"Divine word Hunter?" Rocky repeated, his tone skeptical.
What kind of Hunter was that? Was it someone who searched for divine words all over the world?
It didn't sound too bad, actually.
Rocky frowned slightly, seemingly intrigued by the idea. Ging, noticing Rocky's expression, smiled and said, "Some Hunters pursue power, wealth, and fame. But there are others who chase things beyond ordinary understanding."
He patted Rocky on the shoulder and continued, "No matter what you choose to hunt, you have the potential to become a top Hunter."
Without further discussing what it meant to be a Hunter, Rocky opened his palm, revealing the divine word floating above it.
"Don't just glance at it," Rocky said. "Take a good look. Have you memorized it?"
Ging blinked in surprise, caught off guard. "Memorize what? This divine word?"
He shook his head with a chuckle. "No, that's yours. I don't need to study divine words anymore. For me, the thrill comes from exploring ruins and witnessing the glory of ancient civilizations."
Rocky hadn't expected Ging to show so little interest in something as powerful as a divine word.
But Ging knew the purpose of the temple. For him, leaving the divine word behind wasn't a loss—it was freedom.
"You're leaving?" Ging suddenly asked, his tone casual yet knowing.
Rocky nodded. "Yeah. Now that I've figured this out, there's no reason for me to stay. I want to head to NGL and see my people."
"Go ahead." Ging nodded, then added, "But remember to keep practicing. Don't slack off. Once you set foot on the path of Nen, there's no stopping. If you don't move forward, you'll only fall behind."
Rocky bowed his head slightly, expressing his gratitude. Ging's teachings during their time together had been invaluable.
In particular, Ging's guidance on Nen control was exceptional—almost absurd in its precision.
With Ging's suggestions, Rocky had delved deeper into all five Nen categories: Conjuration, Enhancement, Transmutation, Emission, and Manipulation.
The progress he made over these months shocked even Rocky himself.
Not only had his Nen capacity increased significantly, but the strength of his abilities had multiplied.
In Ging's words, "Nen capacity isn't everything. The relationship between Nen strength and ability is multiplicative, not additive. Combat effectiveness depends on far more than just raw Nen reserves."
As Rocky prepared to leave, he glanced at Ging and said, "Goodbye, Ging."
"Goodbye," Ging replied with a nod.
Five phantom swords floated around Rocky, their outlines faint but visible. The moment the phantom swords appeared, Rocky turned into a stream of light and shot into the sky, disappearing from sight.
Ging stood still for a moment, watching the sky. Then, a thought struck him, and he chuckled to himself.
"Wait a second… when I first fought that kid, he only had four phantom swords."
He grinned. Clearly, Rocky had gained more than just knowledge of divine words during his time in the temple—he had further developed his abilities as well.
But Ging hadn't even noticed when Rocky managed to do so.
Suddenly, as if realizing something important, Ging cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the sky.
"Hey, kid! Don't forget to take the Hunter License exam! That thing will save you a ton of trouble!"
Whether or not Rocky heard him was anyone's guess. Ging shrugged and returned to the ruins, ready to continue his work.
Far above, flying through the air, Rocky sighed. He had heard Ging's words loud and clear.
"*A Hunter License?*"
"*I'll take the exam eventually… but I'm not even old enough right now!*"
Rocky's thoughts were tinged with frustration. The age requirement meant he had to wait a few more years before he could even attempt the exam.
"*They should really lower the minimum age for the exam,*" he thought to himself, shaking his head.
High in the sky, Rocky materialized his fifth phantom sword, marveling at the scepter in his hand.
This was Rocky's newest creation—**The Staff of the Holy King**, the most significant gain from his time in the temple.
Unlike his other phantom swords, this one wasn't primarily designed for combat. While it possessed a modest level of offensive capability, its true power lay elsewhere.
The Staff of the Holy King specialized in healing. It could release the **Light of the Holy King**, a restorative energy capable of mending injuries. Even during combat, Rocky could rapidly recover from wounds as long as he wielded this sword.
The scepter was intricately engraved with divine characters from the temple, arranged in patterns mimicking the temple's architecture. The peculiar engraving technique seemed to amplify the divine power contained within.
Unfortunately, this method couldn't easily be applied to other divine characters. The process required further study, and mastering it would likely take considerable time.
Rocky sighed as he put away the Staff of the Holy King. Pulling out a map, he studied the path ahead.
"NGL… it'll take about one or two days to get there," he muttered.
Exhaustion crept over him. The temple's trials had taken a toll, and he decided to rest in a nearby city before continuing his journey.
---
**The Next Day**
By noon, Rocky had arrived at the Republic of NGL. His aerial approach allowed him to bypass the borders unnoticed. To someone like Rocky, such boundaries were meaningless.
He hadn't asked Ging for details about his people's location. Rocky prided himself on his ability to find them on his own.
"If I can't locate them in a country as small as NGL," he thought, "Ging would probably laugh, and I'd feel humiliated."
Fortunately, Rocky didn't even need to rely on his abilities. He found the Kuruta people in a plain near the mountains, where a small river ran through.
Although they no longer wore traditional Kuruta clothing, Rocky recognized them immediately.
The small village housed the same 20-something members as before. Its modest size seemed ideal, with fertile land nearby for farming—enough to sustain the group.
Rocky's sudden appearance caused a stir.
"Rocky!"
"It's really Rocky!"
"He's alive!"
In moments, every member of the Kuruta tribe, whether busy or idle, gathered around him.
Rocky let out a relieved sigh. Seeing them safe and sound reassured him. The chieftain's sacrifice had not been in vain.
"Rocky, you're alive!" someone exclaimed.
Rocky smiled. "I'm fine. It's good to see all of you safe as well."
A young tribesman stepped forward eagerly. "Where's Piro? Isn't he with you?"
Rocky shook his head. "Piro is training somewhere else. He wants to become a warrior, so he won't be joining us for now. But I'll let him know I've found all of you."
Another elder spoke up, their tone cautious. "Rocky, now that you're back, should we leave this place?"
"Leave?" Rocky was taken aback. "Why would you ask that?"
The elder exchanged glances with others before replying, "The person who saved us before said we should abandon the traditions of the Kuruta tribe and live as ordinary people. That's why we came here."
They hesitated before continuing. "But now that you've returned, we feel hopeful again. Maybe we can revive the Kuruta tribe and live the way we used to."
Rocky listened intently, piecing together their concerns. It seemed they believed the Kuruta tribe's survival depended on returning to their isolated lifestyle, adhering strictly to their customs.
Rocky's expression softened as he addressed them.
"There's no need to change your lives so drastically. The true essence of the Kuruta tribe isn't in our traditions or isolation—it's in our people. As long as we're alive, the Kuruta tribe will always exist."
The gathered villagers fell silent, processing Rocky's words. Slowly, nods of agreement spread through the crowd.
Rocky smiled faintly, relieved. Their survival wasn't just physical—it was emotional and cultural. And now, they could thrive, even in this new setting.