Rocky had no time to waste. The countdown was ticking, and he had to focus all his energy on practice. Today, there would be no searching for Kurapika or Pyro—there was no time for distractions. His first priority was improving his abilities. He made his way to the familiar open area in the forest where he had trained the day before.
In the practice of the Nen system, Rocky knew there were five main categories to focus on: Manipulator, Enhancer, Conjurer, Transmuter, and Emitter. Each of these required specific attention. Additionally, he needed to enhance his Nen capacity, master various application techniques such as Gyo, In,En, Shu, Ko, Ken, and Ryu, and become proficient in all of them.
The sheer number of things he had to master was overwhelming.
"There's too much to practice!" Rocky muttered, pacing back and forth. "I don't even know where to start."
Each of these skills was vital. The application skills of Nen were crucial, but so was the targeted training for each Nen type. Enhancing his Nen capacity was just as important. It felt like there was an endless list of things he needed to accomplish, and time was running out.
"I need to focus," he reminded himself. "The first thing I should practice is In if I want to consider escaping."
But escaping was not the only thing on his mind. He needed to protect the Kuruta tribe as well.
Then, an idea struck him.
"What about the Scarlet Eyes?"
The Scarlet Eyes were his shortcut to boosting his combat power in a short period of time. But with the blood power diminished, the transformation had become harder to activate. It required more emotional stimulation than before. However, this discovery made Rocky pause.
If the bloodline power level determined the difficulty of using the Scarlet Eyes, what would happen if he had a higher bloodline power? Could the Scarlet Eyes be activated with just a thought? And with intermediate blood power, could it allow for greater improvement and less physical strain?
This was a tantalizing thought.
"The higher the bloodline talent, the stronger the power, and less burden on the body," Rocky mused. "That means modifying my bloodline power could make a huge difference."
Rocky's eyes sharpened with determination.
"When I activate the Scarlet Eyes, I become an Enhancer," he said quietly. "Maybe I can develop some powerful abilities when I'm in this state."
The first person who came to mind was Gon, whose Enhancer abilities were terrifying, increasing his combat power to immense levels. It would be ideal if Rocky could develop something similar—something that would specifically enhance his power when the Scarlet Eyes were activated.
However, Rocky quickly dismissed the idea of copying Gon's ability. He couldn't replicate the emotions and experiences that had led to Gon's power. It was an unnecessary risk, especially considering the price Gon had paid. Rocky wasn't willing to sacrifice everything just for power.
Instead, he thought about his own abilities, particularly the Apparition.
"Maybe I can use my Enhancer abilities the same way," Rocky thought, envisioning a giant god-like power that could increase his Nen when the Scarlet Eyes were activated.
However, modifying this ability wouldn't be easy. The restrictions and oaths he made couldn't be too harsh, or it would limit his progress.
"The power can only be used while the Scarlet Eyes are active, and it's tied to the Titan Power. Abilities like Phantom Shift and Phantom Sword will only work at 40% of their normal strength."
Such limitations were fairly lenient. They wouldn't drastically improve his abilities immediately, but they would provide a solid foundation to build upon. He could enhance his Nen gradually over time.
"Eventually, I'll be stronger in the Scarlet Eyes state," Rocky resolved, setting his focus on refining this new ability. He couldn't develop it immediately, but he needed to create a basic framework for it soon.
Rocky had a clear plan now: practice one Nen system and application skill in the morning, focus on Nen development in the afternoon, and spend the evening refining his Nen Qi. He would replace sleep with Chan as much as possible. While it wasn't a complete substitute for rest, it would compress his sleep time down to just four hours a day, which was all his body would need.
There were still over 40 days before his next modification opportunity, and with December fast approaching, he had little time to waste. If the Phantom Troupe were going to attack the Kuruta tribe in December, every second counted.
Keeping an eye on Kurapika and Piro was essential. Once Kurapika received the pass and left the village, the Phantom Troupe would soon follow. That would be the moment of truth.
After a day filled with relentless training, Rocky returned home as evening fell. The moment he stepped inside, a pair of large hands grabbed him.
"Boy! You haven't come back to see me for a while! You must be living it up here more than at my place, huh?" the voice rumbled, familiar and warm.
Rocky couldn't help but smile. "Uncle Satsuki …"
"Alright, little Rocky, go take a bath. Dinner's on the table for you. Grandpa's got some business to discuss with the others," his uncle said.
Rocky nodded and glanced around at the Kuruta tribe members. Twelve of them were Nen users. It seemed that his earlier words had made an impression. At least the chief was taking the threat seriously now. There was still hope for the tribe's survival—if he acted quickly.
But the clock was ticking.