Jack's arrival in HxH world - Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Path of Nen
The night was quiet, save for the rhythmic crashing of waves against the shore. Jack lay on the beach, staring up at the star-studded sky, his mind racing. The decision he was about to make could change everything. Should he teach Gon about Nen? The boy was destined to learn it eventually, but in the original timeline, Gon didn’t awaken his Nen until the Heavens Arena arc. Teaching him now could alter the course of events, potentially putting Gon in greater danger—or saving him from it.
Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. The Hunter Exam was brutal, and Gon had narrowly escaped death multiple times, often thanks to Hisoka’s twisted interventions. Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that Hisoka had some ulterior motive, perhaps even acting on Ging’s behalf to ensure Gon’s survival. But relying on Hisoka’s whims was a dangerous gamble. If Jack could give Gon the tools to protect himself, maybe he could change the boy’s fate for the better.
As he wrestled with his thoughts, a new notification appeared in his vision.
—
New Task: Teach Gon Freecss About Nen
Objective: Provide Gon with the basic knowledge of Nen and guide him in opening his aura nodes naturally.
Reward: 10,000 EXP
—
Jack’s eyes widened. 10,000 EXP was an astronomical amount, enough to level him up several times over. The system was clearly incentivizing him to take this step. But more than the reward, it was the potential to help Gon that solidified his decision.
He couldn’t stand by and let the boy face the Hunter Exam unprepared, not when he had the power to make a difference.
“Alright,” Jack muttered to himself. “I’ll teach him. But I’ll do it carefully. No forcing his nodes open—that’s too risky. I’ll give him the knowledge and let him take it from there.”
With his mind made up, Jack finally drifted off to sleep, the sound of the waves lulling him into a restless slumber.
—
The Next Morning
—
Gon arrived at the beach early, just as the first rays of sunlight were breaking over the horizon. He carried a basket of food, as he had the day before, and greeted Jack with his usual enthusiasm.
“Morning, Jack! Ready for another day of training?”
Jack smiled, though his expression was more serious than usual. “Morning, Gon. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something important.”
Gon tilted his head, curious. “What is it?”
Jack gestured for Gon to sit down, and the two of them settled on the sand. “You know how I’ve been training to get stronger, right? Well, there’s something I haven’t told you yet. It’s called Nen.”
Gon’s eyes widened. “Nen? What’s that?”
Jack took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “Nen is a powerful technique that allows people to control their life energy, or aura. It’s what makes the strongest Hunters so powerful. If you want to find your dad, you’ll need to learn Nen eventually.”
Gon’s expression grew serious. “Can you teach me?”
Jack nodded. “I can give you the basics. But learning Nen isn’t easy. It takes a lot of discipline and focus. And I won’t force your aura nodes open—that’s dangerous. You’ll have to do it naturally.”
Gon’s determination shone through. “I’ll do whatever it takes. Teach me, Jack.”
—
Jack spent the next few hours explaining the fundamentals of Nen to Gon. He started with the basics: the concept of aura, the four major principles (Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu), and the six Nen types (Enhancement, Transmutation, Conjuration, Manipulation, Emission, and Specialization). Gon listened intently, absorbing every word.
“The first step is to open your aura nodes,” Jack explained. “This usually happens naturally through intense training or meditation. Once your nodes are open, you’ll be able to feel your aura. Then, you can learn to control it using Nen.”
Gon nodded, his eyes shining with determination. “How do I open my nodes?”
“Meditation is the safest way,” Jack said. “You need to focus inward, on your own life energy. It might take time, but if anyone can do it, it’s you.”
Gon immediately sat down, cross-legged, and closed his eyes. Jack watched him for a moment, impressed by the boy’s focus. Then, he decided to continue his own training while Gon meditated.
—
Jack resumed his usual routine: 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run. The system rewarded him with 4 EXP for each completed round, and he managed to complete 15 rounds by the end of the day, earning a total of 60 EXP. It wasn’t as much as he’d hoped, but it was progress.
As he trained, he kept an eye on Gon. The boy remained still, his breathing steady and his expression calm. Jack couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Gon’s determination was unmatched, and Jack had no doubt he would succeed.
—
A week passed, and Gon continued to meditate every day. Jack kept up his training, steadily increasing his level.
His level actually reached level 13.
Then, one evening, as the sun was setting, something extraordinary happened.
Gon’s aura flared to life, a visible shimmer of energy surrounding him. Jack’s eyes widened as he saw Gon’s level change from 0 to 1 in his system interface.
“Gon! You did it!” Jack exclaimed.
Gon opened his eyes, a look of awe on his face. “I can feel it, Jack! It’s like… like I’m connected to everything around me.”
Jack grinned. “That’s your aura. Now, let’s teach you how to control it.”
—
Jack guided Gon through the process of using Ten, the technique to maintain a protective aura around the body. To Jack’s amazement, Gon mastered it in just half an hour. Next, he taught Gon Zetsu, the technique to conceal one’s aura. Gon picked it up in under a minute.
“You’re a natural, Gon,” Jack said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’ve never seen anyone learn this fast.”
Gon beamed. “Thanks, Jack! What’s next?”
“Next is Ren, the technique to amplify your aura,” Jack explained. “But we’ll save that for later. For now, focus on mastering Ten and Zetsu. And remember, Nen is a powerful tool, but it’s also dangerous. Use it wisely.”
Gon nodded, his expression serious. “I will, Jack. Thank you for teaching me.”