HxH: I became stronger even after I died.

 In the dead of night, a torrential rain pours down.

Location: Youkexin City, Sewage Street.

The rain gathers like beads of pearls, flowing along the veins of the city's streets. The

streetlights flicker erratically, but one antique shop shines brightly.

Above the antique shop hangs a common electronic screen, slowly scrolling a line of

red text:

"Buying antiques, miscellaneous items, and handmade artworks - June 22, 1997."

Inside the shop, there is a display case against the wall. In the warm orange glow,

various antique artworks are arranged, their true value hard to discern.

Deep within the shop stands a solid wooden table against the wall, with a lamp

perched on its corner. Under the beam of light, a red wooden doll sculpture about fifty

centimeters tall stands quietly.

Suddenly, a pair of hands reach into the light and grasp the unremarkable doll

sculpture. The owner of these hands is a young boy dressed in casual clothes with

neatly styled black hair and handsome features.

Click.

With a slight push from his fingertips, cracks suddenly appear on the surface of the

doll sculpture, and strands of white light different from that of the lamp seep out from

the cracks.

Following this, the wooden shell shatters away to reveal a jade figure surrounded by

faint glimmers of Nen energy. The translucent surface of the jade figure is adorned

with shallow green patterns resembling fish scales, shining brilliantly under the light—

clearly worth a fortune.

Shattering the wooden shell transforms waste into treasure.

This scene is witnessed by a sturdy man wearing a dog mask standing by the entrance

of the antique shop. However, he seems to be familiar with the boy's abilities and

shows no surprise.

He crosses his arms and fixes his gaze on the boy, his voice calm and powerful: "Moro,

why did you refuse Morena Prudo's gift for you?"

"Gift?"

The boy named Moro suddenly looks up to meet the dog-masked man's gaze and

smiles helplessly. "Brother Dog, asking me to kill twenty-one unrelated people counts

as a gift?"

"Of course it counts as a gift; if you kill them, you'll immediately level up to Level 21.

After that, if all goes well, you should be able to master an additional Nen ability that

suits your needs. Even if the final result varies, at least you'll enhance your aura."

The dog-masked man's voice remains steady as he pauses before continuing: "Moro,

Morena needs timely feedback on her Nen ability effects, so don't let her down.

Besides... casually killing a few people to become stronger is beneficial for you."

"..."

Moro falls silent upon hearing this.

Casually killing a few people…

This is typical gang behavior.

Or rather, in this world known as Hunter x Hunter, disregarding life and trampling

individual existence is not uncommon.

Moro experienced this firsthand when he crossed over here a year ago…

He gazes silently at the dog-masked man.

As a traveler from another world, he is well aware of the plot and characters in Hunter

x Hunter.

The dog-masked man before him and Morena who saved him a year ago are

characters from gang families that appear in the succession war arc of King Kakin.

Setting aside Morena's identity as an illegitimate daughter of Kakin's royal family and

her future role as head of the Aiy family gang, what left Moro with the deepest

impression was…

Morena's Nen ability displayed in the original work.

It was an ability that allowed others to level up through killing…

"Killing can make you stronger; it sounds so easy."

Moro suppresses his thoughts and reveals an inexplicable smile while keeping his

eyes calm and devoid of any ripples. "Brother Dog, Nen abilities are not so superficial;

there are systems like oaths and restrictions... Although I don't know how Morena

discovered this ability, one thing is certain."

At this point, Moro suddenly diverts his gaze downward toward the jade figure on the

table and says softly: "That is risk—immense and unknown risk."

"..."

Upon hearing Moro's words, it is now the dog-masked man who falls silent.

Silence sometimes equates to acquiescence.

However, he does not forget his own position and quickly breaks free from silence to

directly ask: "So your answer is refusal?"

"How could it be... My life belongs to Morena."

Moro lowers his eyes with a hint of self-deprecating laughter while images of Morena's

deep black eyes flash through his mind. After pausing for a moment, he raises his

head to look at the dog-masked man and softly says: "Give me one day."

"Alright, I will tell Morena."

The dog-masked man nods at Moro and then turns decisively to leave. Just as he is

about to push open the door to exit the antique shop, he seems to remember

something and suddenly stops.

"By the way, Morena said she hasn't decided on a name for her Nen ability yet; she

wants you to help her come up with one."

"..."

Moro is momentarily stunned as he involuntarily thinks of some scenes from the

original work.

"Love Practice Song."

This was indeed the name of Morena's Nen ability in the original work.

As for why such a destructive ability would have this name…

Moro does not know.

Thinking about this, Moro almost without hesitation gives an answer based on

information from the original work: "Let's call it Love Practice Song; if Morena doesn't

dislike it..."

"Hmm?"

The dog-masked man is somewhat surprised; he did not expect Moro would give such

a stylistic name.

However, he does not dwell on it too much and waves goodbye to Moro before

stepping out into the rainy night.

Moro remains calm as he watches him leave.

Creek—

The door closes behind him.

A few minutes later, Moro slowly retracts his gaze and turns to look at the translucent

jade figure standing amidst shattered wooden shells on the table.

"I can only run away now..."

If there are things he is unwilling to do and has no room for negotiation on, then Moro

decides to leave Morena's circle altogether.

It's not that he resists killing; it's just that among those twenty-one people sent by

Morena are infants and children.

This has crossed his bottom line.

Moreover, he understands better than anyone Morena's true intentions hidden deep

within her heart.

