Chapter 2: Price x Nen
At first, he didn't understand anything that was happening. One moment, he was hit in the head with a ball while passing by his high school baseball field; the next, he was in complete darkness. Not soon after a blue light in the darkness seemed to call out to him offering another chance at life, but he had to complete someone's wish first. He then found himself next to a kid's body that was giving off the same dark blue as the light that offered him the deal. Of course, as an anime fan, how could he not recognize the phenomenon happening to the kid? Any decent anime fan would have recognized it at a glance. The kid in front of him had awakened his nen.
When he had accepted the deal he had no idea what he was walking in to, he now realized it was the world of hunters, he was glad he said yes. Based on context, he guessed that was the kid's wish he had to complete. Although the kid had said to 'make them pay,' he had already understood what he meant from what he could see around him. He was ready to inhabit the kid to keep his end of the deal. That said, It didn't turn out to be all that smooth. When he tries to inhabit the kid, he receives a shock that pushes him back. Along with the shock, a stream of information had also been shoved into his mind.
Basically, the information that was installed into his mind when he came in contact with the Nen told him he had to pay a price—a price that would allow him to inhabit the kid's body. The nen itself had already transferred his soul from Earth to the world of hunters. The information also told him why he could not inhabit the body immediately.
The problem was that his soul was more substantial than the kid's body; he needed to make his soul weaker from what he could understand based on information from watching many other anime and manga and his conjecture. The soul grew alongside the body, and the body was like the receiver. Humans in their infancy were weak, it was the same for their souls, outside influences determine their personality, and shape their souls with emotions that give birth to the individuals' egos. It helps them identify themselves: Will I like this. It also ensures others do not influence them since their core values have already been established.
It was part of growing up. Experiences shape people as they live their lives, making their souls stronger. In that regard, Joel Smith had to give up a part of his experience, a part that defined his existence. He had to pay a price in order to exist in the hunter world. Everything had to have a value. There wasn't something in exchange for nothing. He understood that and accepted it.
He approaches the kid's body again and places his hand above the nen.
"I give up my name, Joel Smith." his name. It wasn't unique, and he wasn't the only one who had it, but if anything defined him, it was his name. Nothing happened; he hoped that giving up his name would be enough. One has to know that while a name defines you, it does not define you as a whole. He had a horrible feeling that he had to pay much more, and he was very reluctant because he wouldn't be able to experience the complete transmigration as his true self. He was unwilling, but the opportunity wasn't something just anyone could have. He was sure if anyone was in his shoes, they would do the same.
'I guess I will have to do it.' Joel thought, readying himself.
"I, Joel Smith, give up my name and my memories of myself." nothing happens.
'Shit.' Joel curses inwardly. He had already predicted it, he hoped that he didn't have to do it, those memories were something he could use. If he had to give them up, he had to gain something because those memories contain the way to become stronger. They would also give him an edge over anyone else who started (nen) at the same time as him, and those memories were the right of all transmigrators. He had no choice if he wanted to live again.
" I also give up the knowledge of the future of Gon Freecss and those he would come in contact with. I only ask to keep the knowledge of the power system of this world, along with a training method I had developed for Nen and a list of techniques that could be useful, along with memories of different power systems and the knowledge of the occupation of a hunter, also to leave behind a memory to take the 287th hunter exam," Joel said hoping it wasn't asking for too much. Finally, the Nen in the kid's body erupted like a bonfire, moving like a royal blue flame. As it burned, another color started to mix in, a blood-red color. Joel was surprised but didn't have time to think about it because his body quickly faded.
The price that Joel had to pay was significant, especially for him. As a transmigrator his whole advantage was the knowledge he had of the world he was in, it was how most transmigrators could overcome the main character and become more powerful than them. Giving up his memories of the hunter x hunter world was a significant setback for him. The memories that had made him and defined him. The memory of his first kiss, the first time he cried, the memory of when he first learned to drive, and his birthday and birthday parties—the memories that gave him emotions, all the memories that had shaped him. What was left behind was information and awareness. He had to keep those, at least. He had to be aware that he was a transmigrator. The information was just technical, things related to a particular subject. If he thought of a specific one, he would then remember the related information but not how it happened or the relevant events about him. However, what he wanted to keep was information about various anime, which was not as helpful as the plot of the story. They could help make him stronger.
The memories of the plot were what he regretted losing the most. He gave up on being a transmigrator. He also lost the ability to predict the future, which in reality was precisely that: knowledge of the future. If anyone had something like that, they could manipulate it to their advantage, change someone's fate, or alter the future. That information was crucial, especially with Joel's details about the hunter world. It was why he was so reluctant to give it up; he wanted to take the same hunter exam as Gon. If he didn't have that knowledge, he had no idea if he, without memories, would take the exam.
Joel had forgotten something in his excitement. He had no idea what year it was or if he had been transmigrated to the same time period as Gon. Luckily for him, the boy he had transmigrated into was the same age as Gon.
