After parting ways with Buscuit and her apprentice, Oboro continued to lead the team on their mission. During this time, he completed another three-star mission and submitted his application to become a three-star hunter. The mission wasn't officially commissioned by the Association, but it was something he had wanted to do for a long time.
Using his knowledge of classical Chinese, Oboro successfully translated and interpreted ancient texts written on stone tablets unearthed at an archaeological site. These inscriptions had remained undeciphered since their discovery, despite their historical significance. When news of the breakthrough reached television networks, scholars of ancient Chinese literature unanimously hailed it as a historic achievement for humanity and recognized its worldwide significance. The Association promptly awarded it three-star status.
As Oboro had expected, while the Association unanimously approved his application for three-star status, he was still waiting for V5's approval. The wait could be considerable.
During this extended period, Oboro finally completed the transformation of his Nen ability through "Hero Island," taking it completely offline and eliminating any potential vulnerabilities. The Fells family had been expanding the game world, creating new artificial islands and adding servers to meet the growing demand. Hero Island had become one of their main sources of revenue, and was steadily gaining recognition throughout the hunter world.
If Sky Arena was considered a paradise for martial artists, Hero Island had become the ultimate battleground for Psychic users. Its emphasis on teamwork and competition, combined with the level playing field it provided for all participants, made it incredibly engaging and addictive. The game attracted an unprecedented number of new players, including many from the Hunter Association. Even after the management team switched the training island to combat mode, the server remained at full capacity.
The contract harvesting system had become exponentially more effective. The game's stability and bug-fixing capabilities now matched the expertise of its original creator, Oboro. To outside observers, no "backdoor" could be detected. Barring catastrophic destruction, such as a nuclear strike, the game would remain operational indefinitely. However, Oboro was no longer concerned with such matters.
Some time later, an exhausted Oboro, formally dressed in a suit and tie, returned to the Association's headquarters. A week earlier, he'd finally received word that V5 had approved his application to become a Three-Star Hunter, and his information had been officially submitted. This visit was for the Association's award ceremony, a simple internal notification where Chairman Netero would personally present the award.
Since Xiyou's death, neither Pariston nor Ging Freecss had made any unusual moves against him. The cost of confronting Oboro had become too high, and both were likely preoccupied with the emerging Chimera Ant threat. Of the Twelve Zodiacs, only three came to congratulate him: Pariston, whom Oboro despised most, and Geru and Cheadle Yorkshire. Though Yorkshire remained suspicious of Oboro, her hostility had lessened since he'd declined the position of monkey and kept a low profile over the past year.
The Association counted fewer than ten three-star hunters in its ranks. Even Morel of the younger generation held only two stars, and most of the Zodiac members remained at two-star status, except for the Dragon and the Rat.
Oboro checked his status board:
Host: Oboro
Age: 26
Profession: Three-star Ancient Text Hunter
Combat power level: Martial Arts Master, World Class Hunter (8th rank)
Comprehensive Attribute Rating: Third-order superhuman
Throughout the year, Oboro had maintained his rigorous training regimen. His Nen abilities, spell power, critical strike rate, armor, life steal, and attack range had all increased dramatically. Outside of his missions, he continued to hunt monsters, though his rate of improvement had begun to plateau. While the effects of Soul and Black Fog remained unlimited like experience points, higher levels required exponentially more effort. To achieve another qualitative transformation, he would need to harvest more powerful life forms.
His martial arts mastery had reached the point where he could learn new techniques within days, treating combat skills as mere warm-ups. He no longer needed to consciously perform specific techniques; they flowed naturally from his movements. His progression from second to third level came through the combined effects of acupuncture and drug enhancement.
However, Oboro realized that he had reached the physical limits of his human body. His flesh and blood potential was exhausted, every last function optimized by the system. Half a month ago, he'd discovered that neither acupuncture nor medicine could enhance his abilities any further. The panel confirmed that his martial arts rating had peaked, and his human attributes could no longer be actively improved. No amount of training would change that; those were the limitations of his human form.
Unless he transformed into another species, such as a Chimera Ant, he could not progress any further. Allowing himself to be consumed and regenerated by the ants would give him a longer lifespan and enhanced abilities. Since the Chimera Ants were creatures of the Dark Continent, perhaps after a decade of development in this form, he would be better prepared to venture there. But Oboro rejected this idea; despite its feasibility, he lacked the patience for such a lengthy process. Moreover, he was unsure if his system would survive death and regeneration.
