Chapter 16: Training [2]
In a dark, misty and empty city, silence prevailed.
Other than the crisp sound of plants and vegetation moving around, most likely due to the snake-like vines travelling through them, and the faint footsteps of the sphere-headed creatures, one would only have the voice in their minds to keep them sane.
On the outskirts of the city, a man sat with his legs crossed and his eyes closed.
As the man sat, hours would turn into days, while days turned into weeks.
As if he had lost track of time, the man wouldn't move from his position.
One would assume he were dead, however, if they were to look closely, the man's chest rose and retracted rhythmically every now and then.
It wasn't until loud footsteps could be heard coming from the city that he finally opened his eyes.
From the city, the old man first noticed bright amber eyes peering at him from the darkness.
Walking out, a young boy with messy black hair that fell to all sides of his face and bright Amber eyes walked out wearing a large jacket and cargo pants, both with spiral patterns adorned on them.
He also had what seemed to be a bone sword resting on his hip.
No words were spoken between the youth and old man as the boy walked closer.
In the next second, an outburst of bloodlust exploded outward from the old man, assaulting the boy.
However, surprisingly, the boy seemed unfazed.
Taking another step, the boy walked closer to the man, unobstructed by the immense aura, until he soon came face to face with the man.
In an instant, the bloodlust had retracted as the old man stood up.
"I knew you could do it!" Yelled the old man with a laugh, slapping the youth on his back.
Isaac smiled as he inwardly yelled in agony at the pain of Netero's slaps.
Netero felt satisfied as he stared at the chaotic and unpredictable Aura surrounding Isaac, almost identical to his, but less dim and faint.
"Hey, watch it old man. Every inch of my body is aching thanks to this stupid technique." Isaac complained.
"That's nothing but the plump fruits of your achievement. You should be proud of yourself."
"Well, like you said. It was simple."
Netero paused as he heard this, raising an eyebrow.
"Simple?"
"Yeah. I'll admit, it took me longer than I would have liked." Isaac rubbed the back of his head.
"How long did it take you, exactly?" Asked Netero, squinting his eyes.
"10 days."
Netero widened his eyes and raised his eyebrow as he heard this.
"10 days? And you made me wait 4 extra days for nothing?" Netero didn't know whether to commend Isaac or slap him over the head.
"Well, I still needed to find my way out of that maze. I'm still new to Nen so it was hard to navigate through the city with just my newfound sense for it."
As Netero nodded in understanding, Isaac rummaged through his pockets and handed him something.
"An Aroze? What for?" Asked Netero.
"Eat it. You'll see."
Netero raised an eyebrow, however, he soon shrugged as he downed the Aroze.
He didn't mind finding a source to replenish his vitality and hunger other than Nen.
As Netero swallowed, he shot his eyes wide open as Isaac smiled, watching the old man's aura expand, growing 10 times larger than that of Isaac's.
'Holy crap…so strong.'
Isaac thought.
"This…" Netero clenched his fists as he couldn't think of any words to describe what he was feeling.
His Nen was no longer burdened by the Dark Continent's atmosphere.
It was like he was back in the known world, where Nen was normal.
Closing his eyes, Netero controlled his Nen, suppressing it so that it was similar to that of Isaac's.
"I figured out why my Nen was ignoring the effects of the atmosphere. It's because of the Aroze." Isaac spoke while Netoro was still surprised.
"Fetoh once told me that the Aroze shouldn't be eaten this way, and that it was a miracle I was alive after doing so."
"At first, I didn't know what she meant, but after my aura nodes were opened, I could feel the aroze had a peculiar effect on my Nen."
"It was like the Aroze slowly converted my Nen into gas. Making it lighter and even more vaporous." As Isaac said this, Netero's voice soon followed.
"The exact opposite effect of the atmosphere." He looked toward Isaac.
"Exactly! Both side effects cancel each other out!" Isaac grinned as exclaimed.
To say Netero was lost for words would be an understatement. Frozen as he thought.
'This…this changed everything.'
"Hey, Mr Netero. Are you okay?" Isaac asked, seeing the man's frozen state.
With a cough, Netero regained his composure.
"Ah, yes. Well done, boy. You've impressed me. Now, enough chatter. We must leave now before any creatures that were attracted to my bloodlust arrive." Netero turned around.
Isaac nodded his head as they both looked toward the trees before them that swung vigorously with razor sharp leaves.
Isaac looked down, seeing the dirt did not have the same effect on him that it did when he first trod on it.
To this, he smiled.
'This really does work. Stupid dirt.' Isaac mumbled, kicking the dirt.
However, before following Netero, Isaac noticed something that left a bad feeling in his gut.
