Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ The nameless murderer had died at Kieran’s hands, and the crisis was resolved.
Yet Monica felt no joy at having survived.
She could only curl up as if walking on thin ice, no longer daring to look at Kieran even once.
How exactly had that killer died?
Terrified to the point of losing the ability to think, she had not witnessed Kieran kill the man.
She had only heard the sound of throat bones snapping and the heavy thud of something hitting the ground.
Then, when she looked toward the sound, the man had already become a corpse.
After that, she saw Kieran’s smile.
Already on the verge of collapse, Monica instantly realized something.
The boy before her, beautiful to an almost unfair degree, might be even more of a monster than that murderer had been.
Kieran did not care what Monica was thinking.
He slowly put away his smile, then sat cross-legged beside the corpse.
“Let’s review that one last time.” With his arms crossed, Kieran tilted his head slightly and looked at the dead man’s face, whose eyes had not closed.
Then he shut his own eyes and recalled the battle that had lasted less than a minute.
Setting aside skill with Nen, the opponent had been extremely cunning.
First, the man pretended not to notice Kieran hiding.
Then he took the initiative to talk to Monica.
Finally, halfway through speaking, he suddenly burst forward to attack, seizing the initiative.
Although the fact that another Nen user was present was information both sides understood, that man, who took pleasure in killing, had not been willing to miss even the smallest chance to disguise his intent and gain the first move.
“I had already prepared for the possibility that my position would be discovered.
But my initial assumption did not include the extra step of talking to the bait first.
I had considered that he might use the bait to launch the first attack, like throwing her directly at me.” “He did not do that.
Instead, he used a sentence cut off halfway as his attack timing.
I cannot say it was ineffective, but I was already on guard.” “After that, I used my age as an advantage and deliberately showed panic, but it barely worked at all.
The weapon I hid in advance was also noticed immediately.” “He was sharp.
Cautious, too.” “But the trap plan I laid in advance also accounted for those worst-case outcomes, so the overall sequence did not change.” “My only advantage was that he did not know about my shadow trump card.
Only by using that information gap could I end the battle at the lowest cost.” “If there was anything I did not expect, it was that he would sacrifice one palm to gain a chance to control me.
He clearly had the advantage in aura output, yet he still chose such a ruthless method to speed up the fight.” “Because of that, I did not need to put on what might have looked like a clumsy performance to him.
Naturally, there was no risk of him seeing through my intent.” “So his decision actually helped me use the information gap around my shadow trump card to end the fight faster and with less effort.” “If we had fought head-on, the gap in aura output and physical ability would have meant I could only keep getting suppressed.” “Maybe Soul Echo could have won back some advantage, but I could not rule out the possibility that he had a Nen ability of his own.” “Overall, his aura, basic Nen techniques, physical condition, strength, explosive power, and everything else were far above mine…” “And yet I won easily.” “As expected, using information gaps and strategy to make up for a raw disadvantage, then defeating the strong while weak, may be the most interesting part of Nen combat.” “The joy and satisfaction I felt from it were not only because it was interesting.
It was also because defeating someone stronger while weaker is satisfying in itself.” Kieran opened his eyes and looked at the man’s face.
He smiled.
“You let me experience all of that directly.
Although our actual clash lasted only about ten seconds, I am certain those ten seconds will become the most important nourishment for the direction of my future Nen ability.” At that point, Kieran slowly stood and brushed the dust from his pants.
“Nameless killer, thank you for crossing paths with me.” He withdrew his gaze from the corpse.
Winning this battle and reviewing it afterward had not only helped Kieran understand what he wanted, but also given him a clearer understanding of the variables that existed in Nen combat.
He had just awakened Nen and already defeated a dangerous opponent.
Kieran did not become arrogant.
He knew that above the four major basic techniques of Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu, there were more advanced applications.
Shu, which wrapped aura around a weapon or object to increase its strength and attack power.
In, which hid the presence of aura in order to create surprise.
Gyo, which concentrated aura in one place to improve offense and defense and could also see through In.
En, which expanded aura outward with oneself as the center, allowing one to sense everything within its range.
Ken, which enveloped the whole body with the maximum amount of manifested aura to achieve the highest defensive and offensive strength.
Ryu, which rapidly shifted the flow of aura during fast-paced offense and defense.
Ko, which gathered all released aura into one point.
The existence of these advanced applications made Nen combat far more complex and variable.
Kieran was well aware that he was still only a rookie.
To better handle the battles he might encounter in the future, he would do everything he could to keep improving his understanding of Nen.
The temple returned to silence.
Kieran stepped over the corpse and came to Monica.
“Monica, it is over.” As he spoke, he looked over her injuries.
Her clothes were torn in many places and stained with blood.
The exposed skin on her body had been cut open by branches in many places.
If there had only been a few wounds, leaving them alone would not have mattered.
But with this many, they needed treatment.
“Hm?” After checking Monica’s condition, Kieran noticed that she was still curled into a ball, trembling visibly.
“Scared senseless?
Understandable, I suppose.
That guy filled his aura field with killing intent.
If an ordinary person got too close, it would not be strange for them to be frightened to death.” Kieran murmured to himself.
He still did not know that he was the one who had scared Monica.
“Can you hear me?
It is over now, Monica.” Kieran casually patted Monica’s shoulder.
The force of the pat was obviously light, and he had deliberately avoided her wounds.
Yet Monica reacted as if she had been shocked by electricity.
Her entire body first went stiff.
Then her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
“?” Kieran looked at Monica, who had fainted so cleanly, in confusion.
✦ ✦ ✦ 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.