Date: August 15th, 2011
In the Badlands.
After enjoying a hearty breakfast prepared by Kai, he and Biscuit quickly gathered all their belongings—including their travel gear and the clothes they had bought in the city—and hurried back to their base of operations.
After stowing everything away in their respective hideouts, the two reunite at their favorite spot in the wasteland, and Kai begins stretching in preparation for his shortened four-hour training while Biscuit watches from a nearby rock.
"If we'd kept them as cards, we could have stored them in our binders and brought them out whenever we needed them. Now we'll have to come back here every time we want to change our outfits, which is both a hassle and an unnecessary exposure risk for our hideouts." Biscuit remarks.
"Maybe. But we need the space in our binders for important cards and for organizing strategies." Kai argues while stretching out his left arm.
"In any case, you don't have to stay and watch my boring training session. You could go explore or find something else to do before we have to head to the Antokiba tournament."
"No, I'm fine right here. I don't have any other plans for the moment." She says, sipping some tea bought in Masadora. "Besides, I'm curious to see how you usually train."
Biscuit might often play the part of a capricious, selfish girl, but just as she was a Stone Hunter, she was also, at her core, a martial artist and an instructor, so observing the training methods of a fighter of Kai's caliber firsthand was exactly what she wanted to do.
Not only would she be more than willing to guide him if she saw him taking the wrong approach, but she could also assess his talent and potential. If she found them outstanding, she would take immense pleasure in honing them to perfection.
"Suit yourself." Kai says, finishing his stretches. "Alright, that's enough warming up. Let's get back to the usual routine. Please, Biscuit—try not to interrupt me unless it's something important."
With those final words, Kai activates his Ren and begins his intensive training.
For the first three hours, in addition to maintaining and improving his Ren control, he focused on further strengthening his physical capabilities.
This involves doing 2,000 push-ups with a five-ton rock on his back, attempting to run while dragging a tethered rock weighing twice as much, performing 3,000 sit-ups, and practicing advanced techniques—Ken, Ryu, Ko, and even Shu applied to his sword—by striking one of the many stone pillars scattered throughout the area.
'I'm rusty.' Kai thinks as he swiftly crushes the rock.
'Not by much, and I'm still in good shape. But I can tell my speed and precision with aura aren't as sharp as they were when I fought Hisoka.'
'Being so busy with the agency and the game has caused my combat ability to decline—albeit only slightly.'
'I'm going to have to work harder than I thought to sharpen my skills if I intend to face the Troupe.'
After three hours of grueling training—during which his aura flickered a few times from the strain—Kai finally deactivates it; he leans one hand against a ruined pillar, panting heavily and drenched in sweat.
"Are you alright? Do you need a break?" Biscuit asks, still seated a short distance away.
"I'm fine. This is nothing. I still need to train my perception and spatial mobility." Kai replies, leaving Biscuit puzzled.
Kai then enters Zetsu before speaking to her again.
"I'll have to move away from here for this. Are you coming with me, or are you staying behind?"
"I'll come along. I want to see what else you try to train while you look this exhausted." She replies, standing up and smoothing out her dress.
Kai nods and immediately takes off running in a random direction.
As he runs through the field of rock pillars—maintaining a state of Zetsu to replenish his aura—he focuses on his surroundings: observing the environment, feeling the dust-laden wind against his skin, and sharpening his hearing and even his sense of smell, all with the aim of finding something without using Nen.
It takes no more than two or three minutes for something to catch his attention.
"Biscuit, veering right!" Kai shouts as he quickly leaps over the rocks in that direction, finding a large Cyclops on the other side.
The giant monster notices Kai's presence and prepares to strike with its club, but before it can, Kai lunges forward and strikes its eye, causing the Cyclops to transform into a card.
As Biscuit climbs down from the rocks to join him, Kai picks up the card and looks at it disapprovingly before sliding it into his binder.
"This isn't enough. Let's keep going!"
Kai then returns to his run, moving with practiced agility across the area as he continues searching for monsters to hunt over the next hour. During that time, he manages to find two Stretchy Slimes, several Cyclops, three Hyper Puffballs, two Bubble Horseys, one Radio Rat, and one Melanin Lizard.
