Wing's expression remained calm, but deep down, he was shocked.
He'd expected Gon and Killua to be talented—passing the Hunter Exam at their age was already extraordinary. Only a handful of geniuses could do that.
But now, after spending time with them, Wing was starting to realize just how terrifying their potential really was.
They had just opened their aura nodes and already managed to grasp Ten—the art of wrapping their bodies in aura.
That kind of talent was beyond comprehension.
Wing couldn't help but reflect on his own past.
He'd always thought of himself as gifted. Back when he first awakened his aura, it took him a significant amount of time to truly grasp Ten.
But these two? They picked it up almost instantly.
It wasn't even a comparison.
For the first time in years, Wing found his mindset shaken.
His emotions were complicated. There was a reason he hadn't taught Gon and Killua Nen earlier.
He believed the time just wasn't right.
They were still young—still green.
They needed more experience, more trials, more grounding before diving into the world of Nen. That was what Wing had told himself.
To be honest, he hadn't fully prepared to take on students yet.
So when he heard Zushi mention Gon aiming for the 200th floor, he was angry—though he hadn't shown it.
Part of it was Gon's gaze: clear, determined, unshakable.
The other part was the feeling that Gon was trying to force his hand—pressuring him to teach them Nen, as if it were an obligation.
It wasn't that Wing didn't want to teach them.
It just wasn't supposed to be now.
He could clearly sense how eager the two were to learn.
"Wing-sensei?"
Gon's voice snapped him back to the present.
"...What is it?"
"It's almost time," Gon said. "Killua and I need to head to Heavens Arena to register—if we don't go now, we'll miss the cut-off."
"...Alright, go ahead."
...
Gon and Killua returned to Heavens Arena.
As expected, Hisoka was stationed near the passageway leading to the higher floors.
He heard their footsteps and looked up.
His eyes narrowed as he saw their aura control.
"You've picked it up already... Not bad," Hisoka muttered, the corner of his lips curling into a grin.
"As expected... you're worth watching. Let's hope you can keep surprising me."
He didn't stop them this time.
Gon and Killua walked past him, and once they were out of earshot, Hisoka rose from his seat. He stared at Gon's back, licking his lips with anticipation.
The presence of new blood never went unnoticed on the 200th floor.
Gon and Killua quickly drew attention—not because of who they were specifically, but because every newcomer did.
Just like Kaizen had before them.
Or Nina.
It was tradition.
...
"Gon, are you really going through with this?" Killua asked.
"Yeah. I'm sure," Gon replied. "What about you?"
"I'm gonna wait," Killua said flatly.
Even without Illumi's influence, Killua's instincts and temperament had always been more cautious than Gon's. It was simply in his nature to hold back and assess.
Gon went to the front desk, asked for the registration form, and filled out his name.
He submitted it without hesitation.
Killua, meanwhile, noticed a few figures lurking at the edge of the corridor. Even after making eye contact, they didn't look away—they just stared him down without shame.
Killua's expression turned cold.
"Those guys again…"
He remembered Sadaso had mentioned them before—rookie hunters looking to prey on the weak.
He knew exactly who they were and what they wanted.
"Killua, I'm done! Let's go," Gon called.
"Yeah."
Before leaving, the receptionist handed them each a keycard.
Competitors on the 200th floor were entitled to private luxury suites. Gon and Killua were no exception.
...
"Wing-sensei, we're back," Gon announced as they returned.
Wing's eyes immediately focused on Gon.
"Little Gon... so, you signed up?"
"Yep."
"When's the match?"
"I'm not sure yet. There's no set deadline—I can pick anytime. If I can, I'd love to fight tomorrow. I want to feel this power in action."
He looked down at his clenched fist.
Wing let out a long sigh.
Gon wasn't just stubborn—he was willful. Once he made a decision, no one could sway him, no matter how rational their arguments were.
Just as Wing was about to speak, Gon's phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, read the screen, and brightened.
"I got it. Match is set for tomorrow morning. My opponent is someone named Gido."
Wing's brow furrowed.
"Gon… you've only just begun to learn Nen. You're still at the starting line. These opponents are seasoned Nen users—you're not ready to face them yet."
"I taught you Nen ahead of schedule because you were determined to understand this world. But tomorrow's match—think of it as an observation, not a battle."
"If anything feels off, surrender immediately. Don't try to be a hero."
"You don't know who your opponents really are. If they have bad intentions, and you try to tough it out... it could have consequences you can't undo."
"You must agree to this, or I won't continue teaching you."
"You've got time. You don't need to rush."
Wing looked at him seriously.
Gon nodded.
"I understand, Wing-sensei."
"Good. Then let's continue."
...
"You've already learned Ten. That's your basic defense—maintaining your aura."
"But the foundation of Nen lies in the four major principles: Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu."
"Before those, however, there are four preliminary techniques: Opening, Focusing, Refining, and Wasting."
Originally, Wing had planned to delay teaching the advanced concepts. He would've taken things slowly, guiding them through the basics over time.
But with Killua and Gon's connection to Kaizen—and with Sadaso now in the mix—he changed his mind.
He decided to introduce the foundational principles sooner.
It would be better for them to face what was coming with clarity than to stumble forward half-trained.
------------
Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (1047 chapters in total)