____
The small eight-year-old boy with short dark hair moved. Lifeless, pitch-black eyes that match the boy's hair regain their focus, and he looks at his surroundings. Confusion was in his eyes, and there was also wonder; a thought appeared in his mind.
"Where...?" he said in a small voice. He stopped mid-question because the information was appearing in his head. The monkeys around were still frozen in place. They didn't feel the dark feeling anymore but were still wary. This made them vigilant of the boy in front of them since the feeling had come from him. This hesitation gave the newly awakened presence inside the boy time to collect himself.
"Okay… I'm a transmigrator from Earth. I paid a huge price to inhabit this kid, whose name was Jett Helix. Well, it was more like I made a covenant: I have to kill these monkeys around me. I have the kid's memories, but now that I'm in his body, I can feel the lingering emotions, and they are strong. The emotions are not affecting me since they were not mine. I guess until I complete the deal, they won't stop." Said the boy.
" The price I paid was my memory. At least the previous me took some measures, or I took some measures. It was odd to refer to himself in the third person, but it works for now. He left behind a few things. I have the information on how to use the power of nen, which is related to the occupation of a hunter. A hunter, like hunting animals? No. It is related to a profession of this world, which is called a hunter. He wants me to take the 287th Hunter exam. He also left behind instructions on a training method for both Nen and martial arts," the boy said to himself.
"I will have to investigate everything in more detail later. Since Pass Me knew about this world, I am most likely in an anime world. He also had to sacrifice the related memories of this world; the conditions were harsh. They could have been helpful; at least he didn't leave me completely in the dark," he said, cheering himself up.
"Okay, then. Since I forgot my own name, I will take your name, kid. I will live your life in this world. From now on, I am Jett Helix. Now, to complete my part of the bargain," the new Jett said, noticing the monkeys coming closer out of the corner of his eye.
"Jett's memories of you guys are scary. I can't blame you, though; it is in your nature," Jett said to the monkeys, even if they didn't understand him.
"This is bad, really bad. You guys made this kid really hate you. He didn't know how to express that feeling. You only felt the surface emotions that had mixed in with the nen. Let me tell you something: What he felt could have turned you all to ash in an instant if he had any clue as to how to use his power." Jett said, not caring if the monkeys understood.
"Let me make you feel just how much he wanted to kill you." Jett let his battle-up emotions soak the nen. With his information on how to use Nen, he only had to release it and let the nen express his feelings. As soon as he released the nen, a resounding air explosion was emitted.
The air was pushed back in a small dome-like shape. The air in the town turned cold; it wasn't a cold like ice, but the bone-chilling cold of death touching you. This time, although some of the gibbons still froze in place, five of them outright died. When Jett saw this, he was surprised; he didn't expect them to die. A piece of information pops into his head. It told him that those that did not know nen could not protect themselves from those who did, in some cases, one could end up dying.
'I see, so Nen can kill someone who does not know Nen. Sometimes, they survive and awaken their own nen, which is good to know.' Jett thought.
"Now, what do I do with the remaining eight of you? Any suggestions?" Jett said, mainly talking to himself.
"The other Jett didn't say how I should make you pay. Killing you all seems like the most logical solution. I doubt that he would care now. He seems happy as he leaves hand in hand with his parents," Jett said.
"Now, let's see if I can use Nen. The other me's training method says that precise control over any energy base power is how to become stronger. Based on all the anime I have in my memories, well, on those with an energy-type power system. It makes me think he is on to something." Jett started to channel Nen into his hand.
He straightened his palm and gathered nen in the most straightforward shape possible, which could kill. The most simple shape was a sword. The process was slow, but for someone who had never used Nen, you could say he had a talent. Small beats of sweat gathered on his forehead. It was hard but not impossible to do. He was still emanating a strong killing intent, the monkey frozen in place.
Usually, when someone is ready to kill, a cold and hollow look would appear in their eyes. For Jett, that look was already in his eyes from the moment the previous Jett had died. The moment his parents had died, Jett had already abandoned all hope, and all his emotions were gone. What remained was a hollow death look.
Slowly, while trying not to lose concentration on his new sword's shape. He walked to each monkey and cut off their head. The whole situation was anticlimactic. That's precisely what Jett wanted; he didn't have the strength to fight them with raw strength. He was also over-exerting himself; he had no idea how different his previous body was from the one he was in now, but he could feel it. He felt like his whole body had been asleep and his muscles were stiff, although he seemed confident on the outside, he was ready to drop at any moment.
Jett held on for a few more minutes. In the memories of other anime, an enemy would always find a way to survive and sneak attack their opponent. Jett could be overthinking, but he could never be too careful as a brand-new transmigrator. Finally, after three more minutes of standing on guard, he let his body relax, immediately collapsing and fainting.
He had been right to be cautious. He had no way of knowing that if he had led his guard down, an unknown creature would have attacked him at that very moment. It hid in the shadows of the trees, watching, waiting for an opportunity to attack him. After two minutes of waiting, it gave up. It knew that a cornered prey was far more dangerous than a healthy one. Jett's caution had saved his life.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone