Hunter X Hunter : The Boundary

Chapter 26: Test

The training hall on the 26th floor wasn't on any public tour. Without specific authorization, the elevator button wouldn't even light up.

Ryan stood before a cold metal door and presented his temporary pass to the terminal. The paper bore no seal, only two lines of handwritten text: 26th Floor West, Training Hall, and please arrive on time.

The door slid open with a quiet hiss. The moment he stepped inside, the temperature dropped. The walls were made of a sound-dampening material— his footsteps made no noise. In the center of the room was a simple grey combat mat.

Wing was already there. He stood perfectly straight, his light grey shirt immaculate. His gaze wasn't on the entrance, but Ryan knew he had been sensed long before the door opened.

"You're earlier than I expected," Wing said, his tone as casual as if commenting on the weather.

Ryan didn't reply. He calmly walked to a spot three meters opposite his host, took off his hat and jacket, and placed them neatly on a chair.

"Can you tell me why you accepted this invitation? Usually, contestants receive a lot of invitations from sponsorships, so I'm curious why you gave me your time." Wing asked.

Ryan paused. "I need to better my understanding and confirm whether I'm qualified to continue going forward."

Wing nodded. "Not to become stronger?"

"Becoming stronger is a result," Ryan replied. "Not the objective."

This answer made Wing look at him, truly look at him, for the first time. It was not a gaze of praise, but of an assessment—a mentor deciding if it was worth his time to continue.

"I don't take disciples," Wing stated flatly.

"I'm not seeking a master," Ryan countered.

Wing said no more. He just waved a hand toward the side of the hall. Zushi walked out. The boy was small, but his posture was perfect. He wore a clean training uniform, his eyes holding a mix of vigilance and subtle defiance.

"This is my student, Zushi," Wing introduced. "He has not yet learned Nen. You will conduct an assessment with him."

Ryan nodded. Zushi, however, hesitated. "Teacher, why me?" he asked softly.

Wing's voice was steady. "You wish to know the gap between yourself and another of the same talent as you, right? Someone must illuminate that boundary for you."

Zushi clenched his fists and walked to the center of the mat. The two boys stood three meters apart. Wing retreated to the side. This was not a match; it was an observation.

Zushi moved first, his footwork standard, his attack a fluid side-step into a high strike— but he was too eager. Ryan saw it immediately.

He took one step back, lowering his left shoulder, baiting Zushi into over-extending his punch. As expected, Zushi's feet were faster than his fist. Ryan pivoted, closing the distance in a blur, and grazed Zushi's ribs with a light palm strike.

The boy's center of gravity shattered. He stumbled, and Ryan smoothly guided his shoulder, pressing lightly on his back, forcing him into a kneeling position. The entire exchange took less than seven seconds. Zushi's eyes were wide with shock.

"In combat, doubt is your greatest enemy." Wing said from the sideline, his voice indifferent. "Make a note of it." Zushi nodded silently and retreated.

Wing looked at Ryan. "Your evaluation?"

"His training is solid." Ryan said calmly. "However, he hasn't learned to use his mind to protect his body."

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Wing's lips. "Then... it is your turn."

He produced a smooth glass cup filled with clear water, a single leaf floating on its surface— Water Divination.

Wing placed the cup in Ryan's palm, his movements precise. "Stand steady. Fingers spread. Unify your breathing."

Ryan did as he was told, his heartbeat slowing. He focused his gaze on the leaf, a still point in the quiet room.

"Imagine there is a flow within your body," Wing's voice seemed to enter his mind directly. "Not breath, not blood— but the temperature and momentum you can perceive when you concentrate. Do not force it. If it exists, it will emerge."

Ryan didn't rush. He drew a map in his mind, a path for the energy to travel from his core, through his arm, and into his palm. He felt a subtle tingling, like the warmth of winter sun on cold stone. Zushi watched, astonished. He had trained for half a year and felt nothing. This boy was entering the state on his first attempt.

One minute passed. The surface of the water trembled. The leaf remained still, but slight impurities appeared in the water. Wing leaned in, nodding slowly. "The leaf did not spin, and its color has not changed."

He paused, his gaze sharp behind his glasses. "Conjuration-type."

Ryan opened his eyes, feeling neither joy nor disappointment. He simply filed the information away.

Wing took the cup. "It's quite rare. Most who can achieve such a clear feel for Nen without formal guidance are Manipulators or Conjurers. Do you know what's key for a Conjurer?"

Ryan nodded. "It requires a model. The structure must exist in one's cognition first."

Wing's gaze shifted. "Interesting." He took a blank piece of paper from his pocket and spread it out. On it were notes detailing the basics of Ten and Zetsu, and a single piece of advice for a Conjurer:

Never attempt to conjure an object before its internal stability is complete.

"I will not teach you what to create." Wing said, folding the paper. "You are a Conjurer. Your ability can only be conceived by you— but remember this: Your Nen is a projection of how you see the world."

Ryan solemnly took the paper and placed it in his notebook.

Ryan bowed deeply and turned to leave. As he walked away, Zushi watched him with a complex expression of surprise and admiration.