Inside the medical ward of Heaven's Arena, white light shone over pristine sheets, and a faint scent of disinfectant hung in the air.
Kastro leaned against the bed, his body wrapped in white bandages.
There was a trace of helplessness on his face as he turned to the side and looked at Morro sitting nearby.
"Master, the organizers of the Martial Arts Olympics definitely didn't expect you to just walk away after winning."
Through the live broadcast, Kastro had seen Morro leave the arena without a word to the referee, despite having just won.
At that moment, countless eyes had been locked onto Morro.
But Morro didn't care at all, as if the cheers and applause weren't meant for him.
It was something that had never happened before and caught everyone completely off guard.
The event organizers clearly hadn't prepared for a situation like this and could only watch as Morro left the championship crown behind in the ring.
Kastro had initially smiled at the screen.
He understood his master's ways—and knew full well that Morro's true purpose at Heaven's Arena wasn't about the title.
Unlike them, who were fixated on "results," Morro had always been one to pursue the act of "climbing" itself.
So when Morro stepped down from the ring, Kastro wasn't really surprised.
But when Morro walked into the hospital room and sat beside him, he couldn't smile anymore.
"The fans who support you are probably going to be really disappointed, right?"
Kastro said quietly.
Morro didn't respond immediately, his mind drifting back to the moment when he decapitated tower master Baishi in the ring.
The audience had cheered on cue.
But there had been something twisted in their cheers—a hint of bloodthirsty madness.
Disappointed?
Maybe.
But their cheers and expectations—what did they matter to him?
"That sort of thing doesn't matter."
Morro shook his head slightly and changed the topic, "What did the doctor say?"
Kastro's voice carried a hint of bitterness: "After monitoring me for a bit, the doctor said there's no irreversible damage, and the chance of lasting effects is low… but I'll have to stay in bed for at least two months."
Two months—
For Kastro, it wasn't just about recovery. It meant halting his training progress entirely.
Ever since Morro had opened the door to Nen for him, his hunger for growth had only intensified.
He longed to break through his limits and stride through a world of monsters.
And now, this two-month pause was pure torment.
Morro looked at him, clearly understanding what troubled him.
They were alike in many ways—only their motivations differed.
"Two months, huh. Yeah, that's a long time."
Morro smiled, then added seriously, "But it's a good time to polish your Ten and Zetsu. Growth isn't just about pushing your Nen. Deepening your mental discipline matters too."
As someone who'd walked the path himself, his words carried weight.
Kastro was momentarily stunned before nodding with understanding.
Of course.
Even if the body couldn't move, one could still refine techniques like Ten.
Morro noted privately that with Kastro's Enhancer type, he'd likely heal up in far less than two months.
But if this time let Kastro lower his ambitions slightly and focus inward, it'd benefit him in the long run.
In his previous match against Orlen, Morro had seen a major shift in Kastro's mindset.
Buzz—
Suddenly, Morro's phone vibrated.
He glanced at it. It was a message from Biscuit.
"Where are you? Get back NOW!"
He didn't reply, just slipped the phone away.
Ten minutes later.
Morro returned to the luxurious suite on the 244th floor.
As soon as he opened the door, he found Biscuit standing at the entrance, arms crossed, looking like she'd been waiting forever.
He didn't bother asking how she got in—only a fool would.
Calmly swapping into his slippers, he glanced at her expression and said, "The prize hasn't even been handed over yet. No need to get all worked up."
"You're the one who just ran off like that!"
Biscuit snapped.
At first, seeing Morro turn his back on the title had seemed cool and dramatic.
But then, distracted by the sudden surge of post-mortem Nen, she'd completely forgotten about the championship prize.
Normally, there'd be a victory speech, an interview, and finally, a grand award ceremony!
But Morro had just walked off. The organizers couldn't hand over the prize even if they wanted to.
"I'll go pick it up once the crowd's cleared."
Morro didn't care at all.
"Fine, whatever. It's yours anyway—get it whenever you want."
Biscuit sighed, then turned serious: "Forget the prize. How's that post-mortem Nen?"
"That's why you really rushed over here, isn't it?"
Morro walked toward the bar, intending to grab some milk from the fridge.
But sensing Biscuit's usual sass about to erupt, he changed course and grabbed a room-temperature one instead.
Watching him from behind, Biscuit pouted.
"Stop stalling. Spill it."
"It wasn't as easy as you think."
Morro placed the milk in front of her and said calmly, "When I was removing the curse, the post-mortem Nen kept trying to shake my will—wanted me to inherit 'Shingan-ryu's' future."
"…!"
Biscuit sat up sharply, her brow furrowed.
She knew how removal abilities worked—dangerous, draining, and vulnerable to mental attacks.
So hearing that made her heart skip a beat.
Post-mortem Nen was terrifying for exactly that reason—its psychic interference.
"No worries. I'm not interested in Shingan-ryu."
Morro smiled. "Maybe that's why the removal went so smoothly."
"Good."
Biscuit finally exhaled.
"Makes sense. You've got a monster's willpower."
Then Morro changed topics.
"Biscuit."
"Hm?"
"I'll give you both Jade Heart and the Celestial Dome Box, but on one condition."
Biscuit raised a brow. "Go on."
"If Kurapika passes the Hunter Exam this year, I want you to personally take on the job of teaching him Nen."
"…Huh?!"
Biscuit blinked—then made a face like she'd just bitten into a lemon.
Some professional Hunters aiming for a Double-Star rating would volunteer to train successful examinees in Nen.
Biscuit had done it once—and earned her second star.
But to go through that again?
That's just torture!
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50 Powerstones? (5 Bonus Chapters)
20 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/milezen