Hunter X Hunter - Reviewers Rage

April 23

Two weeks had passed since Togiri made his first appearance as his alter ego, the Blue Demon.

Nearly four months had slipped by in the blink of an eye since Togiri became a Hunter, and Fang had begun learning under his new master.

A sleek, black luxury car wound its way up the narrow mountain path. The rain came down in sheets, turning the ground into thick, sludgy mud. Inside the car, Togiri stared out at the water-slicked road ahead, his thoughts drifting.

'The last two weeks... my strength has improved greatly. In less than a month, I've grown stronger than I had in five years. The power of a cheat system truly can't be underestimated' Togiri mused, a small smile tugging at his lips.

The satisfaction of his progress filled him with a quiet confidence. Today was the day he'd been eagerly waiting for—the shipment of animal cadavers had finally arrived.

The car came to a halt, and without wasting a moment, Togiri jumped out. Mud splattered onto his black pants and combat boots, but he paid it no mind.

The cold rain beat against his umbrella, a relentless barrage of tiny drumbeats. Yet, even through the downpour, Togiri could clearly see the rows of massive containers stretching before him.

'Rika said she procured a million kilograms of fish, 20,000 chickens, and 6,000 pigs,' he recalled, the numbers calculating quickly in his head.

'A single fish is worth 0.01 SP. A million kilograms of fish converts to 10,000 Shop Points. One chicken corpse is worth 0.03 SP, making the 20,000 chickens worth 6,000 SP in total. But the pigs are the real treasure... Each pig cadaver is worth a solid 2 points, and with 6,000 pigs, that's 12,000 Shop Points.'

The thought made his heart race. A two-week wait, and now he stood before a mountain of points—28,000, more than his efforts in the last two weeks hunting gangsters had earned him.

Togiri sent the driver away, preferring solitude in this secluded mountain place. Alone now, with nothing but the sound of rain and the vast containers before him, he approached one of them. He opened it and frowned slightly, realizing a flaw in his plan.

"Do I really need to touch every single fish to absorb them?" he muttered to himself, irritation creeping into his voice.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a familiar sound chimed in his head.

*Ding!*[Do you want to unlock the multi-target absorption function for 100,000 Existence Points?]

"..."

Togiri gritted his teeth. A wave of frustration hit him. "... Yes."

He selected "Yes" with a heavy heart, watching as his precious Existence Points drained rapidly in the corner of his vision. His thoughts were interrupted as another notification flashed before his eyes.

[Do you want to absorb 3,565 SP worth of dead fish?]

It took Togiri half an hour to absorb the contents of all the containers, every last animal cadaver disappearing into the system. As he finished, he stood there for a moment, gazing at the rain-soaked landscape.

The storm raged on, relentless and unyielding, but his task was complete.

A nostalgic feeling tugged at him as he looked out over the distant city, its bright lights twinkling like stars through the curtain of rain. For a brief moment, memories washed over him from another life, in another body, but he quickly shook them off and turned towards the forest.

He walked for an hour through the thick woods, the sounds of the rain gradually fading under the dense canopy of trees.

Eventually, Togiri pulled a device from his pocket and pressed a button. The ground trembled beneath his feet as a steel hatch slowly opened before him, revealing a dark passage.

Peering down, he saw a ladder made of iron rods descending into the earth, just wide enough for a single person to climb.

He began his descent, pressing the button on the remote to seal the door above him.

He climbed for what felt like an eternity, the silence of the shaft only interrupted by the faint echo of his boots against the rungs. He had gone miles underground before finally reaching the bottom.

This was one of Togiri's many bunkers—a fortress of solitude. In his previous life, he had always wanted a nuclear shelter, but now it served a different purpose.

It was a place to escape when he didn't want to sleep at home or when he simply felt lazy.

As he stepped off the ladder, Togiri looked around and was mildly surprised by what he saw. "Number three is well-equipped," he mused aloud. "It's the smallest of all my bunkers, but 120 square meters is more than enough for me."

A smug grin crossed his face as he admired the space. "Being rich always feels great. Hohoho," he chuckled, mimicking the laugh of an arrogant, middle-aged woman.

Just as quickly, his face fell back into its usual cold, emotionless state. He moved to the living room and sat onto the sofa in front of his massive flat-screen TV.

"It's time to buy the top-tier pill... and the toxin-removing pill again... and break through to organ refinement."

