HxH: Apex Predator

The four individuals gathered at the training grounds. Silva was the first to speak.

"Your abilities are incredibly potent," he began. "While they may not excel in raw destructive power, their versatility is unmatched."

"You've already reached an impressive level of mastery over them, so I don't have much advice to offer. The further development of your abilities will largely depend on your own experimentation."

He paused, then added, "As I've mentioned before, Enhancement is one of your two innate attributes.

You need to start focusing more on strengthening and refining your body.

Surely you've noticed that your Specialist abilities require a strong physical foundation to fully utilize. Enhancement fits that role perfectly."

He continued, "Take our previous battle as an example.

If your physical attributes had been further enhanced through nen, you could've executed your plans more effectively. Remember, nen isn't just a passive ability; it's a tool you wield actively."

"The simplest way to neutralize a nen assassin is to eliminate them before they have a chance to react.

The same principle applies to you. You must train your nen abilities to activate as quickly as possible. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask."

For Ryker, his greatest question about the battle concerned that final nen blast. How had Silva timed it so perfectly, as if he knew exactly when Ryker would switch to his physical form?

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Ryker blurted out, "How did you time that last nen shot? How could you be so sure I was in my physical form?"

Silva's response wasn't immediate. Instead, he began with a statement. "I assume you've never faced an opponent using En while employing that ability."

The certainty in Silva's tone struck Ryker, who quickly realized the answer. During their battle, he had repeatedly transitioned between his physical and intangible states within Silva's En.

"As you've probably guessed," Silva continued, "the feedback from my En changes drastically when you switch between forms. That's how I was able to identify your physical state instantly.

"There's no such thing as a flawless ability. The more complex the power, the more restrictions it carries."

Silva's words confirmed Ryker's suspicions. He hadn't anticipated that Kamui would have such a glaring weakness.

'It seems the nen system in this Hunter world has its own subtleties. Even with my advantages, I can't afford to be careless.'

"Do you have any other questions?" Silva asked.

"No," Ryker replied simply.

To him, the battle had been straightforward. Silva had relied on foundational nen techniques throughout, without employing any abilities Ryker couldn't comprehend. There was nothing more to ask.

Silva, however, pressed on. "Your spatial ability… it likely includes long-distance teleportation, doesn't it? How far can you travel? Is the distance determined by your nen reserves?"

Ryker paused for a moment before responding, his voice calm but firm. "I'd like to know what capacity you're asking this in."

The tension in the air thickened instantly. The four stood in silence, the weight of Ryker's words hanging heavily. Though Silva had retracted his En after their battle, his instincts told him Ryker was currently intangible.

"I'm asking as the current head of the Zoldyck family," Silva replied evenly.

"Your ability has significant strategic value for missions. It could save us substantial time on travel. Of course, any use of your power for family missions would come with appropriate compensation."

Silva's reasoning seemed sound, and neither Zeno nor Kikyo voiced any objections. All three awaited Ryker's response.

Without a word, Ryker approached Silva and extended his hand. "Don't resist," he instructed.

Zeno and Kikyo watched as Ryker touched Silva, who was immediately absorbed into the Kamui dimension. A split second later, Ryker followed suit, vanishing into the swirling portal.

Within the Kamui dimension, Silva arrived first, taking in his surroundings with a keen eye.

Ryker appeared shortly after. Without hesitation, Ryker activated his ability again, and the two were transported to the ruins where Ryker had dealt with the tailing men weeks prior.

Silva instantly recognized the location. Before he could react further, Ryker brought them back to the family training grounds in under five seconds.

Once back, Silva addressed Ryker. "As per our agreement, I'll identify suitable contracts for you. You can decide whether to accept them.

From now on, you're free to come and go from Kukuroo Mountain at will, though I doubt that restriction matters much to you anymore. No one in the family could stop you now."

Ryker smirked faintly. "It may not matter, but there's a difference between taking something for yourself and having it given to you. That distinction is important to me."

With that, Ryker disappeared into the Kamui dimension, his final words echoing faintly across the training grounds.

Silva and Zeno exchanged glances as they slowly walked out. Kikyo, sensing a private conversation was imminent, excused herself and left.

"How does it match up to your assessment?" Zeno asked. "His ability includes long-distance teleportation, doesn't it?"

"It's more troublesome than that," Silva admitted. "In mere seconds, he took me to the vicinity of Heaven's Arena and back. His ability involves a separate dimension, though it's unclear whether it exists within this world or if it's entirely independent."

"Either way, he can open portals at will, transferring people or objects in and out of his space.

He can control where those portals appear, giving him unparalleled stealth and escape capabilities. It's perfect for assassination."

"But I suspect Ryker doesn't truly embrace our family's profession or share much loyalty to us.

With his current powers, few in the world could stop him. And considering his abilities, I've begun to suspect something troubling—something that might not bode well for the family."

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