After finishing the sandwiches I had brought with some tea, Pokkle and I moved on to the seventh training session: Rock Breaking through Shu and Ko.
"You already know how to control your aura to use the principles of Ko and Shu, but you still lack experience applying these techniques well, and that's why we're going to level up." I say preparing the rocks.
"In this exercise you will have to imbue the rock with your aura, and then use it to hit hard enough to break another rock." I explain, giving him a demonstration.
"That's all? It seems like a rather crude and simple exercise to me." Pokkle comments with a disenchanted look.
"You think so? Then try it. Try breaking 100 rocks with just one." I say tossing him the one I used.
Pokkle, somewhat grumpy, begins to do as I told him, but when he was already on the fifth rock...
"Huh? It fell apart? Why if Iwas using my aura?" He asks in dismay.
"Because you weren't concentrating enough. You have to imbue the rock with all your Nen to make it Ko, but try to do it only when you strike, otherwise you'll exhaust yourself out from repetition and the rock will lose its hardness and break." I explain while raising my finger.
"Number 9!" Pokkle yells.
"Yes. Tsk. I thought this was going to be a simple exercise." Pokkle complains.
"At first glance it seems that way, but learning to use the aura at the right time has its trick. And by the way, you haven't noticed my finger." I say turning my eyes to point at it.
"Ah, number 9!" Pokkle yells taking note and using Gyo.
"It's too late. Give me 500 push-ups." I command Pokkle, who looks at me frustrated but still complies.
"You're gradually improving your Gyo, but you still need practice. It's the same with the other advanced techniques. The key is to learn them now so you can practice them thoroughly later."
After finishing the push-ups for about 40 minutes, Pokkle set to work on his goal of breaking 100 stones. Although he gradually increased the number of rocks he could break, he still couldn't break the 30-stone mark even after 2 hours of trying.
'It's normal. Even though it's increased its potential, this goal takes several weeks for a beginner. Pokkle will still require more practice for each advanced principle once I leave.' I think as I watch him breaking rocks and curse again when the one in his hand breaks.
Eighth, En training.
"The aura is part of our essence, and therefore we can feel when it interacts with something, even if very vaguely. Based on this principle, what we do is extend our Ren to a much larger space and then contain it with Ten, forming a kind of dome." I explain by creating my own En with a radius of 10 meters.
"Right now, within this space, I'm able to perceive everything even with my eyes closed. You, the leaves, the trunks, the insects. It doesn't matter if someone tried to approach us while being in Zetsu state, I would still sense their presence. This technique is designed to seek out hidden enemies or detect imminent attacks, similar to an extrasensory sense. The downside is that it is very difficult."
"And you expect me to learn it? In case you don't remember, I only mastered using Ren yesterday, so stretching it like this seems more like a fantasy to me." Pokkle says with a rather condescending attitude.
"Even I understand that asking for something like this is irrational." I state canceling the En.
"The purpose of this exercise is for you to try to extend your Ren as much as possible, maintain it, and try to feel with your eyes closed whenever and wherever I enter your range."
"If you grasp the concept, that's fine for me. Is that okay, or does it still seem like too much for you? Maybe you'd like to review some of the other advanced techniques we've already practiced to make it easier for you?" I ask, trying to tease Pokkle with a fake, mocking, condescending attitude.
"No need. If it's just extending my Ren, then I can do that. Come on, let's start practicing." Pokkle declares closing his eyes, although more annoyed than I expected by my little playfulness.
Just as I suspected, we were able to make almost no progress with this technique in the end. Pokkle could barely extend his Ren 20 centimeters away from his body, and could only hold out for about 5 or 6 minutes at a time before his aura shut down.
Even after 1 hour, I couldn't see any improvement in either the range or duration of his Ren. The only noticeable thing was that he became somewhat accustomed to feeling my hands and feet slowly entering the range of his aura, blocking them to prevent me from making contact. But even that was within very low standards and success rates. Ultimately, it's a difficult technique, so nothing can be done.
The ninth and final type of training was a field practice in which I would hide among the forest foliage and try to challenge Pokkle in various tests such as throwing pebbles at him from different angles, sneaking up to hit him with a blow that he would have to defend against with different advanced techniques, demanding that he keep up with me while I nimbly move between the trees and shadows, etc.
This was aimed at sharpening their senses, decision-making, and adaptation to their surroundings. I myself had been undergoing this type of training since I was a child, and I also resumed it when I was training Nen in depth with Satotz, so I can vouch for its effectiveness.
