018 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

For nearly a month, the shadow of brutal conflict had loomed over the Black Whale.

Today, there was finally an outcome.

Between Benjamin and Halkenburg, the matter of life and death was at last decided.

In the end, it was Benjamin who prevailed. He pushed himself to the limit, relying on the Nen abilities inherited from his fallen guards to corner and ultimately execute Halkenburg.

Halkenburg's ability grew stronger the more believers he had. But after Benjamin drove him into a corner, he activated Air Blow and wiped out most of Halkenburg's followers in one decisive strike, shaking the foundation of his ability.

After a series of exhausting battles, Halkenburg's vitality was severely depleted, and his surviving followers were too weak to turn the tide.

Even though he had Luzurus helping him—both openly and behind the scenes—it wasn't as if Luzurus had truly gone all in for him.

So, at the final moment, Benjamin unleashed everything he had left, launching a devastating attack that took down Halkenburg's one-eyed bull beast—and Halkenburg himself—with it.

And just like that, in this drawn-out clash between princes, Benjamin emerged as the last one standing.

But that didn't mean it was a clean win.

Halkenburg didn't go quietly. In a last-ditch act of vengeance, he triggered a suicidal counteroffensive that obliterated all of Benjamin's subordinates and forces.

"If I'm going down, you're not walking away unscathed."

That was the message.

Halkenburg had already resolved to take his own life after failing to assassinate King Nasubi. If not for the intervention of his guardian beast, the one-eyed bull, he would've done it then and there.

His resolve and determination were no joke.

At the last second—just when Benjamin thought he had things wrapped up—Halkenburg made his move. That split-second of carelessness nearly cost Benjamin everything.

As a result, Benjamin came out of the fight alive—but not unscathed, and not without embarrassment.

His elite troops were all gone. Only Furykov remained at his side.

Now, aside from the noncombatant royal attendants, Furykov is the only person Benjamin has left to rely on.

Halkenburg's final act wiped out every soldier in Benjamin's unit—Nen users or not.

So even in victory, Benjamin couldn't feel triumphant.

The cost was far too high. He had wanted to crush Halkenburg, then use the momentum to steamroll the remaining princes.

But in his current state, that was impossible.

This was a textbook lose-lose situation. A pyrrhic victory.

Fortunately, all the contenders who could have served as "leak fishermen"—those who might have sabotaged him through information leaks or strategic openings—were gone. At least Benjamin didn't have to worry about external interference for now.

Except Furykov, of course.

To preserve the dignity of the future King of Kakin—yes, Benjamin has already begun to see himself as such—he summoned the honor guards who were meant to appear at the royal landing ceremony and succession rites two months from now.

These guards had no combat ability whatsoever, but their ceremonial presence was important.

Benjamin saw nothing wrong with it. After all, the throne would be his within the month. Might as well get used to it now~

Once he recovered from the injuries and drained aura caused by his battle with Halkenburg, he would take the fight to the younger princes and finish them off in one swift move, establishing his supremacy.

With the succession war now fractured, the King's Army—which had once maintained legal order—was mostly wiped out. There were few left who could stand against him.

Oh, right—there was one more.

That brat Luzurus had teamed up with Halkenburg and caused him no small amount of grief. Benjamin hadn't forgotten.

During this final bloodbath, Benjamin had also "taken care" of Luzurus, wiping out nearly all of his guards.

Now, Luzurus' only real protection was one external guard—Basho—and the abilities of his guardian beast.

In the course of the fighting, Benjamin had already figured out Luzurus' Nen ability: a form of telepathic manipulation tied to human desire.

Big deal.

Benjamin had long since inherited the ability Predator from one of his deceased men.

That ability had been used to great effect—back when the user devoured the guardian beast of the Eighth Prince, Salé-salé—clearing the way for the first assassination of the war.

Benjamin also deployed it to injure Tserriednich's high-heeled, human-faced horse guardian beast and the one-eyed bull of Halkenburg.

Without that, would Kurapika have gotten so far? Would Furykov have completed his mission so smoothly?

...

It was Predator that laid the groundwork for Benjamin to eliminate two of his strongest rivals.

So when it came to Luzurus' guardian beast, Benjamin didn't feel threatened. He already knew how to deal with it.

And that guard, Basho?

Really?

To Benjamin, who only respected raw power, that kind of poetic Nen was just child's play.

As far as he was concerned, the Seventh Prince posed no threat.

And the younger princes? Those kids didn't even have their adult teeth yet. They were busy squabbling among themselves and had no clue what it meant to fight for a throne.

Before the final showdown with Halkenburg, Benjamin had used Secret Window to monitor Nen activity. Those fools were still at each other's throats.

What a bunch of hopeless idiots—blind to the situation and ignorant of the reality!

Let them be.

Once I recover fully, this succession war will enter its final phase. And the final victor... will be me.

Brimming with confidence, Benjamin immediately began his recovery—eager, impatient, and utterly convinced he was in control.

But what he didn't realize was that while he made his plans...

Others were making theirs, too.

...

"Benjamin's taking a break?" Luzurus exhaled a puff of smoke, cigarette held loosely between two fingers. His tone was unreadable.