Chương 115: ROOM

This was the fourth ability Aren developed during his training with Biscuit. The original concept came from the surgical space ability of a character in another story. It created a special hemispherical or spherical space in which the user could divide, combine, swap, control, and manipulate targets freely. When used in that story, a white hollow vortex first formed beneath the user's palm or on the ground, then spread into a defined space. The user could sense everything within that space.

They could cut objects apart, reassemble them, swap positions, and manipulate targets inside. People and living beings cut inside that space would not die, bleed, or even feel pain, as if the action were part of surgery. It could even remove harmful substances from a target's body, such as bullets, pathogens, poisons, or diseased organs. But healing and surgery belonged to that original ability's special nature. Aren did not possess that part.

The ROOM Aren developed was less an ability by itself and more a framework for abilities. If the Limitless Technique, The Hand, and the Flying Thunder God Technique were software, then ROOM was the hard drive. It was a combat platform Aren created by combining the concept with En, allowing him to load his other abilities into a larger field. ROOM itself had no independent power. It simply helped Aren use his other abilities better.

Looking at the highest-level fighters who had shown their abilities in the Hunter x Hunter world, aside from Meruem and the Royal Guards, the truly top-tier human combatants had similar frameworks. Netero had the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. Zeno Zoldyck had Dragon Head. Their techniques were released through those frameworks. Netero was an Enhancer and the founder of Shingen-ryu, yet his 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva looked like something a Conjurer or Emitter might develop.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Aren had thought about this for a long time during his training with Biscuit. In the end, he guessed that the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva was probably not Netero's original ability. It was the product of Netero integrating his martial arts and strength after reaching the peak. In the future Aren remembered, Netero's flashback during the fight with Meruem showed his earlier practice.

At age forty-six, Netero felt his body and martial arts reach their limit, then began throwing ten thousand punches of gratitude each day in the mountains. At first, ten thousand punches took eighteen hours. After he passed fifty, he needed only one hour. When he descended from the mountain, his fist had surpassed sound. That was the earliest form of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. Back then, like other Enhancers, Netero used his body, fists, and feet. There was no giant golden statue behind him.

Based on that, Aren believed Netero was similar to Uvogin. His real foundation was enhancing himself and relying on his body. The later Guanyin was the result of integrating all his peak power into one medium. Zeno's Dragon Dive and Dragon Head: Fang were also techniques released through a dragon-shaped medium. Once Aren understood that, he began preparing a framework of his own. ROOM was the first concept that came to mind. Spatial, domain-like, and capable of loading multiple ability systems.

It suited Aren perfectly. It also fit En. After establishing vows and restrictions, Aren completed ROOM. His current development level was still not high enough to apply The Hand across the entire ROOM instantly and create a large-scale destructive effect. But once ROOM was active, he could release The Hand at long range and create something similar to a dimensional slash. That was only ROOM combined with The Hand. When ROOM combined with the Flying Thunder God Technique, it produced another effect. ROOM: Shambles.

At that moment, Razor, who had been watching Aren's field warily, suddenly vanished. In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Aren. He was now between Aren and the aura ball Razor himself had just sent back. Razor's eyes filled with the incoming ball. Fortunately, he had sensed something was wrong from the start and kept his guard up. Years of combat experience made his body move faster than his mind could process.

He did not understand what had happened, but his body responded to the approaching aura ball first. With the same two-handed volleyball receive, he deflected the ball into the sky. While Razor was busy handling his own projectile, Aren did not stay idle. Without Razor interfering, he deactivated the Limitless Technique and immediately connected to The Hand. He could not completely destroy the rule-based aura of Eliminate. But he could throw it into a fragmented space where it would never find him.

The Eliminate aura had already irritated him. Aren wrapped The Hand around his hand and cut toward it. At last, the Eliminate aura vanished. Razor, who had just sent his own aura ball flying into the sky, felt cold sweat break out across his forehead.

'What just happened?' He knew it had to be Aren's ability. What he did not understand was how Aren had done it. Aren had not touched him. He had not even come close.

'How did he move me without warning?'

'Was it that field?' Razor vaguely sensed the truth, but the realization did not make him happy. It made him more afraid. If that field was the reason, it meant Aren could freely move anything within its range. Once someone entered Aren's field, no one could fight him.

'No. That cannot be right.' No ability was perfect. An effect this powerful had to come with restrictions.