Chapter 59: The Dreamless Conqueror

"Huh? Why aren't they moving?"

"Yeah, it's like they're in a daze or something."

Gon and Killua exchanged puzzled glances.

"Sensei, what's going on?"

Zushi looked to Wing for answers. 

Gon and Killua turned to Wing, their expressions curious and eager for answers.

"Hmm, it's Cassandra's ability. She can apparently bring her opponents into their own subconscious minds. Right now, Raymond seems to be caught in his own subconscious along with her..."

"Really? That's a pretty wild ability!"

"Yes, there are plenty of unique abilities in the world. Hers is quite exceptional. In the past, most of her opponents would either pass out or drop dead after being pulled into whatever her power led them to..."

That's why she has remained undefeated on the 250th floor...

None of her opponents could easily escape her ability, leaving them either unconscious or facing a more permanent consequence, depending on their preference for a normal match or a deathmatch.

Still, there was one puzzling thing for Wing as he observed Raymond. He channeled his Nen, focusing on his eyes to confirm.

"...Is he using Zetsu? But why?"

Wing noticed that Raymond's aura node had been intentionally cut off, as if he wanted to be drawn into Cassandra's ability.

"What's he up to?"

Wing furrowed his brow in confusion, while Gon and Killua exchanged worried glances.

"The fight on the 230th floor just finished..."

"The 231st too..."

"..."

Sin was listening in through his earpiece as nodded in acknowledgment.

"It's about time..."

Stepping closer to the edge of the audience area, he seemed to be contemplating something while he channeling his Nen throughout his body as he prepared his seal.

He shook his head while observing Raymond's figure, devoid of any Nen protection.

Sin mumbled to himself, "...With his formidable Nen, her ability wouldn't even scratch him. But why on earth would he willingly step into the lion's den and experience it firsthand?"

Sin understood that Cassandra's power could potentially affect him unless he dealt with her swiftly.

So he grasped Raymond's desire to defeat her personally.

However, he couldn't fathom why Raymond would willingly subject himself to Cassandra's dreamy tricks.

"Forget it, I can't truly fathom his thought as he was beyond me..."

Sin muttered as his eyes sharpened and focus on his task.

Meanwhile...

In Raymond's dreamlike world, everything was blank white, with him standing alone at its center.

Then, like a ghost appearing out of thin air, Cassandra slowly formed above him. She floated there, a sly grin on her face as she looked down at him.

"Let's see what's in your dream," she chuckled.

Cassandra had a special power. She could trap people in their own dreams and twist them against them.

In the past, she'd used this power in cruel ways. Once, she trapped a guy who dreamed of swimming with dolphins and made those dolphins turn on him, causing him unimaginable pain.

Another time, she turned a guy's victory over a gorilla into a crushing defeat.

They were many more and none of them could escape her power unscathed!

"Hehe, it's your own fault, handsome guy. No hard feelings here..."

As Cassandra's icy gaze fell on Raymond...

The white surroundings seemed to buzz with anticipation, ready to reveal his deepest thoughts.

But to her surprise, nothing changed.

The blankness stayed the same...

"...What?"

Confused, Cassandra's grin faded, replaced by a look of uncertainty.

Still after waiting for sometime as she channeled more of her Nen, she was shocked to find that nothing had changed in the dream world as she fell down, landing on her butt.

Suddenly, Raymond, who should've been out cold, stared straight at her with his bright red eyes, sending shivers down her spine.

"I'm glad..."

Raymond's voice echoed, his crimson eyes glowing intensely.

"Huh?"

Cassandra couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"I was afraid... I was afraid I'd have a dream..."

Ignoring her, Raymond continued, looking around at the endless white space.

Hearing these words prompted Cassandra's eyes to widen in horror as she realized Raymond actually knew of her ability!

"You! You know what I can do?"

Her voice quivered, fear coursing through her.

Raymond just smirked, not saying a word. 

"Impossible!"

Cassandra collapsed to her knees, her whole body shaking uncontrollably.

"It can't be! Everyone has dreams! How could you not have one!" she cried out, her voice filled with hysteria as she pointed a trembling finger at Raymond.

Fear gnawed at Cassandra as she realized the gravity of the situation. Without a dream to manipulate, she had unwittingly trapped herself with a beast.

Her power came with rule that to come back to reality...

...one of them had to lose consciousness or die.

Panic surged through her as she faced the daunting reality of her predicament.

"Dreaming is for the weak..."

Raymond muttered, his tone in Cassandra's POV was ominous.

He slowly approached her, who trembled even more.

Raymond wasn't a dreamer...

"Since we're in such place, I suppose I could show you a glimpse of my power..."

Raymond released his Nen that he previously suppressed, as its burst forth with an overwhelming force before engulfing the entire dream world in its wake.

The once-static white space crackled and fractured under the weight of his power.

Cassandra's face drained of color as a strange, yellow substance began to seep from beneath her trembling form.

The ground beneath her seemed to shift and warp, responding to the overwhelming energy radiating from Raymond.

As if in response to his command, the unyielding whiteness of the dream world shattered, revealing an ancient, regal throne room.

At its center sat a magnificent throne, and upon it, Raymond settled himself with his crimson eyes gleaming with a terrifying light.

Cassandra could only watch in horror as she felt her power being consumed by something beyond her imagination as she slowly losing control of her ability.

Raymond looked at Cassandra's terrified expression.

Doubt never crossed his mind...

He was always certain of achieving his goals. Acting with confidence and determination, he knew he had the skills to succeed.

For him, dreaming was a weakness!

"With absolute power, nothing could stand in my way!"

Raymond's declaration echoed through the throne room.

In an instant, a surge of energy emanated from Raymond's Nen, overwhelming Cassandra's own power.

Feeling her own power being devoured, she then collapsed unconscious to the ground, defeated by his sheer dominance.

At the same time, Raymond snapped back to the present moment as his gaze falling upon Cassandra's motionless form surrounded by the strange yellow liquid.

The arena was hushed, the spectators watching in a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

"The winner by knockout is Raymond Celestia!"

The referee broke the silence, his voice cutting through the tension.

Though originally confused, since the result was set cheers erupted from the crowd as Raymond stood victorious.

"...We've wrapped up on the 249th floor," came the report.

Sin's eyes sparked with determination.

His Nen surged, enveloping the entire arena below the audience, covering Raymond within its protective shroud.

The shimmering aura spread like a translucent veil, casting a soft glow over the arena, while Raymond stood at its heart.

"Perfect timing..."

Raymond felt a profound shift stirring within his being, a surge of Nen that pulsed through his veins like a river of energy.

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