"We don't have time to waste, Gon. Let's go quickly," Kite urged.
But Gon didn't move.
"Gon?" Kite asked, puzzled.
Instead, Gon stared in astonishment, pointing toward Hiroshi. "Kite, look at him—isn't he opening his Aura Nodes?"
"What?"
Kite immediately activated Gyo, focusing intently toward Hiroshi. Instantly, he froze, equally stunned.
Massive amounts of Nen swirled violently within Hiroshi's body, surging and clashing, expanding wildly—as if about to rip him apart from the inside.
This was precisely the phenomenon seen when someone opened their Aura Nodes!
Nen users had to open these nodes—naturally sealed within their bodies—to release and control Nen externally.
Yet, Hiroshi was currently gathering all his internal aura, preparing to smash through these innate restraints!
"Could a strong external threat have triggered his Nen awakening?" Kite muttered in disbelief.
Normally, ordinary people couldn't perceive their own Nen.
To awaken Nen, one either trained rigorously or experienced an intense external stimulus—these being the two main paths: gentle training or forced awakening.
"But it's a pity—we have no time to allow him to awaken properly," Kite said regretfully. He looked seriously at Gon. "There's no choice. Before he finishes opening those nodes, you'll have to interrupt him forcefully."
Gon hesitated briefly, then nodded firmly.
Opening Aura Nodes carried grave danger. If Nen was prematurely released without proper control, vital life energy could drain away, resulting in death.
It required absolute calm and ample time—two luxuries they didn't have.
Better to stop him now and risk injury than allow him to die from uncontrolled aura loss, Kite thought sadly.
Interrupting forcefully might injure Hiroshi, potentially stunting his future Nen potential. Yet, survival came first.
He clearly has incredible talent to awaken Nen under these conditions, Kite thought regretfully. But forcing him to stop will cripple his future potential.
He shook his head, disappointed at the wasted talent, but quickly pushed these thoughts aside—he had a deadly enemy approaching.
"Crazy Slots!"
Kite stretched out his hand, and a staff topped with a clown-like roulette wheel appeared. Numbers one to nine were visible, each representing different weapons—his conjuration-type Nen ability.
…
"Hey, big brother over there, please stop—" Gon approached Hiroshi cautiously, about to speak.
SWOOSH!
A vicious slash cut through the air. Gon instantly rolled away, narrowly dodging, as sharp claws gouged deeply into the ground where he'd stood.
"Gon!" Kite shouted urgently, swiftly shielding him.
"I'm okay, Kite," Gon replied calmly, though his eyes darkened. Blood seeped from thin cuts on the back of his neck. He'd dodged, yet the razor-sharp aura alone had cut him.
"You…" Kite glared coldly into the treetops.
Perched gracefully on a branch, a feline woman with flowing white curls swished her slender tail lazily. She smiled, licking her sharp fingertips.
"Oh, I couldn't let you interrupt such an entertaining sight."
Kite stiffened, recognizing her immediately.
"My name is Neferpitou," she purred. "What about you humans?"
Kite and Gon remained silent, warily watching her.
"Ah, your names don't matter anyway," she giggled lightly. Her eyes gleamed eagerly at Hiroshi. "He's the interesting one."
"Do all humans awaken this 'Nen' in such a fascinating way?" she mused playfully. "Let me help him, then."
Her grin widened dangerously, aura radiating fiercely, razor-edged, stabbing toward Hiroshi with chilling intent.
The surrounding air turned icy.
From afar, sensing her hostility, Hiroshi lifted his gaze calmly.
Neferpitou, huh…
He vividly recalled Hunter x Hunter's plotline. Kite's brutal death by Neferpitou's hands triggered Gon's dark transformation, ultimately resulting in Pitou's own demise.
As expected of one of the Chimera Ant King's Royal Guards—such intense killing intent from birth, Hiroshi chuckled internally. Though it's meaningless against me.
Under Gene-Lock conditions, mere murderous intent—even death itself—barely registered as a threat.
Ignoring her completely, Hiroshi concentrated intensely, guiding the volatile aura racing throughout his body.
Suddenly, the chaotic Nen surged upward, converging sharply near his head.
Found it—the exact location of the Aura Nodes.
With absolute clarity, Hiroshi decisively directed all his gathered aura upwards, striking forcefully at the seal atop his skull.
…
"No!" Kite shouted, face pale with alarm. He stared at Hiroshi, deep sorrow flashing through his eyes.
The worst scenario for awakening Nen was external interference. Neferpitou's malicious aura would only agitate Hiroshi's mental state, causing catastrophic aura fluctuations and inevitable failure.
"Stop it!" Gon shouted angrily at Neferpitou. "You're going to kill him!"
"So what?" Neferpitou smirked carelessly. "Isn't my aura helpful, pushing him to awaken faster?"
"You'll kill him!" Gon roared.
"If he dies, he dies," she shrugged cheerfully. "As long as I'm amused, who cares?"
Both Gon and Kite felt a chill down their spines. She clearly possessed no empathy, despite her human-like appearance.
She wasn't human, nor even truly intelligent life—just a cunning, ruthless beast.