After Death Rewind, the level-up ability recorded by Tree Rings showed no structural differences from Etude of Love in terms of framework.
The only distinction was that Tree Rings' level-up conditions were far more stringent.
But Morrow had always believed these stricter requirements were actually a good thing.
If simply killing an ordinary person could trigger a level-up, the resulting 'ceiling' might end up being disappointingly low.
An even more troublesome possibility was that this simplistic leveling method could cap… or even permanently lock… the potential upper limit.
Beyond the difficulty of leveling up, Morrow hadn't found any other differences between the two abilities.
For instance, reaching Level 21 allowed the awakening and design of a Nen ability based on personal needs.
From this perspective, the true watershed moment likely lay at Level 51.
When Morrow reached Level 50, he hadn't noticed any significant changes in his aura output.
Judging by this growth curve, even reaching Level 60 would likely leave him far behind individuals like Hisoka and Illumi.
Thus, Morrow had reason to believe that once he hit Level 51, both his aura output and potential aura would undergo a substantial transformation.
However, the higher the level, the harder it became to progress.
Should I prioritize reaching Level 51 first…?
Morrow pondered.
With just over a month left before the Death Threshold triggered, his current level was 50. If he could reach 51, his aura output might experience a qualitative leap.
Additionally, the energy of the second ring was nearly full, with only about 10% remaining.
Both of these improvements would provide him with stronger safeguards.
But the immediate problem was ensuring he had enough time to prepare for the Death Threshold.
Even with Kalluto's tracking ability, Morrow didn't want to risk failure as the deadline loomed closer.
First, confirm Feitan's whereabouts.
After careful consideration, Morrow decided to locate Feitan first.
Previously, with ample time, he could afford to make preparations without pressure.
Now, with only a month and a half left, even the final steps had to be handled with caution.
Morrow and Kalluto left the Unexplored Land, returning to the cave where the mural was located.
Standing before the mural, their emotions were vastly different.
"Let's go."
Morrow took out the smoke stick Kanzai had left behind and strode toward the cave entrance.
Kalluto tilted his head, silently studying the mural for a few extra seconds before finally turning away and jogging to catch up with Morrow.
The two walked all the way to the cave entrance.
Unsurprisingly, the opening was tightly sealed by dense, tangled grapevines.
But under the smoke stick's repelling effect, the vines quickly unraveled, clearing a path for them.
Morrow and Kalluto exited the cave without much trouble, soon emerging above ground.
Petrus's Eye Sinkhole was located within the Evil Enclave but not deep inside… it would only take a few days to traverse out.
Morrow led the way while Kalluto retrieved Feitan's living paper doll, observing its movements.
This doll hadn't been made on a whim; Kalluto had prepared it the moment Morrow mentioned targeting Feitan.
In fact, when it came to 'finding Feitan,' Kalluto was even more invested than Morrow.
Over the next two days, Morrow and Kalluto trekked through the Demon Domain's forest, gradually nearing its borders.
Along the way, they gradually discovered traces of human activity.
Places like the Demon Domain were always a mix of opportunity and risk, so poachers and the like were often active here.
After all, this was a restricted area for humans, harboring many resources that could be exchanged for wealth in human society.
Morrow glanced at the remnants of a campfire on the ground, unsurprised.
Judging by these traces, they were getting closer to the border.
Just then, gunshots suddenly rang out in the distance.
Morrow and Kalluto reflexively turned toward the source of the sound.
In a place like this, gunfire usually wasn't the work of professional poachers… it was more likely a conflict between people.
"No need to pay it any mind."
Morrow quickly averted his gaze and continued along their planned route.
Kalluto nodded silently and followed.
The two pressed on until nightfall before stopping to rest.
A campfire was lit on the flat ground, its flickering flames illuminating Morrow and Kalluto's faces.
"We should be able to get out tomorrow," Morrow thought as he stared into the fire.
While traveling through the forest, he intermittently used En to probe their surroundings.
Truthfully, given his sensitivity to killing intent, he could usually detect danger immediately even without En, but this was also a form of training.
Using En tested one's concentration and precision in controlling aura. Though it was extremely difficult to master, the results of such training could extend to other areas.
So during their journey out of the Demon Domain, Morrow had gained a unique sense of progress.
"Kalluto."
Suddenly, Morrow sensed a presence. He swiftly rose from the ground, gripping the hilt of the Poultry Scarlet Knife in reverse, while also alerting Kalluto.
Almost the moment he heard Morrow's voice, Kalluto stood as well, already holding the purple bamboo fan in hand.
