Beginning Training

Beginning Training

Seeing Oboro bring his aura under control, Abachi and Neo finally relaxed.

They stood to one side and watched.

"So this is... aura."

A moment later, Oboro opened his eyes and slowly rose to his feet.

He spread his hands and looked at the sheen flowing over his body, an excited smile appearing on his face.

It was pure exhilaration and joy!

The reason he had been able to control his aura so quickly... was largely because he had seen the process of forcibly opening aura nodes before and knew what it was all about. Especially the scenes in the anime where the Chimera Ants first came into contact with Nen... and by imitating the techniques and insights Gon, Killua, and the others had used when they first awakened their Nen.

As the saying went, even if he had never eaten pork, had he not seen a pig run? Others had already stumbled into the pitfalls and tested them out for him. All he had to do was imitate them.

Still, Oboro had not expected it to go so smoothly... At the instant the life force within him erupted, he had been extremely nervous as well.

"Congratulations!"

Moritonio's voice from the side brought Oboro back to his senses.

Though the old man wore glasses, Oboro could sense the complicated emotions in his eyes behind those lenses.

"Controlling your own aura... is only the first step."

The troupe leader continued, "Next comes training in the fundamentals of Nen... Ren and Ten, which I just mentioned, are only part of it..."

After that, the old man began explaining the knowledge of Nen training to Hisoka and Oboro.

Although Oboro already understood it all, he did not want anyone to notice anything unusual, especially that guy Hisoka... so he still pretended to listen attentively.

During that time, he opened the system panel and glanced at it.

He found that the screen had changed.

It was related to the training plan the system had created for him.

His attribute values had increased slightly, and his overall evaluation had changed from an ordinary person to an apprentice Nen user.

Oboro wanted to strengthen his body, so the system had combined that with his memories and provided a workout plan, including several Chinese Martial Arts disciplines for later training... After he awakened his aura, the plan section had gained a dense block of tiny text.

"This is..."

Oboro narrowed his eyes.

In an instant, he realized that the growth method provided by the system combined Wing and Biscuit's training methods and programs for Gon and Killua, then optimized them using his understanding of the world of Hunter x Hunter.

It had provided the best possible plan suited to him.

"Among them, Hatsu is the ultimate technique that brings together the foundations of Nen. Nen abilities can generally be divided into six categories: Enhancement, Transmutation, Conjuration, Emission, Manipulation, and Specialization. Every person's Nen affinity is closely related to the Nen user themself..."

"The most commonly used method for determining a person's Nen affinity is Water Divination."

The troupe leader then took out a cup of water he had prepared beforehand and placed it before Hisoka and Oboro. "Try it according to the method I explained."

Hisoka held the cup. As he released his Nen, the water rippled slightly, but there was basically no other change.

The troupe leader dipped a finger into the water, tasted a droplet, and nodded. "Mm... the flavor has changed. Hisoka is a Transmuter."

"Oboro, your turn."

"Alright."

Oboro stepped forward and took the cup from Hisoka.

"Oboro should be an Enhancer..." Abachi said with certainty.

After all, from a purely visual impression, Oboro was broad-shouldered and solidly built now, his body covered in firm muscles and brimming with strength.

A person's Nen category was usually fairly compatible with their nature.

The water in the cup rippled again, but the amount did not increase. Instead, something resembling crystalline matter appeared within it.

"Ah!"

Abachi's mouth fell slightly open. She had guessed wrong.

Oboro was actually a Conjurer!

"Conjuration, huh..." Oboro raised an eyebrow as well.

He had also thought he leaned more toward Enhancement. In terms of raw attack power alone, Enhancement was undoubtedly the strongest.

What he had really hoped for... was Specialization.

Because Specialization had greater potential and a higher ceiling.

Yet... it was Conjuration.

In his memory, the Conjuration users who left the deepest impression on him seemed to be Shizuku from the Phantom Troupe and Kite...

"Enhancers are all one-track minds, pretty simple-minded... Yeah, that doesn't suit my personality."

After thinking it over, Oboro accepted it.

Then the troupe leader continued explaining the basics of Nen to the two of them.

The group kept talking until late into the night.

Only when it had grown quite late did Hisoka and Oboro get up and leave.

Moritonio watched the two boys walk out the door. In a daze, he saw a familiar figure in their backs.

Ging Freecss!

As an experienced Nen user, Moritonio knew perfectly well just how terrifying the aptitude the two had displayed was! Nen users came in all ranks and levels. Someone like him... was merely one of the most ordinary among the vast number of Nen users.

Some people... were blessed by the gods from the moment they were born.

