Failed again...
On the mural, the Divine Script Ring that had progressed to one-quarter completion suddenly disintegrated, transforming into countless fine black particles that drifted through the air like smoke.
Within just two or three seconds, the unfinished ring completely faded away as if it had never existed.
Morrow let out a weary sigh, then reached out to touch the mural.
Instantly, a soft white light surged from the mural, enveloping him like water.
Then the light abruptly retracted, pulling him along as it vanished into the mural.
The next moment.
The soft white light before Morrow's eyes disappeared into thin air, and he found himself standing atop the mountain within the mural sanctuary.
In the distance, countless waterfalls cascaded like silver curtains from the sky down to the forest below, transforming into crisscrossing rivers that extended all the way to the edges of the top-shaped floating islands.
The thunderous sound of water traveled from the sky to the mountaintop, yet couldn't penetrate the Silence mechanism beneath the mountain.
Morrow glanced at the sky waterfalls before heading straight to the stone table in front of the stone house, picking up a fruit with a mercury-like luster from the wooden basket on the table.
He took a bite.
The silver-white peel cracked, and wine-red juice seeped from between his teeth, eerie yet sweet.
This fruit was harvested from the forest within the sanctuary. Its taste was quite ordinary, even carrying a faint metallic flavor, but it possessed remarkable rejuvenating properties.
Morrow quickly swallowed the fruit, with silver peel residue and wine-red juice sticking to his fingertips. Too lazy to wipe them off, he directly sat on the stone-carved chair and closed his eyes, entering a state of Zetsu.
However, he wasn't meditating. While using Zetsu to restore his physical strength and aura amount, he contemplated the next steps in constructing the Divine Script Ring.
Those intricate and obscure black forms unfolded in his mind, every arc's angle, every stroke's position.
Not even the slightest error was permissible.
Only absolute precision could support the effects of the Divine Script.
This was what Morrow did every day now.
With one-quarter progress already made, as his understanding became increasingly clear, efficiency should see further improvement.
After resting in the sanctuary for a while and having some food, Morrow returned to the cave to continue drawing the Divine Script Ring corresponding to 'teleportation power.'
In this focused, unconventional training, time always seemed to slip away unnoticed.
—--
By mid-October.
Morrow finally succeeded in drawing 50% of the Divine Script Ring.
Based on current efficiency, he should be able to construct the complete Divine Script within a month at most.
Moreover, during his progress from 25% to 50%, possibly due to gaining deeper understanding of 'spatial teleportation,' his Insidious Shooting Star ability had undergone some changes.
Although I still can't achieve true spatial teleportation release, the 'range condition' has clearly expanded significantly.
Morrow crouched by the underground river, his right palm pressed firmly against the slightly damp rock surface.
Before him, the underground river flowed silently in the darkness, its surface occasionally shimmering with faint, gloomy light.
Insidious Shooting Star.
The moment Nen gathered in his palm, a stellar cross suddenly lit up above the underground river's surface.
A Shooting Star trailing a faint glow shot out from the center of the stellar cross, striking the cave ceiling at astonishing speed before exploding into countless light particles that quickly vanished into the air. This was the result of Morrow deliberately suppressing his power.
After releasing his ability, Morrow didn't stop, continuing to channel Nen into the ground.
At that moment, a stellar cross suddenly appeared on the cave ceiling's rock surface, and another Shooting Star with a faint trailing light shot out from its center, heading straight for Morrow below.
Morrow looked up, the approaching starlight reflected in his pupils, and casually waved his left arm.
"Crack!"
The Shooting Star shattered in the palm wind, transforming into fine particles of light dust as it scattered.
The practicality has improved significantly.
Morrow slowly rose to his feet, a flicker of contemplation in his eyes.
Although the ability mechanism of 'Insidious Shooting Star' had been enhanced, it still fell far short of his expectations.
In his vision, the ultimate form of this ability should be a pure spatial traversal attack.
Not like now, where every activation required reliance on an 'object' as a transmission medium.
—--
Just as Morrow's research progress began to accelerate, Gon and Killua on Greed Island were about to face their first true life-or-death battle after learning Nen.
Following a trajectory similar to the original storyline.
There were two teams on Greed Island with card collection progress exceeding 90%.
One was Tsezguerra's four-person team, the other was a sixty-person team spontaneously formed by Nen users also employed by Battera.
Both teams had nearly identical card collection progress.
But the latter held an absolute numerical advantage. Over five years, they had not only collected 90 specified cards but also located 7 other specified cards.
Barring unexpected circumstances, as long as they could leverage their numerical superiority and abundance of Spell Cards, they likely had a chance to clear the game.
Unfortunately, they could never have imagined that the Bomber, who instilled fear in Greed Island players, had been lurking within their team for five years.
