A Wanderer's Lies

Chapter 38: Nen Class [1]

A small group of students stood around each other, a female sitting in the middle as a green hue emanated from her palms.

The student lying before her, unconscious, soon flickered his eyes open as he slowly got to his feet.

"Thanks, Ava, you're a lifesaver." The student thanked her.

"No problem!" Ava replied cheerfully.

"That's everyone healed. I think we should come up with a game plan or set a trap for the Ghoul." Cain spoke, most nodding their heads in agreement.

"I think that's a good idea. What do you think, everyone?" Ava turned, asking the students as they enthusiastically replied.

"I'm fine with that."

"We can't run forever."

"Let's get him before he gets us," Heather spoke with a smile.

"Don't worry. Mr Orion is supervising. He'll stop the Ghoul if things get out of hand." Ava spoke.

Looking around, the students shared a face of realisation. It's as if one could see the flame reignite inside them.

'Extraordinary. To think Ava can restore everyone's passion with just a few words. These are the same students who were begging for their lives an hour ago.'

Oliver thought, standing at the back of the crowd.

He couldn't do much as a normal human, and the students didn't expect much from him knowing this, therefore, he simply stayed hidden.

"Are you going to help or not?" Cain turned his head, staring toward the lacklustre Daniel who was seated on the ground, his back against a tree as a few of his lackeys surrounded him.

"Of course I will. I just didn't get a chance previously because you were all hogging the guy." Daniel smirked.

Cain, scoffing under his breath, turned back around, assessing the strongest members of the class.

Despite most not having a chance to shine, including Amara who stood silently to the side, he didn't write them off.

"Let's think of a plan while we walk. Amy, how far would you say the Ghoul travelled?" Cain asked, turning to a female with blonde hair in a ponytail.

"About two miles," Amy answered simply.

"That'll give us enough time. Everyone stay on guard, he might be waiting to ambush us." 

The majority nodded as they began to walk deeper into the forest.

"Are we really going to let them take the kill?" One of the lackeys beside Daniel asked.

"Tsk, of course not." Daniel gave an unpleasant click.

"Didn't you see how they struggled with the Ghoul? It'll take the full force of their combined efforts to stop him. When they tire themselves out, we'll swoop in." 

Daniel spoke, rising to his feet.

"Shouldn't we just help them? I mean, you're ranked three amongst the First Years, you'll probably get the kill anyway…" 

-SMACK

Before he could finish, a crisp slap was heard as blood dripped from the corner of the lackey's mouth.

"It seems I've been too lenient with you. How dare you question me." Daniel grabbed the lackey by the throat.

"The point isn't just to kill him. It's to garner the attention of the professors. 'Daniel Euro single-handedly saves class B-21 and defeats a Ghoul'. Now that's a headline." 

Daniel brought the lackey's face, which had slowly turned blue, closer to his as he stared deep into his eyes.

"Attention equals fame and fame…" Daniel paused.

"E-Equals p-power." The lackey was barely able to let out.

"That's right!" Daniel smiled, releasing the boy.

"I mean, the majority of humans are mindless sheep. You'd be an idiot not to take advantage of that." 

The lackey nodded his head rapidly, unable to let out any words.

Meanwhile, Oliver followed the group silently, deep in thought.

'Isaac, where are you?'

***

"Vital Strike, huh?" 

Isaac stood on his two feet as he dismissed the screen.

He was starting to further understand the Zoldyck Genes. After all, he only had this Vital Strike because of it. 

'It allows me to evolve any skill I perform, turning it into a perk.'

Like when Isaac trained on the boxing bag and today when he attacked the joints of Silver and tore his arm. 

It allowed him to solidify the calculated actions he performed, turning it into a perk and increasing their effectiveness tenfold.

And with it, he'd win this fight.

A plan quickly formulated in his mind as Silver trodden closer and closer to him.

"How times have changed."

Silver's head perked up. Isaac doubted whether or not he could understand, but that didn't stop him.

"I'd have never engaged with you so casually 3 months ago. I'd probably help the class in creating a trap to end you. That way, I'd be keeping myself hidden, as well as getting rid of you."

Silver growled as his footsteps quickened.

"But well, I'm still getting the hang of doing whatever I want."

It wasn't long until Silver was sprinting toward Isaac, his arms dragging on the ground and tearing through the earth.

"I wanted revenge, so I'm going to take it."

Isaac leapt off the ground.

Every fibre in his body screamed in pain. His muscles and bones all ached and seemed as if they'd give out at any moment.

Despite having great stamina and Nen endurance, allowing him to keep Ren active for well over 10 minutes, the fatigue was starting to get to him.

But he didn't care.

He had a goal to fulfil. He owed it to himself…no, he owed it to a young teenager with a broken leg in an alleyway.

"Die, bastard!"

Silver swung his arm as Isaac used his momentum, lowering his body and sliding on the ground, narrowly evading the attack.

As Silver pulled back his next attack, Isaac appeared before him, jamming his two forefingers into the side of Silver's neck.

