The hum of the elevator ascending to the 200th floor was drowned out by the roar of the crowd in the arena. Shen leaned against the back wall, his arms crossed and his expression calm.
In his previous life, this moment had been different. He had reached the 200th floor a year and a half later, nervous and unprepared for the subtle, insidious challenges awaiting him. He vividly remembered the receptionist's piercing bloodlust—a test for newcomers—and how it had sent a chill down his spine even though he had already unlocked nen.
Now, however, that same bloodlust had barely registered. The receptionist's surprise at his indifference had been almost amusing. Shen smirked to himself at the memory. *A second life truly changes one's perspective.*
The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open, revealing the grand 200th floor arena. Shen stepped out confidently, his movements measured, and was greeted by a wave of cheers from the stands. The announcer's voice crackled over the speakers, full of energy.
"GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" The voice boomed, drawing even louder cheers from the crowd. "It's your favorite announcer, Jennifer Firecracker, and I have to say—tonight's match is going to be one for the books! On one side, we have SHEN, a mysterious newcomer who tore through the 190th floor in a single run and spent over a year honing his skills there. And on the other side, we have a returning fan favorite—SADASO! Known for his creative techniques and a record of one win and one loss, Sadaso is looking to make his mark tonight!"
The arena floor was a massive open space, the polished stone gleaming under harsh lights. Shen walked toward the center, his steps calm and deliberate. Across from him, Sadaso sauntered in with an air of overconfidence, his crooked smirk never leaving his face.
As the two combatants faced off, Sadaso's eyes scanned Shen, sizing him up with a dismissive chuckle. "I've gotta thank you," he said, his tone dripping with mock gratitude. "You practically handed me this win. Didn't even have to ask. You really are a pal. Kek."
Shen shook his head, his voice cold and even. "You should give up on becoming a floor master, Sadaso. You're a second-rate martial artist with a third-rate nen ability. You don't belong here."
The words struck a nerve. Sadaso's smirk faltered briefly before twisting into a sneer. His stance shifted, his shoulders squaring as nen flared around him. From the stump of his left arm, a grotesque, spectral nen arm began to materialize, crackling faintly with energy.
"You'd better watch your mouth, kid," Sadaso growled, his tone laced with malice. "I was gonna be nice and knock you out quick, but now? I think I'll take my time teaching you some respect."
Shen sighed, his expression unchanging. He knew there was no point in arguing further. Talk would not sway someone like Sadaso. Instead, he shifted his stance, his body relaxing into a basic position. His knees bent slightly, his arms extended forward with open palms—a deceptively simple stance.
"And it looks like the combatants are ready!" Jennifer Firecracker's voice rang out with excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's not wait any longer! BEGIN!"
The roar of the crowd swelled as the match officially started. Sadaso wasted no time, lunging forward with his spectral arm poised to strike. Shen, his calm demeanor unwavering, remained motionless, his sharp eyes fixed on his opponent's every move.
Sadaso charged at Shen, his spectral nen arm extending with a swift motion to grab hold of him. Shen's expression remained impassive as he simply bent his knees and, with a precise application of Ryu, leapt 15 feet into the air.
As he ascended, Shen transmuted his aura into a transparent dark purple dagger. It shimmered briefly before he hurled it toward Sadaso's head.
"Fool!" Sadaso sneered, raising his nen arm to intercept the attack. The dagger lodged itself harmlessly three feet deep into the translucent appendage.
The nen arm surged upward, aiming to grab Shen's leg mid-air. But Shen, without missing a beat, shifted 70% of his aura into his legs using *Ryu* and kicked off the nen arm with explosive force. He propelled himself further, landing 20 feet away in the center of the arena, his stance calm and deliberate.
Sadaso scoffed, his frustration mounting. "Just jumping around won't save you! And if you think those pathetic nen constructs will help, you're even more useless than I thought!"
Shen shook his head slightly, unimpressed.
Sadaso charged again, his spectral arm whipping forward to ensnare Shen's torso. But as the arm descended, Shen dropped low, dashing forward with lightning speed. In a flash, he was beneath Sadaso, his aura shifting dynamically—60% into his fist. Shen unleashed a devastating uppercut into Sadaso's jaw, the impact sending him stumbling back five feet.
Before Sadaso could regain his footing, Shen pressed his advantage. He swept Sadaso's legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. As his opponent fell, Shen transmuted another dark purple dagger and drove it into Sadaso's chest, earning a gasp of pain.
The crowd erupted as the announcer tried to keep up. "What an incredible exchange! Shen lands a clean hit, a critical strike, and a knockdown—four points in total!"
Shen jumped back, putting distance between himself and the downed Sadaso, giving his opponent a moment to recover.
Sadaso staggered to his feet, his face twisted in fury. "You bastard! How could an amateur like you, with a simple nen ability, thrash me like this?"
Slamming his spectral arm onto the ground, Sadaso used its leverage to launch himself upright. Shen watched him closely, already analyzing his opponent's next move.
*He'll switch to defense now,* Shen thought, observing the way Sadaso held his nen arm more protectively. *He's too cautious to approach me again.*
Sadaso stayed still, his stance guarded. Shen began circling him, his eyes cold and calculating. "What's wrong? Won't you try to attack me?" he taunted.
Sadaso said nothing, his expression tightening.
"You think that if I'm the one who approaches, the situation will turn in your favor," Shen continued, his tone calm and confident. "You're wrong."
Without waiting for a reply, Shen transmuted his aura again, this time into a sleek bow. As he drew the string back with two fingers, a rippling purple arrow materialized, humming with concentrated nen energy.
The crowd murmured in anticipation as Shen took aim.
Sadaso raised his spectral arm defensively, prepared to block the shot. Shen held the bowstring taut, his fingers steady, until they finally slipped.
The arrow shot forward with blinding speed, piercing through the nen arm effortlessly. Sadaso's expression twisted into disbelief as the arrow continued its path, embedding itself in his shoulder.
"ARGH!" Sadaso howled, clutching his wound. A gaping hole, about an inch in diameter, had torn through his shoulder, leaving his arm limp and useless. Blood seeped through his shirt as he stumbled back, his eyes wide with pain and shock.
The crowd erupted in confusion and amazement. Even the announcer was at a loss, stumbling over her words. "L-ladies and gentlemen, it appears the combatants are…playing a game of pretend? Shen pretends to fire an arrow, and it actually hurts Sadaso! Talk about phantom pain!"
Shen ignored the noise, his focus fixed on Sadaso. His lips curled into a faint smirk. "Your defense is weaker than your offense. You should have realized that before stepping into the ring."
Sadaso's breathing grew labored, his eyes darting around as if searching for a way to regain control of the fight. Shen, however, showed no intention of letting him recover. His stance shifted slightly, bow still in hand, as he prepared to end the match decisively.
Shen circled Sadaso slowly, his footsteps deliberate as his gaze bore into his opponent. Despite the crowd's deafening cheers and the announcer's excited commentary, Shen's voice was calm and cutting, slicing through the chaos like a blade.
"Do you understand now?" Shen asked, his tone almost pitying. "You're being easily overwhelmed by a child who learned nen just yesterday."
Sadaso's face contorted with disbelief. "That's impossible! There's no way that can be true!" His mind raced, trying to reconcile Shen's words with the overwhelming skill he faced. Someone this talented couldn't possibly be a novice—could they?
Shen smirked, his words dripping with disdain. "Even if I'm lying, does it matter? You prey on newcomers, thinking you can scrape by with cheap tricks and half-baked skill. But you know the truth: even against fresh-faced amateurs, you'd still lose. And you think—what? That getting ten easy wins will make you a floor master? Pathetic."
Sadaso clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He had no response to Shen's scorn, no argument to refute the cold truths laid bare.
The words hit Sadaso like physical blows, but he pushed through the humiliation, his resolve hardening. He stepped back, his spectral nen arm extending to its maximum range in an attempt to strike Shen from a distance.
But Shen was ready. With a burst of speed, he leapt onto the nen arm, his movements fluid and effortless. He sprinted up its length before Sadaso could retract it, closing the gap between them in an instant.
