NOVEL NEXT Chapter 125: NEN x Aura - Genius turns into a Prodigy
[Integrating [Basic Nen Manual] into Genius Conjurer]
[Analyzing compatibility … 99.79%]
[Starting integration …
…
Finished integration]
[Integration successful - No unexpected changes]
"..." The fuck? That's it? Alex can't help but feel a bit disappointed, expecting way more. This was way less spectacular than I imagined… what changed? I didn't even get any notifications. It's like I was just using up an item. I don't feel any different at all. Let me check, there has to be mo—
Alex's thoughts are interrupted by a sudden notification.
[Player has unlocked the Nen Stat]
[Checking Player's Nen progression. Player has just unlocked his Aura. Default NEN stat = 0, checking player's current NEN stat. Player's current NEN stat = 1]
[Analyzing NEN stat:]
NEN (Nen):
Function: Governs Aura pool, Aura regeneration, and Nen strength.
Effects:
Aura Calculation: Aura = NEN × 10.
Aura Regeneration: Aura regen = NEN × 0.1 per minute.
Nen abilities: NEN increases the strength and effect of every Nen ability by 0.5% per point
Limitations: NEN stat can only be as high as PHY + SPR combined, divided by 2. It takes 2 stat points to increase NEN.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 3
HP: 220/220, MP: 180/180 AURA: 3/10
STR: 12 (+3), AGI: 12 (+3), PHY: 12 (+2), SNS: 12 (+2), CHA: 12 (+5), MNA: 12, INT: 12 SPR: 12 (+5), LUK: 12 (+1), NEN: 1
So essentially NEN is just like PHY and MNA, only related to my Aura resource and improves my Nen abilities. I wonder if my inna—
Another notification interrupts his train of thought.
ERROR: Current stats not aligned with Statistical OCD lvl MAX
You have gained 11 NEN
Alex suddenly feels a massive surge of Aura flood into him, as if it's being teleported out of nowhere, directly into his body.
"AAAGHHHHH" Alex screams, overwhelmed by the absurd power invading him.
His Aura spikes uncontrollably, and his vision starts to fade. The last thing he sees before collapsing is Menchi and Linne bursting into his room, alarmed, as he falls unconscious.
…
A full day passes before Alex awakens.
"Fuck, my head hurts," he mutters, blinking at the ceiling.
Looking around, he notices Menchi sitting beside his bed, watching him with a curious expression.
"I'm glad you're feeling better. We were kinda worried about you! Your Aura spiked so suddenly…" she says, focusing her Aura into her eyes with Gyo, a technique to enhance vision, particularly related to Aura. She continues, "Even now, your Aura is still way stronger than before."
"Nen is just like training muscles—you can't just awaken a huge amount of Aura all at once. It takes months, sometimes years, to build it up noticeably. But you just progressed years in a single moment. I've never seen anything like this. Your Aura feels like the average Hunter's now. Nothing outrageously strong, but what you just gained would take normal people five to ten years," she explains, looking both worried and impressed.
"I'm sorry to worry you," Alex replies. "I'm sure this won't happen again. My Hatsu evolved on its own, and that must have fueled my Aura. It was only half awake before, and now that it's complete, I suddenly got a massive boost to my Aura reserves. I couldn't handle it, and I passed out."
"Oh! So your Hatsu awakened? That's a good thing. Could it be a conditional Nen ability? You should be careful and take it slow. Test to see if your ability has changed in other ways. Anyway, how are you feeling? You've been asleep for nearly a day! Can you get up, or do you need more rest?" she asks.
Alex, not wanting to look weak, answers, "Give me an hour, and I'll be back on my feet. Then we can continue our training," he says with a small smile.
"Sounds good. Also…" she suddenly slaps him, causing him to flinch. "Don't scare us like that," she scolds, leaving the room.
"Ouch…" Alex mutters, rubbing his cheek, annoyed. I really don't want to get used to this, he thinks. Anyway, let's check my other skills. I vaguely heard the system saying something, but I couldn't make it out. Time to check my status.
Alex Kerber: Lvl 3
HP: 183/220, MP: 180/180 AURA: 150/150
STR: 12 (+3), AGI: 12 (+3), PHY: 12 (+2), SNS: 12 (+2), CHA: 12 (+5), MNA: 12, INT: 12 SPR: 12 (+5), LUK: 12 (+1), NEN: 12
Looks like I took quite a bit of damage. Anyway, it's here. NEN is at 12! Aura is at 150, so Basic Nen lvl 3 is active. Without the skill, I'd only have 120 Aura. It increased by 25 percent! Let me check Genius Conjurer lvl 3, he thinks, both excited and a bit worried about what might have changed.
Alex searches for Genius Conjurer lvl 3 but can't find it—it's gone. Looking more carefully, he notices a new innate skill called Nen Genius lvl 3.
Nen Genius lvl 3
Type: Boon
Leveling Requirements: 1 Soul Crystal and 2000 Fantasy Coins plus 500 Fantasy Coins per level
Effect: Combines Basic Nen and designates individual Hatsu as Genius Conjurer with its subskill Arcane Medieval Armory.
