Chapter 108: The Trial Gate Pushed Open
In the Battle of Yorknew City, the guild suffered devastating losses. All ten of its elder leaders fell, and its elite force, the "Shadow Beasts," was reduced to a single survivor. The Phantom Troupe and the Spider Brain vanished without a trace, while the rest of the hands and feet were slaughtered outright. The once-formidable A‑rank crime syndicate stood on the brink of collapse.
Meanwhile, the Mojito Family rose to prominence, seizing control of Youkexin City and, in one fell swoop, ascending to the ranks of the world's top crime organizations. With no central leadership, the remnants of the Ten Elders' faction splintered into countless petty gangs, each vying to swallow the others in a brutal free‑for‑all—the dawn of the Great Chaos.
All the while, the true instigator, Yamcha, arrived in the Dentora region of the Kingdom of Bartocia.
Here lies a famous tourist attraction—Mount Kukuru.
On its slopes lives the world's foremost assassin lineage, the Zoldyck Family.
Yes, you heard right: the legendary assassin clan has its home within a celebrated tourist site. It even boosted the local economy, earning the family a glowing reputation among the townsfolk. Most ridiculously, a sightseeing bus runs directly to the Zoldyck estate, complete with a guided tour.
According to Lord Zeno's account, most Zoldycks aren't bloodthirsty maniacs—they treat killing strictly as a business. Unless you offend them or someone pays them to strike, you're perfectly safe to wander in front of them without a second thought.
A striking young guide led the narration, detailing the history of Mount Kukuru and the Zoldyck Family—down to how many members live there—though she omitted names and faces.
After all, in the black market, every Zoldyck's photograph fetches over a hundred million.
The tour bus rolled along the mountain road for over ten kilometers until a towering gate appeared—its upper beam carved into a colossal dragon's head. Rather than a single door, it comprised countless overlapping panels.
This was the Trial Gate, also called the Gate of the Underworld. No key could open it. Seven panels in total: the two side panels of Gate One alone weighed about two tons each, and each additional panel doubled the weight. Only by exerting ever greater strength could one push them open.
"This is as far as our tour goes. Beyond here lies the Zoldyck Family's private domain—no entry allowed."
The guide spoke politely.
From this point onward, the entire Kukuru range belonged exclusively to the Zoldycks—a display of wealth beyond measure, officially sanctioned by the Bartocian government.
Tourists disembarked, snapping photos of the majestic gate. With these as souvenirs, they'd have plenty to brag about back home: after all, they were in the stronghold of history's greatest assassin clan.
"Hey, partner, what if we built a gate like this?" Yamcha turned to his cloak‑shrouded companion, DarkWarGreymon. "Besides intimidation, it'd make a good training exercise."
"Pointless," came the deadpan reply. Strength in battle isn't everything, after all.
DarkWarGraymon, then added, "But it's… an idea."
Ugh, such proud stubbornness.
A commotion stirred ahead. Several burly men brandishing firearms had accosted the gatehouse elder, stripped him of his key, and slipped through one of the smaller side doors, grinning like fools.
"With just one member's photo, we'd be set for life!" one crook crowed. "Gun in hand—let's go!"
The guide seemed unfazed as she watched them enter the side door. With a resigned sigh, she covered her eyes while the other tourists looked on in confusion.
Moments later, the armed men's laughter cut short.
How do you laugh when your mouth's gone?
A furry paw flung out a handful of white bones, the shattered remains of the would‑be thieves, through the small gate.
Screams erupted. The other tourists scrambled back onto the bus, urging the guide to depart at once—yet she calmly ushered the last stragglers aboard.
Every so often, thrill‑seekers tried their luck—only to become fodder for "Three‑Hairs," the Zoldyck Family's monstrous hound, whose enormous claws had just dispatched the gunmen.
Once all the passengers were safely aboard—everyone except Yamcha and Dark WarGreymon—Yamcha turned to his companion. "Want to give it a shot?"
Yamcha had no notion of how powerful other "Ultimate" Digimon forms might be. But Dark WarGreymon's raw strength was already terrifying: if it could whirl SteelSeadramon by the tail like a windmill, merely pushing through a gate should be child's play. Besides, Digimon attacks often sport exaggerated names like "Peta‑Giga." The reality seldom matched the hype—just fight and sort it out.
The gatehouse elder, intrigued despite himself, peered over as Yamcha's dark ally approached the Trial Gate. In all his years of watching that gate, he'd seen only one group succeed—those friends of young Killua's who claimed acquaintance with his master, Lord Zeno, and who'd been granted entry months ago.
No one else had ever budged it, not even the elder himself, despite countless attempts.
He never imagined these two could.
The next moment, he was speechless.
As Dark WarGreymon planted both hands on the Trial Gate, the grinding rumble of stone against earth echoed out. The gate panels began to shift, emitting a creaking protest.
Gate One swung open…
Gate Two slid aside…
Gate Three followed suit…
Before the elder's eyes, all three panels yielded in succession.
Impossible—or so he thought—until…
"Pushing open all seven gates?" he gasped, his usually slitted eyes now full‑round, his mole beside his lip seeming to twitch free of its mooring.
Unheard of! Seven gates meant over two hundred tons of resistance.
Absurd.
Legend held that only the Zoldyck Family head possessed such strength—yet here it was, before his very eyes.
"Please let the butler know. Tell him I promised Lord Zeno we'd drop by," Yamcha said casually as he passed the dumbstruck gatekeeper.
"As if. Our gate would have to be at least three times heavier."
Had the elder actually heard that remark from the stranger who'd just moved mountains?
Three times heavier???
(End of Chapter)