NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Heavens Arena, Here I Come!
The strength of aura lies in the potential for abilities to evolve.
Potential is closely tied to intelligence.
Two fighters with the same level of aura—one intelligent, the other not—will almost always see the smarter fighter prevail. Even a weaker Nen user can leapfrog their opponent by using intelligence effectively.
It's just like Kurapika in the canon plot.
In raw power, Kurapika was no match for the Phantom Troupe back then. But Kurapika had knowledge—knowledge the Troupe lacked. Kurapika understood their abilities, while they knew nothing of his.
That gap allowed Kurapika to close the distance between their powers. In fact, the only reason he could defeat Uvogin and restrain Chrollo was his strategy: tailoring his abilities for the Troupe and reinforcing them with vows and limitations.
Still, intelligence made all the difference.
If the Phantom Troupe had been aware of his abilities, Kurapika's plan wouldn't have gone so smoothly. Success might not have been possible at all.
Kaizen had fought two of Silva's butlers before.
The first was not particularly strong. Kaizen analyzed his ability and quickly dismantled it.
The second butler, an Enhancer, was tougher. But Enhancer abilities tend to be straightforward and direct, making them easier to predict.
Things change when it comes to Specialists, though.
Specialists are unpredictable. Their power floor can be exceptionally low, but their ceiling can be staggeringly high. Deciphering a Specialist's ability is no easy task.
That's what makes Kaizen dangerous.
Though most believe him to be a Transmuter, Kaizen is actually a Specialist with abilities that resemble Transmutation. This deceptive edge gives him an advantage. After two battles, no one had yet figured out the specifics of his ability.
How his explosions are triggered? Still a mystery.
Killer Queen's first bomb, even when latent, remains undetectable—only felt the instant it detonates.
"That's what makes this so fun," Kaizen mused quietly.
The energy in the arena shifted.
Kaizen and his opponent—Silva's middle-aged butler—stood motionless, eyes locked. Neither rushed in. Each tested the other's patience and reactions in small, calculated ways.
To an untrained observer, the match might seem dull—two men standing still, exchanging faint gestures. But anyone versed in Nen would recognize the delicate tension coiled in the air.
The arena was as still as a pond on a windless day. Yet it felt like a string pulled taut, on the verge of snapping. One mistake, and the calm would shatter under the weight of a storm.
From the sidelines, Zeno Zoldyck observed thoughtfully.
"This is already an elite-level battle," he remarked.
Then, without warning, a loud boom echoed across the arena.
The middle-aged butler was sent flying into the air.
Kaizen raised his hand.
It was part of his combo—using Killer Queen's bombs to immobilize the opponent before launching a precise mind-bomb. The result? A near-perfect hit every time.
To the spectators, though, Kaizen's actions seemed erratic. His attacks appeared misplaced, some missing their target entirely.
"Is Master Kaizen... off his game?" Shinji muttered from the stands, concerned.
"No," Gotoh corrected, his sharp eyes focused on the match. "It's the butler's ability. He's tampering with Kaizen's perception."
Gotoh's gaze darkened. "It's a tricky power. It messes with the mind—subtle, but effective. Even someone like me could fall for it if I wasn't prepared."
Kaizen had fallen into the butler's trap—or so it seemed.
As the butler closed in for the finishing blow, Kaizen staggered, swinging wildly at thin air. A sly grin crept across the butler's face. His figure blurred as he dodged Killer Queen and appeared behind Kaizen.
The butler launched a punch toward Kaizen's unguarded back.
"No!" Gotoh hissed. "He's going to lose!"
But just before the fist connected, Killer Queen vanished.
It reappeared an instant later—right behind Kaizen.
The butler's punch, meant for Kaizen, collided with Killer Queen instead. The impact barely made Killer Queen budge. Killer Queen advanced, grabbing the butler with both hands and locking him in an iron grip.
The butler struggled, but he couldn't move. Killer Queen's grip was absolute.
The butler gasped, his ribs creaking under the pressure. If the grip tightened any further, his ribs would shatter—and his organs along with them.
Kaizen turned slowly, his expression cool and detached.
"Let's end this."
He gave a slight nod, and Killer Queen released the butler, who stumbled back, gasping for air.
"Thank you, Master Kaizen," the butler wheezed, bowing slightly.
Kaizen's gaze shifted to Gotoh, who stood silently at the edge of the arena.
"Gotoh, tell Silva and Grandpa Zeno I'm leaving the manor."
Gotoh blinked, caught off guard by the sudden announcement.
"Leaving? Right now?"
"Yes, right now," Kaizen replied calmly, as if the decision had been made long ago.
He turned to Shinji.
"Shinji, I'm leaving the estate in your hands while I'm gone."
Shinji straightened, offering a respectful nod. "Yes, Master Kaizen."
With a satisfied nod, Kaizen turned away. Killer Queen flickered out of existence with a thought.
As Kaizen glanced downhill toward the sprawling cityscape, a small smirk curled his lips.
"Heavens Arena, here I come."
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