A cooperative Nen ability is exactly what it sounds like: multiple Nen users working together to create a single technique.
The manga had two clear examples.
First, the "Bomber."
"Bomber" was the shared nickname of three Nen users. It was also the keyword for their special bombs: "A Breath of Archangel" and "Countdown." The three handled Conjuration, Emission, and Manipulation respectively. Genthru, the guy with glasses among the three main players, was the Conjurer. No surprise he lost in close combat to an Enhancer like Gon, who didn't hesitate to blow off his own hand to land a finishing move.
The second example was, of course, Greed Island itself.
Greed Island was an island. But the entire game called "Greed Island" covering that island was the "Nen ability" developed by Ging Freecss and ten friends. There was every reason to suspect the eleven people involved in development covered all six Nen categories: Enhancement, Transmutation, Conjuration, Specialization, Manipulation, Emission.
"If this 'dream' ability is cooperative, then the person behind it may not be the Sky Master. Or at least not just him."
After ending the call with Bisky, Liam spoke thoughtfully.
Thinking about Greed Island made him think about the mountain he was standing on right now. Sensui Mountain.
Could it be the same situation?
Ging and his crew built Greed Island. Netero and his crew built... this mountain?
"If it's Netero, there's a decent chance he'd pull off something this eccentric."
Liam was well-informed (he'd consumed plenty of entertainment media in his previous life). He knew full well that old people like Netero—invincible when young, invincible their entire lives—got bored out of their minds in their later years. Nothing they did would surprise him. As long as it entertained them, even going out to beg for food could be treated as a game.
Wing didn't know what Liam was thinking. Before hanging up, his master had given him advice: "If the peach petal mark is still there after you go down the mountain, I'll find someone to help you with Nen exorcism." As for what would happen on the mountain during this period... Wing was no longer a child. He'd already left the dojo. He'd have to act according to the situation.
"Well, see you tomorrow." Liam said goodbye to Shizuku. Before leaving, he pointed at the black skeleton drawing on the coffee table. "For the next few days, I suggest installing a surveillance camera in your room."
Video could capture Nen.
In the manga, Wing had used footage of Hisoka's match to teach Killua how to use Gyo to observe Hisoka's Nen ability, "Bungee Gum."
Hart said in distress, "Even if it's recorded, Senior Brother and I might not be able to see it."
Just like they couldn't see the peach petal marks on each other's heads.
If the black skeleton really appeared again, Hart worried that he and his senior brother wouldn't be able to see each other.
It wasn't until John Smith and the two left that Hart suddenly realized—yes, even if Senior Brother and I can't see it, we can ask them to help us watch the recording.
"This is why, when facing complex situations, it's best to have multiple Nen users form a team." Wing taught earnestly. "For example, if there's a Manipulator on your team, you can avoid many irreversible situations in advance. That way the enemy won't have you in checkmate from the start."
Back in the room, Liam heard the door click shut behind him. Then silence.
He looked back. Shizuku was staring at him thoughtfully.
"I was thinking," Shizuku said. "What that person on the phone said about Nen exorcism."
She looked at Liam. Her eyes slowly dropped to his chest.
"Your heart problem could also be solved by exorcism, right?"
"Maybe." Liam flopped onto the sofa. "But that's a last resort. Look, haven't I been pretty good these past few months?"
Shizuku walked toward him. "That's just because no one died around you during this time."
Liam patted her hand and smiled. "Don't worry. I value my life way more than you do. Have I told you my ultimate goal is immortality?"
Shizuku asked curiously, "So Liam wants to explore the Dark Continent?"
"Because you also said the Dark Continent itself is the most dangerous place. Full of unpredictable disasters."
Seeking immortality out of love for life while exploring the most disastrous place where you could easily die seemed contradictory.
"High risk, high reward. And before that, we need to make enough money first!"
"Live to twenty-eight?" Shizuku asked curiously.
"You still remember!" Liam grinned.
This was what he'd confessed to Shizuku once. If his body overgrew to about twenty-eight years old and his heart and life problems still plagued him, he'd do everything in his power to fix it.
And at that time, the last resort he expected when "all else failed" was, of course, Alluka Zoldyck. The humanoid wish-granting machine of the assassin family.
