The leaf floating on the glass of water rippled ever so slightly. …Leaves moving meant… Manipulation type, right?
Manipulation, huh… I really wanted to be a Specialist…
Well, it can't be helped. That's a matter of innate disposition. Effort won't change that.
Anyway, now that I know I'm Manipulation, I just have to create a Hatsu that fits my type.
So… what kind of ability should I make?
It's tough to decide, but actually, I came prepared for this exact situation! Over the six years I've been meditating, I've been jotting down all sorts of potential Nen abilities in a blank notebook!
Its title: "Black History."
Yes, literally my cringeworthy dark past. It's full of the cool-sounding Nen abilities I came up with myself. I'm confident I would die of embarrassment if anyone ever saw this.
Like seriously, what the hell is "Evil King's Flame-Killing Black Dragon Wave" as an Emission ability…? For the record, the notebook is all written in Japanese. At least that way, nobody here can easily read it.
…Then again, there is a place called Jappon. Does that mean the written language here is Japanese too?
Anyway, there are plenty of chūnibyō joke abilities in there, but also some I thought about seriously. Let's flip to the Manipulation section.
…Hmm. Yeah, for Manipulation, I think these two abilities could work. I'm not sure if I can pull it off, but maybe if I set a strict condition, it could. If I can make this work, my training efficiency will skyrocket.
Alright, let's create my first Nen ability… Or wait. …Huh? How do you even create a Nen ability? Do I just focus really hard on the concept in my head?
Or should I wait until my Ren is stronger?
Hmmm… Well, I've finally come this far. I hate the idea of delaying it, but I should probably take my time crafting my ability properly.
At the very least, it feels like I should wait until I can make the leaf move more. I probably need stronger Ren… Okay, training it is.
To strengthen Ren, I think… I just need to keep sustaining it, right? Alright—Ren!
Ugh, no good. Five minutes is my limit. I can't hold it any longer! …Why is this so exhausting!? I feel like giving up. Everything up to now wasn't that tiring. Mining is necessary for survival, and Ten was just meditation. Zetsu wasn't that bad either…
Damn it! There's no point if I don't push through here. I need a clear goal. Let's say… one month. I'll keep it up for a month. Having a deadline will give me motivation. Alright, let's do this!
…Well, I'll rest with Zetsu for today.
◆
I'm… so tired…
This past month, it's been nothing but work, then Ren. Work, then Ren. Over and over. I'm sick of it. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have work, but I need it to live. It's not like I can tell my boss, "I'm busy training Nen, so give me a month off."
Still, I made it through the whole month. I can now sustain Ren for 15 minutes! I worked my ass off!
Alright, time for another Water Divination. Oh! The leaf moves more now! From a gentle sway to… a slightly more wobbly sway!
…Ugh. I don't know. Is this right? Am I training wrong? I'm definitely hitting the limits of self-study with fuzzy memories…
…Whatever. Time to create my first Nen ability.
I visualize the ability settings in my mind…
I focus my will to activate my Hatsu.
…How's that!?
[Original Knowledge / Orishunotokuten] Activated!
Ohh! I did it! Success!!!
In my head, I can now vividly picture all 29 volumes of HUNTER×HUNTER I've read!
Amazing… It's like I'm rereading the manga in my mind!
[Original Knowledge / Orishunotokuten]
Type: Manipulation
Allows the user to manipulate their own original memory to recall their knowledge of HUNTER×HUNTER.
Cannot be used to recall any other memories.
Restriction:
Cannot recall anything unrelated to HUNTER×HUNTER.
Vow:
If the user tells anyone that they have knowledge of the original series, this ability becomes unusable.
This also applies if someone discovers it by reading the user's memories.
Sharing knowledge gained through this ability is fine, as long as the origin isn't revealed.
Well, that worked out. In the original, memory-reading abilities were Specialists, so I thought this might fail—but self-memory manipulation works as Manipulation!
I heard somewhere that people never really lose memories—they're just buried deep in the brain. This ability simply brings back those buried memories… albeit only about HUNTER×HUNTER.
