There was no light when he died.
One moment, Aiden's eyes were wide open, staring at the blinding headlights of the truck. The next, everything was black, cold, empty, and painfully quiet.
He felt neither fear nor regret. Only a strange tug, as if something was pulling him through a narrow tunnel.
Then
He woke up gasping.
The air was heavy, rancid, thick with the smell of rust, oil, and rotting plastic. He pushed himself up from what felt like a mountain of crushed metal.
Shattered televisions. Bent steel beams. Piles of broken toys and rusted cars. The sky above was gray, almost suffocated by smoke.
"…What the hell is happening?, AM I NOT DEAD!!!!!"
He stood slowly, looking around in disbelief. Endless fields of trash extended as far as his eyes could see. And in the distance—shadows of people, scavengers, pulling carts or digging through junk.
Aiden frowned.
This place… he felt like he had seen it before. In a manga. In an anime.
I'm not sure
A world where misery and violence were normal. A forgotten city with no identity, no rights, no records.
Meteor City.
Before he could even process the shock, he heard
Ding!
A bright blue screen appeared in front of him.
[TEACHING SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Welcome, Instructor Aiden.
Age Registered: 13
Location: Meteor City
Synchronization: 100%
You have been granted:
— Full Knowledge of Nen
— Mastery of the Four Principles (Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu)
— Ability: Student Registration (Max 20)
— Requirement: Minimum Potential = A-Rank
Feedback Effect:
Whenever a student masters a skill taught by you, you will receive 10× feedback.
Aiden's breath caught.
"…A system?"
He blinked rapidly, but the screen didn't disappear. His heart pounded as more information poured into his mind—Nen, aura nodes, flow, Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu, and even basic combat techniques. It felt like someone had shoved a lifetime of martial training directly into his skull.
The screen faded, replaced with something smaller.
Aiden exhaled slowly.
"So that's how it is… Hunter x Hunter, huh?"
Before he could think further, he heard footsteps behind him—small, light, almost silent. His instincts sharpened instantly thanks to the System's knowledge.
He turned.
Five children stood at the top of the trash mound, staring at him. Not older than ten. Barefoot, dirty, clothes torn. But their eyes—sharp, cold, hungry.
And disturbingly intelligent.
Aiden recognized two immediately.
A boy with dark hair, calm eyes, and almost angelic features.
A young Chrollo Lucilfer.
Beside him, a muscular child with wild hair and a grin full of teeth.
Uvogin, age ten.
Aiden felt his blood run cold.
I really am in the Hunter x Hunter world… and they're still kids.
"Who're you?" Uvogin barked, cracking his knuckles. "You're not from around here."
Chrollo tilted his head. "He's… different. His aura feels strange. I sens danger from him"
Aiden froze.
They can feel aura?
No, they can sense danger. Even without Nen, these children had monstrous instincts.
Aiden needed to speak carefully.
"I'm just someone who ended up here. I'm not looking for trouble."
Uvogin snorted. "Everyone who ends up here dies within a week. Meteor City eats the weak. Can you even fight?"
Chrollo stepped forward, curious instead of aggressive.
"You climbed out of the metal crushers without a scratch… that's unusual. People die there every day."
Aiden glanced back.
He had awoken in one of Meteor City's trash compacting zones. Humans accidentally or intentionally fell inside often.
He had survived only because he arrived moments before the crushing cycle started.
Chrollo's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you? where did you come from?"
Aiden held back a sigh. Meteor City children were sharp… sharper than most adults he had known.
He swallowed once.
"My name is Aiden. And I… know how to fight."
Uvogin grinned, eyes lighting up.
"Wanna prove it? I wanna fight you, prove to me that you're strong."
He charged with startling speed for a child
Aiden instinctively activated Ten.
Aura wrapped around him like a thin film.
Uvogin's punch hit his chest.
BOOM.
Metal scrap under Aiden's feet shattered, but Aiden himself didn't move an inch.
Uvogin fell back, clutching his fist.
"Ow! What the hell?! You're hard as steel! How did you train?"
Chrollo's eyes widened slightly, the first true change in emotion.
"That… was not normal defense. I feel something strange from him."
Aiden's mind raced.
They were strong, even without Nen. If he didn't control the situation, he might get killed or forced into groups he didn't want.
But he needs to teach student to become strong, not to train.
So he took a quiet breath and spoke clearly.
"I can make you all stronger."
That made all five children focus on him at once.
"I can teach you something far beyond fighting."
Chrollo stepped closer, eyes shining with dangerous curiosity.
"What is it?"
Aiden gave a small smile.
"…Nen."
The wind blew dust across the trash fields.
Uvogin grinned savagely.
Chrollo's eyes lit with hunger for knowledge.
For the first time in this world, Aiden felt the future shifting around him.
"If you want… I can teach you."
END OF CHAPTER 1