The cursed thoughts of "Corrupted Gon" could be completely wiped away by Alluka with a wave of her hand, allowing the dying Gon to regain his life.
Wouldn't it be simple for the all-powerful Alluka to solve this little heart problem?
Of course, the premise was that he could "recruit" Alluka when the time came.
And the best way to "make a wish" to Alluka was, naturally, through Killua.
And the best way to get through to Killua was Gon.
There were still less than four years before the official start of the manga's plot. He had a first-mover advantage. He could accumulate strength. How hard could it be to establish friendship with Gon and Killua? Or if there was no other way, he could take advantage of the two kids' simple personalities. Regardless of the method, as long as Alluka was still there, there was always a way.
Isn't Gon looking for his father?
When the time came, he could remove the needle from Killua's forehead. Then Killua himself would remember there was an omnipotent "Wishmaker" at home. Could Killua resist helping his best friend?
Alluka's existence was also why, despite his heart problem, Liam wasn't too worried.
Thinking about it from another perspective—if four years from now he could neither solve his heart problem nor get Killua to make a wish to Alluka, he'd failed too much. A Nen user who failed that badly? How could he possibly solve his heart problem anyway? Might as well accept fate.
Liam took off Shizuku's glasses and looked into her lavender eyes. "I'm worried that if I remove death-related Nen from my heart, my body might also change instantly. Back to its original, more childish state. That would be..." He paused. Shook his head repeatedly. "That would be bad. Very bad."
Shizuku wondered, "Why would it be bad?"
If that happened, the "lifespan" Liam lost due to his body's accelerated aging could be recovered.
"I think it would be better if I looked about the same age as you."
Shizuku lowered her eyes. Then raised them again with a flicker. She said calmly, "Let's look for Nitolomi together."
Liam couldn't help reaching out to squeeze her cheek. He smiled. "We were going to look for it together, Doraemon."
Shizuku curled up on the sofa and hugged Liam. She thought about how she could use Blinky to collect all the Nitolomi they found.
She suddenly had a feeling. Maybe her ability existed just for this day. For Liam's dream.
The next morning.
The doorbell rang. Liam and Shizuku opened their eyes at the same time.
Jaku sleeping in the ceiling lamp started moving on its own. It watched with metaphorical question marks as it flew uncontrollably toward the door.
The bird's beak nimbly pecked at the intercom phone. Through Jaku's eyes, Liam discovered the person outside was a waiter.
In the bedroom, Shizuku—resting on Liam's arm—could clearly feel the muscles in his arm tighten. She couldn't help turning her head to look at him in confusion.
From Jaku's first-person perspective, Liam saw on the intercom screen that the waiter outside had the head of a gray-scaled snake!
He blinked. Stood up. Walked out of the bedroom barefoot.
With his current physique, even if his arm were pressed by metal of the same volume all night—never mind being pressed by an ordinary human head—he wouldn't feel anything wrong.
If Liam wanted to, he could maintain Ten twenty-four hours a day.
He opened the door.
The waiter outside said politely, "Mr. John Smith, please come to the lobby on the first floor at eight o'clock this morning. The first session of the Sensui Mountain Conference is about to begin."
When he noticed Liam sizing him up, the waiter just smiled slightly. Showed no abnormality. Seeing that John Smith didn't explain anything, he reminded again, "Please tell Miss Shizuku," then politely stepped away and left.
With a flutter, the little gray bird hopped onto Liam's shoulder. Its claws gripped the strong muscles like iron hooks.
"Something wrong with my eyes, or am I hallucinating this early?"
Liam caught the little gray bird and stroked it while walking back. He saw Shizuku emerging from the bedroom with messy hair.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Liam said, "Get dressed and have breakfast. The conference starts in an hour."
"Okay." Shizuku padded back to the bedroom barefoot.
They had a simple breakfast together. At 7:50, Liam and Shizuku came to the lobby on the first floor. They met Wing and Hart along the way.
Hart's face didn't look good. Dark circles under his eyes. After asking, Liam learned the boy had been worried all night that the black skeleton in his drawing would sneak into Hart's room and secretly absorb his life essence.
The more Liam listened, the stranger he felt. Kid, can you please stop using 'absorb essence'? You'll make people think weird things!
