Northern Chill Descends, Ice Bestows Coolness

The air suddenly turned cold.

It was not the wind.

A heavy, icy chill pressed in from the north, flooding across the entire wasteland like a tide. Wherever it passed, the loose stones on the ground stopped rolling, the wind died, and even the sweet scent of popcorn was forced down low.

Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes abruptly blazed.

Gon clenched his right fist, his knuckles turning white.

Fine silver-blue lightning crackled around Killua, his catlike pupils shrinking to pinpoints.

Leorio held his breath as healing Nen quietly gathered in his palm.

Genos's eye scanners flashed frantically before finally freezing on a screen full of red warnings.

[Threat Level: Beyond Calculation Limit.]

At the end of the horizon, a figure slowly approached.

He wore a magnificent royal robe adorned with black-and-gold patterns, his jawline cold and sharp. His pace was unhurried, yet every step felt as though it trampled on everyone's nerves.

Benjamin Hui Guo Rou.

The First Prince.

He stopped a hundred meters away.

There was no greeting and no mockery. His gaze swept over the corn kernels scattered across the ground, the black remains of the calamity hatchling, and finally the tense faces of the five people.

His presence was like a mountain, weighing heavily upon everyone's heads.

The entire place fell deathly silent.

Only one person was an exception.

Saitama squatted beside the pile of corn, holding a large handful of popcorn and crunching away happily, completely unaffected by the murderous atmosphere around him.

After chewing for a while.

He stopped and smacked his lips.

A little dry.

"Genos." Without even looking up, Saitama called, "Got anything to drink?"

"Yes, Sensei."

Genos answered and turned sideways, opening a small storage compartment at his waist. He took out a perfectly sealed bottle of cola and handed it over.

It was