The higher you climb, the harder it gets to progress. But with each upgrade comes a massive boost in strength—a truth Ronnel was all too familiar with.
Sigwumidi, a township monster of the undead bone demon clan, was a being of immense power. Treasured by Overlord more than his kin, Sigwumidi's strength was unparalleled, rivaling even some of the mightiest creatures in the Six Continents.
For Ronnel, finding prey of this caliber was a rarity—a jackpot among hunters. But how did Sigwumidi meet his end? He was obliterated by the Epiphyllum blast, unleashed by none other than Ronnel himself.
Once wrapped in the cloth by Ronnel, Sigwumidi was rendered utterly helpless. Had he been able to move freely, his formidable speed might have let him escape across Mobius Lake or even use the explosion's impact to break the seal and flee. But there are no "what-ifs" in this world. The moment Ronnel secured him, Sigwumidi's fate was sealed.
The Epiphyllum erupted with devastating force, shredding the cloth and reducing Sigwumidi to fragments. Bound by the power of rules, the bone dragon had no chance to display his true strength. His mighty roar barely echoed twice before he was snuffed out, his potential unrealized. A truly unjust demise.
But such is the world of Hunter x Hunter. Unpredictable. Brutal. And often tragically ironic.
Hunter-tested warriors like Geretta, and others met their untimely ends without fanfare. Ponzu was swallowed by a fish ant. Pokkle was chopped into pieces and made into meatballs. Even characters like Kortopi and Shalnark died in bizarre, almost comedic ways. Who could have imagined their ends would come so abruptly, without ceremony, and in a toilet, of all places?
Ronnel couldn't help but speculate: did Togashi-sensei script these deaths purely for shock value? Perhaps he sought to create explosive moments to draw attention or even generate mahjong money. But remembering Togashi's penchant for subverting expectations, Ronnel dismissed the thought. It was likely just the author's unpredictable brilliance.
Togashi's world-building often mirrored the chaotic logic of reality. The Six Continents, with its inherent dangers, did not guarantee triumph for protagonists. Here, even the most formidable characters could meet untimely deaths, leaving readers awestruck and frustrated. This sense of realism made Hunter x Hunter stand apart from other series, where the stakes rarely matched the consequences.
It's this unique mix—an intricate power system like Nen, paired with unpredictable and harsh outcomes—that cemented Togashi as a legend in the manga world. His work evoked both admiration and grudging respect, even when beloved characters met untimely fates.
And so, the unjust end of Sigwumidi went largely unnoticed. Overlord might grieve the loss of his comrade, but Ronnel was grateful. The experience gained from Sigwumidi's defeat brought him closer to his next evolution.
If Overlord had been at his peak, wielding the full might of the Undead Bone Spear, perhaps he could have rivaled Ronnel. But in his current state? He was little more than a stepping stone. His final contributions—a Sonata of Darkness, some treasures, and the experiential boon—were more useful than the fight he put up.
With his newfound power, Ronnel estimated that only Chairman Netero could match him now. Figures like Maha Zoldyck, Linne Horsdoeuvre, or even Ging Freecss, were either too aged or disinterested to challenge him. In truth, their legendary status might not translate to a true match for Ronnel's abilities.
(T/N: When she was young, Linne was a Hunter and a friend of Isaac Netero. At some point in her life, she joined Netero in his expedition to the Dark Continent, along with Zigg Zoldyck.)
Even so, the battles ahead were far from predictable. Ronnel turned his attention back to Overlord, who was struggling to protect what remained of his shattered weapon.
"It's over," Ronnel declared, his tone resolute. With those words, he vanished from Overlord's sight, his next move swift and merciless.
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