Under the moonlight, Biscuit and Amos sat facing each other, while the exhausted Kisho lay to the side, fast asleep.
"The so-called 'Ryu' is the ability to instantly distribute your aura rationally throughout your body to complete an attack or defense."
As she lectured, Biscuit withdrew her gaze from the Nen ability "Magical Spa Services," which was currently massaging Kisho's body.
She looked at Amos, who was sitting across from her, and continued:
"You both know that 'Ko' means concentrating all the aura in your body into one part before launching an attack. The move Kisho just used was released with the technique of 'Ko.'"
"So, suppose that while you're using 'Ko' to attack an enemy with full force, the enemy's attack also happens to land on you at the same time. What would happen?"
Amos replied, "When using 'Ko,' the aura in the rest of the body enters a state of 'Zetsu.'"
His expression turned serious. "At that moment, your defense against Nen is zero. The conclusion is that you would be severely injured."
Biscuit blinked. "Correct."
She continued, "That's why you need to use the technique of 'Ken' for defense. In other words, envelop your entire body with an amount of aura far greater than usual."
Amos nodded.
"But in battle, the enemy won't give you time to react and decide whether to attack or defend."
Biscuit said gravely, "That's why you must use the technique of 'Ryu.'"
"At the moment of attack, increase the aura allocated to offense; when defending, rebalance the aura from the attacking part back across the whole body."
"However, how to adjust your aura based on the enemy's offense and defense can only be learned through observing with 'Gyo' in battle and accumulating experience through constant fights."
"I'll now teach you some techniques to speed up mastering 'Ryu.' But these all require continuous practice."
"Afterward, you can spar in slow motion to repeatedly familiarize yourselves with the process, until you can use it perfectly."
"Being able to train and improve together with a good friend, oh~~"
A strange smile flickered in Biscuit's eyes. "Mm-hm, that's the benefit of having a close friend your own age~"
Amos: "..."
Although he didn't understand what that look meant, he wisely told himself not to ask and not to think too much about it.
He nodded lightly to show he understood.
Biscuit said, "Well then, you and Kisho—how long can the two of you maintain 'Ren'?"
Amos shook his head. "Not sure. We haven't tested that."
Hearing this, Biscuit nodded in understanding.
After a moment of thought, she said, "No matter what, a Nen user's combat level is related to the amount of aura they possess."
"How much aura your body contains, how much you can burst out at once, and how long such an outburst can last—these determine the outcome of a battle."
She smiled and raised three fingers.
"According to my requirements, you and Kisho must be able to sustain 'Ren' for at least three hours to meet the minimum standard."
"Before that, boys, work hard!"
...
The next day.
"...That's what she said."
After repeating Biscuit's words to Kisho without missing a single sentence, Amos let out a sigh.
"Practicing 'Ryu' feels so troublesome."
Kisho smiled. "But it's fun too. It's like playing cards—countering move for move."
"Mm." Amos nodded and looked at Kisho. "Then after the exam, do you want to come to my place and train together?"
"Sure, sure!"
Kisho nodded repeatedly, then added seriously, "As long as our black-hearted boss doesn't keep thinking about exploiting child labor every day."
Amos shrank back, black lines forming on his forehead. "...Keep your voice down."
Kisho looked unconcerned. "What are you afraid of? Our black-hearted boss isn't here."
Amos glanced around. Only after confirming they were far enough away from C·L did he whisper extremely softly:
"...Is there a possibility—just a possibility—that Mr. C·L is your so-called 'black-hearted boss'?"
Kisho: "—?"
He shook his head like a rattle drum. "Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Amos: "Why?"
Kisho raised three fingers. "Do you know the three elements that make up our leader?"
Amos shook his head blankly.
"First, a purple cross tattoo on the forehead."
"Second, a black coat with a white collar bearing an inverted cross—never taken off no matter how hot it is."
"Third, our leader is more ruthless than anyone, killing without blinking—yet C·L hasn't even killed a single spider and even agreed with me about saving people."
Amos's mouth twitched repeatedly.
After joking around, Kisho grew serious.
"Although his love of reading is very similar, his appearance is completely different from our leader's."
After thinking for a moment, he continued:
"I've observed him periodically before. C·L has never been in a state of 'Zetsu.' He genuinely can't use Nen."
"Even if he could use some kind of Nen ability to change his appearance, or some ability to make himself seem like an ordinary person, there would still be restrictions."
Kisho paused and lowered his voice. "Although I can't reveal the specifics of those restrictions, I would absolutely be able to spot them at a glance. That's why I can assert he isn't."
Amos fell silent.
So Kisho had analyzed it too. But the problem was—he really was!
That made it even stranger. Just what method had C·L used to become like this?
...
When the sharp edge of morning sunlight emerged, Biscuit's voice echoed throughout the valley:
"The time limit for the first round of the exam has ended. The 232 candidates present, please assemble quickly in front of the airship."
"I repeat, the first round—"
Hearing the announcement, Kisho stood up and walked toward the airship with Amos.
They returned to where C·L and Tonpa were; the two of them were also packing up their belongings.
"Oh right, did Biscuit say what the second exam would be about?"
Kisho asked in a low voice as they walked.
"You were really planning to have her leak the questions to you?" Amos rolled his eyes. "She did say something, but it was basically the same as saying nothing."
Kisho: "Huh?"
"The location of the second exam is Trick Tower. The method is clearing stages." Amos pointed at the airship. "We'll take that airship there."
Kisho nodded.
He looked around at the gathered candidates and frowned.
"There are way fewer people."
"Yeah." Amos replied. "Nearly two-thirds were eliminated."
Amos smiled. "I wonder how many will be gone after the third round."
As the two chatted, Tonpa came up from behind and grabbed Kisho's backpack strap.
"Kisho, Amos~ Hehe, hehe~"
Kisho turned around and looked at him in confusion, full of disgust.
Tonpa let go and clasped his hands in greeting.
"I'll be relying on you two for the second round as well!"
Under Kisho and Amos's impatient expressions—and C·L's amused gaze—the four of them boarded the airship.
The second round of the exam began.
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