CHAPTER 359 HOLD ‘EM

CHAPTER 359 HOLD ‘EM

With no chakra I was severely limited on what I could and couldn’t do. There was no transformation jutsu to change my face, no darkening of chakra to hide behind, no shadow clones, no water. For the first time in years I had no chakra. I was going to have to completely revamp my fighting style.

At least I could still shift into Kame Mode. Focusing on the water energy around me I could absorb it’s power, potentially healing myself and replenishing stores of energy inside of me. That was a big plus.

I didn’t have Haki on my status screen, but everything had spiritual energy. I had learned to attune myself to others energy and utilize my own years ago. Thus Observation Haki to predict moves, and Armament Haki to strengthen myself and my defense was still there. Not as strong as my Conqueror’s Haki, but better than nothing.

I also had my Spark. How I understood my Spark Power was it ran off energy of my body. Able to make electricity I could shoot it out and coat my body in it, adding a little extra attack. If I was lucky I would play with my new control of other people’s electrical impulses, but for now I had to train my attacks.

I didn’t have World Lasting Physique, so growing stronger physically was useless. But this was the time to practice my skills at their base strength. Understand how they work at level 1 so I could slowly build them up. Find my own Gears with them as Luffy had done with his Devil Fruit.

I attributed this to video games. If you beat a game. Then years later you came back to the save file, you were more than likely not going to be very good at using the skills. You were a lot better off slowly building the strength up, practicing piece by piece until you built up your ultimate moves.

I had basically learned Nen, a level 10 skill, at level 50. My Nen had been way stronger right at the beginning. Now I would have to struggle and learn all of its little tips and tricks as I focused on it.

As far as I understood, Enhancement category Nen was the most balanced. Where a Hunter like Killua could change his Nen into electricity, it was an amazing attack. But with that you weren’t protected from attacks. Enhancement was a strong attack and defense. I had played with emitting my Nen, but I only had an efficiency of 85% with it. I had to go back to the basics and learn what using just Nen entailed.

By coating my body in my Nen I could basically form my own armor with it. Protecting me from harm. With that the Nen strengthened me like chakra could, and as I played with it I found out that it was actually better at buffing me than Chakra had been.

Chakra was my first Power System in the Manga Hall. It was also the point where I had received World Lasting Physique. Able to push it to my body to allow me to jump 20 feet in the air it had become a part of me. I only relied on it more once the impurities of my chakra had been eliminated.

Focused on Nen, I could feel that my lifeforce was a much stronger source of power. Able to do huge bursts of strength with it I could tell I had been using my powers incorrectly. I should have focused on Nen for huge bursts of strength and chakra for endurance. I had thought I was mixing the Power Systems for years, but I was starting to doubt it. Trying to use Nen, Armament Haki, and chakra all at once for my ‘ultimate moves’. As I played with just Nen it felt like maybe my body could only take so much empowering before it naturally scaled them back. Like the gates in the mind.

“Can I still open those?” I asked. I didn’t have chakra, but I didn’t see why I couldn’t force open the gates holding back my physical stats. With my Spark I could potentially force my body to heal faster too. “Gonna have to figure that out.”

As I worked all this out I was sitting on the ground behind my house. As a male teacher I was paid more than enough to survive. My parents had passed away a few years ago due to a gas leak in their house so they left me their house. My dad had been an Inert like me so I had a pretty normal childhood. But when they died I sold their place and bought this one. A large 2-story a few blocks from the University there were 4 bedrooms and was easily afforded on my salary.

“Stop getting distracted,” I mumbled. “Where was I? Oh right. Power Systems,” I said. “So if I am right and my old style of fighting wasn’t working how I thought. Then using Nen, Chakra, and Haki at the same time was useless. I’m guessing that my body only gained the strength of one of them. The strongest. When I opened my Gates and used Nen in the last Challenge, that was probably the first time they truly mixed. I need to learn to either get to that point, or get a body that can handle all energies at the same time. If it is limited by the strength of the body then it is useless, but there has to be a way to use all the powers at once.”

I continued to sit and think. Playing with my Nen as I focused it on certain parts of my body.

“Do I need a special move?” I asked. Bringing Nen to my fist. “Or should I just focus on keeping it on my body?” I focused the Nen into my pointer and ring finger. Glowing slightly I pushed more and more lifeforce into the fingers like I had done breaking Doflamingo’s Birdcage. “It’s so versatile.” I kept pouring my lifeforce into my fingers. Moving it to the grass the area around it began to be crushed near the fingers. I raised my hand and pushed the power away.

