Chapter 4: The Gate of Thoughts
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Under the cover of night, deep within a dense forest, a dark figure darted between the trees like a phantom moving with the speed of lightning.
As it charged forward, the figure's arms swung fiercely, its fingers hard as steel slicing through bark. Wherever it passed, sharp claw marks scored across the trunks, as if carved by blades.
Some smaller trees even split apart with dull cracking sounds.
Moments later, the figure stopped. Moonlight filtered through the branches above, casting a pale glow across his face.
It was Haze.
Drenched in sweat, he looked down at his slightly scratched hands, then grinned widely. Turning around, he surveyed the forest he had devastated.
"Hard work pays off. At last... I've begun."
Thinking this, he summoned the system's interface and glanced at the glowing display.
Host: Haze
Age: 16
Combat Class: Fighter (Upgradeable to Martial Artist)
Overall Attribute Rating: Average
Skills: Iron Shirt, Vajra Finger
Compared to two months ago, his stats had risen sharply but still hovered at an ordinary level. The system's overall evaluation of his power confirmed it clearly.
Personal attributes strength, physique, spirit, and endurance determined physical ability, but had limited influence on overall combat strength.
Hazebelieved that "combat power" encompassed far more than numbers: it included battle instinct, experience, reflexes, and unique techniques. Physique was merely the foundation.
Especially combat thinking, experience, and reflex speed in these areas, the masters recorded in memory were people like Hisoka, Chrollo, or the Zoldyck family's Illumi and Silva.
In short, combat strength depended mostly on comprehension and talent.
Of course, the physical body was still the base because Nen was, at its core, a form of life energy. The stronger the body, the greater its potential to cultivate it.
In other words, Hazestill had a Haze road ahead.
Yet for now, he felt calmer reaching a measurable level meant he finally had a foothold.
"I've only just grasped the Vajra Finger and Iron Shirt… but they're still ranked as Fighter-tier haven't even reached 'Martial Arts' yet…"
Turning off the screen, Hazerolled his shoulders and muttered to himself.
The Royal Gram performance was fast approaching less than a month away.
That also meant… his time with the circus was nearing its end.
"Where should I go next…? Hisoka…"
Packing up, Hazemade his way back to the circus.
Lately, life in the troupe had grown tense. Hisoka's growing closeness with the leader, Neo, had only deepened everyone's resentment toward him. And since Hazeoften stayed near Hisoka, the others who once spoke kindly to him began avoiding him as well.
It was clear if he kept associating with Hisoka, he'd be treated the same.
For Haze, most of them were small fry, not worth worrying about. Still, being grouped together with that psychopath annoyed him.
"If it weren't for Nen training… I'd have ditched that lunatic already," he sighed.
The only person who could truly open the door to Nen for him was Captain Moritonio and Moritonio clearly held Hisoka in high regard.
At noon, the captain took the three of them Abaki, Hisoka, and Haze into the city of Garance to buy supplies.
The streets bustled with life vendors shouting, merchants selling trinkets, and architecture reminiscent of European towns Hazeonce knew.
As they passed a large crowd, curious whispers reached their ears.
"It's John Doe the man of a hundred faces! That serial killer terrorizing the Ubian continent!"
The four stopped. A crowd had gathered before a wall plastered with wanted posters.
Abaki peeked over someone's shoulder.
"These are government and guild bulletins," she murmured.
"I heard his methods are brutal his victims are crushed to death. Their bodies flattened completely."
On the poster, a burly man with lifeless eyes stared back.
Haze's gaze shifted sideways to Moritonio, the kind-faced leader standing right beside them.
No one else realized… the murderer they were discussing was right next to them.
"A hundred faces… I think I've heard that name before," Abaki said thoughtfully.
"John Doe it's a common alias. But the reports say his body shape and back appear different in every sighting. That's why people call him 'The Man of a Hundred Faces.'"
"How do you know so much?" Hisoka asked with a sly grin.
"We've seen his wanted posters everywhere we've traveled," Abaki replied earnestly.
Hisoka's lips curled upward.
Hazenoticed the magician had sensed something amiss.
"Some say he's a master of disguise," Abaki continued, "someone who lets himself be filmed just to flaunt his skills."
"He's probably just a madman seeking attention," Moritonio interrupted smoothly, tugging at his hat brim. "Let's go."
The four walked off.
"It's not safe here," the captain warned. "Don't go wandering at night."
"Understood."
A Hundred Faces.
The reason Moritonio's appearance changed after every murder was due to his Nen ability the very same deceptive technique Hisoka would later learn and perfect.
Hazewas puzzled. Why would an experienced Nen user resort to killing ordinary people?
If he sought excitement, he could challenge other strong Nen users instead. Slaughtering civilians… was degrading.
Was it the thrill of bloodshed? Defiance of authority?
Or perhaps, trauma from the Hunter Exam twisted his mind Haze ago?
That night, during dinner, the rest of the troupe left early leaving only Hisoka and Hazeat the table.
It was clearly a deliberate act to isolate them.
"This is your fault," Hazemuttered expressionlessly between bites. "Now I'm being shunned too."
He'd been eating ravenously lately his training demanded it.
"Isn't that what you wanted?" Hisoka teased, twirling his fork. "To keep everyone from discovering your little secret?"
"What does that have to do with you?" Hazesnapped.
"Everything. You're my only friend here."
"Colleague," Hazecorrected coldly.
"Fine, fine. Colleagues."
The door opened then Abaki stood there, her voice sharp.
"You two, come with me after dinner."
"Got it."
Haze's heart skipped.
It's happening.
He could feel it Moritonio was finally going to teach them Nen.
After all this time… the moment had come.
But anxiety crept in. Hisoka would undoubtedly succeed; his talent was monstrous.
As for himself… without the system, Hazewasn't sure he could do it at all.
Not everyone could awaken Nen. In the entire circus, only Abaki had managed it.
There were three main ways to open Nen:
Guided Cultivation a teacher helps one open their aura nodes naturally.Forced Activation a Nen user injects their aura into another's body, forcibly opening the nodes; dangerous but fast.Self-Discovery awakening Nen alone, through pure instinct and talent. Rare almost impossible.
Hazehad tried awakening it himself feeling the flow of "inner energy" but failed every time.
Still, his understanding of Nen theory far surpassed anyone else's. He knew every technique, every secret of its structure knowledge gleaned from the world's future masters.
He even understood the system of Nen devised by Togashi the Thief himself.
In theory, no one in this era could match his comprehension.
But theory was one thing real awakening another.
For now, no matter how he tried, the gate to Nen refused to open.
Finishing his meal quickly, Hazestood and left, ignoring Hisoka's curious glance.
"Hmm?" Hisoka mused, watching him go. "Something interesting's about to happen…"
(End of Chapter 4)