As the long-haired woman conceded defeat, the referee immediately announced the result.
The referee then retrieved a card-like device and printed a ticket, a pass to advance to higher floors.
"Contestant 2792, while your registration form indicates zero combat experience, based on your performance in this match, I believe you can directly advance to the 50th floor. Here is your pass to the 50th floor. Please take it," the referee said, handing Moro the slip of paper.
Each referee has their own criteria for evaluation.
Judging purely from technique, the referee from Ring C might have evaluated Moro as suitable for the 20th floor. However, given the outcome of the match, where the long-haired woman stood no chance against him, this referee determined that the 50th floor was more appropriate.
Results take precedence over process in such cases. Ignoring the details of Moro's registration, the referee decided he was worthy of advancing directly to the 50th floor.
However, to the referee's surprise, Moro didn't accept the slip. Instead, he asked tentatively, "Referee, may I choose to advance to the 10th floor instead?"
"Of course. That is your right," the referee replied, nodding.
The Sky Arena holds at least 2,000 preliminary matches daily. Among the contestants, it's not unusual for someone like Moro to choose a slower, deliberate progression for personal reasons or goals.
Moro smiled. "Then please issue me a pass to the 10th floor."
"Understood."
The referee swiftly printed a new pass for the 10th floor.
"Thank you."
Moro took the pass and stepped off the stage.
As he made his way through the corridor, Moro could feel many gazes fixed on him from different directions, including the long-haired woman who had conceded.
But he paid no mind and walked steadily into the passageway, heading up to the 10th floor of the Sky Arena.
Instead of rushing to register his advancement, Moro entered an elevator and pressed the button for the 15th floor.
On the 15th Floor
Moments later, Moro arrived and followed the wall markers to a room where a match was in progress.
In the center of the room was a small ring where two contestants were engaged in combat. Scattered spectators occupied the seats around the ring.
The Sky Arena has 251 floors, each equipped with arenas and facilities between certain ranges (e.g., 11th to 19th, 21st to 29th). While these areas are operational and accessible, they attract little attention compared to the higher floors.
With a billion viewers annually buying tickets, the matches on the lower floors are less captivating. When Moro entered, no one even checked his ticket.
Taking a seat in the audience, Moro watched the match.
The two fighters in the ring were aggressive, launching punches and kicks with enthusiasm. Yet their moves lacked technique, relying solely on brute strength.
Within a minute, Moro lost interest and stood to leave.
Compared to the two fighters with murder-oriented martial skills he'd seen earlier—or even the nimble-footed long-haired woman he had fought—these two were no more skilled than street brawlers.
Still, these two fighters had advanced to the 10th floor, while the skilled long-haired woman had lost to him in the preliminaries, and another promising contestant had died on the stage.
Life was unpredictable.
What saddened Moro the most was seeing a reflection of his past self in those unpolished fighters.
The only consolation was that he now had a chance to change.
Reflection and Determination
Leaving the arena, Moro walked the hallway deep in thought.
He wondered: if these martial artists, who had spent 10 or 20 years honing their skills, suddenly encountered the power of Nen, would they despair at having wasted so much time on conventional techniques?
A few minutes later, Moro returned to the 10th floor to register his advancement. Without delay, he opted for another match.
Below the 200th floor, contestants are allowed to fight two matches per day. Confident and eager to climb, many choose to make full use of this rule.
After a brief wait in the lounge, Moro was assigned to a match in the 17th floor's Ring B.
The Sky Arena's efficiency in pairing contestants is remarkable. Its countless rings operate like clockwork, churning out matches every minute.
At any given moment during the day, winners and losers are determined on these countless stages.
Match on the 17th Floor
Heading to Ring B on the 17th floor, Moro mused to himself:
If there were a cheat ability that let me absorb "the will to win" to grow stronger, I could dominate just by staying in the Sky Arena for a while.
But then he chuckled at the absurdity of his thought. Even if I became invincible, the "Wish Machine" could still turn me into mush with a casual "Go die." This world isn't without its own sense of absurdity.
He compared his current situation to that of a time assassin, blessed with a second chance due to some strange phenomenon.
At Ring B, Moro met his next opponent: a hulking, bear-like man.
"Hmm, this might be interesting," Moro thought.
However, when the referee signaled the match to start, Moro was disappointed.
His opponent was indeed strong but relied solely on raw strength, with no technique to speak of.
Rather than end the match quickly, Moro spent time observing his opponent's movements, analyzing his habits, and studying his crude strategies.
Thanks to the defensive power granted by Nen, Moro could afford to stay calm and reflective during the fight. He didn't see this as a waste of time—on the contrary, he believed in the power of thought.
Though still a novice in applying such strategies, Moro understood the value of slowly building experience through trial and error.
Just before the three-minute mark, Moro struck. A single casual palm strike sent his opponent flying out of the ring, ending the match instantly.
The referee, surprised by the efficiency of Moro's move, handed him another advancement pass. Moro thanked him and left.
Onward and Upward
Each match added valuable information to Moro's mental database.
He believed that with enough accumulated knowledge, he would one day be able to use his thought to make instant, optimal decisions in combat—like an AI retrieving data.
Though uncertain if this path was correct, Moro was inspired by Biscuit's mention in the original series of a combat skill called explosive thinking.
Over the following days, Moro continued his systematic approach to climbing the ranks.
By the time he reached the 80th floor, he had garnered attention from the audience, many of whom began referring to him by a nickname.
"The Contemplative Moro."
Or as some preferred, "Moro the Thinker."