NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Assigning Tasks
Chapter 15: Assigning Tasks
While making his way toward the amusement park in the East Coast town, Haru reflected on his first real Nen battle. He was acutely aware of his shortcomings.
Because he wasn't an enhancement-type Nen user, he avoided close-quarters combat as much as possible.
Because his total aura reserve was limited, even after ensuring distance from his enemies and maintaining Ken for defense, he minimized using other techniques like Gyo unless absolutely necessary. Efficiency was key. This strategy significantly reduced his aura consumption per second during the fight.
Despite these precautions, the three-minute skirmish had drained over one-third of his total aura, nearly 400 units.
Haru had calculated that each successful application of his Star Mark consumed about 60 units of aura. While this was relatively low compared to many Nen abilities, his limited aura reserves made every use a painful expenditure. The two successful Star Marks during the battle had cost him 130 aura—an undeniable drain.
Then there was Bullet Flick.
Haru's Ken consumed about 80–90 aura per second. Because he wasn't enhancement-type, its actual effect was only 48–54 aura's worth of attack. Bullet Flick, a signature skill embedded with hidden restrictions, started at 100 aura per shot. For every second of charge, it consumed an additional 10 aura. While its power was reduced by 20% due to his operator-type alignment, it remained his most reliable long-range attack.
In the battle, Haru had used Bullet Flick three times.
The first two shots—one disabling the gunman targeting Toru and the other grazing the one-eyed leader—were quick releases, consuming less than 110 aura in total. However, the third shot, charged for a full ten seconds, had consumed a staggering 200 aura.
If that final shot hadn't hit, Haru would have been forced to retreat, recharge, and reengage later.
In total, the three-minute engagement had drained nearly 900 aura—90% of his reserves.
Despite still having over 100 aura left—more than when he began training in the beginning—Haru felt physically and mentally drained. The comfort of his Star Mark's passive recovery only emphasized how exhausting such battles could be.
Reflecting on his performance, Haru identified his primary mistake: unnecessarily maintaining Ken throughout the fight.
With only 1,000 aura to work with, he didn't need full-body defense when safely distanced from his opponents. Maintaining Ren and selectively using Ken for key moments would have drastically reduced his energy expenditure. More than a third of his aura had been wasted on unnecessary defensive measures.
"I need to train my perception and master Ryu," Haru realized. "That way, I can seamlessly switch from Ren to Ken in response to threats. If I can't react fast enough, conserving energy won't mean much if I end up dead."
Riding on Toru's back, Haru chuckled to himself. Nen battles were demanding but exhilarating.
Unlike certain other worlds, where battles lasted days or weeks, Nen fights in this world required constant tactical awareness. Aura was a finite resource, and the longer a battle dragged on, the greater the cost of Aura. Every move, every ounce of aura, had to be meticulously calculated.
As he contemplated his next steps, Haru noticed the East Coast town coming into view, with the bustling amusement park standing out on its far left. Even from a distance, he could see the lively crowds and bright lights—a stark contrast to the wilderness he had been navigating.
"Finally, civilization!" Haru grinned. "I've had enough of living like a savage these past few days."
Sliding off Toru's back, Haru stretched and took a deep breath. Thanks to the Star Mark, his energy had recovered by half, though his growing hunger reminded him of his limits.
Calling down the five birds still under his control, Haru began issuing orders.
"You," he pointed to the gray bird perched on Toru's head, "you're staying with me. You seem sharp."
The gray bird chirped proudly, preening itself and nudging its companions aside before perching on Haru's shoulder.
"As for you two," Haru addressed two green-tinged birds, "fly to the northern coastline and keep watch on that abandoned ship. If you see any humans, use your beaks to puncture your skin and activate the Star Mark to alert me."
The two green birds nodded and took off, soaring toward the northern horizon.
"The remaining two…" Haru considered for a moment. "Stay with Toru. One of you will patrol the skies, while the other stays on his back. Rotate shifts when you're tired. If you spot any humans, do the same and notify me."
"Chirp! Chirp!" The two white birds saluted with their wings—another reminder of how unique the creatures in this world were—before one ascended into the sky and the other settled on Toru's back.
Turning to Toru, Haru scratched behind the tiger's ears. "You're a protected species, and with your size, I can't take you into town with me. But you're not off the hook. I need you to scout for a suitable training spot between the forest and the town. Look for water, flat ground, and stones—somewhere ideal for honing my skills. I still have a long way to go."
Toru growled softly, nuzzling Haru's hand before bounding into the forest, the white bird on its back clinging tightly.
Haru watched until Toru disappeared among the trees, his attention drawn back by the gray bird chirping incessantly on his shoulder.
"You're noisy," Haru grumbled, poking the bird. "I'll call you Taliyah… No, too long. Let's go with Rock Sparrow."
Checking his pockets for cash and the hunter license he had found, Haru grinned.
"First things first, I need food."
(End of Chapter)