"What—" Sadaso managed to gasp before Shen's foot connected with his chin in a devastating upward kick. The impact sent Sadaso crashing to the ground again, his body sprawling across the arena floor.
The crowd roared in approval as the announcer tallied the points. "And that's another clean hit and a knockdown for Shen! That puts him at *eight points total*! Just two more to go for a victory!"
Shen landed lightly a few feet away, his stance relaxed, yet his gaze was colder than ever. He made no move to press the advantage, instead straightening and addressing Sadaso in a measured tone.
"Two more points, and I win," Shen said. "But I'm not ready to end this just yet. You're still not understanding just how far below the standard you are."
Sadaso groaned, struggling to push himself up from the ground. Shen's voice remained calm but merciless.
"You have no talent. No restrictions. You're a cripple clinging to scraps of relevance, and you're deluded enough to think you belong in this arena. Perhaps…" Shen's lips curved into a cruel smile. "Perhaps losing another arm will help you understand."
As he said this, Shen transmuted his nen into a massive, brutal meat cleaver, its edges jagged and gleaming with malevolent energy. Gripping it with both hands, he began to approach Sadaso, releasing a torrent of bloodlust that blanketed the arena.
Sadaso's entire body trembled. Cold sweat dripped down his back as the oppressive aura bore down on him, suffocating and unrelenting. His voice cracked as he raised a trembling hand in surrender.
"W-wait! Please! I surrender!" he cried desperately. "You win the match!"
The referee hurriedly stepped between the two combatants, raising his hands to signal the end of the fight.
"And that's the fight, folks!" Jennifer Firecracker's voice boomed over the speakers, her tone brimming with excitement. "A complete and decisive victory for Shen! This marks his first win on the 200th floor and Sadaso's second loss!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the announcer continued to hype up the outcome, but Shen paid them no attention. His cleaver vanished in a wisp of purple aura as he stepped closer to Sadaso one last time.
Leaning down slightly, Shen's voice dropped to an icy whisper, audible only to Sadaso. His nen surged, amplifying the weight of his words. "Give up on becoming a floor master—or a martial artist altogether. If I ever hear your name in Heaven's Arena again, I'll find you. And when I do, I'll take your remaining arm… and a leg for the trouble."
Sadaso paled, his trembling intensifying as Shen straightened and turned away.
Without sparing another glance, Shen walked out of the arena, his steps unhurried, his expression unchanged. The roar of the crowd extended into the corridor leading to his new quarters on the 200th floor.
As Shen walked through the hallways of Heaven's Arena, the cheers from the crowd faded into the distance, leaving him with his thoughts.
"Sadaso," he mused silently, his expression unreadable. "This is the only kindness I'll extend to you. Whether you use this as inspiration to grow stronger or as a reason to live a quiet, simple life is no concern of mine. Either way, this is the end of your story in my life."
His pace was steady, yet his mind churned with reflections on the fight. It was easier than it should have been, he admitted to himself. I already knew every quirk, every move Sadaso had. I fought him dozens of times in my past life. That knowledge turned what should have been a fair fight into a predictable routine. If I had faced any other amateur nen user, I'd have had to give away a few points to secure the win. And if it had been someone stronger, with real restrictions on their abilities, the outcome might have been a toss-up.
Shen's lips curled slightly in a faint smirk. Speaking of restrictions…
He thought about the alterations he had made to his abilities in this life, subtle yet impactful refinements that made them more efficient. My first ability, Nen Constructs, transmutes my aura into items I've seen before. It's limited by three restrictions. The first and second restrictions ensure I can't create anything considered "advanced" or anything that wouldn't be classified as an "item." In exchange, the cost of transmuting my aura back and forth between forms is greatly reduced. The third restriction requires me to have observed the item beforehand—its potency, when unenhanced by nen, is capped at the standard of the original item. It's more complex than pure Conjuration, but it's also more efficient. Learning new items is faster, and there are quirks to Transmutation that Conjuration can't match. Still, there's a price to pay. Efficiency comes at the cost of versatility, but that's a trade I'll gladly accept.
