Killua, now seven years old, had matured significantly compared to just a year ago.
Kaizen watched him on the screen, his gaze steady.
Nina and the other two also focused on Killua.
When Kaizen had needed Silva's help with training before, it had been Nina and Sally who secretly kept an eye on Killua. Kaizen never explicitly explained his connection to the boy, but the three of them could easily guess. The fact that he had arranged for covert protection spoke volumes—he clearly cared.
As for Killua, they all had the same thought: exceptional talent.
Despite being only seven, Killua had already climbed to the 100th floor of Heavens Arena—without even learning Nen.
Once he unlocked his Aura Nodes, how much stronger would he become?
There were differing philosophies on when one should activate their Aura Nodes. Some schools of thought advocated for opening them as early as possible, believing that waiting was a waste of time. Others preferred to wait for the right moment.
Each approach had its pros and cons.
But looking at how Netero, Ging Freecss, and the Zoldyck family operated in the original story, it was clear that those with exceptional talent benefited more from a later awakening.
Both Gon and Killua had started their journey at twelve.
Even Kaizen, who had the personal training of Maha Zoldyck, hadn't opened his Aura Nodes until he was nine.
Fight Begins
"Begin!" The referee's voice rang out, signaling the start of the match.
Killua's opponent, a middle-aged, overweight fighter, grinned viciously as he advanced step by step.
Below the 100th floor, most fighters didn't bother researching their opponents. They simply stepped into the ring and fought recklessly—win if you can, lose if you must.
But above the 100th floor, things changed.
First, the prize money increased significantly. Winners took home far more than losers, who didn't even receive an appearance fee—unlike in the UFC. Worse still, losers had to cover their own medical bills.
Nobody wanted to lose under those conditions.
At this level, fighters started gaining recognition. They built reputations. They had fans.
And no one wanted to lose with their fans watching.
Kaizen's eyes flicked to the audience, where several signs bore Killua's name.
The fight was a clear contrast in strengths—Killua had speed, while his opponent had raw power. Either could win, but in terms of talent, the gap was undeniable.
Kaizen found it childish.
After only a few moments of watching, he lost interest.
He had gone through this stage himself—not in Heavens Arena, but in Zoldyck Manor.
Kaizen pulled out his phone and browsed the Heavens Arena forums.
Suddenly, a peculiar thread caught his eye:
"Young Prodigy: The Next Kaizen of Heavens Arena—Killua!"
His brow furrowed slightly as he clicked in.
As expected, it was written by a Killua fan.
The post was simple. It claimed that Killua, with his incredible talent, would one day surpass Kaizen. That by the time he reached Kaizen's age, he'd have achieved even greater feats.
Kaizen chuckled. "But eleven-year-old Killua still wouldn't be a match for eleven-year-old me."
Nina, glancing at his screen, smirked.
"There are a lot of comparison threads like this. People love pitting you two against each other.
"You're the youngest fighter to reach the 200th floor in Heavens Arena, and you've displayed overwhelming strength. Naturally, younger competitors use you as a benchmark.
"It causes a lot of debates."
Kaizen smiled.
It was fandom culture, plain and simple.
Back in his previous life, he had no patience for it.
But here, in this world, he had fans of his own.
He finally understood—when someone became famous, these things were inevitable.
Even the Zoldyck family had them.
People who had never even met a Zoldyck, who had no idea about their true abilities, still idolized them and defended their name online.
It was unavoidable.
Fight Results
"The winner… Lister!"
Kaizen looked at the screen.
Killua, clearly frustrated, scowled at Lister before getting up and leaving through the player tunnel.
Kaizen noticed something interesting.
Just before reaching his limit, Killua had instinctively tried to use a Zoldyck assassination technique. But at the last second, he hesitated and held back.
That hesitation cost him the fight.
On the forums, trolls immediately started mocking Killua's loss, while his supporters defended him.
Kaizen had a thought.
"Altan!"
A mechanical voice responded. Under Kaizen's command, it hacked into Heavens Arena's surveillance system.
The next moment, a live feed of Killua appeared on Kaizen's laptop.
But someone standing beside Killua caught his attention.
Sadaso?
Kaizen narrowed his eyes.
"What's he doing with Killua?"
In the original timeline, Killua's first visit to Heavens Arena had nothing to do with Sadaso.
The second time he returned, Sadaso was already a rookie killer. Killua had threatened him for Gon's sake, and Sadaso fled overnight.
That was the only connection they had.
But now, judging from their interaction, they seemed… familiar.
What was going on?
Kaizen hesitated for a moment before pulling out his phone and dialing Silva's number.
After a few rings, Silva picked up.
"Uncle Silva, I'm back in Heavens Arena. Want to meet?"
"Sure. Tell me the time and place."
Not long after, Silva sent a text with the details.
...
Midnight.
The rooftop of a hotel.
When the time came, Kaizen climbed the fire escape to the rooftop.
Silva was already there, waiting.
"Uncle Silva."
Silva glanced at Kaizen and smiled.
"Your trip to the country of Taris… well done."
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