Maha was ancient, the oldest living member of the Zoldyck lineage. He was incredibly short, the smallest figure among all the silhouettes in the family portrait. Though he didn't appear in the newer version of the Hunter Exam, he had been shown in the old version—specifically during the Yorknew City arc. Back then, the Ten Dons had hired Silva and Zeno to assassinate Chrollo Lucilfer, but Chrollo had also brought in Illumi to eliminate the Ten Dons. In the old adaptation, when the massacre took place, Maha was shown as part of the operation.
If Maha truly was an S-class fighter, then the chances of Tyranitar evolving to the next stage of its power would increase significantly. Even more interesting was the possibility that the Zoldyck family had Pokémon of their own.
In the Republic of Padokea, deep within the Dentora Region, stood Kukuroo Mountain. A dead volcano towering at 3,722 meters, its peak was perpetually shrouded in thick black fog. But what made it famous wasn't the landscape or the eerie atmosphere—it was the fact that the world's most notorious assassin family lived there.
The Zoldyck family. Despite their deadly reputation, Kukuroo Mountain had somehow become a tourist attraction. It was an absurd contradiction—people actually traveled there just to catch a glimpse of the most dangerous killers in existence. Larry stood before the massive estate, hands tucked into his pockets as he took in the view. The Zoldyck family's entrance was just as imposing as expected. The towering Trial Gate loomed over everything, making the people standing in front of it feel insignificant.
The estate was completely enclosed by an enormous wall stretching far into the distance. There was only one way in or out—through the gate. It was difficult to tell what material the structure was made of, but the faint metallic sheen suggested it was reinforced beyond normal stone. Inscribed from bottom to top were weight measurements, each marking a different level of strength required to push the doors open. Two massive dragon statues stood on either side of the entrance, their fierce expressions carved with almost lifelike precision. Larry's gaze lingered on them for a moment before a thought crossed his mind. 'Dragons.'
If there were Pokémon lurking within the estate, it was highly likely that some of them were Dragon-types. There were rumors that the Zoldyck family bred rare, dragon-like creatures, and even Zeno Zoldyck's Nen techniques referenced dragons—Dragon Head and Dragon dive. If there really were Dragon Pokémon in this place, he was eager to see which ones.
Though it was called a gate, the Trial Gate was actually made up of seven doors, each requiring progressively more strength to push open. The smallest gate required two tons of force on each side, while the largest required an unimaginable 128 tons per side. It was said that only the head of the family could open the final gate, and there was no key to bypass it. Because of these extreme conditions, the entrance had been given two names—the Trial Gate and the Gate of the Underworld.
Despite how formidable the Trial Gate was, there was also a much smaller door built into the lower right corner. It looked like a simple access point for visitors, but Larry knew better. That door wasn't there by mistake—it was a trap. With a reputation as the world's top assassination family, the Zoldycks constantly attracted challengers. Mercenaries, assassins, and overconfident warriors from all over the world came here, convinced they could take on the infamous clan. But the reality was far crueler.
Few ever made it past the first gate. Those strong enough to push the Trial Gate open with their own power would be greeted by the butlers. Those who weren't—yet still desperate to enter—often turned to the small door instead. The process was almost laughable. They would march over to the guard post, threaten the butler stationed there, and demand the key. And without much resistance, the butler would simply hand it over.
To an outsider, it might seem like the Zoldyck family's security was lax, or that the guards feared trouble. But in truth, they were merely following procedure. Anyone foolish enough to enter through the small door was walking to their own death.
Most of them never made it out. The estate had guardians, and those who entered uninvited quickly became food. Even the butlers and house staff were far from ordinary. The minimum requirement to work at the estate was to be able to open at least the smallest gate. Some of them trained their entire bodies for this purpose. Zebro, one of the senior employees, routinely drank tea from a 20-kilogram cup just to maintain his strength. The man stationed at the guard post—the one who handed over the small door key. His job was simple. He cleaned up the remains of all the idiots who got eaten inside.
Larry stood before the massive Trial Gate, amusement flickering in his eyes. He never liked following conventional paths. The rules others set for him? He had no interest in playing by them. Just like back at the Trick Tower—why bother clearing each level one by one when he could just brute-force his way straight through? The same principle applied here. They wanted him to push the gate open with sheer strength? Pointless. He could just teleport inside.
With barely a thought, he vanished, leaving behind only a faint breeze. Inside the guard post, Zebro had been keeping an eye on the gate. The sudden disappearance made him rub his eyes in disbelief, wondering if his age was finally catching up with him. Had he really just seen someone standing there a second ago?
Meanwhile, Larry had already reappeared inside the estate, casually strolling forward as if he belonged there. Just as he approached the main grounds, a deep, guttural growl rumbled from the nearby dark forest. Heavy footsteps followed, each one making the ground tremble slightly. Judging by the weight behind them, whatever was approaching was massive.
A few moments later, a hulking figure emerged from the shadows. It had the general shape of a wolf, but its sheer size made it clear that this was no ordinary beast. Mike, the Zoldyck family's watchdog.
The creature's scarlet eyes locked onto Larry, its massive jaws parting slightly as it let out a low snarl. A moment later, its tongue flicked across its fangs, as if already savoring its next meal. Mike had strict orders—to attack and devour any intruders who entered through the small door. But there had been no sign of the Trial Gate opening. That meant one thing. This man had appeared inside. Mike crouched slightly, muscles coiling, ready to lunge— And then it froze.