Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter! It belonged to Yoshihiro Togashi! That would be so awesome if it is!
The Hunters 17th Hunt
Hatsu Training X Second Nen Duel
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Sam occupied the old gymnasium the next day. It was already noon, she realized. Brett scheduled their sparring lessons on the afternoon. Before that, she's doing her En whole morning.
Panting, Sam's hands were on her knees for support. She wiped her forehead heavily coated with sweat. She took a deep, calming breath, before standing up and readied a stance.
"Let my aura out." She mumbled to herself as she activated her Ren. "-and make a shape of a sphere." Then applied ten to give a shape.
It took a while before it formed a shape of a sphere but it vanished too soon. She's been on it for weeks but she still can't make a good En.
Another fail.
"What's lacking? Why can't I do it right?" She paused and thought for a moment.
'If it was Gon and Killua, they could've done this perfectly in a short span of time.' She just realized she's having a bad thought.
Where did that come from? She sounded a bit bitter and insecure. It's like competing with her friends and seeing them as rivals.
She just shook her head. 'Instead of competing with them, I should compete with myself. I need to surpass my present self if I want to get stronger.'
"How is your En?" Brett's voice echoed inside the gymnasium.
Sam turned at the direction of the voice. He waltzed in at the entrance. Together with the sound of his footsteps, the girl heard a rolling of a small wheels heading towards where she's standing.
As Brett neared his student, he's pushing a serving trolley. On top were a wine glass and a glass pitcher filled with water.
"Oh, umm..." The girl scratched the back of her neck. "I'm still practicing it. But I'm confident I can do better now."
"That's good. Because I'm going to give you another lesson." He announced which felt like another heavy load dumped to her shoulders.
Sam was still on the middle of her En training and he'll add another to her lists? Considering the current situation, En training is harder than it would seem!
"Since you have all the necessary basics to control Nen, after refining it and add your own originality, you'll have your own Nen."
"My own Nen?" she parroted.
Brett hummed. "This is where Hatsu enters. Hatsu is the technique by which you control your Nen. It is the culmination of Nen and there are six distinct categories. There are Enhancers who are able to strengthen on objects. Emitters can propel their aura. Transmuters can alter their aura's qualities. Conjurers are able to manifest their auras. Manipulators can use their aura to control objects or creatures. And lastly, Specialists are those with special aura that doesn't fall within the other categories." Brett scratched his head when he remembered a minor problem. "Er... right. I can't show you the Nen Category chart. Well, just picture out a hexagon. Each corner of it is where the Nen categories are positioned. Enhancement would be at the top edge. If we base it from right to left, next to Enhancement is Transmutation. Followed by Conjuration and then the Specialization. Can you picture it out?"
Sam nodded. "That just means Specialist is at the bottom, directly opposite to Enhancer."
"Good. Next to Specialization are Manipulation and the sixth one would be Emission. Now, which is directly opposite to which?" Brett questioned.
"Manipulation is the opposite category of Transmutation. Same thing with Emission and Conjuration." She answered. These are the moments when having a retentive memory is useful.
The man clapped with amazement. "Good, good. Now, these categories are placed in the order of affinity. For example, if you're an Enhancer, your potential would be 100% efficient at using abilities based in that category alone. Categories beside Enhancement are Transmutation and Emission which have both the potential to be 80% efficient at using it since aura types are adjacent to your primary type. The farthest or opposite category has only 40% efficiency, and 60% efficient in the two remaining categories. But... in the case of Enhancers... the opposite part which is the Specialist is 0%."
"What?" That sounds difficult.
"Specialization is typically unusable for Non-Specialists because it is impossible to partially use; one either can or cannot use Specialist abilities. However, it is possible to turn into Specialist later in life, with Conjurers and Manipulators having the highest chance of succeeding. Why do you think?"
"Because they're both just next to it?" She reluctantly answered or guessed.
