Slowly landing, Auren and the others take anything they require with them, carrying their belongings as they leave the airship. The large but slowly shrinking sack of rice is, of course, under Auren's personal protection. The group makes their way to Heaven's Arena using a large taxi, a small bus that is large enough to fit up to 18 passengers inside. Auren carries the rice with him, not even putting it somewhere else, but instead placing it on an empty seat next to him.
"What is inside that thing? Why would you carry that around? It looks silly!" Leorio wonders, staring at Auren carrying that huge bag. "Suspicious...."
"You can't pay for it, even with your life; just don't ask," Auren replies calmly, while Killua and Kurapika awkwardly glance at the large sack.
Standing still, Leorio falls behind, only to regain his confidence and move on.
"... Liar!" he suddenly yells, pointing his finger at him.
When they arrive, Auren and the others, their group a little strange and eye-catching, immediately draw everyone's attention, who are hurriedly trying to leave the large plaza because of the sudden rain shower, soaking their clothes.
"Let's hurry up and get inside," Auren orders.
Don't want anyone making a move.
Using Zetsu, Auren is mostly ignored, despite the strangeness of the group.
However, as they reach the close vicinity of the large tower, with everyone quickly leaving, the snake makes a shrill, ear-piercing sound and draws everyone's attention to them. Auren, despite his Zetsu, is finally recognized by the various spectators and martial arts fans as everyone grabs their phones and begins taking pictures, people yelling loudly, and a small kid jumping up and down in excitement.
Not now....
"It's Auren! The Champion Auren!"
"The strongest fighter in the world!"
"Retire already!! Where is Vanni?!"
"Two-time champion!"
"He's just an actor..."
"Please, an autograph, I just need ten... no, five are enough! Please! If I sell them, I can..."
"Please look at the camera, Champion!"
"Such a brute... I like Eren better."
"His fights are fake."
"Auren!!"
"He's so cool!"
Within seconds of being recognized, hundreds of people yell, their opinions and reactions extremely varied.
"Wow, how embarrassing, I didn't dress for the occasion," Marsha says, blushing as she's photographed as well.
Suddenly, hundreds more rush towards Auren, completely blocking their path, as they surround their group.
"MOVE!" Auren says in a stern voice, releasing his Aura; the crowd immediately backing off, with the closest people shuddering slightly.
Moving on, a group of people wearing the Heaven's Arena uniforms dashes towards them, forming a line and protecting Auren and his entourage.
"Welcome, Champion Auren!" his personal manager, whom Auren barely remembers, says. "As requested, we're here to escort you to your personal floor at the very top, your penthouse apartment... we'll take care of these crazy fans."
"Good," Auren replies. "These five need to register as well; they're trying to test themselves. No special treatment! I want fair fights."
"Of course, of course," the manager replies, smiling with a calculating grin. "We wouldn't presume to coddle the chosen fighters of our champion. How could we?!"
"Fine," Auren replies. "So for that, we'll make a brief stop at the ground floor before we enter the penthouse apartment. We won't need my floor... just keep doing what you've been doing. I hope you also made the changes to it, so we all have our separate rooms and beds."
The previous apartment was a joke and all about appearance... hopefully it's a little more functional now.
"Of course, of course, Champion, everything is prepared for you," he says. "Just know that while your own floor is still rented, I can clear it for you in just a matter of hours; just give us a call, and I'll have it done... personally."
"The apartment on top is enough," Auren states, waving him off.
Together, they're escorted to the ground-floor registration area, and the five of them skip the line and walk directly to a separate empty counter, with one of the employees who welcomed Auren rushing behind it and handing the group five forms.
I guess this is the one advantage they're getting... I don't consider waiting in a line something that they might miss out on, so who cares if they skip it.
"Fill it out, get your matches, and then we can talk on my floor. Also, hold back a little. You don't want to kill anyone by accident. About what we studied earlier, not even a hint of it. You know the dangers...." Auren repeats.
"Okay!" Gon and Killua reply, smiling, while Leorio and Kurapika show no reaction.
Only Leroute looks visibly annoyed. "This is so barbaric. Fighting here... fighting there... can't we just get along?"
"Leroute... you love to take advantage of people and scam them. Don't think I've forgotten your backstory, and as much as I know who you really targeted, you can't claim to be completely peaceful. More importantly, you'll earn a lot of money, around 200 million Jenny on the highest floor, if you make it to the top," Auren explains.
"You all need the money. Becoming a doctor, revenge, finding someone, or just finding your own path," Auren says, looking at each of the four young Hunters. "Money is always important... it can buy a lot: information, helpers, even professional Hunters with unique abilities."
"Oh!" Leroute says. "I guess this is indeed a nice chance, but can we easily make it there?"
"You were able to open the Trial Gate... and you did some sparring with each other too. This will be a breeze, so stop complaining, will you?" Auren asks in a gentle but firm tone.
"Ooookay," Leroute replies, winking at him.
"Don't be this transparent, please," Auren mutters. "Anyway, since you are not refusing, it looks like we don't have to make a detour to Trick Tower then," Auren jests, Leroute tensing up for a moment before glaring at Auren. "Don't even joke about that."
As the employee finishes their registrations and respectfully hands each of them a number, even bowing down, the group moves on.
"You are quite popular, Auren," Kurapika notes. "Even we, just by being accompanied by you, get treated like VIPs."
"He's the king of this place," Killua explains. "Every martial arts fan in the world knows him."
"Wow!" Gon exclaims. "I have never heard of him on Whale Island."