Looking to his compass, he was quick to notice the needle still pointing east, away from the city.
'I don't understand. Is the creature not in Aionthos?'
Thinking of the possibility that there may be a creature able to attract the compass' needle from so far away made Isaac shudder.
'Whatever. At least we aren't travelling in that direction.'
Looking back, Isaac stared at the tall walls of Aionthos.
Despite everything that had happened, he was glad he had arrived inside the city, rather than out here.
It was then that he noticed a figure standing between the plain white walls.
Squinting his eyes, it wasn't long until his heart sank and he became frozen.
"What's wrong, boy?" Looking back, Netero noticed Isaac's flustered demeanour.
Following his gaze, his eyes fell upon a female with green hair and one green eye while the other was heavily damaged, dripping with blood.
Her clothes were torn as her face was that of agonising pain mixed with unrelenting rage, as evidenced by her grinding teeth that were audible to Isaac and Netero.
"Fetoh…?" Isaac mumbled.
"You…you're just like the rest of them. You don't deserve my help. Ungrateful demons."
Fetoh fell into a rant, her voice low yet still heard by the two individuals not far from her.
As Isaac watched, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Forget it. Her Post Mortem Nen is bound to the city. She can't leave. Otherwise, she would have long pounced at you." Netero said, prompting Isaac to return to his previous calm demeanour.
"Alright."
Saying this, the both of them turned their heads, walking away from the city.
"You…You!" Grinding her teeth, Fetoh yelled.
"Don't you dare ignore me! You will pay for your sins!" Saying this, Fetoh let out a blood curdling scream as an explosion of aura erupted from her.
It seemed the atmosphere had no effect on her, seeing as how her aura had reached heights Isaac had never seen before.
With a dark green hue, the aura flooded to the surroundings.
If Isaac wasn't protected by his Ten, he was sure he'd be crushed under such pressure.
"Is she crazy?! Isaac, quickly. We must leave!" Netero hurried Isaac as he turned his head, dashing toward the patch of clearing between the dangerous trees.
Glancing at Fetoh one last time as she glared at him with contempt, Isaac turned his head, trying his best to keep up with Netero as they disappeared into the Dark Continent.
As they did, Isaac looked up, his breath freezing as his eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
Countless winged bone creatures, some bigger than others, the smallest being a little bigger than him, with large jaws and sharp teeth could be seen flocking and speeding at the speed of Formula 1 race cars toward Fetoh's location.
"If creatures from that distance can sense the Aura…"
Isaac shuddered at the thought of what monsters from every corner of this hell would appear here soon.
Seeing no end to the boned flying creatures, Isaac decided to clench his teeth and concentrate his attention on his Invisible Ten.
***
Isaac dropped to his knees as he breathed heavily, sweat dripping from his face as Netero stood over him.
He was so tired he failed to notice the peculiar plant life around them.
Including one plant with tendril-like appendages spread out, as if it were ready to grab onto whatever neared it.
And even the countless dull and shrivelled trees with dark and unappealing apples hanging from them.
Isaac had long since lost track of how long they'd been running.
They had only stopped because Isaac was close to collapsing.
Looking up, Isaac contorted his face in confusion after witnessing the old man's calm and indifferent demeanour, as if he'd been sitting on a couch all day without lifting a finger.
Meanwhile, between the concentration of keeping the Invisibility Ten active and trying his best to conserve his stamina, Isaac was both mentally and physically fatigued.
However, he couldn't help but notice how much his stamina had improved since the day he'd first arrived.
He could barely sprint for a few seconds at first.
Perhaps it was the Nen that was improving his physical attributes, but if he were to make an assessment, he'd say he was amongst the likes of top level athletes back on earth.
"Would you like one?" Isaac held out an Aroze as he prepared to stuff one in his mouth.
"No, thank you." Netero answered simply while Isaac squinted his eyes.
"What will you eat? Now that I think about it, what have you been eating this whole time you've been here?" A thought came to Isaac as he asked.
"My Nen. Let's just say I can go for long periods of time without needing to be satiated."
'That's useful. I'll need to learn that.'
"Besides, this environment is good training for my Nen control. I'd rather make the best of this situation." Netero chuckled as he pushed back my hand.
Isaac stared at the man, dumbfounded.
What kind of crazy man had he come across for him to be thinking of such things in a situation like this.
Isaac stayed silent as he stared, soon taking both Aroze and placing it back in his pocket.
As Netero raised an eyebrow, Isaac spoke.
"Me too. I'll train with you. Teach me."
A pause erupted as Netero soon let out a wide grin.
"I like your guts, boy."
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