Now, seeing that card collection was nearly complete, the Bomber named Genthru directly revealed his identity during an assembly, betraying the entire team.
Except for one Exorcist, not a single member of this clearance team initiated by Nickes survived.
After seizing the fruits of their labor, Genthru joined forces with his two companions, going all out using various cruel methods to collect the remaining specified cards.
In just half a month, the number of players killed by the Bomber had exceeded seventy.
And the victim count continued to rise steadily.
During this period, the only team capable of competing with Genthru's trio was Tsezguerra's four-person team.
Both teams were sprinting to collect the final few specified cards.
The approximately twenty other clearance teams, aiming to hinder the progress of both Genthru's trio and Tsezguerra's team, were also exerting full effort to collect the remaining specified cards.
If they could monopolize just one of these cards, the final outcome would remain uncertain.
Amid this intense competitive atmosphere, Gon and Killua remained fully immersed in card collection.
After entering the game, they managed to collect 50 types of specified cards in just one month.
Although these were all A-rank cards, this astonishing collection speed still drew attention from Genthru's trio and other teams.
But it was merely a passing glance.
After all, progress of 50 specified cards wasn't nearly enough to cause concern.
Therefore, operating without interference, Gon and Killua quickly collected another 12 types of specified cards over the following half month. Moreover, Killua, being an experienced gamer, thought of using the 'Leave' card, which allows players to exit the game, to trade with players who wanted to leave but couldn't, in exchange for missing specified slot cards.
With this strategy, Gon and Killua quickly obtained several more specified slot cards.
In the end, it took them only two months to collect 73 specified slot cards at an astonishing speed, including one that Genthru didn't possess.
At this point, other clearing teams, seeing Genthru and Tsezguerra advancing with overwhelming momentum, decided to join forces.
After forming an alliance, they proactively reached out to Gon and Killua.
Since they could exchange cards and information, Gon and Killua agreed to the cooperation proposal.
But soon, Genthru targeted Gon in order to seize his specified slot card 'No.75.'
However, even before Genthru set his sights on him, Gon had already decided to confront Genthru head-on.
The reason was...
Among the team betrayed by Genthru was a player who had been recruited by Battera alongside Gon and Killua.
That player was Abengane, an Exorcist.
When Genthru detonated the bombs and killed everyone in Nickes' team, Abengane had already used his Nen exorcism ability to suppress Genthru's bombs.
However, for Abengane to completely remove the ability, Genthru needed to die, or the conditions for lifting the ability had to be fulfilled.
To increase the success rate of removing the ability, Abengane sought out Gon and Killua, revealed all the details of Genthru's abilities, and asked Gon to avenge him.
Faced with Abengane's request, Gon felt that since he couldn't save Abengane, he would fulfill his dying wish.
Amidst these accumulated factors, Gon and Killua ended up confronting Genthru's trio.
Thanks to the crucial Nen combat experience Gon and Killua had previously gained at Heavens Arena...
They ultimately defeated Genthru's trio, just as in the original story.
If there was any difference, it was that Gon didn't rely on tactical strategies but defeated Genthru through sheer strength.
Of course.
One key factor in defeating Genthru with raw power was that Gon had full knowledge of Genthru's abilities.
Without having to worry about the bomb ability 'Countdown,' Gon utilized the mid-to-long-range advantage of his fishing rod to completely neutralize Genthru's 'Little Flower.'
He then steadily defeated Genthru step by step.
Such is the nature of battles between Nen users, the side with the information holds the decisive advantage in determining the outcome.
—--
After Gon defeated the formidable enemy Genthru in Greed Island, the date had already reached January 3, 2000.
—--
During the period of the new Hunter Exam, Morrow's solar-powered phone received a call from Beans.
Beans wanted to commission him as an examiner for this year's Hunter Exam.
In fact, this was proposed by Netero.
However, Morrow unhesitatingly declined Beans' invitation.
Because...
Just one last step.
Morrow focused his mind, holding the inkstone as he filled in the final small gap of the Divine Script Ring.
It didn't collapse or dissipate!
He had succeeded.
Morrow put away the inkstone. After three months of effort, he had finally completed the construction of a Divine Script Ring imbued with 'teleportation power.'
"Hah."
Morrow let out a long sigh of relief.
With this teleportation Divine Script in place, theoretically, as long as the activation steps were completed, he could directly reach the mural after teleporting across space and immediately enter the Unexplored Land.
Let's test its effects first.
Morrow eagerly began testing the ability.
He retreated to the cave entrance a hundred meters away and then activated the Nen of the teleportation Divine Script.
However...
A second passed.
He remained in place, not teleported over.
At the same time, the teleportation Divine Script Ring surrounding the mural began to crumble, once again turning into fine black particles that quickly dissipated into the air.
What's going on?
Morrow frowned.
The construction should have been flawless...
