Nen x Initiation - Taking Shortcuts is Just Smart!

"Hey, that's not the face you should be showing after learning about your genius master! I don't need you to bow down, but you should at least show a bit of gratitude!" Menchi says, smirking at Alex, who still looks a bit stunned.

"Will this teacher really be fine?" Alex asks, turning to Botobai as he walks past them.

"Hey!! You punk! You're the first person ever to complain about my cooking, and now you're questioning my knowledge of Nen too? I'll have you know I'm a genius! I know everything there is to know about Nen! You should be grateful and kiss my feet for having someone like me as your teacher!" Menchi snaps, glaring at Alex.

"I guess I'm grateful… I was just kidding, of course, Menchi. Also, thank you for congratulating me so nicely…" Alex says, his tone deliberately mild to placate her.

"Children… behave yourselves and find somewhere else to go so you don't distract the others," Botobai says, shaking his head as he glances toward the room. The people inside, clearly distracted, quickly turn back to their monitors, though many can't resist sneaking curious glances at Alex and Menchi.

"Let's go," Menchi says, exhaling. "My own master wants to meet you too. She doesn't go out much anymore, and she said this will be her last time participating in the exam. She's kind of depressed and wants to witness it one last time. Be nice to her, will you please?"

"Of course. I actually enjoyed the third exam quite a bit," Alex replies. Menchi seems worried that Linne might be close to death, given her age is similar to Netero's. It's a reasonable fear, but I know she's wrong. Even four years from now, Linne will still be fine and will participate in the upcoming chairman election after Netero's death. Her fears are unfounded.

Menchi and Alex walk toward a different part of the bunker, one apparently reserved for examiners, assisting hunters, and the other personnel needed to run the exam. The area is expansive, with a giant canteen, training rooms, and numerous personal quarters for everyone involved.

"These facilities were originally built to shelter people… Now they're being used to conduct the Hunter Exam, at least this year's exam. I have to say, it's a spectacular location," Alex says, genuinely impressed.

"Yeah… kinda boring, but I guess it works," Menchi replies, clearly not sharing his enthusiasm.

This girl… Alex thinks. I know all about the exam that will happen in two years, and the next two after that. They're all rather uninspired compared to this one. Sorry, but marathon running through underground tunnels, a deadly marsh, climbing down a weird tower, then surviving on an abandoned island with a final tournament arc? That doesn't sound appealing to me. Honestly, I liked this exam a lot—it was just as good, if not better as the one Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio participated in. Those exams afterward? Total scams. He shakes his head, not understanding Menchi's low opinion of the current exam setup.

They arrive at a large apartment, clearly intended for wealthier families. Menchi unlocks the door with a key and steps inside. "This is our place now. Yep, also your living quarters for the next 10 days. Your room is the smaller one over there on the right. You'd better behave, or else you won't be getting your license. You won't be physically able to get it, if you catch my drift."

She hands him two keys, one for the apartment and one for his room.

As they step inside, Alex immediately notices that the apartment has been heavily modified. What was once a standard living space now looks more like a dedicated training quarter. Near the entrance, a huge kitchen remains intact, but the rest of the apartment is wide open, as if most of the walls had been torn down to create a single, expansive training hall.

Sitting on the floor in the middle of the space is Linne, her eyes closed. Alex assumes she's meditating but quickly reconsiders. No… probably not meditating. She's training her Nen, probably using Ten, he guesses.

"Master, here we are. Of course he passed," Menchi says confidently.

Linne opens her eyes and locks them onto Alex, making him shiver. Her gaze feels impossibly sharp.

"Congratulations. I'm here because Menchi has yet to take on a student. I'll be supervising your training, as her master, this is something I must do. One of my final tasks… I feel fortunate to have someone like her as my last student," Linne says with a deep, sincere tone. There's a trace of sadness in her expression, though, one Alex doesn't quite understand.

Why does she seem so down? Alex wonders, studying her. I don't get it. She should be proud. I think I owe her at least some gratitude since it looks like she'll be training me too. Maybe I can find a way to cheer her up.

