Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ At present, Soul Echo had only one ability: Mimicry.
One could call the detached shadow something close to a clone, but for now, its actual killing power was seriously lacking.
The only thing worth praising was the shadow’s range of movement.
Leaving strength aside, it could move freely across an area large enough to cover the entire temple without any issue.
If Kieran converted its absolute range into numbers, it was roughly a circle one hundred meters across.
That was only the effect at this early stage.
As his Hatsu grew stronger, that number would undoubtedly rise by a significant margin.
Aside from that, control precision was not exactly smooth and effortless, but there was no obvious lag either.
If he had not already tested as a Specialist, Kieran probably would have assumed he was an Emitter.
But that was also where the advantage of a Specialist lay.
When a Specialist’s ability took effect, it was not restrained by the Nen system in the same way.
An Enhancer, for example, had a very hard time developing and displaying Manipulator abilities.
A Conjurer was naturally poor at sending aura away from the body.
A Manipulator struggled to change the nature of aura.
That was the Nen system.
It was like saying every person had things they were good at and things they were bad at.
Focusing on what one was good at naturally produced twice the result for half the effort.
The reverse was also true.
Choosing something one was bad at on purpose wasted memory capacity little by little.
Specialists, however, did not necessarily have to face that problem.
Depending on the kind of ability that was born, it was entirely possible for a Specialist ability to carry the advantages of other Nen affinities as well.
Soul Echo was a perfect example.
The ability to mimic a shadow into a solid form carried traits of both Conjuration and Transmutation.
The fact that the shadow had a one-hundred-meter active diameter from the moment it was born carried the trait of Emission.
The lack of obvious resistance when controlling the shadow, along with its ability to execute commands easily, carried the trait of Manipulation.
Mimicry alone contained traits from four Nen affinities.
The problem was that for Specialists to bring those effects out clearly, they usually had to set harsh restrictions.
Kieran was now considering how to expand Soul Echo’s upper limits.
For instance, if he could give the shadow shared vision, that would allow him to exploit the advantage of its detached range much more effectively.
The choice in front of him was clear.
He needed to set a restriction.
‘Restrictions and vows…’ Kieran stared at his shadow and thought to himself, ‘Create rules, then swear inwardly to uphold them.
The harder the rule, the stronger the ability effect returned.
It is similar to equivalent exchange.’ ‘I want Soul Echo to gain shared vision.
In that case…’ ‘If it is sharing, then it should include the pain the shadow endures.
Even real damage inflicted on the shadow should be included.’ ‘Right…
that is how it should work.
It is reasonable, natural, and not something to doubt.’ Kieran raised a finger.
Under the light, his shadow immediately mimicked itself into a shadow figure the same size as him.
Looking at the shadow person before him, Kieran said softly, “Then let’s try it.
Give me shared vision, and let us see what level of restriction I have to uphold.” The moment he finished speaking, he raised a hand and gently placed his palm on top of the shadow figure’s head.
“First…
let us start with pain.” A soft Nen glow spilled from Kieran’s palm, flowing over the shadow figure like a thin stream.
Manipulating, altering, and applying the aura he released according to what his heart desired.
That was Hatsu.
It was also the foundation for developing Nen abilities.
Following the thought in his heart, Kieran used aura to impose a restriction on the shadow figure.
“That should do it.” A moment later, Kieran withdrew his hand, then swung the back of it at the shadow figure.
Smack.
The back of his hand struck the shadow figure’s face with a faint sound.
At the same time, the pain of being slapped across the face was transmitted to Kieran with absolute clarity.
“Ha.
Interesting.
Really interesting.” Kieran lightly touched his cheek, where a trace of pain still lingered, and found the experience exceptionally fascinating.
When the shadow was attacked, the main body had to receive the pain.
That was the restriction of shared pain.
If his pain tolerance was not strong enough, then once the shadow suffered a heavy attack, the sudden burst of pain might make Kieran lose consciousness on the spot as his body’s protective mechanisms kicked in.
After all, in terms of attack and defense, the separated shadow was naturally inferior to the main body.
The pain it endured when receiving an attack would logically be greater than what the main body would feel.
In other words, shared pain was a restriction that would bring Kieran considerable risk in battle.
Yet after personally experiencing the effect of shared pain, the first thing that came to his mind was not the danger the restriction would create during intense combat.
It was value.
“I will not have to worry about pain-tolerance training anymore.” Kieran smiled at the shadow figure standing in front of him.
He had no inclination toward self-abuse, but he very much recognized the role pain tolerance could play in a fight.
For example, a Manipulator needed concentration to maintain an ability and bring out its maximum effect.
If that Manipulator’s pain tolerance was lacking, then after being hit, the sudden violent pain might cause the ability to collapse, costing them the chance to counterattack.
To use a vivid and appropriate comparison: A man in a stable state could keep his ability hard, thick, and standing tall.
But if the specific part responsible for keeping that ability hard, thick, and standing tall took a heavy blow…
That was how important pain tolerance was in battle.
And the shadow figure’s shared-pain restriction could, in turn, let Kieran improve that tolerance without actually injuring himself.
An outstanding Nen user, while enjoying the multiplying effect brought by a vow, would also do everything possible to weaken the consequences and risks brought by the restriction, or even reverse the restriction to create benefits.
Kieran’s current thinking clearly matched the qualities of an outstanding Nen user.
After setting the restriction, what came next was confirming the result produced by the vow.
Kieran turned around directly, closed his eyes, and activated shared vision.
In an instant, the shadow figure’s perspective replaced the darkness before him.
Kieran saw his own back.
That was the power of restrictions and vows.
As long as the conditions were met, they could enhance and alter the effects of Nen over a short period.
“Very smooth.” Kieran opened his eyes and smiled.
To celebrate Soul Echo’s further improvement, he punched the shadow figure.
The pain from the blow immediately fed back into Kieran’s body.
His smile deepened.
This restriction…
It really was wonderful.
✦ ✦ ✦ Ready for more?
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS EmberHollow Thank you for reading.
I hope this chapter pulled you deeper into the story.
Stick around, because there’s still a lot waiting just ahead.