069 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

The warmth wasn't gentle—it was scorching.

"Zhizhizhi~!"

As soon as the sun emerged, the trees swayed wildly, despite there being no wind. Branches and leaves collided with each other, producing a noise that sounded like panic—or a desperate attempt to adapt.

But it was already too late. As the temperature began to rise in earnest, the forest felt it head-on.

"Zizzizi."

A burning stench started to spread.

What began as a small whiff quickly swept across the forest like a plague. Within seconds, thick black smoke curled up into the sky.

The Blood Forest, once a deep crimson, now resembled charred ruins.

Anyone seeing this desolate scene wouldn't believe how lush and vibrant it had looked just moments ago.

Ronnel—the one who had set the fire—remained indifferent.

If you want to hunt me, then you'd better be ready for my retaliation.

You caught me before because I lacked the strength. Now you're burning because you weren't strong enough. That's fair.

He wasn't surprised that the collision of flammable plants, cold blood, and heat as intense as the sun could produce such destruction.

The smoke from the burning trees was thick and acrid.

In many fire-related casualties, it's not the flames that kill first—it's the smoke.

Ronnel picked up his pace. He didn't believe these trees would chase after him once they were set ablaze.

And besides, the plants in this place weren't exactly benign to begin with. Even if they survived this fire, the massive disturbance could easily attract other predators from the Dark Continent.

But that wasn't Ronnel's concern. By the time the Blood land's ecosystem began to correct itself, he was already long gone.

As for the miniature sun hovering above—he didn't worry. It would dissipate on its own.

...

Leaving the Blood Tree Forest behind, the environment reverted to what could be considered the "normal" state of the Dark Continent: a dim sky, a deathly silence, uneven terrain, scattered jet-black stones, and twisted, alien-looking trees like something out of a nightmare.

The first impression was desolation.

But Ronnel knew better. Beneath that bleak exterior lay unpredictable dangers—and the kind of opportunities only this land could offer.

After scouting ahead, he found a safe zone and released Beyond and the others.

They emerged cautiously, checking their surroundings first, making sure it was safe before taking in their current location.

Then, their attention shifted to the inferno raging in the distance. The flames rose high into the sky, painting everything in fiery orange, smoke billowing like storm clouds. It was hard not to notice.

Even from a distance, the heat from the forest scorched their skin.

"Every time, it always brings a different kind of surprise..."

Pariston stared at the blazing forest, his usual grin intact but his tone unreadable.

Ging gave Ronnel a casual thumbs-up. "Nice work."

For him, this act of wanton destruction wasn't reckless—it was downright charming.

Beyond raised an eyebrow at the sky turned red by flame, but his expression quickly returned to calm.

"Alright, let's not linger. The fire and noise will attract unwanted attention. We should move."

He gave a light cough before speaking, stealing a glance at Ronnel and stroking his beard at the boy's amused smile.

No one objected. Without wasting a second, they adjusted their heading and prepared to leave. Efficiency came naturally to this group.

Still, before they moved out, each person cast a look Ronnel's way.

There was no doubt about it—respect, even awe, radiated from their eyes. And it only grew stronger with each ordeal they survived together.

...

The journey to the Maze City was smoother than expected.

Perhaps it was the sheer brutality of the Blood land and Blood Tree Forest that made the rest of the path feel almost... manageable.

But no one let their guard down. Not in the Dark Continent. Disaster could strike at any moment.

Like the black stone that suddenly appeared up ahead.

The path was rugged, full of uneven terrain, so hopping across the massive ore-like black rocks scattered along the roadside seemed like a safe option.

They'd tested the first few—no issues.

But halfway through the formation, one of Beyond's men, Muherr, stepped onto what looked like a normal rock...

And it opened its mouth.

A crack split across the surface like a jagged grin, snapping shut around his foot.

Fortunately, Muherr wasn't a novice. With years of mercenary experience, his instincts were sharp. The moment he lost balance, he twisted his body midair and yanked his foot back, barely avoiding the bite.

"Hey—!"

The rock chomped shut, metal grinding against metal with a horrible screech.

That was its last sound.

Before it could move again, five or six fists bathed in aura slammed into it from all sides.

The others had seen the attack coming. They were already prepared.

BOOM!

The fists landed simultaneously.

With a dull crack, the massive rock shattered, fragments flying in all directions.

Not surprising—Beyond's team was made up of elite fighters from across the six continents. Their aura control was impeccable.

Still...

"Damn, that thing's tough. What the hell is it made of?" one of them muttered, shaking out his hand with a grimace.

Even with all their strength, the creature's body had put up some resistance.