Shooting straight up in a streak of light I felt a little light headed using so much. “My focused attack uses a bunch of Nen at once. I need to start practicing to fight with Nen coating certain parts of my body where I am about to be attacked, and calling my Armament Haki. When I need to kill someone I use the focused attack. I should learn how strong it is as a base and continue to test it out to know when it will be useful. There is no reason to waste all of my energy on 1 attack needlessly. I should name it too.”

I thought aloud about names. “Special Beam Cannon is taken and too long. Cannon shot? Destructo shot? Blast Wave? Spirit gun? It is kind of like Yusuke’s attack, but it’s not spiritual energy. Is my spiritual energy the same as what was used in Yu Yu Hakusho or Bleach? Stop getting sidetracked. Ugh, Nen Blast. Yeah, lets call it that. Nen Blast.” I didn’t plan to announce my attacks but mental references were good.

Tired from using so much Nen I yawned and got up. Heading inside I made a sandwich and looked through my map of the city. I lived in Detroit, Michigan. The automobile capital of the U.S. there were a lot of opportunities in the city, but I doubted I would stay. I was back in America for the first time in years, and it was good to be home.

The current time period was 1960s equivalent, except all the racism since the civil war was centuries ago. It would probably be another few centuries before the technology was up to my memories. Which meant I had the opportunity to move things along in the correct direction. I was born in the 80s in my first life, so I wasn’t too sure where we were technology-wise. I tried to think back to the show Mad Men.

Cars were big, Coca-Cola existed, and that was all I could think of. I doubted circuit boards and computers smaller than a house were a thing yet, so I was severely limited. The main entertainment on TV was a gladiator show where men that never bonded with a woman fought and killed each other. I was really tempted to join in on the fun. With my Nen and Haki I was probably stronger than most anyone, but I was here in this world for a reason. I was sure there was some sort of drama going on that I hadn’t found out about yet.

As I continued to think, there was a knock at my door. Letting out a sigh I threw my dish in the sink and headed to my front door. Some light still outside I wasn’t surprised to see one of them, but I was surprised to see the other.

Hancock and Abigail were outside my door. They had changed clothes from the last time I saw them as well. Since Abigail’s dress had been ripped off she had needed a wardrobe change, but Hancock wore much more revealing clothing this time.

They stopped arguing with one another as I opened the door. “Hello girls,” I said, though they were both my age.

“Hello professor,” they said in unison. Hancock nudged Abigail and Abigail shot her a death glare.

“What can I help you with? I don’t think I assigned any homework,” I said.

“Uh yes,” Abigail said, stepping closer. “I just wanted to thank you for earlier.”

“Of course. Are you alright? I’m sure that man attacking you could be quite traumatizing.” She blushed deeply. Biting her lip as she nodded.

Where Hancock was 6 foot 3 inches, DD-cup practically spilling out of her dress, had long legs that were shown off from the now short dress she wore. Abigail was a little more modest. Dark brown hair, longer nose that made her more unique, and wearing glasses, she was the quiet girl in class. Her dress littered with flowers she projected the innocence I had come to attribute her with, at least outwardly. Inside, both of them were excited energies of lust, longing, and I guessed submission.

“Why don’t you come in,” I said. Looking around I didn’t see any neighbors, but if I was caught with 2 students I wasn’t going to be too heartbroken. I didn’t plan on staying on as a teacher anyway. No obvious quests, there was at least opportunity in the world.

The girls walked through together, pushing one another as they did. I ignored their antics. The real Hancock would be so embarrassed when she came to this world, but I finally had a chance to meet her. Part of me worried she had some drama in her life like the version I met in Utopia World, but only time would tell.

“Another?” I asked.

“Better not,” she mumbled.

“I’ll have one,” Hancock said, passing her cup to me.

“Yeah me too,” Abigail said, changing her mind. I was honestly enjoying the interactions way too much to stop them, so I didn’t. I made us drinks and was back to it.

“What should we play now?”

“We could watch TV,” Abigail offered.

“How about strip poker?” Hancock asked, proving again why I made her my wife. Abigail stiffened and turned beat red, but her Haki became hornier.

“You don’t appear to be wearing too much,” I said. The girls became more excited when I didn’t throw the idea right out. For some reason they thought they were seducing me. “How about...service poker?”

