"Huh? So I'm actually a Conjurer…"
Back at the military base, Xiang Nan used the Shingen-ryu's Water Divination to identify his own Nen type. Activating his aura, he observed something like crystalline matter forming in the water inside the cup—a sign of Conjuration, rather than the leaf on the surface moving (which would indicate Manipulation).
He'd originally guessed he might be a Manipulator, since Manipulators tend to be relatively rational, logic-driven, liking rules and conditions to achieve their aims. A giveaway of that type is they enjoy controlling the situation, acting independently.
Meanwhile, Conjurers can be a bit sensitive, somewhat high-strung, also attentive to detail and rules, often using painstaking designs to compensate for certain shortcomings. Xiang Nan had pegged himself more as someone with a strong desire for control, a "lone wolf" style who waits until he has enough information and partial command of the situation before making moves.
So he thought he'd be Manipulation rather than Conjuration.
"Hmm… Could it be that even though my soul crossed over, the aura itself was influenced by this current 'body'?" Xiang Nan murmured.
Considering that this body's original occupation and memories were those of a doctor, Conjuration traits do fit somewhat.
"In the six-type 'hex' of Nen, Conjuration sits next to both Specialist and Transmutation… I'll probably get along better with those types, and likely don't mesh well with Emission or Enhancement," he mused. "They're either impatient and rough, or just single-minded and impulsive—like they've got no brains. Definitely not my vibe."
He joked to himself, but it didn't really matter to Xiang Nan. Conjurer, Manipulator—whatever.
Now that he'd confirmed his type, his next step was to train his basic Nen control, referencing the Hunter x Hunter canon—like how Biscuit trained Gon and Killua, or Wing's methods with them—plus the four major fundamentals of Nen (Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu). He could sense aura, but it was still clumsy. He needed time to refine his control.
So from the start, he worked on Point, Conceal, Refine, Release.
Regarding the detailed distribution of his aura—like if it's fully Conjuration or partially some other type—he'd only know once his mastery grew.
Having identified his "attribute," Xiang Nan started targeted training. By now, he could tune out most external distractions on base. He continued his typical military or medical duties, only stepping in for special cases. After those two months of intensively hunting Nen users, Garo, Sigma, and their two surviving teammates also felt they'd gained perspective and drive—throwing themselves into self-improvement more than ever.
Xiang Nan sometimes sparred with them, though it no longer advanced his martial skill or technique much, it gave him a chance to practice using Nen in live combat. Step by step, from clumsy to familiar, "farming" them for experience.
He didn't want more direct showdowns with other Nen users for now, preferring to lay a solid foundation and study essential Nen techniques until he could use them at least crudely in a real fight. He had knowledge from the original story, plus what he'd gleaned from each captured Nen user, plus his own strong "comprehension," so it all boosted his progress.
Simultaneously, using his military connections, he studied Heaven's Arena fight tapes from above the 200th floor, including some "floor master" matches. Day by day, Xiang Nan nearly forgot time, like a dry sponge soaking up all the water (knowledge) around him.
Now and then, Mia and the Zatobi Family sent him updates. But he didn't pay them much mind. For example, after that initial snippet of surveillance footage capturing only Xiang Nan's back, apparently the underworld kept investigating.
Some eventually discovered he was a military officer from Padokea. High-level mafia networks, though they might not dare attack the base, could mark him for assassination once he was out in the open. Certain families wanted revenge for losing their Nen enforcers.
Still, Xiang Nan didn't care too much. He'd made sure not to touch anything big enough to rouse the Ten Dons themselves. And any small or mid-tier groups that posted bounties would be manageable.
…
About 100 days after he formally began honing his Nen, the once-quiet system interface changed again. A fresh wave of players swarmed in, resetting the total to 1,000. This meant Xiang Nan's "closed-door practice" would pause for another Extinction Game round.
"It's been over a year now…"
Xiang Nan turned off his system screen and gazed out at a training field. Nearby, a group of bare-chested soldiers were sparring in pairs on a sandy ground. Today he was acting as a temporary instructor for an elite unit's combat drills.
He'd been in this Hunter x Hunter world for over a year, and wondered how many of his fellow batch of players were still around. Overall, he felt satisfied with his growth speed—though he knew if he pushed harder, he'd get stronger faster, but his environment would be less stable.
From a "player" viewpoint, they were still in an "early stage" of the game, where the difficulty—and mortality rate—was highest. Xiang Nan preferred stability, building a rock-solid foundation and thoroughly learning the world's quirks. Full assimilation.
He raised his right hand, and with a thought, his aura flared up, exuding a startling power. Then he clenched his fist, letting the aura recede back into calm. Through Gyo, he could see the soldiers out there, each surrounded by a faint swirl of "qi" draining away. That was the difference: normal people can't sense aura, so they constantly waste it until they die. But Nen users can control that leakage, thus enjoying extended lifespans if they master it enough—like how Netero or Maha Zoldyck lived so very long.
"My body still needs more training… nowhere near enough yet. After all, the volume of aura fundamentally depends on one's physique… Sigh, once you truly step into Nen, you realize how much more there is to do."
Smiling ruefully, Xiang Nan turned away.
"I really want… an infinite mana bar."
~~~
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