Chapter 30: This Constraint is Really Great!

TL/N: So, some news. First, the other two guys have formally quit this project.

So yeah, it's just me now.

But, other than that, the reason that I've been gone these past few days is because I've started translating a Korean novel.

Yes, I'm about to plug, deal with it.

It's called "The Third Son of the Pentanium Sword Emperor" and it's being posted on Novel Updates.

Synopsis is basically: dude who fights as the head of a collateral family all his life, dies, and regresses into the body of the trash son of the main family line.

Check it out if you're interested!

Also, I'll be posting 3 chapters of this fanfic today to make up for the missed days.

---

"Soul Echo" currently had only one ability, "Mimicry".

　　Although it could be considered a power similar to "cloning," its current "lethal power" was really lacking.

　　The only thing worthy of praise was the range of movement of the shadow.

　　Leaving aside the "strength" of the shadow, even if it covered the entire temple, the range was still no problem at all..

　　Converting the final limit into a numerical value, its range was a "circle" that had a diameter of 100 meters.

　　And this was only the initial stage of the ability, as Mo Yu's nen capacity increased, this value was bound to be significantly improved.

　　Apart from that, in terms of manipulation accuracy, it couldn't be said to be smooth and easy, but there was no obvious sense of obstruction.

　　If he hadn't already used water divination and found out that he was a specialist…

　　Mo Yu would probably have thought that he was an emitter.

　　However, this was also an advantage that a "Specialization" type nen user had, which allowed the user to exert their ability without being restricted by the "Nen System".

　　For example, it was very difficult for an enhancer to develop and perform an ability that manipulators used. As another example, conjurers were not naturally adept at separating "aura" from their bodies and manipulators had a hard time changing the nature of their "aura", something that enhancers could do easily.

　　This was the Nen Power System…

　　Everyone had things that they were good at and things they were not good at.

　　If you specialize in what you were good at, you would get twice as much success.

　　On the other hand,

　　If you deliberately choose something you were not good at, you would waste your nen little by little.

　　However, specialists did not need to face this problem.

　　Depending on the type of abilities they were born with, it was not impossible for them to take all the advantages of other nen aura types.

　　Let us take "Soul Echo" as an example.

　　The ability to mimic a shadow and turn it into a solid body combined the characteristics of both conjurers and the transmuters.

　　The shadow could also have a range of 100 meters in diameter with its inception point as the center of the circle, which was a characteristic of an emitter.

　　There was no obvious sense of obstruction when manipulating the shadow, and instructions could be easily carried out, which was the characteristic of a manipulator.

　　Just Mo Yu's "Mimicry" ability alone contained parts of four nen aura types.

　　But here was the problem -

　　To highlight the effects of these abilities, specialization type nen abilities usually required the establishment of various harsh constraints.

　　Currently, Mo Yu was considering expanding the upper limit of his "Soul Echo" ability, such as enabling the shadow of "Soul Echoe" to have the ability of "Shared Vision". This way, he could more effectively utilize the advantage of the shadow's off-body activity range.

　　The choice before him then was to set up a constraint.

　　"A Constraint and Vow..."

　　Mo Yu gazed at his shadow and murmured to himself, "To establish rules and swear to abide by them, the more difficult the rules, the more powerful the feedback of the ability, it can be understood as a principle similar to 'equivalent exchange'."

　　"If I want "Soul Echo" to gain the ability of "Vision Sharing", then..."

　　"Since it is "shared", it is logical that it should also include the "pain" that the shadow suffers, and even the "substantial damage" that is inflicted on the shadow."

　　"That's right... this is a logical phenomenon, logical and not to be doubted."

　　Mo Yu raised his finger.

　　The shadow reflected in the light instantly anthropomorphized into a shadow man of equal size with him.

　　Mo Yu looked at the shadow person in front of him and whispered, "Then let's give it a try. Give me the ability of 'shared vision,' and I will uphold my level of constraints."

　　As soon as those words left his mouth, Mo Yu raised his palm and lightly caressed the top of the Shadow Man's head.

　　"First of all... let's start with "pain"."

　　A soft, numinous luster overflowed from Mo Yu's palm, like a trickling stream, flowing over the shadow man.

　　To comply with one's own thoughts, manipulate, transform, and utilize the released nen.

　　This was "Hatsu".

It was also his basis for developing the power of his mind.

　　Moyo followed his heart's desire and used his nen to impose constraints on the Shadow Man.

　　"That should do it."

　　After a moment, Mo Yu withdrew his hand and then swung his backhand towards the Shadow Man.

　　Snap!

　　The back of his palm struck the Shadow Man's face with a slight sound.

　　At the same time.

　　The pain of being slapped was indeed transmitted to Moyo.

　　"Ha, interesting, really interesting."

　　Mo Yu gently touched his cheek that still had some pain left on it, and only felt that this experience was extraordinarily interesting.

　　When the shadow was attacked, his body would receive the pain.

　　This was the constraint of "shared pain".

　　If his pain tolerance was not strong enough, once the shadow was violently attacked, the intense pain that erupted in an instant could cause Mo Yu to lose consciousness on the spot due to triggering the body's protective mechanism when complying with the rules.

　　Also-

　　The shadow separated from the body was naturally inferior to the original body in terms of both attack and defense.

　　So, the pain that one would endure when receiving attacks would be higher than the pain that the original body could experience.

　　It could be said that this constraint of sharing pain would be a great risk to Mo Yu in battle.

　　But after experiencing the effect of "Shared Pain", Mo Yu's first thought was not the risk of this constraint in a fierce battle, but… the value of using it!

　　The value of utilization!

　　'From now on, I don't need to worry about building up my pain tolerance!'

　　Mo Yu smiled at the shadow man standing in front of him.

　　He did not have masochist tendencies, but he agreed with those people's views of the role that "pain tolerance" could play in a battle.

　　For example, a manipulator needed to concentrate to maintain and maximize their ability's effect.

　　If the pain tolerance of the operator was not enough, when attacked, it was very likely that the sudden and intense pain would cause the ability to collapse, thus forgoing their possibility of a counterattack.

　　To use an appropriate and graphic analogy.

　　A man who goes to use his ability in a stable condition could make it hard, thick, and firm, but if the part that made it hard, thick, and firm received a heavy blow...

　　Well, this was the importance of "pain tolerance" in combat.

　　The "shared pain" constraint of the shadow, on the other hand, allowed Mo Yu to improve his pain tolerance without having to get hurt.

　　An excellent nen user, while enjoying the benefits of the "vow", would also try to weaken the possible consequences and risks of the "restriction" as much as possible, and even use the "restriction" to create profits.

　　Mo Yu's current mindset clearly aligned with the qualities of an excellent nen user.

　　After setting up the "constraint", it was time to accept the results of the "oath".

　　Mo Yu directly turned around, then closed his eyes and opened the "Vision Sharing" ability effect.

　　In a flash-

　　His Shadow's perspective replaced the darkness in front of him.

　　Mo Yu saw his own back.

　　This was the effect of the "Constraint and Oath" he had taken. As long as the conditions were met, the ability effect of his nen could be enhanced and transformed in a short period of time.

　　"It went well."

　　Mo Yu opened his eyes and revealed a smile.

　　To celebrate his further enhancement of the "Soul Echo" ability, Mo Yu punched the shadow.

　　The pain from the punch was instantly fed back to Mo Yu.

　　The smile on Mo Yu's face intensified.

(TL/N: Oh no… Please no…)

　　This constraint… Ahhh…! It really was great!