"Status and Skills," he commanded, and a familiar display popped up before him.

443,491 EP

22,264 SP

0 RP

Name: Togiri

Age: 13

Strength: 29.99

Agility: 29.99

Vitality: 29.99

Aura: 99,291

Body Cultivation: Ninth Layer of Flesh Refining (Perfection)

Skills:

Nen (entry-level)

Mastery:

Ten 36%, Ren 22%, Ken 18%, Zetsu 32%

Gyo 12%, In 3%, En 12%, Shu 21%, Ryu 8%

Ko 5%, Hatsu 10%

Nen Ability:

Phantom Pages (entry-level)

Max Pages: 4

Phantom Book (entry-level)

Phantom Warrior: 0.5 (STR, AGI, VIT)

Time Limit: 3 minutes

Togiri's speed in growing stronger was immense. Only two weeks had passed, and his previous stats of 4.5 had skyrocketed to nearly 30. His Aura, which had once been a mere 12,000, was on the verge of breaking into six figures, nearing 100,000.

In just two weeks, he had gone from the third layer of skin refinement at the middle stage to the perfection of flesh refinement.

Now, he was just a step away from breaking through to Organ Refining.

The leap in power made Togiri feel invincible, but he never let satisfaction linger for long. His thoughts drifted to the Chimera Ant King's Royal Guards. "Their strength must be unfathomable—perhaps in the millions when it came to Aura and in the thousands for stat points."

The biggest change, aside from Togiri's physical strength and Aura, was in his mastery of Nen.

Most of his techniques had increased by ten or even twenty percent over the last two weeks.

Much of that improvement came from the constant threat of danger during his fights with various gangster groups. The name Blue Demon had spread quickly among criminals.

There were even a few times when Togiri intentionally let some of his prey escape, using them to spread his infamy and gain more Existence Points.

It worked. His points had increased by over 40,000 in the past two weeks alone. But even that wasn't enough to make Togiri happy.

The pills for body-tempering and Aura-condensation cost points. Increasing his Nen mastery cost points. Enhancing his Nen ability cost points. Even healing his injuries required more points as his body continued to evolve beyond that of a regular mortal.

The massive expenditure of Shop and Existence Points was becoming glaringly evident.

Skills

Nen (entry-level)

Mastery:

Ten 36 %, Ren 22%, Ken 18%, Zetsu 32%,

Gyo 12%, In 3%, En 12%, Shu 21%, Ryu 8%

Ko 5%, Hatsu 10%

Nen ability:

Phantom Pages (entry level)

Max pages: 4

Phantom book (entry level)

Phantom Warrior: 0.59(STR, AGI, VIT)

Time limit: 3 minutes

Togiri's Nen ability had barely advanced despite his efforts to increase his mastery in Hatsu. Frustrated, he decided to directly enhance the details of Phantom Pages.

His former limit of creating 2 pages had expanded to 4, and the time he could sustain a Phantom Warrior had increased from 1 minute to 3.

Although the strength of the Phantom Warrior was still less than two percent of his actual strength, Togiri believed in the endless growth potential of his Nen ability.

One day, Togiri envisioned a future where he could command millions of Phantom Warriors, a true one-man army.

Yet, that fantasy felt distant. He had managed to reduce the time it took to summon a create a Phantom Page from 6 hours to 5, and the recovery time to create another page had improved from a week to just 5 days.

Even so, a single Phantom Warrior with the stats of 0.59 was weaker than an average adult man, let alone the gangsters who could kill such average strength with ease.

"It's time," Togiri muttered to himself as he held a light blue pill in his hand. He swallowed it and sat down with his eyes closed, waiting as a few hours passed and the pill did its work.

"Like always, I stink." Black sweat covered Togiri's body as he grimaced at his own smell.

The toxin-removing pill cost 10,000 Shop Points and eliminated most of the accumulated toxins from the numerous pills he took.

Togiri lacked natural talent in either Nen or Body Cultivation, compensating instead with resources, swallowing pills like a black hole.

He reopened his shop system and bought a body-tempering pill, but this one was different.

It was rounder, emitted a fragrant herbal aroma, and seemed to radiate superior effects just by looking at it.

"This body-tempering pill is of the same grade, but a regular one costs 100 Shop Points, while this Top Tier pill is worth 500 Shop Points—The Top Tier Body-tempering pills effecf is 50 percent better."

