Biscuit knew the Floor Master at the top of Heavens Arena.
Even if she didn't know him personally, she was certainly aware of him.
Morrow noticed this and immediately asked, "You know him?"
"You could say that."
Biscuit wasn't joking.
Though she had her own motives, she was serious when it came to assessing strength.
"Orion, the last remaining successor of the Mind Illusion Style."
"…"
At the mention of the word "school," Morrow's expression instantly sharpened.
Biscuit continued solemnly, "In the past, various schools flourished, competing for dominance. Challenges and martial conflicts between dojos were rampant. But as times changed, most schools found their survival space shrinking, unable to sustain themselves, and eventually faded into obscurity."
"So, it's not unusual for a school to have only one successor left. But the Mind Illusion School is different."
As she spoke, Biscuit's gaze grew slightly sharper.
Morrow's brows twitched slightly. After several encounters, this was the first time he had seen such an expression on Biscuit's face.
Biscuit went on, "About six or seven years ago, someone attacked the Mind Illusion Style's dojo. Everyone, including the master, died in that assault."
"Was the attacker Orion?"
Morrow asked.
Biscuit wasn't surprised by his question.
The Mind Illusion Style had been wiped out.
Yet one successor remained.
Those quick on the uptake could always piece together key information from the faintest clues.
"Yes."
Biscuit nodded.
Morrow frowned in confusion. "Then how could he still…"
"I know what you're thinking."
Biscuit spread her gloved hands. "But Orion is a patient with a personality split."
"Huh?"
For a moment, Morrow doubted his ears.
Biscuit said calmly, "You heard right. Orion has a personality split. In fact, most members of the Mind Illusion Style were patients with personality splits."
"…"
Morrow's lips moved slightly. Now he understood why Orion could still sit securely at the top of Heavens Arena. He was momentarily speechless.
Still, he couldn't help but feel intrigued by this so-called "Mind Illusion Style."
A school composed entirely of personality split patients…
If it had managed to survive until now, it must have had something unique.
And it was highly likely related to Nen.
Biscuit observed Morrow's reaction; she was all too familiar with that look.
"Curious, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
Morrow didn't deny it.
Seeing this, Biscuit continued, "The Mind Illusion Style's primary focus was clones. The original idea was to use clones to strip away any physical or mental harm detrimental to the original body. Though it sounds delusional, with Nen's intervention, it wasn't entirely impossible."
"However, the development of this concept was quickly hindered by what you might call 'difficulty.' Think about it; even with Nen, manifesting something as complex as a human body and granting it the ability to 'strip away detrimental factors' is no simple feat."
"But ideals aren't something easily abandoned. So, the Mind Illusion Style soon found a shortcut to bypass the difficulty. They began experimenting with…"
"By utilizing established factors akin to 'personality splits,' the difficulty of materializing clones is significantly reduced, freeing up more capacity to endow these clones with special abilities."
"So it's not that only those with dissociative identity disorder can become members of the Mind Illusion Style. Rather, after joining the Mind Illusion Style, members are driven by its philosophy to actively develop dissociative identities."
"This approach has indeed proven effective. Practitioners of the Mind Illusion Style can manifest their inner different personalities or emotions as independent clones."
"Not only is the materialization difficulty drastically lowered, but they've also achieved the special ability to use clones to strip away unfavorable elements. Ultimately, these clones even develop independent thought and action capabilities."
At this point, Biscuit paused, observing Morrow's reaction.
Morrow lightly furrowed his brows, meeting Biscuit's gaze as he mused, "This shortcut reduces the difficulty of materialization but also greatly increases the risk of 'mental instability.' Vow and Limitation are always fair."
"Exactly. The annihilation of the Mind Illusion Style was due to Orion losing control, his clones killed everyone," Biscuit said calmly. "But it's hard to say whether he was powerless against the mental instability or consciously allowed it to happen. I'm telling you this because Orion isn't a 'normal' Conjurer. He's strong."
"This is fascinating."
A glint flashed in Morrow's eyes as he rested his chin on his hand, his mind racing.
"You find it fascinating?" Biscuit was taken aback.
Morrow ignored her reaction, lost in his own thoughts.
Cognitive disorders can profoundly affect a person's thinking and life. Such abnormalities aren't accepted by the normal world.
Yet, with Nen's intervention, the abnormal becomes a weapon for Nen users.
That's utterly fascinating.
As a normal person, one would define "delusion" as just that... delusion.
Like someone living in the real world would define the "digital world" as nothing more than that.
It's a natural way of thinking.
But in the world perceived by those with mental disorders, their delusions are their reality.
Thus, they can more easily materialize things that would otherwise be extremely difficult to conjure.
If the risk of "instability" could be mitigated, this would indeed be a shortcut akin to scaling the heavens.
Morrow then thought of Netero's Shingen-ryu Style.
From this perspective, the Mind Illusion Style is the antithesis of Shingen-ryu.
Shingen-ryu cultivates and calms the mind, using mental discipline to control power.
The Mind Illusion Style, however, lets power influence the mind, a heretical path.
So, the Mind Illusion Style is a group of madmen.
At this thought, Morrow couldn't help but recall the words of the old man from the Tree Hollow Organization.
Behind the Eye of Truth lies a bunch of lunatics.
Could they also be mental patients, exploiting Nen's possibilities through abnormal means?
Perhaps this heretical method could, to some extent, overturn the constraints imposed by Nen types.
A compelling piece of evidence is Palm's "Wink Blue" ability.
Despite being an Enhancer, she developed an extraordinarily unique Conjuration ability.
The more Morrow pondered, the more intrigued he became.
—--
Beside him... Biscuit looked at Morrow, who was lost in thought, and couldn't help but feel a ripple in her heart.
So this is it... this is...
The reason this annoying guy could grow stronger at such an astonishing speed.