Helian Mountain.
A dense forested mountain range located not far from Feikang Town and now the epicenter of chaos due to the sudden appearance of Princess Anna's mausoleum.
Originally, Rimo intended to track down the pharmacist apprentice who had first discovered the crown. That person was the key to understanding how the mausoleum was exposed.
Unfortunately, the trail had already gone cold.
The apprentice had vanished.
Some said he sold the crown and fled to a major city to live in luxury. Others whispered darker rumors that he had been consumed by Princess Anna's curse, becoming one of the countless victims of resentment.
In typical fashion, no body was ever found.
Alive or dead unknown.
Before all this, Helian Mountain had been nothing more than an unremarkable forest region.
But now…
A strange white mist blanketed the entire mountain.
It wasn't natural fog it clung to the terrain, refusing to disperse, as if something within was deliberately concealing itself.
At the foot of the mountain, crowds had gathered.
A chaotic mix of treasure hunters, mercenaries, amateurs, and Nen users filled the area.
Rimo activated Gyo concentrating aura into his eyes and scanned the surroundings.
As expected.
A mess.
Some individuals possessed Nen, their aura faint but visible. Others were completely ordinary people, drawn here purely by greed.
"Wow, Master, there are so many people!" Nion said excitedly, wearing a small expedition outfit Rimo had materialized for her convenience.
"Make way! Move aside!"
A sudden commotion broke out.
Several men in camouflage uniforms rushed out from the forest, carrying what looked like a corpse.
No something worse.
The body was completely shriveled.
Skin clung tightly to bone, eyes sunken, flesh dried out.
A mummy.
"Hold on! Just hold on!" one of the men shouted desperately, carrying the body toward a makeshift medical station nearby.
The "clinic" was nothing more than opportunistic doctors capitalizing on the situation. With so many people entering dangerous terrain, injuries were inevitable and profitable.
"Doctor! Help him!"
A man in a white coat stepped out, took one glance, and shook his head.
"Too late. He's already dead."
"What do you mean dead?!" the soldier roared, grabbing the doctor's collar.
Before the situation escalated, a young man nearby laughed coldly.
"You idiots came here without even understanding what you're facing. This is what happens."
The soldier froze.
His companion quickly pulled him back.
They could feel it.
The young man… was different.
A Nen user.
After adjusting his collar, the doctor sighed.
"This is the twenty-sixth case in two days. Same condition every time completely drained. There's nothing left to save."
The soldier collapsed to his knees.
"Why… why did this happen…"
The young man smirked again.
"Because you can't see it."
He raised a finger.
"Those who can't use Nen won't even understand how they died. Go home. This place isn't for you."
Then he turned and walked toward the mountain.
Nion tugged at Rimo's clothes.
"Master… what did he mean?"
Rimo gently placed his hand on her head.
"Nothing important. You'll understand later."
But internally, he had already reached a conclusion.
This wasn't just a simple curse.
It was highly likely a manifestation of post-mortem Nen a phenomenon where strong emotions persist after death, creating abilities that can even surpass the user's limits.
Just like how Nen can grow stronger after death, as seen in extreme cases within the world of Hunter x Hunter.
Those corpses…
Had their life force completely drained.
Not eaten.
Absorbed.
"Seems like Princess Anna's resentment has awakened… or the seal is weakening," Rimo thought.
And more importantly
All of this might be intentional.
A lure.
"Master… you're not going to leave Nion behind, right?"
Her small voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Rimo looked down.
Those eyes full of trust.
He sighed softly.
"Aren't you scared?"
"Nion isn't afraid! As long as Master is here, nothing will happen!"
For a moment, Rimo paused.
Then chuckled.
Was he… hesitating?
Just because of one encounter with Silva Zoldyck?
Pathetic.
If necessary, he could maintain Unlimited Spell at all times. Unless something exceeded space-based interference entirely, nothing should be able to touch him.
And besides…
Nion was under his protection.
He picked her up.
"Alright. But you stay in my arms. No wandering off."
"Okay!! Let's go!"
The surrounding crowd watched them.
Some mocked.
Some pitied.
Some simply stared.
To them, bringing a child into such a place was madness.
But no one intervened.
Because everyone here… was the same kind of person.
Greedy.
Desperate.
Willing to risk death.
In a hidden corner
A small figure watched Rimo closely.
Frowning.
Golden hair peeked out from beneath a hood.
The moment Rimo stepped forward
He vanished.
Gone.
The crowd froze.
"What ?!"
A ripple of shock spread.
"Teleportation?!"
"Specialist?!"
"Monster…"
Fear replaced ridicule instantly.
The hidden figure's expression shifted slightly.
But the frown remained.
"…Taking a child in there… is he insane?"
After a brief hesitation, the figure pulled the hood lower and followed.
Inside Helian MountainThe moment Rimo entered
He felt it.
Something was wrong.
The forest was… alive.
No wind.
Yet leaves rustled constantly.
Branches swayed.
Roots shifted subtly beneath the ground.
Rimo activated Gyo again.
Nothing unusual appeared.
And yet
The discomfort intensified.
A contradiction between perception and instinct.
"Interesting…"
Suddenly
"SHH !"
A black shadow shot out from the ground, piercing toward his head.
"Buzz !"
Space distorted.
The attack froze midair.
Rimo narrowed his eyes.
"A root?"
The black tendril twisted violently, emitting a faint hissing sound.
Alive.
Predatory.
And filled with Nen.
"So this is what drained those bodies…"
Before he could analyze further
"Be careful!"
A clear voice rang out behind him.
In the next instant
Dozens of roots erupted from the ground, surrounding him completely.
Each one writhing, hissing, hungry.
They struck simultaneously.
But
They stopped.
Every single one halted just centimeters from Rimo's body, unable to penetrate the invisible spatial barrier.
The air rippled slightly.
Unlimited Spell.
Absolute defense.
The roots thrashed violently, as if enraged.
A figure landed beside him.
Light.
Agile.
Blonde.
The hood fell back, revealing sharp features and striking golden hair.
The newcomer glanced at the frozen roots then at Rimo.
A hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.
"Not bad…"
Their tone was calm, but clearly impressed.
Rimo looked at them and finally understood.
So this…
Was the target of the prophecy.
A Nen user.
Young.
Skilled.
And most importantly
Relevant to the future.
He smiled faintly.
"So… it was you."
The blonde narrowed their eyes.
"Do I know you?"
Rimo didn't answer immediately.
Because in his mind
Connections were already forming.
This encounter…
Was no coincidence.
And Helian Mountain
Was just beginning to reveal its secrets.
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