The crystal ball began to shift colors.
"Boom!"
A sudden explosion echoed in Kaizen's mind. His consciousness was yanked into another space, where shifting phantoms filled his vision.
A young man with long black hair and a cold expression.
A burly boy with broad, muscular shoulders.
A petite girl playfully flicking her ponytail.
A cat walking upright on two legs.
A boy with fiery red hair, his body wreathed in flames.
The next moment, all these figures were pulled into the crystal ball.
"Crack!"
A sharp sound rang out.
Kaizen's consciousness snapped back at incredible speed.
Moments later, he opened his eyes.
With a single thought, a figure appeared before him.
A head of spiky red hair.
A brown jacket over his bare torso.
White training pants.
A scarf wrapped around his neck.
"Natsu Dragneel."
"The Fire Dragon Slayer."
"E.N.D."
"A demon created by Zeref from his own dead brother."
Kaizen shifted his gaze to Natsu's side. Three more figures materialized in succession.
Raiken.
Killer Queen.
Akutagawa Ryunosuke.
Though they were fueled by the same aura, Kaizen could immediately sense the difference in their strength.
Raiken and Akutagawa Ryunosuke's auras were notably weaker.
One carried the battle essence of Heavens Arena.
The other absorbed traits from the underworld's gangsters.
Killer Queen, however, was a level above them.
"This proves the Zoldyck family's sheer power. Even with their small numbers, they surpass both Heavens Arena's elite fighters and the underworld's strongest enforcers."
"That was despite Raiken and Akutagawa Ryunosuke receiving additional enhancements."
"The positioning of Raiken's blade was adjusted."
"The coordination of the two Nen Beasts improved—the gravity game of Libra."
Kaizen then turned to Natsu.
"Natsu's aura is on par with Killer Queen's."
"That was expected."
"Great-grandfather Maha is undeniably strong, but Grandpa Zeno and Uncle Silva are also top-tier fighters in their own right."
"Still, Zoldyck Manor holds too few people."
"The Kingdom of Fiora, on the other hand, is an entire kingdom."
"And it's one of the V5."
"Dragon Dojo, Star Dojo, Beast Dojo—the warriors within them are formidable."
Kaizen thought back to Achilles' performance.
The Nen user who had killed Gunter had been captured by Achilles in record time. That alone spoke volumes about his strength.
"Fiora has too many Nen users."
"And very likely, some have stepped into the S-rank."
There was a saying: the human continent had five legendary Nen users.
However, there were fewer than five confirmed S-rank Nen wielders.
"What my great-grandfather said holds true. On the surface, S-rank Nen users are extremely rare, numbering in the single digits."
"As far as I know, there's Netero, Ging Freecss, and great-grandfather."
"As a V5 nation, it's entirely possible that Fiora has at least one S-rank Nen user."
Kaizen refocused his thoughts.
"With Natsu, Raiken, and Akutagawa Ryunosuke, the power dynamic shifts."
"In direct combat, Natsu surpasses both Raiken and Akutagawa Ryunosuke."
"And he has a crucial ability."
"Like the Lantern Ghost, he's immune to fire-based attacks."
"He can devour flames to replenish his strength."
"Beyond that, he can absorb and manipulate other elemental energies for fusion attacks."
"The only issue is his motion sickness."
"But even that is a limitation and a vow."
"Without it, his overall power would likely be weaker."
Kaizen willed his Nen Beasts to vanish.
He closed his eyes slightly, strategizing his next battle.
"Natsu's presence is a major boost to my strength."
"Not only does my aura pool expand, but I also gain a powerful front-line fighter."
"Raiken and Akutagawa Ryunosuke are still useful, but they're more suited for supporting roles."
"Lantern Ghost and Natsu complement each other."
"Both are immune to fire."
"Lantern Ghost's mist can provide cover, enhancing Natsu's battlefield control."
"And its pain-sharing ability directly cuts the enemy's stamina nearly in half—a crucial advantage."
"Natsu's attacks can set up the conditions for Lantern Ghost to activate its ability."
Kaizen ran through a mental simulation of his next confrontation.
His target? Allie.
"When I face her again, I'll win."
"Even without Wendy's help."
"Natsu's abilities counter her techniques perfectly."
A grin crept onto Kaizen's face.
"This trip to the Kingdom of Fiora has been well worth it."
"Once I return to Heavens Arena, I'll rest briefly, train my body, and close the gaps in my weaknesses. That will bring me a step closer to B-rank."
"As for my next aura absorption target..."
Kaizen mulled over several choices.
One was the Republic of Mimbo.
Another was the United States of Saherta.
"The Hunter Exam, Greed Island, Kakin... Absorbing aura traits from these locations would be most beneficial if I wait for the perfect timing."
"The Nen Beasts created will be even stronger."
"In the Republic of Mimbo, they seem to be on the brink of war with the Kingdom of Fiora."
"If that war breaks out, things will become much more complicated."
"As for Saherta, if nothing changes, Mizaistom will likely head there to investigate the Red Trang affair. If I join him, it'll be more convenient."
"But if a better opportunity arises, I'll take it."
The airship landed.
Kaizen and Tessia stepped off the aircraft.
He raised a hand.
A taxi pulled up.
"Heavens Arena."
The driver was a young man. As Kaizen settled into the back seat, he noticed the driver sneaking glances at him through the rearview mirror.
Kaizen frowned slightly.
Then, the young man spoke up.
"Excuse me… are you Kaizen? The fighter from the 200th floor of Heavens Arena?"
Kaizen narrowed his eyes.
"Who's asking?"
"No way, this is incredible! Kaizen, I'm a huge fan!" the driver blurted out excitedly.
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