Chairman Netero's Game

"Ho ho ho ho! We meet again, Candidate 105."

During the journey to the third exam site, Chairman Netero took the initiative to approach Allen and the Shadow Wolf King, Lupos, who never left his side.

Clearly, although the centenarian showed no hostility, the powerful aura around him made Lupos feel threatened. The wolf instantly went on guard, as if he might pounce and attack at any moment.

Allen soothed his pet's nervousness slightly and replied in a distracted tone, "Yes, we meet again. But this time, I'll make it to the end as the victor and take the Hunter License from your hands."

"Hmm, I've never doubted that. The Nen around you is already quite impressive, and with an animal companion of considerable strength, Hisoka probably won't be able to win." Chairman Netero stroked his beard as he analyzed the situation.

Judging by the sheer volume of his aura, Allen had already surpassed Hisoka. Combined with the terrifying Physical Quality granted by the Hunter class template's bonus attributes, as well as the unyielding will forged through constant battles in Dungeons, he should theoretically claim the final victory as long as he performed steadily.

Of course, theory was one thing, while actual combat was another.

Netero himself was even a little eager to fight the boy before him and ask what exactly had happened over the past year for him to acquire such astonishing Nen from nothing.

Normally, one would need more than a decade of training and cultivation to attain such smooth, refined Ten.

Most newcomers who had only just learned Nen abilities, even exceptionally gifted geniuses, revealed a rough side when it came to techniques for using aura.

But Chairman Netero did not know that his initial judgment had actually been entirely correct.

In truth, Allen had relied on the tenfold Time Difference in the Dungeons and spent a full seven or eight years training his Nen abilities to their current level.

And those seven or eight years meant seven or eight years without any need to rest, sleep, relax, or entertain himself—seven or eight years spent pouring every ounce of time and energy into brutal, self-abusive high-intensity training.

If not for the Hunter class template ensuring that he never tired and never got injured, anyone else would likely have died countless times already.

It was also because he had constantly honed and developed his Nen abilities that his Hunter level had risen so slowly. He often stayed in a Dungeon for eight or nine days at a time, forgetting food and sleep as he carried out tedious foundational training.

As the saying went, when someone had enough time and persevered at one thing, no matter how poor their talent was, they could ultimately surpass 99.9 percent of the world and become an expert in that field.

What was more, Allen's talent was not poor to begin with. After merging with Night Elf blood, his potential had grown explosively.

After all, Night Elves had been born under the immense power of the Well of Eternity. Later, they had become connected to the World Tree blessed by the Dragon Aspects, gaining nearly eternal lifespans.

By Hunter x Hunter's danger rating standards, they should at least have been ranked B, like the Chimera Ants from the Dark Continent—or perhaps even A.

Looking at Netero, known as the "Strongest Nen user in the world," Allen sorted through his tangled thoughts and spoke bluntly. "Chairman, I have a question. I wonder if you can help me find the answer."

"Oh? What question is that?" A trace of curiosity flashed through the old man's eyes.

"Hisoka told me not long ago that he and I are actually the same kind of person. He also said that when the two of us began fighting, I would understand what he meant. The instant he said that, I felt as though something suddenly appeared in my head, but I couldn't grasp it."

Allen did not hide anything and directly voiced the question that had troubled him for so long.

Because he knew that if anyone aboard this Airship could give him an answer, it had to be the Chairman.

"I see! Before revealing the answer, can you tell me whether you've ever fought an opponent roughly equal to you in strength?" Netero asked meaningfully.

Without even thinking, Allen immediately shook his head. "No. I've never fought anyone close to my own strength."

"Hmm? Never?" The Chairman froze, then an incredulous expression appeared on his face. "Then how did you obtain the aura radiating from your entire body? Training alone is not enough for that. You also need a great deal of real combat."

"How should I put it? You can think of the opponents I fight as manifested puppets. They possess powerful Destructive Power and durability, but they aren't intelligent. They only follow certain patterns." Allen tried to explain the monsters and bosses in the Dungeons through the framework of Nen abilities.

Just as he said, while the Dungeon monsters and bosses looked incredibly lifelike, they were ultimately semi-data-based products. Unlike Lupos, they had no independent consciousness or personality and merely operated according to predesigned patterns.

Even the new pets captured with Tame Beast were no different.

Therefore, after realizing this, he completely gave up on the idea of catching a second pet in the Dungeons.

"Puppets created by combining Manipulation and Conjuration? No wonder your aura feels so strange. You clearly possess a powerful, resilient fighting spirit, yet you have very little killing intent or desire to compete. I have a suggestion. Would you be willing to play a little game with me?" Chairman Netero extended one finger with a faint smile.

"Can I find the answer through this game?" Allen asked directly.

"Of course! I guarantee that you'll understand what it is during the process." Chairman Netero gave an affirmative answer without hesitation.

Thus, the two of them headed one after the other to the most spacious recreation room aboard the Airship.

The old man took off his coat and shoes, stretched his limbs where he stood, then began enthusiastically explaining the rules.

"First, during the game, neither abilities nor weapons may be used. You may only fight with your fists, feet, and the most basic Nen.

Second, you must not damage the walls, floor, ceiling, or any furnishings in the room. Whoever damages something by accident loses.

Third, if someone's body violates the second rule while receiving the other person's attack, that also counts as a loss.

Well? Do you understand?"

"I do! In short, I need to control my Nen perfectly and make sure that nothing except the target is damaged, right?"

Allen understood the Chairman's meaning almost effortlessly. At the same time, he understood the essence of the game and the key to victory.

Simply put, it was about Nen control, eruption, and transformation.

He had to use eruption to attack his opponent and inflict the greatest possible damage, use control to ensure his aura did not disperse elsewhere, then instantly reinforce whatever he touched or alter the flow of his aura to prevent damage to the walls, floor, and ceiling.

Though it sounded simple, there were absolutely no more than ten people in all of Hunter x Hunter's world who could accomplish all three at once.

Especially the final part—instantly reinforcing an object upon contact, or using changes in aura to avoid destruction from a violent impact—most Nen users would never even consider it.

To them, rather than waste time on that, they might as well continue strengthening Ken and Ko.

As long as those two were powerful enough, they could crash into anything without suffering so much as a scratch.

As for whether the person or object they crashed into would be destroyed, that was not something they needed to consider at all.

But Allen was different. In the Dungeons, he often encountered monsters and bosses with Knockback skills.

To avoid accidentally falling off a cliff after being sent flying, or charging straight into a mob of monsters, he had naturally developed a special Nen technique that belonged neither to the four major basics nor the seven advanced applications.

And judging by the fact that Chairman Netero could propose such rules for the game, he should have mastered the technique of instantly reinforcing objects he touched.

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