"Who?"
Everyone was startled and turned to look.
From the depths of the dark passage, a monkey walked out with drooping eyes.
He wore a black and yellow martial arts suit, a uniquely shaped golden hoop on his head, and held a "Ruyi Stick" in his hand. With a light wave, he whipped up a gust of wind that peeled a layer off the passage walls.
Crumbled stones fell with a rustle, scattering messily on the ground.
"Eh? M-Monkey?"
"Do monkeys commit crimes too?"
Gon's innocent voice rang out.
Saiyu: "..."
The corners of his mouth twitched. He strained his neck and shouted at Gon, unleashing a torrent of abuse. "Do you know how to speak, brat?"
"I am one of the Twelve Zodiacs—Saiyu!"
"Uh... Mister, what is a Twelve Zodiac?" Gon scratched the back of his head and asked Number Two.
Number Two smiled and patted his head. "Who knows? Maybe he isn't a thing."
Goddamn "isn't a thing". Saiyu's furry monkey face dropped. He walked slowly toward the cave entrance. "Move aside. You trash have finished your mission. You can withdraw now!"
Who is he calling trash?
The "Dissection Expert" Johness smiled gloomily. "Heh heh heh. Has Trick Tower been breached by magical beasts?"
"To actually let a monkey in, well..."
Bang!
A furry fist suddenly bloomed in Johness's vision.
Johness hadn't even finished speaking when his head, like a watermelon struck by a heavy hammer, instantly exploded!
Brain matter mixed with bright red blood burst out, splashing onto Leroute. The psychiatrist, known for her mental stability, screamed and fainted on the spot.
She collapsed to the ground with a thud next to Johness's headless corpse.
"Who are you calling a monkey?" Saiyu shook his hand. Killing Johness with one punch was as easy for him as crushing a mosquito. He looked sideways at Bendot and Sedokan—one weak, one disabled. The two pieces of garbage tactfully retreated behind him. Their so-called freedom had become a castle in the air, collapsing in an instant.
"P-Please, go ahead."
"Sedokan, help me to the infirmary."
Bendot's face was pale. He forced a weak smile at Saiyu and gave Sedokan a subtle look. Sedokan swallowed trembling saliva. He didn't need Bendot's hint; he screamed "Mommy!", terrified, and turned to run!
He left Bendot stranded right there.
'Damn it, these people are too ruthless. Johness is dead. Majtani looks like he's not far from death. As for Leroute, that woman, I can only wish her good luck.'
'Huh? Motherfucker, did you forget someone?' Bendot: "..."
He stared in wide-eyed helplessness as Sedokan vanished into the passage. He had to grit his teeth, lean against the wall, and inch his way back bit by bit.
Blood spilled on the ground, dragging out a long crimson trail.
The smell of blood spread. Gon pulled on Leorio's sleeve. "Hey, Leorio, didn't you say that dissection expert or whatever was really strong?"
'How come... one punch... and he's down?'
Leorio swallowed hard, looked at Johness's headless body, then glanced cautiously at Saiyu. He quietly shimmied closer to Number Two. "You idiot. He was strong, that's true. But that guy is even stronger."
The Twelve Zodiacs—Saiyu? He killed the most vicious criminal in Swindlers Swamp with one fist? Damn it, who is the most vicious one here?
Leorio's imagination was limited by his perspective.
Unlike this useless guy, when Kurapika heard the other party announce his title, his expression turned grave.
The Twelve Zodiacs. Those were big shots in the Hunter Association. Aside from the Chairman and Vice Chairman, those twelve possessed the greatest strength and highest authority.
Why would such a figure appear here?
Kurapika glanced subtly at Saiyu. The opponent held his Ruyi Stick, staring across the arena at a certain young man. A realization suddenly dawned in Kurapika's heart. 'He is here for Teacher Ben An!'
'So... what does this have to do with you?'
Noticing Kurapika's gaze, Number Two spoke calmly, "Do your job."
Kurapika paused, met Number Two's indifferent gaze, took a deep breath, gripped the Kusanagi Sword tightly, and walked slowly toward Majtani.
Then he closed his eyes, raised the Kusanagi Sword, and stabbed downward violently!
Squelch. The sharp blade tip sank directly into Majtani's heart, piercing him through.
Poor Majtani was woken by the pain, then his head tilted to the side, unconscious.
Sizzle. Blood overflowed, pooling on the ground. Kurapika opened his eyes; the scarlet faded, replaced by amber. What surprised him was...
'It seems killing isn't as hard to accept as I imagined.' He wiped the blood splatter from his face. He raised his hand to pull out the Kusanagi Sword, stepped back to avoid the spurting blood column, and took a silent final look at Majtani. He turned and walked to the arena, holding the Kusanagi Sword with both hands, returning it to Number Two.
"Your clansmen would be pained to see you today, but you will have no regrets."
Number Two grabbed it, holding the Kusanagi Sword steadily in his hand. Then, with a swing of his single arm, the bloodstain on the blade turned into a blood-colored ribbon, cutting into the adjacent stone wall and carving a long groove.
"I understand." Kurapika raised his head, exhaled, turned to Number Two, and smiled brightly. "I leave the rest to you, Teacher Ben An."
"Hey! And me too! Kurapika!" Gon waved happily at Kurapika, but Leorio covered his mouth and dragged him behind Number Two. "Shut up!"
'Can't you see how Johness died? Are you trying to get killed?'
"Pfft." Children truly have no filter. Kurapika shook his head with a laugh, nodded to Number Two, and retreated behind him.