"Exactly! So Nen is linked to individual ability with two areas of particular prominence. The First would be your natural potential. The second would be potential refined later in life. The moment of birth, your Nen aura falls within one of 6 categories. While rare, it is possible for your Nen aura to later change types. If you attempt to learn an ability that does not fit your inclination, you will find it very difficult."
And she's having difficulty in understanding it all.
"But I can still learn some abilities on other categories right?" Sam asked.
Brett nodded his head. "Yes you can. Being a Manipulator means you'll learn Emission quickly. On the other hand, you'll have difficulty for transmutation which is your opposite category."
"Can you give me some examples about these Hatsu abilities? How could I distinguish them from one another?" It's getting confusing learning these Hatsu types. "Like for example Gido. He's using and somehow controlling the summo tops. Does that mean he's a manipulator? How about Kira?"
"To start- Gido is an Enhancer by nature. He uses the spinning tops and increased strength as weapons. But he's also using two other types of Hatsu. He infuses his aura to his tops to control them. Having a 60% efficiency in Manipulation and the tops are not complex objects themselves, it is impossible to command the tops to move with precision. Since he is able to maintain aura around the tops when he is no longer in contact with them, it seems that he is also an Emission user." He said, clearing some of Sam's confusion. "Kira belongs to manipulation. I think you already have the grasp of how her skill works."
The girl nodded. It'll be a lot easier for her to control the boomerang. Having emission next to her category, she can detach her aura away from her body. That would mean she's using emission.
Brett continued his lecture. "I already told you about Hisoka's ability to change the property of his Nen into rubber and gum. That's because he's a Transmuter. There are several Hunters who uses two or three nen types at the same time but as I've said a while ago If you attempt to learn an ability that does not fit your inclination, you will find it very difficult. Take Kastro as an example."
Kastro?
"Oh, the one Hisoka fought around April? What about him?"
"To tell you, Kastro was a prominent fighter. He's an Enhancer. But since Kastro creates a clone, he also has considerable skills in the Manipulation and Conjuration types. Furthermore, the intense training Kastro, as an Enhancer, undergo to create the ability caused him to neglect his natural Nen category, Enhancement, where his real strength lies."
"So it's safe to say it's bad to prioritize learning nen outside my category? Noted."
"I'm glad you're not as dumb as what you seemed."
Sam quirked an eyebrow. "Are you saying I look dumb?"
"Uh- what else would that mean?"
Damn him and his rude mouth.
"Is there any way to learn which category your aura falls into?" Sam questioned in a pissed tone.
"I'm glad you opened that up." He said in a chirpy voice, finally remembering the purpose of bringing the serving tray. He poured water into the wine glass. "Through water divination. You just place your hands around the glass and perform Ren. The result will determine your category. If the volume of the water changes, the user is an Enhancer. If the taste of the water changes, that means you're a Transmuter. If impurities appear in the water, you're a Conjurer. If the color of the water changes, you're an Emitter. If the leaf moves on the water's surface, the user is a Manipulator. If a completely different change appears, you're a specialist. Why don't you try?"
Sam neared the glass and placed her hands around it, then performed Ren. She heard a slight ripple of water.
"Ah, the leaf moved a bit."
"It did?" Disappointing. Oh well, she can't change what category she falls into.
"What's with that face? You don't like being a Manipulator?"
It's not that she doesn't like it… "I was really hoping to be an Enhancer. They seem powerful."
With her condition, the first thing that comes in her mind is to enhance her senses. Like those Cavefishes that live in a relatively pitch black environment making there sight nearly functionless. However, its sense of hearing is substantially sensitive as it can detect the slightest noise at 1 kHz or even lower.
Brett understood. "Most first timers think like that. But it really depends on the Nen user no matter what category he falls into. And it's not like you can do something about it."
"I guess you're right." Well, since they're talking about Nen categories might as well ask. "What category are you in?"
"Hmm? I'm an Enhancer." He answered.
Sam looked interested all of a sudden. "Really? Can you demonstrate your abilities? Can you? You can right?"
"No." Brett flatly refused.
