"What's your plan?" Dominica asked calmly, her voice cutting through the tension.
Crawford's expression froze as he narrowed his eyes at her.
"You're asking about my plan now?" he said coldly. "You don't care about your own life or the lives of those two brats next to you? Do you think you're getting out of here alive?"
His voice grew sharper. "And you think I'll just hand over my plan? No. But I will tell you this—those who persecuted Taris will pay the price, starting with you!"
Without warning, Ito Xius vanished in a blur, reappearing in front of Dominica.
"The Invisible Hand!" he shouted, his aura flaring.
Crawford, Charlotte, and Cook followed suit, attacking in unison. Their target was clear—Dominica. To them, she was the greatest threat.
As for Kaizen and Wendy? They were just kids. Dealing with them could wait until Dominica was out of the picture.
A Calculated Move
"Kaizen, we need to contact someone outside," Wendy whispered urgently.
"Like the Zoldyck family or the Fiora royal family?" Kaizen shook his head. "It's not worth it. They're too far to help in time."
Wendy hesitated, but Kaizen continued. "Besides, Crawford and his group know this is tied to Taris. They'll have prepared for interference."
"And there's something else," Kaizen added. "The signal's blocked. I noticed it the moment we got here."
He gestured subtly at a device concealed above the dining room.
"High-powered signal jammers. They're thorough."
Wendy frowned. "Then how do we—"
"I already made arrangements," Kaizen cut in. "Altan's positioned on another airship. She can send messages for us if needed."
Her expression softened at his confidence. Trusting his preparations, she nodded.
...
The Turning Point
As Ito Xius's attack neared Dominica, she remained calm, reaching into her pocket. She withdrew a small object, and with a focused surge of aura, activated it.
A brilliant light enveloped the room, momentarily blinding everyone. When the light faded, the dining room was gone.
In its place was a vast, colosseum-like arena. The airship had transformed. Thick, turtle-shell-like walls surrounded them, exuding an almost indestructible aura.
The arena was split into two zones. On one side stood Crawford and his allies. On the other were Dominica, Kaizen, and Wendy.
A fluorescent figure appeared in the audience, drawing Dominica's attention. She frowned but didn't lose her composure.
"Are you here to watch, or will you fight alongside them?" she asked. "You don't have the stench of their schemes, so you must know what they're up to."
The figure, a disheveled middle-aged man, looked bewildered. After a pause, he muttered, "I have no idea."
"Then stay out of the way," Dominica said curtly.
Kolossim Revealed
Kaizen surveyed the arena, his analytical mind piecing things together.
"This... it's not just any nen tool," he said softly. "It's a Nen spirit."
Dominica turned to Wendy. "Explain Kolossim to him."
Wendy nodded. "Kolossim is a treasure of Fiora's royal family," she began. "It's a movable Nen spirit that integrates with the surrounding environment when activated. Here, it's created this arena."
She gestured to the walls and the arena floor. "The outer walls are nearly indestructible. Inside, there's the audience area, the ring, and selection zones. Only Nen users can enter the ring."
Kaizen's eyes narrowed. "And the rules?"
"In Kolossim," Wendy continued, "battles are strictly one-on-one. No exceptions. Each match is to the death, with a 30-minute break between rounds."
Understanding dawned on Kaizen. "One-on-one," he echoed, a faint smirk forming.
Dominica nodded, catching his gaze. "Now you see why I'm confident."
Kaizen glanced at the four enemies on the other side. Facing all of them simultaneously would've been suicide. But in a one-on-one setting?
The scales had tipped.
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