Chapter 34: Innate Nen User
A petal from the black rose tattoo on her arm actually fell off, drifting slowly to the ground before eventually disappearing.
Su Xiao witnessed all of this, his eyes seemingly gleaming.
"When did you get that rose tattoo on your arm?"
"I never got it tattooed. It just appeared on its own one day."
"Appeared on its own..."
Su Xiao rubbed his chin with his index finger. This assistant named Black Mary seemed quite interesting. This situation reminded him of a possibility—that she was an innate Nen user.
In the Hunter world, there were people who either were born with it or awakened Nen abilities after receiving some kind of stimulation later in life. This kind of Nen ability was always a Specialization type. Other Nen abilities required training to obtain, but only Specialization types could awaken without practice.
These innate Nen users generally weren't very combat-capable. Among ordinary people, they might be called magicians, priestesses, prophets, etc., possessing all kinds of peculiar abilities, but they didn't realize these abilities were actually the Specialization type of Nen.
"Describe what happened back then."
Black Mary began describing the situation to Su Xiao. She was in the lobby on the first floor at the time. When she heard the sounds from the basement, her instinct was to get far away from the auction house. But before she could run far, a 'pale blue energy blade' slashed into her, cutting her in half. After that, she couldn't remember clearly—just that it felt very hot. When she woke up stark naked, she walked a long way before finding clothes and eventually regrouped with the gang members.
Hearing Black Mary mention the pale blue energy blade, Bubu Wang looked at Su Xiao.
Su Xiao cleared his throat. That should have been his blade aura. No, it definitely was his blade aura.
"So, you died and came back to life."
Su Xiao stared intently at Black Mary. Did she actually have the ability to revive from death? A Specialization type resurrection ability?
"No, that's not it. I probably wasn't dead at the time. No, I definitely wasn't dead. 'Dark Rose' can't revive the dead—that's the rule..."
"Dark Rose? Is that the name of your Nen ability?"
"What Dark Rose? Huh... I think I just said that word."
Black Mary became even more confused. Her Nen ability had only recently awakened.
"How troublesome. Let's just test it and find out."
Su Xiao pulled out a dagger. A cold gleam flashed, and a wound appeared on Black Mary's arm.
Black Mary let out a pained cry as blood gushed out. At that moment, the black rose tattoo on her arm detached from her skin, transforming into a real rose floating in midair. Nen energy enveloped Black Mary, and the wound on her arm healed rapidly.
A dozen seconds later, the black rose tattoo reappeared on Black Mary's arm. One petal showed signs of withering. The black rose still had twenty-three petals left.
"Interesting."
Su Xiao felt that this ability probably wasn't limited to affecting only Black Mary herself. If it could be used on others, that would be extremely significant.
"Use this ability on me."
"H-how do I do that? And... can I put on some clothes first? I'm cold, and it would be bad if someone came around here."
Black Mary's face was flushed red as she awkwardly covered her upper body.
"Put on your clothes and follow me. As for that rose on your arm, don't mention it to anyone for now."
"Yes."
Without a doubt, if Black Mary's ability could be used on others, it would have extraordinary significance.
Injuries from being cut in half could be healed. Injuries from being scorched by a miniature sun could be healed—as long as she wasn't burned to ashes. Healing severed limbs and broken bones would definitely be no problem.
Black Mary's ability should have limitations. Each time it was used, a petal from that rose would wither. The degree of withering depended on the severity of the injury being healed. When all the petals on that rose had completely withered, she might lose this ability.
Black Mary's ability reminded Su Xiao of someone—wasn't this just an enhanced version of Karin?
...
A car slowly drove along the road. In the driver's seat, Black Mary's face was flushed, and her gaze kept drifting toward Su Xiao in the passenger seat.
"Focus on driving!"
"Yes!"
Black Mary flinched in fright, both hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Su Xiao sat in the passenger seat, looking at the shallow scar on the back of his hand. After preliminary testing and his careful instruction (holding Dragon-Slaying Flash to Black Mary's neck), Black Mary mastered the 'Dark Rose' ability at an astonishing speed. Indeed, people only perform under pressure.
Through experimentation, Black Mary could heal any injury, but with one condition: she couldn't heal the injuries of the dead. In other words, this wasn't a resurrection ability.
The experiments consumed petals from the Dark Rose. Now only twenty petals remained, but Su Xiao had already gained a general understanding of this ability.
Healing minor injuries consumed 0.3 to 0.5 petals, severe injuries 1 to 2 petals, near-death injuries 2 to 3 petals, and limb loss plus near-death injuries 3 to 5 petals (uncertain).
Su Xiao didn't really care about healing ordinary injuries—his [No. 1 Potion] had strong recovery capabilities too. But the ability to heal limb loss was very important. Restoring severed limbs normally required high-quality potions or returning to Reincarnation Paradise.
Su Xiao ordered Black Mary never to reveal this ability. He had cut off both arms and one leg of the Red Jester, and if that guy recovered, it would be a real headache.
Speaking of the Red Jester, Su Xiao felt somewhat speechless. That guy seemed to have vanished into thin air. If not for the fact that the hunt mission hadn't failed yet, Su Xiao would have suspected the Red Jester had already returned to Reincarnation Paradise.
"Mr. White Night."
Black Mary suddenly spoke, a smile appearing on her face.
"Hmm?"
Su Xiao lay back in the passenger seat with his eyes closed.
"Don't worry. Even if you get your limbs cut off, I can help you recover."
Hearing this, Su Xiao didn't respond. While the logic was sound, he felt something was off about it.
In the back seat, Bubu Wang rolled his eyes. Having a slight cleanliness obsession, he had already taken a bath.
"But Mr. White Night, where are we going?"
"Just drive. No more talking."
"Okay, Mr. White Night."
Black Mary wasn't as afraid of Su Xiao anymore, because she had realized that as long as she didn't provoke this man, there would be no danger.
The car drove through Yorknew City for half an hour before stopping. Yorknew City was very large—a decadent yet prosperous city.
The car pulled over by the roadside. The streets were eerily quiet.
When Black Mary turned to look at Su Xiao, she found the passenger seat empty.
"Huh..."
Just as Black Mary was about to get out and check, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes staring at her from the back seat.
Bubu Wang fixed his gaze on Black Mary, his look seemingly saying, "If you get out, I'll bite you to death, long-legged female creature."
Black Mary didn't dare move. Although Bubu Wang usually seemed goofy, one shouldn't forget his former name: Space-Rending Evil Dog·Bubuteni. Even though he later became the 'Home-Wrecking Evil Dog,' Bubu Wang's combat prowess was unquestionable.
On the outskirts of Yorknew City, in front of a dilapidated two-story ancient castle.
This castle had seen many years. Its outer walls were covered with climbing vines. Although the environment was nice, it had been abandoned and was remote, making it rarely visited.
Yet this very castle was now brightly lit. The large courtyard was filled with patrolling gang members and various breeds of dogs.
Not only that, but if one looked closely at the castle, heavy machine guns could be seen mounted inside several windows.
Perhaps no one would have guessed that this rundown castle was the hiding place of the Ten Dons.