Why did it collapse as soon as it was activated?
Could it be a lack of stability?
Morrow raised his hand to his chin, lost in thought.
Over the next few days, he continuously attempted to add Divine Script structures within the existing framework to enhance stability.
But no matter how he tried, it disrupted the integrity of the teleportation ability's effects.
It was akin to the teleportation Divine Script already being a complete mechanical structure, unsuitable for adding additional components.
Yet without adding other components, it would overload and collapse during operation...
Left with no choice, Morrow could only call Ging to ask what was going on.
—--
To obtain the rare designated card No.2, 'Plot of Beach,' players such as Gon, Killua, Goreinu, and Tsezguerra's team joined forces to challenge the pirate crew led by Razor.
The condition for obtaining this card was to gather fifteen players and engage in various one-on-one sports competitions against Razor's pirate crew.
As long as the player team secured eight victories first, they would receive the 'Plot of Beach' card.
However...
The maximum number of 'Plot of Beach' cards was only three.
This meant that even if they used the 'Copy' card to produce three 'Plot of Beach' cards at once, they could only distribute them to three teams at most.
And Gon and Killua, Goreinu, and Tsezguerra's squad happened to be three teams.
But they only had seven people. Although they could hire other players who didn't need the card to make up the numbers, they couldn't guarantee securing eight victories.
"The next event... is an eight-on-eight dodgeball match."
Perhaps sensing the predicament Tsezguerra and the others faced, Razor gave them an opportunity.
"Eight-on-eight?!"
Hearing Razor's words, Gon, Killua, Tsezguerra, and the others were startled.
Razor looked at the surprised group and said with a smile, "That's right. The winner of this match will directly secure eight victories. Simple, isn't it?"
So that's how it is...
Tsezguerra, with his wealth of experience, immediately realized that the so-called one-on-one matches were merely a facade.
Even if they secured seven victories, Razor would ultimately step in to set up an eight-on-eight dodgeball match.
In that case, with filler players on their team, victory would be impossible.
They had only secured three victories so far...
Yet Razor had stepped in early.
Although their side had already 'consumed' three key players, this could also be seen as an opportunity.
Thinking this, Tsezguerra looked at Goreinu and Killua.
Killua and Goreinu also turned to look at Tsezguerra.
The three exchanged glances from a distance, all thinking the same thing. This was an opportunity arrogantly given by Razor, they had to seize it!
The three nodded slightly.
—--
A few minutes later.
On the dodgeball court.
The volleyball launched from Razor's hand, carrying a terrifying force, flew straight toward Goreinu.
Such astonishing Nen... No, this will be fatal!
Goreinu broke out in a cold sweat instantly.
"White Goreinu"
At the critical moment, Goreinu swapped positions with his white gorilla Nen Beast, which he used to make up the numbers.
The white gorilla, now in his place, had its head struck by the volleyball in an instant.
Splat!
The gorilla's head exploded like a balloon.
The rebounding volleyball still carried enough Nen power to shoot toward the ceiling like a cannonball.
Thud!
The volleyball embedded itself deeply into the ceiling.
!!!
Gon, Killua, Tsezguerra, and Goreinu, who had just narrowly escaped death, all stared wide-eyed at the ceiling damaged by the volleyball.
On the opposite side of the court.
Razor maintained a smiling expression throughout.
Though he seemed to have given them a chance, he had brutally foretold the match's outcome right from the start.
There's no chance of winning...
Killua abruptly withdrew his gaze, looked at Razor across the court, frowned briefly, then clenched his fists.
This guy...
Whether it was out of some twisted amusement or not, with their current lineup, they stood no chance at all.
Even Gon, who was usually slower to react, quickly realized this.
Seeing the situation clearly, Tsezguerra immediately declared, "We forfeit!"
No one objected to Tsezguerra's unilateral decision.
So decisive...
Razor placed a hand on his hip and delivered his line: "Go train some more. We'll continue to dominate this city."
...
Gon and the others left the lighthouse base and stepped outside.
The players temporarily recruited to make up the numbers had already been terrified by Razor's fearsome serve. They fled as soon as they exited the lighthouse.
Tsezguerra watched their panicked retreating figures and sighed, shaking his head. "To have any hope of challenging successfully, we'd need at least four more true experts, and that's only if Razor is willing to step in early."
"Yeah."
Goreinu said with lingering fear, "Razor's strength is too terrifying. The problem now is the limited number of cards. Even if we can find experts..."
"We'll have to seek 'external help,'" Killua suddenly interjected.
"External help? Do you have someone in mind?"
Both Goreinu and Tsezguerra's team turned to look at Killua.
Killua nodded. "Yes, my teacher..."
-----------------
I'm translating a new story: "Monster Hunter:The Wilderness Compass." I'll drop the link in the chapter comments for anyone who wants to check it out.