The girl just huffed and crossed her arms. "Stingy. A little demonstration of Nen would have been fine."
"Why don't you do something with your Hatsu training first? You're still years early to witness my ability. I'll give you a month to train. Don't forget your En and of course you'll have a sparring with me. Why, you have a lot of things to do." He faked gasped.
Sam rolled her eyes and groaned. This will be the longest month in her life.
...
Sam was trying to balance her Hatsu training, En training and sparring lessons. Hatsu for morning, sparring for late afternoon, and En for evening because it's the most tiring of the three. Brett would just show up his face during Sparring lessons.
A week after, it was Killua and Gon's fight against Sadaso. And she was glad she heeded Killua's words about not going because Sadaso didn't show his face in the fight, letting the boys won by default.
What did that Killua do? He didn't kill him, did he? Well, it was that guy's fault for breaking a deal with an ex-assassin. Oops, Sadaso didn't know that.
So for their next fight, Sam would surely be there.
June 4. The day of Gon and Gido's rematch finally came. Sam went back to the tower and straight to the specific arena where their fight will be held. People looked at her bewildered appearance as she passed them but Sam ignores their obvious reactions.
Killua was sitting quietly on one of the benches, yawning. Teary eyed, when he's eyes landed on her, he yelped and almost scoots backwards.
"What happened to you?"
"Now that's just over reacting." Sam could not blame him though. With those trainings she wants to fill in, in a day? She knew her image looks crap.
Killua recovered from shock and proceeded to stare at her appearance in awe. She had those dark eyebags, hollow cheeks, almost lifeless like eyes, almost paper white skin, and those pale and cracked lips. "Woah... You look like someone who just came from the dead. You're hardly recognizable now. What kind of training did you do that made you look like that?" He asked.
"The training's are getting hectic. And I have been practicing the method to counter In, non stop." According to Brett, the boys haven't practiced Hatsu yet. She was advised not to tell them she was already on it. "I haven't been able to have a proper sleep for the past week..." She trailed off as she just cupped her face. Every day, she stayed up late trying to perfect her En, and then she'll wake up at 4 o'clock in the morning to start another day. That was her daily routine.
"This is the first time I've seen you worked up so much," Killua commented, still look astonished how a person could look so dead in a week.
Sam scoffed. "Puh-lease. I bet you're training as an assassin was much crazy than mine."
Killua just shrugged and handed her a chocolate bar. "It's supposedly my snack during the fight. Want some? You looked like you need one."
Sam's face scrunched up. "Eeew. I don't like chocolate."
"Well, that saves my chocolate. I was just offering. I never intended to give you some." He said nonchalantly.
'Then why offer it? Jerk.' He's too addicted. Should she sneak and burn those chocolates or tell the vendors here to stop selling him some?
Killua will probably kill her.
She just shook her head in disbelief. And together, they entered the arena and looked for seats.
This time Gon has mastered basic Nen techniques and he easily neutralizes Gido's summo tops by using his fishing rod to haul the tile he's standing on. Gon ended their fight by breaking his prosthetic leg.
After his duel, Gon was excited to meet with his friends after his victory against Gido. A triumphant smile was on his lips until he saw Sam's appearance.
That smile slowly faded. His mouth slightly apart as he stared at her. "Sam, are you alright? Maybe we can send you to the medics?" Gon asked worriedly.
"I felt the same as well. I even thought it was the girl from The Ring. The only difference is Sam's medium brown hair." Killua said.
The girl from 'The Ring'? Who the hell is that? She can't even relate. But she guessed it must be equated to her horrible state.
Sam sighed in exhaustion. "Is my appearance that bad?"
"It's that bad." The two agreed at the same time.
They halted when they heard a ringtone. The sound was just beside them. And there's only one person among them who owns a phone.
Killua took out his phone and answered it. "Hello? … Brett? … Yeah, she's with me." He suddenly offered the phone to her. "He needs to talk to you. It's important."
Sam accepted his phone. They already exchange contact info? "What is it? Can I have at least a full day rest without hearing your voice?"