Now I can supplement my Nen training knowledge. Time to reread everything in my head.
After rereading, I realized something…
Chairman Netero might not even be born yet in this era.
He secluded himself in the mountains at 46, fully "emerged" past 50. Based on the original, that was over 60 years before the story. Which would make him around 120 at the start. So if this is 120 years before the story… he's either not born or just a baby.
…Which means I'm older than Netero right now? Oh come on. That just makes it feel impossible to survive to the main story…
…Anyway, back to studying.
Yup. No way I can beat Meruem.
Not that it's my goal, but reading it again, humanity was doomed.
Maybe adult Gon could, but even that was a huge mystery… Did his Enhancement type body just grow instantly? Or did his Nen shift to Specialization? Either way, the restrictions must've been insane.
But that's a problem for 100+ years from now. For now, I'll organize my Nen knowledge into my Black History notebook. Constantly activating Orishunotokuten is tiring.
...Alright, done.
Recording everything from the first appearance of Nen, organizing it into Basics, Applications, Training, and Categories… was brutal. Having a computer would've made this so much easier. I wonder when those will exist here?
HUNTER×HUNTER's world has weird science. They have nukes, but air travel is slow blimps. Total imbalance. But since they have a global data system storing everyone's information, maybe PCs and phones will appear sooner than I think.
Anyway, training will go much smoother now. There are still gaps in my knowledge, but it's far better than nothing.
I haven't met a single other Nen user yet, though… The manga made them seem common, but that was just protagonist perspective. In reality, they're a tiny fraction of the population.
From here, it's all on my motivation.
That's the hardest part. Training for years or decades in pain isn't something I can just will myself to do.
It's not as easy as "train 100 years → get strong." If only…
Maybe I should make a second Nen ability. One that forces me to keep training—ignoring my own will.
And then… a third ability. Risky, but if it works, I could finally interact with the original story.
And maybe… finally achieve my original goal, lose my virginity with a canon character.
Tempting… but if it fails, the vow might be brutal.
Alright. Step one: make the second ability.
Second ability: [Absolute Obedience / Geass]
Type: Manipulation
Issues an order to oneself, which must be obeyed.
Even after the ability ends, memories and experience remain.
Restrictions:
Can only be used on self.
Must use Gyo while looking in a mirror to issue the command.
Only one command can exist at a time.
Impossible orders (immortality, teleportation) cannot be given.
Ends if the user's heart stops.
Vows:
Once used, it cannot be canceled manually.
Once used, it can never be used again—even if the command fails.
This way, I can force myself to train. Even if I hate it, if I command "train," I'll have no choice.
Pathetic? Maybe. But hey, that's modern Japanese student mentality for you.
I'll have to think carefully about the command since I can only use this once.
...Three days later, I finally decided on the best command.
Since Nen is heavily mental, training in enjoyment will yield the best results. Same for physical training. Love what you do, and you excel.
So my command will be: "Enjoy training to the fullest!"
Alright. Let's do this. Mirror, Gyo, and…
…Crap. I can't even use Gyo yet.
I never practiced it. Time to fix that…
...One week later, I finally mastered Gyo.
Now, standing before the mirror, Gyo! Activate [Absolute Obedience / Geass]!
"Enjoy your training to the fullest!!!"
◆
Collapsed in my room, I catch my breath. My room is now a rented apartment far from the mines, just so I can focus on Nen.
It's been three days since I used Geass.
Morning: weighted running
Work: digging with weights
After work: application practice
Then Ren endurance until exhaustion
Rest while alternating Ten and Zetsu hourly
I've repeated this for three days straight. And I feel… fulfilled. Completely refreshed. I can't believe I didn't realize how fun this is.
Training is joy. Strengthening the body is wonderful.
Goals like "story intervention" or "losing my virginity" feel so hollow now…
No matter. I've been reborn. From now on, I'll spend my life training every day!
I'm the highest I've ever been!
Fwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!