At the farthest point within the Harimu Ruins, there stood a dark door, a gate so thick and ominous that it seemed forged from ink itself, surrounded by a dense aura of deathly thoughts. It blocked all passage, standing imposingly in its place.
If the deathly thoughts that permeated the surrounding air were like wisps of black mist, the door felt like a solid mass of ink, so dense it appeared to be frozen in time. It was as though the very essence of death had solidified into something tangible.
In front of the door, the eerie silence that had once pervaded the area had transformed into a lively, almost desperate atmosphere.
"Then... we're just leaving like this?" Young Master Pete, a man with parted hair and large sunglasses, asked, his voice tinged with frustration and uncertainty.
"Otherwise, what do you expect us to do? Are we supposed to just push through the death thoughts?" The leather-clad woman snapped back, clearly irritated, her eyes fixed on the imposing door before them, as if she could will it to open by sheer force of will.
"That... I know a little bit..." A voice suddenly interrupted.
Everyone turned, startled by the unexpected voice. The air, previously thick with oppressive death thoughts, now vibrated as if boiling, stirring with something else. And then, through the shifting atmosphere, a younger man walked out, smiling confidently.
It was Ronnie, and his Pokémon companion Gardevoir was right beside him, a visible barrier of energy around them that seemed to block the death thoughts from affecting them. Behind Ronnie, a human-shaped Nen Beast, exuding the regal aura of a noble lady, followed closely.
As Ronnie approached, the group of six couldn't help but stare at the pair. It wasn't just his calm demeanor or the barrier of energy that intrigued them—Ronnie seemed completely unaffected by the dense, deathly thoughts that had plagued them. The others had been struggling with their own mental fortitude to keep those thoughts at bay, but Ronnie was moving through it effortlessly, as if he were in a world of his own.
"Are you... a Nen killer?" The leather-clad woman asked, her voice filled with skepticism and awe, her eyes narrowing as she tried to assess Ronnie's true capabilities.
"I wouldn't go that far," Ronnie replied with a casual smile. "But I do have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep the death thoughts out of my head without being affected."
His words were met with a mix of surprise and relief. The group, who had been on the brink of exhaustion from fighting off the oppressive atmosphere, looked at Ronnie with renewed hope. It was as if a glimmer of light had appeared in their dark, death-laden world.
The group explained their situation to Ronnie, revealing that they had come from various parts of the outer city, each struggling to navigate the inner city's ruins, where the death thoughts were overwhelming. The six of them had joined forces to explore further, but they lacked the guidance of a Nen master, which had severely hindered their progress. They had relied on their own Nen, but it was nearly drained, leaving them vulnerable.
Ronnie listened carefully, his sharp mind analyzing the situation as he surveyed the door in front of them. As he did, he noticed the progress bar on his own abilities, now paused at 80%. Clearly, the true end of the inner city lay beyond this door, which was blocked by a level of death thoughts far stronger than anything they had encountered so far. If they couldn't bypass the door, they would never be able to finish their journey.
But Ronnie wasn't intimidated. His mind worked swiftly, and with a quiet determination, he summoned the power of his Pokémon—Gardevoir's psychic energy, which wrapped around him like a protective shield.
Gardevoir, the elegant psychic Pokémon, stood beside him, her graceful form emanating a serene aura. The ethereal shield surrounding them shimmered slightly, keeping the oppressive atmosphere at bay. The human-shaped Nen Beast trailing behind Ronnie was another manifestation of his power, standing as a symbol of strength and nobility.
Ronnie quickly assessed the group's abilities. Most of them were at C-level strength, with only Pete, the man with the middle-parted hair and sunglasses, reaching B-level, and the hip-hop man also being a B-level. Their combined strength was insufficient to make any significant progress against the door, especially given its deadly aura. But Ronnie wasn't concerned; Gardevoir's psychic abilities and his own cunning would more than make up for it.
He turned his attention to the group, observing their individual traits.
Pete, the one with the sunglasses, was an enigma. There was something off about him, his eyes hidden behind the large lenses, but Ronnie had a strong suspicion that the man was hiding something—either about his eyes or his true identity. The two bodyguards who accompanied him looked standard, with simple black suits and short haircuts that made them blend into the background. They were unremarkable, yet their presence suggested they had their own secrets.
Among the siblings, the eldest brother was the one with the glasses, wearing gold-rimmed spectacles and a sharp look in his eyes. He had a typical office worker appearance, but his sharp gaze gave away a deeper intelligence. The second sibling, the woman in leather, had a striking presence. She stood tall, with a regal, almost military-like aura. Her leather whip, composed entirely of Nen energy, was a clear indication of her prowess in using her powers.
The youngest sibling, the hip-hop man, was the most colorful of the bunch. His dark complexion and thick eyebrows stood out, and his red hip-hop attire only added to his distinctive appearance. But it was his hands—calloused and thick with knuckles hardened by years of labor—that intrigued Ronnie. This man was not just some ordinary fighter.
Ronnie gave them a quick, sharp assessment before turning back to the door. "If you want to proceed, you'll need more than just strength," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You'll need someone who understands the subtleties of Nen, someone who can shield you from the thoughts of death and guide you through the door."
Pete, ever the opportunist, immediately spoke up. "Brother, if you can help us bypass the death thoughts, I'll make sure to share 40% of all the treasures we find beyond the door. How does that sound?"
Ronnie's lips curled into a playful smile. There was something about Pete's offer that didn't sit right with him. The sincerity in Pete's voice felt forced, almost as if he had ulterior motives. But Ronnie wasn't concerned. These people were weak, and he had little to fear from them.
"Sure," Ronnie said, nodding with a smirk. "Let's go through."
With that, Ronnie stepped forward, Gardevoir's energy radiating out, creating a path through the oppressive death thoughts. The others hesitated for only a moment before following him, their faces a mix of awe and gratitude. They knew that with Ronnie's help, they had a chance of getting through this dangerous trial.
The door loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, but Ronnie was undeterred. This was just another challenge, another step on his journey. With his Pokémon by his side and his wits sharp as ever, he was ready to face whatever lay beyond.