His thoughts turned to his other nen ability, one that hadn't seen use in the fight. It's a shame I didn't need to use Susanoo, he thought. The ability would've made my threat far more believable. But Sadaso wasn't strong enough to hurt me, so there was no reason to summon it.
Shen's expression grew colder as he reflected on the difference between himself and Sadaso. The gap isn't just in skill or power—it's in preparation. In my past life, I approached every fight without fully understanding my abilities or their limitations. This time, every move, every restriction, and every technique is calculated. That's why Sadaso didn't stand a chance. And that's why anyone else who underestimates me will regret it.
As he continued walking, his thoughts returned to Sadaso. By sparing Sadaso, I've left him a choice: rise above his weakness or fade into obscurity. Either way, he's no longer my concern. My focus lies ahead, on those who truly pose a challenge.
Reaching his new quarters on the 200th floor, Shen's steps slowed as he approached the door. A faint trace of amusement flickered across his face.
Once Shen reached his new room on the 200th floor, he immediately reheated the takoyaki he had bought earlier. The rich aroma filled the room as he bit into the first piece, savoring the taste. It had been years since he'd had the luxury of enjoying junk food, and the small indulgence brought a rare moment of satisfaction.
As he ate, his mind turned to the future.
"I've settled my debt to Sadaso from my previous life," Shen thought. "Giving him guidance was more than he deserved, but it's done. Now, what should I focus on next?"
He leaned back, his sharp gaze fixed on the ceiling as he mulled over his options. *My aura reserves are still too low. If that fight had lasted even two more minutes, I would've run out of nen. I'd have been forced to take serious damage just to secure the win. That's unacceptable.*
Shen closed his eyes, organizing his priorities. "Three years until the 287th Hunter Exam. I could train until then, but that feels… passive. I need to be more proactive."
His thoughts shifted to his ultimate goal: the Dark Continent. "If I want to prepare for the voyage on the Black Whale 1 in five years, I'll need to gather as many nen-infused items as possible. But where can I even find them? Aside from Greed Island, I have no leads—and I'm not risking a trip there just yet. It's far too dangerous at this stage."
He paused, considering an alternative. "There's always the Scarlet Eyes of the Kurta Clan," he muttered. "If transplanted, those eyes could significantly boost my skill. But I can't just take them from Kurapika. He's a one-in-a-million talent, and more importantly, he's critical to my plans for the future. To get the most out of his abilities on the Dark Continent, I'll need his complete trust and devotion."
Shen frowned as he considered the implications. "The only way I'll be able to ask him for his eyes is if I help him take down the Phantom Troupe and recover the other Scarlet Eyes. That's no small feat. The Phantom Troupe are absurdly strong, especially Chrollo and Feitan. And if Illumi joins them, as he did in my past life, that makes it even worse. They're a nightmare to deal with."
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside for now. "Taking the Hunter Exam early and becoming a relic hunter sounds tempting, but it's a gamble. I'd waste precious time I could spend training. For now, I should focus on gathering nen-infused items naturally. With the money I've earned from my fights, I can afford to travel and search without worrying about resources."
Finishing the last piece of takoyaki, Shen stood and gathered his things. Leaving Heaven's Arena, he wandered through the city, keeping his *Gyo* active as he passed by stalls and shops. He scanned for any hint of nen, stopping occasionally to inspect trinkets, but found nothing of value.
"It seems I'll have to go to Yorknew City," Shen mused. "If I can find any item infused with nen, it'll be useful for my preparations on the Dark Continent. Even minor artifacts can be re-purposed if used correctly."
Still, the lack of immediate results didn't discourage him. Shen's mind was already formulating his next steps. "On the way to Yorknew, I might as well stop by Jappon. I've always had an interest in its culture, and who knows? I might stumble across something useful there."
With that decision, Shen rented an entire ship to himself, sparing no expense. As the preparations for his journey began, he stood on the deck, gazing out over the vast ocean and recalled all the monsters that lucked in the deeper Parts of it and blinked A few time trying to ignore the things he Knew.