Date: August 2nd, 2011
Refreshed and with lighter shoulders, I head off to meet with Pokkle to continue his training. Although I'm still a little upset knowing I have to let so many die, last night's conversation with my girlfriend has eased that discomfort, making my mind clearer and calmer to continue teaching.
'Having a girlfriend isn't as bad as I thought.' I think as I walk bouncily down the street.
Eventually I meet Pokkle and we both run back to the area where we trained yesterday.
"Okay, today we'll continue with our sparring practice with Ren. And if you can't master it, then you'll spend the last three hours of the day following yesterday's advanced principles." I say to Pokkle, who seems quite discouraged by the idea.
"Hum, Kai, wouldn't it be better if we discussed ideas for the Nen ability I'll be using? As you saw yesterday, I'm not very suited for close combat, so I should create an ability soon instead to..." He doesn't have time to finish his speech when I send him flying with a punch to the face.
"Sorry, I thought you were trying to get away with it and take the easy way out. By any chance do you want to stop trying too hard and create an ability that solves everything for you?" I ask quite irked, with Pokkle's gaze fixed on me.
"But I've been training Nen for six months now, and I still haven't even mastered the four basic principles. Besides, you yourself have acknowledged that I have no talent for physical combat, so what's the point of continuing to waste our efforts on something I'm never going to master?" Pokkle asks, trying to argue in his defense.
"It would be easier to create an overpowered ability like your portals, then I wouldn't need to fight to get out of trouble."
"That's just your complacency talking. If that's really how you think, then maybe you aren't fit to be a Hunter after all. You need to think more deeply and be more cautious if you want to survive." I say with a critical and slightly threatening tone.
"My Wormhole Orb isn't a powerful combat ability; I'm the one who makes it strong with my effort and creativity. Ultimately, Nen abilities are created to fulfill certain purposes, and it's you yourself who must be able to fight to fulfill them, and for that, you need to be strong."
"It's true that some adapt their fighting style to fit their Nen abilities like I do, but even so, these prodigious individuals possess excellent physical combat capabilities too, and their abilities are designed to be highly versatile both in and out of combat. They don't simply think that their special power will fix everything when things go sour."
"You must follow the learning steps in the proper order so that your growth isn't derailed and you have a greater chance of survival. Whether it's from another Nen user or an unknown creature, if you don't train the foundations of body and mind, no matter what kind of power you develop, your chances of success will be slim."
"If you can't understand that, then you're already dead and I don't have a reason to stay here anymore, so I will leave and let the teacher issued by the Hunters' Association handle your training. So... What do you say?"
Pokkle remains on the ground, thinking for a while. The allure of a paranormal ability and my ruthless training style makes it difficult for him to accept my arguments, even if he knows they are true, looking down with his lips trembling in denial. Perhaps this frustration is also partly due to my inflexibility in my training approaches.
"Even if you say so, I still can't just dismiss the idea of creating my own Nen ability. Precisely because the world is so dangerous, I want a power that matches my strengths that will allow me to overcome adversity. I need it, I know it's like that." Pokkle says still in denial.
"If you're so desperate to acquire a special superpower, then you don't have to worry. When we reach the end of our training period and your teacher takes over again, I'll tell you my ideas for Nen abilities suitable for an Emitter. We're birds of a feather, so you can trust my judgment."
Saying this I extend my hand to Pokkle, and softening his expression he takes it and gets up from the ground.
"Alright, we'll continue the combat training. I can handle this for three more days. But I hope those abilities are really worth it." Pokkle answers with slight skepticism.
"Don't worry. You've seen my own abilities yourself, so you know I'm trustworthy." I reply with a somewhat smug smile.
With the insecurities out of the way and my discipline imparted, we get into fighting stances and resume yesterday's intense and painstaking sparring practice.
I had to rebuild Pokkle's inherently flawed foundations, so I spent the entire session correcting every detail of his approach to combat:
"Your center of gravity is still too low!"
"Being so near of your opponent, an elbow is better than a punch!"
"Add more emotion to increase the strength of your aura!"
