After seeing off Dominica and the others, Kaizen and Wendy decided not to buy airship tickets for the same day. Instead, they spent the evening wandering through the bustling night market of the city.
The next morning, they boarded an airship, taking seats near a window.
As the scenery blurred past, they chatted about their recent missions.
Their journey had taken them from a small town to the city where Ito Xius resided. They had confronted the monstrous big fish and the eerie human-head balloons. Then came the intense battle at Kolossim, where the mobile Nen abilities of their foes had left Kaizen deeply impressed.
It had been a string of challenges.
Though Kaizen and Wendy hadn't been heavily involved in the domestic battles of Taris, their collaboration had been pivotal.
In Horun City, the hidden abilities of the creatures had been remarkable, but their individual strength was limited. Both Kaizen and Wendy had easily defeated them.
Now, high above the ground, the airship seemed to wobble from a distance, but its speed was impressive.
Wendy, drowsy from the journey, struggled to keep her eyes open. Kaizen called over a flight attendant and requested a blanket, gently covering Wendy before retreating into his thoughts.
Kaizen's Reflections
First, his fifth Nen Beast was finally complete—a unique creation with abilities none of his prior beasts had possessed. Its appearance brought a surge of feedback, further enhancing Kaizen's power.
Second, Kaizen had established ties with the Fiora royal family. His next target for absorption was clear: the Kingdom of Fiora. The royal family's Nen abilities hinted at the potential for his sixth Nen Beast, possibly a dragon-like entity.
Third, the Rotten Knife had undergone another evolution. Having absorbed years of death, it was in a deep slumber. Kaizen anticipated that upon awakening, it would become far stronger than before.
...
Heaven Arena
Following Kaizen's instructions, Nina sought out a young woman named Selena. At around seventeen or eighteen, Selena had a starkly different appearance from Juliana.
Juliana, with her muscular build, had exuded a devilish, intimidating presence. In contrast, Selena appeared to be an ordinary human girl. Yet, Nina sensed latent strength within her.
Although Selena hadn't yet opened her Aura Nodes to become a Nen user, her potential was undeniable.
Nina watched silently before looking away, her thoughts drifting.
"I didn't expect Juliana to die so soon," she murmured. "She was so young…"
Nina understood more than ever how perilous the world of Nen truly was.
"That's why Brother didn't let us leave the Heavens Arena. Even here, danger and death exist, but compared to other places Nen users frequent, it's much safer."
Nina clenched her fists. "I have to work harder."
Her progress lagged behind her brother's, and Shizuku was catching up rapidly. Though Shizuku had spent less time training, her improvement was swift, aided by her older age and greater reserves of life energy.
Kaizen, however, believed Nina's future potential was higher, thanks to her unique synthetic beast abilities and his personal tutelage.
...
Horn City
The disappearance of the monsters in Horn City went largely unnoticed by ordinary people. For most, the worlds of Nen users and non-users were entirely separate.
The small courtyard Kaizen and his companions had rented now had new tenants. Before their arrival, some of the locals had pilfered tools left behind, hoping to recreate the delicious pancakes Dominica had made.
Rumors about Kaizen and his group began circulating in the slums:
"Those three are definitely up to something mysterious."
"Didn't they take a few kids from the slums, too?"
"Are they child traffickers?"
"Trafficking kids here? You just need to wave some food around, no need for gangs."
The truth, as always, eluded the gossipers.
...
New Adventures
Two days later, Kaizen and Wendy disembarked from the airship.
"How about we rest here for a day before heading to Kukuroo Mountain?" Wendy suggested, her eyes lighting up with anticipation.
Kaizen nodded.
"Can we visit the arcade you mentioned?" she asked.
"Of course."
Though Wendy had experienced the thrills of Nen training and encounters with wild beasts during their missions, the allure of an arcade was something entirely different—a glimpse into the childhood she'd never had.
Kaizen hailed a taxi, ready for their next adventure.
...
Hunter Association Office
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Association, Gel entered the office, where a familiar figure sat behind the desk.
------------
+285 chapters on patreon.com/FanficsHub