In the rehearsal hall, Moritonio was already waiting in the corner for Hisoka and Akira.
Seeing the two of them appear, the troupe leader beckoned.
Hisoka sat together with Neo, while Akira stood.
"The troupe members are afraid of Hisoka stealing their techniques, so the number of people secretly practicing has increased…" Moritonio smiled slightly.
Under normal circumstances, after a tiring day, the members would return to their dormitories to rest after dinner.
Yet now… there were still figures moving about on the grounds.
They hadn't noticed the few of them either.
"Everyone is so timid…"
The troupe leader sighed softly, "Hisoka clearly has no interest in other people's techniques."
"That's not true, troupe leader… there is one thing I'd quite like to learn." Seeing that the troupe leader seemed to understand him well, Hisoka raised a finger, "The famous Moritonio's 'swimming in the air'… that seems quite interesting."
The troupe leader didn't get angry at Hisoka calling him by name directly, and smiled, "That… I won't teach, no matter how talented you are, that's a different matter entirely."
"You're right about that."
Hisoka nodded.
After all, it was the troupe leader's signature skill. If he let someone else learn it, Moritonio's fame would pass to another.
This was the circus's golden ticket.
"The troupe leader's special skill… is related to this, isn't it?" Suddenly, Hisoka changed tack, his gaze locking onto Neo's body surface, "This… the thing faintly flowing… or should I say, substance?"
"Oh?"
Moritonio was clearly somewhat surprised, "Hisoka… you… can see aura?"
"Aura?"
Hisoka tilted his head.
"Or it's also called Nen."
"Nen?"
"That's right."
"Are you referring to this layer covering my body, like a film of light?"
Hisoka's next statement not only plunged Moritonio into silence, even Akira on the side had a subtle change in expression. All along, he had thought that at most Hisoka had merely sensed the Nen user—that is, the troupe leader's 'aura'. Ordinary people's aura was too weak and very difficult to perceive.
He never expected this kid to not only perceive the troupe leader, but even detect his own 'aura' from that.
Too monstrous!
Even more prodigious than expected!
Akira felt somewhat envious… Sometimes, between people, there really is no fairness to speak of.
"You… relying solely on your innate sense and perception… just…"
Moritonio trailed off.
"My aura is so weak, not as full as yours, Mr. Moritonio."
Hisoka sensed the difference in aura quantity between himself and the troupe leader, and sighed.
"Aura… is something everyone naturally has. The reason my aura is strong is because I've been cultivating it all along…"
At this point, Moritonio stopped beating around the bush. He had called Akira and Hisoka here precisely to see whether the two had talent in this area, "Those who can strengthen or change their aura, who can flexibly control and utilize it, are called Nen users."
"Ordinary people cannot sense the existence of aura, cannot lock aura within their bodies or around them, causing the aura to constantly leak away…"
"Refining and training this aura requires methods… Locking in the leaking aura and circulating it around the body is 'Ten'. Amplifying and expanding the aura is 'Ren'."
Hisoka showed an interested expression.
Akira remained quite calm.
Because what the troupe leader was saying was, to him, kindergarten-level knowledge.
"Abaki, show him."
The troupe leader looked toward the girl.
Abaki nodded, stood still, crossed her arms, and struck a pose.
Then with a light shout, the Nen within her body instantly burst forth, becoming extremely obvious and turbulent in Hisoka's eyes.
As for Akira… he only felt that Abaki's entire presence suddenly surged, an inexplicable pressure welling up in his heart.
He knew she was demonstrating Nen… only he couldn't 'see' it.
"So this is… Ren?"
Hisoka stood up.
"Ren is the most basic element in learning the fundamental principle of condensing and releasing Nen ability."
"To learn it, the refinement of Ten is also indispensable."
As he spoke, the troupe leader looked at his disciple Abaki and said to Hisoka, "With your ability and talent, 'Ren' won't be difficult, but to master 'Ten', even at the fastest, an ordinary person needs about a year. To reach Abaki's level would take roughly three years."
"Starting today, like Abaki, you'll train in Nen with me."
Moritonio patted Hisoka's shoulder.
Undoubtedly… Hisoka's potential was exceptionally astounding.
Then, after doing all this… Moritonio seemed to only then remember there was another youth present.
Several pairs of eyes successively turned toward Akira.
Akira hadn't made a sound or given any indication. Neo also wasn't clear whether the youth could, like Hisoka, perceive Nen aura.
If he couldn't sense it… then he and they would be people from two different worlds.
With an insurmountable chasm between them.
Although… through long training, one could gradually strengthen their perception of Nen aura, it would also indicate poor talent… Moreover, the circus was busy, and as a Nen user, he had neither the energy nor time to cultivate Akira bit by bit.
"I have one request, and I hope the troupe leader will agree to it."
Akira said coolly, hands in his pockets.
"Go ahead…"
Moritonio was taken aback.
Akira's words were abrupt… At this critical juncture, instead of saying whether he could sense Nen aura, he suddenly put forward a request.
"I hope the troupe leader can use Nen to forcibly open my aura nodes." Akira's tone was extremely calm.
But after he finished speaking, both Abaki and the troupe leader's faces changed dramatically.
"You… you know about Nen?"
Moritonio asked in a low voice.
It seemed… the shock Akira brought him was even greater than Hisoka's.
"I once met a Nen user. He told me some things." Akira nodded.
"I see…"
The troupe leader seemed somewhat dazed.
Seeing that Akira wasn't making a big fuss, but instead displayed a composure beyond his years… indicated that Akira truly had some understanding of 'Nen', and didn't seem to be lying.
"You know what this means, don't you?"
Moritonio emphasized.
