"How was that kid's Nen?"
Inside the elevator heading to the 200th floor, Bodoro finally couldn't resist asking.
To be precise, he was curious about the move Zushi hadn't unleashed at the end, particularly the astonishing amount of Aura that had instantly gathered in his fist.
"Not bad. His grasp of the Four Major Principles is solid; he has a good teacher. If you're asking about that last move, the technique is called 'Ko.' First, you use 'Gyo' to concentrate all your Aura into a single point. Then, you use 'Ten' to contain the emitted Aura, increasing its density. Finally, you use 'Zetsu' to completely shut off the residual Aura in other parts of your body, maximizing the enhancement and amplification effect. However, using Ko has a huge flaw: it leaves the rest of your body unprotected by Nen. If you're attacked elsewhere, you'll suffer grievous injury or even death."
Allen saw right through what the martial artist truly wanted to ask and gave a straightforward answer.
"Ko?!"
It was clearly the first time Bodoro had heard the term, and a gleam of excitement flashed in his eyes.
Instinctively, he felt that this technique was perfectly suited for him; mastering it would immediately boost his combat power significantly.
Seeing the undisguised yearning on Bodoro's face, Allen smiled and elaborated, "Yes. I've already taught you the Four Major Principles of Nen and one of its advanced applications, 'Gyo.'
"Beyond that, there are actually six advanced techniques.
"They are: 'Shu,' which extends Ten to cover an object you're touching, thereby strengthening it;
"'In,' which uses Zetsu to make your Aura semi-tangible and conceal your ability;
"'En,' which combines Ten and Ren to expand your Aura outward with yourself as the center, forming a stable field that drastically heightens your perception;
"'Ken,' which also uses Ten and Ren to release more Aura and lock it firmly around your body, forming a powerful defensive armor;
"'Ryu,' which allows you to rapidly adjust the percentage of Aura in different body parts while maintaining Ken, enabling you to shift between offense and defense in real-time combat;
"And the last one is 'Ko,' which I just mentioned.
"So, don't think that learning the Four Major Principles means you've mastered Nen.
"The world of Nen is deep and mysterious; even I have only just scratched the surface.
"You'll only truly be considered a beginner when you can proficiently use all the advanced techniques and develop an ability unique to yourself."
"I see. Thank you for your guidance!" Bodoro bowed deeply and respectfully in his excitement.
Through this conversation, he felt as if he could already see the path ahead, giving him a clear goal. All that remained was persistent effort and training.
Never underestimate this.
Most Nen users in this world were self-taught or learned through unconventional means, figuring out techniques on their own. Only a lucky few received complete and systematic instruction.
"Anyway, keep at it. I hope to see you cross that threshold by the time we leave Heavens Arena."
With that, Allen walked out of the elevator and headed toward the registration window for the 200th floor.
Just as he passed through the corridor, three individuals radiating malicious intent suddenly appeared.
"Something the matter?"
Allen stopped, asking with a faint, unreadable smile.
"No, nothing much. We're just a little curious about the new arrival," answered a man wearing a bizarre mask.
"That's right! That's right!" chimed in another fellow sitting in a wheelchair.
Beside them, a disabled man with no legs, wearing a red smock, let out a strange laugh.
There was no need to ask; these three were Sadaso, Gido, and Riehlvelt—the trio who specialized in using underhanded tactics to bully rookies and pick off easy targets, only to be thrashed by Killua and Gon in the original story.
Clearly, they had mistaken the fourteen-or-fifteen-year-old Allen for a novice who had just learned Nen.
On the contrary, the burly Bodoro looked more mature and exuded the distinct aura of a martial artist, making him seem like someone not to be trifled with lightly.
After all, Nen combat is incredibly dangerous; a single misstep could lead to a violent death, and few were willing to gamble with their precious lives.
"So, do you want to fight me? Betting all your Nen!"
As the words left Allen's mouth, the silhouette of the Red Dragon instantly materialized, staring at the three Nen users with a gaze full of intense longing and greed.
"A Nen Beast?!" Sadaso's expression changed slightly.
He had initially assumed the boy before him had only learned the basics of Nen, meaning a win in the ring was guaranteed.
But if the boy had already developed a unique ability, the battle would be full of suspense and unknowns.
Meanwhile, Gido and Riehlvelt were constantly exchanging glances.
After a full few minutes, the three finally made their decision and said in unison, "We accept! Let's register the match, kid."
"Hehe. Contract established! Thank you very much!"
Upon receiving their affirmative answer, Allen didn't hesitate. He immediately bit his finger and inserted it into the Red Dragon's mouth.
Instantly, an invisible force took hold of all four individuals.
"Damn it! What did you do to us?" Riehlvelt shouted nervously.
"Nothing, just sealed a contract. Didn't you listen to what I just said? Betting all your Nen!" Allen pursed his lips, explaining with meaningful intent.
"B-Betting... all our Nen?!"
Sadaso finally snapped to his senses, realizing just how fatal this contract was, and what a massive mistake the three of them had made.
"Correct! Simply put, we are wagering all of our Aura and Nen abilities! The winner takes all, and the loser loses everything. Quite fair, isn't it? By the way, don't think about running away halfway, because fleeing will also be considered a defeat." Allen sneered as he handed the match form to the staff member, then led Bodoro toward the contestant rest area.
Without a doubt, he was prepared to seize the Nen abilities of these three fellows and use them as fodder for the Red Dragon's growth.
Watching Allen and Bodoro disappear around the corner of the corridor, Gido immediately asked his two accomplices, "What do we do? Since that brat dared to make such an unbreakable Vow, he must be extremely confident in his strength."
"There's no choice. We're already bound by the Nen Beast's Vow; it's too late to run now. My match is the first one tomorrow. I'll do everything I can to figure out his abilities and trump cards. If I'm unfortunate enough to lose, I leave it to you two to win back everything I've lost."
After saying this, the masked Sadaso took a deep breath, turned, and returned to his room.
For a Nen user, nothing was more terrifying or despair-inducing than losing one's Nen.
Sometimes, if forced to choose between their life and their ability, a significant proportion would undoubtedly choose the latter.
So this time, there was no retreat!
Sadaso had no choice but to fight with desperate resolve against an opponent of unknown strength and ability.
On the other side, the same applied to Gido and Riehlvelt.
The only difference was that they still had a little time to observe and prepare...
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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]