Chapter 31: Dance X Direction
Heavens Arena, April 10th…
Killua stretched alone in the fighter's locker room, relaxing his mind and concentrating on winning tonight's 200th Floor fight. This would be his third match on the 200th Floor and his record was currently three victories and zero losses.
With his name announced by Cocco, Killua strolled down the fighter's tunnel and exited into the bright lights and fireworks. He did his best to remain indifferent to the growing buzz of his name and cheers, especially since some of the ladies in Sinbad's fan club came to support him because they were best friends. Some of the more fanatic fans of this club started to get pieces of information that seemed impossible, sometimes in the shadows, they would see something move.
However, they all chose to ignore it and enjoy the fame. They were only in their early teens and Killua wasn't even a teenager yet so he welcomed the loud ceremony, smiling and waving to the crowd as he marched up the steps.
Even with the recent developments of Sinbad's lineage and Contest of Kings, Killua didn't see anything to find any complaints in, he was still free to explore the world and develop a purpose within himself. His time here at Heavens Arena with Sinbad and Pokkle, learning about Nen, growing stronger together, brought peace and enjoyment to him.
And until he found his own purpose, why not help a friend achieve their own dreams. It was definitely better than being hired to murder dozens of people that had nothing to do with you.
Killua leapt the last step, landing on the fighting arena and putting his hands in his pockets. As the least veteran fighter of this match, he was announced first.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to introduce the next fighter!"Cocco shouted into the mic with grand enthusiasm. "A fan favorite fighter and someone who I believed to be the next person to reach ten victories and earn the right to challenge a Floor Master. With a record of eight wins and one loss, let's give a warm return to Baygor! Can he redeem himself after losing six months ago?"
The crowd erupted into cheer and applause, the extraordinary triumph for Baygor surprised Killua. Sinbad and Pokkle glanced at each other, acknowledging the difference of love toward this fighter.
Baygor fell from the ceiling and then landed on one knee, striking a hero's landing pose. On his forehead wrapped a thin white bandage, the excess strip of cloth waved as if it were caught in a breeze. The man had a smaller afro similar to Zushi, in fact his outfit was similar to Zushi's, but black. An all black karate gi, the sleeves were raggedly cut on the edges by his muscular biceps and above his ankles.
The man rose to his feet and bowed in Killua's direction. "I hope to have an excellent match! I wish you the best of luck in victory!"
Killua tilted his head in confusion. "Yeah man, you too."
Once Baygor rose to full height, a goofy smile was plastered on his face. He swiveled on his heels, turning completely around, facing the crowd. "I hope, Killua and I can give you a spectacular show! Please encourage us with all your fighting spirit!"
Once again Baygor bowed for the audience, turning to face each direction of the bleachers and bowing numerous times.
In the stands next to Sinband and Pokkle, Zushi's eyes sparkled with admiration and excitement. He jumped to his feet and bowed toward Baygor.
Wing chuckled to himself. "Seems like I had nothing to worry about."
Sinbad glanced at their sensei. "You know him?"
"Yes," Wing replied, a growing sentimental look appearing on his face. "He is my first student, an excellent student and person."
Zushi–who remained standing–pointed at Baygor and grabbed onto Pokkle's shoulders. The affectionate stars brightened in his eyes, gleaming with admiration. "Isn't he the coolest person ever!"
Pokkle helped Zushi back into his seat, noticing the ref joined them in the arena. The match was going to start soon. "Yes, now let's calm down."
"As you can see, Zushi is very fond of him," Wing said, cleaning his glasses. "Baygor is the reason for Zushi and I meeting, he was infatuated with him so he desperately begged to be trained by me."
"Sensei…" Zushi mumbled. "Don't embarrass me."
"It's the truth," Wing replied with a thin smile. "But before they could start training together, Baygor was defeated six months ago and then he disappeared without saying a word."
"How devastating was the loss? I mean to lose so badly that you disappear," asked Pokkle, growing interested in the story.
Wing laughed a bit hysterically. "Devestating? No, nothing of the sort. He only lost by one point."
Sinbad and Pokkle shook their heads, realizing that this guy might be a little dramatic.