Gon and Killua wondered at her sudden change in mood. She seemed to be a bit cranky to Brett lately.
"How could you speak to your master that way?" He said in the other line.
"Correction- You blackmailed me to be your student."
"Doesn't change the fact I'm still the one teaching you right now."
"Whatever Brett. I'll be obedient as a puppy during training sessions but since today is not so I can say whatever the hell I say to you. What the hell do you want? And why do you have Killua's number, huh?"
"Simple. You don't have a phone and Killua has one. How can I contact you during your day off?"
He had a point.
"I called to inform you about your next fight. Sched is on June 28. So if I were you, don't take this easily and train more."
A duel on June 28?
"Wait, how did you know about my fight schedule?"
She could hear him snort. He was being sarcastic.
"That should be obvious. I see it on your TV just now. You were so careless to leave your key at my sofa. It's like you gave me permission to enter you suite. Of course I grabbed the opportunity. It's not everyday you can get in in a luxurious room." He said without even the slightest shame coming from his voice.
"What the hell?! Even if I dropped the key doesn't mean I allow you to enter! You're trespassing!"
"Don't be stingy. You rarely even use it. Always unoccupied. And I like you're bathroom by the way. Oh, I used your bathtub and ordered champagne to really feel the deluxe atmosphere." He happily said. "You have three weeks before your fight and don't forget you'll have to show me your Hatsu on the 27th. Bye!"
And he ended the call just like that. Sam could only cuss a hundred times because of Brett. "Sorry, guys. I can't come with you for a few weeks. I really need to train more. And I have a fight this coming 28." She said as she handed back the phone to Killua.
"Well, it's fine if you can't come with us. It's an obvious win anyway." Killua said confidently.
Gon nodded. "We'll make sure we'll win. So just concentrate on your training. We'll be there on your fight to cheer on you."
Sam just rolled her eyes at their confidence. They better be.
Many days passed already. Gon and Killua were having consistent fights with those idiots. And they did actually win- according to Brett.
June 9- Killua gets another win after Gido forfeits.
June 10- Gon won once again.
June 11- before they started their sparring lessons, Brett told her that Wing already started teaching Hatsu on Gon, Killua and Zushi.
One week before her deadline with Hatsu, Sam used most of her time and aura in En training. She already improved in Hatsu.
Her opponent's name is Anu. She never knew this guy, not even to what extent his abilities are.
That's why she's been trying to catch up her En before 28. It's difficult to fight someone when you don't even know how and when he'll attack.
June 27- when it was finally the deadline for Hatsu, Sam performed her Ren and managed to move the leaf, madly spinning in the water. "That was an excellent spin! Now, why don't you go back to your own room for now, take a bath, eat and rest."
"But I have a fight tomorrow with this Anu guy. Shouldn't I prepare myself?"
"Rest is a need too. And ladies should be more conscious of how they look. Just look at you." Brett studied her appearance. "You look like someone tortured to slavery."
Sam looked at him in disbelief. Was he serious? He just noticed now? Did he fail to know it was his fault to begin with? "Who gives a damn about beauty right now? I have an upcoming fight!" Sam grumpily said.
The adult clicked his tongue and wiggle a finger at her. "Rest or I won't give you a box of chocolate."
"That's fine with me. I'm not particularly fond of chocolates." She just replied uncaringly.
"Really? Okay, let me rephrase my sentence. Rest or I'll let you eat a box of chocolate."
Sam snorted. "You can't convince me."
"Oh honey, I could just shove it down your throat. And every time you puke I'll add more." He said it in a playful manner but it was clearly a threat.
She's been with Brett for months, and she witnessed how serious he was in his threats despite he looks like he was just joking.
Before Brett might actually do his threats for real, Sam gradually followed his instructions and walked outside the old gymnasium.
She just shook her head and went back to her room in the tower to rest. Rest sounds like a good idea. It was actually tempting. Now that she thought about it, she never had a longer a proper sleep. She has to replenish her energy anyway, for the sake of tomorrow's fight.
