"Stop!"
The daily cry rang out. Kevin was lying on the ground again, but this time, Mori was also sitting cross-legged nearby, panting heavily as he recovered his strength.
Over two months had passed since Bisky's last formal lesson, making a total of three months in this remote wilderness. Bisky still delivered necessary supplies, but even so, Kevin and Mori now resembled a pair of wild men, their appearances rough and unkempt.
"You've finally made some progress," Mori said between breaths. The progress he referred to wasn't the timing of Kevin's surrender, but the noticeable refinement in his combat techniques during their exchanges. As for stamina, the duration of their fights had steadily increased alongside Kevin's expanding aura reserves. Mori himself had diligently learned and mastered various Nen application techniques during this period, though compared to Kevin's innate, fluid control, he still felt he was playing catch-up.
"Why isn't Master back yet?" Kevin asked from his spot on the ground. He was specifically waiting for Bisky's Nen ability, **Magical Esthetician**. Without its restorative powers, the next phase of brutal training might actually break him. Lately, her visits had become less frequent, stretching to every two or three days, usually just to drop off supplies.
"Missing your master?" Bisky's voice chimed in right on cue.
"It's still hard to get used to a beautiful girl who looks younger than me calling herself 'master'," Kevin grumbled, recalling her earlier, more playful self-references like 'beautiful young princess.'
"Really?" Bisky's eyes lit up, sparkling with genuine delight, her expression turning almost girlishly pleased. "You can call me Big Sister Bisky," she suggested, clasping her hands together at her chest.
Mori shook his head with serious respect. "No, that would be too informal."
Bisky's face fell instantly, and her hand flicked out. *Thwack! Thwack!* Both young men dodged on instinct.
"Hmph, acceptable reflexes," she conceded, putting her hands on her hips. "Pack your things. We're leaving. This stage of training is concluded."
They sprang into action, a spark of excitement at the prospect of returning to civilization after three months of savage living.
***
Back in the city, after a thorough, glorious scrub-down at a hotel, Kevin flopped onto the soft bed.
"Ahhh~" A sound of pure, soul-deep comfort escaped him. "A bed. A soft, sinking bed. I'd almost forgotten what you felt like."
Just then, the door opened. Mori and Bisky walked in. Kevin sat up to look. Mori had clearly cleaned up, shedding the wild-man look, but why did he still seem… disheveled? His hair was tousled, his white shirt was half-untucked with the tag still visible, and a sliver of his underwear peeked above his waistband. Had the wilderness broken his sense of style?
"Don't be defeated by the savage life, Mori!" Kevin said, a note of indignation in his voice. "Pull yourself together! Don't lose your dignity!"
Mori looked confused, then glanced down at himself. A faint blush of embarrassment colored his cheeks as he hastily straightened his clothes.
Bisky, watching nearby, was beyond sighing. *Alas, Enhancers.*
"Alright," she announced, her tone shifting to business. "Now, I have something important to say."
Kevin and Mori immediately straightened up, their attention focused.
Bisky looked directly at Kevin. "This foundational training stage is complete. You must maintain your physical conditioning, but keep it at a sustainable level to avoid injury." Kevin sensed a shift in her wording.
Sure enough, she continued. "Next, we will part ways. Although I came to teach you at Jin's request, there's no doubt I've been happy to be your master."
"But…" Kevin started, only to be gently interrupted.
"But your training isn't over. I'm giving you a long-term assignment. Once you complete it, I will continue your advanced instruction." Kevin quieted, listening intently.
"In this city, there is a place called the Heaven's Arena. I want you to reach the 200th floor… without using your Nen for direct attacks."
She paused, her gaze steady and calm. "During this time, fully analyze the Nen you possess. Contemplate the ability you truly want. And use everything you've learned to construct it."
Kevin nodded; he understood. Then he looked over at Mori.
Unexpectedly, Mori spoke up. "Uh... I actually completed that process myself, and I learned Nen during it." He thought for a moment, then added with conviction, "It will definitely be very helpful for you. Very helpful."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Mori's nod was firm.
With her instructions given, Bisky took Mori and departed directly. There was little fanfare or sadness in the parting—it was a temporary separation, not a final goodbye. They had, after all, exchanged contact information.
Alone, Kevin savored his regained freedom for a moment, lying on the bed and staring silently at the ceiling. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he got up and booted up the hotel's desktop computer. He began his search.
**Heaven's Arena.**
The fourth tallest building in the world. 251 floors, reaching 991 meters into the sky. A landmark of the city and a world-renowned martial arts Mecca. The entire colossal structure was dedicated to combat, a sacred ground for fighters across the globe.
Is this... is this reasonable? After a moment's consideration of the existence of Nen in this world, he decided that yes, it probably was.
He quickly familiarized himself with the arena's combat mechanics and grasped Bisky's underlying intention. Due to his poor learning ability, she was prescribing a brute-force method for improvement: to let his body remember, to force adaptation through countless repetitions of combat. He was reminded, somewhat bleakly, of the 'sea of problems' tactic from his past life—a ghost that just wouldn't stop haunting him.
The task was to reach the 200th floor without using Nen for attacks. The building had 251 floors. Starting from the 200th, the nature of the competition changed significantly. From his research, Kevin pieced together the difference. If his assumptions were correct, the floors above 200 were likely the domain of Nen users. This meant that below the 200th floor, the probability of encountering one was very low. The restriction against Nen attacks—while still allowing it for defense—created the perfect, controlled-pressure environment for his body to learn without immediate mortal risk. It was learning through relentless, physical trial.
Understanding the 'why,' Kevin immediately pivoted his research to another crucial topic: **Hunters.**
He hadn't forgotten that both Bisky and Jin identified as professional Hunters.
"Holy crap, what kind of platinum-all-access-pass is this?!" was his first thought as he delved into the Hunter Association and the privileges afforded to licensed Hunters.
The symbol of a Hunter was a license emblazoned with a double-X. With it came staggering privileges:
* Access to 90% of normally prohibited countries and 75% of restricted areas.
* Financial backing equivalent to a top-tier corporation, including massive, low-collateral loans, and the right to stay in most countries without a passport.
* Free use of most public networks and facilities.
* Social status and influence: a staggering 60 of the world's top 100 wealthiest individuals were Hunters.
How does a civilian organization even manage this? he wondered, before the answer presented itself. Nen. Right. Nen.
To obtain this license, one had to pass the notoriously difficult Hunter Exam, held annually in early January. He checked the date on the computer: May 17, 1994.
He had just over half a year to wait.
Perfect! A clear timeline solidified in his mind. I'll use these six months to complete Bisky's task, construct my true Nen ability, and fully master **A Moment of Dream**.
For the first time in a long while, Kevin felt a surge of pure, directed motivation. The path ahead was arduous, but it was now clearly marked with his own goals.