The referee raised his hand into the air as Wing continued. "Us Enhancers wear our hearts on our sleeves and Baygor is no exception. I can't blame him for disappearing because he had to experience something he has never even closely tasted before."
Sinbad's eyes widened from the implication but Pokkle needed confirmation.
"Huh? Are you saying that Baygor has never suffered defeat before that match?" Pokkle asked.
Rapidly, Zushi shook his head, back and forth stealing the answer from Wing. "Yes! Baygor has never lost anything!"
"Begin!" The referee announced the start of the match. Killua's Nen activated as he prepared to rush forward with all of his speed. He only took one step but Baygor's fighting spirit halted his movements.
Like a flip of a switch, Baygor's facial expressions tensed in concentration, completely locked into the fight. He bent his knees in a fighting stance, his left arm held up in front of him like a boxer's protective guard but in contrast, his right elbow was pulled back by his hip.
Baygor's Nen exploded in the purest of blues as his eyes snapped onto Killua, he remained frozen in his fighting stance. In response to Baygor's fighting stance, the crowd stomped their feet in unison. A concert of hundreds of feet drumming pounded in everyone's eardrums. At first the pounding of feet started slow, but after two seconds passed, the rhythm picked up pace and at this very moment, a singular translucent blue arrow hovered in front of Baygor's feet and right above his right arm. Both arrows pointed directly forward.
The inexperienced Killua in Nen battles remained in a conflicted position, not wanting to overcommit on anything, to analyze the situation and remain calm but the beat of the drums sped up, quicking the beats of his own heart. Still, Killua was confident that whatever Baygor unleashed at him, he would be able to handle it.
Another two seconds passed, two more directional arrows manifested directly behind the first ones, Baygor's Nen intensified as his eyes stayed locked on Killua.
Even though Illumi's Nen Needles no longer persisted in Killua's brain, he knew the longer he waited, the worse the situation would increase as panic crept into his body. He needed to do something to change the flow of battle, so he decided on getting out of Baygor's line of sight. Moving will make whatever will come next, more difficult to hit him.
Killua's feet pushed off the cement ground, the force of his legs kicked up cement and air behind him, blitzing to his left.
In the next instance, Baygor appeared directly in front of him, completely unfazed by Killua's assassin speed. The two faint blue arrows that pointed in front of Baygor vanished but the two arrows on his right forearm that pointed forward were still there and visible as he prepared to throw a punch.
Killua's eyes snapped onto Baygor's right approaching fist, anticipating the punch, he forced his arms to form a cross in an attempt to block.
"Exploding Fist!" Baygor shouted and activated his Nen Ability. The built up Enhanced Nen in Baygor's right arm screamed forward, vanishing into oblivion. Before Killua's guard raised into the correct position, Baygor fist crashed into Killua's midsection. Two blue hues of propulsion aura erupted from behind Baygor's elbow, the sound of an explosion went off as Killua was sent flying.
Killua's body skipped on the cement tile, tearing a chunk of stone with him as he was launched out of bounds, crashing into the stone below the fighting stage.
Once Killua landed out of bounds, like a balloon popping with confetti, the crowd celebrated. Their stomping feet stopped the drumroll of Baygor's Exploding Fist, even though they couldn't see what happened because both of them moved at inhumane speeds.
"Baygor's Exploding Fist and speed activating at the same time" Cocco announced. "What a comeback! It seems Baygor has transformed over his disappearance from Heavens Arena!"
Even in the stands, Sinbad had a difficult time tracking the blurring fist.
"Killua!" Pokkle shouted in genuine fear for his friend, rising to his feet. "Get up!"
Slowly and wobbly, Killua tried to stand. 'Shut up. What does it look like I'm doing?'
The referee ran to the edge of the arena, investigating Killua's condition. "Critical Hit! Plus knockdown! Three points to Baygor!"
His lungs begged for air and body ached with indescribable pain. Sucking in as much air as he could, Killua stumbled to his feet. Noticing the referee counting to ten, his feet started moving back toward the arena.
Meanwhile, Baygor crouched into the same fighting stance and by the time Killua returned onto the fighting arena, three directional arrows pointed in front of him and three direction arrows hovered above his right forearm.
Sensing a threat that threatened his existence, Killua's mental faculties snapped, entering a state of bloodlust and murder. His fingernails sharpened as he operated on pure instinct and Zodyck training.