Forcibly opening the aura nodes, if it causes the aura to be completely depleted, the outcome…
At the same time, because Akira hadn't answered whether he could see Nen aura and had changed the subject, combined with Akira's understanding of "Nen", both Abaki and Moritonio subconsciously assumed that he could also perceive the existence of aura.
Perhaps… he had even already discovered the fact that Moritonio was a Nen user.
And had been waiting for an appropriate opportunity to break through this thin barrier.
"Out of concern for your safety, I could refuse."
Seeing Akira's determined gaze, the troupe leader replied, "With your ability, there's no need to take shortcuts. Shortcuts mean risk… What's more, you're still young…"
"This is my own choice. I'm willing to bear all the consequences."
"I'm mentally prepared for this."
Akira appeared extremely resolute.
"You…"
Moritonio locked eyes with Akira.
After sensing Akira's determination, he relented, "Very well… I'll do my best to control your condition."
Having gotten the result he wanted, Akira showed a faint smile.
"What are they… talking about?"
On the side, Hisoka noticed the change in Akira's expression and asked Abaki.
"Is this guy… insane?!"
Abaki bit her lip.
Then, turning her head… she briefly explained to Hisoka what "forcibly opening the aura nodes" meant.
A moment later, after hearing it, Hisoka burst into laughter.
The look in his eyes as he gazed at Akira became somewhat different…
Akira glanced at Hisoka and left one after the other with Moritonio.
He knew… Hisoka must have figured it out… that he couldn't sense Nen aura, that his talent was poor.
Meanwhile, Moritonio and Abaki had both been fooled by his words and hadn't realized this at all.
…
Shortly after, the group arrived at an empty room.
Hisoka and Abaki observed… about to witness the miraculous moment of Akira stepping through the gateway to becoming a Nen user.
"When my Nen aura enters your body, you must concentrate all your energy to sense the flow and chaos of the vital energy in your body… Once the aura nodes open, it's like a dam breaking. Your own aura is the flood… it will pour out in a short time. Once it's completely depleted, it means your life force is exhausted and you'll fall into extreme weakness. Even if you ultimately survive… the aftereffects… are not something you can endure."
"You must quickly organize and control it… and master your aura!"
Moritonio appeared extremely serious.
"I understand."
Akira nodded, still completely calm.
Since he had made this choice, he had certainly weighed it…
He didn't have Hisoka's potential. If he wanted to keep this pervert in check, he had to take an unorthodox path and risk the danger.
In a race against time, he couldn't compete with Hisoka… Once Hisoka became a Nen user, living under the same roof, the sense of insecurity in Akira's heart would climb to its peak.
He knew what it looked like when aura nodes opened… he could be considered experienced, just hadn't personally experienced it, but that was still better than being a complete novice.
Then, Akira sat cross-legged on the ground, his breathing gradually steadying, and closed his eyes.
Seeing this, Moritonio placed his palm wrapped in Nen aura on his shoulder…
The next second, a gust of air suddenly swept through the room, lifting the hair of Hisoka and Abaki opposite them, and the white papers on the table flew about in disarray.
Hisoka's narrow eyes opened into thin slits, his lips parted slightly, his tongue tip extended and licked around in a circle…
He was seeing an incredibly spectacular sight.
Tremendous aura surged wildly from Akira's body, the volume of aura terrifying!
The amount of aura represented the strength or weakness of a person's life force. Though one could increase their aura volume through training later, for Akira as a newcomer who had just entered, to already have such a considerable amount of vital energy in his body indicated… his initial life force far exceeded that of ordinary people.
In Hisoka's mind appeared the scene of Akira diligently training every night in the park woods.
Akira's physical condition… Hisoka was familiar with it.
It was transforming along a curve that ordinary people couldn't comprehend…
Among his peers, Akira wasn't the person with the strongest body Hisoka had ever seen, but he was… the guy with the most frightening growth rate he'd ever encountered!
"You really are… extraordinary."
Hisoka licked his lips, murmuring softly.
"Hm?"
Abaki beside him heard the sound and instinctively glanced at Hisoka, her heart suddenly turning cold.
She saw… Hisoka was smiling.
Only… she didn't know how to describe that kind of smile… especially that look in his eyes, which even made her feel very uncomfortable.
She had never seen Hisoka display such an expression.
Akira's vital energy wildly overflowed from the pores all over his body.
Sweat also appeared on Moritonio's forehead. He was using his own Nen aura to forcibly contain the aura dispersing from Akira's body… Though the effect wasn't great, it was better than doing nothing.
Abaki clenched her fists, extremely tense.
Only Hisoka appeared very relaxed… as if he wasn't worried at all that something would happen to Akira!
Soon, beads of blood appeared on Akira's skin, and there was some pain between his brows.
Forcibly opening the aura nodes naturally came at an extraordinary price.
However… it was only a few minutes before the group observed that the aura, which had been releasing without any pattern, came under effective control and adhered to Akira's body surface, enveloping his entire person.
"He succeeded?…"
Abaki's eyes widened as she let out an incredulous cry.
Although this was the first time she had witnessed firsthand the scene of someone having their aura nodes forcibly opened, she had also heard the troupe leader say that because it wasn't Nen aura one had slowly cultivated and become familiar with, suddenly coming into contact with "aura" made it very difficult to get the hang of it in a short time and master the aura.
Even if successful, those with exceptional talent would still need a quarter of an hour.
Yet Akira… took only a few minutes.
What kind of concept was this… It was equivalent to a 100-meter sprint where the world champion's record is 9 seconds, but Akira only took 2-3 seconds!
This completely shattered the common sense and understanding of Nen users!
It was utterly revolutionary!
Moritonio, who had withdrawn his own Nen aura, was also stunned. He hadn't expected it to be this fast!
The old man looked at Akira sitting on the ground, then glanced at Hisoka…
Just who… were these two youths?