During this month, Rimo did not interfere too much with their Nen development, aside from teaching them the advanced applications step by step, starting from Ten and Ren, then guiding them into Gyo, Shu, and Ko just as Wing had done with Gon and Killua in Heavens Arena.
Just like in the original timeline, after Rimo taught Uvogin the principle of Ko — concentrating all aura into a single point while shutting off defense elsewhere — Uvogin seemed to find a direction in life.
He began developing a super-destructive punch.
At present, it was still only a crude Ko strike.
A true "Big Bang Impact" that pours one's will and killing intent into a single overwhelming blow had not yet fully taken shape.
But even now, one could already see its shadow.
Every time Uvogin gathered aura into his fist, the floor beneath his feet cracked, and the air vibrated as if compressed by raw force.
As for Nobunaga, he chose a different path.
He planned to combine En and Shu with his swordsmanship, expanding his perception radius while coating his katana in aura.
However, En is far more difficult than Ko.
Maintaining a stable spherical field of aura outside the body requires both delicate control and tremendous stamina, something even experienced Hunters struggle with.
So far, Nobunaga had only managed to extend a small radius around himself, nowhere near the refined En he would one day use as a core Phantom Troupe member.
In fact, if we speak purely of Nen development, Machi was the most advanced among the three.
She not only completed Rimo's training assignments the fastest but was also the first to establish her own Hatsu.
It must be said that Machi possesses extraordinary talent in Manipulation.
Her aura manifested as threads — thin, resilient, and precise.
Combined with her natural intuition, almost like a sixth sense for danger and balance, she gained an enormous advantage in micro-control.
"Ouch! It hurts, hurts, hurts!!"
Uvogin was once again sitting in the living room, covered in stab wounds from sparring with Nobunaga.
Machi stood beside him, calmly stitching the wounds together with Nen threads.
At this stage, she had not yet reached the terrifying future level where she could perfectly reconnect blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and even bones at lightning speed.
Her technique was effective but far from painless.
In fact, Uvogin often felt more pain being stitched by Machi than when he was cut by Nobunaga's blade.
Ever since Rimo helped them open their aura nodes and properly enter the path of Nen, Uvogin and Nobunaga had fought almost daily.
One would end up slashed and bleeding.
The other would be battered and bruised from close-range brawling.
This had become routine.
And occasionally, one of them would deliberately aim for the other's eyes.
Sure enough, eye-gouging had somehow become a shared obsession.
The moment an opening appeared, neither hesitated.
Ironically, this constant cycle greatly accelerated their growth.
With Uvogin and Nobunaga serving as endlessly reusable test subjects, Machi's mastery over her Nen threads and medical application improved rapidly.
At the same time, because Machi was always there to treat them, Uvogin and Nobunaga could spar without reservation, pushing each other toward greater limits.
The three had formed a perfect cultivation loop.
In a single month, their growth would have crushed most so-called "geniuses" in the outside world.
But everything is relative.
If Machi and the others were still within the realm of "genius," then Rimo could already be described as something else entirely.
Leaving aside technique, if we speak purely of aura volume, and if measured using the standard comparison once mentioned by Knuckle's ability "Hakoware," Rimo's total aura would likely be around 100,000 units.
Compared to the Royal Guard member Menthuthuyoupi, whose aura was estimated at roughly 700,000, it might not seem overwhelming.
But according to statements made during the Chimera Ant arc, even Chairman Isaac Netero in his old age possessed around 300,000 aura.
That meant that in another two months or so, purely in terms of raw aura quantity, Rimo might approach the level of the world's strongest human.
Of course, Netero's true power did not lie in aura volume alone, but in technique, experience, and the terrifying speed of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Still, Rimo had not even engaged in specialized aura expansion training during this month.
His growth was entirely the result of passive increase fueled by endless vitality.
More importantly, Rimo did not truly "run out" of aura.
No matter how he expended it, his reserves would replenish almost instantly.
The only limitation was that his instantaneous burst could not exceed roughly 100,000 at once.
Volume was merely a number.
This month, Rimo devoted most of his effort to developing his spatial Nen.
And it had to be said, space abilities were incredibly difficult to refine.
Even with limitless vitality allowing repeated trial and error, and even with a faint spatial imprint embedded in his soul, he only managed to complete the prototype of his first technique.
It was not that he did not wish to rely on Conditions and Oaths immediately.
Rather, he discovered that restrictions must be built upon an existing ability.
Just as Kurapika first conjured his chains before imposing life-threatening limitations upon them.
His teacher Izunavi had once explained that one cannot create an "unbreakable" chain out of nothing.
But one can create a chain that becomes nearly unbreakable by attaching severe restrictions.
This proves that Conditions and Oaths are amplifiers.
Without a base ability, there is nothing to amplify.
Still, that was enough.
Even if Rimo's spatial Nen was currently immature and its offensive power modest, it did not matter.
The endless vitality in his body could finally serve a greater purpose.
If necessary, he would exchange lifespan for power.
"Uvogin. Nobunaga. Machi."
Uvogin and Nobunaga, who had been mid-fight, instantly stopped when they heard Rimo's voice.
His tone was far more serious than usual.
The three turned toward him simultaneously.
"Relax. It's a good thing."
Seeing the tension in the air, Rimo smiled slightly.
"I've made a breakthrough in Nen development. The next step may be dangerous, so I plan to go into seclusion for a while."
"Until I come out, don't let anyone disturb me."
From the original records, Rimo understood that forming a Condition and Oath required absolute resolve.
The harsher the condition, the greater the amplification.
But the exact danger level was unknown.
What he did know was that it was a double-edged sword.
If the oath were broken, Nen backlash could destroy the user.
He was not worried about death.
But if interruption during formulation caused his newly developed spatial Nen to collapse, that would be unacceptable.
So for safety, he entrusted them with guarding.
When they heard there might be danger, all three stiffened.
A trace of concern flickered in Machi's eyes.
Yet none of them tried to persuade him.
They were people who chased strength even at the edge of risk.
If they feared mere danger, how could they grow stronger?
"Don't worry. We won't let anyone in."
Rimo nodded, turned toward his room, and before closing the door, added softly:
"It won't be life-threatening."
He did not specify who he was reassuring.
But Machi understood.
A faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
Then her expression abruptly turned cold.
She glared at Uvogin and Nobunaga.
"From now on, if either of you makes a loud noise…"
"I'll twist your heads off."