[Hunter x Hunter World, 1975]
In the Padokea Republic, Dentora Region, on the sprawling estate of Kukuroo Mountain, a man and a woman sat across from each other in a lavish room.
The man had long silver hair cascading past his shoulders, and his chiseled physique radiated strength, forged through countless battles. This was Silva Zoldyck, the head of the world's most infamous family of assassins.
"My dear, it should be any day now. I can't believe our first children are twins! Do you think one of them will have silver hair? Or maybe both?" Silva's voice carried an unusual note of excitement.
"Have you decided on their names yet?"
"Yes, the elder one will be called Ryker, and the younger one, Illumi."
Meanwhile, within Kikyo Zoldyck's womb, one of the unborn twins stirred.
.......
"Where am I? Why can't I open my eyes? Why does everything feel like water?"
Ryker's consciousness flickered to life. He struggled to recall his situation.
"I was at home, enjoying hotpot, sipping beer, listening to a One Piece analysis. I was about to reply to a post with an old meme... and then everything went black. And now this? Someone, anyone—help! I can't swim!"
Kikyo gasped. "Darling, I can feel one of them kicking! They must be eager to meet us. Oh, I can't wait to see their little faces!"
.......
A mechanical voice echoed within Ryker's mind.
[Ding! System loading complete. Binding to host]
"What the—? A system? Does this mean… I've transmigrated? Alright, let's see what this thing can do!"
[This is the Afterlife Bliss System. I provide assistance tailored to the host's unique circumstances]
[Initial functions include host diagnostics and self-development support. Beginner packages will now be distributed]
Ding! Beginner Package 1: [All-Seeing Hands] (from 'The Outcast').
Ding! Beginner Package 2: [Sharingan] (Upgradeable).
Ding! Beginner Package 3: Available under specific conditions. Explore to unlock.
[For further details, consult the system guide. Audio assistance ends here]
"What kind of half-baked system is this? No customization, no interactions—just cryptic instructions. Whatever, let's check out the abilities. Hmm... Twin Hands and Sharingan, huh? Not bad. Alright, let's—"
Fatigue overtook him before he could finish.
......
Two and a half days later – The Delivery Room~
Zeno Zoldyck, Silva, and a handful of attendants waited outside. Nearby, an elderly servant sat hunched in a corner, engrossed in an old animated show.
Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he turned sharply, sensing something unusual.
"A prodigy? No… it's too soon to tell. But why do I feel this ominous premonition?"
He bolted upright. "Silva, something's wrong. A new aura has appeared, and it's not Kikyo's or anyone else's. Could it be...?"
Inside the delivery room, one of the newborns opened his eyes. What emerged was not the soft gaze of a typical baby but blood-red orbs adorned with three tomoe spinning faintly within them.
"Where am I? Is that… my mother? Did I really reincarnate into this world?"
Ryker's gaze shifted, and he caught sight of Silva and Zeno entering the room. Just one look was enough to clarify his situation.
'So it's confirmed—I'm in the world of Hunter x Hunter. And this... this is the Zoldyck family. Am I the reason for the change in their history? Or did my arrival simply result in an extra child?'
He glanced at the other newborn nearby, whose dark hair and calm demeanor suggested a budding prodigy in his own right.
'If that's Illumi, where's my older sibling? Wait… there's no one else waiting for me outside. That means I'm not the second brother. I guess I'm the eldest now.'
Before Ryker could process further, an intense sensation spread through his body—a flood of energy rushing uncontrolled.
"Silva, what should we do? He's releasing aura uncontrollably. If he doesn't learn 'Ten' soon, he won't survive."
"It's impossible to teach a newborn Ten! Unless..."
Everyone stared in awe as Ryker's aura calmed, seamlessly enveloping his body in a protective flow.
"Unbelievable..."
Silva exhaled. "He managed to enter 'Ten' instinctively. Looks like we have our first prodigy."
Kikyo, holding one of the twins in her arms, beamed with pride. "Two healthy boys. And one of them's already extraordinary! Though… no silver hair. Darling, it seems we'll have to keep trying!"
Zeno chuckled. "The older one's Ryker, and the younger one's Illumi, right? Good names. Once they turn three, let's begin their training. For Ryker, we'll need a special regimen."
"Yes, Father," Silva replied.
Kikyo turned to Silva, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Darling, look at Ryker's eyes. They're blood-red, but they're not like the Kurta Clan's Scarlet Eyes. Those markings… they're something else entirely."
"I noticed. And I suspect they're connected to his natural aura release. I'll investigate further, but I need to consult the family archives first."
"No need," Zeno interjected. "I've already checked. He's not a product of the Dark Continent, nor is there any link to Jed or the Shadow Beasts. Still, we'll need to monitor him closely. For now, all that matters is that he's Zoldyck blood. The rest will sort itself out."
Meanwhile, Ryker, exhausted from the ordeal, had already fallen asleep, blissfully unaware of the conversation around him.
For now, he reveled in his excitement.
'The Zoldycks might be harsh, but they're a great shield while I grow stronger. And with the system, I'll surpass them all in no time!'
Little did he know, the reality of Zoldyck training would challenge even his highest expectations. But that reckoning would come later—when he turned two and a half.