The Growth Of Raiyo

It had been a full year since Raiyo had been able to properly use his Nen ability.

A year of mistakes, frustrations, and slow but steady improvement. He'd spent countless hours in training, grappling with the delicate balance of Ren, Ten, and Zatsu—He still struggles with Ten; it constantly seems to elude him.

But he's gotten good with Zetsu, making his aura disappear altogether

Though still imperfect, Raiyo's progress was undeniable. His understanding of his Nen ability, "Primordial Beasts," had deepened in ways he never imagined.

Jin, always warned him that mastering Aura, and Nen was a long and arduous journey, but for Raiyo, this year had been a whirlwind of discovery.

Raiyo stands alone in the forest, his golden starry eyes gleaming in the dimming sunlight. The breeze ruffles his midnight-blue hair, and his body is wrapped in his ever-present blanket,

giving him a sense of comfort even amidst the wildness of nature. It's become a habit of his to retreat to this quiet place, where he can think clearly without distractions. His mind wanders through the dense web of thoughts about his Nen ability.

Specialization, he reminds himself. His ability is classified as a rare Specialist Nen ability, one that only a handful of people in the world possess. Jin has told him that much.

Raiyo isn't just an ordinary Nen user—his powers are rare, even among the rare. He's learned how to summon creatures, yes, but there's more to it. Much more.

He closes his eyes for a moment, focusing on his breathing, pulling his aura close, feeling its ebb and flow. The Rule of Contract. Each summon, each creature he calls into existence, has a purpose—a clear, single purpose. And he can't change it once the creature is summoned.

"I get it now," Raiyo mutters softly to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. He's spent hours contemplating the significance of these rules. The more he understands, the more control he gains.

With a slow inhale, Raiyo extends his aura, letting it flow through his limbs. He can feel his Nen stirring, powerful, and hungry. The Rule of Contract… He has to decide before creating the entity. He knows each creature's purpose will define its role. He can't afford uncertainty.

In the clearing ahead, a large form begins to take shape. At first, it's just a shimmering outline of fur, claws, and sharp, predatory eyes. As Raiyo concentrates, the wolf materializes, growing in size until it's nearly as tall as he is—just a little bigger.

The creature is solid, well-formed, and most importantly—nothing like the twisted, disfigured beings Raiyo has accidentally summoned in the past. He's spent so many months struggling with his power, but this... this feels different. This feels right.

"Alright, big guy, let's test this out," Raiyo says, cracking a grin as he jumps onto the wolf's back. His mind settles into place, the contract between them now set—this is a combat creature. Strong, durable, and built for battle. The contract is sealed, and there's no turning back.

With a sharp snap of his fingers, the wolf growls low, its eyes flashing with a menacing red glow. It's ready.

Raiyo kicks the creature forward, and the wolf leaps into the forest with startling speed. The wind rushes past his face, and the wolf's massive paws pound against the earth.

Raiyo's golden eyes glimmer with a spark of excitement. For once, the chaotic whirlwind of his mind seems to settle. Everything is clear.

The first monster appears—a hulking beast with bony spikes protruding from its back and sharp fangs. It snarls as it spots the two of them approaching. Raiyo raises an eyebrow, amused.

"Woah..." Raiyo mutters with a lazy tone, even as he feels the adrenaline begin to rush through him. His eyes flicker toward his wolf, and it immediately understands.

The wolf howls, charging forward, and in a matter of seconds, it collides with the creature, knocking it off its feet with brutal force. Raiyo watches with casual interest as the wolf tears into the monster with ease.

The battle is quick. The wolf's power is evident in the way it moves—efficient, lethal, and unyielding. Raiyo doesn't even need to direct it; the wolf knows exactly what to do.

He barely has to lift a finger.

Over the next few hours, Raiyo continues his hunt, slaying multiple monsters—each one varying in size, strength, and ability.

His wolf is unstoppable. With each kill, Raiyo feels a rising sense of pride and satisfaction. He's come so far in just a year.

As the sun begins to set and the moon rises high, Raiyo finally makes his way home, his wolf trotting proudly alongside him.

The woods grow darker with each step, and the cold night air makes Raiyo pull his blanket tighter around his shoulders.

