UPDATED *
Note: Fixed all the incorrect names and terms. If you still find any mistakes, do let me know.
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Rocky could feel the warmth of the energy flowing inside his body as he sat cross-legged, his mind calm and focused. The nen surrounded him, its movements gentle but constant. With every breath, it spiraled around him, wrapped tightly within his form, perfectly contained.
It had only been 20 days since he had begun practicing Ten, one of the four core Nen techniques, but he had already reached an impressive level of mastery. The practice was about keeping the Qi locked within the body, focusing it inward to strengthen the body, maintain youth, and sharpen the mind. Rocky had perfected it to a point where no aura leaked out—everything was contained, absorbed, and controlled.
As he continued to focus, he smoothly transitioned into his next practice: Zetsu. The technique allowed him to control the aura even further, pulling it in close to his body, making it an even more intimate and personal part of him. When he activated it, the aura inside him shifted, and the energy, which had been dancing around him, was now contained entirely within.
With a quiet breath, Rocky's aura exploded outward, a small but powerful gust of air rippling through the room. He opened his eyes, the room silent except for the faint afterglow of his technique.
The clan leader, standing at the door, observed with awe. He had been watching Rocky's progress closely, but even now, he couldn't help but feel amazed by the young boy's abilities.
"The form is Ren," the clan leader murmured, more to himself than to Rocky. "You've perfected it already?"
The praise came as a surprise to Rocky, who had only been practicing for a month. It was rare for anyone to achieve this level of mastery so quickly, especially with such an advanced technique as Nen.
"Your talent... It's incredible," the clan leader continued, his voice filled with admiration. "You've completed the basics—Ten, Zetsu —Ren. And you've already mastered the Conjurer techniques I set for you. In just a month, you've done what most would take years to achieve."
Rocky, ever humble, simply nodded. While he was proud of his progress, his mind was already racing forward. "It's just the beginning," he thought, knowing that if he kept pushing, there was still much more to learn and perfect.
The clan leader patted him on the back. "With your talent, there's no doubt you'll become one of the most powerful Nen users. Just keep training. This is just the first step in your journey."
Rocky gave a small, determined smile, his resolve stronger than ever. "I will."
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The patriarch's words echoed in Rocky's mind as he sat on his bed, deep in thought. "You need to rest today," the patriarch had said. But Rocky's mind was restless. He couldn't help but think about the next step—developing his "Hatsu," his Nen ability.
He stood up, feeling the familiar surge of energy that had become second nature to him. When he clenched his fist, the nen that gathered around it was stronger than before. The sensation was different now. It was as though he and his uncle Satsuki were at the same level, or perhaps even more than that. The amount of nen Rocky controlled felt powerful and solid. Top talent, indeed.
His progress over the last month had been nothing short of miraculous. The clan leader had been amazed at how quickly he had improved, but Rocky barely had time to appreciate it before his focus shifted once again. The question now was what to materialize—what to use for his Nen ability.
The Conjurers training was clear: materialize something, give it abilities, and then use it. But what did he want to materialize? The answer that came to his mind almost immediately surprised him. It wasn't some complex, unique object or creature, but something simple—something everyone would think of.
"A sword," Rocky muttered under his breath, the word feeling natural, almost instinctive.
A sword? But why?
Rocky leaned back against the bed, eyes closed. His mind raced through the possibilities. He could materialize a sword, of course, but the practical side of him questioned whether that was truly the best choice. A sword, though it could be enhanced with nen, still felt inefficient. Why create a sword when he could simply enhance a real one with his Nen? The power of a materialized sword wouldn't be as strong as one that had been infused with his nen.
So, why the sword? Was it a reflex? Or was it the fact that he was subconsciously drawn to it, like so many others who longed for the image of a sword wielded in battle?
Frustration bubbled up within him. He wanted to be smart about this, but the sword idea wouldn't leave his mind. Even when he tried to push it aside, it resurfaced. A sword—a weapon meant for close combat.
But, as a Conjurer, Rocky's Nen could only enhance 40% of its full power when used for materialized objects. That meant using a sword in battle wouldn't be as effective as it seemed. His physical power, his own strength, would be diminished by less then half.
He grabbed his head with both hands in frustration. "It's not impossible to materialize a sword… but would that be the most effective choice?"
The materialized sword might be useful, but only if he could find a way to maximize its potential—perhaps by finding a way to make it truly unique, something beyond a simple weapon. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the choice wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Still, the sword lingered in his thoughts, stubborn and persistent.
After a while, he let out a sigh and stood up, his mind spinning with possibilities. "I'll figure it out," he whispered to himself. "I just need to keep thinking. The answer will come."
And with that, he sat back down on the bed, still pondering the path ahead.
"If you are close to the enemy, it's fine if you are fast. As long as you are fast, you don't have to be afraid of close combat!"
"But swords can't develop the ability to speed up!"
"Flash sword????"
Rocky was complaining helplessly.
Sword and speed!
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Rocky thought of an ability, and this ability seemed to be really possible!
Combine the two abilities of sword and speed.
And!
If he thought about it carefully, if that ability could be developed, it seemed quite promising...
[Re-evaluation completed]
[Host personal panel information updated]
Rocky was stunned for a moment as the panel suddenly popped up, bringing him back to his senses instantly.
That's right!
It's been a month, and it was time for the second modification!
The previous countdown had also been reset.
**[Host: Rocky]**
**[Race: Human. Kuruta]**
**[Nen Talent: Top]**
**[Physical Potential: Intermediate]**
**[Bloodline Ability: Low]**
There was now an additional column on the personal panel!
Rocky stared at the updated panel in surprise. Did the re-evaluation mean that more information columns could be displayed?
And if he could modify this information, it meant that with every extra evaluation, he could grow stronger by making changes himself!
That was probably what it meant!
But at this moment, Rocky focused on the new information column. What did this "Intermediate Physical Potential" represent?
It was the potential that could be unleashed from his body.
His Nen talent was top-level, but despite developing his top-tier talent, his physical potential was only intermediate!
So, in simpler terms, his talent allowed him to progress faster, but the physical limitations were holding him back.
This meant his growth speed had slowed down. Physical fitness was now a factor affecting his overall development!
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