**l Chapter 55: The Storm Begins**
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**The Train – A Battle in Motion**
The train roared across the open plains, its iron wheels grinding against the tracks as the howling wind whipped through the night. Chiro and Mori stood atop the moving train, their silhouettes stark against the moonlit sky. The cold breeze tugged at their clothes, but their focus remained locked on the two shadowy figures before them. Clad in sleek, jet-black ninja attire, their masked faces revealed nothing but cold, calculated intent.
Chiro took a step forward, her sharp gaze piercing through the darkness. "Who are you, and what do you want?" she demanded, her voice steady but laced with authority.
One of the ninjas tilted his head slightly, his voice eerily calm. "We are here for Mr. Saneji. If you stand in our way, you will die."
Mori cracked his knuckles, a sly grin spreading across his face. His animalistic instincts flared, his pupils sharpening like a predator's. "Well, unfortunately for you, protecting him is our job. And trust me, we're not the type to fail."
The ninjas didn't hesitate. In perfect synchronization, they muttered in unison: "Assassination Method: Steps of the Phantom."
Their bodies flickered, leaving behind a cascade of afterimages as they blitzed forward with inhuman speed. The air around them wavered from their sheer velocity, their silhouettes darting in and out like phantoms. But before they could close the distance, Mori's transformation triggered instantaneously. His body shifted, his movements becoming a blur of raw, predatory power.
**SWOOSH!**
In a blink, Mori vanished from sight. **BANG!** The impact sent one of the ninjas hurtling backward, his body flipping violently before crashing against the metal train roof. **CRACK!** The other ninja barely had time to react before Mori was upon him, a single strike sending him skidding across the train, unconscious before his body even hit the steel.
Chiro exhaled, adjusting her gloves as she watched the scene unfold. "Hmph. That was fast."
Below, inside the train, Portgas remained stationed near Mr. Saneji, his relaxed demeanor never wavering. He leaned against the window, watching the fight through the glass. "Looks like Mori is getting too strong for his own good," he muttered, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
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**Seoul's Outskirts – The Arrival of the Storm**
Far from the chaos of the moving train, atop a rugged mountain overlooking Seoul, Huey stood with Castle and Roshi by his side. The city lights glittered in the distance, a sprawling metropolis unaware of the storm brewing at its doorstep. Huey's expression was unreadable, his dark coat fluttering slightly in the soft wind.
"Shall we?" Huey said, his voice carrying a sense of amusement.
Castle nodded, stretching out his hand. **FWOOOSH!** A spiraling portal burst open before them, its rippling energy illuminating the three figures before they stepped inside.
**WHOOSH!**
In the blink of an eye, they reemerged at the outskirts of Seoul, shadows cast under the city lights. Immediately, Roshi crouched low, his hands slamming into the dirt. Six dolls materialized from thin air, lifeless at first but quickly vanishing into the ground, burrowing deep beneath the surface.
Huey nodded approvingly. "I'll take it from here. You two, blend into the city as usual," he commanded.
Castle and Roshi nodded, activating their Shen Suppression Techniques. Their powerful auras vanished into obscurity as they casually strode into the heart of Seoul, their presence now undetectable. Meanwhile, Huey turned his gaze toward the towering headquarters of the Korean Hunter Association. A small smirk danced across his lips.
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**Hunter Association Headquarters – Bartoni's Office**
Inside the spacious office, President Bartoni sat at his desk, reviewing a classified report. The cool night breeze seeped through the slightly open window, causing the papers on his desk to shift. He reached out to grab them, but at that moment, a shadow fell over his desk.
His instincts kicked in immediately.
He slowly lifted his head, his sharp eyes narrowing.
There, perched casually on the window ledge, his long black coat swaying in the wind, was Huey.
Bartoni's grip on the papers tightened. "I wasn't expecting you so soon," he said evenly.
Huey chuckled, his gaze unwavering. "Oh, but you knew I was coming. I just didn't want to keep you waiting."
With effortless grace, Huey stepped off the ledge and into the office, his boots making not a single sound against the polished floor. The tension in the room thickened instantly.
"You already know why I'm here," Huey continued, his voice smooth but laced with menace. "There are only two things I want. Where is the last hybrid? And where are the remains of Arcade's body?"
Bartoni leaned back in his chair, his expression betraying nothing. "And why does The Ten need them?"
Huey exhaled as if the question amused him. "Fine. Since this will be your last day alive, I'll tell you." His voice dropped into something more sinister. "By assembling all the hybrid beasts, we complete the Resurrection Plan of Arcade." He stepped closer, his eyes glowing slightly. "With them, we will birth a godlike power that will cleanse this world, leaving only the absolute to rule."
Bartoni remained motionless, but his fingers twitched slightly—a detail Huey noticed.
"You were once a bright hunter, Huey," Bartoni murmured, his voice laced with regret. "I trained you. I watched you grow. And yet, somewhere along the line, I failed you. That is my greatest shame."
Huey's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second.
"But," Bartoni continued, his voice now firm, "this mistake ends today."
From the hallway outside, Akebi approached the office door, hearing the conversation. Her brow furrowed as she stepped closer.
Huey's smile returned, but this time, it was almost mocking. He had already sensed her presence.
Without turning, another Huey manifested behind Akebi in an instant.
Before she could react, a hand was pressed against her forehead.
**BANG!**
Akebi's body was violently slammed into the wall, embedding her into it like a lifeless ragdoll. A deep, eerie silence filled the hallway.
Inside the office, Bartoni's eyes flickered with barely restrained fury.
Huey turned back to face him. "Now," he said smoothly, "are you going to answer my questions? Or do we have to make this messy?"
Bartoni slowly rose from his chair, rolling his shoulders. His gaze was now ice-cold, filled with a hunter's resolve.
"You should know by now, Huey," he said, his voice calm but lethal. "I won't go down without a fight."
A sudden shockwave filled the room as Bartoni muttered, "Encampment Order: 66 – Wall of Protection."
**BOOOOOOOOM!**
An invisible barrier erupted around them, enclosing them within a separate dimensional battlefield. The office vanished, replaced by a void of swirling energy. They were locked away—completely isolated from the city.
Huey sighed dramatically. "Ah… so we're really doing this? No interruptions, no distractions. Just the two of us?" His smirk returned. "How poetic."
Bartoni's fingers clenched into fists. "Today, Huey," he said, his voice carrying the weight of an absolute decision, "the world will see peace when I erase you from existence."
Huey tilted his head. "Peace?" He chuckled darkly. "No, old man. What I bring is evolution."
And then, a glowing cross appeared on his forehead.
The battle was about to begin.
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**End Chapter.**