Chapter 312: Constant Rain—Rhythm—Disruption

The training continues for hours, with Auren and Zeno both mimicking each other’s respective styles of En and exchanging various insights along the way, slowly making the alternative approach their own.

Meanwhile, Illumi is finally forced to do something and performs En of his own, reaching a radius of just fifteen meters, which is not particularly impressive, but still well above what the average En user can achieve and a praiseworthy feat.

Auren also assists Zeno by demonstrating his Enken, seeing no reason to hide such an ability from him. Most crucially, Auren performs it in front of him dozens of times, explaining every step and deliberately slowing down his technique so Zeno can carefully analyze it.

Surprisingly, unlike Netero, who needed several attempts and even then only managed to create an unstable and nonfunctioning version of Enken, Zeno almost succeeds on his first try. He already manages to combine En and Ken, only failing to properly balance the two, which results in a slightly denser En field instead of a true Enken.

However, after a couple of hours of meditation, analysis, further demonstrations, and advice from Auren, Zeno finally succeeds, performing Enken with a radius of five meters.

“I thank you on behalf of my family and my son,” Zeno says. “This technique will improve our art and legacy, and I’ll make sure it is passed on, solely to the descendants of our family, of course.”

He then meaningfully glances at Illumi, who looks visibly annoyed for the first time.

Looks like Illumi will have to dedicate a little more time to his training.

As it is already noon, Auren feels a little hungry and also notices that Neffi disappeared at some point.

“Let’s continue tomorrow?” Auren offers.

“Yes, I’ll require more advice to completely learn this technique,” Zeno says. “In return... I might have some advice for you as well. You’ve learned both the Dark Step and the Rhythm Echo, correct? I’ve seen you use them with a surprising degree of proficiency... but having learned from the Marshmallow brothers, I can also see a lot of room for improvement, as well as the possibility of teaching you more advanced techniques.”

“I accept,” Auren replies immediately.

The Zoldyck legacy... if I can get my hands on that... in addition to what Netero taught me...!

Even what Buno and Bunu, as well as Lidor, taught me qualified as high-level teachings. Especially Lidor. He was an expert in swordsmanship, and his family’s legacy is now in my possession.

If I add both Netero’s techniques, which I’ve already incorporated to an extent, and Zeno’s Zoldyck assassination techniques... I’ll have all the pieces needed to develop a unique style of my own, one with the potential to surpass anything that currently exists inside the lake. 

At the very least, I already know how to continue improving... this is quite the surprise, one I welcome.

“Illumi... send me Hisoka’s number after you’re done. I have a few issues to discuss with him when we leave,” Auren says, remembering the examination briefly.

“Interesting. I’ll send it right now...” Illumi replies, only for Zeno to step in front of him.

“After your training will have to suffice,” he says, causing Illumi to frown. “Now focus!”

Hehe... serves him right.

Trying to walk away, Auren suddenly senses something in the distance. Illumi and Zeno also perk up, both looking towards the forest on the opposite side of the entrance, at the very edge of the Zoldyck territory.

A few large objects appear in the sky and descend with astonishing speed towards the ground, each one ending in a loud explosion. Multiple trees vanish from the skyline, crashing down one after another and creating an enormous amount of noise.

Just fractions of a second after the explosions, birds and all kinds of animals react and flee the scene, thousands of large black dots appearing in the sky, all leaving the vicinity.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“What might that be?” Auren pretends to wonder.

“It’s obvious...” Zeno says, “but since Grandpa is with her, I suppose it’s under control.”

Losing his focus, Illumi drops his En, causing Zeno to sneer at him in disapproval, sweat pouring down the young assassin’s face.

Even he... is just human. When he drops all facades.

Still, he walks up to Auren, continuing to look into the distance.

“This Hatsu... if she hadn’t revealed it openly in such a silly setting as Battle Olympia, she could have become the world’s most fearsome assassin and destroyer. If she weren’t your woman, I’d kill her right now. Her Hatsu is frightening; its growth is exponential. With enough Aura, height, and experience, she might be able to create a catastrophic explosion, similar to a nuclear bomb.”

“Now you’re exaggerating. I know a guy from the Phantom Troupe, and even he tried to create something like that... and while it’s impressive, it’s just a small explosion, and he’s an enhancer to boot,” Auren argues.

“This is different. The combination of Aura, speed, gravity, and the delay. Its effects are astonishingly cumulative and have extreme potential. I don’t know the troupe members in great detail, but I believe I know who you’re talking about. His technique is crude and can’t even compare. It relies on pure strength and Aura. He’s using addition while your crazy woman is using multiplication.” Illumi reasons.

“He is not wrong...” Zeno adds, agreeing with Illumi. “This woman probably doesn’t know it herself, but her Hatsu indeed has the potential to shake civilization.”

“Imagine someone... carrying invisible bombs that can’t be defended against, capable of destroying buildings, able to kill thousands of people in a matter of seconds,” Illumi explains. “Her Hatsu has the potential to be used for mass murder. What if it’s being used on courts, airports, stations, hotels, or government buildings? Its existence already qualifies as a war crime. Nobody should be allowed to possess such a weapon. She’s too dangerous to be left uncontrolled.”

