Although the lines on the blade couldn't be seen clearly, Thatcher never forgot the familiarity of that saber.
It was the treasured ancestral saber of Subai, the same one Hankloda had fought with against him half a year ago.
For the past six months, he had been working on uniting the northern and southern schools, but the treasured sword had eluded him. He thought that some disciples of the Southern had hidden it away, only for it to reappear in the hands of a Shingen-ryu disciple!
"How could you have...?"
The words of disbelief slipped out before Thatcher could stop them, his mind racing with questions. But in a duel between Nen users, even the slightest distraction could prove fatal.
His momentary lapse caused his hand to weaken, and the grip on his sword slackened.
Before he could react, a streak of copper-black flashed across his vision.
It was over.
The sword was knocked from his hand, and his head, still wide-eyed in shock, was sent flying from his shoulders.
"Distractions during battle... That's not a mistake a leader should make."
Ronnel's voice was calm as he sheathed his blade, stepping back from the lifeless body of Thatcher. The headless corpse fell to the ground with a dull thud.
With a flick of his wrist, Ronnel activated his ability, summoning three luminous apertures before turning and walking off the stage.
The crowd was silent, utterly stunned by what they had just witnessed.
It had taken only one exchange.
In a single move, Thatcher, the master of the 231st floor of Heavens Arena and the strongest leader of the Subai school, was decapitated.
And just like that, he was gone.
The commentators, recovering from their shock, hurriedly announced Ronnel as the victor.
A smattering of applause slowly grew into a thunderous ovation. Those who had placed their bets on Ronnel cheered the loudest, ecstatic over their unexpected winnings.
To defeat a master of Thatcher's caliber in one move—what kind of strength was this?!
In contrast, the waiting room where the other competitors gathered was eerily quiet.
"Thatcher... was killed."
Finally, someone spoke, their voice thick with disbelief. It was a fellow Floor Master, his body wrapped in bandages from previous matches.
"One move... Thatcher was strong, wasn't he?"
"...Yeah, he was definitely one of the strongest among us," another muttered.
"If he was taken out like that... what chance do we stand?"
Silence filled the room again.
"Damn it! Is this guy really a Shingen-ryu disciple?!"
One of the Floor Masters voiced his frustration. "I've seen Shingen-ryu fighters before, but none of them were this strong!"
"Does it matter? The point is how to deal with him. This guy doesn't show mercy. Have you seen him leave anyone alive after his fights?"
The one who spoke now had silver needles protruding from his body, his cold sweat betraying the fear he tried to conceal.
"We have to think carefully. If you get into the ring with him, you might be dead before you even have a chance to surrender."
After that, he walked toward the shadowy corner of the waiting area, as if to distance himself from the ominous future awaiting them all.
"My next opponent is Sparka... I can't win, and I can't face this guy. Admitting defeat might be shameful, but it's better than losing my life, right?"
His words struck a chord with the others. They exchanged uneasy glances before dispersing, leaving only the dark-skinned, green-eyed Floor Master behind.
"I... What should I do?"
The reality of the situation sank in. If he didn't admit defeat, he would almost certainly lose his life. But this was the Battle Olympia, the competition watched by the entire world.
To admit defeat without fighting would bring a lifetime of ridicule. The shame would follow him forever, and the gamblers and sponsors who had bet on his victory would never forgive him.
It was a no-win situation.
As the despairing Floor Master stood there, his thoughts spiraling, the scene shifted to a TV screen somewhere far away.
"Oh hehehe, what a sharp saber," Hisoka murmured with a mischievous grin, his tongue flicking out to wet his lips.
"I wonder how it compares to my playing cards?"
Machi, standing nearby, shivered uncomfortably under his gaze.
---------------
+136 chapters on patreon.com/FanficsHub