"Like when shooting an arrow, concentrate your aura to strike!"
"Coordinate where your feet land whenever you move, not just when you step or kick!"
I criticized even the smallest imperfection I could see to improve the control and technique of his body, and the flow and harmony of his aura, switching from Ren to Zetsu every time his aura became too depleted, but never stopping fighting.
When we were about to reach 8 hours of training... Pokkle jumps to dodge a low kick from me and launches a side kick that makes me slide on the ground when I block it.
"That was much better. It seems like you're getting it now." I say as I look pleased at Pokkle with his aura more concentrated and strong than yesterday, especially on the leg he just hit me with.
Pokkle, for his part, is bewildered by what he just did and by the sight of the aura surrounding his body. "My Ren... has changed. Just yesterday my aura was still unbalanced and my physical abilities weren't that high, and now not only did I dodge you, but I even made you slide with a blow. How come my attack was so strong?" He asks in astonishment.
"That's thanks to my intensive and merciless training, and the influence of my Development Orb, of course." I start explaining.
"Your innate latent potential has been increased to its maximum, so not only has your maximum level capital increased, but also your muscle memory and aura memory. Along with all the other enhancements it grants, your survival rates are overall increased. But..."
Without finishing the sentence, I instantly close the distance separating me from Pokkle and deliver a strong punch to his stomach, causing him to spit blood and sending him flying, crashing into a tree and falling to the ground.
"That doesn't mean you can get distracted and let your guard down. No matter how strong you become, if you're not alert and ready to respond to your surroundings, a sneak attack can shatter or incapacitate you. Keep that in mind."
"Buagh! Cough, cough, cough." Pokkle vomits a little more blood and coughs in discomfort, unable to respond to me or get up due to the damage he has received.
"Come on, I didn't hit you that hard. We still have a lot of practice to do, so get up." I say as I grab his arm, lifting him off the ground and forcing him to continue.
By 4:00 pm, Pokkle is lying on the floor, panting from exhaustion and covered in bruises and sweat from training.
"Okay, we've now been sparring nonstop for 9 hours. It's time to take a well-deserved quality break and eat somthing good to regain your strength." I say opening a portal with the use left on my Wormhole Orb. "Let's go, Pokkle. I'll take you to a good place."
Pokkle gets up with some effort, and when we cross the portal together we end up in my large private penthouse in Heavens Arena.
"Huh? Whr ha yo bing me?" Pokkle asks almost unintelligibly because of the bruises swelling his face and mouth.
"This is one of the 21 luxury facilities that Heavens Arena fighters earn by defeating 10 opponents starting on the 200th floor of the tower, becoming the self-proclaimed elite of fighters, the Floor Masters. It's the 230th floor, and it's entirely mine." I answer.
"Wow. It's incedibl. It lks like yu coed vry well afe te exam." Pokkle says impressed, but still unable to articulate well.
"Please, take a shower and put on some ointment for the swelling. It's pretty quite irritating to hear you talk like that." I request him more worried than annoyed.
"Ad ho do yu thik is t blme fr me bing lik this?!" Pokkle asks getting enraged by my seemingly deresive attitude.
"Well, I suppose it's yours for not being strong enough to defend yourself from my attacks." I unapologetically answer with a mischievous smile to tease him more. "Either way, go right now. It'll do you good to cool off. And if you choose program 4, the side jets will vary in intensity to give you a massage."
With this detail, Pokkle softens a little his angry expression that can only be seen in the one good eye he has left, but before leaving he makes sure to look at the still open portal.
"Shuln't yu clos it alrady?" Pokkle asks pointing at it.
"No, I'll leave it open. I only had one use left on that orb, and I don't want to waste any more. So hurry up and take a bath already. We only have one hour until the portal closes." I request him a bit in a hurry.
At this, Pokkle finally turns around and heads for the bathroom, and I head to the kitchen with the intention of preparing some dishes I've looked at in the "101 Original Dishes" book I bought the other day.
Arriving at the kitchen space, I open the large refrigerator, which is full of pre-stocked food, and take a couple of minutes to think about what kind of dishes I should prepare this time before I start taking the ingredients out of the appliance and the cupboards.
