The crowd roared, filling the arena with deafening shouts. It was chaos—anticipation and tension hung thick in the air.
Even girls who'd normally crush on someone as dangerous as Hisoka couldn't help but swoon over Kastro, a far more elegant presence with his silver hair and sharp features.
The two men stood on the grand stage of Heavens Arena, their faces emotionless as the announcer began listing their achievements. She spoke with excitement, recounting their previous matches and rivalries before finally declaring the start of this high-stakes fight.
Ronnel knew about the complicated history between the two fighters.
Two years ago, Kastro—brimming with raw talent—had climbed his way to the 200th floor. Back then, however, he knew nothing about Nen. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), his first opponent on the 200th floor had been Hisoka.
It was a brutal introduction. Kastro lost but managed to earn 3 points, which caught Hisoka's attention. The clown-like magician, intrigued by Kastro's potential, helped him open his Aura Nodes, comparing him to a fruit he'd cultivate for future enjoyment.
Thus began a two-year contract between the two. After his defeat, Kastro left Heavens Arena to undergo grueling self-training, aiming to master Nen and one day challenge Hisoka again. In just two years, he had gone from knowing nothing about Nen to standing among the strongest.
Now, he was ready.
"Impressive," thought Ronnel as he watched from the stands. "Kastro might even be more talented than Killua or Gon."
It was rare to encounter someone with such immense potential. With his signature Tiger Bite Fist and the powerful Nen ability known as Double, Kastro had become a force to be reckoned with.
(T/N: Kastro creates a double of himself that can attack and confuse the enemy, generally sending it against the enemy first while he moves in a favorable position.)
The announcer, sensing the crowd's eagerness, finally gave the signal.
"Let the match begin!"
The battle exploded into action. Gon, Killua, and Zushi sat at the edge of their seats, watching the fierce exchange with wide eyes. Even Wing observed closely, analyzing every movement with careful precision.
"Hisoka won't be able to toy with Kastro this time," Ronnel muttered to himself.
Kastro wasted no time—his Double ability, allowed him to summon a clone that mimicked his attacks perfectly. The moment Hisoka let his guard down, Kastro's clone delivered a powerful series of punches, one after another, knocking Hisoka back.
Then, with lightning speed, the clone severed both of Hisoka's arms.
The audience gasped.
"Whoa! He actually did it!" Gon exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.
"Yeah..." Killua muttered, eyes glued to the fight. "He's even stronger than I expected."
Even Wing remained silent, deeply absorbed in the battle. But Ronnel frowned. Something didn't sit right.
"Why didn't he go for Hisoka's neck?" Ronnel murmured. "If he wanted to win, that was the obvious target."
Gon and Killua exchanged puzzled glances.
"That's... actually a good question," Killua admitted.
For a brief moment, the two boys pondered the strange decision.
But Ronnel knew the answer. This wasn't just a fight for Kastro—it was a declaration. He wanted to show Hisoka that he was no longer the naive rookie from two years ago, someone who could be easily molded and discarded. This was revenge—a chance to prove himself.
Ronnel sighed. "What a fool."
Even at their level, Kastro still hadn't learned the most critical lesson—never let your emotions compromise your strategy. His pride had cost him the fight.
It wasn't long before Hisoka's unsettling smile crept back. Using his unparalleled intelligence and mastery over Nen, Hisoka began exploiting the weaknesses in Kastro's ability. As powerful as Double was, it required fine control over the clone—control that faltered when Kastro became emotional.
Hisoka played his cards well, creating subtle misdirections and gradually unraveling Kastro's focus. In the end, Kastro's overconfidence and lack of a solid foundation were his undoing.
The outcome was inevitable. Hisoka made quick work of the exhausted Kastro, striking him down with a decisive blow. Blood pooled beneath the lifeless body as Hisoka, cradling his severed arms, walked off the stage with a mix of irritation and boredom.
"What a waste," Hisoka muttered without looking back.
Ronnel watched from the stands as the medics carried away Kastro's corpse, which was now riddled with playing cards. Hisoka's disappointment was palpable—he had nurtured this potential, only to see it squandered.
But Ronnel felt differently.
"Maybe Hisoka thinks it was a waste," he mused quietly, "but to me, it's anything but."
A small smile curled at the edge of his lips as he stood up and whispered to Wing.
"I'll be downstairs."
Ronnel's Reward
Standing in the shadows of the arena, Ronnel could feel the energy coursing through him.
"Essence acquired."
"Advanced Martial Arts: Tiger Bite Real Fist acquired."
(T/N: Kastro executes Tiger Bite Fist at the same time as his double in a deadly tandem attack)
"Nen Ability acquired: Double."
"Martial Arts Talent: Perfect (Pseudo)."
The exhilaration was intoxicating. Kastro's years of effort, distilled into pure essence, now belonged to him. Ronnel could feel his Nen surging, sharper and stronger than ever.
"This..." he thought with satisfaction. "This is exactly what I needed."
Kastro had been a worthy opponent, and even in death, he had contributed immensely to Ronnel's growth.
The thrill of victory settled in Ronnel's chest as he made his way out of the arena. This was only the beginning.
------------
+180 chapters on patreon.com/FanficsHub