a warmth in her heart. She said nothing, nor was there any need to say anything. She simply repaid him with loyalty.

He took out paper and pen from his pocket and began copying. Roy ignored him, took the Snow Walk from the knife rack, held it in his hand, Gate of Opening, and went out.

Heading to the practice room.

At six o'clock in the morning in November, before dawn, the lights on the walls of the corridor were still lit, casting flickering shadows that swayed the Sun-Earring Boy's. Roy enjoyed the fresh air blowing in from the mountains, when suddenly his eyes flickered, and he looked into the distance...

At the end of the corridor, Zeno emerged from around the corner, walking with his hands behind his back, followed by Tsubone carrying two large suitcases.

"Grandpa." The Sun-Earring Boy stopped to look at his luggage.

Zeno walked up to him unhurriedly and stopped, looking him up and down. "Roy, you've grown taller."

From [Constitution: 11] to [Constitution: 71], in just a few months, the increase of 60 points in constitution is not just progress, it is a leap forward.

"It's been cold lately, so I've been eating a bit more."

"Hmm... it's time to fatten up for winter." Zeno patted his arm. "No father doesn't want the best for his son. I'm glad you've made the change."

"Everything is for moving forward," Roy said calmly.

Zeno agreed, "In this respect, you're better than Silva was when he was a child."

Is he stubborn too?

"Stubborn, that's him..."

"Ahem..." A soft cough interrupted Zeno and Roy's conversation without any politeness.

Following Tsubone, another man emerged from around the corner. He was tall and muscular, and despite the approaching winter, he was still dressed in a sharp black outfit. His signature silver hair hung down to his waist, and his face always wore a serious and aloof expression. He strode forward with an imposing and unyielding presence.

He stopped in front of Roy, looking down at him, and said, "Is the sun... your answer?"

This morning, I was supposed to go on a mission with Zeno when Gotoh called. The man remained silent for a long time after hearing the call.

"Yes, that's your answer too." Roy raised his chin, his gaze sharp, and said sincerely, "I just feel that Father is sometimes too cold. If I could make you feel what warmth is, I think... I would be very happy to do it."

You've really changed.

"My father taught me well."

Silva:

He stared intently at the Sun-Earring Boy, only to be silenced by his words. Unable to say anything, he simply left, leaving behind... a shake-headed, chuckling Zeno.

"Hehe... practice hard, and let Grandpa see you later."

The "One Kill A Day" insignia on his chest fluttered slightly in the wind. Zeno patted Roy on the shoulder and followed at a leisurely pace... Tsubone, carrying his suitcase, nodded slightly to Roy.

He walked straight past him... Just then, the sun rose, shooting out thousands of red rays to Dispelling Darkness. Roy watched the two Zoldyck family heads leave, a Morning Glow Cloak trailing behind him.

"Visualization... first observe, then contemplate, going through learning, imitation, and creation to awaken your own unique practice."

Combining his father's and great-grandfather's many understandings of "practice," Roy pushed open the door of the training room, took the poison, and began practicing his swordsmanship in the sunlight until the poison took effect. He then had Luke carry him into the garden to face the sun and sunbathe.

"What is he doing?" Illumi followed him in and witnessed everything.

Luke, carrying a shovel, had originally intended to dig a hole, but it was now useless, so he shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.

In his view, the Young Master of the Zoldyck was somewhat ill, which he did not understand, but he respected.

"Young Master, it's your turn... Is it still a 'lethal dose' today?"

Illumi:

"Semi-lethal" is fine.

His great-grandfather had just called him into the room and told him to go pay respects to his grandfather, Jager, in the afternoon... He didn't want to appear at his ancestor's grave looking so pathetic.

then..

On this slightly chilly afternoon, three people lay in a row in the garden in front of the Zoldyck Family Ancient Castle.

One person was peacefully sunbathing with their hands folded over their lower abdomen; another was lying face down on the ground, their fate unknown; and yet another was buried in a pit, only their head sticking out, with a parasol covering their head...

A distorted picture of harmony was presented, until... it was torn apart by two figures, one in front One Queen.

As the sun began to set and the sunlight began to dim, Roy opened his eyes, stretched comfortably, and, as usual, headed towards the basement.

Hearing the noise, Illumi regained his senses, jumped out of the pit, shook off the mud, and followed Roy towards the basement.

"Are you going to pay respects to Grandpa too?" The two noticed each other at the same time, spoke simultaneously, and then fell silent.

Each person occupies a separate lane, hands in pockets, not touching anyone...

"Tap... tap..."

Two sets of footsteps echoed down the corridor. For a moment, Illumi glanced at Roy out of the corner of his eye, saw that Roy was walking straight ahead without looking at him, and calmly said, "I won't take your things for nothing."

The cultivation methods for the Four Major Principles recorded in Silva's notes were exactly what he desperately needed, especially since he had successfully learned [Absolute] a few days ago and was still clueless about [Practice]. It was like a pillow delivered to his sleep.

