NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Leaving Heavens Arena!
When Hughes spotted Kaizen at the front desk, his heart sank—he guessed Kaizen had signed up for the latest match.
That was bad news. Really bad news.
Hughes had a plan. Earlier, someone had just ascended from the 199th floor to the 200th, and Hughes wanted to take advantage of that. He had hoped to challenge this newcomer first, giving himself a shot at an easy win. To make sure of it, Hughes had signed up half an hour early, banking on the assumption that no other fighters would jump in at the same time.
It was all lined up perfectly—until Kaizen showed up.
"Damn it," Hughes cursed under his breath. Kaizen had also applied for a match... right on the same day. That meant they were bound to be matched up. The newcomer Hughes had hoped to fight would get pushed back, waiting for other challengers.
Fighting Kaizen was a nightmare.
Everyone still remembered how easily Kaizen had crushed Partridge, one of the so-called rookie hunters. And Partridge wasn't weak, at least compared to other rookie killers. But against Kaizen? It wasn't even close.
There was no way Hughes stood a chance. And worse, the newcomer Hughes had hoped to exploit would now be left for someone else to grab. He'd end up doing all this setup just to hand another fighter an easy victory—like sewing a wedding dress for someone else.
"Damn it!" Hughes muttered. "Kaizen... why did it have to be you?"
The next day, when it was time for the match, Kaizen strode toward the ring through the narrow fighter tunnel.
Hughes was already there, standing in the ring, his face clouded with frustration. He knew he wasn't going to win, but pride pushed him to at least try. Losing without putting up a fight would be worse than getting crushed outright.
"Match start!"
At the instant the announcement rang out, Kaizen's expression hardened. He summoned Raiken with a flicker of aura. Without hesitation, he dashed forward.
It was over in seconds.
Hughes barely had a moment to react before the full weight of Kaizen's aura crashed down on him. He couldn't even use his abilities—Kaizen overwhelmed him so easily it felt like sparring against a master with bound hands.
Kaizen had initially hoped to test Raiken's Blade Technique again, but Hughes was simply too weak to offer any real challenge. Not even as useful as the fight he'd had against Killer Queen.
With a single, devastating blow, Kaizen sent Hughes flying out of the ring.
Boom!
Hughes hit the ground hard outside the arena.
"The winner: Kaizen!"
A silver-haired young man sitting in the audience raised an eyebrow at Kaizen's effortless victory.
"A new Nen-beast?" he mused to himself. "Looks promising... even stronger than Juliana. I wonder how long it'll take before he challenges a Floor Master."
In the crowd, an old man chuckled quietly to himself, watching Kaizen exit the ring. Hughes' scheme had backfired beautifully, and now the newcomer Hughes had targeted was free to challenge someone else—someone who'd waste no time grabbing the opportunity.
Kaizen walked off the ring without acknowledging the cheers from the crowd. As he reached the player lounge, a familiar voice called out.
"Kaizen!"
It was Nina, rushing toward him the moment she saw him.
The following morning, Zeno arrived at Heavens Arena to meet Kaizen.
"Grandpa Zeno," Kaizen greeted.
"Are you ready?" Zeno asked with a smile.
"All set."
"Let's head out, then."
Before leaving, Zeno gave Nina and her Polar Bear companion a quick glance. As the group descended from Heavens Arena, Zeno spoke to Kaizen about Nina.
"So, that girl... Nina. She's the one you've taken an interest in?"
Kaizen nodded. "She's got potential. After learning how to dispel aura techniques, she's improved quite a bit. I think her future growth will be promising."
"Has she developed her ability yet?"
"Not yet."
"Which category does she fall under?"
"She's a Manipulator."
"Ah, same type as Illumi, huh?" Zeno remarked. "So, what did you think of the fighters here at the Arena?"
Kaizen paused for a moment, reflecting. "The difference in strength is massive—between those with Nen and those without. Even among those using Nen, the gap between regular fighters and the Floor Masters is enormous. And then the gap between the Floor Masters like a whole other world."
Zeno chuckled. "That's how it is. And remember—the fights in the Arena are just sport. Real combat is about survival."
Kaizen nodded thoughtfully. In the arena, there were rules and restrictions. But in the real world, those didn't exist. Out there, it was kill or be killed.
A black car pulled up in front of them.
"Get in."
The two climbed into the vehicle, and the ride fell into a comfortable silence.
Nina stayed behind at Heavens Arena, gazing out the window long after Kaizen and Zeno had left.
"Roar..." Nina's Polar Bear gave a low, rumbling growl, nudging her.
She smiled softly and patted the bear's head. "We've got to work hard. I want to develop my Nen as soon as possible. And in three months, I'll reach the 200th floor of the Arena!"
Her eyes sparkled with determination.
"I won't let Kaizen down."
Meanwhile, on the airship leaving Heavens Arena, Kaizen and Zeno sat by the window. The aircraft was old, its interior filled with an ever-present hum, and only a few passengers occupied the seats.
Zeno glanced at Kaizen.
"How many assassination missions have you taken so far?"
"Two."
"How did they feel?"
Kaizen shrugged. "I didn't feel much. The targets weren't very strong."
"Not even that Jesse gave you trouble?"
"He gave me a bit of trouble," Kaizen admitted, "but nothing serious."
Zeno gave a knowing nod.
"That's how it should be. If an assassination mission is too difficult or requires a high cost to complete, that's a sign you're either unprepared or the mission itself is flawed."
Kaizen silently agreed, gazing out the window at the shrinking cityscape below.
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