Chapter 18: The Day the Broken Sword Was Reforged

Six days later, in the luxurious mansion of Rodakin Dom.

“Is he still training in the guest room?”

Rodakin Dom took a bottle of 1994 Sloc wine from the ice bucket and poured himself a small glass.

The butler standing nearby respectfully replied, “Yes, sir. Mr. Heather has been confined to the guest room for the past six days. He only takes one meal a day, and the servants are only allowed to leave the trays at the door.”

“It seems that training one’s Nen ability is truly difficult, especially for someone like him who specializes in materialization.”

Rodakin Dom settled into the plush sofa and took a sip of wine. “Send word to fulfill all of Heather’s requests to the fullest, but make sure he is not disturbed.”

“Yes, sir.”

The butler bowed slightly, though a hint of hesitation lingered in his expression.

Rodakin Dom glanced at his longtime companion and shook his head. “Gal, given our relationship, why hesitate? You want to ask why I value Heather so highly.”

“Nothing escapes your notice.”

“Izena Bi is a one-star Hunter in the Association, but with his strength and achievements, he could have been promoted to two stars long ago. Do you remember the great fire thirteen years ago? The enemies hired a group of Nen users who swarmed and besieged the old manor.”

Rodakin Dom swirled his wine gently. “For the first time, we witnessed all manner of incredible Nen abilities. The high-priced mercenaries and Nen bodyguards we hired were no match for the onslaught. It was then I realized the Nen users I’d employed before barely understood what a ‘finishing move’ was — their incompetence nearly cost lives!”

The butler nodded, recalling that night with lingering unease. “It was thanks to Mr. Izena Bi and Lady Rosto that we survived.”

“Since then, I became fascinated with the power of Nen users and the collection of Nen tools.”

Rodakin Dom drifted into memory. “I’m too old to practice Nen myself, but with my wealth and status, I can recruit stronger Nen users. That’s why I’ve been a major donor to the Hunter Association, and my friendship with Izena Bi has remained strong. Do you know how Izena Bi introduced this Mr. Heather to me? Ha… a prodigy of unprecedented genius!”

“Mr. Izena Bi never exaggerates about Nen abilities,” the butler said, clearly well acquainted with Izena Bi.

“So, I decided to take a gamble.”

Rodakin Dom glanced at the dossier on the round table beside him. “An antique sword with no supernatural power—though one of my prized artifacts—if it can win me the friendship of a rising powerhouse, it’s a guaranteed investment. Besides, being involved firsthand in the rise of a great Nen user is fascinating, isn’t it?”

“You had decided from the start to gift Mr. Heather the ‘Absolute Sovereignty’ sword?”

“Gift? No, no, dear Gal. If you hold something of immense significance to someone else, never let it become ‘free.’”

Rodakin Dom wagged his finger with a light laugh.

“That only cheapens the ‘bond’ between you and others. Remember, always hold the chips in your hand; make yourself valuable to others. Only when you are useful will others regard you as an important friend. Even if you intend to ‘give’ something, choose the right moment.”

“That, my friend, is the true essence of ‘friendship.’”

………………

The main hall of the guest room had been emptied; there was not a single piece of furniture left.

Heather sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, the battered antique sword ‘Absolute Sovereignty’ laid horizontally before him. His unique Nen energy flowed like a quiet river, gently enveloping and analyzing the sword.

Perhaps because the sword was genuine, or because he had envisioned the Nen ability he wished to build as overwhelmingly powerful.

In any case, Heather’s development of his Nen ability was not going smoothly.

For most materialization Nen users, the hardest part is fully constructing the form—a challenge Heather did not struggle with. The difficulty lay in recreating the miraculous power of ‘Absolute Sovereignty’ as told in ancient myth.

At the same time, Heather had to simultaneously develop his Nen ability system, which was extraordinarily difficult.

The stronger the ability, the harsher the conditions required.

The infamous Phantom Troupe, a gang of Nen thieves, was led by Chrollo Lucilfer, whose trait-type Nen ability is called ‘Skill Hunter.’

This ability manifests as a materialized book with a blood-red handprint on the cover. It allows him to steal others’ Nen abilities for his own use, permanently erasing the stolen ability from the original user.

Powerful? Extremely so. But the activation conditions are incredibly stringent.

To successfully steal a Nen ability, four conditions must be met: 1. See the opponent’s ability with your own eyes; 2. Ask a question related to the ability and receive an answer; 3. Have the opponent place their hand on the handprint on the book’s cover; 4. Complete all three within an hour.