'Okay, we'll go with a seafood menu.'
Point of View Switch: Pokkle
After taking off my clothes stained with dirt, sweat, and blood, I wrap a towel around my waist and prepare to open the bathroom door, getting temporarily shocked by its size and luxury.
But I quickly recover from my surprise and step into the shower, adjusting the intensity and temperature of the shower head on the built-in touchscreen until I find the perfect combination for me.
"Mmm, that's perfect. It's good to get out of the wild once in a while and enjoy these little privileges." I think out loud as my aching body relaxes under the showering.
'Kai has really done well these past few months. It makes me wonder what he wants from me.' I think changing my mood suddenly as I lower my head.
'Since the exam, he's always seemed rather peculiar, one of those who draw attention for his eccentric behavior. However, I didn't feel as much danger as I did with Hisoka and Gittarackur, and so I lowered my caution around him.'
'Just like with that group, I thought he was a friendly guy, and when he told me he wanted to become a Beast Hunter like me and that that's why he wanted my contact information, I was very happy to have a fellow newbie partner who would like to explore the world in search of new species not yet documented.'
'After that, we only had occasional conversations. He'd call me to tell me how his training was going, or to ask for advice or favors as a Beast Hunter. That made me feel great, like I was a seasoned veteran supporting a rookie, and that's why I did everything in my power to provide him with the necessary knowledge.'
'I believed that if he trained and gained experience, he'd become a great ally with whom I could fight side by side in the future. That's what I thought... until I saw the Heavens Arena video and saw the reality.' I think going sour as I navigate the screen and press the option for program 4 that Kai had recommended.
To my surprise, the shower head suddenly stops spraying water, and several jets emerge from the shower walls, spraying water all over my body with the ideal precision, temperature and intensity.
"Aaahhh! It feels so good!" I can't help but exclaim with my mind floating in a sea of pleasure as the water jets massage my tense and aching body better than a masseur.
After about 5 minutes of this, as I step out of the shower with my head in a daze, my body feels recovered from the intensive, non-stop training Kai put me through, and my bruises have mostly subsided.
However, as I sit on the incredibly comfortable bathroom stool and begin rinsing my hair with shampoo in front of the sink with its full-length mirror and white gold trim, my mind returns to the train of thought I had previously.
'Even after 7 months of training, I haven't been able to master the 4 basic principles of Nen, while Kai managed to defeat that incredibly dangerous individual who passed the exam with us, Hisoka, and end his life.'
'Looking at the vast difference in our skills from the footage of their fight, I realize how naive I was to think I could serve as his senior. It's clear that he's way above me. And that also makes me wonder, what does Kai want from me?'
'Wait, it won't be...' I stop rubbing as a terrible thought crosses my mind. '...that he brought me here to set a trap for me?'
'Sure, it makes sense if you consider our position as Hunters—we're always someone's target. Surely he's waiting for the moment I let my guard down to put his plans into motion.'
'Will he steal my Hunter License to sell it and subsidize himself? Or will he try to kill me like he did Hisoka so he'll have less competition as a Beast Hunter? With the aids I've provided him, he can easily manage in this profession on his own.'
'I don't know what he's up to, but it's clear that his actions, pushed to such lengths, can't simply be motivated by a simple sense of camaraderie among fellow Hunters. I must be vigilant and ready to escape if the situation escalates.'
Strengthening my resolve to keep up, I rinse my hair with the shower head to remove the foam and then dry myself with the surprisingly soft towels of the bathroom.
Once done, I grab the bottle of oilment for the swelling that Kai had mentioned to me, and when I apply it to my face and the parts of my body that were most mistreated by him, I feel the pain begin to soften and the swelling from the accumulated blood deflate until my face resembles somehow its original form.
'Wow, Kai really has the best resources at his disposal.'
With my body very relaxed, my bruises disappearing and my mind sharp, I put my clothes back and return to the main room and get stunned by what I see upon entering.
