Kaizen began recounting his experiences in detail, speaking slowly and thoughtfully.
"After leaving the Zoldyck Manor, I went to Heavens Arena. It didn't take long for me to reach the 200th floor. Along the way, I encountered several assassins, but none of them posed a significant challenge.
"Eliminating them was simple.
"Afterward, I took on an assassination mission where I dealt with five death-row prisoners. That's when Zeno found out about me.
"Then came my fight against Isaiah. I defeated him, but he tried to poison me in revenge. The poison didn't work, so I killed him in return.
"After that, there was the tournament at Heavens Arena. Once it concluded, I followed Zeno to Meteor City.
"In Meteor City, the main focus was dealing with the Kute Gang of Thieves and their large-scale recruitment plan. I also acquired a rare material from the Disaster Cockroach.
"Of course, I'm skipping over some of the fights with the world's underground syndicates, but that led to our arrival in Yorknew City."
Kaizen paused, reflecting on the whirlwind of events over the past year. Despite how fast it had flown by, he realized just how much he had accomplished. His progress was evident, even from observing his own Nen Beast.
A year ago, Kaizen had only just begun learning Nen. Now, he had grown into a formidable combatant, standing as a C-rank Nen user—among the top in his tier.
He had become part of a diverse and capable team:
Altan, a top-tier intelligence expert.
Raiken, an unparalleled master of melee combat.
Killer Queens, elite assassins who excelled at sabotage.
Ryunosuke Akutagawa, a mid-range and large-scale battle specialist.
Nina and Shizuku rounded out the group, alongside various Nen tools and weapons, including the Rotten Knife. Altan's web of intelligence contacts was firmly established, allowing them access to critical information both online and through personal connections.
A Killer's Path
"When you first entered Heavens Arena, those assassinations you faced were arranged by me," Zeno admitted.
"As a Zoldyck, the first lesson in assassination is survival. You must learn not to die before you can learn how to kill. Every member of our family has gone through the same thing."
Kaizen nodded, recalling how Zeno had always emphasized the importance of survival above all else.
"I see. And when I started appearing on those killer-for-hire websites, I noticed my missions weren't particularly high-profile anymore.
"But when I searched for you, Grandpa Zeno, you always seemed to show up quickly. I guessed you were never far behind, keeping an eye on me. After all, our family doesn't have many members, and you've always stressed survival."
Zeno smiled faintly. "That's right. I wouldn't let you wander off on your own until you could protect yourself. But after returning from Meteor City, you're nearly there.
"In this world, very few can pose a threat to you now. And those who could... well, they know the consequences of provoking the Zoldyck family."
Kaizen understood Zeno's point: the strongest individuals and organizations in the world were well aware of the Zoldyck name and the danger it carried. Most wouldn't dare target a family member. However, lesser forces, either unaware or reckless, might still attempt it.
The Power Dynamics of Heavens Arena
"Grandpa Zeno," Kaizen began, turning to his great-grandfather Maha, "I noticed something during the Heavens Arena tournament. There's a massive gap in strength between the average fighters and the Floor Masters.
"Even among Floor Masters, the difference in strength is staggering. Some barely qualify for the title, while others are on an entirely different level. I even sensed an aura similar to yours in one of the Floor Masters.
"How strong are they, really?"
Maha stroked his beard, recalling the arena's structure. "The Floor Masters of Heavens Arena are an interesting bunch. Many are strong in their own right, carving unique paths. But their strength varies greatly."
Zeno elaborated, "The arena serves as a proving ground, especially for rookie killers. Most of the newer fighters are at the lower end of Nen proficiency. In fact, Nen users trained by major organizations can often surpass them with minimal effort.
"But for ordinary people, reaching the 200th floor or higher is one of the easiest ways to awaken their Nen.
"The problem lies in the mindset of these newcomers. Instead of focusing on growth, they cultivate weaker opponents to climb the rankings more easily. This practice has led to the rise of weaker Floor Masters."
"However," Zeno added, "there are exceptions. Heavens Arena attracts fighters from all over the world. Some train their bodies and minds relentlessly, making them truly formidable.
"The strongest Floor Masters are comparable to A-rank Nen users. The weakest, however, might only be D-rank at best.
"Do you remember the Kute Gang of Thieves, Kaizen?"
Kaizen nodded.
"They could become Floor Masters, but they wouldn't be the strongest. There are several Floor Masters far superior to them."
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