Zebro handed over the key without hesitation.
"You've made a wise choice," a middle-aged man said, taking the key and heading toward the side entrance.
With a swift motion, he inserted the key and turned it.
Click.
The door creaked open, and over a dozen people rushed inside in a chaotic flurry.
Boom!
The door slammed shut behind them.
Zebro watched them disappear through the side entrance, shaking his head before turning to Kaizen with a slight smile.
"Master Kaizen," Zebro greeted warmly.
He approached the front gate, shrugged off his coat, and revealed his muscular physique. Planting both hands on the large gate, he gave it a forceful push.
Creak.
The gap between the heavy doors slowly widened.
"Please, after you."
Kaizen gave a short nod and stepped through. Gotoh followed closely behind, with Zebro bringing up the rear.
Boom!
The gate swung shut behind them.
The first thing Kaizen saw was a gigantic dog's head, looming and still, like a silent sentinel. Its emotionless gaze resembled that of a lifeless machine—a pure instrument of death, crafted only to kill.
Kaizen's eyes narrowed slightly. There was something off about Mike, the hulking guardian beast before them.
"This isn't just some ordinary creature," Kaizen thought, a trace of unease stirring in him.
He knew the Zoldyck family had links to the Dark Continent—few could forget the legendary expedition where Zeno's grandfather, Maha Zoldyck, had joined forces with Netero to explore its depths. Upon their return, Netero had warned both the Hunter Association and V5 to steer clear of the Dark Continent at all costs.
Kaizen was certain Alluka's strange abilities were tied to that forbidden land. Whether Mike had a similar origin, however, remained unclear.
Half of a man's body dangled from Mike's mouth—the remnants of one of the intruders who had earlier demanded the key from Zebro. The others had already been torn apart and devoured, leaving this unfortunate soul as Mike's final victim.
The man's eyes locked onto Kaizen, Gotoh, and Zebro, glimmering with desperate hope, as if he thought they might save him.
"Help... me..." he croaked, his voice thick with terror.
But the man had grossly misunderstood the situation.
Zebro was a loyal gatekeeper for the Zoldycks. Gotoh, the family's butler, served them with unwavering dedication. And Kaizen—he was part of the family. None of them had any intention of helping him.
Crunch.
Mike's powerful jaws closed with finality.
Splat!
A spray of blood erupted as the man's body was crushed and mangled, leaving him writhing in agony for only a moment longer before falling still.
Kaizen turned his gaze away, his expression carefully neutral.
Living among the Zoldycks had long since numbed him to death. He understood their brutal philosophy: kill or be killed. It was a necessary lesson in a world this chaotic. Yet, witnessing such a gruesome end still unsettled him.
"Zebro, give me an overview of the grounds," Kaizen said, breaking the silence.
"Yes, Master Kaizen." Zebro gave a slight bow. "The main gate we entered is the only way into the manor grounds. Beyond this point lies a vast jungle, inhabited by dangerous creatures. None of us janitors live beyond the entrance—only Mike and the other beasts that guard different sections of the estate."
"The creatures in the jungle... how strong are they?" Kaizen asked, glancing toward Gotoh.
Gotoh gave a small shrug. "Some of them are quite formidable. During my butler training, I fought many of them. A few were even stronger than Sanghir."
Kaizen raised a brow. Among ordinary people, Sanghir would be considered exceptionally skilled, but compared to monsters or elite fighters, his strength was insufficient.
The mention of such creatures intrigued Kaizen.
"I see... So these fights are real," he murmured, half to himself. "Not just duels or sparring."
The thought stirred something inside him. Training against Sanghir felt more like a sport—controlled and predictable. What Kaizen craved was genuine combat, where survival hung by a thread. He needed that kind of experience, especially with future battles awaiting him.
At Heavens Arena, and even during the Hunter Exam, death was a constant possibility. Many competitors fought to kill, not just to win. If Kaizen wanted to be ready, he needed real battle experience now.
"I want to try fighting one," Kaizen announced.
Zebro hesitated, but Gotoh gave a reassuring nod.
"Don't worry about your safety. I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
Zebro glanced between Kaizen and Gotoh, then gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
"Very well, Master Kaizen. I'll lead the way."
They stepped into the dense jungle, the air growing thick with tension.
At first, the surroundings seemed unnervingly quiet, but it wasn't silence—just a different kind of sound. A deep, ambient hum, like the jungle itself was alive.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a shadow darted out from the underbrush.
Kaizen's eyes gleamed with excitement rather than fear.
"Ten!"
He swiftly surrounded his body with aura, the protective technique enhancing his defense. With even a basic coating of aura, Kaizen could withstand far more than any ordinary human.
A large snake lunged at him, its fangs glinting as it aimed for his arm.
"Not today."
Kaizen moved with blinding speed, his arm cutting through the air.
Slash!
The snake's body was severed into seven or eight pieces, each one writhing in its death throes.
The scent of blood filled the air, making Kaizen's heart race. This wasn't some sparring match—this was real. And he loved it.
Zebro stayed close to Gotoh, clearly uneasy but unwilling to leave Kaizen's side.
Meanwhile, back at the manor, a Zoldyck servant approached Silva.
"Master Silva."
Silva looked up from where he sat, his expression impassive.
"Hmm?"
"Master Kaizen has entered the jungle," the servant reported. "He's currently fighting the creatures within."
Silva's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who's with him?"
"Gotoh and Zebro," the servant replied.
Silva leaned back in his chair, a faint glimmer of interest flickering across his face.
"I see," he murmured. "Let's see how far he goes."
."
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