First Steps into the Servant Quarters

Late at night, a faint mist hung over the mountain forest, while insect chirps and the wind wove together into a tranquil backdrop. Ryan and the other three still stood before the Testing Gate. Zebro took a deep breath, stepped forward with his right foot, braced both hands against the gate, and shouted, "Open!"

The massive gate rumbled as it slowly opened.

"Quick, get inside while you can!" Zebro shouted, stepping aside.

The four of them did not hesitate and swiftly slipped through beside him.

The gate slowly closed behind them, and the atmosphere instantly grew grave.

"Will it really be okay for us to follow you in like this...?" Leorio asked between breaths. "Won't Mikey treat us as intruders?"

"Don't worry," Zebro said. "As long as someone enters through the Testing Gate, it won't attack them on its own."

Everyone followed behind Zebro at an unhurried pace.

Suddenly, a low beastly roar echoed through the empty mountain path.

Instinctively, they turned toward its source—the dense woods to their right.

A gigantic black shadow slowly emerged from the forest, snapping dead branches beneath its feet with crisp cracks.

It resembled a sheepdog, but stood five meters tall. Its limbs were thick, its back high and broad, and its fur dense. Most striking of all was its pair of vertically slit pupils, like those of a venomous snake, fixed relentlessly upon them.

Even Ryan, steady as he was, felt a chill run down his spine as his hairs stood on end.

"That's... Mikey?" Gon's voice was slightly dry.

Zebro nodded, his tone carrying a trace of reverence. "It is the Zoldyck Family's most loyal hunting dog and has received the strictest combat training. You may have felt confident outside the gate just now, but now that you've seen it, do you