The next morning, the Cloud Sea had only just begun to pale with dawn.
Everyone was already standing at the edge of the Spirit Essence Grassland.
After a night's rest, the muscles they had trained numb yesterday had fully recovered, and their spirits were at their peak.
More importantly, after a day of hellish training, the two boys' coordination had been honed to the limit.
All they needed was one final breakthrough.
"We'll definitely get it today!" Gon clenched his fists. His eyes shone, and excitement radiated from him.
Killua flexed his wrists, a confident smile tugging at his lips. "Of course. We were so close yesterday."
They stood on either side of the strongest Essence Grass they could find.
No countdown. No unnecessary movements.
They closed their eyes at the same time.
No watching, no counting to three. They relied entirely on their senses and their rapport.
Their breathing slowly fell into sync.
In—
Out—
In—
Out—
The two rhythms gradually merged into one.
Even their heartbeats began to align.
The wind, the rolling Cloud Sea, the distant birdsong—all of it faded away.
In their minds, only each other's rhythm remained, identical as mirror images.
"Now."
Killua spoke softly, his voice light as the wind.
They moved together.
Their arms rose at the same angle, their fingertips moved at the same speed, and they used exactly the same amount of force.
Not a fraction faster. Not a fraction slower.
Their fingertips touched the two outermost leaves of the Essence Grass at the same instant.
Time seemed to stop for half a second.
Everyone held their breath and stared at the plant.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
The grass didn't turn black.
Its leaves stayed green, glowing softly. The fruit's core remained golden and translucent, without the slightest sign