“What’s that?” Hancock asked, shifting to cross her legs. I guessed she had reached a peak for excitement.

“Instead of clothes we offer services,” I said.

“Like what?” Abigail squeaked.

“Whatever you want,” I said, acting nonchalant. “I could bet that you have to clean my house. And if you lost you would both have to.”

“Fine,” Hancock said.

“We both have to agree to the bet,” Abigail said, her blush spreading to her ears.

“How about I say my bet out loud. But you have to tell each other your bets. And if you win, I have to do whatever you bet,” I said. I wasn’t sure where the bout of inspiration came from, but this felt like a good way to escalate with both of them.

“Okay,” the duo said in unison.

“Let us talk for minute,” Hancock said. The girls forgot their anger at one another for a moment and began whispering in the other’s ears. They talked excitedly and quickly, breaking out into giggles and gasps as I fought my erection and shuffled the cards. When they were ready I dealt the cards.

“What’s this?”

“This is called Texas Hold’em,” I said. “A different kind of poker. Now you have 2 cards in front of you that you can look at. I will reveal these 5 cards. First I will show 3 cards, then 1 card, then the last card. Before I flip the cards over we will place a bet. You must escalate that service bet before each flip. Let’s do a practice one. Look at your pair of cards.”

They did so. I had an ace and a 2. “This one is practice. So I would say my bet outloud like...you both have to clean my kitchen. And you would tell the other your bet.” They nodded. I flipped the 3 cards over. “Next we would escalate the bet...you have to clean my entire house.” They nodded. I flipped the one card over. “We would escalate the bet. You have to mow my lawn as well.” I flipped the last card over. “Whoever makes the best poker hand wins. You can fold before we get to the last card, but there will be a penalty.”

“What kind of penalty?” Abigail asked.

“The original bet,” I decided on. They nodded. Both into the game and drinking their screwdrivers.

I shuffled and passed the cards out again. “My first bet will be you have to clean my kitchen,” I said. Hancock whispered in Abigail’s ear, then Abigail did the same to Hancock. “My 2nd bet is you have to clean my house.” They nodded, agreeing on their own bets again. “My last bet is you will have to clean my house naked.”

The girls stopped their giggling. Both becoming red faced. “You can fold if you want,” I offered. “You would only have to clean my kitchen.” The words hung in the air. Neither said anything. I flipped over the card.

“Ha!” Hancock said, throwing the pair of aces she was dealt. Abigail groaned.

“Damn, beats me,” I lied. “What were your bets?”

“You-” Hancock tried to say, but I cut her off.

“Oh no, you could be lying,” I said. “Abigail, what were her bets?”

“She said, you have to take off your shirt. Then you had to take 3 shots of alcohol, and...”

“Say it,” Hancock said, a cocky grin on her face.

“Give her a kiss,” Abigail said.

I shook my head, laughing as I took my shirt off. “Anyone else need a drink?” I asked. I walked to the kitchen and brought back the ingredients. It wasn’t long until I took the 3 shots. Shaking my head I wavered a little, actually feeling it. On unsteady feet I sat on the coffee table in front of the girls. Both practically shook as I stopped so close to them.

“is this your first kiss?” I asked Hancock. She nodded, nervous as I looked down at her. “Then let’s make it a good one.” I leaned closer to her, the beautiful woman moving back in the sofa until she hit the cushion. I hovered over her lips, our eyes locking. “This only happens if you want it to.” She looked down to my lips and moved forward. Moaning in my mouth she was less than experienced at it.

All firm and no tongue I let her keep it going for a moment then took over. My mouth widening she shivered but opened her mouth as I had done. My tongue touching hers she moaned, her hands moving to the sides of my face as we kissed. Slowly but surely she followed my lead, her own tongue touching mine as the kiss became more heated. At least a minute long she was out of breath when I pulled away.

I looked over to Abigail who was seething with jealousy. “Was your bet a kiss too?” She hesitated but nodded. I moved closer to her and was soon kissing her as well. Abigail was a quicker study after watching Hancock and I. Moaning loudly she became more into it as the kiss extended at least as long as mine and Hancock’s.

When I was done with her I stood up, unashamed of my erection. “I um the alcohol may have gone a little to my head,” I admitted. I had been hoping to play more, but this body was weaker, not used to such drinks. I thought of a better idea though. “Did you girls drive here?” They both nodded, their cheeks flush.

“Well how about you stay the night then?” I asked. Moving to put the cards away as they sat there in stunned silence.