In this space, the commotion caused by Akira's breakthrough was exceptionally grand.
At this moment, he was like the blazing sun, his radiance overwhelmingly intense, accompanied by extraordinarily high energy fluctuations.
Massive amounts of overflowing Aura surged outward in all directions, sweeping through the surroundings in waves.
The pure Aura formed shockwaves, stirring up fierce winds that caused the Nitro Rice plants on the other side to bend slightly.
This tremendous disturbance naturally snapped everyone who had been immersed in the Nitro Rice back to reality.
Ging frowned, his closed eyes abruptly opening, a fleeting look of intoxication flashing across them.
Ging was no exception—he had been savoring this so-called ultimate delicacy, equally stunned by its incredible flavor.
If one paid attention, they would notice slight fluctuations in the Aura on Ging's body.
This was the effect of the Nitro Rice.
However, it was far less pronounced than the effects Akira experienced.
Because Akira had Snorlax, which could multiply the effects of the same Nitro Rice several times over.
Following his senses, Ging looked over and saw that Akira, who had been there moments ago, had vanished, leaving behind only an enormous "orb" of energy.
Had this occurred in the outside world, the sheer force of this outburst would likely have devastated the surrounding terrain, as if plowed multiple times.
'Is this... an enormous breakthrough in strength?' Ging's face revealed astonishment.
He hadn't expected Akira to make such significant progress after consuming the Nitro Rice.
Because he had also tasted it, he understood just how potent the Nitro Rice was.
He had only eaten half a bowl, yet his body was now brimming with boundless life energy.
This sudden surge of vitality had slightly loosened his control over his [Flow], which was why his Aura showed fluctuations.
He could feel every part of his body "rejoicing," as if "welcoming" the arrival of the Nitro Rice.
It was an incredibly mystical experience—one he had never felt before in his life.
A similar experience, however, did come to mind.
Ging recalled that many years ago, while exploring a certain ruin, he had encountered a small, pure-white tree.
That tree was peculiar—its branches, leaves, and even the fruit it bore were all white.
But it wasn't the ordinary white one might see. It was an extremely pure white.
He had seen another thing with the same purity of white.
That was the [White Fire], one of the [Seven Wonders of the Culinary World].
Both possessed that same pristine whiteness.
He remembered that the ruin itself was special, but this tree was equally extraordinary.
At first glance, he knew this tree was extraordinary, and his attention was involuntarily drawn to the fruits on it.
There weren't many fruits on the tree, just a sparse few.
He tried picking one, but as soon as he did, something strange happened.
The tree began to disappear from the roots upward, rapidly decaying until it vanished completely.
The speed was astonishing.
In the brief moment he hesitated, most of the tree had already disappeared, as if deliberately preventing the fruits from being taken.
In that split second, he used both hands and managed to pick all the fruits just before they vanished.
After confirming through various methods that they were edible, he tried one.
The sensation was similar to Nitro Rice.
A surge of pure life energy flowed into his body, causing changes in every aspect of his being.
Seeing such remarkable effects, even Ging, simple as he was, knew these fruits were truly extraordinary.
Though he later attempted to analyze their composition or cultivate them, he ultimately achieved no success.
The remaining fruits were gradually used up for various reasons, until now only one remained.
That last fruit, like other rare fruits, was stored in his spatial Aura tool—the Little Pouch.
He speculated that perhaps this unknown fruit was related to the Dark Continent, or even originated from there.
After all, in all this time, he had never encountered another similar tree or fruit.
Yet today, he experienced a similar sensation.
The unknown white fruit, like the Nitro Rice known as [Hope], contained life energy.
The differences, apart from appearance and variety, included the fact that the white fruit's life energy was far less abundant than the Nitro Rice he had just consumed.
He believed this disparity might be why the white fruit could grow in the Six Continents.
Because it contained less life energy, its growth requirements were relatively lower.
Thus, it could appear on the Six Continents.
In contrast, Nitro Rice's effects were more potent, and naturally, it was harder to cultivate.
Even so, Ging still didn't believe that one bowl of Nitro Rice could lead to such significant progress for Akira.
This far exceeded the life energy he had gained—by countless times, at least.
Were they really eating the same thing?
Akira's dramatic transformation left Ging deep in thought, pondering where the difference between them lay.
As Ging pondered, Beyond slowly opened his eyes, his aura growing even more profound.
Beyond the usual enhancements in aura and Aura increase, Beyond had undergone another significant change.
It was his face!
Beyond was no longer young.
After all, Chairman Netero was over a hundred years old, and as his son, Beyond was naturally quite advanced in age.
Many years ago, he had even joined the Migration Bureau's team and traveled to the Dark Continent.
This alone showed his age was considerable—at least on par with Biscuit, if not older.
Coupled with multiple near-death experiences on the Dark Continent and elsewhere, his body and face bore the marks.
The deep X-shaped scar on his face was proof of one such brush with death.
Had the scar been any deeper, it might have damaged his brain, leading to instant death.
Beyond didn't pay much attention to this; in fact, he could even consider it a kind of honor, symbolizing his glorious past.
However, the accumulation of various factors had indeed left some traces of time on his face.
Despite the influence of Aura, which slowed his aging far below that of ordinary people, he had still aged.
But after consuming this Nitro Rice, the Aura within his body not only grew deeper but also surged forth in an endless stream.
The bottleneck he had previously encountered even showed signs of loosening, while his face visibly regained its youth at a rapid pace.
His features lost some of their weariness, gaining vitality instead, and the fine wrinkles vanished in an instant.
