Ronnel thought of the Phantom Troupe and nodded slightly.
The members of the Troupe rarely spoke about death, yet whether it was Uvogin or Shalnark, both had faced it with unwavering resolve.
Uvogin, even in his final moments, refused to betray the Troupe, and Shalnark, even after death, was not abandoned by his comrades. For them, the Troupe wasn't just a group—it was their treasure.
During his time with Ging, Ronnel could sense a similar attitude. Ging was the kind of person who acted recklessly, almost as if he had stared death in the face too many times to care about how others viewed him. There was a carefree optimism in his actions, as if he lived each day as though it were borrowed time.
It reminded Ronnel of a pirate's bravado—Luffy's grin on the execution platform in Loguetown, a defiant "I'm gonna die, so what?" kind of smile.
If Ging were to face death one day, Ronnel imagined he would wear the same expression, cracking a joke even in his last moments.
But Ging also had things he cherished: Gon, his friends, and his obsessions.
And what about Ronnel himself? He wasn't reckless like Ging, but he had his own treasures—Shizuku, Bisky, and...
What about the feeling of facing death?
Many people only unlock their true potential in moments of life and death. In that instant, truths reveal themselves, and priorities become clear.
Ronnel suddenly wanted to experience that clarity. But...
Was there anyone in the Six Continents capable of pushing him to the brink?
Chrollo wasn't enough, and neither was Netero.
Maybe the Chimera Ant King?
As the thought crossed his mind, a hand tapped his shoulder.
"I'd save those musings for later. First, let's get the Sonata of Darkness," Ging said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Ronnel blinked, his focus returning. Ging offered him a sly grin before walking ahead, leaving the cave.
"Sonata of Darkness, huh?" Ronnel murmured, following after him. "Let's see if this so-called puppet master can offer anything remotely thrilling."
When they stepped out, the view opened dramatically.
The first thing Ronnel noticed was Ging scanning their surroundings, his head tilting slightly.
"Bone Mountain?"
Ronnel's gaze shifted, and his pupils narrowed.
Before them stretched a macabre landscape—mountains of skeletal remains from creatures he couldn't identify, piled high in grotesque grandeur.
It was a world of its own, separate from the cave they'd emerged from.
"Is that the throne?" Ronnel's eyes fixed on the centerpiece: a high platform rising above the bone mountains, almost regal in its isolation.
"Is the final boss sitting there?" Ging muttered, his gaze locking onto the same platform.
"There's no way this place is deserted," Ging continued. "Especially with a setup like this—bones, platforms, and what looks like a throne."
Then, narrowing his eyes, he added, "Twelve o'clock, 500 meters out. I can sense the Sonata of Darkness's aura. It's faint, but it's there."
Ronnel followed his gaze. Amidst the skeletal piles lay human remains, their weathered clothing reduced to tattered fibers. Dark stains coiled around them, like lingering traces of Nen.
"That must be the remnants left by the Sonata of Darkness," Ronnel muttered, feeling a shiver run down his spine.
Before he could dwell further, a voice echoed, sinister and resonant:
"You've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you~."
A slow clap broke the silence, each sound reverberating through the hollow space.
On the throne, a figure swayed in the dim light, its silhouette barely discernible.
"So the final boss shows themselves," Ging remarked with a casual smirk, picking his ear. "Let's get this over with. No signal here, and I've got plenty of things waiting for me back home."
Despite his nonchalance, his body tensed, aura flaring as he prepared for battle. Ging was never one to let his guard down, no matter how relaxed his words seemed.
Ronnel, meanwhile, remained still, his tone light. "Well, I've got nothing urgent on my plate. If you need help, just say the word."
"Oh, sure," Ging replied. "But as a friend, it feels wrong to always ask for your help. Anything I can do for you instead?"
"Well, since you mention it," Ronnel said with mock innocence, "my master and girlfriend are clearing Greed Island. Think you could spare a walkthrough guide?"
Ging froze, his composure faltering for a split second.
"Greed Island? Your master?!" His voice rose slightly, the incredulity evident.
From another part of the throne room, a voice nearly identical to Ging's muttered, "What the hell is his master doing on Greed Island?!"
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