"Wither Heart Bomb!"
A bomb shot out from Killer Queen's right arm, an auto-tracking type that locked onto its target based on heat signatures. The power of its explosion was directly correlated to the heat of the target.
Its defensive capabilities were extreme—ordinary attacks couldn't destroy it. However, despite its overwhelming explosive power, the Wither Heart Bomb wasn't without weaknesses. It had a particular sensitivity to heat.
If there were a higher heat source near the intended target, the bomb would prioritize the hotter object, completely ignoring its original aim.
"That's why using the Wither Heart Bomb requires precise timing."
"Otherwise, it won't be effective, and a lot of aura will be wasted."
Chitong – B Rank.
This was the eighth Nen Beast Kaizen had absorbed and created during his time in the United States of Saherta. Not only had he manifested Chitong, but also the Demon Sword Murasame—a blade capable of instant kills.
In terms of raw strength, Chitong was weaker than Natsu. However, the ability of the Demon Sword Murasame was far more dangerous than any ability Natsu had. One strike meant instant death.
It wasn't poison. It functioned more like a curse.
Due to the conditions required to activate such an ability, Chitong naturally held more power than Natsu in certain situations, as limitations and vows strengthened its capabilities.
When comparing power levels, the Kingdom of Fiora and the United States of Saherta were on par. However, in terms of narrative depth, Fairy Tail had a stronger foundation than Crimson Eyes.
That being said, Natsu also had his own restrictions and vows. He could replenish energy by consuming flames and even alter the attributes of his flames by eating different substances.
This limitation balanced out his overall power.
Thus, when evaluating them comprehensively, Chitong's strength still ranked slightly below Natsu's.
"Now, I can organize my combat strategy like this:"
Cyber Intelligence – Altan.
Undoubtedly the best fit for this role.
Support Role – Lantern Ghost.
Whether it's obscuring the battlefield with mist or sharing pain, its abilities make it an excellent support unit.
Frontline Tank – Natsu.
Possesses both powerful offensive and defensive capabilities, making him the strongest in direct combat.
Flanking Support – Uchiha Sasuke.
While his defenses are average, his attack power is overwhelming, and with the Sharingan, his ability to exploit enemy weaknesses is unparalleled.
Lethal Finisher – Killer Queen & Chitong.
Killer Queen's bombs and Chitong's Demon Sword Murasame are both devastating weapons that can deliver fatal blows.
If an enemy is hit, they'll either be severely wounded or outright killed.
The problem lay in Raiken's positioning.
Compared to Natsu and Sasuke, Raiken was far weaker.
Instead of distributing aura to Raiken, it would be far more efficient to allocate it to Natsu or Sasuke to maximize combat effectiveness.
His only potential contributions were Position Swap and Libra's Gravity Game.
However, given Raiken's current level of strength, using Libra's Gravity Game effectively against a powerful opponent would be difficult.
Kaizen's hypothetical opponent right now was a high-level A-Rank Nen user. Against a B-Rank, he wouldn't need an overly intricate strategy—Raiken wouldn't even need to participate.
"Maybe I should consider fusing Raiken with another Nen Beast?"
Position Swap could be utilized by any Nen Beast.
Libra's Gravity Game, however, was best suited for either Natsu or Sasuke.
"Perhaps I should merge Raiken with Sasuke?"
Sasuke's biggest weakness was his durability. If Raiken's abilities could enhance his defensive potential, the fusion would be worth it.
Kaizen made his decision.
However, an immediate fusion wasn't possible.
The last time he successfully fused Nen Beasts—merging Natsu with Akutagawa Ryunosuke—was only because of a rare opportunity he encountered in the Kurta Clan's trial grounds.
That event had merely given him the ability to merge two Nen Beasts.
For this fusion, he would need to develop the ability himself.
"In the past, I avoided developing new abilities beyond my core Nen because of limited energy."
"Moreover, my Nen Beasts already provided me with a diverse skill set."
"But now, I'm ready."
"I have plenty of time during this Hunter Exam."
"And my fundamental training is at a strong enough level that I don't need to focus on it as much. Developing a Nen Beast fusion ability will be far more beneficial."
Suddenly—
Crunch!
The door creaked open.
A figure stepped inside.
Short blonde hair.
Dressed in distinctive formal attire—blue fabric embroidered with golden patterns, layered over a white training uniform. A wooden staff, wrapped in bandages, was strapped to their back.
They glanced around the room before quietly moving toward the bed and sitting down.
Kurapika.
Kaizen's gaze landed on Kurapika.
As he entered, Kaizen noticed a subtle increase in the rate at which his Observer's Will Nen was absorbing characteristics. It wasn't obvious, but the change was there.
"I still haven't fully figured out how this ability calculates absorption."
"Back when I absorbed the traits of the Kurta Clan, Kurapika contributed to it."
"Now, as I absorb characteristics during the Hunter Exam, he's contributing again."
"I'm gathering two sets of benefits from one person."
For the past three years, Kurapika must have undergone rigorous training.
As for his investigation into the Kurta Clan's massacre, it seemed he still followed the original course—placing all the blame on the Phantom Troupe.
In other words, he had only discovered one of the true culprits.
For Kurapika, this was probably for the best.
With his current strength, he wouldn't stand a chance against the true mastermind behind the genocide.
Kakin, Mimbo, and Meteor City.
How could Kurapika handle such forces alone?
Even legendary figures like Maha Zoldyck, Netero, and Ging Freecss would struggle to take revenge against these enemies.
Furthermore, if Kurapika's restrictions and vows were broad enough to target such a wide range of enemies, the enhancement to his abilities wouldn't be as extreme. He might not even be able to defeat Uvogin in that state.
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