Chapter 13: Nobunaga's Trust

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"Let's go."

Before anyone else could arrive to investigate, Kai instructed everyone to retreat.

They returned to their hideout.

Kai glanced at Uvogin, who appeared deeply troubled—his expression one of barely contained frustration.

"If you have a question, just ask," Kai said calmly.

With a heavy exhale, Uvogin responded,

"Kai, the technique you used just now—wasn't that my Big Bang Impact?"

"Can a Specialist truly replicate the full power of an Enhancer?"

They had previously heard from Kai that it's far easier for a Nen user to develop abilities aligned with their natural affinity, while mastering abilities from opposing categories is much more difficult.

While it's known that Specialists tend to have an easier time learning Emitter and Manipulator abilities, Enhancement is widely considered to be the furthest from Specialization on the Nen compatibility chart.

In theory, even if a Specialist manages to learn Enhancement techniques, they would only be able to exert roughly 40% of the original power.

But Kai's performance just now had far exceeded that threshold.

It was so overwhelming that claiming 400% would be more believable.

"If it's something inconvenient, you don't have to say it," Nobunaga offered, noting Kai's silence.

"It's not a matter of inconvenience," Kai replied, gathering his thoughts. "The truth is, the Specialization category differs significantly from the other five Nen types."

"You can think of Specialists as outliers—individuals whose abilities defy conventional logic."

"Whether it's Nen manipulation, combat capacity, or manifestation methods, Specialists are incredibly diverse."

"The reason I can replicate the full strength of an Enhancer's technique is because my Nen ability is somewhat... unique. As for why it functions this way, even I'm not entirely sure."

This was not a lie.

Kai's strength stemmed from his Nen ability: [Virtual Reality].

Without this ability, he would have no way of manifesting Gourmet Cells, which in turn fuel his monstrous aura and physique.

Kai continued, "If you ever face an opponent classified as a Specialist, you must exercise extreme caution. Even if they appear harmless, never underestimate them."

"Whenever possible, try to uncover the nature of their Nen ability before engaging—or send someone else to probe it first."

"Otherwise, strike fast and end the fight before they can fully deploy their ability."

When dealing with Specialists, the first taboo is information leakage.

The second taboo is prolonged combat.

Once a Specialist gains the upper hand and uses their unpredictable ability effectively, your odds of winning drop to near zero.

...

Nobunaga listened closely to Kai's explanation, feeling a deep sense of admiration.

Kai was a Specialist himself, and yet he was openly revealing weaknesses and strategies to counter his own kind.

Such transparency and trust were rare—not just on Meteor City, but anywhere in the world.

Unlike Uvogin and Machi, Nobunaga was the eldest and had seen the darkest corners of human nature.

That's why he'd always maintained a level of suspicion toward Kai.

Even when Kai first taught them Nen, Nobunaga couldn't help but wonder if it was all part of a long-term ploy.

After all, there were too many mysteries surrounding Kai:

First—he appeared to be just an eight-year-old child, yet he possessed immense knowledge and wisdom beyond his years.

Second—how could someone so formidable have ended up wounded and alone? What kind of enemy had he faced?

Third—why was he so generous toward them? What did he stand to gain?

But now, those suspicions were finally beginning to fade.

Because no matter how strong one's ambitions may be, no rational person risks their life without reason.

Perhaps sensing Nobunaga's shifting thoughts, Machi glanced at him.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

With her heightened intuition, she had long noticed the tension between Nobunaga and Kai.

But between a childhood friend and a mysterious man who had unexpectedly touched her heart, she didn't know how to reconcile her feelings.

All she could do was keep them hidden.

Still, even if she didn't fully understand why Nobunaga had finally let his guard down, it was a welcome change.

Unlike Nobunaga, Uvogin was thinking about something entirely different.

"Kai, let's go!! Let's tear that bastard Clow to pieces!!"

After hiding for half a month, Uvogin had reached his limit.

If not for Nobunaga and the others, he would've already gone out to challenge Clow—even without completing his Nen training.

"Sure," Kai replied with a calm smile.

By this point, their special training had reached a plateau.

No matter how well Kai tailored individual training regimens, their growth would now depend more on real combat experience.

And across all worlds, actual battle is the fastest method of growth.

"Get some rest—we move out tomorrow," Kai said.

After being hunted for so long, it was finally time to turn the tables.

Kai licked his lips, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.

Even for someone as composed as him, a storm of destructive intent was building within.