Gotoh was already waiting at the end of the corridor. As the Zoldyck Family's head butler watched the three walking side by side, a barely perceptible trace of relief flickered in his deep-set eyes. He bowed slightly, making no attempt to stop them. "Young master, the Testing Gate is open. Canary is waiting outside to escort you down the mountain." Killua looked at Gotoh and bowed earnestly. "Thank you, Mr. Gotoh." In this cold family, Gotoh was the only person who harbored any tenderness toward him. He had never forced Killua to accept an assassin's code, never bound his will with rules. Gotoh inclined his head, his voice calm. "Young master, follow your heart. The Zoldyck Family's doors will always be open to you, but you must walk your own path." Lin Ye nodded to Gotoh. The older man had not made things difficult for them and had even quietly let them through. Lin Ye would remember that kindness. The three did not linger, following Gotoh toward the Testing Gate. Canary stood before the massive bronze doors, a new whip in her hand. Her usual coldness was gone, leaving only quiet well wishes. She looked at Killua and said softly, "Take care, young master. If you grow tired, come home." Killua smiled. It was the most heartfelt smile of his life, like the first thaw of winter snow. "I will, Canary. Thank you." The three pushed open the Testing Gate and walked out of the estate that had imprisoned Killua his entire life. The mist around Kukuroo Mountain gradually cleared, and sunlight pierced the clouds, falling warm and dazzling across them. Killua's steps grew lighter, and the shoulders he had held tense for over a decade finally relaxed completely. "Where are we going next?" Gon skipped ahead, his eyes full of anticipation. "I've heard about Heavens Arena for ages. There are lots of strong opponents there, and you can earn money too. How about we go there to practice Nen?" "Heavens Arena?" Killua's eyes instantly lit up. Ever since he was little, he had heard the family's assassins mention it. Powerful fighters from all over the world gathered there, and fierce matches took place on every floor. It was the perfect place to hone their combat skills. "Sounds great! I've been wanting to fight some truly strong opponents!" Lin Ye smiled and nodded. "Heavens Arena it is. We can fund our training through matches and systematically refine our Nen Abilities there. It'll be the perfect place to build a solid foundation for you both." His goals were clear: refine the integration of his unique aura and the Six Powers at Heavens Arena, help Gon and Killua master the basics of Nen and advance further, and, at the same time, face the man named Hisoka, who he knew had been waiting there to fight him. The three headed toward the town at the foot of the mountain, laughing and chatting along the way, free of their earlier tension and wariness. Killua shared amusing stories about his family, Gon recounted his experiences after the Hunter Exam, and Lin Ye listened quietly, adding a few words now and then. Warmth spread among the three. For the first time in his life, Killua felt the warmth of companionship. For the first time, he did not have to pretend, feel afraid, or stay constantly on guard against killing. Once they reached town, the three immediately bought airship tickets to the city where Heavens Arena stood. After boarding, Killua stood by a window and watched Kukuroo Mountain recede into the distance. He felt no reluctance to leave, only anticipation for the future. The airship slowly rose into the sky, passed through the clouds, and headed into the distance. Lin Ye found a spacious spot and had Gon and Killua sit down, his tone turning serious. "From now on, we'll begin formal Nen training. Before we reach Heavens Arena, I'll help you learn the basics of Ten, Zetsu, and Ren." Gon and Killua immediately sat up straight, their eyes focused, neither showing the slightest carelessness. Both understood that only by growing stronger could they protect their companions and hold their own in this dangerous world. "First, sense the presence of aura." Lin Ye sat cross-legged and gestured for them to follow his movements. "Close your eyes, clear your minds, and feel the life energy flowing inside your bodies. That is Nen. Don't deliberately try to control it. Just quietly feel its flow." Gon was naturally pure-hearted, free of distracting thoughts, and quickly settled into the exercise. His brow eased slightly; he had clearly sensed a faint trace of aura. Killua was exceptionally gifted, and