"It's all true."
Beans sighed helplessly.
"The V5 higher-ups were at the scene. They've already released both video and photo evidence."
"Chairman Netero didn't hold back—he even used the Hyakushiki Kannon."
"The mountain where they fought? It was split in two. Clean down the middle."
The Twelve Zodiac Members stared at Beans in stunned disbelief.
"You're welcome to verify it yourselves," Beans added.
Immediately—
The Zodiacs pulled out their phones.
Texting…Accessing secure chat rooms…Diving into the dark web…Making encrypted calls…
Using all kinds of channels, they confirmed the shocking truth.
And then—
Silence.
Each of them sat frozen in place, jaws slack, unable to process the bombshell.
"How long has Aoki Hiroshi even had Nen…?"
"Is he even human?"
"Why the hell am I still training!?"
"No wonder Pariston got injured and ran! Wait—he actually escaped?!"
"Terrifying. These new generations are terrifying!"
Zoldyck Family Residence
Ring ring…
"Isaac Netero?"
The world's top assassin, Zeno Zoldyck, glanced at the caller ID, frowning.
He disliked Netero.
Their personalities and philosophies clashed badly. But he couldn't do anything about the old man.
"Tch."
He grunted but picked up. He knew Netero wouldn't call unless it was important.
Click—
Netero's cheerful voice rang out:
"Good afternoon, Zeno!"
"Just calling to let you know—I had a match with Aoki Hiroshi today. Used Hyakushiki Kannon and still couldn't win."
"He's a rookie, sure, but he's already reached four-system fusion. He's fighting at my level now!"
Zeno's face twisted in disbelief.
He looked at the caller ID again to make sure he wasn't being pranked.
"A rookie? Four-system? Your level?" Zeno chuckled coldly."Did you hit your head, Netero?"
"No no no. This news will spread soon. Do some digging—you'll see."
Still frowning, Zeno stepped out of the house and into the family's main hall.
Inside—
His son Silva stared at a report, eyes wide in shock—his normally stone-faced expression completely cracked.
"Father…"
Silva looked up, dazed, and handed the intel to Zeno.
Zeno skimmed it and saw the name "Aoki Hiroshi".
His eyes narrowed sharply.
"...So it's true."
He returned the file and stepped into the garden, resuming the call.
"So what, Netero? Is this a warning?"
"Relax. The Zoldyck family may kill anyone—but we don't accept just any contract."
But Netero simply laughed.
"You misunderstood. I'm just sharing good news."
"Well, you've done that. Anything else?"
"Absolutely!"
Netero's voice grew more relaxed, almost euphoric.
"I've broken through the realm beyond the Perfect Domain—pass this on to your father and grandfather, would you?"
"What?!"
Zeno couldn't hold his composure.
Netero was already considered the world's strongest because he had created the Perfect Domain.
Everyone else—even geniuses—had only reached four-fusion. Including Zeno.
Even his father and grandfather had only followed in Netero's footsteps and entered that realm with considerable effort.
That level took a lifetime of effort.
"You… you're 120 years old and you've gone even further?" Zeno whispered in shock.
Everyone assumed Netero's peak ended at the Perfect Domain.
They were all waiting for the next genius to open a new door for humanity.
No one expected Netero himself to return from the brink of death and push the frontier again.
"Go tell them. This is what I've realized:'Embodied Form Without, Divine Essence Within.'"
Zeno's eyes lit up with insight as he repeated the phrase:
"Embodied Form Without… Divine Essence Within…"
He too had caught a glimpse of a new path.
"Let them know. If they take that step, maybe I'll get to explore the Dark Continent again with old friends," Netero added before hanging up.
Zeno's expression turned solemn.
He turned and ran deep into Kukuroo Mountain, where his retired father and grandfather lived in seclusion.
NGL Autonomous Nation
Aoki Hiroshi lay back, enjoying a massage from Miss Cookie, letting his fatigue melt away.
He fully supported Netero sharing the breakthrough with his old comrades.
Think about it:
What happens when a bunch of elites—stuck at B-rank—suddenly break through to A-rank?
How much would that shift the narrative?
How much fate could he harvest?
'A-rank aligns with Fourth Stage—where life undergoes a fundamental transformation.'
'Even without extraordinary powers, a Fourth Stage Gene Lock user can genetically extend their lifespan.'
'And with superpowers? It's another story altogether.'
Aoki reflected.
In some low-tier worlds, reaching A-rank would already grant you the status of a deity.
Of course, true divinity required progressing beyond Fourth Stage—where one ignites a "divine spark."
Embodied Form Without…Divine Essence Within…
'By fusing five Nen systems into a new external form, then shedding the old body—you become a being of pure energy.'
'Or, by internalizing and refining all five systems—you become an energy-based lifeform from within.'
Two roads.Different means, same destination.
But how many ancient monsters out there might break through… because of this?
Aoki smiled curiously—
Then closed his eyes and sank into a peaceful 30-minute high-quality nap.