Fortunately, while active improvement had ceased, the passive nature of his Nen ability allowed his mental strength and physical defenses to continue to improve. His growth would continue, albeit at a slower pace. Critical hits, life steal, and attack range remained tied to his abilities, but the system panel offered no new paths to power, only a mysterious reference to the Dark Continent.
Only there, it seemed, could all possibilities be realized.
"Eighth place. That refers to raw power, not overall strength," Oboro mused. "Seven others surpass me: Netero, Zeno, Ging Freecss, Linne Horsdoeuvre, Maha, Beyond, and one more." The revelation surprised him: Don Freecss wasn't one of them. Oboro had realized that the system only covered the human realm of his memories, leaving the Dark Continent and Don Freecss as unknowns. This meant that another individual possessed mental strength beyond his own.
Most of those above him had ventured into the Dark Continent and survived its trials. Such a feat required extraordinary mental strength. "My current physical condition surpasses the old man's current condition, but still falls short of his prime," Oboro thought. "The young Netero and the adult Gon have probably reached the fourth level.
His attack range now reached almost seven meters. His critical strike rate remained maximized at 100%, with improvements in life stealing from the original 20% to 35%. Each successful attack now restored one-third of the damage dealt, providing a remarkable amount of sustained damage. Greater damage dealt meant proportionally greater recovery.
Still, Oboro remained uncertain about defeating Netero. While he might surpass the Chairman in most respects, their nen abilities were nearly equal. The mind held infinite possibilities, and Netero's Hundred-Type Guanyin had reached its peak. Of Oboro's three Nen abilities, two focused on enhancement rather than offense, while the third time travel was primarily defensive. Though she could inflict damage, her power was nowhere near that of the Hundred-Type Guanyin.
However, Oboro had long anticipated this situation and developed a solution, the same one Xiyou had glimpsed before his death. He would build on his existing Nen abilities. Among them, only Hell's Curse, Thresh's technique, held potential for development. The other two, given their principles and effects, offered no room for growth.
"What do you want to do next?" Netero asked with a smile, breaking the silence as the others watched.
"I feel aimless," Oboro sighed and closed his status panel. He recognized the underlying meaning in the chairman's words. Within the Association, Oboro had no more room for growth. Someone like him, after losing his driving goal, would inevitably seek new horizons. They had agreed that Netero would prevent Oboro from pursuing the Dark Continent, but now that everything else had been accomplished, they faced the inevitable confrontation.
Netero sensed that the young man before him had become so powerful that even he had to take him seriously. Perhaps few in the world could match Oboro's abilities. He alone was a proven threat to the Chairman's authority. If Oboro announced his plans to leave for the Dark Continent tomorrow, Netero wouldn't be surprised. Such a declaration would mean war between them, a true duel.
"I've been running all day, exhausted. Why not rest and enjoy the view?" Netero suggested lightly, stroking his beard while maintaining eye contact.
The statement elicited subtle reactions from the onlookers.
"All right," Oboro smiled.
Both Pariston and Cheadle realized the deeper implications of the chairman's words. Though seemingly casual advice, it carried the weight of a plea, something unprecedented from the usually stern and unyielding Netero. Neither Pariston nor Cheadle had ever seen this side of him.
Had Oboro truly become someone who could threaten the Chairman?
After Netero smiled again, Oboro excused himself and left. He understood that for someone like Netero, pressure only fueled excitement and challenged desire. Oboro hadn't forced the chairman's hand, the pressure came from V5, humanity and the Dark Continent itself, not from him.
Oboro was fundamentally different from the Zodiacs. His ambitions were directed at the Dark Continent, while someone like Pariston was only a welcome challenge to Netero. The Zodiacs, despite their strength, remained obedient to taboos while others were present.
As people aged and gained experience, their approaches evolved. A younger Netero might have sought to dominate Oboro through combat, perhaps even killing him if necessary. Now, knowing that he couldn't completely suppress Oboro and uncertain of victory in a deadly fight, the chairman resorted to gentle persuasion.
Oboro maintained his respect for both their history and their agreement. He recognized that Netero's mentorship and the privileges granted were calculated investments for this very moment, emotional leverage to be used when needed. But Oboro remained patient, knowing that the plot had only begun to unfold.