Fireplace

Using restrictions to break through an ability's original limits...

Not every Nen user could think of that.

The sullen young man did not know the reason behind it, so he naturally assumed his target was a very powerful Emitter Nen user.

He had seen it clearly just now.

That Nen Bullet, like a shooting star, possessed speed, power, range, and, most importantly, stability.

Against an Emitter Nen user capable of precise long-range strikes, if one could not close the distance before the opponent built momentum, then one had to consider the possibility of being toyed to death.

That was a very conventional judgment.

It also indirectly ruled out the possibility that the sullen young man was an Emitter or Enhancer.

However, what made the sullen young man hesitate was not the uncertainty brought by "distance."

In fact, Emitters were the Nen type he most wanted to deal with.

That depended on his Nen ability—

"Fireplace."

The sullen young man concealed himself, looked toward Moro's approximate location, and pressed a hand lightly against his abdomen.

His Fireplace was a hybrid ability of Conjuration specialization and Transmutation.

Its effect was to turn his abdominal area into a fireplace containing a lingering wisp of flame.

This fireplace, conjured from a body part as its clay, could absorb any type of damage within the range it could withstand.

Then, under the ability's influence, the absorbed damage would become fuel like firewood, strengthening the flames within the fireplace for a certain period of time.

When the flames filled the entire fireplace, the sullen young man's aura reserves would increase significantly, and his body would grow hotter with the burning time.

That was why the sullen young man was willing to fight Emitters.

He could completely use Fireplace to absorb an Emitter's first wave of attacks and seize the initiative.

But Fireplace was not omnipotent.

He could only absorb damage within the range he could withstand, and that range depended on the difference in strength between him and his enemy.

So, after witnessing the power of that Nen Bullet firsthand, he was not confident he could absorb damage of that level.

That was precisely why he hesitated.

Should he continue acting, or wait until next time and make a new plan?

Standing still where he was, the sullen young man could not make a decisive choice.

Meanwhile.

The sedan was swallowed by blazing flames, and a pungent smell filled the air.

Firelight illuminated the road and cast broad patches of shadow through the woods.

Moro hid within the shadows, staring intently toward the sniper's position.

After being enhanced twofold, Flying Star at maximum power had become more powerful than an RPG.

And Flying Star's impact point had deviated very little. Even if it had not killed the sniper outright, the sniper should at least have been severely wounded.

Either result was enough to greatly reduce the threat posed by the sniper.

However, compared with confirming the sniper's exact condition, Moro was more concerned with the other enemies besides the sniper.

At the instant Flying Star struck the sniper's general location, he had clearly sensed a sudden surge of aura.

Although that aura fluctuation had quickly calmed down a second later, it had roughly exposed the direction.

"A Nen user, huh..."

Moro looked toward the woods shrouded in darkness.

That sudden, intense fluctuation in aura had clearly been affected by some emotion.

Most likely because the person had seen a companion attacked by Flying Star...

Emotions themselves could greatly affect the state of one's aura.

Thus, in Nen battles, one's temperament was one of the key factors that determined victory or defeat.

That was why Shin-Kage-Ryu advocated cultivating the mind first.

Of course, that did not mean being emotional would necessarily have a negative effect on one's aura.

In some cases, extreme emotional changes could instead strengthen a Nen user's combat power.

But in most cases, they were cautionary examples.

Like now.

Because of it, Moro had noticed that aura fluctuation and gained crucial information in a situation where he should have known nothing.

Retreat, or attack?

In less than a breath, Moro made his decision.

Attack. Attack fiercely!

Not only to seize every chance to level up and become stronger, but also to reinforce his will to advance without fear.

Moro believed—

If he chose to shrink back here, how could he speak of gaining the strength to kill Feitan within a limited time?

Which of those powerful Nen users had not come through life-and-death battles?

And only by facing the threat of death could one truly see certain things clearly.

Back on that rain-soaked night thick with murderous intent, had he not taken down Pakunoda and Shalnark with Flying Star...

Was that not also a result born between life and death?

If someone had told Moro before then: You have only been learning Nen for half a year, but you can kill Pakunoda and Shalnark right under Chrollo's nose.

That would have been too ridiculous.

Even Moro, the person at the center of that statement, would have laughed out loud.

But the truth was that Moro had done it.

So, if one did not give something everything one had, one would never know just how far one could go.

And a power like Nen, filled with limitless possibilities, was precisely the kind of strength that responded most readily to such subjective will.

After decisively choosing to attack and kill, Moro's thoughts began to serve the battle.

He examined the surrounding environment.

The woods were not very dense, and wide gaps lay between the trees.

But fighting in this environment would ultimately restrict Flying Star's mechanics.

"I need to get out."

With that thought, Moro looked once more toward the distant hillside, which had already fallen quiet.

The woods would affect Flying Star's performance, while going out onto open ground meant considering whether the sniper could still pull the trigger.

Moro still leaned toward the belief that the sniper had lost the ability to pull the trigger, so he left the woods and walked directly onto the open ground.

The sullen young man saw his movement.

"This guy...!"

Watching Moro openly walk out of the woods, the sullen young man's heart jolted.

Thinking of the Nen Bullet that had flown over a thousand meters just now, he naturally sensed the immense confidence Moro displayed.

No wonder Zazan had been killed...

But those idiots responsible for compiling intelligence were the ones most deserving of death.

A powerful Nen user had actually been classified as a viable target, giving him the chance to disguise himself like this.

But... what exactly was this man's "purpose"?

Why disguise his strength and infiltrate among the livestock, and why give up halfway, expose himself directly, and kill Zazan?

Too strange...

The sullen young man's thoughts turned.

Before he could think further, he suddenly noticed Moro's movement.

Moro was actually coming this way.

"Huh?"

The sullen young man's expression changed.

"Has he found me?"

As Moro steadily closed in, the sullen young man found himself caught between advancing and retreating.

His subjective judgment of Moro's strength, and the mission requirements from above...

The two kept pulling his thoughts in opposite directions.