Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss and his friends, who spend their days endlessly meditating and sparring. Killua's body movements are like those of a true assassin, I'll keep that in mind.
On the fourth morning after passing the midpoint of the fourth exam, Gon and Hisoka found themselves whispering to each other during their usual post-breakfast meditation time.
"You said you wanted to talk. What's up? Did you separate from everyone else because it's about my abilities?"
Gon believed that Hisoka possessed more knowledge about Nen, so the only thing he could think to ask about was his own abilities. While his abilities wouldn't cause any problems if others found out, he couldn't figure out why Hisoka was bringing it up now.
"If you're going to tell me, I'll listen, but it's not that. I want advice on my new ability."
Hisoka's request was something Gon, as another Nen user, couldn't believe.
Generally, revealing one's abilities to others is pointless unless it's an ability that requires others to know about it. Moreover, asking for advice on a new ability you're creating is something you'd only do if you had an extremely strong trust relationship.
"Hmm, before I give you advice, can I ask why you're asking me?"
"Gon, your idea was eye-opening. I think borrowing that concept could make for a great ability."
Surprised that his evaluation had risen so high, he continued asking questions.
"I don't know how many abilities Hisoka has, but why suddenly increase them? That's a really good ability you have, though."
"I already had another ability that wasn't suited for combat, and it was enough until now ♦ But now that I know about Gon's ability, if I don't do anything, I'll definitely lose ♠"
Currently, thanks to Bungee Gum, which is well-suited for combat techniques and close combat, he holds the upper hand. However, as the enhancement rate of Gon's "brawn over brains" approach increases, the tables will inevitably turn.
He concluded by saying he wanted to increase his options before that happened, and that Gon's words about wasting his potential had really hit home.
"My Bungee Gum is like that too, but I plan to make sure any new abilities I get won't be a problem if they're discovered, so it's fine if they know about them. I got the basic idea yesterday, so I thought I'd ask you now."
"Well, if you're going to say that, I'll give you some advice, but don't be disappointed if I don't have any good ideas."
And the ability explained by Hisoka was:
Ability Name: Undecided
Type: Materialization
Effect: Materializes playing cards with effects corresponding to numbers and suits
Restrictions:
The Ace is the strongest, and the 2 is the weakest, unable to deal damage even to an amateur's aura.
The effect is reduced if not used according to the suit.
Once used, a card disappears, and you can't replenish them until you've used all 53 cards in a set (due to aura limits, you can only materialize two sets at a time during combat).
What is drawn is completely random.
Jokers can be treated as any Ace with your chosen design.
"...Where should I give advice? Should I just go ahead and make it?"
There are no obvious areas to comment on given the highly detailed ability, so I ask what specifically doesn't work.
"The effects of the suits and how Jokers are handled don't feel right. Spades are for cutting, and Diamonds are for throwing, but..."
I think about what I would dislike and propose a solution, along with how to use it.
"Assuming you're using it with regular playing cards for camouflage, wouldn't it be good to have something that's easy to hide and something that's easy to imbue with aura?"
"...That's a good point. Something easy to hide is great, and something easy to imbue with aura would balance it out, so that's not bad either."
With a positive response, I also share my thoughts on the Joker's handling.
"Isn't a high-risk, high-reward Joker more Hisoka's style? If you draw it first, all the other cards become 2s, and if you draw it last, it becomes an Ace with the effect of all the other cards, and you can use it multiple times."
"Let's go with that ♥"
Hisoka excitedly reviews the new settings, making sure nothing is missing and considering any additions.
For Gon, it was a rather troublesome ability that was hard to counter, and he felt frustrated thinking that the gap would widen again once it was completed.
The pervert was excited about their first successful collaboration, while Gon's spirits dropped at the thought of the gap widening.
Gon took a break to clear his mind and wrestled with Killua, but Gon couldn't get into it.
That evening, the first person to reach the "Ten" stage among Killua and the others appeared.
"That was a bit unexpected, but congratulations, Leorio! Welcome to the starting point of Nen!"
"I'm surprised myself, so it's fine, but isn't Gon being a bit rude?"
Surpassing even Killua and Kurapika, Leorio managed to master the technique, albeit imperfectly.
"Sorry, Killua. Not only did you let me have the plate, but you also let me take first place. To thank you, next time I'll bring you some sweets..."
"Uraaa!"
"Hidebu!?"
Killua is frustrated, but Leorio taunts him with an annoyingly smug expression. His taunting is so annoying that Killua hits him pretty hard, but Leorio just touches his cheek in surprise.
"Ah, I see. I can understand why you can't beat a Nen user. No matter how you look at it, the damage is way too small for the impact."
