Lina's Nen ability wasn't just about summoning plant-based Nen Beasts—it had another layer. By performing an ancient dance, she could enhance her creations in multiple ways. She could reduce the time needed to form her plant Nen beasts, increase their attack power and speed, and fortify their defenses, making them more durable. In short—she could amplify her own ability.
Larry narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the battlefield. Sure enough, Lina's Nen ability revolved around plants—but it wasn't simple at all. Her A-rank strength made her a formidable opponent, but what truly made her dangerous was her versatility.
At a glance, her Nen beasts had been divided into three main types. Offensive beasts took the form of giant piranha plants capable of devouring their enemies whole. Support beasts were hypnotic mushrooms that released mind-altering spores. Defensive beasts manifested as nut shields, tough enough to withstand direct attacks.
Lina wasn't just powerful—she was a well-balanced fighter, strong in every category. For a 246th Floor Master, this level of strength was to be expected. But there was something more interesting. At the bottom of her ability description, Larry noticed a key detail, If creating plant Nen Beasts was part of her Emission-based ability, then the dancing enhancement had to be Enhancement-type Nen. In other words—her talent allowed her to naturally fuse two different Nen categories. That made her even more dangerous.
Lina didn't waste time. With a gentle motion, she raised her arms, and a surge of dark green Nen filled the arena. A refreshing floral scent spread through the air. Then, before the audience's eyes—Plants erupted from the ground. A massive piranha plant rose, its gaping maw lined with razor-sharp teeth. Clusters of glowing blue mushrooms released a mist of hypnotic spores. Tangled vines slithered like living whips, waiting to bind their prey.Larry raised an eyebrow.
He had to admit—her control over plants was impressive. But what came next was even more intriguing. Lina twisted her body, beginning to dance. The bells on her wrists jingled in rhythm, sending out a soft, hypnotic chime. Her movements were fluid, graceful, with an almost ritualistic quality. Not to mention—With the sheer veil covering her face, she exuded an air of mystique, much like a dancer from ancient times.
As she moved, tadpole-like glyphs of aura began to appear around her. The glyphs floated into the air, then shot toward her plant Nen Beasts, merging into them. Their growth exploded. The once-stable plants suddenly flourished, their size and aura intensifying rapidly.
Larry exhaled slowly. "That dance is her real ace." She wasn't just creating Nen Beasts—she was evolving them in real-time. Watching the rapid expansion of the plants, Larry couldn't help but recall a certain figure from the past.
Bonolenov from the Phantom Troupe. he was one of the more obscure members of the Phantom Troupe, often overlooked due to his lack of presence. His entire body was wrapped in bandages, resembling a mummy, but beneath those wrappings, his body was hollowed out with rows of open holes. His ability, "Battle Cantabile," allowed him to incorporate his tribe's ritualistic dance into his Nen.
The Gyudondond Tribe, to which Bonolenov belonged, had a bizarre cultural practice— From the age of three, their men would pierce their bodies with needles, gradually replacing them with larger rods, until their torsos were permanently filled with hollow tubes. By dancing, wind would flow through these tubes, creating an eerie musical resonance used for rituals and combat. Bonolenov had weaponized this tradition, integrating it into his Materialization-based Nen ability.
Lina, in many ways, was similar. Her unique dance, her integration of an inherited technique with Nen, and her fluid style of combat— It all suggested she came from a special lineage, perhaps an ancient or isolated tribe.
The thought made Larry even more intrigued. She wasn't just a strong fighter, she was the product of generations of tradition and refinement. It was no wonder she had reached A-rank strength. But at the end of the day— That only meant one thing to Larry. "She's going to be good experience points."
As the plants continued to expand, the arena transformed into a miniature jungle. The Giant Piranha Plants began to inch forward, their hungry mouths wide open. The Hypnotic Mushrooms filled the air with an intoxicating mist. The Vine Whips snapped in the air, poised to strike. The battle had officially begun. Larry flicked his gaze toward Gengar, still hidden in his shadow.
This time— He wanted to try something different.
From the stands, Biscuit observed Lina's ability carefully. Even without the Hunter Association's ability database, she had already pieced together the core mechanics. "A summoner-type ability, huh?" It was an Emission-based Nen technique, as it required external materialization and control.
Most Nen Beasts required their users to actively maintain them—they were not fully independent. Only Conjurers could create true autonomous Nen Beasts. But that wasn't the real concern. What caught Biscuit's eye was Lina's dance. She wasn't just summoning her creations—she was actively empowering them. It was a constant buff system, applying Enhancement effects to her Nen Beasts.
Considering that Enhancement and Emission were neighboring Nen categories, it made sense that she could blend the two. Of course, Biscuit didn't have access to Larry's ability to see the technical details. But based on her own battle instincts, she could make a highly accurate guess. "So the real question is—how will Larry respond?" She leaned forward, her wine-red eyes locked onto the stage.
Would he use that green barrier again? Or Would he do something completely different?
In an instant, a massive ethereal finger made entirely of aura materialized in front of Larry. It wobbled twice. Then it vanished. The audience blinked in confusion. What was that?
Larry, however, immediately recognized it. "Oh, this is gonna be fun." Metronome—a completely unpredictable Nen technique. It was a move that allowed Nen Beasts to use nearly any skill, choosing one entirely at random.
Somewhere out there, people had even held tournaments where Pokémon were only allowed to use Metronome, turning every battle into pure luck-based chaos. And luckily for Larry, Gengar was one of the Pokémon that could use it.
The question now was— What ability had it triggered? Before Larry could finish that thought The entire arena began to shake.
The ground trembled violently, as if some massive beast was about to burst from beneath the stage. The shift in aura was so sudden and powerful that Lina sensed it before anyone else. Her emerald eyes widened. "No way… It can't be…!!" Without hesitation, she abandoned her attack and slammed her hands against the ground. Within seconds, three Nut Shields shot up in front of her, forming a triple-layer defense.
At a glance, it looked almost like Orochimaru's Triple Rashomon—but on a smaller scale. She barely had time to breathe before— Chaos erupted.