⚰️ The Second Fall
Eighth Prince Sale-Sale was a glutton of influence and greed, protected by a Nen Beast shaped like a massive centipede coiled in gold chains. A parasite king in his own right—until his arrogance caught up with him.
It began subtly.
His aura started to weaken, his words lost their authority even over his own guards. His Nen Beast, once bloated with protection, began to shrink, segments curling inward like a dying snake.
And then—
"He tried to command his own servants," whispered Kurapika, staring at the prince's lifeless body.
"And they stabbed him. Repeatedly. While smiling."
Melody stood beside him, her expression dark.
"It wasn't coercion. They wanted to do it."
Kaen arrived late, his cloak drenched in Nen mist, the light of his Mind Palace pulsing erratically.
"His dreams were rewritten," Kaen said quietly, kneeling beside the corpse.
"Whoever did this implanted a parasite into his subconscious. It fed on his ego until it became him."
Kurapika narrowed his eyes.
"This is the second prince death… in just three days. We're being picked off."
Gon's fist clenched.
"We need to find the source. Now."
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🧠 Inside the Mind Palace – Twelve Thrones
Kaen returned to his palace that night and entered the Hall of Thrones—a chamber within his inner world where new Nen abilities were categorized like living artifacts.
Naomi stood beside a long obsidian table where twelve ethereal thrones sat, each glowing with different Nen signatures. Some flickered like candlelight; others surged like a solar flare. One was cracked. Another was melting.
"These are the seeds of the Dream Kings," Naomi explained.
"Those who once shaped Nen laws like potters with clay. Each throne is the remnant of their imprint—ideas that redefined combat, memory, reality."
Kaen approached the sixth throne, where a flickering barrier pulsed like a heartbeat.
"This one… it's calling to me."
Naomi nodded.
"The Throne of the Echo Crown. It allows the user to hear the future thoughts of their opponents… but only those thoughts they fear will come true."
Kaen placed his hand upon it. The room trembled. The throne glowed, and a single word etched itself into Kaen's palm:
Preveritas
"Use it wisely," Naomi warned. "The more truth you pull from others, the less of your own you will remember."
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🕷️ Elsewhere – A Smile in the Shadows
Pariston Hill, smirking with a glass of wine in hand, stood in front of a monitor projecting images from the aftermath of Sale-Sale's death.
Beside him, a child—or something shaped like one—sat on a floating throne made of data, eyes wide, black pupils spinning with madness.
"You sent it again," Pariston said to the child.
"The parasite dreamworm."
The child nodded once.
"I want to see what happens when kings begin to doubt themselves."
"And what do you want in return?"
The child smiled, revealing fangs.
"To see if your world is more interesting than mine."
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🧬 Whale Island – Ancient History Unearthed
While Kaen navigated psychic battlefields and royal traps, Gon and Killua, following a lead from Kurapika, arrived at a cave on Whale Island.
Inside were murals, ancient carvings…
And a throne made of Nen-bound bone and wood, hidden for generations beneath the roots of the island.
"This is prehistoric," Gon whispered.
"Nen users from before written language."
Killua scanned the carvings.
"Look at this. It's someone wearing a crown… just like Kaen's."
They found an engraving of a boy with a glowing palace above his head, surrounded by serpents and dreambeasts. Below it, a prophecy written in an extinct dialect Gon could barely pronounce:
"He who dreams beyond the threshold shall awaken kings in his wake… and gods in his ruin."
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⚔️ Back Aboard the Black Whale – The Third Strike
Third Prince Zhang Lei, known for his manipulation-type Nen that turned generosity into future debt, had been quiet since the summit.
But tonight, he made his move.
His Nen Beast extended a new ability—one that activated when the recipient of his "generosity" tried to betray him. The body of a royal chef was found with every bone shattered inward, liquified from pressure.
"That's not Nen," Kaen whispered as he studied the scene.
"That's… an echo of a Nen god."
He turned. A whisper brushed his ear.
"Preveritas."
Kaen's new ability activated.
In a flash, Kaen saw it:
• Zhang Lei standing before a golden door.
• Behind it, a monstrous form whispering promises.
• The prince sweating as he sealed a pact with something not born of this world.
• And a face Kaen recognized from the Mind Palace carvings—
A Dream King.
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👑 Next: Chapter 67 – Gods of the Throne Room