The Strongest Assassin of the Zoldyck Family!

Chapter 902 - 898

Ron signaled for Teresa to carry the Origin into Sumas's internal space. Once she disappeared through the gate, Ron willed it shut. A moment later, the Bumblebee appeared.

The instant it did, Ron felt the Origin exerting a powerful pull on it—like food drawing a starving person. Without hesitation, Ron gave Teresa a direct command.

She released the Origin from her grasp. It tried to flee immediately, but the Bumblebee swiftly intercepted it.

Crunch.

A hollow cavity opened in the Bumblebee's chest. It grabbed the struggling Origin and forcefully pressed it into the opening. The Origin thrashed violently, but it was useless. Bumblebee shoved it deep into its chest.

At once, its aura began to shift—similar to the effect seen when a Nen user activates Ren. Thin trails of vapor rose from the top of its head like steam. After two minutes, the transformation settled. Though the Bumblebee's aura had only grown slightly stronger, Ron could feel that its condition now resembled the merged state he had seen before in the fusion between Lampent and Rosgell.

He narrowed his eyes. If the process worked once, perhaps it could work again. "If that's the case, maybe Bumblebee can absorb more Origins. If it keeps going… it might actually reach S-rank."

The decision was made. Ron wouldn't tell Amelia about this. He could sense that she didn't want the Origins to be harmed—even those belonging to the attackers.

It was understandable. Amelia and the invaders were the same type of being. The Origins they carried were of the same essence. If the invader's Origin was damaged, then Amelia's own might be at risk too.

"Amelia, open the gate for a moment. I'll have my Nen beast return the Origin."

"All right."

She opened the entrance.

Teresa stepped out again, this time holding a sealed box. Amelia didn't question it.

Teresa walked out into the sea, set the box down, and disappeared as Ron gave the order mentally.

Amelia moved forward without hesitation. The box slowly sank.

Suddenly—

Click.

The box opened with a snap. A gap appeared, and two figures emerged.

One was the Bumblebee. The other was Specter.

Not far from them, a different kind of presence stirred beneath the surface—entities of the same origin as the gatekeepers, yet fundamentally opposed to them. Based on Amelia's accounts, Ron had given them a name: Deep Dwellers. They lived in the darkest reaches of the ocean, their bodies taking shapes reminiscent of the abyssal lifeforms that lurked there.

Ron didn't fully understand the power levels of the Deep Dwellers, but it was clear some were far stronger than the one that had attacked Amelia. Faced with such enemies, even Wither might not win if overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

It was safer to let Specter handle this task.

Besides, Specter wasn't fully a Nen beast anymore. Its structure still contained remains from Rosgell's body. That meant its actions consumed far less of Ron's aura compared to other beasts like Glutton. That distinction was important.

Ron hoped Bumblebee would complete its evolution soon and reach S-rank.

Bumblebee had now taken on a mechanical form, standing upright like a humanoid robot. Specter stood beside it in silence. Bumblebee tapped its own chest lightly.

A faint pulse of Origin aura flowed out from within and spread through the surrounding sea.

Bumblebee had become bait.

The aura would inevitably attract more Deep Dwellers. When they came, Specter would strike.

A single A-class Deep Dweller could be eliminated in one move. Bumblebee didn't need to fight—only absorb.

That was Ron's plan.

Amelia seemed to sense something but didn't say a word. At this point, she had no grounds to object. Ron's power was far beyond hers, and whatever he intended wouldn't endanger the gatekeepers—only the Deep Dwellers.

She wasn't about to risk death by opposing him over that. Still, she no longer wanted to spend any more time with Ron. She pushed forward, accelerating even more.

Ron noticed the shift in her pace but said nothing.

They had reached an unspoken understanding.

"They're coming," Bumblebee said.

The Deep Dwellers could sense the Origin's aura. But Bumblebee could sense theirs as well.

Specter suppressed its own presence.

A large fish approached silently through the complex coral terrain. As it drew closer, its body shifted—it shrank and took on a humanoid form.

It stared at Bumblebee, stunned.

"What are you?"

"Why do you carry the scent of Origin?"

"Are you a gatekeeper?"

"What have you done?"

It grew wary, its aura bristling with aggression. It prepared to strike.

Bumblebee didn't answer.

Specter appeared behind the Deep Dweller in an instant. A wave of fear slammed into the creature. Even though its lifeform was different, Specter's fear-inducing ability still worked.

The Deep Dweller froze.

Crunch.

Specter tore it apart.

Scattered components clattered into the water. A cluster of Origin remained, which Specter retrieved without hesitation.

Bumblebee stepped forward, opened its chest, and received the mass of Origin. It sealed it inside.

Two minutes passed.

Bumblebee had fully digested the new Origin. Its aura strengthened again.

While Bumblebee was digesting, another Deep Dweller was fast approaching.

..............

......

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Elsewhere, Kakin's forces had reached their designated gatekeepers, each of which had assumed different transport forms.

Some had transformed into cruise ships. Others resembled submarines or small boats. Each was unique.

Hisoka lounged aboard a sailboat, leaning against the mast and watching the waves. His eyes flickered faintly.

Not far from him were the Phantom Troupe members.

They had been split apart—none of the gatekeepers had agreed to carry them all at once. This wasn't a matter of space. It was a matter of will.

Just like Amelia, whose inner space could easily hold dozens, but who had only agreed to carry four.

"Maybe somewhere along this journey," Hisoka murmured to himself, "I'll find the opportunity I've been waiting for."