NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Kaizen’s Battle Strategy
"This should be one of the most developed and vibrant places in the world."
Kaizen's eyes were drawn to a towering structure dominating the skyline— Heavens Arena.
The massive tower stood at 250 floors, far exceeding any other building around it. From the roof of the top floor, you could take in the entire city in a single breathtaking view.
Without hesitating further, Kaizen made his way toward the arena's gate.
Though most would dive right into battle upon arriving, Kaizen was different. Unlike someone like Gon, who thrived on jumping headfirst into things, Kaizen preferred to observe before taking action—a habit instilled in him by Maha Zoldyck, his strict mentor.
At the entrance, Kaizen purchased a ticket and, following the staff's instructions, entered a spacious room.
The setup reminded him of a movie theater: an arena in the center surrounded by rows of seats for spectators. This was just the first floor—meant for newcomers with no achievements. There were dozens of similar arenas scattered across the floor.
The ticket Kaizen bought granted him all-day access to these arenas, which made Heavens Arena a popular hangout spot for people of all ages, from youngsters seeking thrills to retirees killing time. He blended in easily with the crowd—most of them were about his age, and no one paid him much attention.
In front of him floated a crystal sphere, visible only to him. A faint pull emanated from it, quietly absorbing the energy of the Heavens Arena.
"I wonder what kind of creature the Killer Queen will manifest after absorbing the essence of this place," Kaizen thought with growing curiosity.
The Killer Queen—the manifestation of his Nen ability—thrived by taking on the characteristics of the locations it absorbed.
"Though… it's slower here than it was back at Zoldyck Manor," Kaizen mused.
Just then, a fight began in the ring below. A young man squared off against an older opponent.
The difference in their skill levels was immediately apparent. The younger fighter looked like an average gym-goer, while the old man radiated an aura reminiscent of a seasoned martial artist—a presence not unlike someone from a prestigious dojo.
The result was as expected: the old man defeated the youth with a single decisive blow.
"Winner...!" the announcer's voice rang out.
Kaizen switched to a different arena room. When the fighters in the next match stepped into the ring, Kaizen's eyes narrowed.
"Sadaso?"
Kaizen recognized the man, but something felt... off. In the main timeline, Sadaso had come off as manipulative and cowardly. But here, he seemed more focused and composed, as if this version of him had a different outlook.
The fight was set to begin. Sadaso's opponent was a bald, muscular man who looked powerful. Despite their obvious skill, both fighters were still limited to the first floor due to the rules of the arena. Here, everyone started from the bottom, no matter their talent.
After a tense and spirited exchange, Sadaso emerged victorious.
He approached his fallen opponent and offered his hand.
"Good match."
The bald man accepted with a small nod. "Thanks."
Kaizen observed quietly, noting the stark difference between this version of Sadaso and the one from the original timeline. After claiming his prize at the front desk, Sadaso glanced at the ticket he was handed.
"Straight to the 10th floor, huh? Not bad."
Despite his confidence, things took a turn for the worse. On the 10th floor, Sadaso's luck ran out—he was quickly defeated by an older, more experienced fighter.
"Three moves... that's all it took," Kaizen muttered, watching Sadaso's brief moment of hope crumble. Ambition snuffed out before it could even bloom.
With the day's battles over, Kaizen left Heavens Arena and found a nearby hotel to rest.
The tower only offered rooms starting from the 100th floor, so he had no choice but to stay elsewhere. Once inside his room, Kaizen made a quick call.
"Who's this?" a voice answered on the other end.
"It's me."
The tone on the other side shifted immediately.
"Master Kaizen."
"Shinji, I've arrived at Heavens Arena. I need you to inform Uncle Silva and Grandpa Zeno."
"Yes, Master Kaizen. I'll let them know."
After hanging up, Kaizen locked the door and lay down on the bed. From his window, he could still see Heavens Arena, glowing brightly against the night sky.
"Tomorrow, it begins."
Kaizen knew he had two options ahead of him. The first was to rush to the 200th floor as quickly as possible. The second was to climb steadily, floor by floor, honing his skills along the way.
He weighed both options carefully.
"Climbing slowly would be a waste of time," he decided. "Ordinary martial artists have little left to teach me. Only a handful here might surpass Sanghir. The higher I go, the faster Killer Queen will absorb the arena's energy."
With his plan set, Kaizen closed his eyes. Tomorrow would mark the beginning of his climb to the top.
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