That’s not all. Using the stolen ability also requires: 1. Materializing the book on the right hand and turning to the page of the desired ability; 2. The stolen ability vanishes from the book when the original owner dies.

Such strict prerequisites produce an unparalleled Nen ability. Combined with Chrollo’s combat awareness and experience, he is nearly invincible in life-and-death battles.

Heather’s ultimate Nen ability, however, surpasses even Chrollo’s ‘Skill Hunter.’

Despite his extraordinarily high potential and manifested Nen capacity, he was stuck at the final step of his ability’s construction.

In truth, he felt trapped. The antique sword itself could no longer bear more Nen infusion; exceeding the threshold would likely destroy it. The sword was Rodakin Dom’s treasured possession; Heather was merely borrowing it to comprehend Nen—he could not risk damaging it.

Knock! Knock! Knock! A steady, measured knock sounded.

Heather massaged his brow and exhaled. “...Please come in.”

The door opened, and Rodakin Dom entered the guest room. Seeing Heather’s troubled expression, he comforted him, “Though you’ll think it’s an old man’s nagging, remember to balance work and rest, Heather.”

“I know, but...”

Heather shook his head. “I can feel the Nen infusion reaching its limit. If I continue, the sword will be truly damaged. It’s time to stop. No matter what, I owe you a debt, Mr. Rodakin Dom. Perhaps I should look for a less formidable weapon to try next.”

Rodakin Dom stroked his chin thoughtfully. “...If we disregard the risk of the sword’s damage and increase the Nen infusion, are you confident you can complete your Nen ability?”

“Only about fifty percent. Without crossing that hurdle, even I don’t know if I can succeed. Mr. Rodakin Dom, what are you—”

“Heather, from this moment, the ‘Absolute Sovereignty’ belongs to you.”

Rodakin Dom had made up his mind. “You may do with it as you please. Consider this my investment in you. I believe you will not stop here.”

When Rodakin Dom said “belongs to you,” Heather froze, for he suddenly felt the previously stalled construction of his Nen ability begin to loosen.

The final condition had been met!

The aura within Heather’s pores surged uncontrollably, exploding like a massive bomb.

Even Rodakin Dom, an ordinary man, could feel the rising heat waves emanating from Heather’s center.

The entire mansion rumbled and shook; silverware clattered on the dining table; daggers hidden in boots and belts trembled; every gun part creaked.

Every weapon in Rodakin Dom’s estate seemed to cheer the birth of a new ruler.

Rodakin Dom’s private guard, all Nen users, looked up in horror toward the guest room on the second floor. Their sight was engulfed by the fierce Nen aura enveloping the entire estate—a terrifying pillar of flame shot skyward, illuminating the night!

Soon, the pillar twisted into a spiral, tightening and condensing.

Inside the guest room, Heather’s Nen gathered and poured onto the antique sword in the form of blazing flames. The battered sword glowed a fiery red, as if being forged anew by intense heat.

“He intends to infuse immense Nen energy directly to reforged the sword?”

Rodakin Dom’s scarf suddenly revealed a sinister eye that fixed on the scene. This was the Three-Eyed Demon Scarf, a Nen tool capable of sensing others’ Nen. Through it, Rodakin Dom sensed Heather’s Nen had become incredibly condensed, scorching the sword like blazing fire.

No wonder other Nen users couldn’t detect the sword’s problem—it needed Nen energy of absurd quality and quantity to awaken!

Rust on the sword’s surface peeled away on its own; the faint gold traces around the hilt spread across the blade; shattered edges repaired themselves; the broken tip reformed.

Cracks closing slowly on the massive emerald set in the center of the crossguard, even the missing parts in the gemstone’s core were filling in.

The thin chain at the sword’s pommel writhed gently; the torn end regrew and crawled slowly until reaching Heather’s wrist.

Everyone else evacuated to the lawn outside. Ordinary servants and guards assumed it was an earthquake, but the Nen users dared not even look directly at the blazing pillar that pierced heaven and earth, lighting the stars.

Heather’s hands hovered above the sword as his overwhelming Nen steadily reworked the ‘Absolute Sovereignty.’

The forging lasted a full three hours. Just as Heather’s Nen began to wane,

The brand-new ‘Absolute Sovereignty’ appeared before him.

It was a golden cross-shaped sword, about 1.5 meters long with a straight blade. At the center of the crossguard sat a hexagonal emerald that shimmered faintly. A slender silver chain extended from the pommel, linking invisibly to Heather’s wrist unless viewed through Nen perception.

Simultaneously, Heather’s Nen ability was finally complete.