277: Is This Really Ging?!

"But since I mastered Nen, I've rarely faced the threat of death," Ging began, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. "In fact, I've hardly even encountered anyone who could put up a real fight."

He crushed another undead bone demon underfoot, scattering its remains as a fresh wave of attackers surged toward him. The sound of snapping bones echoed in the air.

"From the Floor Masters at Heavens Arena to the Zodiacs of the Hunter Association, and even the cursed relics scattered across the world—I've sought every possible challenge. I became a bounty hunter for a time, tracking down notorious criminals in hopes of reliving that edge-of-death thrill.

But…" Ging sighed, his hands tightening into fists as he plowed through the next swarm.

"It didn't give me what I was looking for. Instead, I ended up making some like-minded friends, even partners. And, well… the whole bounty hunter gig fell apart."

Razor? Ronnel thought as he listened to Ging. His words were casual, but they carried a deeper weight, as if he were revealing pieces of his soul. Ronnel's mind spun, connecting the dots.

Razor had once admitted he was a death row inmate before Ging found him. Razor expected execution but instead was recruited to help manage Greed Island. That was the moment Razor first understood what it meant to have a partner, and from then on, he loyally followed Ging.

Greed Island was released in 1987, meaning Ging would have been 34 years old. So, by that timeline, he must've met Razor at least 12 years prior. At 22 years old, Ging was already a Nen master, potentially stronger than the Phantom Troupe or even other top Hunters of his time.

At 22, he was nearly unstoppable? Ronnel mused. His thoughts drifted to his own father, Gon. Starting at Heavens Arena, Gon had trained and fought through Greed Island and the Chimera Ant arc in just over a year. Despite limited training, Gon had grown into a formidable Nen user.

But Ging… Ging was a prodigy on a completely different level. He had passed the Hunter Exam at 12, the sole survivor of his class. Even assuming he began training in Nen a year later, by the time he befriended Razor, Ging had only nine years of experience. And yet, his strength was already monumental.

Twelve more years had passed since then. Though Ging now spoke of hitting a plateau, it was clear his capabilities were beyond comprehension.

How strong is he now? Ronnel wondered, his chest tightening. Could he rival Netero in his prime?

Ging's voice broke through Ronnel's thoughts.

"Over the years, I've had maybe one and a half fights that were worth my time." He chuckled. "Old man Netero? He counts as one. The guy was incredible. Botobai Gigante? He's half. Decent strength, but not quite there. And besides…" Ging shrugged.

"If Botobai got injured, it'd cause a huge mess for the Zodiacs. As their conscience, he's indispensable."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Ruins? They're dangerous, sure, but it's not the same. Most of the threats are environmental—traps and harsh conditions. They don't sharpen the survival instincts you get from fighting a worthy opponent."

Ging cracked his knuckles as a new wave of bone demons surrounded them.

"But this?" He grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "A fight like this? A life-or-death brawl? It's been a long time."

With that, Ging's aura exploded outward. The ground trembled, and a massive shockwave sent the demons flying. Ronnel barely held his footing, shielding his face from the debris.

In the center of the chaos, Ging stood unshaken, his clothes tattered but his stance unyielding. His muscles seemed to expand, sharp lines of power carved into his frame. His hair floated as if caught in an unseen current, growing longer by the second and curling skyward.

"What the…?" Ronnel's eyes widened as he watched the transformation.

"Is this really Ging?" He rubbed his eyes, but the sight didn't change.

The resemblance was uncanny. If not for Ging's rugged beard, his face might have been indistinguishable from Gon's. The thought made Ronnel's mouth twitch.

Father and son, huh? he thought wryly. Even their transformation scenes are the same!

Despite the chaos and awe bubbling in his chest, Ronnel was speechless. Thousands of thoughts swirled in his mind, yet none found their way out.

Ging, oblivious to the effect he had on Ronnel, rolled his shoulders.

"Well," he said, his voice low and laced with excitement. "Let's make this interesting."

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