Though they lived in the same world, they were two different kinds of "creatures."

A fundamental gap...

No matter how hard one worked or struggled, it could never be bridged.

"Get some rest early..."

Neo looked at Abachi beside him and felt an inexplicable pang of sympathy for the girl. She apparently had not realized that from this moment onward... she and those two boys had already embarked on completely different paths.

"Hey... before your aura nodes were forcibly opened, you couldn't see Nen, right?" Hisoka wore a smile as they walked back through the dormitory corridor.

He had exposed Oboro's act.

Oboro kept his hands in his pockets and did not respond.

"And... you didn't seem interested in the Nen fundamentals Moritonio was explaining at all... Can I take that to mean... your knowledge of Nen surpasses his?" Hisoka kept flicking out playing cards of different suits with one hand. "You said you had encountered a Nen user before... That was a lie, wasn't it?"

"Tch."

Oboro stopped walking, his brow furrowing. "Hisoka..."

"Hmm?"

"You really are getting more and more annoying."

"Heh heh heh heh..."

Hisoka covered his mouth with a playing card and laughed.

Time passed bit by bit. Ever since awakening his aura, Oboro's schedule had become even tighter.

Because on top of his existing training, he now had to add Nen practice.

He was still dissatisfied with his physical attributes, and he also wanted to train his Chinese Martial Arts to at least a modest level of mastery. So... there was barely any time to rest in twenty-four hours.

Aura was only the foundation. Only by controlling and using aura, granting it all kinds of abilities and applications, could it be called a Nen ability.

Although Oboro possessed the theories and methods of training, and his progress could be described as soaring compared to ordinary people, there was an absolute freak at his side! While Oboro stayed busy enough to run himself ragged, Hisoka spent his days leisurely and comfortably, yet in that state, he needed only one week to use Ren freely.

What kind of level was that? The troupe leader had said before that it had taken Abachi more than a year to reach the level of Ren...

Hisoka... had taken only one week.

When the three saw that scene, even Oboro, who had anticipated it, was sincerely shocked.

Recently, with the Graham Royal Show drawing near, troupe leader Moritonio had become extremely busy, leaving him very little time to teach them. Hisoka's ability to master Ren could even be said to have come entirely from his talent and comprehension, allowing him to reach that stage on his own.

It also made Oboro realize once again that there was a gap between his potential... and Hisoka's.

Even without good training methods or anyone to guide him, the latter could still transform himself! Still, after another week had passed, making it half a month in total, Oboro also learned Ren.

With Hisoka's dazzling performance preceding his, the troupe leader and Abachi had become somewhat numb to Oboro's equally monstrous showing... making it easier to accept.

But Oboro understood... His rapid improvement was thanks to two major advantages: the system's training and his knowledge of Nen.

He was different from Hisoka...

One day, they rarely had some free time.

Oboro, Hisoka, and Abachi came to the rooftop of the venue to enjoy the wind.

"He had also tried several times to teach the troupe members Nen... but it seemed I was the only one with the aptitude."

"The troupe leader... originally wanted to become a Hunter."

"A Hunter?" Hisoka asked.

"Yeah... It's a profession for exploring all kinds of treasures and secret realms... people who hunt for 'something.'"

"The troupe leader also took the Hunter Exam to become a Hunter, but... only one person passed that year."

"Apparently, in an already incredibly complicated exam, he witnessed that person's extraordinary talent and was discouraged by it..."

"I've always felt that the troupe leader wants to teach the members, including you and me, Nen... because he wants to cultivate powerful people like that 'successful candidate' from back then. His dream of becoming a Hunter probably wasn't so easy to give up..."

Abachi gazed at the city below and spoke at length.

"My dream is to fulfill the troupe leader's dream for him. Sooner or later, I'll leave the troupe and take the Hunter Exam!"

"Oh? Then what do you want to hunt?"

Hisoka asked along with her.

"What I want to hunt... I... haven't thought about that..."

Abachi shook her head.

"Your goal isn't clear, huh~"

Hisoka teased her.

"I-I do... I want to travel all over the world, become a Ruins Hunter, or a Gourmet Hunter who tastes every delicious food... I..." After getting lectured by Hisoka, Abachi grew a little indignant and hurriedly stammered out an answer.

"Don't rush, calm down... Here, have this... Bungee Gum."

Hisoka soothed the girl and pulled out a piece of bubble gum.

He casually flicked one to Oboro as well, who had remained silent.

Oboro caught it, stuffed the bubble gum into his pocket, then turned and left.

Hisoka asked in a lazy, casual tone, "Leaving already?"

Oboro ignored him.

"You really are... desperate, aren't you..."