In terms of natural talent, Morrow was indeed inferior to Kastro.
But everyone has their own strengths.
After entering the antique trade, Morrow quickly discovered his aptitude for observation and analysis.
He applied this ability to the arena of Heavens Arena.
Thus, the title "Meditator" was born.
Later, through countless experiences of the true Death Replay from the Death Threshold, he honed an extreme sensitivity to killing intent, even malice.
This ability surpassed merely reading emotional cues from aura states.
It allowed Morrow to clearly perceive killing intent and malice, and it was this very skill that had unknowingly shielded Menchi from harm once.
Lastly, there was the purpose and direction of his ability's development.
Driven by the threat of the Death Threshold, Morrow's need and approach in developing his ability were tailored specifically to counter Feitan.
Thus, his experience in the antique trade, his talent for observation and analysis, the skills forged through countless Death Replays, and the framework of his ability designed to counter Feitan...
These elements fit together like perfectly interlocking blocks, step by step constructing the ability known as Starlight Convergence.
It was irreplaceable. A unique beauty.
It granted Morrow capabilities that surpassed mere talent.
Such was the wonder of Nen.
After receiving and processing the information, Morrow flawlessly replicated Kastro's Tiger Bite Fist technique.
Moreover, because his mastery of Nen surpassed Kastro's, his application of aura manifested a far more threatening presence than Kastro's.
This phenomenon, defying all expectations, inevitably left Kastro shaken.
Come.
Starlight seemed to flicker in Morrow's eyes as his fighting spirit naturally surged.
When it came to killing Feitan, he no longer needed Kastro and Calista's cooperation.
But since he had already established a master-disciple relationship with them, even if he had overturned the initial conditions set before forming that bond, he now bore the responsibility of a teacher.
He couldn't simply disregard them.
So, they would grow together.
He would teach them everything about Nen, while they would "teach" him all they knew of martial arts and combat techniques.
Starlight Convergence made this possible.
Thus, he couldn't wait to absorb even more experience from Kastro and Calista.
Kastro forcibly steadied the turmoil in his heart.
After several deep breaths, he finally stabilized his emotions, and his aura settled accordingly.
Tiger Bite Fist.
Kastro assumed his stance once more, aura tinged with green light coalescing around his palms, taking the form of a tiger's gaping maw and fangs.
No further words were needed.
Kastro could see it in his master's eyes.
Gathering momentum like a tiger descending a mountain, he charged forward without hesitation, striking straight at Morrow.
Facing Kastro's ferocious assault, Morrow neither retreated nor dodged.
The next moment...
Their fists collided as if destined.
The green-tinged auras swirling around them clashed violently, unleashing a razor-sharp shockwave.
In terms of Nen type, Kastro held the advantage in close-quarters offense and defense.
But when it came to Nen techniques and aura intensity, Morrow was the undisputed superior.
In less than a second of fierce collision, Kastro's Tiger Bite Fist was already on the verge of crumbling. He immediately realized this and, utilizing his unique force-dispersing technique, disengaged from the entangled collision state before swiftly retreating.
This move was correct.
But in a disadvantaged position, it would give the opponent an opportunity to pursue.
Yet Morrow did not give chase, allowing Kastro to safely create distance and regroup.
"Ren."
Then, Morrow went all out.
An aura output of up to Lv.44 surged like a torrent, erupting wildly from his body, creating an oppressive aura that weighed heavily on Kastro.
Kastro's heart jolted, and the tiger-bite aura on his hands instantly became as fragile as a candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.
Morrow observed this scene.
This was the fundamental reason he had allowed Kastro to retreat and suddenly unleashed his aura at full power.
He wanted Kastro to recognize his own shortcomings.
Mindset and focus.
These were among the most crucial elements in a Nen battle.
Take mindset, for example, it could generate emotions like tension, fear, or confusion.
Such emotions would bring mental pressure.
Excessive pressure would cause muscles and bodily coordination to fail in responding promptly to combat intentions, thereby exposing weaknesses.
This principle was analogous to that of "aura".
If a Nen user's mindset became unbalanced, the flow of their aura would suddenly speed up or slow down.
An opponent could then easily discern their attack intentions based on the aura's movement.
