Nitro Rice, the ultimate secret of longevity, was one of the five great hopes from the Dark Continent known to humanity.
Theoretically, as long as one could secure a stable supply of this hope, it meant opening the door to eternal life.
Morrow had previously been gravely injured by Beyond, and it was Kurapika who had saved him at the cost of a massive amount of his own lifespan.
As a result, Morrow had inadvertently cleared away the black water that had accumulated in the depths of his consciousness from absorbing Post-Mortem Nen, but Kurapika had paid an unimaginable price for it.
Although Kurapika didn't care about it at all, wishing only to guard the graves of his fallen clansmen for the rest of his days and piously offer a prayer for Morrow day after day.
But Morrow could not watch with a clear conscience as Kurapika, at such an age, walked toward "death by old age."
This world was vast; it wasn't just darkness and malice.
It also held countless beautiful things.
Morrow hoped Kurapika could return to his original purpose, to truly see this wide world, and let the beautiful things he had yet to encounter cover up the dark and painful past in his heart as much as possible.
Of course.
To say that Morrow wasn't tempted by Nitro Rice, an ultimate hope that could extend one's lifespan, would be a lie.
This wasn't some untouchable mirage, but a truly attainable possibility of eternal life.
If he could obtain Nitro Rice and also find the legendary Herb for All-illnesses that was said to cure any disease, he could, in a sense, achieve a state of being undying and immortal.
Could any human resist such a temptation?
Morrow felt that if he had the ability to strive for these hopes, then naturally, the more the better.
In that case, power that surpassed humanity, coupled with a lifespan that surpassed humanity...
Once he became such an ultimate life form, he might become the freest man in the world, able to do whatever he pleased without any constraints.
At that point, even a behemoth like the V5, which operated on the scale of nations, might not be able to crush him with their so-called national power.
Morrow believed from the bottom of his heart that this was true world's strongest.
Not like Netero, who, despite once being the strongest, was still bound within the framework of human society.
To go to the Dark Continent, legal channels are out of the question. I can only rely on smuggling. Plus, the Dark Continent is too vast; exploration must be paired with an efficient method of travel.
Morrow pondered silently.
Smuggling a landing onto the Dark Continent was an extremely difficult task in itself, and the exploration that followed was even more fraught with peril.
Moreover, the area of the Dark Continent was seventy to eighty times that of the human world. Just traveling would consume an unknown amount of time and energy.
To deal with this problem, he had to get the Chimera to hatch again as soon as possible.
He had specifically collected Youpi's corpse earlier, mainly in preparation for the Chimera.
Now, with the addition of the King's and Neferpitou's remains, it should provide the Chimera with an immeasurable amount of nutrition, possibly even prompting it to grow rapidly in a short period.
If it could awaken the power of Nen as a result, that would be even more ideal.
After all, a Chimera that didn't know how to use aura, while it could occupy a high position in the human world's ecosystem, would probably find it difficult to move forward once it set foot on the treacherous and unpredictable Dark Continent.
Thinking of this, Morrow couldn't help but marvel once again at the mechanics of Stellar Collapse, which had allowed the bodies of the King, Neferpitou, and Youpi to be preserved intact.
However, complete corpses like these were also extremely precious materials for Manipulation puppets.
If he had a corresponding Manipulation ability, the benefit of preserving the corpses would certainly be greater than feeding them to the Chimera.
Besides, there were still several thousand unhatched flesh eggs in Hide and Seek.
When these Nen-using soldiers hatched, they could eventually serve as a backup resource for feeding the Chimera.
I should first verify the infection ability of 'Etude of Love'.
Compared to considering the future trip to the Dark Continent, what was more important right now was to confirm the effect of the ability after it reached Lv.100.
Morrow remembered that when Morena spread her ability, she needed to do it through a kiss.
But the condition for activating this ability was probably not that important.
The truly core conditions were likely the target's unreserved loyalty and ideals and beliefs that were highly consistent with the user's.
Morena clearly valued these two points more.
After all, her goal was to destroy the world, so the "consistency" of her group was very important.
And her strong need in this regard would naturally be integrated into the rules of her ability.
Because of this, in addition to the kiss, she also added the special step of "playing cards" to test whether the target was truly qualified to "join the group."
Morrow recalled this information about the ability.
As for how to infect others, given his subconscious needs, it probably didn't need to be that complicated.
Since he wasn't going to use this ability to destroy the world, there was naturally no need to be so cautious.
For him, if such a Nen System really existed, he would be more inclined to radiate its positive benefits to his companions.
