067 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

Let's set aside the question of whether they had the ability or the tools to fly. Even if they could, they'd still need to pass through that sea of blood-red trees—and who knew what kind of monsters lurked in there?

Even the little puppet girl was thinking hard about how to get through it.

Though she was a puppet, her body still had functioning organs and circulating blood to maintain a semblance of human vitality. This land of blood posed a threat to her as well.

"Ronnel, what do you think?"

Beyond smacked his lips. He was eyeing the perilous landscape. He had a method in mind, sure—but it would be expensive. Glancing at the silent Ronnel standing next to him, he finally voiced the question he'd been mulling over.

Ronnel gave a faint smile. "What do you mean? Just like Ging said—fly over it."

"Oh?" Beyond looked surprised, and quickly swallowed the alternative he was about to suggest.

He leaned forward, a little more curious now. "So, you do still have the ability to fly, Ronnel?"

"We'll talk about that later," Ronnel replied. "Right now, I think the easiest move is for you to return to the fourth-dimensional apartment. Once I've crossed the sea of trees, I'll open the exit on the other side and let you all out. Sound fair?"

The fourth-dimensional apartment's number of entrances and exits corresponded to its rooms. Room 440 meant a total of twenty-one access points. This limit was one of the restrictions of the ability.

Ronnel had left one exit on each of the six continents and one in the Kakin Empire. Another was set up at the coastal landing site. That left eighteen more—plenty for this situation.

"...I suppose that does make the most sense," Beyond nodded. It was the most efficient way to minimize risk.

"But I am curious, Ronnel... how do you plan to get across?"

He gestured toward the Smoke Mobile Soldiers, still floating above the treetops, undisturbed by the bloody terrain.

The soldiers were made of smoke—weightless, drifting in mid-air.

Ronnel could, in theory, step across them like a path and float straight through the air to the other side.

But Beyond caught the expression on Ronnel's face and the tone in his voice. He could tell Ronnel had another plan in mind. That piqued his interest.

His collaborator always had a way of surprising him.

"You don't need to worry about that. Just go back inside for now," Ronnel said casually.

As he spoke, he lightly struck the ground with a bad-enhanced punch, opening the apartment's entrance.

"I get it," Beyond replied with a sharp look. Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the opening.

His actions were proof of the trust he placed in Ronnel's judgment—and also his understanding of how the world worked. In that moment, he decided something privately: if this mission brought in a good haul, he'd share a portion of the spoils with Ronnel.

After all, they were collaborators, not true teammates. It was Ronnel who would be risking his life to get them all through.

This time, Beyond owed him one—even if he didn't say it aloud, he knew it clearly in his heart.

With the boss leading the way, the rest of the group followed obediently, carrying Karre on their shoulders as they returned to the apartment.

As for the chicken and dog, they were given a quick inspection. No anomalies were found, so the pets were brought inside without issue.

"The safety of our whole group is in your hands now~" Ging teased with a smirk.

Ronnel gave him a deadpan stare.

Soon, he was the only one left outside. Standing on the beach beneath a sandless sunset, he couldn't help but feel a strange, almost tranquil kind of beauty.

"I wonder what kind of interesting discoveries are waiting in that sea of trees..."

With the encyclopedia points he'd accumulated, no disaster felt insurmountable.

He activated [Body Structural Reorganization], and a pair of flesh-and-blood wings grew from his back. With a flap, he soared into the sky, slicing through the air at high speed toward the sea of trees.

...

Of course, before growing wings, he'd first cut off the projected image from the apartment.

Victor, watching from inside, sighed helplessly. 

"Hahahaha, that guy just hates being under constant surveillance~" Beyond laughed, unconcerned. After a few hearty chuckles, he leaned back and began to rest, preparing himself for whatever lay beyond the forest.

They all knew—once they crossed that sea of trees, something even stranger could be waiting.

...

Not long after Ronnel disappeared into the sky, a giant sea beast emerged from the water.

It looked like a crocodile, but with eight legs and a body covered in green, thorny scales. It heaved itself onto shore under the cover of the stars, lumbering slowly toward the blood-soaked land.

As its first foot touched the ground, nothing seemed to happen.

Then, as its full body crossed into the bloody terrain, it relaxed, lay down, and closed its eyes.

Gentle snores echoed across the ground. The beast was deep in slumber—but danger was already upon it.

Without warning, an explosion of energy erupted. The blood in the beast's massive body was drained almost instantly.

It never even woke up.

By the time its sluggish brain noticed something was wrong, it was already far too late.

Its consciousness faded, and it would never awaken again.

Its massive form withered rapidly, the once-bulging flesh shrinking into thin, sagging skin. Only the skeletal frame remained intact for a few moments.

But even then, the Bloody Land was relentless.

Any trace of remaining blood was greedily absorbed. Even the bones were sucked dry—marrow reduced to dust, scattered into the wind.

And just like that, a colossal sea beast was reduced to nothing.

Not a trace remained along the shore.

Only the blood-red soil remained behind.

The trees rooted in that gruesome ground swayed gently, and an eerie crimson glow shimmered across their bark.

These trees thrived on blood.

As Ronnel flew into the sea of trees, the first thing that hit him was the overwhelming stench of blood.

He glanced up through the canopy, catching glimpses of the sky—dimmed and overcast, the clouds gathering thick and heavy as if pressing down on the world below.