"Wait! What did you just say?" Netero exclaimed, uncertain if he'd misheard.
Loki, walking towards the forest's edge, looked back at the devastated landscape of scorched earth behind him, phone held to his ear.
"I said I've mastered transforming Nen into flames."
Thud!
At Hunter Association headquarters, Netero's phone slipped from his hand.
'He… already… mastered it?'
Impossible! It was a joke, surely?
The training required to transform Nen into flames was immense; his earlier estimate of ten years was conservative. Success wasn't guaranteed, requiring effort, talent, and even a degree of luck. Even with these three elements, years of dedicated training were necessary.
Loki was just a child, a child who had only recently awakened his Nen. While possessing unimaginable talent, it was absolutely impossible to transform Nen into flames so quickly.
Loki's claim seemed to overturn Netero's decades of experience with Nen. He recalled his own Nen ability, Hyakushiki Kannon, developed over decades of dedicated prayer and rigorous fist training. It had taken him a lifetime to unwittingly develop this ability.
Yet, Loki had accomplished Nen transformation into flames in a fraction of the time. If true, this ability alone would qualify Loki as a top-tier Nen user. Furthermore, he possessed Conjuration-type abilities (the short sword), and the flames granted him immense destructive power, while the sword served as a surprise attack weapon. His Nen abilities were already sufficient for combat. Developing a fire Nen beast would make him even more formidable.
Netero quickly retrieved his phone.
"Loki! Is that really true?! How did you do it?!"
"It's true. I guess I've just adapted to it. The power of fire feels… familiar," Loki replied, offering a casual excuse.
To divert Netero's attention, Loki continued, "So, Chairman, do you think I can use flames to develop a Nen beast?"
"Of course!" Netero answered without hesitation. If Loki succeeded, the Nen beast's power would become terrifying as his Nen grew stronger. A Nen beast would make him ideal for long-range combat. If the beast was destroyed, it could be recreated; the user wouldn't be harmed.
"Loki! What kind of Nen beast do you envision? If it's a normal fire Nen beast, there's something you must understand."
"What is it?"
"Is the Nen beast or the fire ability the main focus?"
"What's the difference?"
"If fire is the main focus, the Nen beast is a derivative. If the Nen beast is the main focus, the fire ability is a derivative. Do you understand?"
Loki stopped, pondering Netero's words. He understood. A normal fire Nen beast could be created by combining the Mera Mera no Mi and Nen. To create a fire spirit, he'd need to prioritize the Nen beast, possibly adding restrictions and oaths, making the Mera Mera no Mi's power only usable through the Nen beast.
"Chairman, which would be stronger?" Loki asked.
Netero considered.
"It's hard to say definitively, but let's use an analogy: fire-focused with a Nen beast is 8+2, while beast-focused with fire is 5+5. Consider the pros and cons."
"I understand. I'll think about it carefully," Loki replied.
Hanging up, Netero smiled, still pondering how Loki transformed Nen into fire.
Loki walked, considering Netero's analogy. A small flame appeared in his palm.
He felt uncertain, two options battling in his mind. He didn't know whether to abandon the fire spirit idea. Yet, he deeply desired the fire spirit, as it was Yō Asakura's familiar. He had Yō's power but lacked the familiar, a source of regret.
8+2 or 5+5? How to choose?
On the flight ship to the Heaven Arena, Loki continued to ponder.
'If I could get a fire spirit from the system…' he mused, sighing.
He looked at the Heaven Arena mission: Ten consecutive wins, reward: One B-rank lottery.
Suddenly, Loki realized his priorities might be skewed. With the system, why expend so much effort developing abilities? Even if successful, would it surpass what the system could provide?
Developing Nen abilities requires understanding that greater power demands greater sacrifice. Developing the ideal fire spirit might require strict oaths and restrictions, or years of arduous training. Obtaining powerful abilities directly from the system was far simpler and more direct.
Loki slapped his forehead. "Sigh!" He hadn't considered this before. Especially after gaining Nen, he'd focused on developing his own abilities, influenced by the original story. He'd focused on creating a perfect ability without considering the necessary effort and cost. The system was far more efficient!
Loki sighed deeply, temporarily shelving the fire spirit idea. Developing it wasn't impossible, but unnecessary.
'Hopefully, I'll have another chance to obtain a fire spirit later!' But he felt the odds were slim. The system's lottery was random, never asking for his preference, automatically initiating the draw after mission completion. He even wondered if this was a test version of the system, completely lacking in user-friendliness.
The Heaven Arena, which Loki considered his main mission, only rewarded a B-rank lottery. A fire spirit was highly unlikely to appear in a B-rank draw.
In a state of disappointment and disillusionment, Loki's flight ship finally arrived at the Heaven Arena after several days of travel. Loki disembarked, his face clouded with a somber expression.
Although he had abandoned the immediate pursuit of developing the fire spirit, a deep longing for it still lingered within his heart. His desire stemmed purely from a deep-seated admiration for its potential. However, the unattainability of this power had completely overshadowed the initial elation he had felt upon obtaining the Mera Mera no Mi.
With a gloomy countenance, Loki proceeded to the Heaven Arena and completed his registration for the tournament. Upon entering the bustling waiting room for contestants, a large, powerfully built man abruptly blocked Loki's path.
"Well, well, another little runt. What's with all these brave little kids these days? The Heaven Arena isn't some kid's playground," the man sneered, his words drawing the attention of the other contestants in the room, who turned to look at Loki with smirks and amusement.
"Get lost, kid! My match is about to start, and if you delay me, a hundred kids like you wouldn't be enough to compensate," the man growled, his impatience evident.
Loki, already in a foul mood, looked up at the man, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"In a hurry for your match? I think you might not be able to make it," Loki replied calmly, taking a step forward.
Boom!
The large man was suddenly sent flying backward with immense force, crashing directly into the wall of the waiting room, his body becoming embedded within the structure as he instantly lost consciousness.
The other contestants in the room stared at Loki in stunned silence, their faces pale with shock and disbelief.
"What just happened…?" one contestant whispered, his voice trembling.
"How did he suddenly fly across the room like that?" another exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"Who is this kid?! What kind of technique did he use to send that ox-like man flying?" a third contestant asked, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
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