Hunter X Hunter: Tombbound Power

Under Ronnel's stunned gaze, the bat-like Nen user grinned.

But then—so did Ronnel.

That's right—he laughed. In the thin, suffocating air high above the city, with death staring him down, Ronnel smiled.

"Do you really think I'm helpless?" he asked softly, sheathing his blade. His voice carried effortlessly on the wind, just enough for the bat creature to hear.

"The one who's truly out of options... is you."

An ominous chill surged through the Bat's veins. Just as it moved to retreat, a faint breeze stirred behind it—something was coming. Fast.

Panic set in, but it was too late.

"Tiger Bite Fist!"

A loud crack echoed through the sky.

Before the bat could react, searing pain ripped through its neck, and the world spun violently. With its last flicker of consciousness, the creature glimpsed its own headless body—blood gushing from the severed stump—and a familiar figure hovering behind it.

It was another Ronnel. His hands were still poised like claws, mimicking the act of decapitation.

Then, everything faded into darkness.

"Thud!"

The bat beast's headless body hit the ground at the same time as Ronnel landed gracefully beside it.

"Plenty of strength," Ronnel mused, brushing dust off his shoulder. "But zero sense."

He glanced at the lifeless creature, addressing his now-vanished doppelgänger.

"No seasoned Nen user would put themselves at risk against an unknown opponent. Arrogance and overconfidence mean nothing when you're dead."

The clone had vanished, but the real Ronnel remained, his expression unreadable.

It had all been part of the plan. When he kicked up the dust earlier, he had released his double, sending it in first. The idea was simple—either the initial blow would kill, or the enemy would lower its guard, leaving an opening for a fatal strike.

Either way, the Tiger Bite Fist had done its job. Decapitation in one clean motion.

And the truth was, Ronnel hadn't even needed the clone. He had more than enough ways to deal with the Bat on his own. This was just an opportunity to test his new ability—and the results were promising.

With a satisfied hum, Ronnel knelt beside the bat creature's corpse, resting a hand on its still-warm body.

"Acquired Essence: Basic Core"

"Acquired Nen Ability: Star Moon Night Walker"

"Acquired Skill: Advanced Flight Experience"

Three glowing spheres rose from the corpse and hovered in the air before sinking into Ronnel's body.

The Shadow Beasts... Ronnel thought as he stood up. These creatures were strange. Their strength was difficult to evaluate, and their power fluctuated wildly.

On the one hand, two of them had fallen to Shizuku, a member of the Phantom Troupe, with laughable ease. But at the same time, these beasts were handpicked by the Ten Dons, some of the most influential crime bosses in the world. They were no pushovers.

Even Uvogin, the strongest member of the Troupe, couldn't break free when one of the beasts—a giant earthworm—dragged him underground. And despite his steel-like skin, it had been nearly torn apart by another beast known as the "Rabid Dog."

Strength alone didn't guarantee victory. Ronnel knew that better than anyone. Underestimating the enemy, as Uvogin did, could get you killed. One wrong move, one slip... and it's over.

This bat-like Beast was a testament to that. It wasn't particularly weak—Ronnel could feel that from the experience boost his Nen ability had just absorbed.

Star Moon Night Walker, huh? A strange name for a thug's ability.

Nen: Star Moon Night Walker

Effect: Conjures wings near the user's arms, allowing for flight. While airborne, the user's speed increases significantly.

Restriction: This ability can only be used at night. The wings are bound to the user's arms—if the arms are disabled, the ability cannot activate.

"So, that's where the flight experience came from," Ronnel murmured. It was a neatly packaged deal—wings, flight, and speed. But the restriction made sense. Like most Beasts, the ability aligned with the creature's theme—just as other beasts mirrored animals like leeches, porcupines, or owls.

Satisfied with the new skill, Ronnel focused his aura, summoning the wings for the first time. Two sleek, leathery appendages unfolded from his arms, shimmering slightly under the moonlight.

He flexed them experimentally.

"Not bad," he whispered, grinning. With a small movement, he pushed off the ground, floating effortlessly into the air.

His body felt weightless, as if gravity no longer applied.

"Feels like I've lost a few kilos," Ronnel joked, testing the wings with a few sharp turns. His movements were quick and precise. The air itself seemed to bend around him, boosting his speed even further.

This was more than just a flight ability—his entire body felt lighter, more agile. His reactions were faster. Every movement in the air felt as natural as breathing.

"So this is what it feels like…" Ronnel whispered, his voice lost in the wind. No wonder people dreamed of flying. It was a freedom unlike any other.

For a moment, he just hovered there, savoring the experience.

"Uvogin's fight should be over by now," he thought, glancing toward the distant city lights. "Might as well go check on him."

With a powerful flap of his wings, Ronnel shot forward. The wind rushed past him, and within seconds, the landscape blurred below as he soared through the night sky.

"The sky really is something else... no wonder people never give up on the dream of flying."

The excitement on his face was unmistakable. This new ability wasn't just useful—it was exhilarating.

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