Chapter 119 119 Jewel Lotus Root
Annoyed?
No!
That's what fools do.
Seeing Zane withdraw his gaze and continue forward, Eli decisively turned and left.
He wasn't returning to his tent; he was heading straight for the coast.
He was going home.
"You've got to be kidding me. With a monster like that around, there's no way I'm getting that Jewel Lotus Root. I'd just be throwing my life away."
Once he was far from the lake, the tension left Eli's body like air escaping a balloon. Wiping away cold sweat, he looked back toward the water.
With a low sigh of relief, he sped up his departure.
The sudden thunder and the deaths of several people...
...had certainly drawn everyone's attention.
But it only resulted in wariness and caution.
Since Zane returned to his tent and made no further moves, no fool was brave enough to go looking for trouble.
Then again, fools wouldn't have made it this far in the first place.
"Just how many Nen abilities have you stolen? First, a spatial ability for storage, and now one that discharges lightning."
Moving behind Zane, Menchi leaned affectionately against his shoulder, but she was actually whispering into his ear.
"Just a tiny bit!" The warmth of her breath tickled his ear, prompting Zane to turn and peck her on her red lips before humbly making a 'tiny' gesture with his fingers.
Menchi licked her lips. Although she wanted more, she didn't forget the task at hand.
"Nen abilities aren't a 'the more, the merrier' kind of thing. Your fundamentals are the backbone of your strength. Don't get so greedy for abilities that you neglect your foundation."
Unaware of the details, Menchi assumed all the powers Zane displayed were Nen abilities.
As a teacher—even if their relationship had evolved—she still felt the need to offer a reminder.
"Don't worry, I'll keep that in mind," Zane nodded slightly.
The restrictions of the Imprint Entries weren't necessarily a bad thing.
At the very least, they helped curb greed.
If there truly were no limits, Zane couldn't guarantee he'd be able to control himself. He might have ended up plundering abilities recklessly, becoming someone who relied solely on Nen abilities to fight.
Fighting with Nen was fine, but fighting only with Nen was clearly the wrong path.
Just as Menchi said, more isn't always better. Fundamentals are the pillar of strength.
Looking at the top powerhouses across both worlds, none of them reached the peak by relying purely on their abilities; they all had incredibly solid foundations.
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Three days passed quickly.
Following the assassination attempt and Zane's display of power...
The next three days were much more peaceful.
Aside from magical beast attacks, there were only minor skirmishes between the competitors.
And after three days of waiting...
The lotus blossoms in the center of the azure lake grew more and more vibrant.
"It's almost time. The flower of the Jewel Lotus Root isn't like a normal lotus. It wilts in an instant, so we have to stay alert."
Zane and Menchi stepped out of their tent and stood side by side by the lake, watching the lotus flowers in the center.
They weren't the only ones; the other competitors were doing the same.
Everyone had claimed a spot, watching like hawks, ready to strike.
As for why they stood on the shore instead of waiting right next to the flowers in the lake...
It was because of the danger.
As the lotus blossoms reached their peak, a massive number of magical beasts had gathered in the surrounding forest and the skies above.
These beasts didn't attack the humans or each other; every single one of them was fixated on the flowers in the lake.
It was clear they intended to join the fray for the Jewel Lotus Root.
In fact, that was exactly the case.
The Jewel Lotus Root was never meant for humans alone.
It was the treasure of every magical beast on Jewel Island.
Humans were merely invaders coming to plunder it.
Consequently, as the lotus entered its final stage of ripening, anyone who dared enter the lake would be immediately swarmed by all the magical beasts.
To claim the Jewel Lotus Root meant having to seize it while under siege from the beasts.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Muffled thudding sounds approached from the distance.
The beasts in one direction suddenly grew restless.
A troop of apes, each five to six meters tall with exceptionally powerful builds and eight thick arms, came leaping toward them.
Every one of them radiated an intimidating, savage aura.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Trees snapped and boulders crumbled wherever they passed.
"The Eight-Armed King Kongs. Those guys really know how to time their entrance." The commotion drew everyone's attention.
Menchi frowned as she watched the Eight-Armed King Kongs approach.
Zane also glanced over at the island's overlords.
A quick scan revealed dozens of them, with their leader standing nearly ten meters tall.
As they charged toward the lake, the other magical beasts scrambled out of their way in fear, allowing the troop to reach the shore with overwhelming momentum.
"They certainly have some power."
Zane nodded slightly.
Through his Observation Haki, he could sense that these Eight-Armed King Kongs were significantly stronger than the other beasts.
The leader, in particular, had a powerful presence that actually surpassed Hisoka's.
While the intensity of an aura didn't perfectly equate to combat strength...
It was enough to indicate the creature's high baseline.
Just like the other beasts...
The Eight-Armed King Kongs didn't go on a rampage immediately; they simply stood by the shore, watching the lotus flowers.
However, Menchi and the other competitors still reacted as if facing a mortal enemy.
This wasn't just because of the pressure they exerted, but because their arrival signaled that the Jewel Lotus Root's maturation had reached its final moment.
Sure enough.
Moments after they arrived, the blooming lotus flowers in the center of the lake suddenly withered and died in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, a refreshing fragrance rose from beneath the lotus leaves through the water, wafting across the entire shore.
Roar!
The unspoken truce between man and beast shattered.
The quiet lakeshore was suddenly filled with deafening roars.
The moment the flowers wilted, all the magical beasts fell into a frenzy and charged recklessly into the lake.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Figures darted into the azure water at high speeds.
It wasn't just the beasts.
The competitors had also scrambled forward, racing toward the center of the lake.
In a flash...
Just as the beasts and humans entered the water, two blurs reached the center at a much higher speed.
A Space Door appeared beneath their feet; while closed, it served as a solid platform.
The first to arrive were Zane and Menchi, whom he held firmly by the waist.
Whoosh!
Without a moment's hesitation.
The instant they stopped, Menchi leaned down and reached beneath the lotus leaves.
The water was shallow. When Menchi pulled her hands back, she held a translucent lotus root that shimmered like a precious jade gem.
Regardless of the lake water or the silt...
The lotus root emerged without a single speck of dirt on it.
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