Togiri took a deep breath and swallowed the pill. He quickly closed his eyes, focusing intently on the energy surging through his body.

The pain was immense, as if his flesh was tearing and repairing dozens of times per second. Yet, Togiri's determination and thirst for revenge drove him through the agony.

Half a day passed, and Togiri felt he was nearing his limit. He was about to fail his breakthrough for the second time.

Suddenly *Snap*—the shackles within his body broke, and he felt an exhilarating sense of freedom.

A system notification chimed in Togiri's ears, but he ignored it, concentrating solely on refining his body.

Another quarter of an hour ticked by before Togiri finally opened his eyes.

Name: Togiri

Age: 13

Strength: 30.01

Agility: 30.01

Vitality: 33.00

Aura: 103,000

Body Cultivation: First Layer of Organ Refining (Entry Level)

"My vitality increased by 3 points," Togiri noted with satisfaction. "It seems like my vitality was previously restrained by my realm. My Aura has also surpassed 100,000."

Togiri glanced at his Shop Points and felt a pang of despair.

443,491 EP

11,764 SP

0 RP

Three weeks prior, after his system upgrade, he had over a million Existences Points. Now, less than half remained.

His rapid growth in strength was exciting, but his accumulation of the last two weeks of killing felt negligible compared to the resources he expended.

Increasing his Body Cultivation alone was draining his point reserves, and he couldn't even dream of saving up to upgrade the system further.

"Rika's shipment of animals should increase once the beauty pill is released in 3 days. She has been working tirelessly the last two weeks to promote the pill, satisfy the private military platoon we contracted with, and secure those shipments for me."

Togiri was always meticulous about repaying favors and threats. "Should I get her a Nen awakening pill? She might live longer and be more productive with ten. But, no..." He pondered the idea but ultimately decided the risks outweighed the potential rewards.

Unless he achieved absolute strength, Togiri avoided becoming someone people would kill for gain.

He kept a low profile, with few knowing he was the founder and owner of the Phantom Society, a mid-sized business empire.

Now, Togiri could openly protect his tens of billions of yen/jenny and wasn't afraid to confront larger crime groups composed of stronger fighters and armed criminals with firearms.

"My body isn't strong enough to withstand a barrage of bullets, but if I use Ken, even a close-range bullet shouldn't cause significant damage.

If I remember correctly. Uvogin, one of the strongest members of the Phantom Troupe, caught a bullet from close range with his teeth," Togiri's eyes glinted with excitement.

"My body isn't fully developed yet, but my height has increased by 2 cm in the last two weeks. While Uvogin mastery in Nen surpassed mine many times and he's an Enhancement type, so his defense and attack power surpass mine, but my physical strength should be comparable to his."

Togiri pondered further, noting, "While others train both their bodies and Nen, their physical limits remain those of mortals.They focus on enhancing their Nen and marginally improving their physical capacity. But," Togiri clenched his fist, causing a crackling sound of released energy, "I only have limitations in talent and not in increasing my strength. One day, I will surpass them all."

Togiri reclined on the sofa and closed his eyes. "Seven, start the Simulator Training."

As Togiri gave the mental command, he remembered he had forgotten something. After breaking through to the Organ Refining Realm, a system notification had sounded, but he had ignored it.

"I'll check it once I wake up." Togiri drifted into a familiar black void. When he opened his eyes again, he was transported to the arena of the final phase of the Hunter Exam, surrounded by dozens of Hanzo clones.

"Let's break my record of 46 after reaching a new realm in body cultivation." As soon as Togiri moved a step, five Hanzos charged at him from all sides.

Togiri spun around, delivering a swift kick that sent a Hanzo flying into the crowd. The kicked Hanzo's chest caved in, and he died instantly.

The remaining Hanzos surged at Togiri in a frenzy. Normally, Togiri would have evaded, waiting for opportunities to deal with multiple Hanzos at once. But this time, he stood his ground.

Over a dozen Hanzos drew weapons and slashed at Togiri. Despite the countless blows raining down on him, Togiri simply smiled and remained stationary.

*Thud thud thud*

The sound of weapons striking Togiri's body was like hitting concrete with a stone. "My strength has only increased by 0.02, but my vitality, durability, and recovery speed have improved by more than 10 percent. I can now endure slashes of weapons without Nen"

The pressure grew as the Hanzos pushed him down with their combined strength. *BANG* Togiri roared, swinging his arms and sending all the Hanzos flying.