Or, using a pyramid scheme-like approach, he could use it to develop numerous infected, and then squeeze Nen-related benefits from them.
However, given Morrow's usual style, if he were to use this "kill to level up" ability, he would certainly not be too ostentatious, and he would not want information about the ability to spread so easily.
Therefore, the most basic condition for activating this ability was undoubtedly the absolute trust between the giver and the receiver.
With this layer of relationship, Morrow naturally wouldn't have the thought of exploiting them.
As for the degree of intimacy and trust, Morrow believed that Kalluto and Menchi would have absolutely no problem in this regard. As for Ponzu, that was hard to say.
If they were to go to the Dark Continent, Ponzu's "Infinite Hive Window" was still very important.
If possible, Morrow still hoped that Ponzu could truly become a member of his team.
At this thought, Morrow glanced at Ponzu without a trace.
However...
Whether she could meet the conditions of Etude of Love was secondary.
What was more crucial was whether Ponzu was willing to go to the Dark Continent.
If Ponzu felt that the Dark Continent was too dangerous and was unwilling to participate...
Then Morrow would have to look for other reconnaissance-type Nen users.
In the time that followed, Morrow didn't directly talk to Menchi and the others about the "kill to level up" ability. Instead, he asked Morel to help him retrieve Shaiapouf's body.
Since Shaiapouf had died in his Beelzebub ability state, he had left behind many bodies the size of bees.
Compared to retrieving the bodies of the King and Neferpitou, Shaiapouf's was clearly more troublesome.
But Morel's Smoke Troopers could easily handle this matter.
As for why Morrow insisted on collecting Shaiapouf's clone corpses, there was no special motive. He was just adhering to the principle of not letting things go to waste, and they could be fed to the Chimera as snacks later.
While Morel was controlling his Deep Purple to retrieve Shaiapouf's clone corpses, Knuckle and the others also left Hide and Seek to prepare for the upcoming victory celebration.
Gel wasn't interested in the celebration. After confirming that Netero was fine, she left directly.
Gon, on the other hand, was very concerned about Kite's severed arm.
Although Kite himself didn't seem to care much, Gon was already thinking about finding Ging quickly and then having Ging help Kite restore his arm.
In fact, as for restoring the arm, as long as Killua could help Alluka regain her freedom, it would be a trivial matter with the "wishing machine's" ability.
Gon didn't know this, and Morrow couldn't possibly tell him.
After most of the people had left, Morrow finally gave a simple explanation of the effects of "Etude of Love" to Kalluto, Menchi, and Ponzu, who were still in the room.
This included the effect of killing to level up and the mechanism for infecting and sharing the ability.
"To think such a Nen ability exists..."
After hearing Morrow's explanation, Ponzu's face was filled with disbelief.
Even Menchi, who had a better understanding of the Nen System, couldn't hide her astonishment.
Although Nen itself contained infinite possibilities, the idea of leveling up just by killing people was simply too horrifying.
It was simple and direct, yet it also revealed a chillingly cruel nature.
Kalluto, however, didn't think that much. Instead, he looked at Morrow with anticipation.
According to Morrow's explanation, as long as the conditions were met, they could use the flesh eggs in the Hide and Seek room to quickly raise their levels.
This was incredibly appealing to Kalluto, who had always been very concerned about his strength.
Especially after this subjugation battle, Kalluto had witnessed his companions' exquisite use of their abilities and had personally felt the importance of "aura output."
But there were no shortcuts to improving in this area; it could only be done little by little.
But now, Morrow had offered a shortcut.
Kalluto was naturally both expectant and excited, and he couldn't wait to ask, "Morrow, what do I need to do to meet the conditions for sharing the ability?"
"Swear an oath."
This was what Morrow believed could replace the "kiss" and "playing cards."
And an oath was enough to demonstrate loyalty and trust, and it was equivalent to entrusting one's entire being to Morrow.
In exchange, Morrow could provide a path to rapidly increase their strength.
This was very reasonable.
If the ability didn't take effect after the oath, it meant that the receiver's level of trust was insufficient, and there was naturally no need to grant them this power.
"An oath..."
Kalluto asked with some curiosity, "What should I say?"
"Let me think."
Morrow raised a hand to his chin.
The oath was just a step to satisfy the ability's conditions. No matter the content of the oath, as long as it could express one's attitude, it would be fine.
That being said, Morrow still seriously thought of a few lines for the oath.
He felt that this step was the most important, so he couldn't be too casual about it.
