"Once the Aura Nodes are opened, your life energy will begin to flow freely," Maha said, his voice calm and measured.
"You must feel it already, don't you?"
Kaizen gave a small nod, sensing the energy—aura—radiating from his body, just as his great-grandfather described.
"This is aura. The next step is to control it with your mind." Maha's gaze was unwavering, his words carrying the weight of mastery.
"Right now, you're losing aura faster than your body can produce it, aren't you?"
Kaizen frowned slightly, recognizing the strange sensation of energy draining away.
"A person's capacity to generate life energy is limited," Maha continued. "If the rate of loss surpasses what the body can replenish, weakness will follow... and, in time, death."
Maha's eyes darkened.
"If Aura Nodes are opened without proper instruction in Nen, that loss can spiral into death. That's why control is essential."
His voice softened slightly.
"Now, close your eyes. Focus on your aura. Guide it. Let it coat your body—this is the technique we call Ten."
Kaizen closed his eyes and took a steady breath. He knew exactly what Maha was teaching him. Having watched the original events of Hunter x Hunter in his previous life, Kaizen remembered how Gon and Killua first opened their Aura Nodes. He even recalled the Chimera Ant Rammot—how it, too, learned to manipulate Aura after being struck by Gon, though it lacked formal guidance and suffered terribly for it.
(T/N: Rammot was a Chimera Ant Officer within Colt's Squad. He attacked Gon and Killua but was defeated by them)
Kaizen understood the importance of these early lessons. Unlike Rammot, he had someone like Maha to teach him.
"With your potential, mastering Ten won't take long," Maha said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Kaizen focused deeply. The Aura flowed like warm water, gently seeping through his skin and spreading across his entire body. It was soothing, like bathing in a hot spring—only softer, more delicate.
The sensation was odd, yet natural.
Kaizen concentrated harder, directing all his mental energy outward. Soon, he noticed the rapid leakage of Aura begin to slow.
First, it stabilized in a small area of his body. Then, slowly but steadily, it spread across his entire form.
Kaizen felt it—a subtle shift, a kind of feedback from the Aura itself, as if responding to his will.
The energy loss ceased. His body was now wrapped in a steady layer of Aura. Kaizen had completed the basics of Ten. He opened his eyes.
"Great-grandfather, I did it," he said calmly.
Maha gave a small nod of approval.
"Good. You've opened your Aura Nodes and achieved Ten. That's the first step."
He leaned slightly forward, his gaze sharp.
"But don't get complacent, Kaizen. This is only the beginning. You'll need to practice Ten until it becomes second nature."
Kaizen nodded. "Yes, great-grandfather. I understand."
He recalled how, in the original plot, Gon and Killua had achieved similar progress with Wing's guidance. His own progress seemed comparable—but as Maha had warned, this was just the beginning.
The fundamentals of Nen extended far beyond Ten. There were three other critical techniques—Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu. Mastering these would require not only time, but also discipline.
Maha's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You'll stay here for three days and focus solely on training your Ten. Meals will be brought to you. When the time is up, I'll return to teach you the next steps."
With that, Maha Zoldyck stood and walked toward the door of the chamber.
Click.
The door opened, and he stepped outside.
Thud!
The heavy door slammed shut, plunging the room into darkness once again.
Kaizen remained seated, cross-legged on the cold floor. He knew far more about Nen than what Maha had explained so far. He understood the significance of each foundational technique and the path that lay ahead. Still, Maha was a master among masters—one of the top five Nen users in the world. His guidance was invaluable.
Kaizen trusted his great-grandfather's methods. The training wasn't just about learning Nen, it was also about discipline and patience.
He closed his eyes, settling into the quiet darkness of the chamber. His thoughts drifted back to his peculiar journey—how he had arrived in this world. Unlike a simple soul transmigration, his experience was more akin to reincarnation. He had gained consciousness while still a fetus in the womb, fully aware that he was being born into a new life.
Now, here he was, Kaizen Zoldyck—heir to one of the most dangerous families in the world. And his journey with Nen had only just begun.
In the silence, Kaizen resumed his training. With every moment that passed, he refined and optimized his control over Ten.
Time slipped by without notice.
Three days later...
Click.
The door creaked open, and the silhouette of Maha Zoldyck appeared in the doorway.
"It's time to come out," Maha said calmly.
Kaizen opened his eyes, a quiet determination flickering within them.
"Yes, great-grandfather," he replied, standing up from the floor, ready for the next step in his journey.