He moved quickly, ending each Hanzo on the floor with a kick or punch. In less than 2 minutes, the fight was over, and Togiri emerged victorious.

"Forget 47 Avatars of Hanzo; even a couple of hundred wouldn't be a problem....I can't increase my combat experience or Nen mastery against such weak opponents. The gap has become too vast."

Togiri pondered, "I need to fight or observe someone strong enough to become a Training Avatar." He considered his next steps.

"Perhaps I'll have enough strength for my new plan after reaching the peak of Organ Refining. For now, I need to strengthen my subordinates for future battles."

Togiri exited the Simulator Training and began to sleep, as usual, he was plagued by nightmares through the night.

Morning arrived, the rain had stopped, and Togiri, after waking and preparing to leave his hideout, checked the system for the notification he received during his breakthrough.

[Nen Affinity system update. Permanent increase in Nen Affinity is now possible.] Togiri's eyes widened in disbelief.

"If I can permanently increase my Nen Affinity, I could match an Enhancement type's strength, make my Phantom Warriors more durable, enhance their tactical intelligence through complex manipulation, and strengthen them remotely with better Emission."

Togiri examined the newly added Nen Affinity function, but his excitement quickly waned.

"100,000 Existence Points to increase my Emission from 40 percent to 41 percent. 1 million to elevate my Enhancement from 60 percent to 61 percent. 10 million to boost my Transmutation from 80 percent by 1 percent. And my specialization Nen category is still locked."

Togiri stared at the screen, frustration simmering beneath his calm facade. With his scant 400,000 Existence Points, the idea of advancing even a single Nen category seemed like a distant dream.

If he had to expend points, he would have preferred to directly enhance his mastery of a Nen technique rather than spend it on incremental upgrades.

Disappointed, Togiri left his hideout and sprinted toward the city, pushing his body to its limits as he used every ounce of his Ken output.

Six hours later, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, he reached the Phantom Society headquarters.

He hurried into the building, racing to the bathroom to freshen up. After regaining his composure, he wandered the building until he found the small elevator marked with bold letters: [CEO ELEVATOR].

Togiri extracted a special ID card and swiped it. The elevator, almost as if responding to his authority, arrived promptly.

He entered, performing a series of biometric checks: scanning his hand, eyes, and a blood sample, followed by the code word, [Kiwi].

The elevator jolted into motion, not ascending but descending, plunging him into a deeper realm of the organization. The atmosphere shifted palpably, becoming colder, more sterile.

Togiri emerged at the entrance of the dimly lit basement of the Phantom Society's headquarters.

His eyes adjusted to the harsh, metallic lighting that cast sharp shadows on the walls. This place was a fitting reflection of the work conducted here—cold, unyielding, and devoid of comfort or pretense.

It was underground, a fitting metaphor for the lives of the people he employed. Years ago, when the Phantom Society was born, he had begun to gather those cast aside by society—petty thieves, broken assassins, and desperate individuals.

They were remnants of a world that had abandoned them, but Togiri saw their potential.

He understood their need for purpose, their potential to be refined and redirected. He had once been lost, a ghost with no purpose, until he discovered his own path. Now, he offered them that same chance for redemption and direction.

The Phantom Society evolved into more than just a shadowy syndicate; it became a finely tuned machine, driven by loyalty and survival.

The core of this mechanism was its four squads, meticulously organized into layers of skill and trust. The fourth squad comprised fresh recruits, raw and unrefined.

The third and second squads were filled with seasoned criminals who had proven their worth, but it was the first squad that Togiri had crafted with the highest precision.

These were his elite operatives, honed to perfection. Each was bound by unbreakable loyalty and was a tool for his most dangerous and delicate tasks.

They were not just his enforcers; they were his most formidable instruments, capable of executing his most intricate and perilous assignments with precision and discretion.

As Togiri entered the room where the first squad awaited, the air thickened with silence.

The walls were adorned with an array of weapons, gadgets, and other tools of their trade. Each member of the first squad stood in their designated place, posture rigid, eyes locked on him.

These were the five he trusted beyond all others. Each had a personal story, each owed their allegiance to him.

At the forefront was Kaizen, the squad leader. Kaizen emanated a silence as profound as his power. His twin wakizashi, the blades created by Togiri that had carved his path from ruin, hung at his side.

