Chapter 9: Since I'm Here Anyway

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“Mr. Dakado has been knocked out with a single blow! He cannot continue!”

The point-based knockout system consists of Clean Hits, Critical Hits, and knocking the opponent to the ground.

A Clean Hit is an excellent attack, earning one point; a Critical Hit is an outstanding attack, earning two points; and knocking the opponent down also grants one point.

Accumulating ten points results in a technical knockout (TKO) victory. Additionally, if a single strike incapacitates the opponent, it is also considered a KO win.

The much-hyped Mr. Dakado clearly posed no threat to Hather. Unsurprisingly, although Dakado had strong physical abilities, they were only strong by normal human standards—utterly no match against a monster like Hather lurking among humans.

With a swift and decisive single KO, both the referee and female host were stunned. The crowd initially fell silent, then erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

The audience here consisted mainly of fervent fight enthusiasts, so a superhuman prodigy like Hather was naturally very popular.

The prize money for advancing from the 50th to the 60th floor was 60,000 Kaini.

Over the next two days, Hather was scheduled for two matches daily, each ending in a single KO without exception, rapidly ascending to the 100th floor.

Prize money increased to one million Kaini, instantly covering the travel expenses left by Jack’s father and granting Hather his own private room.

Though the room was small—just a chair, a tea table, and a bed, without even a private bathroom—it was a private room nonetheless.

According to a waitress who attended to Hather, the 100th floor is a critical dividing line: if a player falls below it, all benefits are immediately revoked, and the player must leave their private room. Many fighters fiercely defend their ranking above the 100th floor by any means necessary to retain these privileges.

Then, Hather continued to dispatch these desperate defenders with his trademark single KOs. It was somewhat reminiscent of the protagonist duo, Gon and Killua, from the manga.

Five days later, riding the momentum of his “one-hit KO,” Hather broke through the 190th floor, with his account balance soaring to a staggering 300 million Kaini.

Within a week, Hather’s outrageously powerful skill earned him a large fanbase. The audience and hosts dubbed him the “One-Hit Man.”

From snippets overheard from hosts and other fighters, Hather learned that just over a month ago, two children with similarly overwhelming one-hit knockout abilities had climbed all the way to the 200th floor.

Without a doubt, they must have been Killua and Gon. According to the storyline timeline, Hanashiro Tōrō and Hisoka had already finished their arcs.

Ding!

The elevator arrived at the 200th floor.

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The competitor area was noticeably less crowded; after all, prize money only extended up to the 190th floor. From the 200th floor onward, battles were for honor alone, so many strong fighters left after cashing in their winnings on the 190th floor. Among the remaining contestants, many targeted newcomers unfamiliar with Nen—so-called “baptism” battles to defend their rankings.

Actually, Hather could have chosen to stop after clearing the 190th floor, as his main purpose for coming to the Sky Arena was to earn some pocket money.

But as the saying goes in our homeland: since you’ve come, you might as well experience it.

Witnessing the world’s ordinary-level Nen users firsthand wasn’t a loss; since he was here, he might as well indulge for a few more days.

The moment Hather stepped into the competitor corridor, he sensed numerous hidden eyes locking onto him from the shadows. At least a dozen hostile Nen auras, like slippery tendrils, reached out toward him.

“Heh heh... Do they think I’m an easy target? A bunch of half-baked trash—get lost!”

The violent aura surged uncontrollably. To those half-skilled Nen users, Hather standing in the corridor was like a blazing pillar of fire, his mere gaze causing unbearable stinging pain.

Step! Step! Step!

With each step, his aura intensified. The dozen or so hostile Nen tendrils were firmly trapped, unable to retreat. Hather’s unique Nen slowly and steadily counter-invaded along these tendrils. Some Nen users hiding in the shadows began trembling and collapsing, blood seeping from their features.

“W-what kind of monster just appeared! I-I’m not fighting him—I’m out of here!”

“You bastard, who said he’s a complete Nen novice?”

“Isorashi’s done for, get him out of here!”

Under the confused gaze of the attendants, one contestant after another emerged from the shadows, supporting each other and fleeing in disarray. None dared glance back at the young man walking slowly down the corridor toward the hall, fearing to attract his attention.

Ordinary people without Nen aptitude cannot sense its presence until attacked by it. Moreover, Hather never directed his hostile aura toward the staff, so they remained oblivious.

“Welcome to the 200th floor, Mr. Hather.”

A charming waitress bowed slightly, smiling as she spoke:

“Please complete your registration before midnight tonight, or you will be demoted to the first floor to begin anew. With your strength, you can naturally return to the 200th floor, but it will take considerable time. Furthermore, a second failure to register will be deemed as unwillingness to participate, resulting in a lifetime ban. There are 174 contestants on this floor poised for battle. Also, from this floor onward, any weapon may be used—please bring your own if needed.”

“Additionally, starting from this floor, there are no prize rewards; battles are purely for honor. Would you like us to arrange your registration?”

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“Of course.”

Hather nodded. Allowing only one chance to forgo registration was likely to prevent bored strong fighters from repeatedly clearing lower floors for prize money.

Through the registration staff’s explanation, Hather understood the competition rules beginning at the 200th floor.

From the 200th floor onward, the system is the “Declared Battle System.” Each contestant has a 90-day preparation period in which they may choose any date to fight. Of course, they may battle daily until exhaustion if they wish. After each match, win or lose, the 90-day preparation period resets. However, failure to fight within 90 days results in disqualification and erasure of records.

All contestants reaching the 200th floor are assigned luxurious private rooms located between the 200th and 220th floors.

Contestants who win ten matches can promote and qualify to challenge the “Floor Master.” However, losing four matches before reaching ten wins results in disqualification.

The Sky Arena has twenty-one elite warriors, each occupying floors from the 230th to the 250th, each floor ruled by a Floor Master.

Successfully challenging a Floor Master grants the challenger that title.

Every two years, the Fighter Festival is held on the 251st floor—the highest level of the Sky Arena.

Only Floor Masters may participate in this Fighting Olympics.

The final winner receives a luxurious mansion atop the arena, a supreme honor. Each tournament also offers additional prizes, occasionally including rare and invaluable Nen artifacts.

Hather pushed up his “Superman’s Invisibility Glasses.” Nen artifacts? I have one too.

He glanced down at the registration form and checked the penultimate box—“Ready to fight at any time.”

“I’m ready to compete anytime. If possible, the sooner the better—preferably tomorrow.”

Hather handed back the form. The staff accepted it with both hands and bowed, “Understood. