Racing against the clock of death.
Every minute and second now was exceptionally precious.
Morrow stood on the arena, glancing at Kastro, Calista, and Menchi.
Three months.
This was the rough timeframe Morrow had set for himself before coming to Heavens Arena.
The plan to increase his aura output level through the Tree Rings ability would have to be temporarily put on hold.
The current goal was to rapidly improve his advanced Nen techniques, physical strength, martial arts, and combat skills to enhance his overall combat prowess.
Advanced Nen techniques could only be honed slowly through time and effort.
As for the rest, martial arts and combat skills could be accelerated using the Starlight Convergence ability, while physical strength would rely on Menchi's medicinal cuisine.
The three-month plan was already clear.
Now, it all came down to execution.
Morrow subtly glanced at Menchi, who was lost in thought with her head lowered.
Encountering Menchi during this "critical period"... Or more accurately, encountering the medicinal cuisine in her hands, was truly fortunate.
If these medicinal dishes could significantly improve his physical strength within three months, then after he resolved the Death Threshold…
Even if Menchi couldn't find a weapon to replace the Poultry Scarlet Knife, he wouldn't mind giving it to her directly as a way to build connections.
After all, from their interactions these past few days, Morrow could tell that Menchi was a perfectly normal, lively young woman—as long as food wasn't involved.
But the moment it came to cuisine, her entire demeanor would undergo a drastic change.
Her obsessive, almost compulsive attitude toward food left no room for even the slightest imperfection, creating an unapproachable distance that made her incredibly difficult to deal with.
This wasn't an issue for Morrow, though.
When it came to gourmet cuisine, he was a complete amateur.
Just as most experts in antiques disliked being lectured by outsiders, Morrow also despised such situations.
Therefore, he would never presume to critique Menchi's cooking, ensuring no conflicts would arise between them.
Morrow slowly reeled in his thoughts, his gaze suddenly settling on Calista.
"Calista, want to give it a try?"
"Huh?"
After a brief hesitation, Calista stepped onto the arena without hesitation.
Seeing her ascend, Kastro suppressed his surging emotions and offered her a gentle smile before stepping down to make space.
Soon, Morrow and Calista stood facing each other on the arena.
"Calista," Morrow asked softly, "if you were to exclude me, what kind of ability would you hope to develop in the future?"
"I haven't thought about it," Calista replied after a moment, shaking her head. "To be honest, I've always been prepared to 'create whatever Master needs.' So now that you're suddenly asking this, I'm not sure how to assess my own ability requirements."
Hearing her words, the expressions of those present varied.
Morrow's eyes flickered with contemplation, while Menchi and Kastro picked up on the subtle flattery in Calista's words…
Menchi curled her lips slightly, giving Calista on the arena a deep, scrutinizing look. As for Kastro, he simply wore a faint smile, maintaining an attitude of neither contention nor pursuit.
Calista didn't care what the others thought—all her attention was fixed on Morrow.
After a moment of contemplation, Morrow spoke, "The Emitter type is adjacent to the Enhancer and Manipulation types. Calista, your personality seems to carry a controlling desire with a competitive edge."
"Mm."
Calista didn't deny it.
To her, there was nothing wrong with being straightforward and openly fighting for something.
Morrow looked at Calista and stated, "This suggests the anchor point of your ability might lean more toward Manipulation. Of course, the ability you ultimately desire stems from your own needs and perspective. The most important thing is to dig deep within yourself and uncover what you truly want."
Pausing briefly, he added, "So, what I'm saying is merely a suggestion. Whether you agree with it or accept it is something you should consider from your own perspective."
"Mm."
Calista nodded firmly.
Morrow smiled.
Truthfully, given Calista's personality, when he first learned she was an Emitter, the first ability that came to Morrow's mind was the one sealed in Chrollo's book, the ability to forcibly swap the positions of targets.
It was a support-type ability that perfectly blended Emitter and Manipulation traits, boasting immense tactical utility and intimidation in coordinated combat.
The primary reason Silva had been so thoroughly harassed by Chrollo and the others earlier was precisely due to this ability in Chrollo's book.
If paired with Uvogin's Big Bang Impact or Phinks' Ripper Cyclotron, it could fully unleash its tactical potential.
Thankfully, the Phantom Troupe had been scattered that day…
Had all the Troupe's assault members been present, combined with the various utility abilities in Chrollo's book, they could have very well taken Silva down.
This was precisely the hallmark, and the headache, of coordinated combat between multiple Nen users.
After all, the types of Nen abilities were far too numerous, and the interplay and combinations between them often yielded effects far greater than the sum of their parts.
Take, for example, the ability synergy between Hakoware and God's Accomplice in the original work.
The combination of these two mechanics-heavy abilities was nothing short of a nightmare to deal with.
So, if Calista could develop a similar support ability, it would undoubtedly significantly increase their chances of killing Feitan.
But Morrow no longer needed that.
With the limitation of Nen capacity in mind, he wanted Calista to follow her heart and develop an ability that was uniquely her own, rather than waste her precious Nen capacity for his sake.
"Let's set this aside for now. Come at me."
Morrow raised a hand toward Calista.
Hearing this, Calista immediately adjusted her Nen output and entered a combat stance.
As Morrow observed the aura enveloping Calista, a peculiar feeling welled up inside him.
A few months ago, his opponent at Heavens Arena had been Calista.
Back then, without the boost of aura, he would have undoubtedly been crushed by her.
Now, Calista had also mastered Nen.
But...
He had already climbed to greater heights.
Even setting aside the factor of aura, he was confident in his victory.
Ten seconds later.
Without using his Nen ability, Morrow relied on the deceptive movements of Rhythm Echo and swiftly knocked Calista to the ground with a single Palm Blade strike. The battle ended swiftly.
As a former opponent, Calista deeply sensed the changes in her master's strength.
That level of power had nothing to do with Nen anymore—it was true martial prowess.
Master is growing and becoming stronger in another form, at an astonishing pace...
Calista thought silently to herself.
—--
The next day.
Morrow arrived at the 200th-floor registration desk with his two disciples.
The ninety-day preparatory period was nearly over, and Morrow came to declare a match.
As soon as he stepped into the familiar corridor, Morrow keenly detected numerous hostile auras, thick as smoke, permeating the entire floor, intensely concentrated.
Are these people on drugs?
Morrow wondered.
Noticing Morrow's slight frown, Kastro immediately explained, "The biennial Battle Olympia is about to begin. Since only Floor Masters can participate, all fighters on the 200th floor are actively pursuing victories to secure a chance to challenge them."
"Oh?"
Morrow was genuinely surprised.
Heavens Arena's Battle Olympia?
He had some recollection of it.
There seemed to be quite a few rare treasures as prizes.
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Bonus chapter again, the previous one was for the new review and this one for the 50 powerstones.