"If it's going to suck someone, why would it suck you instead of Wing?" Liam comforted. "Don't worry. It'll definitely ignore you and go straight for him."
"That's right!" Hart breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly felt much lighter.
Wing was mortified. He got comforted. What about me?
More than thirty martial artists from different schools gathered in the lobby on the first floor.
These people trained year-round. Full of energy. Used to getting up early. All in high spirits now, chatting and laughing with each other.
Liam and the others listened casually. As expected, no one mentioned the bizarre dream from last night where everyone at the summit was pulled in. No one mentioned the black skeleton. Everyone was guessing about today's competition. No one wanted to lose in front of the respected Sky Master. All eager to try.
Many of them glanced vaguely toward Liam and Wing.
After yesterday's climb up the Long Steps to Immortality, everyone had a rough idea of each other's strength levels.
There was no doubt: Wing from Shingen-ryu, John Smith and Shizuku from Heavens Arena, and the talented fighter Tetsuro were the top contenders at this Sensui Mountain Conference.
Liam looked at Tetsuro, who was gearing up.
This guy was also a Manipulator.
However, Tetsuro's Nen ability required a ring, an opponent, and possibly even witnesses like referees or an audience. Tetsuro had developed his ability in the Heavens Arena for ring fighting. A Nen user like that naturally wouldn't prepare for last night's situation in advance. With Tetsuro's ability, it was difficult to imitate Liam's approach of "manipulating yourself in advance to avoid control."
There are differences between Manipulators.
Soon, several waiters came and led everyone out of the hotel.
The group followed them through the hotel, gardens, courtyards, corridors... and finally arrived at an open practice field in the complex terrain of the back mountain villa.
Such a mountaintop—only the back half at that—could free up so much space.
In the open practice field, a middle-aged man with gray hair and a youthful face waited for them. The person they'd seen yesterday. The Sky Master.
Shizuku, Liam, Wing, and even Hart all noticed immediately: Sky Master's clothes hadn't been changed. Exactly the same as yesterday.
And still spotlessly clean.
Not like the clothes had been washed. This old man with gray hair and a boyish face looked like he'd been washed from the inside out. Clean as a spotless immortal.
A Nen clone?
The thought flashed through all four of their minds.
More than thirty martial artists stared at the Sky Master with bright eyes.
"Courage, martial arts, willpower—Sky Master, which are we competing in today for these first three days?"
"Forget mountain climbing. That tested not just strength but also eyesight. But if it's a competition of strength, I won't lose!"
"Will? Haha!"
As soon as the first person spoke, others quickly chimed in one after another.
Someone even shouted, "We agreed we'd only compete in martial arts, not aura! In that case, everyone should enter Zetsu first, then compete in strength! Right?"
Everyone looked over. The speaker was tall and burly. Covered in muscle like a mountain of meat.
If everyone entered Zetsu, and it was just about strength, this guy seemed to have the greatest advantage. He caused a round of boos.
"What?" The burly muscular man asked in confusion. "Is there someone here who doesn't even know Zetsu? Really?"
"You think that's possible?"
Everyone was talking loudly. Just when they were about to start competing in advance, the Sky Master smiled slightly. He stroked his beard. "Did I say the competition in these three days is about strength?"
Just when everyone was stunned, the Sky Master pointed his finger at them.
In an instant, more than thirty martial artists from different schools were caught off guard. They saw a finger coming through the air, touching their foreheads!
In an instant, more than thirty fingers were pointing at the foreheads of more than thirty martial artists!
Emission?
The thought immediately flashed through Liam and Wing's minds.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Hearing muffled sounds one after another around them, more than thirty martial artists from various schools were shocked to see their "souls"—and everyone else's—knocked out of their physical bodies!
More than thirty groups of human-shaped "spirit bodies" were pointed out by the Sky Master from a distance. All knocked out from the backs of their bodies.
The Sky Master smiled. "In these first three days, the competition is about willpower."
Everyone flew out from the backs of their bodies. Floating. Looking at each other in disbelief.
Then Tetsuro, like everyone else, looked in the same direction while in his out-of-body state.
Wing, Liam, and Shizuku were all supported by Ken formed from thick aura. They stood firm. Didn't move. The fingers the Sky Master shot through the air failed to penetrate the barrier of Nen energy.
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