HxH: Apex Predator

The results of the Tower Master Challenge were finally settled. With this, Ryker had completed the additional training tasks assigned to him by Silva.

If all went well, upon returning to his family, he would gain the long-coveted freedom to leave the estate at will.

But for Ryker, Silva's reward was secondary at this moment. What mattered most was returning to his room to redeem the Kamui Mangekyō Sharingan.

He believed that once he possessed this ability, Silva's reward would become inconsequential. In fact, he envisioned a future where he could act freely, unrestrained by anyone.

Ryker already had his next move planned. After redeeming Kamui for his right eye, he intended to conduct experiments with his Twin Hand ability within his ocular space.

If everything went smoothly, he could create an alternate identity to move freely in the outside world. With Twin Complete Hand's double transformations, he could alter his appearance and physique at will, ensuring anonymity.

[AN: Twin Complete Hands is based on the Ying-Yang Principle, so it does have the ability of transformation, although it has certain restrictions]

However, as Ryker left the competition venue, filled with excitement and anticipation, several pairs of malicious eyes were already fixed on him.

This competition had drawn a large audience, not just ordinary spectators but also many Nen users who had been watching the livestream.

During the match, when Jackie Chan had destroyed Ryker's glasses, exposing his "crimson eyes", many had taken note of their unusual hue.

In a shadowy corner, three strangely dressed individuals were whispering amongst themselves.

"Hey, did you see that kid's eyes? They're blood-red. Could he be one of those rumored Kurta Clan members?"

"Yeah, their eyes are said to be one of the Seven Most Beautiful Colors in the world. I hear they're worth a fortune," one of them said. "What if we... pluck his eyes and sell them? The money we'd make might rival the Tower Master's prize!"

A second member of the group hesitated. "It's not that simple. Did you see that kid's strength? Even the Tower Master was no match for him. Are you sure we can take him down? What if we lose our lives instead?"

The first man sneered. "We've seen his abilities throughout the competition. If the three of us ambush him with the element of surprise, we've got a good shot.

After all, these matches aren't life-or-death battles. He's just a kid. If we succeed, we'll split the profit three ways. What do you say?"

The other two were beginning to waver. Wealth had a way of tempting people, and in the Sky Arena, only a few fought purely for honor. Most were there for fame and fortune.

Meanwhile, Ryker had no idea he had become a prime target in the eyes of many. Not that it would matter to him; his focus was solely on obtaining his most significant trump card.

After leaving the venue, Ryker returned to his room, his heart racing with both nervousness and excitement.

"System, come out. I want to redeem my reward!"

Summoning the system, he opened the exchange interface in his mind, revealing the abilities available for redemption:

- Kamui (Single, choose left or right eye)

- Amaterasu

- Tsukuyomi

- Kagutsuchi

- A Mangekyō ability to control weapons (a filler ability he didn't recognize).

Abilities like 'Yasaka Magatama', 'Kotoamatsukami', and 'Susanoo' were still locked, indicating that he didn't yet have enough points to unlock them.

After analyzing his options, Ryker immediately ruled out certain choices.

- The weapon manipulation ability was dismissed outright; it didn't align with his needs.

- Amaterasu, while powerful, required locking onto a target visually. If an opponent moved faster than his eyes could track (like the Fourth Raikage in the original series), the ability would be useless.

Additionally, Amaterasu's uncontrollable flames could harm unintended targets unless paired with Kagutsuchi, making it inefficient for now.

- Tsukuyomi, though nearly unbeatable in one-on-one scenarios, posed uncertainties. Ryker wasn't sure how well it would perform against Nen users with stronger willpower.

In the recent challenge, for instance, Jackie Chan quickly regained clarity even after losing his arm.

Nen's strength tied to mental attributes like resolve meant Tsukuyomi might falter against more powerful opponents.

For Ryker, survival was paramount. Staying alive meant more opportunities to gather points and grow stronger. His ultimate goal was to one day punch Netero and kick Maha Zoldyck into submission.

His decision had been clear from the start: Kamui. While he initially hoped to redeem both eyes, the system's restrictions led him to prioritize the 'defensive Kamui' of Obito's right eye.

After redeeming Kamui, Ryker felt an overwhelming surge of power and instantly grasped the ability's intricacies. He could now use it instinctively, as though it had always been part of him.

Interestingly, when he activated the ability, the pattern of his Sharingan changed automatically, meaning future abilities would also alter his ocular design.

While this could be considered a drawback (alerting experienced opponents to his techniques), it was a small price to pay.

Eager to test his new powers, Ryker was itching to find a sparring partner. However, he remained unaware of the many predators already lurking outside his room, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Even Silva and Tsubone were aware of the situation.

Silva, however, showed no intention of intervening and instructed Tsubone to remain uninvolved. His focus was on monitoring Illumi's progress, while also observing Ryker's new ability in action.

Silva had watched the entire Tower Master Challenge, noting Ryker's performance afterward. Based on his observations, he was certain Ryker had unlocked a unique Nen ability tied to his eyes.

For now, Silva planned to let those outside test Ryker's capabilities, using them to gauge his new power.

After all, as the head of the Zoldyck family, Silva had no reason to worry. He had complete confidence in Ryker's survival.

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