"I'll kill you," stated Killua.
Unfazed and confident, Baygor remained in a fighting stance as another arrow appeared totaling to four. "You will do your best."
Baygor urged Killua to do his best, not to taunt or due to an overwhelming sense of pride in his own abilities but because he genuinely wished for his opponent to do their best. This is how he functioned, Baygor constantly operated at one hundred percent and demanded the same from his opponents.
To Baygor, this was called respect.
Killua focused his Nen onto his feet, arcs of blue lightning sparked from his shoes.
"Lightning Dance!" Killua activated his Nen Ability. An advanced combination of adding lightning to his speed, vibrating on the spot but he was actually sidestepping extremely fast. He didn't commit to overstepping in one direction to avoid Baygor's one way acceleration.
After accepting the bone crushing blow of Baygor's Nen Ability, he gained the jist of the ability. The longer he holds the position and enhances himself, every two seconds, a directional arrow will appear, dictating a singular moment of enhanced acceleration.
This meant he couldn't switch directions after activating his technique. Killua's electric shuffle from dashing from left to right at rapid speed made Baygor indecisive, not knowing which way to go.
This pause was all Killua needed because this was the first step of Lightning Dance. Due to Killua's mind and body feeling such pressure and danger, he transcended his limits being able to combine his assassin ways with his Nen Ability, giving way for a new technique entirely.
Lightning Dance was an amplification of the assassin technique, Rhythm Echo!
Three seconds after activating this ability, Killua's body outlined blurred, distorting to make it seem as if his body was fat and wide, then he separated as if he were cut into two. Then, he split into three. These "Killua's" performed as the afterimages required for Rhythm Echo.
"Unbelievable! There are five, six, seven…" Cocco counted the numerous Killua's as they continued to appear, slowly circulating around Baygor. The crowd awed, astonished by the blurring Killuas. "Ten Killuas! They formed a circle around Baygor! Which one is the real Killua!"
Unbeknownst to Cocco, Silva sat next to her, watching with piqued interest in the match. With his arms folded, his index finger tapped on his bulging biceps in anticipation.
Unable to determine the real Killua, Baygor didn't activate his Accelerating Propulsion. His eyes fixated on the single original spot Killua first activated the ability. His ability reached its full capacity at five directional arrows, one set of five dictated his direction, appearing on the floor in front of his feet and the second set hovered above his right forearm.
'I'll slay him!' Killua's frenzied instincts thought as he circled around Baygor, finding the sweetest spot to sink his claws into. He divulged into the ways of murder. Ripping out the heart or cutting open the jugular. Then he remembered the pain he felt, thinking about killing him slowly, tearing a few limbs off or carving out one of his eyes.
An intoxicating laughter filled Killua's mind and soul, it left his body through a hysterical cry.
As each new idea formed in his mind with lightning speed, an insidious smile bled on his face. As he licked his lips, he made a decision. Ripe out the heart.
Increasing his Nen, Killua blitzed directly in front of Baygor. His stronger than steel fingernails pinched together to form a piercing spear lunging for the man's pulsing heart. As he approached inches away from killing the man, Killua heard a cry.
What Killua heard wasn't an intoxicating laughter but his younger self crying, his eyes softened as time slowed to a stand style, he saw Baygor's chest pump. A sign of life. One, he was way too close from taking. He hesitated, halting his movements.
In that second, Baygor adjusted his right arm into an uppercut. "Erupting Volcano Fist!"
A rumbling explosion erupted from Baygor's fist colliding with Killua's exposed stomach, the boy was launched high into the air. The air fractured from the impact, crying from power.
The directional arrows by Baygor's feet rose above his head, pointing to the trajectory of his path, activating his Accelerated Propulsion. He clenched his teeth as he vanished, moving as if he teleported next to Killua.
After adjusting his position in mid air, he punched Killua's face, slamming him back down onto the arena. Killua's body crashed into the cement tiles, kicking up dirt and rubble.
In similar fashion to how Baygor arrived on the fighting stage, he landed with the same heroic pose next to the billowing smoke where Killua's body lay.
After the dust cleared, Killua was laying on the ground, with a hand covering his crying face. "I don't want to kill anyone."