The Enhancement System, widely regarded as the most straightforwardly combat-oriented of the six, operates on the principle of Augmentation. It can heighten the force of a punch, the speed of a sprint, the sharpness of a nerve reflex. More abstractly, it can bolster memory, perception, insight, even inspiration and observational skills—any inherent function of the body or mind falls within its purview.
This augmentation isn't limited to the self; it can be applied to external objects, though that path is more esoteric and tests a user's fundamental comprehension.
Learning this from Bisky had been a revelation for Kevin. But any notion that Enhancement was somehow 'simple' was shattered when he learned that Emission could achieve teleportation and spatial manipulation, and that Specialization could encompass future sight, time dilation, or reality-bending wish fulfillment. Nen was not some mundane internal energy; it was a law of reality waiting to be rewritten. The world was far more perilous, and far more wondrous, than he'd imagined.
That understanding planted a seed of fierce ambition. He wanted—no, needed—to construct an ability that was a perfect extension of himself, one that would allow him to grow to his absolute limit.
If Enhancement could amplify something as nebulous as 'inspiration' or 'discernment,' then enhancing a specific type of learning should be possible. Not broad, general learning, but a hyper-focused augmentation: muscle memory.
Muscle memory isn't stored in the muscles; it's a form of procedural memory, a neural pathway forged and optimized by the brain through repetition. It bypasses conscious thought, allowing the body to perform complex actions with speed and efficiency that conscious control could never match. It was the brain's miraculous ability to discard inefficient pathways and reinforce correct ones.
What Kevin envisioned was enhancing that process. Amplifying his body's ability to form these deep-seated, automatic neural patterns to a staggering degree. He wanted to compress the need for thousands of repetitions into a handful, to let his muscles 'learn' and 'remember' combat forms, defensive maneuvers, and the nuanced feel of different Nen interactions with unprecedented speed. Once the muscle memory was ingrained, his conscious mind could then analyze and fine-tune the movements.
To build such an ability, profound personal understanding was non-negotiable. Nen abilities don't spring from voids. A Transmuter who wishes their aura to behave like lightning must understand conductivity and ionization. A Conjurer wishing to create a lockpick must know its precise shape, weight, and mechanics.
And Kevin did understand his chosen process intimately. His entire existence in this world began with a profound disconnect—a soul thrust into an unfamiliar body. Regaining fragmented memories, relearning basic coordination, consciously feeling for the body's latent reflexes… he had lived the process of rebuilding neural connection from the ground up. That hard-won, visceral understanding was the perfect foundation.
Furthermore, the ability aligned perfectly with the Enhancer's ethos: simple, direct, unadorned. It was pure augmentation of an existing biological function. This meant he could achieve his core goal without needing to impose restrictive Vows or Limitations, keeping the ability flexible and scalable. As his overall aura grew stronger, the enhanced "muscle memory" effect would grow proportionally. Should he ever need a dramatic, one-time power boost in the future, he could then layer on Vows, giving him significant room for growth without being prematurely locked into a rigid framework.
Bisky had taught him well. The path was clear. The theory was sound. The foundation within himself was laid. Now, it was time to translate understanding into reality, to forge the keystone ability that would turn his collection of strange gifts and frustrating flaws into a cohesive, formidable whole. He closed his eyes, focusing inward, beginning the meticulous work of weaving his will and aura into the first threads of his Hatsu.
It isn't necessary to construct a perfect Nen ability in a single, monumental effort. What's essential at the outset is a viable prototype and a clear, sustainable direction for growth. As long as the path remains true, with deepening understanding and accumulated experience, the ability will naturally mature, strengthen, and refine itself over time.
This was why self-taught Nen users often painted themselves into a corner. Without proper foundational knowledge or sufficient training, they hastily forged abilities with inherent, crippling limitations. A Nen ability was like a specialized circuit slot in the mind; each person had a finite number. One had to choose the 'chip' to insert with utmost care, as once integrated, it became a locked, intrinsic part of the user's being.
Kevin's envisioned ability, Blank Meteor, was designed to be that perfect, synergistic chip. It would act as the unifying engine for his unique advantages: A Moment of Dream, his preternatural aura control, and his 80% efficiency in secondary Nen types.
The breakthrough came with the Essence Sensing Potion. It proved that the potions from A Moment of Dream could indeed imbue temporary, specific Nen-related properties. For fifteen minutes after consumption, within that 'moment,' the targeted 'muscle memory' in his body would be hyper-activated. The unique neural patterns formed during that window would be preserved. While a single dose might not cement a complex skill entirely, it was a foothold—a breakthrough from 0 to 1.
And he could create more potions. He could use different, more accessible materials to brew variations with similar effects. Through repeated ingestion and experience, his body would accumulate and refine these memories, building a more complete 'library' of ingrained abilities. His innate talent for fluid aura control would then allow him to make the fine, conscious adjustments to perfect the recalled technique.
These remembered 'characteristics'—whether they leaned towards Enhancement, Transmutation, or another type—could then be leveraged through his final talent: 80% efficiency in all non-primary systems. All Nen applications ultimately channeled through these frameworks. The Strength Potion was an expression of Enhancement. The Essence Sensing Potion leaned into Transmutation.
Thus, a perfect, closed loop was born:
1.
Consume a targeted [Potion].
2.
Hyper-activate and [Memorize] the desired neural pattern via Blank Meteor.
3.
[Control] and fine-tune the recalled characteristic with his innate aura mastery.
4.
[Release] the technique with 80% efficiency through the appropriate secondary Nen system.
A Moment of Dream + Blank Meteor. The synergy would not disappoint.
Was Blank Meteor inherently overpowered? No. Its potential was unlocked only because it was the perfect key for Kevin's unique lock—a lock forged from his transmigrated soul's journey, his inherited Post-Mortem Nen, and his peculiar affinities. It turned his collection of disparate strengths into a cohesive, self-reinforcing system.
With his thoughts crystallized and all conditions met, he began the meticulous work of construction. Over the following days, he engaged in deep, focused self-training, weaving his will and intent into the framework he had designed. The process, guided by profound self-understanding, progressed with surprising smoothness. There were no violent clashes, no existential struggles—just the steady, deliberate integration of a concept that felt like it had always belonged.
Now, the nascent ability rested within him, a sleeping tool. It was time for its first test.
He had already selected the potion for the experiment.
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