All time seemed to have stopped as both individuals didn't move a muscle.

After a few seconds, the appendages slowly started to retract back into Silver's back, as the large Ghoul fell face-first onto the ground.

Isaac breathed out, standing over him, looking down as he could see Silver's chest moving up and down ever so slightly.

Bending over, Isaac breathed in.

Extending his fingers, Isaac pierced Silver through the back, into his heart.

Since Silver didnt have him appendages, and Isaac still had his Nen active, it was fairly easy.

'I did it.'

Isaac pulled out his hand, and suprisingly, he felt...nothing.

No shock, no excitement, nothing.

'Who knew it was that easy.' Isaac chuckled.

Perhaps it was the experience of the Dark Continent, or the Zoldyck Genes, or maybe even the Zobae, but Isaac felt like he was missing a key part of his humanity.

'Eh, who cares? As long as it gets the job done.'

Isaac saw this as an advantage. He didn't need the emotions of a little girl interfering with his goal.

No, that'd just get him killed.

Wiping his hands, Isaac rummaged around Silver's pockets, pulling out a brown sack.

"I'm surprised." A voice came from behind Isaac, as the boy snapped his head back, only to be met with a man with glasses and lazy eyes.

"You're here. Did you bring what I asked for?" Isaac stood up, stuffing the sack into his pocket as he did.

"Here." Orion handed Isaac a change of clothes.

"What about…"

"The students still aren't close. I made sure of it." Orion reassured Isaac.

Looking around, Orion couldn't help but stare.

"You actually beat him." He mumbled, turning his head.

"What happened to hiding yourself till you were strong enough?" 

"I am hiding myself. That's why I asked you to do all those things. This was just something I had to do." Isaac removed some of his clothes, preparing to dress in the new ones.

"I only did those things because I owed you. I won't always be here to pick up your slack." Isaac nodded.

"I know. I'll be more prepared next time." 

The both of them fell silent as Orion bent over, staring at Silver.

"You killed him, huh?" Orion asked, to which Isaac replied after a second.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

"No. You needed to do it. Besides, if anything, you helped avenge Kevin."

Isaac recognised the name. It was the name of the dead Ghoul in the trunk of Silver's car.

It was clear he was close to Orion.

"If you're done, I'll be taking the corpse. Believe it or not, even his carcass will be useful for the investigation."

Isaac paused.

"Investigation?"

Without replying, Orion held out his hand.

"Give me the storage device. The brown sack."

Isaac stayed quiet. He did have the sack, but he didn't want to admit it. But if Orion knew, there was no point. It's not like Orion couldn't forcefully take it if he wanted to.

Clicking his teeth, Isaac handed over the sack.

"This thing is a navigation device. It has some other uses, but the GPS is why we need it. If we can reverse engineer it, we might be able to find the location of the device keeping track of it."

Orion pulled out the plate device Silver had been fiddling with.

"Who does it belong to?" Isaac asked.

"Some bad guys." 

Isaac narrowed his eyes.

"The rest of the students are ten minutes away, north from here. I'll see you around." Orion disappeared into the forest, carrying the sack and Silver.

It was clear Orion was hiding something and didn't want to reveal any further information, but Isaac didn't mind.

Looking down, he grinned.

It seemed the few items he'd extracted from the sack before Orion had arrived might answer the rest of his questions.

***

Isaac was able to discreetly reenter the crowd of students who still seemed to be searching for Silver.

It wasn't hard, seeing as how they didn't notice him whether he was present or not.

It wasn't long until Orion declared the class over. Despite the students feeling confused, most were relieved.

Other than Daniel who was seen frowning for the rest of the day.

Despite the students not paying attention to Isaac's coming and going, Oliver was able to notice a few seconds after Isaac returned.

And till the end of the day, didn't stop asking Isaac countless questions.

It wasn't until they returned to their dorm that Isaac was able to lock himself in his room, escaping and finally earning himself some peace.

Throwing himself on his bed, Isaac fell into deep thought.

The adrenaline had long since worn off, and Isaac could feel a twisting pain in his abdomen.

It was hunger.

Clutching his stomach, Isaac fell into deep thought.

'It seems the more I heal, the hungrier I become. Every drop of Nen I have isn't able to quell the hunger in my stomach.'

Additionally, Isaac's Nen, the strongest weapon he had, seemed a little…inefficient.

'I mean, Ren is sweet, but ever since leaving the Dark Continent, I haven't made any progress in my Nen. At this rate, I'll never reach the likes of Netero and Zigg.'

Rubbing his forehead, Isaac tried to ignore the inadequacies he'd shown today, instead focusing on tbe good.

"I finally did it." Ever since that day in the alleyway, Isaac felt as though a part of himself had died.

Today, for the first time...he felt whole.

'Now...'

Rummaging through his pockets, Isaac pulled out some items from his pocket and laid it on his table.

"Let's see the fruits of my hard work."

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Next chapter title: Nen Class [2]

Don't worry, be actually develops his Nen next chapter.

Now, gimme...

Dem...

POWERSTONESSSSSSSSSSS!