"It's a bit slow," Ronnel remarked in an even tone, his expression unchanged.
"It's fine. We're not exactly in a rush," Ging responded casually, though his eyebrows suddenly lifted in curiosity.
"The delay here... it's gone?"
"Huh? You're only noticing it now?" Ronnel's tone held a hint of surprise, but his expression soon shifted to one of realization.
It wasn't like Ging to be slow in picking up on something like this. Which could only mean one thing: the delay was present when Ging arrived but dissipated afterward, slipping under his radar.
"So… is the effect distance-dependent?" Ronnel's gaze sharpened as he peered ahead, his thoughts racing.
Ging's mind worked quickly to the same conclusion. Without a word, he noted the discovery and moved toward the gap ahead, his curiosity ignited. Ronnel followed, observing Ging with a satisfied glint in his eyes. It seemed his craftsmanship—his creations—were as reliable as ever. The pair of sharp, intelligent eyes he had crafted in particular were nothing short of perfection.
"Could this be… a passage to the Dark Continent?" Ging muttered, stopping in front of the gap and staring into its depths.
Before Ronnel could respond, the figure seated on the throne atop the high platform in the distant chamber deliberated whether to intervene. Yet there was no time for contemplation.
"Of course, I'm going in," Ging declared with a grin. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he stepped into the gap without hesitation.
"This guy…" Ronnel sighed, shaking his head with a faint smile before following suit.
The figure on the throne was momentarily stunned. He had expected the intruders to be cautious, perhaps requiring days to make their move. Instead, the two Hunters walked right in without a shred of hesitation. Was it because they had joined forces?
For a moment, the throne's occupant recalled another team he had once deceived, their confidence equally misplaced. Humans were such unpredictable creatures.
"Truly incomprehensible," he murmured, his voice dripping with disdain.
Without wasting another moment, he turned his attention to a small tunnel of bone that connected the current chamber to the gap. As Ronnel and Ging progressed, he prepared his trap. A wave of strange, malevolent aura rippled from the throne as a signal, causing blue light to flicker and then vanish between the bone mountains. Everything was set in motion.
"I have a grand gift awaiting you," the throne's occupant sneered, his thoughts steeped in malice. "Once you're taken care of, I'll finally be free of this cursed place."
He envisioned the paradise of the Six Continents, a haven he had longed to reach. There, he could unleash his wrath for the centuries of torment he had endured.
The chamber fell silent once more, heavy with the oppressive calm before the storm—a storm waiting for its targets to step into its grasp.
Ronnel followed Ging into the passage, finding himself enveloped in pitch-black darkness. It was deeper and more consuming than he had expected.
After a moment, their eyes adjusted, revealing the outline of a narrow cave. Neither of them reached for flashlights or any other source of light. In the world of Hunters, such actions could invite unnecessary trouble when navigating unknown environments.
The silence was absolute. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed through the bone-strewn cave.
"Bones?" Ging murmured, glancing at Ronnel. Their unspoken understanding was clear, this place was far from ordinary.
The walls of the cave were entirely constructed of white bones. Every surface seemed to glimmer faintly, creating an eerie atmosphere. Ging broke the silence again.
"It's all bones. Do you think this has something to do with the dead bone monsters? It's odd we haven't encountered any of them recently."
The shift in the environment had heightened their vigilance, though it also fed their curiosity. The journey through the cave wasn't long, and soon, they reached what appeared to be the final chamber.
"This must be it," Ronnel said, his voice carrying a note of gravity as they approached the cave's exit.
"Yeah. I didn't sense it earlier, but now it's unmistakable. The aura of the Sonata of Darkness—it's here," Ging confirmed, licking his lips in anticipation. "There are traces of it throughout this cave. And ahead, I can feel remnants of Nen."
"So, this is where it ends," Ronnel replied quietly, his expression serious.
Ging's grin returned, though his eyes remained sharp.
"Finally, I can settle the score and stop hearing that guy's complaints."
Ronnel gave him a questioning look, and Ging elaborated with a chuckle.
"An artist friend of mine. He's been pestering me to recover this damn Sonata for ages."
"Don't celebrate yet," Ronnel warned. "You've played enough games to know how this works. The big boss always shows up before you get the item."
Ging smirked. "Of course. My years of gaming tell me there's a 99% chance we've already triggered some elaborate trap."
"And yet you're still grinning like that."
"Afraid of death?" Ging tugged at his collar, his voice turning casual. "Yeah, I'm afraid. Only idiots claim otherwise. Anyone who's truly stared death in the face knows the fear it brings. But that's exactly why we act—not because we're fearless, but because we've learned to move forward despite it."
Ronnel's smile returned faintly. "Well said. Let's finish this."
They stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
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