Chapter 890
"Ron's strength had clearly surpassed that of the average Nen user. It was highly likely he had already exceeded S-rank—if not in raw power, then at least in understanding secrets that lay beyond it. The Ascension Relic tied to him would be critical."
As far as the Phantom Troupe was concerned, their business aboard the Black Whale had ended. The succession war between the princes no longer had anything to do with them. What they needed to focus on now was reaching the Dark Continent and quickly uncovering information about the Ascension Relics. That was the only way to stay a step ahead of the rest of humanity.
Among the Troupe, Chrollo was always the clearest-headed. In the past, this kind of planning had fallen to Shalnark, but it didn't mean Shalnark had a better mind—only that their roles had been different at the time.
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Boom!
A thunderous impact shook the ship. The Black Whale trembled violently as chaos erupted. People poured from the upper decks to the lower ones. A full-scale battle had broken out, one that seemed to sweep everyone into its path without warning.
"En."
Ron expanded his aura outward in a wide circle. It didn't take long for him to sense what was going on.
A clash had broken out between the camps of First Prince Benjamin and Third Prince Zhang Lei. The spark that ignited it was unclear, but the scale of the battle was intense—especially considering that Ninth Prince Halkenburg hadn't suffered any real damage yet. It was as if both sides had gone rabid, no longer caring if someone else reaped the rewards in the end.
Zhang Lei's camp was at a disadvantage. Forced to fight while retreating, they used the other passengers aboard the Black Whale as shields to block attacks from Benjamin's side. One by one, bodies collapsed. Cries of pain and gasps of horror filled the corridors. Walls cracked, floors shattered, and flames began to spread.
The air reeked of gasoline, food oil, and scorched meat—blended together into a sickening haze.
Only those with enough strength, those exceptionally well-hidden, or those lucky enough to be standing in the right corner managed to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
The Hunter Association was doing everything it could to contain the chaos, but the situation was spiraling out of control. Even someone like Botobai, with his overwhelming power, couldn't make a difference—there were simply too many people involved.
And since Botobai couldn't act directly against the prince factions, his hands were tied. According to Ron's estimate, the number of casualties from this battle might rival, or even surpass, the death toll caused by the previous leak incident on Tier 5.
In other words, this entire war might have been orchestrated by Nasubi himself.
Ron had already sensed that the Black Whale had begun to slow down some time ago. That could only mean one thing—Gatekeeper Continent was drawing near.
But then why reduce the ship's speed?
There was only one answer: Nasubi wanted to complete the crafting of the Ascension Relic and become a Sequence user before they arrived.
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Right at that moment, several figures approached the Phantom Troupe's hideout. They were members of the Heil-Ly Family, come to avenge Tserriednich. Morena didn't understand their logic, but she didn't stop them either.
"It's the Phantom Troupe! They're right here!"
"They don't look like they're in great shape."
"They're short by at least two members."
"This is our chance. Let's kill them—for the Fourth Prince!"
"Kill them!"
The sudden ambush caught the Phantom Troupe off guard—but only briefly. The attackers were too weak. The Troupe's strength completely outclassed theirs, and once they recovered, the tide turned instantly.
The deaths of Pakunoda and Nobunaga had left them simmering with rage. Now, with a new target in front of them, they had somewhere to vent. They began slaughtering the Heil-Ly attackers without restraint.
"Kill them all!" Phinks roared, his fist winding up.
Hooker transformed into a werewolf.
Franklin unleashed his full firepower.
Feitan's silhouette flitted through the crowd like a ghost, cutting through enemies with merciless precision.
Chrollo opened his book.
Kurapika fought using the Nen ability he had taken from Tserriednich.
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Ron opened a door to Sumas's space. "Machi, Misty, Ponzu—get inside."
"Yes, captain."
"Right away, Ron-nii."
The four entered, and the room fell silent.
Bang!
A loud crash followed as a Nen user kicked the door open, only to find the room completely empty. Even the items Ron's group had regularly used were gone. The space had been abandoned.
Based on Ron's timing, by the time they emerged again, the Black Whale would likely have reached Gatekeeper Continent. It would be time to disembark.
The fighting raged on for three full days and two nights. The number of dead and injured was staggering. Blood soaked the decks until the ground turned sticky underfoot.
Zhang Lei was defeated.
He lacked the bloodline of Nasubi, his veins filled with the legacy of another lineage. In a succession war where bloodline was everything, it was only a matter of time before he lost—especially when facing someone like Benjamin. Zhang Lei's abilities may have suited a king, but dying before claiming the throne rendered all his power meaningless.
Everyone in his camp was killed, including the Xi-Yu Family. Their leader—half-sibling to Nasubi and a second-line heir—was dead. Of the three major mafia factions in Kakin, only Morena's Heil-Ly Family remained intact.
The Xi-Yu and Cha‑R Families were entirely wiped out.
The stench of death clung to the Black Whale.
Then, a strange energy began to drift through the air, drawn as if by magnetic force toward Tier 1—toward the sealed chamber housing the Egg of the Jar.
Inside that chamber, Nasubi was already waiting.
As the energy flooded in, the aura of the egg grew steadily stronger. Outside the chamber stood twelve guards, each one an A-rank Nen user without exception—completely loyal to Nasubi and unwilling to let anyone through.
Nasubi watched the transformation with bright eyes, anticipation flashing across his face.
"This moment… it's finally here."
"The Ascension Relic."
"Once it fuses, I'll obtain power beyond even S-rank Nen users."
"We in Kakin have been preparing for this day far too long."
"The human world is only a corner of the map."
"The Dark Continent—that's the real world."
"Ancestors, rest assured. I won't disappoint you."
"I will walk far on the Dark Continent."
"I'll claim everything that should be mine."
"I'll reach every height that should be reached."
"After all, I've paid for this power with the lives of my own children."
"This strength… it better not let me down."
"It must not let me down."