Sam wondered who this Anu is.
...
As usual, the arena is bustling with crowds expecting her fight against this Anu. Or they were most probably expecting his fight.
Whatever.
"Samara versus Anu! Another match we've been waiting! Let's not delay this any further! Samara, Anu, Come forth!"
The cheers got louder that the entire arena is practically in an uproar. There were drum beats? Or were those plastic bottles? Anyways, those were effective in raising the spirit. To her surprise, Samara was being fueled with all the support that she receives.
Sam and that Anu appeared and walked to the middle.
Her opponent stood in her front. He wears a black leather jacket with maroon outlines and a white tank top underneath, red denim pants. He wears a mask of black and red trimmed that covers his face except his mouth and chin.
Sam is prepared to spend a lot of time just defending herself from his onslaught. She just recently knew he entered Heaven's Arena two months ago and has been to 200's level over a month. She should ready herself for the worst. One bad miscalculation and he could send her a lot worse than Gon.
Anu made his first move; one moment he's over there and then next he's already near her. He's fast! He started spin kicks and backhand strikes and she was able to just duck under. Sam wasn't able to get any points on him either because he was good at covering himself but also he was stronger so all her waiting to tire him down would not work.
The man rapidly squatted and swept out his feet low beneath Sam. That move had caused her to lose balance, forcing her to the ground, but Sam managed to stop herself from falling and twisted her body to get away.
But that was his plan all along. He attacked with a fury that caught her by surprise. She was in a total defensive state. She had no time to attack. Just then the whole world turned bright black! And then her mind exploded.
What happened caught her off guard by swiftly tapping her face with whole of his appendages, enough to make her flinch and lose her focus to not notice his next move.
He jabbed her at her lower back, where the kidney is located, near the spinal cord and just under her rib cage. Sam gasped as a wave of shock and pain hit her. She managed to back up a bit but dropped on her knees as soon as she made a good distance from him.
Sam screwed her eyes and smirked menacingly as she could.
Sam stood up. Lucky her, she activated her Ren. It would have caused more damage. "Care to explain what this is all about, Brett?"
Her opponent laughed, owned by the very person who trained her for the past months. He removed his mask and played with it. "That was quick. I was sure I drenched myself with a different cologne. What gave away?"
"You're fighting style. You have been my sparring partner for months. And I know you're good at hitting someone where you could inflict more damage." Sam told him. Realization slowly solving the puzzle. Sam breathed out in astonishment.
Brett gave a slow clap. "Bravo Sam. First rule in a fight: observe and know your enemy. Don't worry. This is just some sort of an evaluation. I don't plan on using even half of my aura on you. So come at me and prove yourself, Samara."
She still had questions to ask but they're still in the middle of the fight. Samara didn't think twice and dove forward, making sure her senses are in high alert.
With a swift move, Brett blocked her punch with his hand. Brett moved much faster than she would've imagined. He was like a swift blur. Heck, she didn't even realize he moved. They had practice sparring before but it didn't hide the fact that it will always give her a startle, but next she would try to make up for it by regaining her composure quickly. That's what he taught her.
"Is that seriously the best you can do? We've been on this for months, Samara."
"Oh shut it." Sam wheezed.
"You keep on disappointing me then," He told her.
"Then you shouldn't have dueled me at the first place, idiot." She spat at him before withdrawing. The girl then made a quick barrage of attacking. Brett blocked all of them effortlessly as if he was only fighting a toddler, as always. It frustrated Sam to no end.
With a fast hit, he struck his elbow landed strongly against Sam's defense. Samara had been pushed back by the strength behind Brett's stroke, but she had managed to plant her feet to the ground and prevent herself from falling over. "You're barely holding on you own!"
Samara's frown deepened, feeling her mood worsening. "I told you I'm trying! You can't expect me to be powerful in days, weeks, months, or whenever!" Her hands now started to hurt. They're swelling already.