By now, Kalluto had also detected the aura gradually closing in on them.
The owner of this aura didn't seem to be making any effort to conceal themselves.
Morrow and Kalluto both looked beyond the firelight, where a steady flow of aura slowly emerged from the dark woods.
Shing.
Morrow cleanly drew the Poultry Scarlet Knife and casually held it horizontally in front of him.
Under their watchful gazes, a figure shrouded in aura stepped out of the shadows and into the firelight.
The newcomer was tall, with sharp features and an air of steady composure.
"Lighting a fire in a place like this isn't exactly... Hm?"
The man glanced at the campfire, then at Morrow and Kalluto, cutting himself off mid-sentence.
His gaze lingered on Morrow, clearly surprised.
Then he noticed the Poultry Scarlet Knife in Morrow's hand, its blade wreathed in aura, and a glint flickered briefly in his eyes.
"It's you again, young man."
The man studied Morrow, looking especially taken aback.
Kalluto glanced at Morrow from the corner of his eye, surprised that this sudden arrival seemed to know him.
Morrow calmly regarded the man before him and said flatly, "I should be the one saying that. You really do like approaching people this way, Benjamin."
The man, who hadn't bothered to hide his aura before revealing himself, was a Gourmet Hunter Morrow had encountered before.
"It's Bentamin!"
Hearing Morrow mispronounce his name, Benjamin's eye twitched as he corrected him.
Morrow didn't speak, merely watching Benjamin with calm eyes, the Poultry Scarlet Knife held horizontally before him showing no intention of being sheathed.
His stance was clear… he wanted Benjamin to stay far away from them.
Benjamin, of course, understood Morrow's meaning but pretended otherwise. Raising a hand to gesture at the campfire, he amiably reminded them, "This is the outer region of the Demon Realm. Even under normal circumstances, there are plenty of poachers active here. If you—"
"So, do you have business with us?"
Morrow bluntly cut him off.
Benjamin paused slightly, then slowly lowered his hand, studying Morrow's noticeably altered physique with interest.
He recalled the first time he had encountered this young man… it was obvious even then that he was the type who deeply distrusted strangers.
Back then, the young man had been at a disadvantage and had chosen to avoid and retreat.
Half a year later, though this young man displayed a similar attitude, there was one key difference…
Dominance.
Beneath this dominance, the young man now exhibited a roughness entirely unlike their first meeting.
Under normal circumstances, Benjamin would have tactfully turned and left.
But when the other party possessed something he desired, that changed everything.
Benjamin set the satchel slung over his shoulder down by his feet. Its contents were spoils he had taken from poachers after turning the tables on them.
Once the bag was settled, he looked at Morrow with a smile. "Seems you're not very welcoming. But you should know I mean no harm… that's why I didn't bother concealing my presence."
"..."
Morrow glanced at the satchel Benjamin had set down, then issued a warning in a completely flat tone. "You're right. I don't welcome you. So I'd appreciate it if you'd tactfully vanish from our sight."
"Ah."
Benjamin sighed softly, still smiling. "I'm afraid that's not possible."
"Got it."
Seeing the smile on Benjamin's face, Morrow couldn't help but chuckle as well, casually raising the Poultry Scarlet Knife before his eyes.
"You've got your eye on this knife, don't you?"
"Oh?"
Benjamin's gaze shifted to the blade Morrow held up, simultaneously observing the Ten wrapped around Morrow's body. Feigning ignorance, he asked, "Why would you say that?"
"Drop the act."
Morrow reversed his grip on the knife, his eyes gradually turning cold.
Benjamin fell silent for a moment, his right hand subtly reaching for the Boning Scarlet Knife before smoothly drawing and gripping it.
His eyes remained fixed on the Poultry Scarlet Knife in Morrow's hand, his tone laced with barely restrained desire:
"One of the Seven Chef's Knives forged by the master Sairo… the Poultry Scarlet Knife... Morrow, you're not a Gourmet Hunter, so you can't understand how I feel right now. I doubt any Gourmet Hunter could remain indifferent to the Seven Chef's Knives."
As he spoke, Benjamin opened all his aura nodes, unleashing his maximum aura output.
He stared directly at Morrow, his gaze brimming with pressure. "You're right… I do want that knife. But I don't want to force you. If you're willing to hand it over, I'll leave immediately."
"Hah."
Morrow was amused.
Spouting such words while barely restraining his killing intent.
Morrow knew exactly what kind of person Benjamin was… the type who shifted with the wind.
When faced with someone neither threatening nor valuable, he might play the righteous role, even offering help.