The worst-case scenario was like Kastro's current state, struggling even to maintain the basic form of his ability.
While "rustiness" played a part, the primary issue was his mindset.
Still, this wasn't an insurmountable problem.
As long as Kastro gradually broadened his horizons, his understanding of "Nen" would steadily improve.
By then, he wouldn't lose his mental balance due to unforeseen variables beyond his comprehension.
Why was Morrow always able to turn adversity into victory? The key lay in his mindset.
This was another result he had honed through Death Replay, allowing him to remain utterly calm under the pressure of death, observing and discerning every possible opportunity.
It was also the key to overcoming the "mental Limitation" of Starlight Convergence.
Thus, Morrow wouldn't belittle Kastro's poor mental performance.
Because this was a process every Nen user had to undergo.
He simply had access to more invaluable resources, enabling him to achieve feats beyond ordinary comprehension.
Sweat beaded on Kastro's forehead, forming deep furrows.
Move! he shouted inwardly, straining to control his aura flow.
But the mental pressure caused him to fail repeatedly.
Morrow remained rooted in place, giving Kastro the space to regroup.
Seeing Morrow's stillness, Kastro soon understood the reason.
If this were a real fight, he would already be dead.
If he didn't want to die, he had to overcome this flaw.
Realizing Morrow's intent, the turmoil in Kastro's mind finally began to settle.
If even a training session was like this, how could he advance in real combat?
He couldn't let his master's intentions go to waste!
The creases on Kastro's forehead gradually smoothed out as he slowly closed his eyes, steadying the fluctuations in his mindset. I was too impatient, wanting to achieve everything at once when I can't even maintain "Ten" as steadily as Calista yet. Don't rush, don't rush... This is what Master wanted me to understand.
As he calmed his mind, Kastro silently reflected.
After a few seconds.
Kastro opened his eyes, and the flow of aura around his body had actually stabilized more than before.
—--
Below the ring.
Both Calista and Menchi's expressions changed.
He's grown...
In that brief pause after their first exchange, Kastro had suddenly evolved.
On the platform.
Seeing the marked change in Kastro's aura, Morrow couldn't help but smile slightly.
Noticing Morrow's smile, Kastro genuinely grinned back, the tiger-fanged Nen on his palms solidifying completely.
His psychological breakthrough had brought technical refinement as well.
Nen responded immediately to Kastro's growth.
"Master."
"Hmm?"
"Meeting you... was truly the best thing."
"Such forward and sentimental words sound more like something Calista would say."
Morrow smiled.
Hearing this from below the ring, Calista not only didn't mind the comment but even puffed out her chest proudly.
Beside her, Menchi glanced at Calista's reaction and habitually pursed her lips.
The spar continued.
Kastro had gained better control over his aura, now able to imbue it directly with offensive intent.
Observing this, Morrow resumed the Tiger Bite Fist stance and said calmly, "Next, I'll show you the depth and breadth of Nen, Kastro."
"Yes, I look forward to it immensely."
Just one exchange had given Kastro profound understanding of Nen's wonders.
Right now, he was merely an infant taking its first steps.
Every moment ahead filled him with absolute curiosity and anticipation.
The battle resumed.
Kastro's momentum surpassed his previous state as he charged at Morrow like a raging tiger.
This time,
Morrow still didn't retreat.
But he struck first.
Just before Kastro entered striking range, Morrow suddenly performed a twisting punch through the air.
Instantly, tiger-head aura shot from Morrow's hands like a pouncing beast, lunging toward Kastro.
"What...!?"
This unexpected technique caught Kastro off guard, his expression shocked.
Yet this time, his Tiger Bite Fist remained unaffected.
Still, the suddenly extended tiger-head aura left him unable to react immediately.
The next instant.
The emerald tiger head clamped onto Kastro's body.
Morrow's eyes flashed as he sharply twisted his hands.
The extended aura began violently tearing, hurling Kastro into the air.
Looking up at his airborne disciple, Morrow knew one Shooting Star now could end the match.
Of course.
There was no need for further demonstration.
Morrow withdrew his aura, letting Kastro fall toward the ring.
If asked what this technique was,
he might as well call it Tiger Head.