Clearly, this was because the increase in his lifespan limit caused Beyond's body to "reverse" in age.
It wasn't just him—everyone present who had eaten Nitro Rice experienced the same phenomenon.
The only difference was that some people's rejuvenation was more obvious, while others showed relatively subtler changes.
Feeling the boundless vitality in his body, Beyond was momentarily lost in thought, finding the sensation incredibly strange.
It was hard to describe the exact feeling.
His mind, experience, and other aspects remained unchanged, yet his Aura capacity and physical condition were rapidly improving.
Even his age was "reversing."
In short, every aspect that changed was developing in a positive direction.
But...
Beyond glanced at Akira's direction, his lips twitching slightly as he thought to himself: This change is way too drastic, isn't it?
Those who knew would say he had eaten Nitro Rice.
Those who didn't would think Akira had made some extreme Restriction and Vow that only allowed him to live for one second.
It wasn't just Ging and Beyond who were shocked—everyone's gaze was now fixed on Akira.
Though they were still eating while watching.
After all, the allure of Nitro Rice was simply too strong.
What they didn't know was that Akira himself was also stunned.
In the past, he had only inferred through indirect means that the gap between S-rank and SS-rank was enormous.
For example, the Chimera Ant King, who had consumed the three Royal Guards, still failed to reach SS-rank, while Jin, who broke through to SS-rank, became an entirely different person...
Through such observations, he had formed his own conjectures.
But only when he himself reached SS-rank did he truly grasp just how terrifying the difference was.
The entire world appeared different in his eyes—clearer, more transparent, allowing him to effortlessly perceive details that were once imperceptible.
In other words, even without using [Focus], a single glance now far surpassed the effects of his previous [Focus].
He could even freely adjust his perception of his surroundings to some extent.
By slightly heightening it, the movements of Ging, Beyond, and others appeared slowed down countless times in his vision.
As if he had activated [bullet time].
This immediately reminded him of Jin back then—what had left the deepest impression on him after Jin broke through to SS-rank wasn't his aura.
It was his leisurely, unhurried pace, like an old man taking a stroll.
Despite just walking normally, not a single trace of his presence leaked out, making him seem like an ordinary person.
Yet upon closer inspection, he seemed to blend seamlessly into his surroundings, without the slightest incongruity.
And now, he too could achieve the same.
At this moment, his body was like a massive furnace, rapidly breaking down the life energy brought by countless Nitro Rice.
He smoothly absorbed them, transforming it into part of his own strength.
Outwardly, he merely appeared slightly younger, his already handsome features becoming even more striking.
Yet inside his body, a tremendous transformation had taken place.
He had undergone a complete transformation, his strength reaching a new realm, equivalent to breaking through the limits of human potential.
Without exaggeration, the current him could effortlessly defeat countless versions of his former self with just a flick of his finger.
As long as one hadn't reached his level, no amount of numerical advantage would make a difference.
Merely crossing a single threshold had brought about a distinction as vast as heaven and earth.
The enormous leap in power within such a short time not only filled him with an endless sense of achievement but also the exhilaration of newfound strength.
Why do so many people pursue power?
Because the continuous effort and subsequent rise in strength bring them fulfillment, pleasure, and a series of positive feedback.
Akira was no exception.
Carefully sensing the terrifying energy within his body, Akira curled the corners of his lips slightly, thoroughly satisfied.
Now, as long as he remained cautious and was lucky enough not to encounter any particularly troublesome [Calamities],
even without the aid of his Pokémon, he could survive in the fringes of the Dark Continent.
He could even live there in relative comfort.
This was the difference that sheer power made in one's life.
With sufficient strength, even the most treacherous environments could become comfortable.
Taking a deep breath, Akira clenched his hands, which had been hanging loosely at his sides, and the massive Aura covering his body began to retract.
The boundless Aura suddenly came to a halt, as if a mighty river had frozen over.
Then, like swallows returning to their nest, vast streams of Aura swirled around him in ribbon-like formations.
Following a bright flash, all of Akira's immense Aura was drawn back into his body, leaving only the faintest trace on the surface—almost invisible.
This was a sign of his mastery over [Aura] reaching an extremely high level.
Even without deliberately using [Zetsu], Akira could achieve the same effect.
Whenever he wished, he could instantly unleash his terrifying Aura!
Once fully concealed, the glow around Akira completely vanished, returning him to his previous state.
To the naked eye, there wasn't the slightest hint of power emanating from him—he appeared utterly ordinary.
Just by looking at him, no one would ever guess that he had been the source of the earlier terrifying commotion.
As Akira examined himself, he noticed another difference from before.
His physical constitution had grown immensely stronger.
Nen users generally shared one trait: their reliance on Aura. In battle, they fought using their Aura.
Whether engaging in straightforward combat or employing Nen Abilities, Aura was always involved.
This was why, for any competent Nen user, controlling Aura consumption was a fundamental skill.
Because once their Aura was recklessly exhausted, only defeat awaited them.
Without Aura, most Nen users were little different from ordinary people.
Only certain Enhancement-type Nen users could still muster some combat ability even without Aura.
Akira's physical strength had already been considerable before, thanks in part to the nourishment from high-quality ingredients.
Consuming those top-tier dishes had not only increased his Aura capacity but also enhanced his physical fitness.
However, after ascending to SS-rank, his physical prowess had advanced by leaps and bounds, making him almost unrecognizable compared to his former self.
Now, he was confident that even without using Aura, his raw physical strength alone could defeat the evolved Chimera Ant King.