Kaizen, a player on the 200th floor of Heavens Arena, had already made a name for himself.
"It's been four matches," someone murmured.
"The first three were victories, but the fourth… he forfeited."
A bystander shook his head, watching a replay on the monitor. "But it wasn't because he doubted his ability to win. He must've had something more important to do."
The decision to forfeit wasn't a sign of weakness. It demonstrated confidence in his own strength. Only someone certain of their abilities could make such a call.
"This guy… he's seriously strong," said a younger fighter, awe in his voice.
For rookies, encountering a competitor on the 200th floor was like meeting a legend. The young man remembered how his father had once been deferential to such a fighter. And Kaizen… Kaizen was clearly even stronger than that person.
"I almost made a huge mistake," the young man muttered, glancing at the tall figure standing beside him.
"If you had," the tall man said, clapping the youth on the shoulder, "it wouldn't just be you who paid the price. Your entire family might've been ruined."
The young man swallowed hard and nodded. "I understand."
"Good. In the future, think twice before acting recklessly. You never know when you might offend someone beyond your league."
The young man lowered his head in shame but couldn't hide the spark of longing in his eyes.
If only I could be that strong one day...
...
Back at the Luxury Suite
Kaizen ended a call with Silva.
"Uncle Silva, I've arrived at Heavens Arena," Kaizen said.
"Good. I'll contact you when it's time to send Killua over."
"Understood."
Kaizen hung up and turned to Nina, Sally, and Shizuku.
"How have things been going?" he asked.
Nina shrugged. "Same as always. But Sally still doesn't remember her past."
Sally smiled faintly. "That's okay. If I don't remember, I don't remember. Having you guys around is enough for me. Starting over isn't so bad."
Kaizen nodded. "That's a good mindset. By the way, have you sorted out your Nen abilities?"
Sally raised a hand. "I've got two. The first is Barrett—a long-range sniping ability. My max range is three kilometers, but my effective range is about two."
Kaizen whistled, impressed.
"The second is Thunder Grenade," she continued. "It's great for close-range damage and causes temporary blindness as well."
Both abilities were solid for a Manipulator. Kaizen nodded approvingly.
"Used strategically, you could be deadly in combat."
...
Forming a Strong Team
Kaizen leaned back in his chair. "I'll be staying at Heavens Arena for a while," he said. "First, I need time to focus on my training. Second, I want to finalize the structure of our team."
He gestured toward Sally. "Your abilities are already developed, so you'll handle long-range attacks."
"Got it," Sally said with a firm nod.
Kaizen turned to Nina. "You'll focus on information gathering. Your Nen ability, paired with Polar Bear's support, makes you perfect for the role. A flexibility is invaluable in this area."
Nina smiled. "I'll do my best."
Kaizen handed her a slip of paper. "Here's an email group address. It connects you with a network of reliable information brokers. Join it and use it wisely."
Nina took the paper. "Understood."
"Our team isn't complete yet," Kaizen continued. "We'll need more members. If you know anyone suitable, let me know."
He glanced at Shizuku. "Starting today, I'll teach you Nen."
Shizuku's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"Follow me."
...
Shizuku's Training
Kaizen led Shizuku to a quieter room.
"Stand still," he instructed.
Shizuku complied, her black shoulder-length hair framing her glasses. Despite her slightly awkward demeanor, she had a sharpness about her.
Kaizen began explaining the fundamentals of Ten—the technique of shrouding one's body with aura. Shizuku listened intently, nodding when prompted.
"Do you remember everything?" Kaizen asked after finishing his explanation.
Shizuku nodded.
"Good. I'll open your Aura Nodes now. Once they're open, focus on sensing your aura. Then use Ten as I showed you."
Kaizen raised a hand, channeling his aura. A steady flow of energy surrounded Shizuku.
"Open!"
The switch in Shizuku's body flipped, and life energy surged out of her. Shizuku gasped, her eyes wide as she felt her aura for the first time.
...
Meanwhile, at the Zoldyck Estate
Killua trailed behind Silva, glancing around at the familiar sights of his home.
This time, however, his gaze lingered on the gates. His curiosity wasn't about the estate—it was about the outside world waiting beyond.
For the first time, Killua was about to leave the Zoldyck Manor.
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