Finishing after 1 hour and 20 minutes, the setting sun covers the entire forested landscape in a warm orange, and Pokkle finds himself sweating and panting while leaning on his knees, but still standing. It's a great achievement compared to yesterday, when he couldn't even stand.
"Like this, we can call it a day with our training. As your official master comes back from his errand tomorrow, I'll just give you an overview of the different subcategories of Nen abilities and some ideas for creating your own in the morning, and then we can consider our personal training finished and say our goodbyes." I say.
"I'm glad you do. I don't think I could endure this level of effort and demand any longer. Although I'm going to miss those meals you prepare. I'll admit that." Pokkle says doing stretches to relieve his aching body.
"I appreciate the compliment on my culinary skills, but I'm warning you: don't slack off on your training just because I'm not here. These practices have been designed to teach you how to use and practice advanced principles, and you should try to practice them until you master them. Otherwise..."
"I could be killed by a dangerous beast or another Nen user, yes, I know it. You've repeated me that several times during the training, so just leave it." Pokkle complains, interrupting and finishing my sentence.
"I'm saying this for your own good. As long as you remember and stick to it, that's enough for me. Let's go." I say, giving us the cue to march back to the city.
But in the middle of the walk... "Kai, can I ask you something?" Pokkle asks.
"What thing?" I ask in reponse.
"Why did you go to all this trouble to help me train? We haven't known each other for long, nor do we have that deep a relationship, and besides, you don't gain anything from me getting stronger, so why bother?" Pokkle asks me looking at me seriously.
"Eeehhh? You could have asked me that a long time ago. Why wait until now to bring it up?" I ask showing him a teasing smile.
"It's because you're leaving tomorrow and it'll be difficult to contact you again, so I wanted to confirm before then. If you don't want to answer me, it's better to forget I asked." Pokkle says annoyed trying to brush off the topic.
"It's because I was raised that way." I answer Pokkle's question, regaining his attention.
"Where I come from, there's a class system based on branches, so of course there are people who command and those who obey, but we all follow the philosophy of helping each other without distinction. Whether it's hunting, knitting, taking care of children, or any other task, no one refuses to lend a helping hand if they see it as necessary."
"I believe in that belief too, and since I knew you were going to have to face dangerous challenges as a Hunter, I decided to lend a hand to help you overcome them and have a better chance of survival. Because seriously, from what I knew about you, it was clear to me that your future was very bleak if I didn't act."
'What I'm saying isn't a lie, but it's not the whole truth either. Look, I can't just go and say,
"And haven't you considered that I could very well use the new skills you've given me and go after your head one of these days?" Pokkle asks trying to sound threatening.
"If that happens, I'll figure out how to fix it when the time comes. Sitting back and doing nothing for fear of what might happen is an insult to a warrior like me. Besides..." I start saying while turning my head to look at him with a smile. "... I don't think you're a bad person who will do that."
At this statement, Pokkle remains silent for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Ha ha ha! Oh, come on, you can't be serious! You don't think I'm a bad person? You don't even know me, ha ha ha!" Pokkle says with a laugh.
"Yes, but I'm good at judging people, and that's why I know it's true." I declare with my head held high, unfazed by Pokkle's sudden outburst.
"Ha Ha. Yes, of course. I don't know why I was so worried about it. It turns out you're a bit of a naive guy after all. Ha ha." Pokkle says calming down his laughing fit. "In spite of everything, I truly admire that principle of yours of lending a hand to others. Now, I don't think you're a bad guy either."
With these kind words that show his newfound understanding of me, a satisfied smile forms on my face as we both continue our walk towards Beeskafmarro.
Date: August 4th, 2011
Pokkle and I meet one last time in the forest near the city for our final Nen instructional session. The first thing I decide to do is give him a quick rundown of the subcategories that can be included in more complex Nen abilities.
Despite my extensive knowledge of Nen and the world of Hunter x Hunter, not even I can remember all the subcategories, so apart from the most relevant elements such as Conditions, Limitations and Pacts, I explain about some types of special powers such as Curses, Exorcisms, Doubles, Nen Beasts or Counteractives.
Pokkle listens attentively to my explanations showing a great degree of interest and appreciation, and when I finish listing the types of Nen I know, the moment he has been waiting for arrives when we start talking about what Nen ability he should create.
At first, Pokkle comes up with the idea that he would like to create something based on shooting arrows because he is an archer, and I can sense the idea of seven-colored arrows underlying his mind when he expresses that he could create arrows with special abilities.
