The next day.
A Hunter Association airship soared between the peaks of high mountains, with vast snowfields stretching out below.
Inside the airship.
Chairman Netero sat in his office chair, stroking his long beard as he thoughtfully reviewed the list of candidates who had passed the First Phase.
"Almost seven hundred applicants this year, and only fifty-three passed the first round, hmm?"
"Seems like the Sam and Satchi brothers ran a pretty strict exam."
"There was an accident this year," Beans, his thoughtful secretary, explained as he poured the Chairman a cup of hot tea.
"Satchi's group was almost completely wiped out. Reportedly, a massive avalanche blocked the exit route, so..."
Netero cut him off before he could finish.
"Satchi already briefed me on the details."
"To be honest, facing a situation like that... even I would have a headache."
"When your enemy is Mother Nature herself... well, for someone like me who dedicated his life to martial arts, there's nothing more annoying than an opponent you can't defeat with a punch."
"It's like time... even I can't fight the effects of aging. Every year I feel weaker. I can't find the spark I had in my prime anymore."
"Even if you say that, aren't you still the strongest human alive, Chairman?" Beans asked.
"Half a century ago, maybe. But now? I'm probably half as strong as I used to be. I haven't been number one for a long time," Netero said humbly.
"Besides, haven't a few promising Hunters emerged from the younger generation who could rival me...?"
As he spoke, a certain unreliable figure popped into Netero's mind. He thought for a moment, then muttered to himself.
"If it's that guy... he definitely has a chance to surpass me."
"...You mean Ging Freecss?"
As the Chairman's secretary, Beans easily guessed who he was thinking about. He voiced his own opinion immediately.
"But Ging... he's unreliable."
"Whenever something important happens at the Association, he's nowhere to be found. He holds several important positions, yet he has zero sense of responsibility. He's completely self-absorbed."
"That's why I keep promoting talented youngsters," Netero chuckled.
"The selection for the Vice Chairman is coming up soon."
"If Ging isn't interested in the Association, I'll have to pick someone else who's capable and willing to take responsibility."
Netero stopped there, turning his attention back to the list on his desk.
"By the way, speaking of the Exam... no one has passed in three years."
"If no one passes this year either, maybe we should lower the difficulty next time."
Otherwise, in a few years, the Hunter Association would just be a bunch of old geezers. That wouldn't be good for the organization's longevity.
Netero glanced at the name of the next examiner on the list and stroked his beard.
"The next examiner is her... she should be a bit gentler with the candidates, right?"
"At least we shouldn't see a total wipeout in this round..."
---
Meanwhile.
Having slept for a full day, Yuu woke up early and headed to the airship's buffet to gorge himself on all kinds of exotic foods he had never seen before.
Burp~
Yuu stuffed the last piece of roast meat into his mouth and let out a satisfied belch.
"Rhino-Nose Pork Ribs... didn't expect them to be this good. Wish they were unlimited."
Although the Rhino-Nose Pig was just a slightly stronger-than-average beast in the Hunter world, its nutritional value was leagues above ordinary livestock.
Yuu could feel it... after eating such high-quality ingredients, his body felt significantly stronger than yesterday.
He was certain that if he had to run the First Phase again right now, he wouldn't collapse from exhaustion at the finish line.
"This body is still too weak..."
Whenever he thought back to yesterday's exam, Yuu lamented the physical difference between worlds.
Just a few days ago, he was living in a modern city. Coming to the Hunter world was a bit of a culture shock.
In this world, even a joke like Tonpa could run a high-intensity marathon for over ten hours with just basic training.
In the Jujutsu world, most sorcerers would be winded after thirty minutes of high-intensity combat.
Without Cursed Energy reinforcement, most sorcerers were just slightly athletic humans.
So...
Even though Yuu was a transmigrator who had trained his body from a young age... his physical stats were still within the realm of normal humans.
"I need to step up my physical training... at least get to Gon or Killua's level."