A moment later.
Morrow quickly came up with a direct and simple oath and immediately said, "Kalluto, when you swear the oath, just say... We were not born at the same time, but we shall die at the same moment. Once this oath is made, there shall be no gap between life and death."
"Okay!"
Kalluto nodded quickly.
Morrow then reached out and took Kalluto's hand.
"Swear the oath," he said softly.
Kalluto's expression immediately turned solemn, and he solemnly recited, "We were not born at the same time, but we shall die at the same moment. Once this oath is made, there shall be no gap between life and death."
As soon as he finished speaking, he looked at Morrow expectantly again.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
The moment Kalluto completed the oath, Morrow just had a thought, and information such as Kalluto's level, status, and location appeared in his mind.
This meant the "infection" was successful.
From this moment on, Kalluto, like him, possessed the ability to kill to level up.
However, as the giver, he could grasp the detailed information of the receiver at any time.
"Kalluto, try to silently check your level in your mind and see if level information appears in your consciousness."
"Okay, I'll try."
Kalluto silently thought "check level" in his mind, and then the level information "Lv.1" flashed in his head.
"It's really there!"
Kalluto's eyes sparkled. Feeling excited, he couldn't help but look at the flesh eggs piled up in the room.
With so many experience babies, he would definitely be able to level up to a very high level soon.
Just imagining it made Kalluto even more excited.
Morrow smiled as he watched Kalluto's reaction.
He had always known that Kalluto was very concerned about his strength, and even often suffered from mental exhaustion because of it.
Now with the leveling ability of Etude of Love, he probably wouldn't have to worry about such things anymore.
"Menchi, it's your turn."
Morrow's gaze shifted to Menchi.
Menchi immediately cooperated and was soon infected with the ability by Morrow.
Then, Morrow looked at Ponzu.
Among the three, Ponzu's aura output level was the weakest, not even reaching a third-rate level.
So strictly speaking, her need for the "kill to level up" ability was the highest among the three.
And during her participation in the subjugation battle, Ponzu had witnessed the terrifying auras of the masters through her "Infinite Hive Window" ability.
This made her not hesitate at all when faced with the choice Morrow presented.
Morrow had originally been worried that Ponzu's "trust and favorability" towards him might not be enough to meet the ability's conditions.
But after Ponzu was also infected with the ability, it was clear that he had overthought it.
—--
For the next few days, Morrow and the others stayed in Hide and Seek.
When the first batch of flesh eggs in the Hide and Seek room hatched, Kalluto and the others immediately threw themselves into power-leveling.
The initial level of the Chimera Ant soldiers after hatching was between Lv.60 and Lv.70, which allowed the three of them to quickly reach level 60, and they also reserved opportunities to research and develop new abilities.
Ponzu hadn't decided what new ability to develop yet, but Kalluto already had a preliminary idea for an ability called "familiar spirit."
This idea was a suggestion from Morrow.
Kalluto didn't quite understand the specific concept of a familiar spirit yet, but it was essentially a pure Manipulation ability.
More precisely, it was the ability to transform the corpses of the King and the Royal Guard into familiar spirits.
—--
While Morrow and the others were power-leveling in Hide and Seek, several incidents occurred around the world.
Although it was several incidents, they were all related to the Chimera Ants.
When the Chimera Ant Queen died, the Chimera Ants in the nest immediately went their separate ways.
Although they were subsequently intercepted by the Hunter Association, a few Chimera Ants still managed to escape.
—--
The scorpion Squadron Leader, Zarzan, arrived in Meteor City. She felt that this place, cut off from the world, was very suitable for her Chimera Ant Nest.
But she didn't expect that someone had already beaten her to it.
And that person's name was Gyro, who, like her, was a Chimera Ant.
—--
On the other side.
Morena crossed the Yorbian continent and the ocean, finally arriving in the Kukan'yu Kingdom.
Her target was a group within the Kukan'yu Kingdom called the "Dust People."
The so-called Dust People were people as lowly as dust.
In reality, they were citizens who had committed crimes, as well as their descendants.
The Kakin Empire, like Kukan'yu, was a monarchy, so there were similar groups within Kakin's borders.
Morena was quite familiar with this.
This was also the reason why she had traveled such a long distance to enter the Kukan'yu Kingdom.
She wanted to use the existence of the "Dust People" as a starting point.
—--
At the same time.
Pariston, as expected, still used the pretext of "dereliction of duty" to try to use external force to compel Netero to abdicate.
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Bonus chapter @400powerstones is that ok ?