the physical training he had received since childhood in the Assassin Family had given him superb control over his body. He too soon detected the course of the aura flowing within him. "Very good," Lin Ye encouraged softly. "Next, gather the aura on the surface of your body to form a thin barrier. This is Ten. Ten is the foundation of Nen. It protects your body and stabilizes the flow of aura. You need to maintain it twenty-four hours a day." Following Lin Ye's guidance, the two carefully directed the aura inside them to the surface of their bodies. Gon's aura was somewhat rough but remarkably resilient, clinging to his skin like a suit of invisible armor; Killua's aura was supple and fine, wrapping around his entire body like flowing water, perfectly suited to his talent for speed. "Keep it steady. Don't let the aura disperse," Lin Ye instructed. "From now on, whether you're eating, sleeping, or walking, you must maintain Ten. This is the first step toward becoming a Nen user." Gon and Killua nodded firmly, holding tightly to their aura without daring to relax for an instant. Lin Ye used this time to begin refining his own abilities. Closing his eyes, he merged the aura within his body with his unique defensive aura, trying to smooth its flow and sharpen the perception that allowed him to anticipate attacks. The burst of intimidating will he had unleashed at the Zoldyck estate had given him a new understanding of his power. He needed to bring it under his control as soon as possible, rather than wait for it to trigger on its own. The airship traveled through the clouds as time slipped by. Though Gon's and Killua's aura occasionally dispersed, they quickly gathered it again under Lin Ye's guidance, progressing at an astonishing pace. "Lin Ye, my body feels so light, like it's full of strength!" Gon opened his eyes excitedly, the Ten covering his body steady and thick. Killua opened his eyes too, a smug smile tugging at his lips. "I can maintain Ten easily now too. Nen Abilities really are much more interesting than my family's physical training." Lin Ye watched their progress, his eyes filled with relief. Gon's talent for the enhancement type and Killua's talent for transmutation were both exceptional, one-in-ten-thousand gifts. With proper refinement, they would surely become top-tier fighters in the future. "Next, practice Zetsu," Lin Ye continued. "Zetsu completely suppresses the aura within your body, concealing your presence so your opponent can't sense you. It's essential for moving undetected and avoiding danger." He demonstrated personally, instantly suppressing all traces of his aura. It was as though he had vanished. Gon and Killua stared wide-eyed, unable to sense even the slightest fluctuation of aura from Lin Ye. "That's amazing!" Gon's eyes shone with admiration. The two immediately began practicing Zetsu. As an assassin, Killua already had a talent for concealing his presence and quickly grasped the trick, perfectly suppressing his aura. Gon was somewhat clumsy, but through sheer determination, he gradually got the hang of it too. Their training aboard the airship was quiet and fulfilling. There was no killing, no danger, only companions keeping one another company and improving together. As Lin Ye guided the two, he refined his own abilities, continually improving the integration of the Six Powers and Nen. Flash Shave grew faster, Kami-e's evasions became more fluid, and Tempest Kick's aura blades grew sharper. Toward evening, an announcement sounded over the airship's speakers: they would soon reach their destination. Gon and Killua stood up excitedly and pressed close to the window, looking down at the enormous building coming into clearer view below-Heavens Arena. The building towered into the clouds like a steel beast standing in the center of the city. Faint cheers drifted from every floor, carrying the pulse-quickening atmosphere of battle. "We're finally here!" Gon shouted excitedly. Fighting spirit flared in Killua's eyes as well. "I can't wait to get in there and fight!" Lin Ye rose and patted both of their shoulders, his gaze resolute. "Let's go. Starting today, this is our training ground. Here, we'll grow stronger step by step, until we're strong enough to protect everyone we want to protect." The three disembarked side by side and headed toward Heavens Arena. The setting sun stretched their shadows, their three figures close together. The road ahead was long, but filled with hope and light.
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