Yuu pushed the thought aside.
He left the restaurant and returned to his room.
---
Full and rested, Yuu felt bursting with energy.
He had basically mastered the fundamentals of "Ten," "Zetsu," and "Ren."
Next was the most critical and exciting step: Hatsu (Release/Act).
"Hatsu" was the personal expression of Nen. It was the culmination of all the basics, combined with the user's personality, desires, and nature, to create a unique special ability.
In other words, it was time to create his Nen Ability.
Yuu grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and placed a piece of paper on top. He decided to do another Water Divination test to mark his progress.
He placed his hands around the cup and activated "Ren," flooding the water with a massive amount of aura.
As his aura permeated the liquid...
Black, sand-like sediment rapidly materialized at the bottom of the glass, filling it up so fast the water overflowed.
Yuu dipped a finger into the surface water and tasted it... it was as sweet as honey.
"Fast progress... but I can't get cocky."
The result was the same as before: Conjuration with a lean toward Transmutation.
"But now... I should be able to see the prototype of my 'Nen Ability'."
Even though his mastery of the basics wasn't deep yet...
As a transmigrator, Yuu had a massive advantage:
He knew way more about Nen theory than Gon or Killua did at this stage.
"Conjuration allows you to materialize objects from your imagination. You can create realistic items or things that only exist in fantasy, like monsters or abstract concepts."
"But you have to perfect the image in your mind—shape, texture, state—before you can manifest it."
"That's my first step."
Yuu remembered Kurapika's training.
"Some people, like Kurapika, base their ability on a strong desire. He wanted chains to bind the Spiders, so he obsessed over chains until he could conjure them."
"But for me... maybe it's better to let nature take its course. Let my Nen take the shape that fits my inner nature."
"I just need a prototype to start with, then I can refine it..."
"True to the Heart."
That was his keyword.
Yuu brought his palms together, stimulating his inner aura. He focused his mind on a single prayer...
Give my Nen a form.
Driven by his strong intent, the aura swirled between his hands...
And began to coalesce.
In the center of his palms, a small, pitch-black Nen beast appeared.
It looked like a cross between a snake and a worm.
It had no discernible head or tail, and no details.
It was long and thin... about the size of a finger.
Like a...
Maggot?
"This is my Nen Ability?"
Yuu was skeptical.
He knew this was just a prototype. It meant his ability likely involved conjuring a Nen beast with special functions.
He could improve the design later.
But still... a worm? It was kinda gross.
Yuu placed the black worm on the table. He decided to watch how it behaved before they reached the next exam site.
He could feel that he could dismiss it at will.
But he also sensed that the beast had a will of its own. Or rather...
A desire.
The black worm started moving toward the glass of water he had used for the test.
While Yuu watched in confusion, the beast suddenly teleported inside the glass.
It began greedily sucking the sugar out of the water.
A few minutes later...
The beast finished feeding.
Yuu noticed its belly was swollen into a sphere. A moment later, it spat out a transparent, white glass marble.
Inside the marble, there was a swirling mist of gas.
"Is that... Nen?"
Yuu leaned in closer. The beast had absorbed the sugar water—which was created by his Nen—and somehow filtered the raw Nen back out into this marble.
Also, after eating the sugar, the worm had grown slightly. Four tiny bumps had appeared on its body... like it was trying to sprout limbs.
"Devour, absorb, and analyze... is that it?"
If this ability could devour abstract concepts... like memories, knowledge, or even existence itself...
The potential was infinite.
But Yuu knew that the more powerful the ability, the stricter the conditions and restrictions.
He would have to figure out the triggers later.
Yuu activated his Limitless technique and picked up the marble the beast had spat out. He examined it closely.
"I feel like I should eat this..."
Trusting his gut, he popped the marble into his mouth and bit down.
It shattered, and the "Nen" contained inside rushed into his body.
It refilled a portion of his aura reserves.
Basically...
It was a mana potion.