"Killua, how long did it take you to get the ticket to the 200th floor of Heavens Arena?"
"Almost two years."
Killua paused for a moment.
"But I was only six at the time. I reached the 200th floor when I was eight. If I went now, it definitely wouldn't take that long."
"With your strength, it shouldn't take long," he added.
Gon nodded, his eyes shining with anticipation.
"After the 200th floor, are the opponents completely different?"
"That's what my father said."
"Kaizen's the Floor Master of Heavens Arena?"
"Yeah."
Killua continued, "When I went, Kaizen wasn't the Floor Master yet. But from what I've heard, he's never lost a single match."
"Except for a few he withdrew from himself."
Gon looked back at Kaizen, wanting to ask something. But seeing his eyes closed, he decided not to disturb him.
"Killua, do you feel like Ponzu's different now?"
"Different from the exam days?"
Killua glanced at her.
"She does seem stronger."
Gon said thoughtfully, "During the Hunter Exam, Ponzu felt like just another regular examinee. But now... she gives me a feeling kind of like Kaizen and the others."
Killua frowned.
"Yeah, her aura's gotten much stronger. It's definitely different. Maybe it's because she joined Kaizen's team. He probably gave her some special training."
That was his guess.
And it was true—Ponzu had changed.
A lot.
For one, she wasn't a Nen user before. Now she was.
Even if she was only a D-rank Nen user, that still put her leagues above ordinary people.
She'd already mastered the Four Major Principles.
And Ren.
Once she opened her Aura Nodes, all her previous potential erupted.
Compared to rookie fighters in Heavens Arena, Ponzu had a major advantage—whether in prior buildup or in having a mentor.
Thanks to that, her path was much smoother than other beginner killers.
On top of that, she had genuine talent.
The second big change was in her demeanor.
Ponzu hadn't been that young before, but she'd always had this childish, almost cute energy about her.
Like a legal loli.
Now, she was still cute, but there was something a little more grown-up about her. A girl beginning to become a young woman—just a faint touch of maturity.
Not much, but it was there.
A small bee buzzed through the air and flew toward her. As soon as it touched her pendant, it vanished—absorbed into her Nen tool's space.
A moment later, Ponzu's expression shifted slightly.
"Captain."
She nudged Kaizen gently.
"Something's off."
Kaizen opened his eyes.
"What is it?"
"My bees spotted someone suspicious heading our way."
"A Nen user?"
"No... not even that."
Kaizen's gaze shifted, calm and focused. He quickly spotted the people Ponzu had identified.
"...There are six of them. None of them are using Nen, and there's no aura coming from them."
"Just regular people."
"And they don't look that strong."
He watched them for another moment.
"They're not coming for us directly... more like they're targeting Killua."
"Killua?"
Ponzu instinctively turned to him.
"Captain, should we—"
"No need."
Kaizen shook his head.
"Enemies at this level are a good warm-up for Killua. We're here to make sure he doesn't die—not to babysit. With their level of strength, it's unlikely they pose any real threat to him."
Ponzu hesitated.
What he said made sense.
But emotionally, it was still hard for her to accept.
When you know your teammate—your friend—might be in danger, your first instinct is to step in and stop it. Regardless of how big or small the threat is.
But Kaizen treated this as part of Killua's training.
"...It's a bit cold, but not wrong," she admitted.
Ponzu glanced toward Killua.
It was still a long way from Kukuroo Mountain to Heavens Arena.
...
Night fell.
The dim glow of cabin lights shimmered in the darkness as the airship cruised through the sky. Silence blanketed the surrounding space.
Two shadowy figures quietly approached the area where Killua and Gon were seated.
One in front, one behind.
At that moment, Killua appeared to be fast asleep, slouched back in his chair.
The two exchanged a glance, then pulled out gleaming knives.
Shing!
The blades sliced through the air.
Their movements were quick—far too fast for a normal person to react.
But Killua was no ordinary person.
He'd sensed them long before they got close. His closed eyes were just an act. He'd been awake for a while, waiting for the right moment.
He moved instantly.
His body dipped low, narrowly dodging the strike from the attacker behind.
In the same motion, he grabbed the wrist of the one in front of him.
With his other hand—shaped like a blade—he drove it straight into the first attacker's chest.
Shk!
A clean stab, right through the heart.
Crackle!
A faint static snap echoed.
The attacker's eyes widened in shock before his body went limp and collapsed.
Before the second attacker could react, Killua struck again.
Shing!
His sharp nails slashed across the man's throat.
A fine red line formed... and then, blood erupted.
Thud!
The second attacker hit the floor.
Kaizen noticed Killua had even turned the first attacker's body so the blood didn't splatter on him—but instead sprayed across the far wall of the passage.
That hot splash landed on the faces of some nearby passengers, jolting them awake.
"What the hell—?!"
Clack!
A switch was flipped.
Lights blinked on.
Gasps rang out.
Two bodies lay sprawled in the corridor, unmoving.
Several people were stained red with blood.
"They're dead!"
Screams broke out.
Panic gripped the cabin.
"Someone call security!"
Killua sat in his seat, completely expressionless.
As if none of it had anything to do with him.
In the corner, a quiet figure stood still—watching the scene carefully.
------------
Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (1047 chapters in total)