Hunter X Hunter: Tombbound Power

Shizuku only saved Ronnel because of the clothes on his back, and it was simply safer and easier to strip them off him, nothing more. When she saw Ronnel's bare body, she wasn't impressed and casually found an old set of clothes, dressing him with no further thought.

After that, Ronnel, recognizing Shizuku, stayed by her side, unwilling to leave. He understood that, with his weak abilities, surviving alone in the harsh streets of Meteor City was impossible.

Thus, Ronnel stayed at Shizuku's place under the pretense of repaying his debt for her saving his life. As for Shizuku's reaction? Well~ with her simple-mindedness, her forgetful nature—almost like a goldfish—and Ronnel's meager strength at the time, she didn't offer much resistance.

So, Ronnel remained there.

Shizuku, who had already opened her Aura Nodes, became the perfect teacher for a strength-hungry Ronnel.

Shizuku's nature was straightforward. Under Ronnel's relentless pleas, she eventually helped him open his own Aura Nodes.

Ronnel then awakened his Nen, along with the strange ability that acted like a golden cheat. And thus, his path to power began, leading to everything that came after.

As Ronnel grew stronger, increasing his Nen abilities through contact with corpses, he eventually took on more responsibilities around the household. Without Shizuku, Ronnel wouldn't be who he is today, and for that, he was eternally grateful.

After a brief moment of bonding, Ronnel set to work preparing dinner for the evening.

Though Ronnel wasn't a professional chef in his previous life, he was an orphan who had to fend for himself. Cooking came naturally with practice. And in comparison, he was far better in the kitchen than Shizuku, who could barely manage a bowl of porridge.

"Does it taste good?"

Ronnel couldn't help but ask as he watched Shizuku quietly slurping her bowl of noodles, a soft smile on his face.

Shizuku ate with a quiet elegance, much different from the average Meteor City resident. The way she held herself was almost delicate, and Ronnel couldn't help but find her beautiful in that moment.

"Mm."

Shizuku looked up briefly, her large eyes sparkling before she returned to her noodles, head lowered again. The room fell silent, with only the sound of their synchronized slurping filling the air.

Over the past few months, their bond had deepened, and now, even a simple meal together felt warm and comforting.

When dinner was done, silence fell over the room once more.

Ronnel and Shizuku both closed their eyes, slowly enveloping themselves in an aura as they focused on their Nen training. In the unforgiving streets of Meteor City, strength was everything. The stronger you were, the better your chances of survival.

The night passed in peaceful practice, and as the first light of dawn broke, both Ronnel and Shizuku opened their eyes at the same time.

"It's beautiful."

No matter the life—whether it was his past life or this one—Ronnel always found peace in watching the sunrise and the evening sunset.

"Yeah, it really is."

Shizuku's face remained calm, as always, but there was a faint sense of understanding in her voice.

As the sunlight grew stronger, so too did the light in Ronnel's eyes. He turned toward Shizuku.

"Shizuku."

"What's up?"

"Let's leave Meteor City. I want to see the outside world."

"Hmm?"

For the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed Shizuku's usually serene face. She looked at Ronnel, who offered her a warm, reassuring smile.

"Meteor City is still dangerous. I want to explore what's beyond it, see the world outside."

Ronnel's voice was filled with conviction. This was no idle dream—this was something he truly desired. Having been reborn in the world of Hunter x Hunter, how could he be content to remain in the grim alleys of Meteor City, cleaning up corpses? The spirit of adventure burned too brightly in him to stay put.

"Really? But things are good here, aren't they? And with your Nen ability to gain strength from corpses, there are plenty of opportunities here. Why leave such a perfect place to get stronger?"

Shizuku blinked her wide eyes, her expression as calm as ever, though she spoke more than usual this time.

"Besides, I don't think Meteor City is dangerous~"

Ronnel chuckled helplessly. Only someone as innocent and oblivious as Shizuku could make such a claim. But with her strength, she was more than qualified to say so.

After all, in the original story, Shizuku, Feitan, Machi, Nobunaga, and Shalnark had once pursued Uvogin, who had been captured by Kurapika, and were ambushed by the surviving members of the Shadow Beasts. Among those Beasts, except for their leader Owl, who was captured alive, two were killed by Shizuku alone.

Two...

Even though the exact power of the Shadow Beasts compared to the Phantom Troupe was debatable, their strength was not to be underestimated. Just look at the fight between Uvogin and Rabid Dog.

And for Shizuku to take out two of them herself? It spoke volumes about her abilities.

In the unforgiving streets of Meteor City, Shizuku was easily one of the top fighters.

It was no wonder that when Ronnel first appeared in the junkyard, many people had their eyes on his clothes, but it was Shizuku who claimed him. That alone demonstrated her strength.

"You're right, this place has helped me grow. But now, I feel like I've hit a wall here."

Ronnel gently stroked Shizuku's hair as he spoke, his gaze filled with determination.