"That's why you have to stick to your brain to level up!" He intensified his Nen. "Allow me to present my ability to you. I call it Point-Striking. But as I've said, I won't bother giving my all. We don't want to paralyze your body for a day or more right?"
Sam stifled a laugh. "Point Striking? That's so lame. A bit of effort in naming your ability next time?" She mocked even though hearing him talk about paralyzing her body is worrisome.
Brett sheepishly chuckled. "Yeah, well… Sis said that too." He said before commencing attack.
Instead of worrying, she decided to brace herself for whatever was coming. Her opponent appeared in front of her. Sam readied a stance for defense and their arms collide.
Sam clenched her jaw from the sudden pain that shot out from her hand. He managed to hit but she planted her feet on the ground to avoid being drawn back by force.
Grunting, she threw Brett back with all her might. The challenger skidded a few steps from her. But it didn't stop him completely. He moved with the same speed as before and started attacking relentlessly. Sam tried to block each and every one of his attacks but she still received a jab on her shoulder. "You know fully well listening and smelling me out won't work this time Samara. It won't be fast enough!"
'I know that!'
"SAMARA!" A voice screamed. "YOU CAN DO IT!"
She recognize that voice- it was Gon. Zushi copied him as well. They actually lifted up her spirit.
Sam readied her stance. "I'm not done yet."
This is now or never. Despite the pain, she took huge calming breath and held her ground. She closed her eyes and went into deep concentration. She let her Ren outburst... 'Then give your aura a shape'. She repeatedly chanted until she could slowly feel an aura encompassing her.
An aura shaped of a perfect sphere.
"Good!" Brett commended then jumped to give a strike. But this time, Samara can perceive Brett's movements as soon as he entered her zone. Brett made a quick swing from below but was easily warded off by the girl. He tried to move in once again to get back the upper hand, but Sam managed to stop and destroy the pace.
"You're learning." Brett started assaulting Samara in his best fighting range. The girl felt herself getting pushed back. His speed and the force he exerted was still a hindrance but thanks to her En, she'll know when and where to block.
Brett shifted in his steps and shot forward without warning. The crowd gasped at the speed he displayed, which in turn made Sam even more cautious.
Her opponent appeared in front of her in a flash and their arms collided with unbelievable intensity. Sam clenched her jaw from the sudden pain that shot out from her muscles but planted her feet to the ground to avoid being driven back by the force.
Just as she was in the middle of doing her best, her En disappeared. Tiredness came into her that she could feel her aura draining as fast as the fire could burn a thread.
Brett took this opportunity and gave her a direct hit to her solar plexus, sending her away and her back slamming the wall. That last attack made a critical hit.
"Anu won!"
Cheers erupted from the seats. It was all muffled noise to Sam. Shots of pain erupted from every corner of her body especially the last one. Sam struggled to stand up and breathed in as large as she could, despite breathing alone sent so much pain in her chest area.
Slowly she went back inside to where she came out. When out of so many audience, Samara collapsed on the floor, she groaned.
"That was amazing Samara. You finally did En." Brett's voice amplified inside the tunnel that connects to Sam's waiting room.
Shouldn't he be on the other side?
"Y-Yeah s-sure... not until you almost made me look like a dehydrated vegetable. Damn it... Of course I can't win against you."
He made an audible sigh. "Here's a quote from me Samara. Yes, you could gain something if you win." Brett smiled as he squatted down to be on the same level as her. "You lose something, but sometimes even bigger replace it."
Sam stared, his words making way into her own reasoning. He talks as if his words were meant for so much more. Was it just the fight they had seconds ago or it meant another? Because the moment he said those words, memories flashed back to her like a movie. The day that everything in her life succumbed to complete darkness.
"Sam, run!"
"I have to find him."
"I knew you'll come back."
"Where do you think you're going? There won't be second escape this time."
No it didn't. She lost big part of her life. But nothing was able to replace it.
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End of Seventeenth Hunt
Hope you guys liked this chapter. Please review.