"Is this the ability that rivals Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva?" Blasted by the fierce wind, Ronnel squinted as he gazed at the massive creatures looming in the sky.
"Such intense resentment~!"
His eyes flicked toward Jed, who stood beneath the center of Rakshasa, unleashing his ability.
During their brief clash, both had been sizing each other up. Ronnel had already gathered a lot of information about Jed's abilities.
His Gravekeeper's Grasp couldn't purge the resentment clinging to Jed.
Though grudges and resentment shared a similar essence, Jed was no longer just a spirit bound by vengeance. He had returned from the dead and was now a living, breathing being.
That condition rendered his technique ineffective~
Ronnel now had a rough grasp of Jed's strength.
If Jed didn't activate Nen—if he didn't unleash the The Grudge of One-Hundred Demons: Rakshasa—Ronnel was at least 80% certain he could take him down. If he went all out, fully unleashing his aura, survival was all but guaranteed.
But~~~
"Grudge of One-Hundred Demons... In the end, this battle will be decided by Nen. That makes things tricky."
Ronnel furrowed his brows in thought.
The Grudge of One-Hundred Demons didn't intimidate him. It was an Enhancer ability at its core. If he unleashed his full power and combined it with the Nen techniques he'd picked up, he could take it head-on.
What concerned him wasn't the battle itself—but the stage it was being fought on.
Their fight was being broadcast worldwide through hidden surveillance devices.
He had no intention of letting the entire world see his trump cards.
"Is there a way to cut the feed?"
A serious look settled on Ronnel's face.
And that very expression was now displayed across countless screens.
"Even Ronnel is looking troubled? Could he actually lose?!"
In the stands, the audience watching the match suddenly felt a chill.
"Shut your damn mouth! Ronnel is the martial arts champion! There's no way he'll lose!"
One fan snapped back, but his voice lacked confidence.
Ronnel's reaction had rattled the spectators in Heavens Arena.
"Stop arguing! Just cheer for Ronnel! He's going to crush that monster—huh?! What happened to the screen?!"
"Huh?!"
As the crowd stared in shock, the live feed suddenly cut to static.
At the same time, the infrared sensors in the eyes of several robotic sentries flickered and then went dark.
Their mechanical arms slackened, and the blasters in their grips clattered to the ground.
A chorus of metallic thuds filled the air, plunging the arena into silence.
"Shhhhhh~"
Only the grating noise of static remained, breaking the stillness.
After a few seconds—
"RUN!!"
"BOOM!"
Someone screamed at the top of their lungs, and chaos erupted!
Faces contorted with relief, terror, or sheer desperation. People shoved, tripped, and scrambled toward the exits like a tidal wave of survival instinct.
The entire audience was in full riot mode. The robotic guards that had kept them trapped moments ago were now out of commission, making this their best shot at escape.
Without hesitation, they poured every ounce of strength into their flight, heedless of anything else.
"Move it!"
Though Heavens Arena had many exits, they felt like mere pinpricks in the face of the massive, panicked crowd.
Those at the back shoved forward in desperation, their expressions twisted in fear. Inevitably, pushing turned to trampling.
And in the chaos, some took advantage of their Nen abilities to forcibly clear a path.
The first casualties of the stampede appeared.
Then the second. The third…
The arena filled with cries, curses, and wails of pain. Human nature—its desperation, its selfishness—was laid bare in the struggle for survival.
For those who had been hostages mere moments ago, the true danger had only just begun.
What a cruel irony.
"Let's go too~"
Bisky scanned their surroundings and addressed Wing, Shizuku, and the others.
Though the details were unclear, now was their best chance to leave.
Wing nodded, hoisting Zushi—who was injured and unable to walk—onto his back. Shizuku fell in step with Bisky, and the group dashed toward the exits, keeping an eye on other Nen users as they moved.
The examinees blocking their path saw the raw aura emanating from the group and quickly stepped aside.
Of course, some fools thought to resist. Bisky swiftly took care of them with a well-placed punch or two.
Thanks to their decisive action, they managed to escape the chaos relatively quickly.
...
Meanwhile, amidst the commotion in the arena's control center—
"Hehehe, this trip was well worth it!"
Hisoka swayed slightly as he rose to his feet.
Wiping blood from his forehead, the corners of his eyes, his nose, and his lips, he examined his sticky fingers with amusement.
His clown-like attire was still mostly intact, but it was in tatters.
Scattered playing cards and dark red pools of blood covered the floor beneath him.
Whether the blood belonged to him or his opponent, Shura, was uncertain.
"Tsk, now I have to clean up again."
Hisoka clicked his tongue, surveying his disheveled state.
Despite his appearance, the gleam in his eyes hadn't faded.
Judging by the energy in his voice, his injuries were mostly superficial. His body was still very much ready for more fun.
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