Getting up on time wasn't a challenge as I was never really sleeping only meditating it was more efficient for recovery with the added benefits of unlocking my aura nodes
Skipping over to my brother's room I froze I could smell blood his blood quickly entering his room I was relieved that he was fine only sleeping I did frown as I looked at his knuckles raw with overtraining finally after gathering my emotions I went over to wake him
"Get up illumi it's time to train…" Shaking him awake Karma didn't even have time to finish his sentence as his brother quickly got up and looked around vigilantly
I could see the slight malnutrition the bloody fists, and the way he looked relieved it wasn't another test before quickly he hid it and answered in his calm voice at least that was his goal "Sorry brother I was just getting in a little extra sleep, yeah let's get going" illumi spoke his eyes not meeting mine
I didn't probe as we walked the sounds of early morning calming, I washed his face with a cloth before we left the manor and finally decided it would be best to just hurry along we passed staff along the way. Honestly even though they where older then me I was without a doubt stronger.
As we were getting closer to the training grounds illumi finished wrapping his knuckles in cloth as he looked over and finally smiled "Thank you, karma" he looked almost determined
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"Good instincts" Zeno spoke as I dodged the pit trap
"Calm down, calm down no need to be so tense today will be mostly theory if you have any questions just ask " so calm and easy it would be hard to imagine this old man as a world-class killer he is
"No questions yet? Good, nen is life force every living thing has nen, there are in general 5 types of nen affinity enhancement, emission, transmuter, conjurer, and the rarest specialist" Zeno walked with us to a boulder where he jumped and sat down in lotus position
"for you karma honestly something like enhancer would suit you best not because you are simple but due to your already insane physicality at your current rate of growth there are few people with higher talent in assassination and martial arts, and we have plenty of potential hatsus for you to train on that path" Zeno adjusted his position before motioning us to sit
"Is it possible to change your nen affinity or have multiple?" spoke illumi as he sat down with an intense determined gaze
"Good question, yes and yes for one reason or another Nen affinity may change usually the person needs to be untrained in which case changes to life experience and personality are enough. If you have already created a hatsu though it becomes rare and needs specific circumstances, also you can have a double affinity it is just rarer for us zoyldcks all clan heads are born with a double affinity" Zeno spoke as he scratched his beard
"as you know the basic nen abilities are ten, ren, Zetsu well I will give you both books on the more advanced nen abilities, I will unlock your nen now and do as is instructed" Zeno spoke as he appeared behind us
Knowing what to expect I focused on my aura nodes when Zeno finally started with me he sent in a gentle aura flowering through my remaining stubborn nodes, I lost sight of my surroundings as I focused within I let the aura flow through every organ and through my blood finally after fully feeling my body go through the sort of metamorphic experience.
I awoke, turning to my right illumi and Zeno stared at me was that pity in grandfather's eyes? Why would he feel pity I fully awakened my nen perfectly
Before I could ask Zeno said "You have a talent of 1 in 200,000 it's good… for an ordinary person but the training you have done and what you've eaten is really kind of low"
"your brother illumi has nen talent of 1 in 500,000, it's not a bad thing you can't slack off and you must get creative with any future nen abilities well I'm getting ahead of myself "
"Here both of you let your aura flow into these cups" Zeno spoke with a sigh as he grabbed two cups from his robe?
As I flowed my aura into the glass the leaf moved around in a swirl yet if you looked closer the leaf seemed more. Looking over to my brother his test seemed the same. The leaf moving around in a strange pattern
"Interesting double manipulators, although typically not highly lethal we have a few good hatsu ideas and legacys if you would like to see, here after the blood purity test we will visit the ancestral house." seemingly indifferent he pulled out a strange instrument that gave off a creepy aura.
"Prick 1 drop off your ring finger, then focus on the top red area" Zeno gave oddly specific instructions
Doing so finally, I looked up to a disappointed Zeno where he spoke "Honestly this isn't the worse thing but you need to make your nen versatile enough especially you Karma a +1 memory limit is the average most people only have 1 Hatsu, illumi you are in the same boat just remember when making derivative nen abilities never weaken your main hatsu it will cause your ruin don't spread yourself thin" he shook his head as he ordered us to follow
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Burial ground hidden under the mountain
"Here is our nen artifact a past head brought from a land of darkness, when you are more experienced in nen we will talk more just remember certain information can't be leaked or there will be consequences" he unlocked a strange safe with many strange symbols on them finally he picks up a black book and drips blood upon it
"Legacy type manipulator"
"Here pick one of these it is more efficient" Zeno spoke
"No, I refuse" Karma stepped back
"So be it illumi what will you do?"
" I need power"
"…good answer" Zeno places the book in illumi's hand
"Okay from today on, you will walk down different paths your choice to refuse power enhanced by generation after generation is your own decision since you already have a hatsu in mind we need to talk more stay here" Zeno spoke before he left with illumi who only repeated three words "desire needle death"
as I sat I contemplated 'am I maybe wrong? But this ability its so core to me even if its weaker it is mine I dont need borrowed power I hear its name perfected automation why would I need to manipulate another I am enough' I feel it all I'd need to do is accept it and I would have it no vows needed no restrictions…
But I will wait until I finish my understanding of Nen before rushing into anything. Sitting down on the slightly dusted floor I studied the death-like aura around me and the strange symbols finally I closed my eyes and practiced ten as I waited. Opening chat
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After I closed chat I felt a little disappointed they goof off yet no one gives real information other then what and heavenly demon and sometimes typical detective.
Looking up at the man walking toward me Zeno seemed resolved and spoke "I'm proud of you very few refuse a legacy nen ability, now I will teach you information that is forbidden to know by the V5 nen vows, conditions, and contracts"
"You should be familiar with the first two a nen contract though it's like making a promise with your nen that you won't do something unless you meet a condition the best way to understand it would be to feel it" he walked as I followed
"We will send you to heavens Arena, and I will guide you to make a nen contract a good old reliable you must get to the 200th floor without nen, you have money on your card and you should have memorized the training books an enviable talent now lay down and repeat after me with potent intent"
"I won't use a drop of nen in combat in heaven arena until I've reached the 200th floor through my ability" as he flowed the nen in me
"I won't use nen in or outside of combat until I've reached the 200th floor of heavens arena with my ability" I felt it like reality acknowledged my commitment
"You're a fool why? Whatever what's done is done Gato will watch over you if you take too long you will regret it good luck"
'Hmm I feel he could have just been upfront with it but yes I feel if you make a contract with your own nen gaining something for something an equivalent exchange then in that case there's no need to stop at just that'
'In that case, there's no reason to delay it'
As Zeno left he heard a contract that made him pause
"until I have finished my 100-kill list without using my Hatsu I won't unlock my Hatsu" 'in exchange my nen will have two active uses a day not one' I felt it, it was accepted
'yes it would probably be best to wait using my avatarzation now would be a waste I only have three uses anyway so I need to be more selective ' As I sat waiting for the airship I heard a familiar voice
"Brother before you go, one more fight we both don't know Hatsu yet so it's fair" illumi spoke he seemed excited at his newfound power sure manipulators have only around 40% effective strength in enhancement but he was a zoyldck and drunk on newfound power
"Alright let's just do it here, for certain reasons, I won't be using Nen but take this seriously I won't hold back this time" karmas eyes grew cold his expression serious as he began to walk
illumi barely holding in excitement yelled "Bring it"