"Let's confirm the Nen system first."
When it comes to the world of Hunter x Hunter, what Rimo looks forward to most is Nen, the life energy that every living being possesses and that only those who open their aura nodes can truly wield.
Rimo believes that anyone who has the opportunity to travel to this world would feel the same.
"Come out."
Rimo raised his hand, and on the desk appeared a clear glass of water, the same method used by Wing to teach Gon and Killua the Water Divination test in Heavens Arena.
After placing the glass on the desk, Rimo held it with both hands, steadying his breathing just as he had seen Nen users do when focusing their aura.
When his aura began to move, the thought followed immediately.
With the activation of Rimo's Ren, a faint twist slowly appeared in the center of the water.
Unlike Enhancement, which would increase the volume of the water, or Emission, which would change its color, the water did not overflow or shift hue.
Instead, the surface warped.
The amount of water in the cup began decreasing as the distortion intensified, as if something invisible were swallowing it from within.
If Rimo had retained the memory of the moment he crossed into this world, he would have suddenly realized that the distortion was identical to the spatial tear that had pulled him here.
Too bad he didn't.
"Is it really Specialization… just what does this distortion mean?"
Although Rimo had long suspected that his Nen belonged to the Specialist category, like Kurapika when his eyes turn scarlet, he still could not clearly define its property.
He stared at the twisting center of the water, unable for a moment to determine its nature.
"Absorption? Distortion? Or… space?"
Since he could not immediately classify it into the standard six Nen types described by Hisoka, Rimo decided to increase his aura output.
After all, what he lacked least was vitality.
"Boom!"
Rimo fully activated his Ren, shifting from basic Ten into sustained output, aura surging outward like the pressure Gon once released in Heavens Arena.
As he poured more aura into the glass, the distortion expanded.
The twist widened, swallowing the remaining water completely.
Then the glass itself began to bend inward.
Until finally, the entire cup was compressed into a tiny black point and vanished.
Looking at the empty desk, Rimo's expression gradually turned ecstatic.
"Hahahahahahaha! It's space!"
In any world, abilities involving space or time are considered high-tier powers.
As the last trace of the cup disappeared, Rimo felt an inexplicable familiarity.
Even without conscious memory of his transmigration, the sensation remained carved deep within his soul.
It was as if his spirit had been stained by spatial turbulence during the crossing, causing his Nen to awaken as a Specialist ability tied to distortion.
After confirming his Nen attribute, Rimo already had ideas for development.
Among the works he had read in his previous life, spatial abilities were hardly rare.
As for whether he could successfully develop them, Rimo was not worried.
Not because he believed himself to be a peerless genius like Gon Freecss.
But because this world has rules.
Namely — Nen Conditions and Oaths.
The very principle that allowed Kurapika to forge chains powerful enough to bind the Phantom Troupe.
If talent was insufficient, he could compensate with restrictions.
If development proved difficult, he could impose a lifespan cost similar to Kurapika's Emperor Time.
If every use consumed a portion of his life force, then with a clear conceptual framework, he did not believe failure was possible.
Still the same sentence.
Rimo might lack many things.
But vitality was not one of them.
"Alright… next is testing the new ability."
As the thought formed, his entire body became enveloped in aura.
After a ripple of distortion, Rimo transformed into Oss once more.
The same clothes.
The same severed arm.
The same oversized golden tooth in his mouth.
Everything was identical to the deceased Oss.
"A strange feeling…"
Rimo examined himself carefully.
Even the voice matched Oss perfectly.
Beyond appearance, he sensed something deeper.
Aside from memory, he possessed Oss's combat experience.
In his right hand, a dagger identical to Oss's materialized through Conjuration.
Rimo slashed twice through empty air.
Though he had never trained in dagger techniques, his movements were precise and fluid.
Spin.
Reverse grip.
Step-in thrust.
All executed seamlessly.
There was no doubt this was Oss's weapon proficiency, refined through years of battle.
"Unfortunately, Oss never awakened Nen. Otherwise I could test whether Nen abilities can also be copied."
After experimenting for a while, Rimo stopped.
If complete mimicry allowed him to inherit skills alongside appearance, then could future targets include Nen techniques?
It was a tempting thought.
With a shift of will, Rimo reverted to his original form.
He picked up the dagger again.
This time, the movements were clumsy.
Attempting to replicate the earlier flourishes, he promptly cut himself twice.
Though his regenerative vitality healed the wounds in less than a second, the pain remained very real.
Rimo frowned at the dagger.
He had expected this result, but still felt dissatisfied.
Truthfully, he did not enjoy taking on someone else's appearance.
Especially someone as unsightly and crippled as Oss.
"Let's call it Complete Mimicry for now."
Currently, the ability only allowed full replication during transformation.
But that did not mean it could not evolve.
Just as Conjuration techniques can develop from simple objects into complex constructs, Nen abilities deepen through refinement.
He had absorbed Oss's Undying trait without becoming a literal immortal sphere of flesh.
That proved integration was possible.
If Complete Mimicry could not be refined directly, then Partial Mimicry and pure Skill Mimicry could become new branches of development.
As for aura, Rimo had no concerns.
For someone brimming with vitality, his aura capacity increased naturally over time.
He only needed to focus on mastery.
Over the next month, Rimo and the others trained methodically.
It is worth mentioning that during Uvogin's rock-smashing practice, Rimo had forgotten to explain the technique of Shu, the application of Ten to weapons.
Unexpectedly, by the next morning, they had grasped the concept on their own.
After seeing Rimo rise, Nobunaga Hazama ran over excitedly, claiming he had discovered a new way to channel aura through his sword.
As expected of individuals who would one day become core members of the Phantom Troupe.
In raw talent, they might not rival Gon.
But their combat instincts were first-rate.
Their intuitive grasp of battle could rival even systematically trained professional Hunters.
In the harsh world of Nen, that kind of instinct was often the difference between life and death.