To destroy Kakin Kingdom, annihilate humanity, obliterate everything...

This is what Morena seeks.

So eventually Moro would leave; he just didn't expect that day would come so soon.

For more than half a year now, he has brought considerable profits to Morena through

running this antique shop.

If not for this change in circumstances, he actually wanted to repay Morena's lifesaving grace as much as possible through this means.

That should be enough…

Moro silently thinks in his heart before raising his right hand to look at its back.

There lies a tattoo pattern resembling tree rings composed of six different colored

hollow circles.

From innermost to outermost—white, green, blue, purple, red, gold—these colors

form concentric circles.

In the very center of these rings is an extremely small black infinity symbol.

Moro does not know where this tree ring tattoo came from or its purpose.

He only noticed days after crossing over when an outline of this tattoo suddenly

appeared on his hand's back—it gradually deepened until it became fixed in place.

Currently confirmed information indicates that others cannot see this tattoo on his

hand's back; moreover, it seems that this tattoo grants him an effect akin to an oath—

'indestructible'.

Additionally, by absorbing Nen energy from antiques in various forms or handmade

artworks can fill up these hollow areas within tree rings. This is also fundamentally

why he chose to run an antique shop in Youkexin City.

Over more than half a year's time span; he has absorbed quite a bit of weak Nen

energy from antiques or handmade artworks—now even that innermost white ring has

nearly been filled up completely.

For now not wanting to think about leaving Morena behind; Moro shifts his focus back

onto that jade figure entwined with faint Nen energy.

If he absorbs all Nen energy from that jade figure now; it should fill up that white ring

completely.

Even if it doesn't fill completely; some employees dispatched tonight will likely bring

back antiques possibly entwined with Nen energy too.

In silence within the antique shop; Moro reaches out towards that jade figure.

There's no visible movement or fluctuation; however; faint Nen energy from within that

jade figure visibly merges into Moro's palm at speed visible to naked eyes.

The tiny gap in that white ring also fills up accordingly becoming relatively complete

now.

Seems like there's no need to wait for those employees anymore...

While thinking this; Moro's eyes remain fixed on that white ring on his hand's back—

after more than half a year's effort; there's finally some anticipation at this moment.

Because in his view; this tree ring tattoo could very likely be what people commonly

refer to as 'the golden finger' for travelers from other worlds.

If it could provide assistance at this moment; then he'd have more confidence in

breaking away from Aiy family gang's influence entirely.

Moro patiently awaits changes; however time passes second by second—the white

ring which seemed like an energy bar filling up does not produce any phenomenon at

all.

"The worst outcome has occurred."

Seeing no change in that tree ring tattoo; Moro slightly shakes his head.

Right now there are probably three possibilities regarding this situation:

One must fill all rings before revealing any unknown abilities.

The filled rings may require some specific conditions before revealing abilities.

The tree ring tattoo might not be what he hoped for—a golden finger after all...

Moro feels somewhat disappointed but doesn't mind too much either way.

Even if he could gain some golden finger abilities right now—it would only be an

unexpected joy for him at most.

His true confidence lies within diligently honing his emission-type Nen abilities since

crossing over... As night deepens further still without any sign of rain letting up,

The dog-masked man walks through heavy rain arriving beside a black sedan parked

by roadside.

The window in its rear seat rolls down revealing an exquisite elegant woman inside.

She has eyebrows like willow leaves and eyes like phoenixes—but across her beautiful

face are two parallel gruesome scars left by knives.

These scars stretch from her hairline across her left eyelid extending down her

cheek—almost crossing half her face—truly shocking sight indeed.

"Morena."

The dog-masked man bends slightly looking towards woman inside car.

Morena lifts her gaze: "Akeno? What did he say?"

"Moro asked you for one day."

The dog-masked man replies honestly.

Morena lowers her eyes seemingly sensing something amiss,

The dog-masked man waits for her response allowing heavy rain to drench him

completely as time passes slowly by...

After some time,

Morena habitually reaches out touching one scar across her cheekbone softly tracing

its outline with fingers,

"Forget it."

She murmurs softly under her breath,

The dog-masked man pauses momentarily,

Morena drops her hand returning her gaze beyond him towards direction of antique

shop,

"Akeno... do you know? Little Moro possesses something I truly despise."

"What?"

The dog-masked man asks instinctively following along with curiosity,

Morena's eyes deepen while her tone gradually turns cold,

"A bottom line."

"..."

The dog-masked man finds himself speechless unable to respond adequately,

Morena states coldly: "My people cannot have such things."

Understanding what she means—the dog-masked man's thoughts race momentarily

considering persuasion—but ultimately holds back those thoughts instead,

Morena retracts her gaze saying: "Phantom Troupe members are causing trouble

again; let little... let him become one of our bargaining chips to quell their unrest."

"Understood."

The dog-masked man responds affirmatively before revealing name given by Moro for

her Nen ability—

Love Practice Song...

Upon hearing name mentioned—a flicker stirs within Morena's gaze indicating some

disturbance surely—but ultimately still incomplete...

Even though she can sense loyalty emanating from little Moro during their deep kiss—

their 'purposes' remain entirely different rendering it meaningless altogether...

"Let's go."

Morena slightly lowers her head although unable yet receive feedback—she still

discerns flaws inherent within ability itself,

Akeno glances at Morena catching slight hint disappointment lingering within her

tone…