"That's not a good idea. To create arrows with abilities, you'd need to use the Transmutation or Conjuration categories, both of which are far from your Emission category." I say.
"Furthermore, if you try to give them unusual effects with Transmutation, you could end up with a weak ability that doesn't help you properly."
"It would be better to use a real bow and arrow, or alternatively, apply the Enhancement, Emission, and Manipulation categories to the effects of your aura arrows to make them more powerful and appropriate for your skills."
"But you are also an Emitter like me, and you have created a very powerful Transmutation ability. I have witnessed it in your Heavens Arena recordings." Pokkle argues.
"But that's because I am a genius." I say firmly without showing shame for my arrogance. "Furthermore, I received a special Transmutation training method long before I discovered my own Nen category, so I had more ability to devise a technique appropriate to a specific intention."
"And then why haven't you taught me that training method?" Pokkle asks, narrowing his eyes.
"Because as I told you, the Transmutation category is far from the Emission category, so I didn't see it as necessary." I answer.
"Still, you should have explained it to me, just like you did with the other training methods. You're trying to teach me something as difficult as En, but you don't want to do the same with Transmutation? With the skill I had in mind, I would have liked you to include Transmutation in the program." Pokkle argues, visibly displeased by my answer.
"Fine, fine. If you're so interested, I'll teach you the Transmutation training method once we're done discussing Nen abilities. But I'm warning you, don't neglect your other training, or you'll be putting your neck on the line. I won't be held responsible if you persist in improving what you're not good at." I say to Pokkle, looking at him with seriousness and a sense of warning.
He simply nods at me in confirmation, and we both begin discussing our ideas for Nen abilities. As I had suspected, Pokkle had originally intended to create arrows of seven different colors using Emission and Transmutation, but according to his words, he'd now reconsider the idea thanks to my advice.
As for me, these are the ideas I had come with:
— The first one is based on his original Nen Rainbow Arrows power, but instead of using Transmutation, he would use Enhancement, Emission, or Manipulation to use it. Properly assembled, this ability could compete with Prince Halkenburg's.
— An ability that allows him to enchant real arrows with his aura to apply certain effects. While it may look the same as the first one, this ability grants a whole new range of abilities and limitations, its greatest benefit being the potential power boost. I'm also including a secondary ability in case Pokkle runs out of arrows on hand.
— An ability that allows him to transmit his mind into the body of a specific person while they sleep. It would be a great ability for infiltration, escape, and reconnaissance, since even if he were killed, his mind would simply return to his original body.
— Controlling vectors to increase the power of attacks or reflect incoming attacks. I don't think it can be made powerful enough to reflect unpredictable or unparryable attacks, but it would still be a great ability.
— A teleportation ability that would allow him to instantly appear at a predetermined location. This would be useful for attacking enemies from different angles, or for escaping. (Unlike Knov's, this ability wouldn't create a pocket dimension, but would instantly transport the user to another location.)
"I see. It's clear you've thought carefully about which abilities would be most appropriate for me based on my personality and skills. Hey, haven't you thought about becoming a Nen teacher? I can assure you're better than the one assigned to me." Pokkle asks me while pondering my ideas.
"It's a window I have open, but for the moment I'm more focused on other more urgent and important projects." I answer.
Clearing up his doubt and with the Nen abilities ideas already announced, I begin to move the aura around my fingers to demonstrate to Pokkle my Transmutation training method: Pip-Play.
"To increase its difficulty you can include more spheres, change their speed, give them shapes, basically manage your aura using creativity to improve." I explain while I demonstrate how to do it.
"At first glance, it seems simple, but it has its degree of complexity. Like the Rock Breaking training." Pokkle adds.
With my last lesson taught and nothing else to do in this city, I use my Wormhole Orb to open a portal to the hotel where Nicholas and I were staying in the city of Kituso, ready to leave.
"Well, that's where we say goodbye. It's been a very entertaining three days helping you delve deeper into the world of Nen. I hope you train hard and don't make me look bad as an instructor by dying like a street dog." I tell Pokkle as I start to go through the portal.
"Don't worry, I'll be able to manage with the methods you've taught me. Just worry about me putting myself above you in the Beast Hunter profession, Mr. Dual Specialty." Pokkle says joking with me.
"Ha ha, yeah right. You're still a long way from being able to be a challenge for me, so I'll take it easy for now. If you want me to take you seriously, you'd better keep training to increase your power and reputation. We'll keep in touch over the phone to tell each other how things are going. Goodbye." I say goodbye to him waving my index and middle fingers from my forehead as the portal finally closes.