Morrow wondered what Kalluto's reaction would be if he used this move during their next meeting. He would probably widen his eyes in an instant, then spiral into another round of mental turmoil.
At the thought of this possibility, Morrow couldn't help but chuckle.
Thud.
A dull sound echoed across the arena.
Kastro lay flat on his back on the fighting stage.
Thanks to Morrow holding back, he hadn't suffered any serious injuries.
But he didn't get up immediately. Instead, he stared blankly at the lights above the arena, feeling a faint sting in his eyes.
His Tiger Bite Fist, a technique he had painstakingly trained to fuse with Nen, had been replicated in an instant.
And not just replicated, enhanced with Nen, unleashing even greater power and precision.
But that wasn't all.
The Tiger Bite Fist had been refined, its singular weakness patched, its variations expanded to allow for greater adaptability.
And his master had accomplished all of this in less than three minutes.
This…
This is the depth and breadth of Nen.
This…
Is the world of monsters.
A world I'm about to step into, crossing the threshold without hesitation.
"Incredible… Absolutely incredible…"
Kastro felt neither frustration nor disappointment.
To him, losing to his master in this manner was the most natural outcome.
More importantly, his master had shown him the infinite possibilities of Nen.
Compared to Kastro's surging emotions, Calista and Menchi, watching from below the stage, were more stunned than anything.
From their perspective as spectators, they had witnessed Kastro's remarkable growth in just three short minutes.
It made them truly grasp the extent of his talent.
At the same time, they had seen how Morrow had replicated, amplified, and refined the technique within those same three minutes.
And he had done it so effortlessly, so calmly.
As if it were nothing more than a trivial task.
—--
On the stage, a shadow suddenly loomed over Kastro.
He looked up to see Morrow extending a hand toward him.
"Master… Was my performance that bad?"
"Not at all. Your progress is astonishing. In such a short time, you've already improved the precision of your Tiger Bite Fist. That means you still have plenty of room to grow."
"Master… Are Nen users as strong as you really that rare?"
"I'm not as strong as you think."
Morrow looked down at Kastro and said seriously, "The world is vast. There are many, many people stronger than me. So, just like you, I'm still in the stage of 'growing together.'"
"..."
Kastro opened his mouth, then closed it again, thinking his master must be joking.
Below the stage.
"This… is Master's true strength."
Calista watched the two figures on the stage, awestruck and filled with longing.
She silently reaffirmed her resolve; she couldn't slack off, or Kastro would leave her far behind.
"So strong… Even just watching, you can feel the undercurrents beneath that calm."
Menchi couldn't tear her eyes away from the figure on the stage, involuntarily recalling the moment five days ago when Morrow had pinned her against the alley wall.
Just like now, it had ended in an instant.
But to her, Morrow was now displaying a different kind of strength.
It's those eyes…
They can detect killing intent with terrifying sharpness, pierce through intentions with precision, and see straight to the core of things.
In this world, this ability is nothing short of overwhelming. "Menchi, having your nose in the air has its pros and cons, hey, where are you looking? Never mind, never mind. This old man's talking too much, and you little troublemaker never listen anyway. One day, the people and experiences you go through will teach you this lesson."
The admonishing words of that old man who always complained about back pain flashed through Menchi's mind, and she suddenly let out a long sigh.
A smug frog at the bottom of a well. That's exactly what I am.
Whether it's food or people.
Only through comparison can you truly see the gap between them.
But it's fine.
What I pursue is the essence of gourmet cuisine, not the precision of Nen.
As Menchi reflected on herself, this was the only comfort she could find.
Talking about mutual progress... Huh? Wait, that's not quite right either.
Listening to what Morrow had just said to Kastro, Menchi raised an eyebrow slightly and thought, He's willing to spend a lot on ingredients, but I get to benefit too. It really is "mutual progress."
Thinking about tonight's lavish feast, where she had eaten the most and Morrow hadn't minded at all, Menchi suddenly felt like she was freeloading off a rich patron.
No, no.
This is called mutual progress!
--------
Bonus chapter! give power stones if you want more
!!!!!!!!!!! I'm translating a promising new fanfic called Cyberpunk: Beginning in 2071. Feel free to check it out. I'll be uploading one chapter per day there. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!