Chapter 27: Shall We Continue?
A few months later, the competition hall on the 200th floor was packed.
This match had captured everyone's attention.
The reason for its magnitude wasn't the fame of the "thug in a suit," but rather… because it involved the Host himself! A battle for position.
Almost every Nen user on the 200th floor was present.
Amid the heated atmosphere… the first to step onto the stage was the man known as the "Thug in a Suit" Haze!
Once, he had forged a legendary record in the Heavens Arena, known for ending matches swiftly.
Some veteran spectators surely recognized him.
However, after reaching the 200th floor, Haze had suffered a major setback, unable to reach new heights a pity indeed.
But now, after more than a year, he had finally done it: ten consecutive victories on the 200th floor, and the right to challenge a Floor Master!
Would he succeed in his goal?
And the one standing against him was none other than the Floor Master Sammy.
Since Sammy defeated the previous Floor Master, no one had managed to challenge his position for over three years.
Haze stepped onto the stage as the lights dimmed.
A single spotlight descended, enveloping a figure.
Bathed in radiance, the figure approached Haze under a chorus of cheers, face cold and emotionless.
Haze didn't look at him; he seemed calm, detached.
Instead, his gaze was fixed on the floating system screen before him.
Host: Haze
Age: 19
Power Class: Experienced martial artist, Nen expert.
(Next rank: Nen Master)
Attribute Rating: Human Evolver
Skills: Iron Shirt, Vajra Finger, Vibrating Kick, Steps, Divine Fist, Xinyi Liuhe Quan, Six-Style Spring Kick.
"Hm… fast progress," Haze smiled faintly.
Six months ago, the system had labeled him as an elite Nen user now, he was a master.
But the higher one climbs, the slower the growth becomes.
Each qualitative leap demands far more than before.
Back on the 200th floor, he had earned ten victories, though far less efficiently than he'd planned.
He had intended to leave the Heavens Arena in two months yet here he was, delayed once again.
During that time, he'd mastered a new leg technique and had even begun experimenting with telekinetic applications.
By his calculations, it had been almost two years since arriving at the Heavens Arena nearly four years if counting his previous experiences in the circus and mountains.
Even with the help of the system, this was as far as he'd come.
"Indeed… even a traveler shouldn't underestimate any world."
Closing the screen, Haze (Haze's true name) turned toward his opponent the Floor Master, Sammy.
A shirtless man with a muscular torso covered in totemic tattoos.
They knew each other.
After all, after so Haze in the Heavens Arena, Haze had become a familiar figure.
The Arena's Masters weren't always equally strong it depended on the era.
Some, like those seen in the original film, had been notably weak.
Later, Hisoka and Chrollo would both serve as Masters.
It was a matter of "periods" some eras produced stronger Masters than others, depending on the competitive environment and Nen users active at the time.
Currently, Haze recognized the Masters of this generation as truly formidable.
By the rules, a Master who successfully defends their title within a certain time may rest freely until the next challenge.
Unfortunately for Sammy, it was his turn and he couldn't refuse.
Despite how simple Haze's climb appeared, few ever reached ten wins, and even fewer dethroned a Floor Master.
Hence, those who held the title had it relatively easy they could leave the Heavens Arena anytime.
"I had a feeling the next Floor Master would be you…" Sammy said solemnly, noticing Haze's relaxed expression. "Just my luck, I guess."
He wasn't mocking he meant it.
He knew how Haze Haze had been preparing for this.
"So," Haze smirked, hands in his pockets, "you planning to surrender?"
"Don't get me wrong," Sammy cracked his neck. "I said bad luck because fighting you is a pain not because I think I'll lose. Arrogance doesn't suit you."
Then he added coldly:
"If your opponent is me, you might have to start all over again."
"Let's see about that."
Haze's grin widened.
"Whoa! Even before the match begins, Haze and Sammy are already exchanging sharp words!" the commentator announced, feeding the tension.
Both fighters released immense waves of aura at the same time.
The stone tiles beneath them cracked, gravel trembling and lifting into the air.
Among the crowd, Wing folded his fingers together, eyes fixed.
He didn't want to miss a single detail.
"They're so strong… Even their presence is on another level."
The pressure made Wing's hair sway as if in a storm.
Beside him, Bisky remained unusually serious, saying nothing.
BEEP!
The whistle sounded the match began!
In an instant, both Haze and Sammy vanished from sight.
The ordinary audience couldn't even perceive their afterimages they were simply too fast.
Wing's eyes darted around, tracking where bursts of shockwaves erupted.
In mere seconds, they exchanged dozens of blows each faster, heavier, sharper.
"They're adjusting positions, reading movements, syncing with their aura, analyzing and responding in fractions of a second… They're both flawless no exploitable openings."
Wing swallowed hard.
A battle of this level was invaluable to watch a true lesson.
BOOM!
A minute later, one figure was sent flying Sammy.
Haze's kick had landed clean in his stomach.
"Even under that kind of close assault, his reflexes improved again?" Wing murmured.
"It's Yuan," Bisky explained. "His Nen control has matured greatly. Sammy's experienced, but no match for Haze. The gap in technique is clear even in just one minute."
She continued, "He's refined his flaws since his first appearance here. In that short exchange, he used at least five martial arts to counter and neutralize attacks. Sammy's barely hanging on."
"His aura flow is natural now… He can even anticipate strikes like when that Illumi guy toyed with him before. Except now, the roles are reversed."
Bisky's voice was calm as she concluded,
"That kick already dislocated his internal organs."
Wing exhaled, smiling faintly.
"Told you. Haze's got this."
"Oh? You close to him now?" Bisky glared.
"Uh…"
"Don't celebrate yet," she snapped. "There's still Nen abilities. Those can turn a fight in an instant."
Then, suddenly, she stood and waved her hand, shouting,
"Come on! Beat him you can do it!"
Ironically, she seemed to be cheering for Sammy.
"Master…" Wing muttered helplessly.
On stage, Haze noticed Bisky's outburst and glanced her way.
He lightly tapped his foot, eyes back on Sammy.
"Don't hold back. You've got a trick, don't you?"
"Hmph!"
Sammy inhaled sharply his aura spiked.
His belly swelled like a balloon.
Then, he exhaled releasing a storm of colorful bubbles that filled the entire arena.
Release!
Haze squinted.
An instant later, the bubbles surrounding him exploded.
Each burst unleashed a piercing sonic shock enough to stun his hearing and blind his sight with flashes of white light.
The vapor thickened, coating his limbs, making them feel heavy as lead.
Sammy laughed.
"My ability covers an entire area impossible to dodge! It doesn't deal direct damage, but weakens the enemy's senses. Most opponents fell just from losing their hearing. You're the first I've ever used full power against!"
He strode toward Haze.
Ahead, Haze stood motionless, blank-eyed, seemingly unaware a perfect target.
"It's over!"
Sammy leapt forward, diving toward Haze's face for the finishing blow
But then a golden light burst across Haze's body.
Like a statue of gold, he stood immovable.
Sammy's Nen-infused punch struck and did nothing.
"What !?"
He threw punch after punch, unable to break through that golden layer.
"It's… his Nen!"
Realization dawned too late.
The light faded, and Haze's eyes came alive again, focused and sharp.
"Not a bad ability," he said softly.
Then his arm flicked turning into a black whip of shadow and pierced straight through Sammy's neck.
Sammy convulsed, dropping to his knees, clutching his throat in disbelief as blood splattered across the stage.
Haze tilted his head slightly, smiling down at him.
"Wanna keep going?"
(End of Chapter)