[This continues the Heavens Arena swimming contest. The last part was in Chapter 1 of Volume 2!]
Only two minutes into the contest, several fights had broken out both above and below the water.
Above the water, Hisoka and Phinks fought, with Hisoka winning for now. Phinks ended up falling into the water.
Hisoka looked around, easily taking care of two people who also decided to use their Nen to move on the water.
Killua, who was one of only three people planning to use his speed to run across the water, quickly jumped in.
Now, the area above the sea was Hisoka's territory.
Really now, is controlling the air that important?
Saiki Kusuo swam underwater to where the two who fell in were, but someone else got there first.
It was a Heavens Arena worker in a wetsuit, quickly rescuing the people who lost their ability to fight and swim.
That's right, if the death rate was 80%, there wouldn't be a next time.
But this also means...
This contest is more dangerous than expected. It's hard to say if even 25 people will make it to the end.
Phinks eliminated 3 people at the start, Chrollo eliminated 1, and Hisoka eliminated 2. What a joke, did these people come to a swimming contest, or some kind of elimination game?
I need to be careful of the dangerous ones. Using his mind reading, Saiki Kusuo estimated that there were 10 people in the area who had bad intentions and were willing to take out other contestants if they had the chance. He clicked his tongue and chased after those in front.
Ahead underwater, Illumi was closely following Chrollo. He had stuck needles into himself to change and fix his body in a certain way, and it was surprisingly helping him keep up with Chrollo's speed.
But it was still hard to catch up.
That's because Chrollo was using that swimming ability he stole before the contest started – water fins.
Even though he was wearing a coat, making it hard to see some features, Chrollo could feel that he was getting fish-like qualities after entering the water. He hardly needed to come up for air, which was usually an advantage.
But he didn't expect that the person behind him was also excellent at holding his breath, and also good at using In. The Heavens Arena contest really attracts strong people.
Saiki Kusuo: That's because that's Illumi, Illumi Zoldyck.
He's usually fine sleeping in the dirt. Even though he doesn't have powers, Saiki Kusuo suspects he's stronger than those with powers, and doesn't need to breathe.
It's best not to get caught up in that battle. Saiki Kusuo turned.
On the left side of the contest area were the three members of the Zodiac, plus Killua and Gon. They were behind the strong ones, so they wouldn't catch up to those being eliminated. Saiki Kusuo trusted they were safe for now, and moved to the right side of the contest area.
On the right side of the contest area, he used his mind reading, carefully planning to pay attention to everyone's condition by listening to their thoughts. If he could, he wanted to help the others.
[Keep swimming at this speed, find the right direction, I just need to hold on until the end!]
Great, keep it up. I need contestants like you who keep going until the end to stay ahead of me.
[Wow it's cold, I thought this would be a warm indoor swimming contest! Can't Heavens Arena afford a big swimming pool?]
That's not so good.
[I'm so tired, I just finished a long distance marathon before coming here.]
Who is this athlete? Don't underestimate winter swimming.
[I'm so sleepy, I stayed up all night, but this swimming thing will be over quickly, right?]
Don't underestimate winter swimming.
[I just finished eight tests yesterday, sigh, so sleepy, so tired, so cold, but this swimming is probably like running 800 meters after staying up all night, I can make it to the end, right?]
Don't underestimate winter swimming, you idiot! Why are there students here?!
[I went to a funeral yesterday to get some free food, but they kicked me out. My life is dark. I swear this is the last time I'll join a human activity. Ah, just let me die in this ocean and make the news, and hopefully get rescued and get a lot of money from Heavens Arena. Please, I can't live anymore...]
You have arms and legs, can't you just live well? What kind of people is Heavens Arena finding?!
[Oh no, I think I'm getting a cramp...]
A cramp, who is it? Mind vision!
The person was wearing a tie around his neck and swimming goggles, swimming with a strange mix of dog paddle and breaststroke.
Really now, of course you'll get a cramp swimming like that.
...Wait, is that Leorio?
Before Saiki Kusuo could swim closer, Leorio's thoughts echoed again.
[No!! The top three get 10 billion, with that money I won't have to worry about money for the rest of my life! Money, money, money! Keep going!!]
Leorio suddenly put in more effort.
Oh, that's inspiring. Saiki Kusuo glanced at the whole area. Leorio was in 37th place. There were only 44 contestants now, so he was in last place but eight.
Kikyo wouldn't tell him to drop his confidence.
[It's almost time to start our plan...]
Hmm? What plan?
[Third lap, fourth lap...]
Saiki Kusuo looked towards the source of the voice. Surprisingly, it was Phinks underwater turning his arm again. Was he planning to use his spinning attack again? With the author's physics knowledge, who knows what will happen when Phinks punches underwater!
[Fifth lap! That should be enough!]
It's good that he used it on the fifth lap.
Phinks punched upwards, using the same kind of spinning power. Using it underwater...
"Boom!" A water dragon was swept upwards by the punch, appearing on the surface.
Like a sign, it revealed Phinks' location.
What's the point of that?
Saiki Kusuo heard it in his mind.
[Since we're the Phantom Troupe, how would we let anyone else get the top three prizes? Even though we sent three people to enter the contest, there might be Nen users who are good at swimming who could steal the prizes. So, we need to send out a signal during the contest.]
[As number 50, Uvogin is on the edge of the contest area. Don't get close to the center. Phinks will send the location information for himself and Chrollo. The Phantom Troupe outside will form two teams to attack the other players!]
Wait, is that a lie?!
"Boom!" A huge explosion came from somewhere. The bombs were dropped.
The Heavens Arena host quickly said: "Numbers 36 and 37 have been eliminated by the explosion! What on earth is happening in the pool?!"
Is that just elimination? That was too fast, they must be dead!
Two Phantom Troupe speedboats appeared on the left and right sides of the area.
Shalnark stood on the front of the boat, looking out: "Wow, there seem to be a lot of participants. We'll probably get a warning from Heavens Arena."
"We're thieves to begin with. Who cares?" Feitan said next to him.
"Ahahaha...that's true!"
On the ship were Shalnark, Feitan, Korutopi, and a huge torpedo.
Korutopi copied the torpedo. Feitan kicked the copy of the torpedo and picked it up: "Where should I throw the next one?"
Saiki Kusuo: So that's where all those torpedoes came from?
...No, you terrorists need to get away from the contest area!
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