Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Kaizen's Second Nen Beast!
Amid the roaring cheers of thousands, two figures stepped onto the ring.
The gigantic arena stood tall and dazzling under the floodlights, captivating the crowd. It was a space that embodied dreams—and shattered them. The aspiring Floor Masters sitting in the audience were among those entranced.
"I can't believe it..."
"So close! If only it were me out there!"
"One step away..."
Many had clawed their way to this point only to be defeated—killers like Isaiah, Carlisle, Juliana, and Partridge. Their only dream? To qualify for a chance to challenge a Floor Master. Some would resort to any means necessary for that opportunity.
But even these dreamers were envied by others lower on the ladder.
Sadaso, sitting in the far corner, hadn't watched the whole fight. He knew it was beyond his reach—for now.
"I've got to keep pushing forward," he muttered to himself. "Fight, grow stronger, and make it to the 200th floor."
That was the nature of ambition: what you've already gained becomes meaningless, and what you haven't achieved yet is all that matters.
The Battle Begins
"Gyo!"
Kaizen activated his enhanced vision, focusing on the fighters in the ring. Both combatants were emitting immense waves of aura, thick and palpable. Their aura control was leagues beyond what rookie killers could even hope to comprehend. In fact, just standing before such masters would leave them paralyzed from the sheer pressure alone.
That's the difference in level... Kaizen thought grimly.
Suddenly—BOOM!—the floor trembled as bursts of air shot out from the arena, sweeping through the crowd.
In the blink of an eye, the two fighters disappeared. Kaizen's sharp eyes tracked them just barely, though the movements were too fast for most onlookers to follow.
The first figure was an Enhancer—an old man, short in stature, bald with wisps of gray hair, clad in a red robe and wearing sunglasses. Despite his small size, his aura radiated immense power, leaving no doubt about his mastery.
The challenger, on the other hand, was likely a Manipulator—a middle-aged man wielding a blade in one hand.
"I can sense an aura similar to Grandpa Zeno's from that old host," Kaizen murmured to himself. "And the way that challenger fights... It reminds me of Nobunaga from the Phantom Troupe."
He wondered for a moment—If Nobunaga were in this fight, how would he fare against this guy?
But as the fight continued, Kaizen could tell: the challenger still had a long way to go. Even if he stood at the peak, there was still a significant gap between him and the host—a true Floor Master.
The Fight's Climax
The tension in the air reached its peak as the host and challenger clashed. Blow after blow sent shockwaves rippling across the arena. The audience held their breath. Then—BOOM!—a massive impact rocked the entire building.
When the dust settled, the arena floor was caved in, with the challenger lying at the bottom, trapped and motionless.
"As expected of the Floor Master!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.
"Too strong..."
"The challenger still has a long way to go."
The audience erupted into excited chatter as the victor stood tall.
Kaizen didn't linger to bask in the aftermath. He quietly left the stands and headed back to his suite.
A Mysterious Call
As soon as Kaizen opened the door to his room, his phone rang.
"Grandpa Zeno?" Kaizen recognized the caller and quickly answered.
"Kaizen, did the fight just end?" Zeno asked.
"Yeah, just now. The Floor Master won. There was a clear gap between them."
"What about the situation I asked you to handle earlier?"
"It's taken care of. The specialist you recommended did a good job. It took over ten days, but Nina's curse was finally lifted."
Zeno paused on the other end of the line. "How did it go? Anything unusual?"
"Actually... yeah." Kaizen glanced toward Nina, who was resting on the couch nearby. "The exorcist was strange. It felt like he could blend into the environment, but not perfectly—like it wasn't just his aura at work."
"Hmm," Zeno muttered. "That doesn't sound like typical Nen abilities. Did you hear anything about his techniques?"
"Yes," Kaizen replied. "The exorcist's disciple mentioned something about an 'environmental combat style.' What does that mean?"
"It's not a specific ability," Zeno explained. "It refers to a fighting style that integrates with the environment, but it can't achieve complete invisibility. That sounds more like Motozo's ability."
"Motozo?" Kaizen echoed, curious.
"Yes. His Nen has powerful restrictions. Within a certain park, Motozo's abilities can reach A-rank levels. But the moment he steps outside that area, his strength drops to C-rank. That's the price he pays for his power."
Kaizen's eyes narrowed. So that's the trade-off...
He couldn't help but wonder if someone might take these restrictions even further. Could there be a Nen user who devoted their entire life to charging up just a single, devastating attack? Decades of preparation—only to release one punch that could shatter an entire continent.
Compared to that, Motozo's restrictions almost seemed trivial.
"I see, Grandpa Zeno. Thanks for the explanation."
"By the way," Zeno added, "are you free in ten days?"
"I think so. Why?"
"Good. Get ready—we're going somewhere. I'll tell you more when the time comes."
"Got it."
The two shared a brief goodbye before ending the call. Despite their few encounters, Kaizen could sense Zeno's affection for him—perhaps it was the shared blood of the Zoldyck family that made the connection feel natural.
A New Journey Begins
After hanging up the phone, Kaizen turned to Nina.
"I'll be busy for a while. If you get hungry, feel free to eat on your own, okay?"
"Got it," Nina replied cheerfully.
Kaizen gave her a nod before retreating into his room. He locked the door behind him, sat down cross-legged, and focused his attention on the crystal ball floating in front of him.
Its progress bar was finally full.
"Let's do this."
In the next moment, Kaizen felt the aura in his body surge into the crystal ball at an incredible speed. His consciousness flickered—then everything around him shifted.
BOOM!
An explosion of sound erupted in his mind as a new space unfolded before him. Strange phantoms drifted into view, surrounding him in this mysterious dimension.
The journey toward mastering his second Nen Beast had begun.
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