His stomach growls in protest—he hasn't eaten since the previous day, but the thrill of the hunt has kept him going.

When Raiyo arrives at the small cabin, he dismounts from the wolf with a lazy stretch, barely bothering to acknowledge the creature as it dissipates into nothingness, returning to the abyss from which it came.

Jin stands at the door, arms crossed and eyebrow twitching in irritation. He stares at Raiyo, his eyes narrowing.

"You said you weren't going to use your Nen abilities too much," Jin remarks, his tone low, almost dangerous.

Raiyo simply shrugs, his lazy demeanor not changing. "If I've got the resources, I'm gonna use them. Can't let 'em go to waste, right?"

Jin's eyes darken. He steps forward, his expression fierce. "You promised me you'd be more disciplined. And I'm not happy with your little hunting trip."

"C'mon, Jin, it was a good fight," Raiyo says, already losing interest in the conversation. "Besides, I didn't even break anything this time."

"You're not getting out of this," Jin snaps. He points a finger at Raiyo, a hard edge to his voice. "Run laps. Now."

Raiyo groans and drops to the ground, dramatically flopping onto his back as though the weight of the world has crushed him. "I'm sooooo tired. Can't I just eat first?"

"No," Jin replies sternly. "You don't get to eat until you've earned it."

Raiyo pouts, his half-lidded eyes narrowing in frustration. "That's not fair… I haven't had anything to eat all day. And I have earned it, I've been killing monsters left and right."

"I don't care. Get up. Run."

Raiyo lets out a heavy sigh, staring up at the stars as if they hold all the answers to his misery. He reluctantly rolls to his feet, wobbles a little as though his legs aren't working, then sighs dramatically. "Fine... fine. I'll do it..."

Jin's eyes narrow. "I'll make you run until you drop. And you won't stop until I say so."

Raiyo groans again, slumping as he begins his run. His legs are heavy, and every breath feels like it's being pulled from his lungs.

He barely makes it a few rounds before he's gasping for air, but Jin remains unmoved, arms crossed as he watches Raiyo with a stern look on his face.

As midnight comes and passes, Raiyo's exhaustion becomes almost unbearable. His feet drag through the dirt, his blanket slung over his shoulder like an anchor.

He can barely keep his eyes open. But he knows better than to argue—he's learned that much after all this time.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Jin calls out, "Enough. You're done."

Raiyo collapses to the ground, his body giving up the moment Jin speaks. He lies there, chest rising and falling in deep breaths, sweat dripping down his forehead.

"Good," Jin says, his tone softer now, almost approving. "You've learned more discipline than you give yourself credit for."

Raiyo can barely muster a reply. "I'm starving..."

Jin chuckles, shaking his head as he goes inside to prepare food. "I'm glad you're learning. You'll be stronger for it."

The two eat dinner together, a rare moment of peace between them.

Jin doesn't tease Raiyo for once, and Raiyo doesn't try to avoid responsibility.

They sit in comfortable silence as they eat, the warmth of the fire filling the small cabin.

As the meal winds down, Jin looks at Raiyo, a serious expression crossing his face. "So... What do you want to do, Raiyo?"

Raiyo pauses, "Like in the future?"

Jin nods.

"Well, I want to sleep forever and dream of eating desserts." Raiyo smiles, daydreaming.

Jin makes a deadpan face, indicating he wants a real answer.

"I want to explore. I want to get stronger. I want to be the strongest Hunter in the world."

Jin laughs, but it isn't the mocking laugh Raiyo expects. No, it's a proud, mentor-to-mentee laugh. It's filled with warmth and a hint of nostalgia.

"You're a dreamer," Jin says, his smile softening. "But I think you've got it in you. You've come a long way, Raiyo."

Raiyo doesn't know why, but there's something about Jin's smile that makes him feel like his dream might actually be within reach.

For the first time in a long while, Raiyo feels at peace with himself. He wraps his blanket tighter around his shoulders and leans back, savoring the moment. He doesn't know what the future holds, but whatever it is, he's ready.

And for the first time, he truly believes that maybe—just maybe—he'll make his dream come true.