"I'll go with you."
Ronnel said as he slowly stood up.
"Ah? Oh, yes!"
Zushi was stunned for a moment before quickly responding.
The two of them left together.
This isn't a suitable place for fighting.
With that thought, Ronnel walked into the contestants' hallway alongside Zushi, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The other fighters in the waiting area had their attention drawn to Ronnel's actions. However, after seeing him and Zushi leave, they turned away, though a sense of unease lingered in the air.
As time passed, the atmosphere in the room grew heavier, almost suffocating.
Then—
Squeak.
The sound of the iron door creaking open echoed through the tense silence.
Shua!
All eyes snapped toward the entrance.
"Is this the Floor Master's room? Looks like I found the right place."
A figure clad in a black cloak stepped into view, chuckling with an air of complete disdain.
"This guy…"
The fighters stared at the cloaked intruder, their expressions shifting between fear and grim determination.
The moment this person appeared, none of them had sensed his presence.
"Let's get started."
The cloaked man pulled out his phone, his voice casual, completely ignoring the tension in the room.
Whoosh!
Before anyone could react, he vanished from their sight. In the next instant, the sounds of impact and bodies hitting the floor filled the space.
...
'The ability to manifest through resentment—powers born from deep hatred—can rival the extraordinary capabilities of Nen.'
After sending Zushi through to the second half of the tunnel, Ronnel returned, lost in thought, recalling the details he'd learned about resent-based abilities.
"Unlike regular Nen, resentment can erase the user's presence entirely. Even En can't detect it."
(T/N: En is bascically an advanced technique which allows you to expand your aura further than normal, and when anything enters your en range you can sense it.)
Approaching the now-open room, Ronnel observed the fallen, twisted bodies of the defeated fighters. He shook his head slightly.
'It didn't even take that long… but Jade killed them all. They were no match at all.'
Without lingering, Ronnel turned toward the stairs.
'Next up is the attack on Netero. I should just head straight for the top floor. It's the best place for a proper fight. Besides, their group should have a hacker-type ability user… something like [Machine Eater]. That ability should—'
Boom!
Suddenly, iron doors slammed shut all around him, sealing off exits and covering every viewing window. His path forward was completely blocked.
"…should control the entire building's systems and lock everything down."
Ronnel sighed, glancing at the iron gate behind him, now just as impassable as the one ahead. He spread his hands in mild exasperation.
"Guess I'm not getting through the usual way."
He walked to one of the windows, tapping a knuckle against the metal. A deep, solid sound reverberated through the room.
"Decent thickness."
After estimating the material, Ronnel adjusted his stance, drawing his right fist back.
"Super Destruction Punch!!"
Channeling an immense surge of Nen into his fist, he launched a devastating straight punch, reminiscent of Uvogin's overwhelming raw power.
Boom!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the metal. The targeted section of the iron wall crumpled like paper, blasting open a massive hole. The force ripped the entire barrier from its frame, sending it crashing to the ground below.
"Looks like I've made my own exit."
Flexing his fingers, Ronnel crouched, then leaped through the opening.
"Star Moon Night Walker!"
Before gravity could take hold, air burst from his arms, forming wide, spectral wings.
(Star Moon Night Walker— the stolen ability of a defeated Shadow Beast, granting its user the freedom to soar through the night sky.)
"Straight to the top floor!"
...
Meanwhile, in the martial arts arena—
The towering, muscular fighter who had previously tossed Leorio into the sewer now stood in the ring, his blue hair gleaming under the lights.
"Zushi, huh? You actually gave me a decent warm-up."
He wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, smirking cruelly at Zushi, who lay battered at his feet.
Around the arena, massive iron gates had sealed the exits. Remote-controlled security droids, each armed with laser rifles, stood guard, their unblinking sensors trained on the trapped spectators.
The sight of the gun muzzles sent a chill through the crowd, silencing any thoughts of rebellion. Instead, fear and rage festered as they cursed the tournament organizers for their incompetence.
On television screens across the city, viewers—gamblers, bookmakers, and casual fans alike—grew enraged. First, last year's fiasco, where contestants mysteriously disappeared. Now, an outright invasion mid-tournament.
In the tournament's control room, the officials were in chaos.
"What the hell is going on?!" one shouted.
Last year was bad enough, but this—
Not only had the intruders taken down every Floor Master, but they had also seized control of critical systems. The entire arena was compromised!
...
Elsewhere—
"Any stragglers?"
The blue-haired fighter frowned, listening to his earpiece.
"Yeah. When Boss Jade wiped out the Floor Masters, that kid in white slipped away."
"Tch. Lucky brat."
"That kid isn't just lucky."
In the control room, a slim man, who had only moments ago discarded his cloak, stared at a monitor displaying the massive hole torn through the iron wall.
His snake-like features contorted with unease.
"He's a monster."
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