Holding the bowl in his hands, Netero could clearly feel waves of heat mixed with rich life energy wafting toward him.
As he enjoyed the continuously dispersing life energy, Netero felt every pore on his body opening up.
Each one was frantically absorbing every trace of life energy, afraid to let even the slightest bit escape.
This bowl of Nitro Rice didn't seem like ordinary rice—it was more like a solidified mass of pure life energy.
The aroma it emitted was like tiny, dancing sprites swirling around the tip of his nose.
Both his external senses and his body were constantly urging him to eat it.
Even before taking a bite, merely holding it in front of him and inhaling its fragrance was enough to produce such effects.
If this had been any other object, or if it had been given to him by anyone else, he would never have dared to consume it so readily.
After all, it felt somewhat eerie.
For someone as cautious as Netero, anything that could influence his thoughts was cause for heightened vigilance.
But the person who had given it to him was Akira.
The same Akira who had saved him twice before.
Netero remembered clearly—once during the Heaven's Arena Martial Arts Tournament, when Akira had rescued him from Zed's grasp.
And another time, when he had saved him from the Chimera Ant King after Netero had exhausted all his trump cards.
Twice, Akira had saved his life.
That was why he could trust Akira's words completely.
Even if something went wrong, it would just mean returning the life he had gotten for free.
Holding the golden-like rice in his hands, Netero sincerely thanked Akira before beginning to eat.
The already incredibly fragrant Nitro Rice now seemed like the culmination of all the world's finest delicacies, making his mouth water uncontrollably.
No longer able to resist his appetite, Netero didn't overthink it—he simply scooped up a large handful of rice with his fingers.
The legendary [Hope] that countless people coveted was right before him, its intoxicating fragrance constantly stimulating his senses.
The fact that he had held back this long, suppressing his hunger, was already proof of his formidable willpower.
Why waste time fetching utensils from inside the house?
Just shove it straight into his mouth with his hands!
Seeing this, Akira smiled faintly, reassured.
Netero had at least retained some rationality—he hadn't dumped the entire bowl of Nitro Rice into his mouth at once.
Though Akira hadn't warned him, Netero's own experience had led him to make the right choice.
If the amount exceeded what his body could handle, the consequences could be dire.
Nitro Rice had a unique effect—because it contained vast amounts of life energy, consuming it could extend one's lifespan to a certain degree.
Depending on the species and individual differences, the amount of lifespan extended varied.
At the same time, precisely because Nitro Rice contained such immense life energy, one couldn't consume too much of it in a short period.
When one felt full and unable to eat any more, that was the body's absorption limit.
Forcing oneself to eat beyond that risked fatal bodily explosion.
Conversely, stopping at the limit allowed the life energy to fully integrate into the body.
The effects include, but are not limited to, significantly enhancing physical fitness, beautifying and nourishing the skin, increasing a substantial amount of Aura, and extending lifespan...
Nitro Rice's effects can develop resistance.
If one consumes it to their body's limit the first time, they must wait until the energy is fully digested before eating it again.
As that large mouthful of rice entered his mouth, Netero felt an indescribable flavor explode across his palate.
Netero paused for a moment, his aged eyes slowly widening as he chewed deliberately.
His entire body seemed to move in slow motion, his speed drastically reduced.
The next moment, Netero began chewing the rice in his mouth at an astonishing pace, savoring this unprecedented, ultimate experience.
The enchanting aroma danced on his tongue as each golden, magnificent grain was crushed between his teeth.
Then, the life energy within poured forth unreservedly, rushing toward every corner of his body.
Netero's heart surged like a stormy sea—never before had he tasted such delicious food.
And this was just a simple bowl of rice.
No seasonings had even been added; it was merely rice that had been properly hulled, washed, and steamed.
An extremely simple cooking method.
It relied entirely on the inherent flavor of [Nitro Rice] itself, and more crucially, the immense life energy contained within.
And so, right before the two onlookers, Netero began a whirlwind "cleanup operation," devouring the rice like a tornado.
Netero chewed tirelessly, extracting every last drop of flavor from each grain.
Though it was just the fragrance of rice, he found it endlessly satisfying, more captivating than any exotic delicacy.
After swallowing, a warm sensation rose from his stomach and quickly spread throughout his body.
This feeling was infinitely more comfortable than soaking in a hot spring in winter, giving him an almost euphoric lightness.
If not for this intoxicating sensation, which made him pause after each bite, Akira and Ging estimated that Netero could have finished the entire bowl in just a few breaths.
As the rice in the bowl dwindled, tremendous changes were taking place within his body.
Every cell in his body greedily absorbed the life energy, like parched earth welcoming rain.
During this process, the Aura on Netero's surface grew increasingly vibrant, expanding from a faint layer into something far more substantial.
The elderly Netero was nowhere near the same level as his prime self.
He had once said that his current strength was only half of what it had been at his peak.
Though Akira suspected this might be an exaggeration, there was no denying that his power had declined significantly.
In his old age, his strength hovered at S- rank, and only by adjusting his state and donning his heart T-shirt could he reach S rank.
Yet, in Akira's eyes, the Aura radiating from Netero was steadily rising.
As he consumed more and more [Nitro Rice], the life energy accumulating in his body gradually approached a certain peak.
Pure Aura flowed through him in waves, glowing brilliantly as if it cost nothing.
The immense Aura formed a dazzling light, making him resemble a radiant orb, emitting a piercing brightness.
