Vega didn't rush to exact revenge on the Shelby family. After all, he had just acquired the system and needed time to understand how to wield it effectively.
He'd already tested its power—enhancing a grenade and annihilating his enemies in a single blast—but that process consumed experience points. And right now, he was running dangerously low. The only way to earn more was by defeating a large number of enemies.
Vega wasn't exactly a saint, but he wasn't heartless either. He wasn't about to launch a mindless killing spree just to grind XP. Instead, he turned his sights on the Shelby family's gangs. They were enemies anyway—eliminating them would serve both as payback and practical progression.
It was a smart and safe strategy.
Even with the system at his side, Vega wasn't one to act recklessly. Charging in blind could get him killed—especially if the Shelby family had already hired someone with Nen abilities. In the world of Hunter x Hunter, Nen users were rare, but not unheard of. Even the Nostrade Mafia had enlisted them.
The Shelbys weren't on par with the Nostrades, but it wasn't impossible they'd hired a licensed Hunter through the Association. If that were the case, Vega could be walking straight into a trap.
So instead, he chose to grow stronger first—gather massive XP, enhance a powerful item, and wipe the Shelbys off the map in one calculated strike.
For now, he'd focus on weakening their forces—cutting off their limbs before aiming for the head.
But before that, Vega needed to fully grasp Nen—the power he had just awakened. The Shelby gangs were brutal and well-armed. If he wanted to survive and win, mastering Nen was non-negotiable.
In the Hunter x Hunter universe, Nen is the foundation of true strength. Only those who master it can hope to reach the heights of power—or survive long enough to even dream of the Dark Continent.
Nen is what allows someone to live life on their own terms. In theory, anyone can learn it. In practice, it's a tightly kept secret. The V5 and the Hunter Association actively suppress public knowledge of Nen to prevent chaos and misuse.
Ordinary people have almost no path to discovering Nen unless they pass the Hunter Exam—a notoriously brutal gauntlet. Millions apply every year, and yet it's rare for even one person to succeed. The exam alone filters out nearly everyone.
After years of information control, most people don't even know Nen exists.
From Gon's own experience—reaching the 200th floor of Heaven's Arena just to be forcibly introduced to Nen—it's clear that outsiders have little to no chance of learning it.
Nen is accessed by manipulating the life energy within the body—called aura—through the opening of aura nodes. Once unlocked, this aura can be controlled and used to drastically enhance offense and defense.
Without Nen, no one stands a chance against a trained user.
The four foundational techniques of Nen are:
Ten: Maintaining a flow of aura around the body for defense.
Zetsu: Shutting off aura to erase your presence—though it leaves you defenseless.
Ren: Increasing aura output to boost physical and spiritual power.
Hatsu: The personalized application of Nen—unique to each user.
These are the basics every Nen user must master. From there, more advanced techniques—like Gyo, Ken, En, and others—can be developed.
Vega also recalled more obscure cases, like the "Grudge" Nen ability used by the Clean-Up Team in Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission—a twisted and deadly variation.
Even with talent, mastering Nen typically requires a skilled mentor. Without one, it could take years—or even a lifetime.
Now, Vega wanted to determine his own Nen type. He prepared to use the classic Water Divination method.
Nen is divided into six primary categories: Enhancement, Emission, Conjuration, Manipulation, Transmutation, and the elusive Specialization. Each has distinct traits and unlocks different paths of growth.
Training in a type you don't have affinity for is inefficient at best—and dangerous at worst.
"Well, by now, Uvogin's probably just arriving at Heaven's Arena," Vega thought. "He hasn't even met Hisoka yet—that twisted clown."
The image of Hisoka's unsettling grin flashed in his mind. Vega shook it off.
Back to business.
He took out a glass, filled it with water, and gently placed a leaf on the surface. Lightly touching both sides of the cup, he channeled his aura inward.
Moments later, shimmering crystals began to form in the water.
"So I'm a Conjurer, huh?"
That was promising. Conjuration was a strong and versatile class. Combined with his enhancement system, the possibilities were endless.
He could create items—then supercharge them. With enough XP, he could theoretically craft and enhance legendary gear: Excalibur, Imperial Arms, Curry Stick—even beyond their original power.
A wild thought hit him: What if I enhance this now?
Following instinct, he let the system draw a small amount of XP.
The result was startling. The crystals darkened—turning pitch black. A cold mist rose from the water, accompanied by faint, agonized whispers.
As the black mist coiled around the glass, a strange creaking filled the air. Vega quickly withdrew his aura. The mist dispersed—and the cup had disintegrated. All that remained was a thin trail of black residue.