But when it came to interests, this guy wouldn't hesitate to strike, and to cover his tracks, he placed great importance on cleaning up loose ends.
The concealed killing intent at this moment had already revealed his intentions.
No more words were needed.
Morrow suddenly opened all his aura nodes, releasing his maximum aura output.
In that instant, Benjamin moved.
Holding the Boning Scarlet Knife, his figure flashed like lightning as he charged straight toward Kalluto.
Yet even as he acted, more of his attention was inevitably drawn to the aura emanating from Morrow.
That level of aura…
How was this possible?
In just half a year, such a tremendous change!?
A flicker of shock passed through Benjamin's eyes.
He had timed his move based on Morrow's reaction, striking decisively at the seemingly weaker Kalluto when Morrow let his guard down.
At this moment, he was like an arrow already loosed from the bow.
Even if he noticed Morrow's earth-shaking transformation in strength, it was too late to pull back.
Seeing Benjamin suddenly attack, Kalluto immediately understood his opponent was targeting the easier prey first. With a cold snort, a blade-like killing intent surged in his deep purple eyes.
However, Kalluto soon sensed something and abandoned the thought of counterattacking, instead retreating two steps to widen the distance.
At that moment…
Morrow flashed forward, his Poultry Scarlet Knife hooking upward to clash against Benjamin's Boning Knife.
Clang!
The two Seven Chef's Knives collided violently, sparks of deep crimson light scattering from the impact.
Benjamin felt a heavy force transmitted through his blade. His expression shifted slightly as he pulled back to dissipate the force, breaking the deadlock.
Then, stepping forward, he drove the Boning Knife at a vicious angle toward Morrow's wrist tendons.
Morrow's terrifyingly calm gaze swept over him. Instead of retreating in this disadvantaged moment, he bent his elbow, trapping the smaller Boning Knife's blade directly in the crook of his arm.
"What!?"
Benjamin's pupils contracted sharply.
Such fast Ryu…
In that split second, he clearly saw Morrow redirect the concentrated aura from his palm and Poultry Scarlet Knife back to his arm in an instant.
Only through this maneuver could he have trapped the sharp Boning Knife with his bare flesh.
This guy's strength... No, I can't handle this. I need to retreat and find another way to get his knife later.
In that lightning-fast moment, Benjamin made a wise decision.
"Calorie Bomb!"
Benjamin decisively activated his Nen ability. The aura gathered on the Boning Knife erupted with a violent burst of wind pressure, forcibly repelling Morrow.
Instead of pressing the advantage, Benjamin immediately retreated.
He was cautious… even while withdrawing, he refused to expose his back to Morrow.
Though this method of retreat somewhat affected his speed, it was far safer.
After several steps back, he reached the satchel on the ground, bending to grab it.
Just then…
A fierce red light shot through the air… the Poultry Scarlet Knife, wrapped in aura.
Having just picked up the satchel, Benjamin could only hastily dodge the incoming knife.
He actually threw it…
Benjamin's heart skipped a beat. When he looked back at Morrow's position, the man had already vanished from sight. His pulse stuttered in alarm.
His keen sense of danger made him swing the Boning Knife backward at that moment.
Morrow materialized behind Benjamin, instantly raising a hand to clamp down on Benjamin's knife-wielding right wrist while simultaneously controlling his left arm with the other hand.
Whoosh—
At that instant, a Shooting Star tore through the night sky, streaking toward Benjamin.
Morrow restrained Benjamin's body, using him as a shield against the incoming Shooting Star.
"Next life, don't be so greedy."
Before Benjamin could react, the words had barely left Morrow's lips when the Shooting Star struck his chest.
Instantly, his chest exploded in a shower of blood and flesh, his face frozen in disbelief before he collapsed lifeless on the spot.
Morrow held Benjamin's body steady until the explosive aftermath of the Shooting Star completely dissipated before finally releasing his grip.
Thud.
Benjamin's corpse hit the ground with a dull thump.
Morrow then glanced at the Tree Rings on the back of his hand.
No level-up...
The experience mechanism was one thing, but Benjamin's level had been relatively low… barely over 40.
After more than half a year apart, this man's strength hadn't improved at all.
Speaking of half a year… it seemed like he'd forgotten something.
A contemplative look flashed in Morrow's eyes.
Kalluto approached quickly, crouching down to rummage through a satchel on the ground.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Morrow watched Kalluto's actions.
"Kalluto, what are you doing?"
"Looking for money."
Kalluto replied matter-of-factly.
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Bonus chapter @150 power stones.