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At 15:25, the airship smoothly descended into the bustling city that housed Heaven's Arena, a towering structure visible from miles away. Its colossal presence dominated the skyline, exuding an aura of grandeur and competition.
Arrival at Heaven's Arena
"Is that the famous Heaven's Tower?"
Illumi stood by the window, gazing at the skyscraper that loomed over the heart of the city. The sky outside was bright and cloudless, casting a golden glow on the arena's metallic facade.
"It has 251 floors, standing at a height of 991 meters—it's the fourth tallest building in the world," Zebro explained as she and Canary approached him from behind.
"Does Young Master Illumi take an interest in Heaven's Arena?" Zebro asked with a warm smile.
"I do keep track of some external information," Illumi replied calmly, his back still turned to them.
At 15:55, the airship landed at the airport near Heaven's Arena. Amid the throngs of travelers, four figures of varying heights disembarked and entered the terminal hall.
"Master Silva, Young Master Illumi."
Two butlers who had been waiting patiently bowed deeply in greeting.
"Let's go," Silva instructed. The two butlers nodded and led the way toward the parking lot outside the airport.
The group of four expanded to six as they climbed into the awaiting black sedan. Their formal attire—tailored suits resembling those of high-class butlers—drew curious stares from passersby. It wasn't every day one saw such a large entourage accompanying someone. Clearly, this person belonged to a wealthy or influential family.
As the car drove through the streets of the city, it finally pulled up in front of Heaven's Arena.
"Oh~ Incredible! Fokker has defeated Riemann and achieved his third consecutive victory!"
As soon as they stepped out of the vehicle, a passionate female voice blared through the speakers. Looking up, Illumi noticed a massive screen mounted on the side of the tower broadcasting a match. Moments earlier, the fight must have concluded.
"This is Heaven's Arena. You'll climb to the 200th floor here—no time limit," Silva explained, glancing toward the entrance of the lobby where streams of people flowed in and out. "From here onward, you're on your own."
Illumi nodded slightly, adjusting the gray backpack that Canary had prepared for him. Inside were a few changes of clothes.
"Illumi, there's something I need to tell you."
Just as Illumi was about to step into the arena's main hall, Silva called out to him.
"You can only ascend to the 200th floor. Once you reach it, don't register further. Come straight back."
Illumi glanced over his shoulder at Silva, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Understood."
He knew what lay beyond the 200th floor—and since Silva refrained from elaborating, he didn't ask. Nen abilities intrigued him; once he grasped the concept, he couldn't help but yearn to train himself. His current powers grew not just with time but also due to his daily meditation, which strengthened his mental focus—a precursor to mastering Nen.
Though temptation often arose to awaken his Nen abilities prematurely, he resisted. Not while under the watchful eyes of Silva or Zeno. Without knowledge of techniques like Zetsu, his untrained Nen would be easily detected. Attempting to explain how he came to possess such skills would raise too many questions.
His stay at Heaven's Arena presented the perfect opportunity to explore Nen training discreetly.
"Zebro, Canary."
After Illumi entered the first-floor lobby of the tower, Silva addressed the two retainers.
"Stay here and keep watch over Illumi."
"Yes, Master Silva," both responded with respectful nods.
Silva cast one final glance at the entrance before turning back toward the car. Zebro and Canary bowed deeply as the vehicle drove off.
"So, they've left someone behind to monitor and protect me," Illumi thought to himself, leaning against the glass wall inside the entrance. He observed Zebro and Canary lingering nearby.
"I expected only Canary to stay. But Zebro too… It seems I hold more weight in Father's eyes than I realized."
However, Illumi's perception was skewed—he viewed the Zoldyck family through the lens of its future prominence rather than its present state. At this point, the family's next generation consisted of only two children. And among them, Illumi, with his prodigious talent, was naturally their top priority for grooming.
"What a long line..."
Illumi looked at the queue stretching fifty meters within the spacious lobby, irritation flickering across his face. He detested waiting—it made time feel interminable.
"Welcome to Heaven's Arena!"
Despite her surprise at Illumi's young age, the registration clerk greeted him warmly. "Please fill out your details on this form."
Illumi picked up a pen and swiftly completed the registration process, handing the form back to the staff member.
"Mr. Illumi Zoldyck, you are contestant number 1068," the clerk informed him kindly. "On the first floor, matches are called by this number. Please pay close attention."
She gestured toward the right-hand corridor leading to the arena. "Proceed through there when ready."
Illumi followed the path, hearing the roar of spectators grow louder as he neared the exit. Stepping into the vast, brightly lit space, he found himself in the first-floor arena.
The setup resembled an ancient coliseum, complete with sixteen individual rings labeled A through P. Crowds cheered wildly as contestants battled fiercely on each platform.
Carrying his backpack, Illumi took a seat in the stands, observing the ongoing fights. To him, these were merely ordinary competitors—amateurs practicing basic martial arts like boxing or modern combat styles.
"To advance directly to the 50th floor, I'll need to win multiple matches consecutively. Otherwise, no food for me," Illumi mused silently. Silva hadn't given him a single Beli, so earning money was essential if he wanted to eat.
"Contestants 1068, 1125, and 1138, please report to rings A, D, and E respectively."
Soon enough, three matches ended, and Illumi's number echoed through the arena. Rising from his seat, he leapt effortlessly onto the designated ring using the edge of the advertising board.
Reaching ring A, he set down his backpack. The referee, startled by his youth, hesitated briefly. "Are you... the participant?"
Ignoring the question, Illumi jumped onto the stage, facing a thirty-year-old man clad in a taekwondo uniform. The crowd immediately noticed the unusual sight.
The referee stepped between them, frowning slightly before raising his hand to announce the rules. "In the first-floor matches, participants' strength will be judged based on their performance during the bout. Please demonstrate your abilities within the three-minute time limit."
With that, he raised his arm and swung it down sharply. "Begin!"
The taekwondo practitioner assumed a fighting stance, grinning confidently. "Sorry, kid. Uncle will end this in an instant—you won't even—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, Illumi appeared in front of him, delivering a devastating punch to his abdomen. The force caved in the man's stomach, leaving a clear imprint of Illumi's fist. Eyes rolling back, the man crumpled forward, unconscious before hitting the ground.
"Whoa! Did you see that?!"
"The kid took out the black belt with one punch!"
The audience erupted in cheers as the referee quickly assessed the situation. Pulling out a handheld device, he tapped a few buttons and handed a slip of paper to Illumi.
"Contestant 1068, proceed directly to the 50th floor for your next match."