"Well, I guess 'Master' Linne… you look a bit depressed. I wonder why?" Alex says, pausing to think carefully about his next words. "I can't see your aura, or whatever you call it, but I can see something else. Pure life force. Not in the form of Aura, but in your spirit and demeanor."

He conjures Mustrano's Malice Mauler lvl 3 onto his left arm, the claw slowly coming into existence from his tattoo on his wrist. The fearsome black claw materializes, and Alex strikes and stabs the air a few times, demonstrating his sharp, fluid claw techniques.

"In fact, it's pure life force that gave birth to my abilities," Alex continues. "When I look at you, I don't see an old woman at all. I'm not used to judging things like this, but I can say with 100% conviction, so much so I'd stake my life, my abilities, and everything I own—that at least for the next four years, you'll be perfectly fine. You shouldn't let yourself feel this way. It's not worth living like that."

Linne stares at Alex and his claw, her sharp gaze softening with surprise. For a moment, she remains silent, then her expression brightens considerably. After a few seconds, she smiles.

"Perhaps you're right. There's still a lot for me to do. Thank you for trying to cheer me up," Linne says warmly.

"Hmph, looks like you can occasionally say something meaningful after all!" Menchi quips with a smirk.

"Now, enough talk," Menchi says, straightening her posture. "I said I would teach you the basics. For the next 10 days, you will be meditating and gradually opening your Aura nodes. Let me explain. Nen is simply the way living beings manipulate their life energy, what we call aura, to accomplish various things.

"Before we begin, you must slowly discover your own aura and open your aura nodes. Most people require months to achieve this. I believe you're talented, so perhaps you can do it in three or four weeks."

Shit, Alex thinks, his mind racing. I don't like where this is going. First, I don't have unlimited time. Second, who knows if I can even learn Aura the common way? Probably not… decisions, decisions.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to do it like that," Alex says carefully. "My master tried to teach me this kind of meditation for years, and I failed. Somehow, I activated my abilities without it. I've been told that once I'm ready, he would awaken me forcefully."

"Menchi, you can save us some time and forcefully awaken him," Linne says with a slight smile. "Normally, that's not the preferred method, but since he's already using Nen, it shouldn't be a problem. I also think his body and spirit are ready for it. Besides, I don't have unlimited time, and I want to see as much of the world as I can while I'm still able."

"Master… I haven't done that before. It's risky… you told me that yourself," Menchi replies, hesitating.

"My student… no, not just my student anymore. Now that you've finally become a Single-Star Hunter and reached this level of skill, you're not just my pupil—you're my fellow gourmet hunter. You can do it. I guarantee it," Linne says, her expression filled with pride.

"Okay!" Menchi responds, her hesitation replaced with determination. She turns to Alex. "Take off your armor. Quickly get changed—just regular clothes are fine. Then sit down on the ground and relax. After I open your aura nodes, you'll need to control them! Pay close attention to your aura. Take note of every detail, then focus on relaxing and stopping your aura from leaking out."

Alex follows her instructions. He quickly goes to his room, stashes his weapons and equipment into his inventory, and changes into training clothes. I can't learn Nen or can I? I don't have an empty skill slot, Alex thinks as he ties up his boots, but it should work anyway… at least temporarily. I can't wait to experience this.

Returning to the main room, Alex sits in the middle of the floor, closes his eyes, and focuses on relaxing. Suddenly, he feels Menchi's hand on his back. It's warm, surprisingly strong, too. Alex can tell her hands, essential for any skilled cook, are trained to the limit. They rival even Mustrano's claw in raw power.

Then it happens.

A surge of warmth flows into his body, and suddenly, Alex feels like he's exploding. Aura bursts out from every single node in his body, as if decades of blockages have finally been cleared. The sensation is overwhelming, yet exhilarating.

Alex stares at his hands, watching as a faint, luminous energy surrounds them. "So this is aura…" he says in awe.

But before he can fully process what he's seeing, a voice echoes in his mind. It's neither Menchi nor Linne.

[Player Alex Kerber ….]

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