"I told you, it was a gift from my father." Roy knew Illumi was referring to the notebook, and without holding back, he emphasized it again.

The Sun-Earring Boy, with his vacant eyes, ignored everything and insisted, "What you gave me, you sent."

In short, it's something you took...

"Suit yourself." Roy quickened his pace, too lazy to pay him any attention.

Seeing this, Illumi used his "Shadow Step" to catch up, even faster than Illumi, and arrived at the basement, where he saw Scarface and One-Eye.

"Young Master."

"Young Master."

Scar-Face One-Eye bowed respectfully, and Roy arrived shortly after, nodding slightly to them.

So, the question is... who gets there first?

Illumi glanced at Roy.

Without hesitation, Scar-Face One-Eye opened the security door and went in first.

Then... less than two seconds later, he walked out, leaning against the wall, his legs trembling.

"One and a half seconds." Scarface pressed the stopwatch, exchanged a glance with One-Eye, and opened the security door again...

This time, Roy went in, Illumi came out, the brothers brushed past each other without even looking at one another...

"Get down!"

Deep within the passage, an airtight door opened, and tentacles reached out, pulling Roy into [re; The Game of the Dead].

With the familiar roar and the Sandworm's [training], Roy changed the form of his "Nen" and erected a "Nen Shield" in front of him, surviving the first wave of impact from the Sandworm's tail whip and successfully attracting Jager's attention once again.

"Whose child are you? Your cultivation is not bad... Watch out, the big one is coming!"

The Sandworm swooped down, launching its second wave of attack. This time, Roy Visualization the sun in his mind, imagining its Scorching Heat, its blinding glare, its unbearable intensity. Under the immense pressure, the milky-white "Nen Shield" showed red spots...

The red spots emitted wisps of heat, scorching the air. Jager suddenly felt a bit hot, so he raised his "Iron Shield" in front of him again. Turning his head, he saw that the red spots had merged into one, radiating heat in all directions. As soon as they came into contact with the Sandworm's [training], they burned it to ashes!

Jager's eyes flashed, and he blurted out, "The True Meaning of Fire?"

"No, it's the sun... the True Meaning of the Sun..."

[Tip: The change in nature of "Nian" has been activated...

[Note: "The True Meaning of the Sun", Current Level: Iv1 (1/100)]

[Characteristics: Scorching Heat. (Note: The host can add the Scorching Heat property to "Nen" to achieve the purpose of burning the opponent's Nen Qi.)]

"Sizzle... sizzle..." The flames ignited... and the streams of "Nen Qi" that attacked Roy and the board were scorched into ashes...

This time, the Sun-Earring Boy persisted for two and a half minutes, but his disadvantage was... insufficient Nen Qi!

"Impressive. It's a pity you're still young and your understanding of Visualization is too shallow, otherwise... you might have had a chance to survive."

"Bang!" The landing craft was torn apart by the Sandworm, and the flying debris smashed down on Roy's "Nen Shield"... In his hazy consciousness, Roy seemed to see Jager's regretful expression. Then, everything went black, and he completely lost consciousness, disconnecting from the Game.

Moreover... this time Roy was unable to return to his Sea of Cognition. He felt dizzy and, when he opened his eyes again, he was swept back to reality by tentacles... He was standing outside the airtight door, dazed and confused, with a pot of yellow chrysanthemums that he had sent earlier beside him.

That's too domineering!

The sun is too intense to look directly at; its Scorching Heat drains his Nen Qi immensely, even consuming the little Nen Qi he had reserved for entering and exiting the Gate of Cognition... Used well, it's a powerful weapon... Used poorly...

It's a burden...

Exhausted, indescribably weary, feeling as if his body had been hollowed out, Roy stood in front of the door for a while before gradually regaining his senses and urging his legs to take a step towards the entrance of the passage.

One step... two steps... he walked very slowly... very carefully... and reappeared...

Illumi and Scar-Face One-Eye, looked over together. The latter, clutching his pocket watch, announced a number, "Two minutes and thirty-one seconds."

"Looks like I've lost again..." Illumi tossed his hair behind his back with his hands. The Sun-Earring Boy thought that learning [Zetsu] would allow him to catch up with his older brother, but... his brother was still on the other side of the river, and he was in the middle, seemingly unable to reach him no matter how hard he tried...

Illumi stared silently at Roy for a long while, then turned and walked away desolately...

A gust of wind blew, swirling the withered leaves in circles... Roy followed, leaving the basement and returning to his bedroom. He flipped through the Silva and placed them together with Jager's notes, carefully comparing them.

After a long pause, seemingly lost in thought, he picked up his pen and wrote a sentence on the blank page.

A red heart turned towards the sun...

"Sun Breathing" was created because of the sun; "thought" is condensed and formed with the sun as a reference point [practice].

All paths lead to the same destination.

"Heart Inquiry..." "Heart Inquiry..." As long as the sun shines, his heart will never die...

Roy closed his notebook, never before had he had such a clear understanding of the path ahead.

When you feel lost... simply follow the sun's guidance!