The Aura, tempered through countless trials, was blinding.
On ordinary days, he appeared to be just an unremarkable old man, his Aura unnervingly still
.At this moment, everything erupted at once, even the ground beneath their feet trembled with countless cracks, as if an earthquake had struck.
Simultaneously, Netero no longer resembled the frail old man from before.
His appearance had undergone a significant transformation.
The once-kind face, marked with numerous wrinkles, now gradually smoothed out, reverting toward his youthful days.
Though his hair remained gray, it gained a newfound luster, with hints of dark black at the roots.
Like a withered tree rejuvenated by spring, Netero now resembled a parched sponge, greedily absorbing the "water of life."
Beyond's lips parted slightly as he instinctively took half a step back under Netero's overwhelming presence.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and a thought flashed through his mind:
'Could it be that the old man's strength now surpasses mine?'
But Beyond quickly dismissed the notion.
Had he compared his previous self to Netero after consuming the [Nitro Rice], he might have hesitated in judgment.
But the reality was, he too had eaten [Nitro Rice], achieving tremendous growth.
No matter what, his father couldn't surpass him now—though Netero had undoubtedly improved in different aspects.
The most obvious changes were in appearance and strength, but the deeper, more crucial enhancement was his lifespan.
Akira had also made some estimations.
Comparing Ging and Beyond's previous performances, he guessed that Netero's lifespan might have extended by over a century after consuming the rice.
This was no small increase.
Considering Netero had already lived for more than a hundred years, and with Blissey's treatment, he could easily live several more decades.
Adding another century to that, he could potentially live two to three hundred years.
Now, he was truly an "old relic."
After a long while, Netero exhaled softly, savoring the vitality surging within him.
It was a comfort he had never experienced before.
No…
That wasn't entirely true.
If he had to compare, the relief he felt when Akira healed him after using Zero against the Chimera Ant King had been just as profound.
As Netero's aura stabilized, Akira knew his strength had settled at this new level.
Unsurprisingly, after consuming the [Nitro Rice], Netero's power had reached S class.
Part of this boost came from the rice itself, while another part stemmed from his rejuvenated body.
Unlike the others who had eaten [Nitro Rice], Netero's situation was unique.
The expedition team to the Dark Continent had no elderly members—most were in their twenties or thirties.
They were still in their prime, with untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.
The oldest among them was Beyond, but even he was only middle-aged, at the peak of his strength.
For them, [Nitro Rice] merely rejuvenated their bodies and extended their lifespans.
But Netero was different.
He was already over a hundred years old—a true elder.
According to Zeno Zoldyck, Netero had been an old man even when Zeno was a child.
Thus, the lifespan granted by [Nitro Rice] allowed Netero to partially revert toward his younger self.
Not only did his appearance grow younger, but his strength also recovered much of its former glory.
If his total lifespan now spanned two to three hundred years, then at a hundred years old, Netero was once again approaching his peak.
Therefore, even in his usual state, Netero possessed S-rank strength.
If he took some time to consolidate his power, adjust his condition, and put on a tank top or something...
Akira estimated that even if his strength didn't reach S+, it would still take a significant leap within the S-rank.
Netero's figure flashed, and when he reappeared in place, a round mirror was already in his hand.
Looking at his considerably younger face in the mirror, Netero couldn't help but pause slightly, sighing sincerely.
"Hohoho, youth is truly wonderful~"
Gazing at the familiar face in the mirror, Netero felt a surge of mixed emotions, never having imagined such a day would come.
Since Netero had finished his business, Akira finally spoke up to ask:
"Old man, there's something I've always been curious about."
"Back then, did you consume the life-extending [Hope] in the Dark Continent?"
Netero had lived for so many years, far exceeding the normal human lifespan.
Akira didn't think it was solely due to Aura.
It seemed more like he had consumed [Hope], similar to [Nitro Rice], which could prolong life.
Netero's hand holding the mirror trembled slightly.
After a moment of silence, he slowly lowered the mirror and said gravely.
"That's right... I did consume something with similar effects when I was young."
As he spoke, a hint of nostalgia—even regret—appeared on Netero's face, his tone tinged with bitterness.
"I was young and reckless back then. I dragged Linne and Zigg Zoldyck to the Dark Continent with me."
"I thought that as the strongest in the world, even if I couldn't conquer that land, exploring its edges wouldn't be a problem."
"I was proven wrong."
"That place is forbidden to humans, teeming with terrifyingly powerful creatures and bizarrely effective [Calamities]."
"Strictly speaking, we didn't even reach the Dark Continent—we only wandered around its outermost fringes."
"But even that small area cost us dearly."
"Zigg was severely injured and died not long after returning. Linne also contracted a serious illness."
"If not for your [Herbs], Linne might have joined Zigg by now."
At this point, Netero's expression darkened slightly, revealing a trace of desolation.
"Of the three of us, I was the luckiest. Not only did I return safely, but I also fortuitously gained something from that crisis."
"Though I don't know its exact origin, I did obtain a vast amount of life energy."
"That's the main reason I've lived this long."
Netero chose not to hold back, openly admitting that he had indeed used a similar method to extend his lifespan.
But it was something he had obtained by chance.
Akira nodded in understanding—it was just as he had guessed.
Since Netero had also consumed [Nitro Rice], his own task here was more or less complete.
Checking the time, Akira prepared to take his leave.
He had more important people to meet.
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