"I have to admit... I didn't know him either," Leorio says. "Though I wasn't particularly interested in these martial arts contests."
"That's almost sad," Killua says. "Get out some more, I was always travelling even when I was so young... for various missions. I suppose he's quite popular, like a celebrity. Of course not as much as Vanessa, but still."
"I read about this place, but I thought the rumors were exaggerated; it looks like I was wrong," Kurapika admits honestly. "Obviously, you are anything but a scammer."
"This fame isn't worth anything; it's a hassle... but I promise you, the matches in the 200-floor class are worth it, especially if you need experience. Fame is a price I was willing to pay, while others, who are currently enduring torturous training, even welcome and enjoy it."
"Hehe, poor Master," Leroute jokes, smiling mischievously.
Get your act together, Miss Criminal. Vanessa has already spoiled her.
Walking into the very first Arena, which contains a large number of small rings, as thousands of fights take place every single day, the atmosphere is quite rowdy.
Wild fans scream and yell, cheering on the fighters, as everyone does their best to not only win, but also impress the referee.
"The referee can send you to a high floor if you perform well. I'd say do your best, but frankly, it would be best to get sent to the 50th floor. Some of you, especially you, Gon, Leorio, and Leroute, desperately need the experience. You need to get used to fights in general. If you make a request, the referee will follow your wishes. It looks like only Killua and Kurapika, to a limited degree, have any kind of real combat experience. So it's best to fight as often as possible, not training or sparring, but for real. As I said... you have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Don't worry about injuries."
"Okay, 50th floor..." Leorio says. "I'll do my best..."
"Me too!" Gon adds, and while his words match Leorio's, the sentiment and motivation are quite different.
The five of them each get a number and wait to be called onto the stage.
"Wait until your number is called... I need to visit the bathroom, really quick," Auren informs them, quickly leaving.
The snake, still softly crying, rubbing her head against Auren's neck, cries in joy as they reach a bathroom which she now recognizes, especially the sink. Thankfully, it is mostly empty.
"Get outside now!" Auren yells, using Ren, forcing the remaining people inside to leave the scene.
Auren then places the snake into one of the sinks and lets the water run, directly flowing into the wide-open mouth of the excited snake.
"What should I do with you..." Auren wonders gently, petting it as it greedily devours the water, its brown back reminding him of a garden with all kinds of green vegetables sprouting from it.
Five minutes later, he leaves and reaches the main fighting hall, and through obvious manipulation from the side of the Heaven's Arena employees, hears the groups' numbers being called at the same time, as they're asked to fight immediately.
Killua's match ends in an instant win, as he moves so fast that most people can't even perceive him, magically appearing behind his opponent, who is suddenly collapsing like a puppet whose strings have been cut.
The good old chop to the neck.
Kurapika, meanwhile, tries to perform a combination by first dodging his opponent's attack, which he easily does by swaying to the side, evading the right straight. However, what follows is a jab into a straight, with a spinning kick as a finisher. To his own shock and surprise, only the first attack lands, as the jab is already enough to catapult his enemy out of the ring; the rest of his combination only hits air.
Looking down at his fists, his eyes widen briefly before he smiles in satisfaction and eventually regains his cool, all in just a few seconds.
Leorio, slightly worried, ends up dodging and performing an awkward two-handed shove, his opponent spinning through the air and landing outside the ring.
Gon also pushes hard, following Killua's advice, who said, "Just push," allowing him to smash his opponent against the wall of the ground floor, many spectators looking down in shock as the stone wall beneath them is now cracked.
Finally, Leroute wins by spinning around her opponent and kneeing her opponent, a huge muscular man, in the back, causing him to also fall out of the ring.
All five return to Auren and present a ticket to the 50th floor.
"He was gonna send me to the 180th one...." Killua says. "Guess I should have expected as much, since I was here already."
"Me to the 70th," Gon says.
"100 for me," Leroute says smugly.
Only Leorio looks frustrated as he whispers in a quiet voice. "50th... I didn't have to argue...."
Kurapika decides not to share his experience.
Being escorted through the mass of fans who've followed Auren, the group reaches the penthouse apartment at the top of Heaven's Arena, the elevator needing ten minutes to make it up there, only for them to exit and enter another one for the final stretch.
"Don't worry, the upper floors don't allow fans to crowd people," Auren reassures them as they walk inside.
"That's good... I hate these crazies!" Leorio says.
Walking into the luxurious penthouse apartment, the group's eyes widen, even Kurapika and Killua seemingly impressed. Exactly as Auren demanded, the apartment offers a spacious living room, more akin to a lobby, and various other rooms, with enough space for at least twenty people.
"I can't wait to relax!" Leorio says. "This place is incredible! A nice cold beer... TV, maybe a massage."
"I can offer you something better," Auren interrupts him, dropping the rice and other things from the airship near the kitchen. "Drop the stuff and get your ass on the floor. Training continues."
"..."
In an instant, Leorio's smile disappears as he notices the others have already dropped their things like Auren and are sitting down on a luxurious and soft carpet. Letting out a heavy sigh, he does the same and finally sits down cross-legged next to them.
Jolt and Marsha, meanwhile, silently and gently get situated.
"Now then... continue!" Auren orders, making sure to carefully observe them, meanwhile training in his own way, using En and focusing on the suspicious cloud now hovering directly over Heaven's Arena, the upper floors no longer able to enjoy sunlight.
Concentrating on their training, Auren smiles in satisfaction, only for him to tense up as he feels a strange Aura and briefly loses his vision in a scarlet-red light, his body tensing up.
?! It can't be... why?
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