"Ah, I see you've finished your bath. Can you then sit at the table while you wait for me to finish? The broth still needs a few more minutes to get its flavor." Kai asks me while continuing to stir the steaming pot.
I do as he asks and sit at the table, amazed at the feast before me: The starter is a brown clam and noodle soup, the second course are seafood and vegetable rolls garnished with soy sauce and wasabi, the third are slices of white meat with a yellow sauce on top and bathing the plate, and the last dish that Kai brings after a few minutes seems to be an aqua pazza of red broth decorated with black olives and chopped vegetables and some lemon slices on the side.
'Wow, it's a banquet of seafood cuisine.' I think to myself looking at the diversity of the dishes as Kai sits at the other side.
"Very well, everything's ready to start eating. Pokkle, go ahead and try it." Kai offers with a friendly smile.
"Yes, of course. Thanks for the food." I respond, faking a smile as I pick up the spoon.
'Don't be fooled by appearances. It's possible Kai put some kind of anesthetics or poison in the food to render me defenseless. Either way, I have built some resistance to those things from my hunting experiences, so unless it's something very potent, I'll be fine.'
'Anyway, if that comes to that, I can use the antidote stored in my back teeth to recover and pretend to be defenseless so I can attack him with a knife when he comes across unaware.'
With these thoughts I dip the spoon into the soup, and as I put it in my mouth... 'It's good!' II think with my eyes wide open as I notice the flavor dancing on my palate.
Despite being so liquid, the soup has an intense flavor, and the tenderness of the noodles and clams complement it perfectly. As I take sips intermittently, I can taste in my mouth the vegetables that add to its flavor, such as the leek and bell pepper.
After finishing the dish and verifying that it doesn't contain any harmful substances, I take the fork to pierce the unknown white meat and dip it in its sauce before bringing it to my mouth.
'It's delicious!'
Chewing and savoring the meat, I realize it's a giant yellow-striped crab, a species of crustacean discovered on Sesuin Island in the Federation of Ochima in 1892. It's a local delicacy on the island, and despite having only tried it once years ago, I can still recall its texture and flavor.
And the sauce is a mustard marinade with pepper, honey, and oregano. Its strong flavor pairs perfectly with the meat and tantalizes my taste buds.
Without finishing the second course, I move on to the third: the seafood and vegetable rolls.
"They're delicious!" I shout out loud instead of thinking it this time.
This dish was divided into two types of rolls: one wrapped in smoked salmon and filled with cheese and avocado alongside vegetables, and the other wrapped in smoked tataki and filled with seaweed and shrimp.
Both have intense, fresh flavors, and when you combine them with soy sauce or wasabi... 'I just can't stop eating!'
After finishing about 4 rolls, I take the knife with my other hand and prepare to try the reddish aqua pazza.
"Wow! It's a little spicy and quite intense, but it's still delicious!" I say with a pleased expression, my concern about a sneaky poisoning now erased from my mind.
The poached white fish in the dish doesn't have a strong flavor on its own, but instead absorbs the flavor of the broth seasoned with spicy yet refreshing herbs and spices, such as chili, cherry tomatoes, and parsley. As with the giant yellow-striped crab meat in its sauce, the combination of flavors from the aqua pazza creates a delicious explosion of flavors in my mouth.
"I'm glad you like everything. I got these ideas from a cookbook and wasn't sure if they would turn out well." Kai says smiling with a relieved expression while also enjoying the feast.
"Yes, all these dishes are great. But... I notice that all the menu is seafood. Is there a special reason behind that?" I ask more out of curiosity than caution.
At my question, Kai puts down his cutlery and suddenly changes into a very serious demeanor. "The truth is, there is a reason I brought you here and prepared this feast native to the sea. Do you really want to know?"
At the intensity he's displaying, I nod nervously in confirmation, putting myself back on alert.
"The reason is that I recently discovered a new, undocumented species of fish... and I want to use it to prepare a jaw-dropping meal for Gourmet Hunter Menchi. That's why I wanted to practice my culinary skills with seafood."
Hearing his reason and sudden change in his speech from serious to easygoing, I fall back in my chair in bewilderment and disappointment.