Effect: Every Nen Ability + 5% in effectiveness + 1% per level
Effect: Every Nen Ability - 5% in cost + 1% per level
Overall Rating: S+
Not bad. The FC cost to upgrade this skill increased, but my new innate skill essentially keeps my old abilities intact. Nothing really changes, aside from integrating Basic Nen into this skill and boosting the effectiveness of Nen abilities and reducing their cost. Also, the bonuses from Genius Conjurer mostly stayed the same, aside from replacing MP with AURA and making my conjurations extremely well suited to be strengthened by the basic and advanced Nen techniques. Alex cheers as he analyzes the changes. This is insane, my Nen abilities will become truly fearsome if I use them on Mustrano's Malice Mauler lvl 3 for example.
Genius Conjurer lvl 3
Effect: Conjuration Duration: + 10% + 2% per level (Conjurations last longer).
Effect: Conjuration Strength: + 10% + 2% per level (Conjurations have increased durability, damage, and overall effectiveness).
Effect: AURA Cost: - 10% + 2% per additional level (Conjurations cost less AURA).
Effect: Basic and advanced Nen techniques used in conjunction with Conjurations are 20% + 2% per level more effective.
Arcane Medieval Armory and its three conjuration subskills remain completely unchanged. The only difference is that the MP cost for these skills has been converted into Aura cost.
There's one thing left to do before I can finally relax, Alex thinks, his expression now resolute.
[Integrating [Advanced Nen Technique Manual] into Genius Conjurer]
[Analyzing compatibility … 99.997%]
[Starting integration …
… … …
Finished integration]
[Integration successful - No unexpected changes.]
[Nen Genius changed into Nen Prodigy]
"!!!" Alex is shocked. The compatibility increased to an absurd degree. I can't believe it. What changed?
Nen Prodigy lvl 3
Type: Boon
Leveling Requirements: 2 Soul Crystals and 3000 Fantasy Coins + 1000 Fantasy Coins per level
Effect: Combines Basic Nen, Advanced Nen and designates individual Hatsu as Genius Conjurer with it's subskill: Arcane Medieval Armory
Effect: Leveling this skill will level every subskill automatically
Effect: Every Nen Ability + 10% in effectiveness + 2% per level
Effect: Every Nen Ability - 10% in cost + 2% per level
Overall Rating: SS+
Another flawless integration? SS+? This is crazy, effectiveness +10% and cost -10%! This skill is getting out of hand! It essentially swallowed Basic Nen, Advanced Nen, and kept my old Genius Conjurer and Arcane Medieval Armory, Alex thinks, astonished. Too bad the upgrade cost of the skill went up quite a lot, still I won't have to upgrade all these subskills anymore. No wonder the cost is that steep, since it just integrated a Gold-ranked skill into it.
Alex checks out the Basic Nen skills he acquired: Ten lvl 3, Zetsu lvl 3, Ren lvl 3. He notices that the NEN stat also influences these skills. Although its effects aren't directly displayed, every single point of NEN increases the effects of all Nen skills by 0.5 percent. That doesn't seem like much, but if I reach something like 20 stat points, that's a 10 percent increase. That's pretty noticeable, he considers.
Ten lvl 3:
Effect: Decreases most types of damage by 1 +1 every 2 levels
Effect: Increases defense against all types of attacks by 5% +1% per level
Effect: Slows down aging by 50% +2% per level
Note: It takes a lot of concentration to keep Ten activated, there is no aura loss, however.
Zetsu lvl 3:
Effect: Increases HP, Stamina and AURA regeneration by 20% + 2% per level
Effect: Increases your stealth and hiding capabilities by 50% + 5% per level
Effect: Increases most types of damage done to you by 5
Effect: Decreases defense against all types of attacks by 25%
Note: Most normal people can't talk or even interact with you while this skill is active. Their senses can't comprehend your presence anymore. Requires a calm mind.
Ren lvl 3:
Effect: Increases all stats (without increasing any resources like HP, MP or AURA) by 25% + 5% per level
Effect: Inflicts up to 10 damage per attack +1 per level (Nen/Aura type damage)
Effect: Decreases most types of damage by 5 +1 per level
Effect: Increases defense against all types of attacks by 20% +2% per level
Aura Cost: 5 AURA per Minute + 0.5 per level
Note: If trained to a high enough degree Ren turns you invulnerable against most normal physical attacks.
Alex gathers his thoughts. Interesting. So Ten and Zetsu are essentially free skills as long as I stay focused. I should always consider having one of them activated. With Ten lvl 3, I can't expect to keep it on at all times. I'll need to experiment. Anyway, Ten slows down aging… I've only been thinking about survival, but if I can increase this skill to level 10 and keep it active all the time, that means my aging will be slowed by 70 percent. I could potentially live up to 200 years. That's such an unexpected boon. If I can acquire more skills and increase my NEN, which boosts its effects, or my PHY, I might live even longer. Even 500 years doesn't seem impossible. If I can make it through all this, I'll be rich, insanely powerful, and barely age!
Aside from that, Ten gives me slight protection against all types of attacks, while Zetsu decreases my defenses but lets me recover HP and Aura much faster. It also allows me to become incredibly stealthy. Too bad I can't really use it in normal life, since apparently people can't properly interact with me when it's active.
Finally, there's Ren. It boosts all my stats and attacks by a huge amount and increases my defenses by more than four times what Ten provides. But the cost is high, and it keeps increasing as I level it. Still, it looks like I could use weaker versions of Ren to preserve Aura. It's an option, I guess, Alex concludes, finishing his analysis of the basic skills.
Too bad the skill changed and doesn't mention anything about Nen attacks being deadly to people without Nen themselves. I guess the system decided that something insane like that would be outright unfair. Let's take a look at the advanced skills next, Alex decides, excited like a child.
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