Looking at Rocky in front of him, the chieftain's expression grew heavier.
"Little Rocky... you..."
He seemed to be struggling to find the right words.
Rocky, on the other hand, had anticipated a reaction of surprise, maybe even joy from the chieftain. After all, he had just developed an ability he had once thought was impossible to achieve.
But the chieftain's reaction left him somewhat confused. The worry in the older man's eyes made Rocky start to understand.
'He must have guessed that I used the power of constraints and oaths, and it's very likely I've completed this ability by sacrificing a particularly strong oath,' Rocky thought.
Although the chieftain wasn't necessarily an exceptionally strong Nen user, his insight was still sharp. Rocky had indeed paid a heavy price to obtain his current ability.
However, in a typical situation, the result would be the permanent loss of his talent in Nen after acquiring such an ability. It was a steep price, but Rocky was able to modify his information column to avoid that consequence.
"What do you want to say, Chief Grandfather?" Rocky asked, breaking the silence.
The chieftain took a deep breath, clearly struggling with his emotions. He finally spoke, his voice serious. "What kind of constraints and oaths did you use to develop this ability?"
Rocky wasn't surprised by the question. He'd expected it, but his answer was straightforward: "No constraints or oaths."
The chieftain froze. He had been waiting for Rocky to tell him about the painful oath he had made, but this response caught him off guard.
"Impossible!" the chieftain exclaimed, almost in disbelief. "I, too, thought long and hard about it but couldn't come up with a good rule. I gave up, and yet here you are, having developed it unconsciously!"
The chieftain was stunned. "It seems... it seems that I was born with this ability and didn't need to develop it!" Rocky explained. He didn't know how else to explain it, though it sounded exaggerated. He had no better words to describe what had happened.
Though it sounded implausible, it might be the best way to explain his seemingly non-human level of talent. And it wasn't entirely impossible, considering the existence of people with natural Nen abilities.
The chieftain, unsure whether to believe the exaggerated claim or dismiss it, looked at Rocky with a mixture of doubt and awe. There had been natural Nen users before, and perhaps this was one of those rare occurrences.
"Do you really have no restrictions?" the chieftain asked again.
Rocky smiled and nodded confidently. "No restrictions. As long as the weapon is in place and I can feel it, I can move freely."
Even Rocky himself hadn't expected his ability to work in such a way. If it had been limited by distance, it would have been far less impressive.
The chieftain walked around Rocky, observing him carefully. After a moment, he sighed, shaking his head. "Okay... Maybe you, a devilish little kid, are just born with this kind of devilish Nen."
To the chieftain, Rocky's ability wasn't just a tool for combat; it had clear auxiliary potential too.
"By the way, Grandpa Chief," Rocky asked, eager to shift the conversation. "I want to ask you about the barrier Uncle Satsuki mentioned before."
The chieftain seemed to snap back to attention at the mention of the barrier and studied Rocky for a moment. After a thoughtful pause, he sighed and said, "With your talent, it's alright to tell you this now."
Originally, the chieftain had intended to help Rocky figure out which path he should take, eventually passing on the leadership of the Kuruta tribe. But Rocky's sudden, extraordinary development had completely altered the situation.
Now, it seemed there was much more at stake. Rocky, curious about what the chieftain might reveal, listened closely.
"Come with me," the chieftain instructed, standing up and leading Rocky out of the house.
The two made their way toward the mountain forest, in the direction of the cliff where Rocky had practiced Apparition before. Soon, they arrived at the base of the cliff, though this wasn't the same spot Rocky had chosen for his training earlier. From where he'd been practicing, the straight-line distance to the left should have been about 700 to 800 meters.
The chieftain approached a large stone at the edge of the cliff and, with a loud shout, moved it aside, revealing a dark cave.
The cave wasn't large, and the dampness of the walls was visible in the faint reflection of water trickling down them. "Let's go," the chief said as he crouched to enter the cave. After walking for about five or six minutes, a faint light appeared in the distance.
Rocky followed closely, and when they emerged into a larger space, he saw the room was about sixty or seventy square meters wide. Strange totems and symbols were faintly glowing on the walls.
"What is this place?" Rocky asked, his curiosity piqued.
The chieftain looked at him and nodded, his voice quiet but serious. "These are an important inheritance of my Kuruta tribe, the Divine scripts."
Rocky was taken aback. "The Divine scripts?" He had never heard of such a thing before. Was this something unique to the Kuruta tribe? Or was it part of the greater world of Nen?
"The Divine scripts, or 'God characters,' are symbols of nen," the chieftain continued. "Even if a person has no Nen ability, if they use their mind to carve these divine characters, they can tap into their power and awaken strange abilities."
Rocky was completely confused. "Are you saying that anyone can use these Divine scripts to develop Nen abilities? But... how?"
The chieftain nodded. "These divine scripts are a legacy of the Kuruta tribe, passed down through the generations. The barrier style you mentioned earlier is a direct application of these divine scripts. By using Nen to carve these characters, one can create a defensive barrier. But that's not all. With the right understanding, these symbols can also be used for offense, depending on how they're applied."
Rocky thought back, trying to remember if he had ever encountered such symbols in the past. The patterns reminded him of the ones he had seen on Gon's rope in the Sky Arena, as well as the markings on the box Gon received from his father.
Wait... those patterns were similar to the ones in this cave!
"Do these divine scripts appear in Nen abilities too?" Rocky asked, pointing to one of the symbols that seemed familiar.
The chieftain glanced at the pattern Rocky was pointing to. "Yes. That's right. These symbols can sometimes be part of Nen abilities. You might have seen them before. They enhance the user's power within their range. Do you recognize them now?"
Rocky stood still for a moment, processing the implications. Could the patterns he had seen earlier really be linked to the power of these divine characters?
Before he could respond, the chieftain continued, "The divine scripts aren't just about strength—they're about enhancing what you already have. They help unlock potential."
Rocky felt a flicker of realization. The power of these divine scripts might be the key to unlocking something greater within him.
The chieftain's eyes locked onto Rocky's. "But remember, these scripts are powerful tools, and they must be used with care. If misused, they can be catastrophic. That's why our tribe has kept them guarded."
Rocky nodded slowly, understanding the weight of the chieftain's words. The divine scripts held incredible potential, but they weren't something to be taken lightly. This knowledge could change everything for him, but he would need to approach it with respect and caution.
"Thank you, Grandpa Chief," Rocky said earnestly. "I'll take this responsibility seriously."
The chieftain smiled faintly, his voice proud. "I know you will, Rocky. Now, it's up to you to learn and master this power. But remember, it's not just about what you can do. It's about understanding why you do it."
With that, Rocky felt his resolve strengthen. The journey ahead was uncertain, but with the divine scripts now in his reach, he knew that nothing would stand in his way.
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