Even Morrow couldn't account for every possibility.
Initially, upon hearing about the heretical path method of the Mind Illusion Style, he had indeed considered the possibility of Post-Mortem Will.
Yet, in his meticulously crafted strategy to crush Orion, he hadn't factored in this contingency.
Fortunately, when he killed Orion, it was the aggressive personality controlling the Nen clone.
And then, without hesitation, it had delivered itself right to him, unwittingly saving him a great deal of trouble.
Morrow gazed at Orion's face, frozen in shock, as his palm, like a black hole, sucked in the sinister, ominous black Nen.
"What… have you done…?!"
Orion's body, even his face, rapidly twisted and distorted, teetering on the brink under the suction of the Tree Rings tattoo.
He couldn't comprehend how Morrow had done this.
He had broken free from the human vessel imprisoning his Spiritual Will, had already pushed open the door to a higher-dimensional world…
Why?
Why was this happening?!
Reflected in Orion's distorted eyes was Morrow's utterly indifferent expression.
Even now, in this man's eyes, was he still nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at will?
Orion refused to accept it.
But after that overwhelming surge of resentment came a dazed emptiness, a void where nothing remained.
Whoosh!
The immense suction swallowed the last traces of Orion in this world into the Tree Rings tattoo.
Morrow calmly examined the tattoo on the back of his hand. The green energy bar suddenly skyrocketed, surging past the midpoint, from 34% all the way beyond 50%…
But it didn't stop there.
After breaking past 50%, the energy bar continued to climb rapidly, only halting at around 60%.
Truly astonishing.
Morrow observed the substantial leap in the energy bar.
Though Post-Mortem Will could provide purer energy for the Tree Rings, jumping from 34% to 60% in one go far exceeded his expectations.
This alone spoke volumes about just how grotesque the Mind Illusion Style truly was.
Morrow lowered his hand, turned slightly, and leaned against the corridor wall.
Absorbing pure Post-Mortem Nen inevitably meant inheriting the lingering will embedded within it.
This phenomenon carried faint echoes of Vow and Limitation.
Closing his eyes, Morrow braced himself for the mental onslaught.
The next moment.
A torrent of violent spiritual energy, carried by the Post-Mortem Nen, crashed against his consciousness.
Morrow's body shuddered slightly as he "opened" his eyes within his mind, abruptly finding himself in a monochrome world.
Black water, white sky.
Morrow stood upon the inky surface, white ripples spreading outward from his feet in perfectly measured rings.
Suddenly, before him, a mass of black Nen, writhing like flames, materialized out of thin air, exuding a savage aura.
With just one glance, Morrow recognized this black Nen as the core of Orion's Post-Mortem Will.
As he stared at the churning darkness, a faint, distant voice drifted into his mind, as if carried from the far edges of the sky.
"Accept me, and you will step into a new world."
"All the knowledge and achievements of the Mind Illusion Style lie here."
"Come. For you, it is within easy reach."
The black Nen surged like wildfire, radiating an irresistible allure, an intoxicating temptation for those who sought power.
Morrow quietly gazed at the black flame-like aura, understanding that this was the core will of the Post-Mortem Nen.
He also knew that by accepting this core will, he could glimpse the lifelong achievements of the Mind Illusion Style from the spiritual memories Orion had left behind.
More importantly, accepting it would allow him to immediately begin developing the personality clone ability unique to the Mind Illusion Style.
That would mean he would gradually shift toward Specialization under the influence of these "lifelong achievements."
This was likely the opportunity mentioned in the original work for an acquired transformation into Specialization.
Yet Morrow remained utterly indifferent.
He did need power that could "alter fate," but he had no interest in the grotesque byproducts of the Mind Illusion Style.
As if sensing Morrow's attitude, the core will of the black Nen changed tactics, directly manifesting itself in Morrow's form.
Or rather, it appeared before Morrow as a Nen clone.
"What are you waiting for? With this ability under your control, you can make 'death' bow at your feet, break free from the shackles of the human body, and reach..."
"Too noisy."
Morrow spoke calmly
Not only did he interrupt the core will of the Post-Mortem Nen, but in that same instant, a white vortex appeared on the pitch-black surface, dragging the core will down.
Down, down it sank...
Like sealing away a memory, it sank straight to the depths.
—--
Inside the competitor's tunnel.
Morrow abruptly opened his eyes.
The flesh may perish, but the power of the spirit, conviction, and will can transcend the limits of time and endure indefinitely. That is likely the essence of Post-Mortem Nen.
Looking down at the Tree Rings tattoo on the back of his hand, Morrow murmured to himself, Breaking free from the shackles of the human body... That phrasing isn't wrong. No doubt, in many dark corners unknown to most, there remain countless inexplicable Post-Mortem Wills.
Like the Kukan'yu Kingdom he had visited before.
Beneath that land lay the remnants of numerous civilizations.
And within those civilizations, there must have been things akin to religious beliefs or wills preserved.
If he could pinpoint them, he could easily complete the second or even third rings charge.
Making death bow at his feet.
Such a thing...
Morrow shook his head slightly.
He had once called himself a Treasure Hunter, but goals like this were too ephemeral, prone to consuming too much time and effort.
In comparison, browsing antique markets seemed far more reliable. Or perhaps working as an Exorcist among the people, taking on various spirit-cleansing requests.
Am I strong enough now?
Morrow pondered, then strode confidently toward the tunnel exit.
He felt no regret over rejecting the achievements of the Mind Illusion Style.
As for why...
Beyond not wanting to become a madman, the more critical reason was that the focus of the Mind Illusion Style clashed with his existing ability system, even repelling it.
Just as he had used the Starlight Convergence ability to counter Orion, the abilities of the Mind Illusion Style would severely interfere with the application of Starlight Convergence.
Thinking about it, it was rather amusing.
In any case, Morrow was rational enough not to lose sight of one thing while pursuing another.
Judging by the psychological Limitation of Starlight Convergence, he was better suited to mastering the Shingen-ryu, which emphasized mental cultivation.
—--
On the elevated spectator stands within the venue. Netero gazed at the completely motionless entrance of the competitor's tunnel, as if sensing something, then suddenly smiled silently to himself.
This was the second matter he had personally confirmed since arriving at Heavens Arena.
An Exorcist capable of removing Post-Mortem Nen.
The Hunter Association truly needed talents like this.
--------
Bonus chapter for the 90 power stones.