Despite dispatching each of them quickly and with little difficulty, he remains dissatisfied with his performance. The moment one monster is defeated, he immediately moves on in search of another, showing no inclination to slow down or rest.
Throughout the training session, Biscuit is unable to tear her captivated gaze away from the hardworking Kai.
She watches his movements closely, silently analyzing every step, every movement, every adjustment, and every decision he makes—not merely as a fellow Nen user, but through the eyes of a seasoned Nen and martial artist instructor evaluating the abilities and potential of another practitioner.
'Oh my...'
'What an exquisite stone.'
'His fundamentals are already exceptionally well polished. His movements are precise, his aura control is refined, and even his stamina seems to have been tempered through years of disciplined training. There are still moments when his movements leave the tiniest margin for error, but that is hardly surprising. He's still young, and he simply hasn't had enough time to accumulate the experience necessary to eliminate those imperfections entirely.'
'And more importantly... he doesn't simply train hard. He understands why he's training, he knows what he still lacks, and he constantly adjusts his methods to push himself to even greater heights. That's the true spirit of a martial artist.'
'His ability to adapt is particularly impressive. Every time the situation changes, he adjusts his movements, his timing, and even the amount of aura he uses to match it. He doesn't rely on brute force when precision will suffice, nor does he act rashly simply to finish an opponent faster.'
'And that aura control...'
Biscuit's eyes gleam as she watches Kai dispatch another monster.
'So clean and precise.'
'He can increase his output when power is needed, then immediately rein it back in when speed, precision, or endurance becomes more important. There's very little waste in his movements or his aura. It's almost as though every action has been carefully cut into shape.'
Biscuit's smile slowly widens as she continues watching him.
'But that's what makes this stone so interesting...'
'The more I watch, the more facets I find.'
'Speed. Precision. Timing. Aura control. Adaptability. Endurance. And a desire for self-improvement. Each one catches the light differently.'
Having examined each of his facets and strengths, a clear image forms in Biscuit's mind.
'Alexandrite...'
'Yes. That's what he reminds me of. A rare stone whose color changes depending on the light, revealing a different brilliance from every angle.'
'His performance changes in much the same way. Against one opponent, his speed becomes the defining facet. Against another, it's his precision. When endurance becomes important, he shifts again. And when the situation gets complicated, he can think on his feet and act accordingly.'
'He isn't simply repeating the same polished movements over and over—he's revealing a different facet of his skill with every new challenge.'
Kai suddenly changes direction, adjusting his footing and timing across the landscape and slipping between two rock pillars without breaking his stride; Biscuit's eyes follow him effortlessly.
'And yet... He's still not fully cut.'
'Those tiny margins of error are proof of that. His fundamentals may already be exceptionally refined, but there are still facets that haven't reached their full brilliance.'
For perhaps the first time since beginning her observation, Biscuit's expression takes on the unmistakable excitement of a Stone Hunter who has discovered something truly precious.
'I wonder how much more brilliance this man could reveal if I were the one to polish those rougher edges off him. How many more facets are still hidden beneath the surface? And what color will it show when I expose him to greater pressure... stronger opponents... harder challenges?'
'Ahh... I really want to find out!'
'I haven't encountered such a wonderful stone in a very long time. Just how many more facets are still hidden inside you, Kai?'
After the training session finally comes to an end, Biscuit stands watching Kai, who sits on the ground, even more exhausted from the short run that followed. He's panting heavily, drenched in sweat, and looks as though his body has been pushed to its limits.
'It's still not good enough.' Kai looks down at his hand, lost in thought. 'I still can't make my movements in combat feel fluid and natural enough. My aura control isn't perfect yet. And I still can't break through that one-second barrier when switching to Zetsu.'
'If I want to ensure my survival against the Phantom Troupe and protect everyone during the Yorknew City massacre, I need to reach the level I achieved against Hisoka—without relying on risk or emotion to bring it out.'
Clenching his hand with renewed determination, Kai looks up at Biscuit.
"I'm done with my morning training, so I'm going to rest here for an hour or so. Once I've caught my breath, we'll transport to Antokiba." He opens his binder and takes out a container of water.
"If you were planning to compete after pushing your aura and body this hard, it would have been better to train in the afternoon." Biscuit remarks.
"That's true. But getting most of my training done in the morning saves me a lot of hassle. Besides, I recover pretty quickly." Kai replies.
