Just as Allen plunged into Molten Core to hunt trash mobs and train his Nen ability, Hisoka, who had been lying on the lakeside for a full day and night, finally regained consciousness.
He first sat up, moving his sore and aching body, then said with a look of disappointment, "I'm not dead? I'm still alive?"
"No, in a sense, you died once. That guy didn't hold back at all; he beat you until you were clinging to life. But then, I don't know what he did, but he pulled you back from the edge of death," Illumi, who was standing guard, explained.
"Oh? Was that his Nen ability?" Hisoka's previously listless eyes instantly sharpened.
"I don't know. His abilities are more varied and bizarre than anyone else I've ever seen; unfathomable. I suggest that until you figure out his abilities, you shouldn't provoke him rashly again," Illumi said expressionlessly, giving his opinion on Allen.
"Heh heh, the unknown is the most interesting, isn't it? And that fight was incredibly satisfying! Unprecedentedly satisfying! I feel like I can become even stronger!"
As he spoke, Hisoka's eyes sparkled with excitement, anticipation, and an immense craving. He wasn't discouraged by one defeat; instead, it fueled a stronger competitive drive and an intense desire to personally destroy the perfect "fruit" he had personally nurtured.
Seeing the expression on his "good buddy's" face, Illumi shrugged indifferently. "Suit yourself. But I should warn you, based on the contract you two sealed earlier, you likely won't be able to use Nen for the next three months."
"It doesn't matter. It's only three months. I'll make good use of this time to think of a way to deal with him," Hisoka replied confidently, stroking his chin.
"Do you need me to provide you with any additional intelligence?" Illumi suddenly asked.
Hisoka nodded without hesitation: "Of course! Please tell me everything you know."
"First, that guy and the wolf by his side definitely have an ability similar to telepathy. They never exchanged any communication, yet they could perfectly grasp your movements from two different perspectives."
"Second, that black-purple energy is likely the wolf's ability, not the man's. I noticed that when the wolf is in a state of alert, its teeth and claws unconsciously emit a similar Aura. Although faint, I was sensitive enough to detect it."
"Third, his Nen seems to have traits of both Manipulation and Transmutation. Your respiratory system was frostbitten because you inhaled an invisible Nen. That Nen was concealed by In, so you failed to notice it."
Illumi calmly analyzed his observations from the past few days. It must be said that as the eldest son of the Zoldyck assassin family, he indeed had unique insights into information gathering and analysis. He immediately saw through many of the smokescreens Allen had intentionally released to confuse the enemy.
"You mean… he and the wolf can borrow each other's Nen abilities?!"
As if a long-puzzling riddle had suddenly been solved, Hisoka's lips curled into a smile of undisguised delight.
"Yes. Based on my observation and judgment, that seems to be the case. Most importantly, the wolf never attacked and was always wary of me, so whether it has any other abilities remains unknown. Also, that Nen Beast by his side is unusual; it might be hiding abilities we don't know about. In short, he's difficult to deal with, and his growth rate is terrifyingly fast," Illumi concluded seriously.
"On that point, I'm clearer than you are. Actually, besides all those abilities, Allen has an Enhancement type of Nen. During the Third Phase at the Trick Tower, he broke through my Ken with a single punch. That's not something a Manipulator or Transmuter can do," Hisoka added meaningfully.
"So you're saying that he and the wolf, combined, might simultaneously possess and skillfully switch between five or more types of Nen—Enhancement, Manipulation, Transmutation, Emission, and Specialization? Is that even possible?" Illumi questioned. The energy and time available to a person are limited, and he simply couldn't imagine how a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy could develop his Nen from nothing to such a terrifying degree in just one year.
"Nen is the manifestation of the spirit and will. It can also be strengthened and elevated through intense resolve and emotion. Regardless of what kind of Vow and Limitation Allen put on himself to become so strong in a short time, he is the fruit I personally watered and grew, and he must be destroyed by my own hands," Hisoka said with an undeniable tone, his fists clenched tightly.
"Good luck. Now, I'm going to hunt my target's badge. Do you need me to bring back yours as well?" Illumi asked, standing up.
Hisoka refused without hesitation: "Thank you, but no need. Although I can't use Nen temporarily, dealing with a few candidates is still no problem."
…
Meanwhile, aboard the Hunter Association airship circling the island, Chairman Netero and the other Examiners had just finished watching the footage of the battle between Allen and Hisoka, and a brief silence fell over the group.
After about two or three minutes, the Chairman broke the silence, asking with a smile, "Well? What are your thoughts on these two?"
"I think both of them are too dangerous! Both Hisoka and this young man named Allen. Especially that black-purple, ominous energy—it's so evil it sends shivers down my spine," Menchi was the first to give her opinion.
"Agreed! That energy is indeed dangerous. It's like it corrodes life and matter from the inside, and we don't even know if there's a normal way to defend against it," Satotz chimed in. As the Examiner for the First Phase, he had the longest contact with Allen and Hisoka and understood them more deeply than the others. He still felt a chill whenever he recalled the near-clash in the underground tunnel.
"My opinion is the opposite. Hisoka might be a dangerous element, but Allen definitely is not. His behavior is more rational, and he doesn't carry much killing intent. If he passes the exam and becomes a Hunter, he should quickly make a name for himself in some field," Lippo, the Examiner for the Third Phase, offered a differing view.
As a Blacklist Hunter, he could easily sense a person's hidden internal mental state. Hisoka was a typical case of personality disorder, mania, and pathology, prone to entering a frenzied state due to severe emotional fluctuations. Allen, however, maintained his rationality from beginning to end, even during combat.
"I agree with Lippo. A young man who can train his animal companion to master Nen and also has good cooking skills must be full of love for life and adventure. He is definitely not the kind of person who would descend into darkness," Buhara did not side with his friend Menchi this time.
"Ohohohoho! Two against two. It seems Candidate No. 105 has generated a polarizing impression among you. But there seems to be no room for argument regarding the strength he displayed, correct?" Chairman Netero scanned the elites of the Hunter Association.
"Yes!"
"He is very strong!"
"The variety of his abilities is vast!"
"And also mysterious!"
The four Examiners nodded in agreement.
"In that case, I will speak with him personally after the exam concludes," Chairman Netero finally decided, drawing a close to the discussion.
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You can read the ahead chapter on Patr if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]