“You forget that she’s not uncontrolled... she’s fully under my control,” Auren interjects. “So don’t worry about her; leave that to me. Instead, people should be worried about me.”

Illumi briefly stares at Auren before shrugging. “Judging by what happened to the last man who offended you... I’d say that’s doubtlessly true.”

He then grabs his phone and quickly reads Hisoka’s number aloud, while Auren takes out his own phone and enters it.

“I’ll see you later,” Auren says, wandering off towards the caretaker’s shack.

In the distance, at the gate where Canary usually stands guard, Auren sees another man standing with her.

It’s that Goto guy again.

“Dear guest... if I may take up a minute of your time,” Goto says, bowing slightly.

Not Master Auren? Yes... he hates me for a reason; it couldn’t be more obvious.

Despite his apparent and clean manners, Auren notices the slightest hint of hostility on his face.

“Are you worried about your young master?” Auren asks. “Don’t be. Unlike you, I don’t have a conflict of interest, and I can take good care of him and be honest with him.”

“...” Goto’s face darkens before he gives a slow nod. “Perhaps... you are right. I’m grateful... however, should something happen to the young master...”

“Then I’ll discuss it with Silva. If you have a problem... you may visit me at any time, though I promise you that leaving will be much more difficult for someone like yourself,” Auren says before moving on.

I know this guy has good intentions, but for some reason, I can’t stand him.

Continuing onward, Auren reaches the shack and enters it, finding all five of them meditating. Neffi is beside them, doing sit-ups while still keeping an eye on their training.

Surprised, Auren sees that Neffi looks exhausted, her face covered in sweat, something he has rarely seen before.

On a table, he also spots what he asked Marsha to create, Neffi seemingly having delivered it. On a table are a few empty plates with a few rice grains still visible. 

They were created using normal rice, along with the inferior Nitro rice. Since we don’t have that much, I can’t feed five more people, especially if they can eat portions like they can and train all day.

After a few minutes, everyone notices Auren and turns towards him.

“Looks like you’re working hard, all of you. Ready for the next step?” Auren asks them.

“Yes!” everyone replies, aside from a reluctant Leroute and Neffi, of course, who already know what Auren is going to teach.

Their training quickly progresses from there. Seeing them grow stronger at an incredible pace, thanks to regular donations of snacks made with the inferior Nitro rice, none of them lose motivation, as they’re growing at an incredible pace.

Starting from day three, they also fight over the rice snacks, requiring Auren to hand them each a portion.

Every single day, Auren trains hard with Zeno, with Illumi joining them from time to time. Instead of focusing entirely on En, which he still practices using Zeno’s insights, Auren helps Zeno with Enken and Illumi with En, while being taught the proper methods behind the assassination techniques he first learned ten years ago. Illumi serves as a proper sparring partner, being more than qualified to spar with Auren, while Zeno observes and gives pointers to both, of course mostly Auren.

Thanks to his own efforts and previous experience, it doesn’t take long for Auren to correct the mistakes he made while learning them and adjust his fighting style accordingly.

Zeno himself also learns Enken quickly, steadily catching up to Auren’s level of proficiency.

The four rookies, including Killua, work hard to improve their bodies, spending their entire days strength training, meditating, and even sparring while still wearing their weighted clothes. Leroute, despite her seemingly bad mood and reluctance, does her best to train as hard as possible. 

Meanwhile, Menchi is quickly picked up in front of the Zoldyck estate. She soon begins her journey towards the Yorbian Continent, signing her contract along the way before reporting to Leira, who has already been informed by Auren.

Finally, Neffi and Vanessa are working hard as well. While Vanessa focuses entirely on herself and trains hard with Maha, only reappearing to eat and sleep, Neffi does her best in her own way, much like the rookies, steadily improving her body. 

After only ten days, she successfully manages to open four sets of gates, seemingly without much effort.

Auren welcomes Vanessa’s newly gained focus and doesn’t bother her much; instead, he focuses on his own progress, while also sparring with Neffi every day, a practice she seemingly welcomes, a clear change in behavior.

Of course, the cloud above Auren’s head is steadily supplied with new Aura. By now, Auren doesn’t even have to do it consciously. As if the cloud has become a part of him, it constantly pours rain over Auren and whoever happens to remain in his vicinity, while getting supplied with Aura.

For some reason, his mood remains consistently good, the rain and lack of sunlight making him feel as though he is always in his preferred environment.

Things continue at a steady and predictable pace until the eighteenth day at the Zoldyck estate, when Auren suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night.

The egg lying beside him in bed is shaking violently.

Auren uses Gyo and sees a large amount of Aura surrounding it, the Aura actively moving on its own.

Nen...? From birth? Yes... the egg always had Aura... but not so much. 

It’s just like the Gatekeeper said... it’s time!

Carefully carrying the egg, Auren heads outside, leaving the airship and walking towards a nearby hill in the mountains, a place he often uses for En practice whenever Zeno and Illumi are busy.

Placing the egg on the ground, with the cloud above him showering it in constant rain, Auren sits down directly in front of it.