Having experienced the usefulness of Nen firsthand, Leorio's motivation to train intensifies. He presses Gon for the next training content, but is told to continue meditating and improve the accuracy of his Nen, causing him to suddenly deflate.
"I understand that you want to develop Nen quickly, but there's no point in rushing. First, you need to build a solid foundation so that you can develop the abilities you want. Let's keep working hard starting tomorrow, okay?"
Incidentally, Leorio, who had resolved to try harder starting tomorrow, ends up being thoroughly mocked by Killua and Kurapika, who had stayed up all night and not only mastered the technique but also surpassed him in precision.
A week after the fourth exam began, nine candidates gathered at the beach where the exam was to start, just as in the original story.
The examiners, upon seeing the faces of those who had passed, stared at the three who had awakened their Nen abilities with expressions of astonishment.
While it is extremely rare for someone to awaken in just a week, the fact that three people did so at once—and all of them complete novices—was undoubtedly an abnormal situation.
"Ho ho ho, of course the three of them have remarkable talent, but perhaps number 405 is also an excellent instructor," Netero mused, watching the fourth exam passers with a smile, as he pondered the final exam content.
As the examinees rested on the airship heading to the final exam venue, an announcement was made by Hunter Association Chairman Netero that individual interviews would be conducted, and Hisoka, the youngest examinee, was the first to visit Netero.
"There are three questions. This interview will not determine your pass or fail, but it will influence the exam. Tell me your reason for applying, the candidate you're most interested in, and the candidate you least want to fight."
"I don't really have a reason for applying. I just thought it might be convenient to have one ♦ The ones I'm interested in are 99, 403, and 404, but 405 is definitely the one I want to fight ♥ The ones I don't want to fight are 53 and 191. I wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole ♠"
"I see. If there's nothing else you want to say or ask, you may step down."
Netero, who was taking notes on Hisoka's answers while seeming to think about something, looked completely vulnerable, and Hisoka felt his aura drain away.
"As for me, I'd like to fight you too. How can I get you to agree?"
"Well, if you live to be 100, I'll consider it."
Even when Hisoka deliberately unleashed his killing intent, Netero's attitude remained unchanged, and not a single ripple disturbed his aura.
Having quickly given up on the idea, Hisoka reached for the door handle to leave, but at that moment, Netero asked him a question.
"This has nothing to do with the exam. It's just my personal curiosity. Was number 405 strong?"
Hisoka, still holding the doorknob, paused for a few seconds before turning around and telling Netero with a smile as if a weight had been lifted.
"He's a monster ♥"
Hisoka's subsequent interview proceeded almost exactly as in the original story, and finally it was the turn of candidate number 405, Gon.
He was asked the same questions as the other candidates and answered without hesitation.
"My reason for applying is that I aim to be the strongest. The candidate I'm keeping an eye on is number 301, and the ones I don't want to fight are 403 and 404."
"Hmm, may I ask why you're keeping an eye on them and why you don't want to fight them?"
"Number 301 occasionally lets his killing intent slip, so I feel uneasy if I don't keep an eye on him. As for 403 and 404, I know their reasons for applying, and I want them to become hunters, so I don't want to fight them."
"I see. By the way, you're the one who taught the three of them, including No. 99, about Nen, aren't you? Who taught you?"
"I learned about Nen from Kite, a Phantom Beast Hunter. He's my father's disciple, and I happened to meet him."
"I've heard that name before. I see."
While taking notes, he glanced sideways and was met with a straight, sparkling gaze. Even Netero felt uncomfortable under the gaze of respect and envy that differed from that of other hunters and the Twelve Zodiac Signs.
"That's all I wanted to ask. Do you have anything to say?"
When Netero asked Gon, who seemed eager to ask something, he hesitated for a moment before uttering words that surprised Netero.
"I'd like to experience your Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva once."
Netero was surprised not only because he knew about his Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, but also because someone had asked to experience it.
Due to his status and nickname, Netero was often challenged to fights by those seeking to raise their name or by battle-crazed individuals, almost as a daily occurrence. What they all had in common was the desire to win or defeat their opponent.
However, despite stating that he aimed to become the strongest, Gon had never expressed a desire to fight. In other words, he didn't think he could win, but he still wanted to experience the power of the strongest class in order to become stronger.
For the day when he would surpass Netero.
"Ho ho ho!! This is the first time I've been asked such a thing. To be honest, I've been struggling with how to handle you."
Netero saw a reflection of his younger self in Gon's earnest pursuit of becoming the strongest. And he admired that desire to help others, seeing it as a noble quality he didn't inherit from his father.
"Since you once made me look like a fool in a ball game, I'll give you a special test separate from the others."
Netero smiled slyly, and Gon, having caught on, responded with a broad smile.
"Your final test will be to survive my Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva."
***
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