NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Kaizen Retained His Strength?
"Thank you, but there's no need. I know this mountain like the back of my hand."
"Alright then, just be careful."
"Yeah, I will."
The road down the mountain stretched long, and the bus rocked back and forth with each turn. Soon, the woman sitting beside Kaizen began to nod off, her eyes drooping shut.
Kaizen's own eyes were closed as well—but not because he was sleeping.
He was meditating.
The Nen techniques Kaizen had learned so far included Ten, Ren, Zetsu, Hatsu, and Gyo. These were just the fundamentals. But knowing them didn't mean you could afford to relax.
Mastering Nen wasn't a one-time event—it was an ongoing process.
Like martial arts, it followed stages: entry-level, proficient, advanced, and mastery. Kaizen had reached proficiency in some techniques, but others were still at the beginner stage.
In the canon story, such stages of mastery weren't explored in detail. However, whether it was Maha Zoldyck, Zeno, or Silva, they all emphasized the importance of mastery to Kaizen.
The higher the level of mastery, the greater the increase in personal strength.
In battles between Nen users, especially those of similar strength, the smallest details could decide the outcome. And it was mastery of those details that often determined victory.
The bus jerked to a stop with a loud hiss of the brakes.
Kaizen's eyes snapped open.
They had reached the foot of the mountain.
The small town bustled with activity, thanks to the influx of tourists visiting the Zoldyck estate. The steady stream of visitors brought business, giving the town a lively and prosperous atmosphere.
Kaizen stepped off the bus.
The woman beside him glanced around, as if searching for him, but Kaizen had already slipped into the crowd.
The bus driver waited for the last passengers to disembark before stepping out himself and locking the door. He headed toward the station office to clock out for the day.
However, he didn't notice the man following him from a distance.
It was the same man who had argued with the driver earlier about the Zoldyck family. The driver had defended the family, which clearly hadn't sat well with the other man.
The driver soon turned into a narrow alley. The man following him picked up his pace, his eyes dark with intent. It was clear he planned to ambush the driver—and likely kill him.
From above, Kaizen watched the scene unfold.
"This is Zoldyck family business," he muttered quietly.
He raised a hand, and a pink figure materialized beside him.
"Killer Queen."
The Stand shimmered into existence, holding a small stone between its fingertips.
"The bomb," Kaizen whispered.
Killer Queen tossed the stone effortlessly. It whizzed through the air with deadly precision, heading straight for the man trailing the driver.
The follower heard the faint whizz of the stone cutting through the air and instinctively looked up.
Too late.
BOOM!
The stone struck—and detonated.
However, the explosion was eerily silent, as if sound itself had been swallowed at the epicenter.
The man staggered, eyes wide in disbelief.
His body—not the stone—was what had exploded. Flesh and bone were obliterated, and the blast destroyed his vital organs in an instant.
He gasped in horror, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
How could his own body have exploded? He was flesh and blood—this wasn't possible.
But it didn't matter anymore. His life was snuffed out in that single, silent blast.
With a flicker of thought, Kaizen dismissed Killer Queen.
Down below, the driver continued walking, unaware of the danger that had passed just moments earlier.
Kaizen made his way back to the station, bought a ticket, and headed toward the nearby city.
The Zoldyck estate was far from Heavens Arena, and the fastest way to reach it was by airship. Unfortunately, small towns like this one didn't have airship terminals—he'd need to travel to a larger city first.
Not long after Kaizen left, another figure appeared in the alley, standing over the remains of the exploded stalker.
The man was Zeno Zoldyck. His short white hair glimmered under the dim light, and his stooped figure gave him a deceptively frail appearance.
Zeno crouched, inspecting what was left of the stalker's body.
"Looks like Kaizen didn't show his full strength back at the manor," Jeno muttered to himself, his sharp eyes narrowing in thought.
His voice was calm but carried a hint of concern.
"His ability is more complex... and dangerous... than I expected."
Zeno stood slowly, his gaze following the direction Kaizen had taken toward the city.
When Illumi had first left the Zoldyck estate, someone had watched over him too—Silva himself. It was tradition to secretly guard the younger members of the family during their first journeys into the outside world.
And now, it was Zeno's turn.
Kaizen was too talented, too promising, to leave unprotected. His potential ranked among the highest Zeno had ever seen—but potential alone wasn't enough.
Kaizen needed time.
And Zeno intended to make sure he got it.
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