Whoosh. A cool breeze seemed to blow through the precipice.
Across the massive arena, Saiyu seemed to have lost his patience waiting.
The monkey leaped, crossing the cliff in one step and landing on the arena. He slammed the Ruyi Stick heavily onto the ground!
Boom! A loud noise echoed. The arena seemed unable to withstand his power, letting out a mournful groan. A deep pit was left where he stood!
"Alright, Mr. Sean Zoldyck, can I invite you to play a little game?"
'Called out by name, huh? Guess I have no choice but to go up.'
Number Two asked Sean silently through the mental link, 'Hey, Main Body, should I beat him to death or beat him to death?'
'Up to you.' On the Thousand Sunny, Sean didn't even lift his head as he spoke calmly. Beside him, the corner of Ging's mouth twitched, and he smiled helplessly. "He hasn't said he wants to fight you yet, has he?"
"Monkey, I know him. He probably just wants to test your character through Nen abilities."
"So what?" Sean held his fishing rod, unmoving as a mountain, and said indifferently, "Since he dares to take the name Saiyu, he has a death wish."
Ging was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Sean didn't answer. The screen standing in front of them suddenly trembled!
A wave of killing intent exploded violently from Number Two's body!
The young man's black hair danced without wind as he looked coldly at Saiyu. "Do you know that your existence is an insult to my idol!"
The real Monkey King... Wears the "Phoenix Wings Purple Gold Crown" on his head. Clad in "Chainmail Gold Armor". Steps in "Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Boots". Holds the "Ruyi Jingu Bang". With one "Somersault Cloud", he soars one hundred and eight thousand li into the sky. Indescribably dashing and free.
But what the hell is this thing in front of me?
Rat-faced and monkey-cheeked, crooked eyebrows and slanted eyes, standing crookedly, acting crookedly. I'm truly disgusted, thank you very much.
The Kusanagi Sword in his hand suddenly extended, shooting toward Saiyu with a swish.
Saiyu: "..."
'Who exactly is insulting whom here, you bastard?!'
He shouted "Wait!", lifted the Ruyi Stick, and blocked with a backhand strike!
Boom!
Two streams of air collided violently, forming an intense tornado that swept rapidly outward in all directions!
"This isn't a place we can stay!"
"Quick, get into the passage!"
Their facial skin was pressed tight against their cheekbones by the wind. Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio couldn't even keep their eyes open. Supporting each other, they hurriedly retreated into the passage.
Thud. Majtani, Johness, and the fainted Leroute weren't so lucky. Swept up by the gale formed of killing intent, they fell into the abyss, clearly doomed.
Clang! The sound of metal clashing rang out from within the tornado.
The Kusanagi Sword, flashing with cold light, was accurately blocked by Saiyu's stick!
"Oh? Strength is pretty good..."
Although the Kusanagi Sword was blocked, the tyrannical power transmitted through the blade pressed down on Saiyu with the force of toppling mountains and overturning seas.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio, hiding in the passage and peeking out, saw it—
A ring-shaped crater spread out from beneath Saiyu's feet. The massive arena was instantly pressed down by a meter!
"Sean Zoldyck, this guy really is unreasonable. attacking right off the bat, clearly intending to kill Saiyu. It's a pity... pure physical confrontation. If anyone thinks they can ignore Saiyu's strength just because he looks tall and thin... they are destined to suffer a loss."
In the Vice Chairman's office, Pariston sipped red wine contentedly, watching with relish as Saiyu was suppressed by Number Two's sword. The smile on his lips was a fraction wider than usual.
Just as he said, the "Twelve Zodiacs" acknowledged by Netero didn't rely on connections, but on strength, merit, and contribution. Only after a comprehensive assessment of these three aspects would they be pushed layer by layer from the bottom to the top of the pyramid by the Hunter Association.
"Don't look at Saiyu being thin; his strength isn't weak." Netero stroked his beard, looking at the arena on the screen that had been "shaved" down by a meter, and said faintly, "If Sean thinks the opponent specializes in speed, he is making a big mistake."
"Only just started... and you're already hyping him up?" Maha's hand tapping his belly hadn't stopped. He spoke calmly, "My grandson is right. A monkey is just a monkey; ultimately, it can't make it to the main stage."
"If he really thinks he can crush people with unexpected strength... then I can only say he shouldn't be so naive."
Grandfather and grandson seemed to share a telepathic bond. Having suppressed Saiyu, Number Two was neither panicked nor rushed. deep in his right eye, a six-pointed star flashed for a moment, instantly revealing Saiyu's attributes completely!
[Name: Shen · Saiyu.]
[Bone Age: 37.]
[Speed: 95199. (Ordinary Human 10) (Note: Limit Broken Two Times)]
[Strength: 153221. (Ordinary Human 10) (Note: Limit Broken Three Times)]
[Qi Capacity: 94240. (Ordinary Human 10) (Note: Limit Broken Two Times)]
'Looks pretty good... but that's all it is.'
The muscles in his right arm bulged. Strength far surpassing Saiyu's was revealed.
Number Two swung his blade backhand again, knocking the Ruyi Stick aside. His left index and middle fingers shot out, stabbing violently toward Saiyu's heart.
"Flying Finger Pistol!"
Wrapped in Armament Haki, the fingers pierced the air with a pop.
Saiyu let out a strange cry. "Holy shit!"
Alarm bells rang in his heart!
With a swallow flip, he forcefully twisted his body in mid-air. It was seen that—