"Even so, I don't think you'll be back to 100% by then." Biscuit counters.
Kai gives her a cocky smile. "Well, I still doubt there's anyone worth competing against."
The statement irritates Biscuit for a moment, but before she can say anything, Kai continues.
"Besides, you'll be competing on my side too. If you can keep up with me while running, there's no way we can lose."
Hearing this, Biscuit's momentary irritation melts away. A pleased sigh escapes her as she smiles, realizing the misunderstanding.
"No, that's not right. If the two of us are going to compete, then you have to give it your all to beat me, too. I don't want to win by default, so I'll help you." As she says this, Biscuit begins to release her Ren.
'After spoiling me so much yesterday and letting me witness such a display of talent, I think he deserves a little leeway.'
Her aura begins to leak from one of her fingers, taking shape until it transforms into a beautiful woman with pink hair and turquoise eyes, dressed in a revealing masseuse's outfit.
"This is Cookie, the Magical Esthetician! Her various massage techniques are a gateway to pleasure! By transforming Nen into a body lotion, she is guaranteed to restore youth and vitality to your skin, with beautiful results!"
"Headaches, arthritis, muscular tension, dislocated joints, and even extreme fatigue are no match for her expert massaging fingers! If you let her take care of your body, a 30-minute massage will be equivalent to 8 hours of sleep, and you'll be as good as new and ready to compete in the tournament!"
Kai gazes at the attractive Nen construct for several seconds before responding. "It is certainly impressive. With an ability like that, I wouldn't have to worry about physical ailments, and I could train much faster and achieve better results. But are you sure about revealing your Nen ability to me just like that?"
Everything Kai says is true. He genuinely considers Cookie an incredible ability. Her capacity to treat physical ailments and accelerate recovery is one of the main reasons he sought to form a partnership with Biscuit in the first place.
Still, he had expected it to take a little longer before Biscuit was willing to reveal it to him. After all, revealing your Nen ability to another person makes you more vulnerable.
'He certainly always knows the right words to say. Despite focusing so much on increasing his power, he knows how to appreciate the great value of this ability. Either he is a master manipulator, or he has an innate ability to charm people.' Biscuit thinks to herself before answering.
Biscuit considers him for another moment before answering.
"Don't worry about that, you silly. We agreed to face this game as a team, and you've done enough for me to trust you—at least enough to reveal my ability to you."
"Now just lie back and let yourself be carried away by Cookie's magical fingers. Believe me, you'll appreciate it."
Seeing how willing Biscuit is to help—and not wanting to refuse after she has offered—Kai lies down on his back as instructed. At a gesture from her creator, Cookie begins to massage him, combining her aura Transmutation with her extensive knowledge of anatomy and pressure points to provide a truly restorative treatment.
As the massage continues, Kai's mind gradually drifts into a state of deep relaxation and pleasure. His sore muscles begin to recover, while the exhaustion weighing down his body slowly fades beneath Cookie's soft, precise, and gentle touch.
"This feeling of happiness is wonderful. Biscuit, you have truly created an exceptional Hatsu." Kai speaks through his growing drowsiness, struggling to resist the urge to fall asleep in such a relaxed state.
"Heh heh heh. Right? Cookie is the best." Biscuit says with a smug smile. "So, what do you say? If you accept me as your wife now, you can take Cookie along as part of the package, too."
"Stop talking nonsense." Kai mutters, barely possessing the energy to respond to her joke.
For the next 30 minutes, Kai continues to relax as Cookie works her magic. When the treatment finally ends, Kai springs to his feet, fully refreshed and brimming with energy, as though he hadn't just pushed his body to its limits under immense strain.
"Wow, this is incredible! I feel like new!" Kai exclaims as he strikes a few bodybuilding poses. "Thanks, Biscuit. Now I really feel like no one can beat me."
"You're welcome, my dear. Alright, shall we head over to Antokiba and sign up?" Biscuit asks as she dismisses Cookie, causing the Nen construct to vanish.
"Since we've saved some time during the break, we can wait a little longer. Besides, we still have to make one more visit to our hideouts before heading over there, right?"
Biscuit responds with a nod, and the two of them begin chatting about their game strategies and other topics of interest.