His expression revealed nothing—only the cold efficiency Togiri valued so deeply. Kaizen had been broken, just as the others had, but now he was a weapon—lethal, quiet, and fiercely loyal.

To Kaizen's left stood vice captain Ryuha, his chain whip coiled around his waist. Unlike the leader, Ryuha's energy was palpable, his eyes darting around the room with a restless intensity.

Togiri could sense the tension in him, a latent force waiting to be unleashed. Ryuha's volatile temper made him a formidable fighter, thriving in chaos and battle's frenzy.

Next was Haruka, her gaze as cold and calculating as ever. Her throwing needles, hidden within her clothing, had claimed countless lives.

Once a doctor, she had traded her healing skills for the art of assassination. Patience was her greatest asset, and she was a meticulous hunter, capable of stalking her prey for days, waiting for the precise moment to strike.

Jinrai leaned against the wall, spinning a revolver with casual ease. His nonchalant grin suggested that every mission was a mere game, but Togiri knew better.

Behind that facade was a sharp intellect and even sharper reflexes. Jinrai could draw faster than most could blink, and his aim was lethally precise. Togiri had witnessed him take down five men before they even realized what was happening.

And finally, there was Tsuchi, the giant of the group, with a warhammer slung across his back. His imposing presence was enough to intimidate, but it was his quiet demeanor that truly set him apart.

Tsuchi rarely spoke, preferring the stillness of meditation. Yet, in battle, he was unstoppable, his hammer demolishing anything in its path with fearsome force.

Togiri surveyed his elite squad with a sense of profound satisfaction. Each was a reflection of his will—tools forged through their own hardships and sharpened by his guidance.

They existed for one singular purpose: to execute his commands without hesitation. Together, they were the Phantom Society's most feared and effective operatives.

Without uttering a word, Togiri stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. The time for action was imminent, and the first squad awaited his orders.

"I have come bearing gifts," Togiri announced, distributing two jade bottles to each member, except Kaizen, who received four.

Togiri's gaze was cold and unyielding as he addressed his five subordinates. "Each of you receives ten body-tempering and Aura-condensation pills. These will significantly enhance your strength. The bottles contain instructions and my personal experiences. I will return in a month to assess your progress. I expect nothing less than excellence."

'They better understand the investment I've made in them. 120 pills cost me 12,000 Shop Points,' Togiri thought bitterly as he left the room.

"..."

The silence was soon broken by Jinrai, who resumed playing with his revolver. "Kekeke. The boss has us on another wild mission," he chuckled.

Ryuha, the vice captain, grinned with enthusiasm. "As long as I can kill to my heart's content, I'm satisfied," Ryuha said. His position as vice captain was not due to inferior strength compared to Kaizen but because his personality didn't quite align with Togiri's original vision for the squads.

"This fool," Haruka muttered, Ryuha the only person able to infuriate her, making her patience run thin. "Doesn't he understand we're supposed to leave no witnesses?"

"That's why I always kill all the witnesses," Ryuha shot back, oblivious to Haruka's frustration. "You! Ugh..."

"Haruka, let him be. We each walk our own path. You can't force a horse to drink even if you lead it to water," Tsuchi, the gentle giant, intervened, trying to ease the tension.

"You're right, Tsuchi. I can't deal with this idiot. He only listens to the boss and Kaizen," Haruka agreed, frustration evident in her tone.

"Who are you calling an idiot?" Ryuha snapped, grabbing Haruka by her collar. "Let go, you moron!" Haruka shouted.

"Kekeke. I can't wait for the next mission," Jinrai remarked, leaning casually against the wall. As Ryuha and Haruka continued their argument and Tsuchi struggled to mediate, Jinrai's playful demeanor contrasted sharply with the brewing discord.

"Enough..." Kaizen's voice cut through the chaos. "Master's orders are absolute." His hand subtly rested on one of his twin wakizashi, the personalized blades that marked his role as the enforcer of Togiri's will and leader of rhe first squad.

The room fell silent, and the faces of the four squad members grew grim. Haruka's voice trembled as she spoke, "K-Kaizen, we were just joking."

Ryuha, now visibly anxious, stammered, "Y-Yes. B-boss orders are absolute. I'll go train now."

Soon, the room was empty save for Kaizen, who let out a deep sigh. "How am I to repay the Master while babysitting these four fools under my command?"