Chapter 18: The Fireplace

Using restrictions to break through the original limits of one's ability... Not every Nen user can think of this.

The grim-faced young man, unaware of the reason behind it, naturally assumed the target was a powerful Nen user of the Emission category. He had seen it clearly just a moment ago. That Nen projectile, like a shooting star, possessed speed, power, range, and, most importantly, stability. Facing an Emitter capable of such precise long-range strikes, if one could not close the distance before the opponent gathered momentum, one had to consider the possibility of being played to death. This was a standard assessment, which also indirectly ruled out the possibility of the grim-faced young man being an Emitter or an Enhancer.

However, the source of the young man’s hesitation was not the uncertainty brought about by "distance." In fact, the Nen category he most enjoyed dealing with was precisely the Emission category. This depended on his own Nen ability: "Fireplace."

The grim-faced young man hid his presence, looked toward the general direction of Moro, and placed a hand lightly over his abdomen. His Fireplace was a composite ability of Conjuration and Manipulation. Its effect was to transform the abdominal region into a fireplace with a lingering flame. This fireplace, conjured using his own body parts as the medium, could absorb any type of damage within a certain threshold. Under the influence of his ability, the absorbed damage would then turn into fuel, like firewood, enhancing the flames within the fireplace for a specific duration. When the entire fireplace was filled with flames, the young man’s Nen capacity would be significantly increased, and his body would grow increasingly hot as the burning continued.

This was why he enjoyed dealing with Emitters. He could fully utilize the Fireplace’s ability to absorb the first wave of an Emitter’s attack, thereby seizing the initiative. But the Fireplace was not omnipotent. He could only absorb damage intensity within his capacity, and this threshold depended on the gap in strength between him and his opponent. Therefore, having witnessed the power of that projectile with his own eyes, he lacked the confidence to absorb that level of damage. This was precisely the cause of his hesitation. Should he continue with the operation, or wait to reformulate his plan? Standing still, the young man could not make a decisive choice.

On the other side, the sedan was submerged in raging flames, and the air was filled with a pungent odor. The fire illuminated the road, casting long shadows into the forest. Moro, hidden within the shadows, gazed into the distance toward the sniper’s location. His maximum-output "Flying Star," after being enhanced twofold, possessed power greater than an RPG. The deviation of the Flying Star’s landing point was minimal; even if it didn’t kill the sniper outright, it would at least result in a grievous injury. Either outcome was enough to significantly diminish the threat posed by the sniper.

However, compared to confirming the sniper's status, Moro was currently more concerned with the other enemies. The moment his Flying Star struck the sniper’s general vicinity, he clearly sensed a sudden surge of aura. Although the fluctuation returned to calm after a second, it had roughly exposed the enemy's location.

"A Nen user, I presume..." Moro looked into the forest shrouded in the night. That sudden, violent fluctuation of aura was clearly influenced by some emotion. Most likely, it was triggered by seeing a comrade attacked by the Flying Star. Emotions themselves greatly affect the state of one's Nen. Therefore, in Nen combat, composure is one of the crucial factors determining victory. This is why the Shingen-ryu school advocates for "cultivating the heart" first.

Of course, this does not mean that being emotional always has a negative impact on one's aura. In some cases, extreme emotional shifts can actually enhance a Nen user’s combat prowess. But in most cases, it serves as a cautionary tale. Like now. Moro used this to detect the aura fluctuation, obtaining vital information in a situation where he should have been oblivious.

Retreat or attack? In less than a breath, Moro made a decisive choice. Attack, a fierce attack! It was not only to seize every opportunity to level up and become stronger, but also to solidify his will to never shrink from the path ahead. Moro believed that if he chose to retreat here, how could he ever hope to acquire the strength to kill Feitan within his limited time? Those powerful Nen users—which one of them had not emerged from life-and-death struggles? Only by facing life-and-death crises can one truly see things clearly.

Back then, on that rain-slicked night filled with murderous intent, the reason he was able to take out Pakunoda and Shalnark with a sneak attack using Flying Star... wasn't that also a result born between life and death? If someone had told Moro before that: "Even though you've only been learning Nen for half a year, you will be able to kill Pakunoda and Shalnark right under Chrollo’s nose," it would have been laughable. Even Moro, as the protagonist of that scenario, would have laughed out loud. But the fact remained that Moro had done it.

Therefore, there are some things that, if not pursued with one's utmost effort, one will never know to what extent they can be achieved. And the power of Nen, filled with infinite possibilities, is precisely what responds best to such subjective intentions.

Having decisively chosen to attack, Moro’s train of thought began to serve the battle. He observed the surrounding environment. The forest was not dense, leaving large gaps between the trees. However, fighting in this environment would inevitably limit the mechanics of his Flying Star.

"I need to get out." With this thought, Moro glanced again at the distant hillside that had returned to silence. The trees would affect the effectiveness of his Flying Star, and moving to open ground meant considering the possibility that the sniper might still be able to pull the trigger. Moro leaned toward the belief that the sniper had already lost the ability to fire, so he walked out of the woods and directly onto the open ground.

His actions were seen by the grim-faced young man. "This person...!" Watching Moro walk out of the forest in such a brazen manner, the young man’s heart shook. Linking this to the projectile that had flown over a thousand meters just moments ago, he naturally felt the powerful confidence Moro was projecting. No wonder Zazan had been killed... But the ones who deserved to die most were those idiots responsible for information integration. To have a powerful Nen user categorized as a targetable "piglet," thereby giving the other party an opportunity to disguise themselves...

But... what was this person’s "purpose"? Why disguise his strength to infiltrate the hostages, only to abandon the act halfway and expose himself to kill Zazan? It was all too strange.

The young man’s thoughts whirled. Before he could ponder further, he suddenly noticed Moro’s movement. He was actually heading in his direction. "Huh?" The young man’s expression shifted. "Have I been discovered?" Watching Moro steadily close the distance, the young man found himself in a dilemma. His subjective assessment of Moro’s strength and the mission requirements from his superiors were constantly pulling at his resolve.