"So that's your reason. Man, I thought it was going to be a big deal because of the tone you were taking, and it turns out it was something so simple and bland." I say disappointedly as I sit back down in the chair.
"It's not something simple and bland, it's a serious matter!" Kai suddenly shouts angrily, startling me and almost making me fall off the chair again. "It's Menchi, a 1-Star Gourmet Hunter who has traveled the world tasting all kinds of foods. Satisfying her demanding palate is a daunting task. And you should know this well taking into account the second phase of the Hunter Exam."
"Ah, it's true. The examiner who made everyone cook Great Stamps but then refused to try them all. I forgot about her." I say, the memory of that time coming to me.
"I'm sorry, Kai. I didn't mean to be rude. And you're right, satisfying that woman doesn't seem like an easy task from what I remember. But you and Nicholas were the only ones to get her to pass the exam, so if anyone can do it, it's definitely going to be you."
"Thank you for your vote of confidence. Come on, let's get back to eating." Kai says smiling, preparing his cutlery to continue.
"By the way..." I start saying, regaining his attention. "...you said you found a new species of fish that has not yet been documented. As a fellow Beast Hunter, could you share the details with me? I can pay you a good amount for that information if you want." I ask, intrigued by the discovery.
"I'm afraid I can't. I'm currently tied to a contract and can't share any more information than what I've already told you." Kai responds by politely refusing and taking one roll.
"Come on, it's just you and me here, and I'm not a bigot. No one needs to know. Just say it." I insist trying to convince him.
"Sorry, but I'm a professional and I won't violate the terms of my job. Please stop insisting, or I'll be forced to tighten the training as a form of retaliation." He answers without stopping eating.
"O-Ok." I respond scared by the warning.
'He's had no problem telling me about his plan with Hunter Menchi, but he's reluctant to talk about his work. Does that mean he doesn't see the need to be discreet with me about his personal life? Or is he trying to make me grow fonder of him by telling me this?'
'In any case, it doesn't seem like he intends to harm me at the moment, so I'll continue acting as I have been, but I'll keep an eye out in case he plans anything.' I think as I dip my fork back into the aqua pazz. 'So good.'
We both continue enjoying the food and chatting for a few more minutes, and after finishing all, Kai hurriedly grabs some water bottles from the fridge and takes me through the portal back into the forest before closing it and resuming my combat training using Ren, much to my chagrin.
What followed was another 3 or 4 hours of excessive physical abuse from this volatile and unforgiving mentor.
'One moment he's acting all friendly, inviting me to take a luxurious bath and preparing a delicious meal, and the next he's pounced on me, beating me up with a barrage of blows that make me bleed and bruise again. Kai is actually quite bipolar.'
Kai and I continue trading blows and practicing martial arts techniques throughout these hours, and despite the fact that I use Ren and Kai doesn't use aura, the fight is practically one-sided, with Kai counterattacking me and me ending up just as deformed as in the morning practice.
However, as we've been sparring throughout the day, I've noticed how my movements have become faster and more fluid, as if I could implement and counteract Kai's combat techniques without having to think about them, and finally, after a pattern of blocks and dodges, I manage to land a forward kick in Kai's stomach that makes him slide a couple of meters back.
He manages to block the blow with his left forearm, however, but I'm still surprised and pleased that I finally managed to land a hit against him.
"Okay, rest Pokkle. We're done with combat training." Kai says lowering his fighting stance.
"We were supposed to have a couple more hours of practice left. Is it because I've grown enough to land a hit on you?" I ask, feeling somewhat confident and smug about my small achievement.
"Don't let it go to your head. You've improved a lot, but I wasn't going all out because it was a sparring match. Besides, the reason why I decided to stop the fighting is that." Kai responds by pointing at me.
Confused by his statement, I turn my eyes toward myself, and what I see shocks me; without me realizing it, my Ren has grown stronger than before, and now it no longer disperses into the surroundings, but is concentrated around my body like a continuous flame.
"After several hours of immersion in the heat of combat against an opponent superior to you, you have finally perfected and mastered the use of your Ren."