When Kaizen arrived on the 200th floor of Heavens Arena, the entire floor buzzed with excitement.
Many fighters didn't stay permanently on this level. Instead, they came and went, waiting for new challengers to arrive. And when a newcomer reached the 200th floor, the predatory fighters known as "rookie killers" were ready to pounce, hoping for an easy win.
Several of them had already submitted applications to fight Kaizen.
"I hope I get the match!"
"It's gotta be me!"
"This free win should go to me!"
Kaizen, however, wasn't worried. He had quietly observed these fighters and knew none of them posed a real threat. They were well within his ability to handle.
He made his way to the arena.
"Do your best!"
From the stands, Kaizen spotted Carlisle and Lina cheering for him. He gave a subtle nod in their direction as the announcer introduced the fighters.
"Kaizen! A rising star! Since his arrival at Heavens Arena, he's been on a winning streak, climbing the ranks with astonishing speed!"
"After just a handful of matches, Kaizen has made it to the prestigious 200th floor! Will he continue his undefeated streak today? Let's find out!"
"Facing him is Partridge! With a respectable record of three wins and only one loss, Partridge is known for his unique ability—The Invisible Left Leg! An ability so sneaky it's impossible to block!"
The crowd murmured with excitement. Judging by the betting odds, Partridge had more supporters. After all, Kaizen was a rookie on the 200th floor—something that often led to quick, painful losses. Many so-called prodigies had reached this level only to crash and burn.
Partridge himself had once been one of those rising stars.
"The 200th floor is nothing like what's below it," a veteran fighter muttered.
Meanwhile, in a room watching the broadcast, Claude and Clay exchanged nervous glances.
"We were smart not to attack Kaizen when we first saw him," Claude muttered. "If we had, we'd probably be dead now."
"The one who gave us that job had bad intentions," Clay added, his face grim.
Elsewhere, Sadaso clenched his fists, eyes sparkling with envy as he watched the match unfold.
"I wish I could fight in that arena someday," he whispered to himself.
Though Sadaso had climbed as high as the 40th floor, he knew the gap between himself and Kaizen was enormous.
Hearing the announcer's introduction, Kaizen raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. On his way to Heavens Arena, he had encountered Sadaso, who possessed the strange ability known as the Aura Arm. Now, Partridge wielded a nearly identical power—only this time, it was his leg.
"Seems like the same technique," Kaizen mused. "It's probably just aura manipulation, shaping the aura into a specific form for attacks."
For Kaizen, who had mastered advanced aura techniques, this was no big deal.
"I wonder if Partridge copied Sadaso's ability... or if the two of them learned it from the same source?"
The announcer's booming voice pulled Kaizen from his thoughts.
"Begin!"
Partridge grinned wickedly, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"I've been waiting for this moment!" he growled, practically salivating. "You little brat, you don't know what you've walked into!"
"I'll make you understand what it really means to fight on the 200th floor. Consider this your Initiation."
His expression twisted with rage, Partridge recalled the humiliation he had suffered when he first reached this floor. Every ounce of that anger now boiled over, and he focused it all on Kaizen.
"I'm going to break you, kid," he sneered. "You'll beg for mercy by the time I'm done. You'll regret ever coming here."
Kaizen, standing calm and composed, merely gave Partridge a bored glance.
In truth, he felt no excitement about this match. Partridge's aura was weak, far below the level of the butlers he had fought at Zoldyck Manor. This fight would be no challenge at all.
He pondered how much of his power to reveal.
"Should I rely on my basic Nen techniques?" Kaizen wondered. "I could finish him off without revealing my trump card... But that might drag things out."
Or...
"I could just use Killer Queen and end this instantly. It's not like I need to hide it. It's not these amateurs I'm worried about. The real threats are the ones I'll face later. Better to keep Killer Queen's true abilities hidden for when I really need them."
With a faint smile, Kaizen made up his mind.
"Killer Queen."
A sleek, pink figure materialized silently at Kaizen's side, invisible to most eyes in the arena.
Partridge, unaware of the deadly presence now looming over him, charged forward with a vicious snarl, ready to strike.
From the stands, however, two sharp gazes shifted toward Kaizen.
A silver-haired boy with calculating eyes.
A tall man with a thick beard, standing silently with his arms crossed.
Kaizen remained perfectly still as Partridge rushed at him, his aura flaring.
But before Partridge could close the distance, Killer Queen moved.
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