Rebirth in HxH World With Gardevoir

According to the original storyline, Gon and his friends would participate in the 287th Hunter Exam, scheduled to take place in 1999, with the exam traditionally beginning on January 7th each year. This meant Larry still had ample time before the main plot kicked off. He also recalled that in the previous year's exam, Hisoka had been disqualified from the 286th Hunter Exam in 1998 for attacking an examiner, which meant that the upcoming exam would mark his return to the scene. 

Leaning back in his chair, Larry felt satisfied—understanding the timeline was crucial for planning his next moves and staying ahead of future events. Yesterday, his first day in this world, he had resolved his money problem thanks to Gardevoir. Her powerful physic made reading the dice a breeze, allowing him to win every round effortlessly.

Now that finances were taken care of, it was time to focus on training. Dressed in a loose training robe, Larry took a deep breath and assumed a natural, relaxed stance. He closed his eyes and started feeling the flow of his aura, tracing its circulation through his body.

Following the methods demonstrated in the anime by Wing, the mentor of Gon and Killua, Larry visualized his aura moving through his body—from his head to his right shoulder, then down to his hands, legs, and back up again. He imagined the aura swaying like flowing water, wrapping around him in a protective layer. This exercise wasn't difficult, thanks to his prior knowledge from watching the anime. It was another reason why he felt he didn't need a mentor—he already knew enough to cover the basics on his own.

Although there were still gaps in his understanding, practicing the fundamentals was enough for now. After a while, Larry's closed eyes snapped open. A faint glow pulsed around him as his aura, once calm and steady, suddenly expanded outward. Like an overinflated balloon reaching its limit, his Nen erupted in a sudden burst, flooding the room with invisible pressure. The surge of aura kicked up a strong gust, making his training robe billow violently. His hair spiked upward, caught in the rushing flow of aura, giving him the appearance of a Super Saiyan from Dragon Ball.

This was Ren. The raw release of built-up aura in a single, powerful burst. The intensity of Ren was a good indicator of a Nen user's current capacity. The longer one could maintain it, the stronger their potential. As the aura eventually settled, Larry sat down with a thoughtful expression. "Not bad," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Despite his relaxed approach to training, he had made decent progress today. With steady effort, he could build up his aura reserves over time without too much strain. Gardevoir, who had been silently observing from the side, approached and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Shauna?" she asked, concern evident in her tone.

Larry smiled at her. "I'm good. Just getting used to this whole Nen thing."

Gardevoir tilted her head, a soft hum escaping her lips. Even though she was born from his telekinesis ability, she acted just like a real Pokémon—caring and full of personality. Larry reached over and patted her head. "Thanks for sticking with me, Gardevoir. Let's keep working together." Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she nodded enthusiastically.

Larry stood up, stretching. "Alright, that's enough for today. Time for some well-deserved rest." While others might throw themselves into rigorous training for days on end, Larry believed in a balanced approach. He had plenty of time before the Hunter Exam, and he'd use it wisely.

Late at night, the streets were empty, with only a faint glow of moonlight spilling over the cobblestone road, providing just enough light to navigate the quiet town. Larry strolled leisurely into the casino, hands tucked casually into his pockets, as if he were walking into his own home. There was not a hint of caution in his demeanor. Of course, he had every reason to be confident. Deep within him, Gardevoir lay in wait, ready to appear at a moment's notice. Not only was Gardevoir formidable in combat, but her life-saving abilities were top-tier. As long as they weren't facing overwhelming numbers, a single Teleport was enough to escape any tricky situation.

After scanning the casino, Larry's sharp gaze landed on two men standing at the center of the hall. One was short and fat—his old acquaintance, Vance. The man's pudgy face was currently plastered with an arrogant grin. Beside him stood a tall, thin stranger with an angular face and a prominent aquiline nose. He looked shifty, like someone who thrived in the shadows.

Using Gyo, Larry focused his aura into his eyes, enhancing his vision. Immediately, the world around him shifted, revealing what was hidden from normal sight. A smoky aura drifted lazily above Vance' head, the hallmark of an ordinary person who couldn't control their aura. His life aura was continuously seeping out, something that happened naturally to non-Nen users.

Vance, however, wasn't the concern. The real threat was the tall, thin man standing next to him. Larry noticed that unlike Vance, the man's aura clung tightly to his body—solid, controlled. A clear sign that he was a Nen user. But what stood out the most was the strange pattern covering the man's exposed skin. His body appeared fractured, like cracked glass, with thin lines of Nen running through the breaks. 'Baptism...' The term came to Larry's mind instantly.

In Hunter x Hunter, reaching the 200th floor of the Heaven's Arena meant facing Nen users for the first time. Ordinary fighters who climbed that far were often subjected to a brutal "baptism"—an overwhelming exposure to aura filled with malicious intent. For those with weak potential, it was a death sentence. Their bodies would break down under the pressure, leaving them crippled for life. But for the lucky few who survived, it served as an awakening. They would gain a crude understanding of Nen, though their abilities would be rough and unrefined. The cracks on this man's skin told Larry everything he needed to know—he was one of those survivors.

"Hahaha! Boy, your time is up!" Vance' voice rang through the casino, his laughter loud and obnoxious. His chubby face jiggled with every chuckle, making him look even more grotesque. The tall, thin man beside him remained silent, watching Larry with a calculated gaze. "I knew you weren't some ordinary brat," Vance sneered. "So I paid a fortune to bring in this expert!"

Vance' voice was filled with resentment, and his eyes burned with the pain of loss. Hiring a Nen user had cost him dearly, but to him, revenge was worth any price. "Tonight, you pay for humiliating me!" His voice dripped with venom, the memory of their last encounter clearly still haunting him.

Larry, however, remained calm, his expression unreadable. His eyes flickered toward the Nen user, analyzing his aura further. The man's control over his Nen was crude but dangerous—wild, unpredictable. If Vance thought he had found a reliable weapon, he was about to be sorely disappointed.