A figure stood in front of Kaizen.
Facing the charging cockroach-like creature, Raiken grinned, an expression brimming with anticipation.
Even though it was just an aura beast, Raiken's fighting instincts — honed from a different world entirely — made his desire for combat overwhelming. There was nothing he enjoyed more than a good challenge.
"Whip!"
In a flash, Raiken's entire body seemed to liquefy, flowing like water. His movements were fluid yet unpredictable, showcasing a technique that enhanced the power of each strike through sheer momentum.
"This is a refined technique," Kaizen murmured, studying Raiken's form.
"It reminds me of the Snake Awakens from the Zoldyck family. But theirs is limited to arm movements... Raiken's style, though—he uses his whole body like a whip."
(T/N:The Snake Awakens: whips his arms with incredible fluidity and speed, cleaving anything that comes in contact with them.)
Kaizen observed intently.
"If I apply what I know about Snake Awakens, but extend it throughout the entire body like that... I could perfect it."
Kaizen divided his aura into two streams — one empowering Raiken, his conjured beast, and the other reinforcing himself. Thanks to his vast aura reserves, Kaizen could easily afford to split it without weakening.
It was rare for a Nen user to maintain two fully active forces, especially at this level. But Kaizen wasn't like most. Even compared to others, his aura was immense.
Suddenly, Raiken's whip-like arm lashed out with devastating force.
CRACK!
The cockroach's head exploded on impact, splattering the area with a thick, green slime.
Kaizen took a step back, careful to avoid the mess.
"My lord, anything I can do?" asked Parker, his voice wavering.
Parker stared at the corpse of the smaller cockroach, still stunned by how easily Raiken had taken it down. These beasts were no joke — charging in without caution would be suicidal.
Yet seeing Raiken crush one so effortlessly gave Parker a dangerous sense of confidence.
"If I can't contribute at all, they might abandon me…"
"You can give it a try," Kaizen said calmly. He neither encouraged nor discouraged him, letting Parker make his own call.
Determined to prove himself, Parker locked onto another cockroach. As he charged, a spear materialized in his hands. The weapon gleamed with a sharp tip, its shaft blood-red, fading to gold at the base.
Ding!
The spear jabbed against the cockroach's exoskeleton — and Parker's heart sank. It hadn't even pierced the surface.
"This thing's tougher than I thought…"
Parker had underestimated the beast's durability, mistakenly comparing it to Raiken's earlier target. But Raiken wasn't just any ordinary aura beast; it was a manifestation of Kaizen's aura, uniquely powerful despite Kaizen's youth.
So even as a kid... he's already this strong? Parker thought, realizing just how far Kaizen outclassed him.
"Is this what it means to be a Zoldyck?" Parker whispered, half in awe.
The cockroach bared its grotesque human-like face, flashing a malicious grin. It sidestepped Parker's spear, lunging at him with terrifying speed.
Snap!
Parker barely managed to pull his spear back in time, holding it across his body to block the beast's bite.
Boom!
The force of the impact sent Parker skidding back over ten meters. His feet dug into the ground as he fought to steady himself. But the cockroach didn't give him a moment to recover.
Although it was small compared to the larger cockroach Kaizen had defeated, this one was still bigger than any human — and it was relentless.
Parker was quickly overwhelmed, forced onto the defensive.
Not far away, Peter watched the fight anxiously. He clenched his fists, knowing he couldn't do much to help. All his hopes were pinned on Parker, who had taken him in during a time of need.
Peter's gut twisted with worry, but Parker's steady resolve offered some reassurance. Though outmatched, Parker wasn't panicking. He was holding his ground, and something about the spear he wielded seemed to be changing.
Kaizen narrowed his eyes, noticing it too.
"The spear… It's different now," he muttered.
Earlier, the spear had been almost entirely red with a hint of gold at the base. But now, half the shaft was glowing gold.
"Restrictions" Kaizen realized.
He guessed that Parker's ability relied on the principle of escalation: the more hits landed with the spear, the more power it accumulated. When the weapon's entire body turned golden, something significant would happen.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
The sound of clashing metal filled the air as Parker relentlessly hammered the cockroach with his spear. With each strike, more of the weapon's shaft turned gold.
At last, the transformation was complete. The spear shimmered, fully golden, radiating a dangerous energy.
A triumphant grin spread across Parker's face.
"You thought you could take me down, huh?" Parker growled, confidence surging through him. "Now I'll show you my true strength!"
With a burst of power, Parker lunged forward.
BOOM!
The golden spear pierced clean through the cockroach, leaving a massive, gaping hole in its body.
Splurt!
Green blood gushed from the wound, drenching the ground in its eerie hue. The cockroach twitched once, then collapsed lifelessly.
Peter exhaled, relief washing over him.
Parker, panting heavily, turned towards Kaizen to gauge his reaction.
But Kaizen stood unfazed, surrounded by the bodies of several cockroaches — all of them slain by Raiken.
Parker shook his head in disbelief.
"There's just no comparison…" he muttered. "The gap between us is… unreal."
He let out a bitter chuckle. "When I was his age, I was scrounging through trash for food. And here he is, casually wiping out these monsters."
Suddenly, Zeno Zoldyck's voice echoed from above.
"Kaizen, fall back!"
"Yes, Grandfather Zeno!" Kaizen responded instantly.
With that, Kaizen retreated without hesitation, ready for whatever was coming next.
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