LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 3: Chapter 3: This Is Too Interesting!
Chapter 3: This Is Too Interesting!
Back in his previous life, Haru, stuck at home and bored out of his mind, had binge-watched countless shows and anime. Naturally, he hadn't skipped over the legendary masterpiece Hunter x Hunter. As such, he remembered the series' world-building and mechanics with surprising clarity.
In the Hunter x Hunter world, every living being has life energy flowing within them, known as "Aura" or "Nen."
Ordinary people are unaware of their Nen, allowing it to dissipate naturally. However, those who can perceive and harness this energy are known as Nen users.
Nen abilities are categorized into six distinct types:
Manipulation: Moving the leaf floating on water.
Emission: Changing the water's color.
Enhancement: Increasing the water's quantity.
Transmutation: Altering the water's taste.
Conjuration: Creating impurities in the water.
Specialization: Any other changes.
Recalling this information, Haru sat upright, focused on the glass of water with the floating leaf. Extending his hands, he prepared for the test.
The glowing tiger lay nearby, its front legs crossed. In the dim cabin, its fur shimmered faintly, its glowing patterns fluctuating. It yawned, tilting its head at Haru. Why isn't this cub drinking the water? What's he staring at it for?
Unaware of the tiger's musings, Haru concentrated on channeling his aura. Thanks to his earlier use of Nen for his ability, he quickly detected his aura and guided it to his palms, directing it toward the water.
Gradually, the leaf floating on the water began to move.
Manipulation Type.
Haru had expected this, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
Nen's six categories form a cyclic system: Manipulation → Emission → Enhancement → Transmutation → Conjuration → Specialization → Manipulation.
Generally, abilities in Emission, Enhancement, and Transmutation are straightforward and combat-oriented—be it physical attacks, energy blasts, or elemental alterations.
Meanwhile, Manipulation, Conjuration, and Specialization often involve more unique, rule-based abilities. Within the Hunter x Hunter world, seasoned Nen users recognize Manipulation abilities as particularly dangerous.
"Manipulation abilities are all about taking control. Once a Manipulator activates their ability on you, it's game over," Haru murmured, examining the rose-gold pentagram mark on the wolf.
"So, my ability… Let's call it 'Star Mark' for now. But what are the exact conditions for activating it?"
Haru picked up the leaf and pondered. Just summoning his aura had already left him fatigued. His weak, untrained child's body had an embarrassingly low aura capacity. No wonder using his ability earlier had wiped him out.
Turning to the wolf he controlled, Haru stared at the small, rose-gold pentagram on its ear.
"What if I wanted to remove the mark?"
Reaching out, Haru tapped the mark with his finger. The pentagram instantly dissolved.
"Yip!"
The freed wolf yelped in panic, but a low growl from the tiger silenced it. The glowing tiger circled around Haru, pinning the struggling wolf with a heavy paw.
The tiger's sheer size—over 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder—made the injured wolf seem utterly insignificant.
"Thanks, tiger buddy." Haru patted the wolf's head. "Relax, just a quick test."
With his limited aura, Haru needed to make his experiments as efficient as possible. He placed a loose suit jacket over the wolf, plucked a strand of his hair, and attempted to form another pentagram over the jacket's surface.
The attempt failed.
Haru immediately realized that the failure wasn't due to a lack of aura but because the activation conditions hadn't been met.
Removing the jacket, he tried again, pressing the pentagram-shaped strand directly onto the wolf's fur without letting it touch the skin. Once again, the ability failed.
"So, the pentagram needs to be directly on the target's skin?" Haru speculated. "It also needs to be a precise shape and infused with my aura. Three conditions—no exceptions."
Exhausted, hungry, and thirsty, Haru decided to pause. He downed the glass of water and asked the tiger to keep holding the wolf down.
Exploring the ship, Haru found emergency food supplies—biscuits, bread, chocolate, and even small cakes. He also located some clothing, cutting the sleeves and legs to fit his small frame. Tying the pants with a rope, he finally felt somewhat presentable.
"Hey, tiger, want some?" Haru waved a cake in front of the tiger's nose.
The intelligent beast shook its head, nudging the cake back toward Haru with its paw, as if urging him to eat.
As Haru ate, his thoughts returned to his ability. The pentagram ability seems to have unexpected effects… like enhancing the wolf's recovery speed.
Curious, Haru dipped his finger into the wolf's blood and drew another pentagram on its exposed belly. This time, he didn't infuse it with aura until after finishing the drawing.
The pentagram activated successfully, glowing rose-gold on the wolf's skin.
Interesting… the mark can be pre-drawn and activated later.
Satisfied, Haru turned his attention to the wolf's earlier injuries. Under the pentagram's influence, the wolf's wounds began to heal visibly.
This ability doubles as a regeneration buff?
Grinning, Haru repeated the process on himself, using his own blood to draw a pentagram on the back of his neck. As he activated it, he felt a surge of vitality.
"Perfect! Not only do I have enhanced healing now, but I've also protected myself from being manipulated by others. This is amazing!"
Just as he was basking in excitement, a gunshot echoed through the night, shattering the silence.
Bang!
The sharp sound jolted Haru. Fear gripped him as he realized: There are still others alive nearby.
At the same moment, an eerie sensation—both hot and cold—pierced his heart.
His vision blurred, and he collapsed toward the glowing tiger…
(End of Chapter)