Heavens Arena.
In a high-rise apartment, Killua, having just returned from his match, immediately slammed his fist into the innocent wall in frustration.
Bam!
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!"
Eight-year-old Killua sat on the edge of the bed, clutching his head and roaring.
He couldn't understand it. Why did his limbs completely disobey him, screaming to run away, just because his opponent gave off an 'aura' slightly similar to his big brother's?
Even his subconscious mind kept screaming at him: "Run!"
Thinking back to his opponent... purely based on physical observation, the guy's strength and speed were on par with his own. Although his body was tougher than the average fighter...
If Killua had used the assassination techniques taught by his father, he would have had a chance to exploit a weakness, inflict a fatal wound, and win.
But knowing that only made it worse. Killua couldn't figure out why he had surrendered without throwing a single punch. He lay back on the bed, lost in thought.
"Ever since I reached the 150th floor a year ago, I keep running into these powerful martial artists, or guys who give off a 'dangerous aura' like Big Brother..."
"I've beaten plenty of decent fighters before, but whenever I face someone with that specific aura... I can't even muster the will to fight back."
"Is it because of Illumi?"
Killua remembered the terrifying aura his brother, Illumi, had shown him before he left home.
It wasn't just bloodlust. It was mixed with something... far more terrifying.
Killua had sensed it before, but whenever he asked his father or grandfather about it, they never gave him a straight answer.
"Looks like I'll have to figure out what that is on my own... Once I know where that aura comes from, maybe I can become as strong as Illumi."
Killua understood then—
It was the fear imprinted on his body and mind by the aura his brother released when he left home. Whenever he sensed a similar aura from an enemy, he would instantly recall Illumi's overwhelming power and lose the will to resist.
"In the end, Big Brother is just too strong, huh?"
Having made peace with that thought, Killua stopped dwelling on it. He took the elevator down to the first floor.
He planned to clear his head and buy some snacks to bring back to his room.
However, as he walked through the crowded first-floor hallway, a "black-haired man" sitting on a bench called out to him.
"You look pretty bummed... Did you just lose a match?" asked the disguised Yuu.
In fact, Yuu had noticed Killua's gloomy aura with his Six Eyes the moment the boy stepped out of the elevator, viewing the scene from a near-omniscient perspective.
It didn't take a genius to guess that Killua was still wallowing in self-doubt over his earlier fight.
Although Yuu knew that Killua would eventually meet Gon, resolve his inner conflict, and break free from Illumi's control...
As the saying goes, meeting someone is fate.
Since he had run into Killua at his lowest point, Yuu decided not to be stingy with his kindness. He figured he'd have a chat with the lost little guy before his own match that evening.
And so, Yuu struck up a conversation.
"Do I know you?"
Killua stopped and looked back at the "black-haired man" coldly.
"You don't know me yet, but I know everything about you." Yuu rested his elbow on his thigh and propped his chin in his hand, looking at Killua with interest.
"You're the kid from the Zoldyck family of assassins. If I remember correctly... your name is Killua Zoldyck, right?"
Hearing this, Killua's expression turned icy. The hand hidden in his hoodie pocket tensed into a knife hand, his fingernails quietly growing into razor-sharp claws.
He was ready to strike at any moment.
"How do you know that?"
Killua's tone was cold. As a family of assassins, the Zoldycks had racked up plenty of enemies. In a place with this much foot traffic, running into someone with a grudge wouldn't be strange.
Sensing Killua's wariness, Yuu smiled and reassured him.
"Relax. I don't mean you any harm."
Yuu scooted over on the bench and patted the empty spot beside him.
"Got a minute? Just think of it as a chat between friends to kill time."
"Friends are just dead weight. I don't need them."
Killua retorted casually. Having said his piece, he turned to walk toward the exit, intending to ignore this overly friendly stranger.
But just then, a hand landed on Killua's shoulder, triggering his high-strung nerves.
Whoosh—
Killua whipped around, thrusting a knife hand at the man.
However, just as his fingertips were about to make contact, his hand felt like it was sinking into an invisible swamp. It slowed down until it came to a complete stop.
His muscles were still tense, and he hadn't reduced his force in the slightest.
But his speed had been nullified.
Looking at the lethal claws inches from his face, Yuu nonchalantly pressed Killua's hand down and spoke calmly.
"You've got quite a temper... As an assassin, speed and ruthlessness are important, but sometimes, keeping your cool is the key to a successful 'hunt'."
"What did you do? Why couldn't I control my hand..." Killua asked, confused.
"Because you had killing intent toward me and actually attacked. That's why it stopped," Yuu explained.
Even though that was the truth, Killua was completely baffled. The only thing he knew for sure was... this guy was strong.
Much stronger than he looked—or let on.
Killua didn't know what kind of trick the guy had used.
But that strike just now had been a full-power attack intended to kill instantly.
Yet, the opponent had neutralized it effortlessly.
In one day, he had encountered two enemies he couldn't beat.
Killua's mood hit rock bottom.
Even though he came from a family of assassins, inherited the best genes, and had endured brutal training since age three...
He was still just a kid.
Yuu easily saw through Killua's thoughts. Smiling, he offered some comfort.
"To be honest, I'm way stronger than the guys you've met before. If you couldn't beat that guy this morning..."
"Beating me... is probably impossible in this lifetime."
Yuu meant it as comfort or motivation, but to Killua's ears, it sounded like mockery.
"Tch," Killua scoffed. "You feel way weaker than my brother. Who wants to beat you anyway... arrogant jerk."
Yuu didn't mind. Noticing that time was running short, he stood up and headed toward the arena entrance.
Before leaving, Yuu briefly introduced himself to Killua and casually added:
"My match is up next. If you're interested, you might want to watch... you might learn something."
As Yuu walked into the exam area, Killua stubbornly made a face at his retreating back and pouted.
"Who wants to watch that~"
Killua kept walking toward the exit, but just before leaving, he stopped. He turned around to look at the monitor near the door.
...
Inside the arena.
Yuu's opponent was a ripped martial artist, standing about 1.9 meters tall with an incredibly muscular build.
Watching Yuu stroll lazily toward the ring, the burly man shouted a taunt from a distance.
"Hey! Are you that strong rookie from this morning?!"
"You look like a beanpole! I hope you don't get knocked out in one punch!"
"This is a 50th-floor match! It's not like the trash on the 1st floor!"
"You talk too much. I hope your skills are as strong as your mouth," Yuu retorted.
A moment later, the referee waved his hand and shouted, "Begin!"
The ferocious-looking giant immediately charged at Yuu, swinging a massive fist.
However, Yuu seemed to teleport, appearing right in front of him in the next instant and throwing what looked like a soft, powerless punch.
BOOM—!!
The giant was blasted backward by an immense force, embedding him into the reinforced wall. He couldn't move, his consciousness likely fading the moment the punch connected.
"The winner is... Contestant 1997!"
The referee waved his hand to signal the victory.
Yuu had won.
...
Meanwhile, standing by the entrance, Killua finished watching the match. From start to finish, it had taken less than three minutes.
More importantly, Killua couldn't see how Yuu moved at all, nor could he understand why a punch that looked so soft... could unleash such terrifying power.
"Who could possibly learn that?!"
...
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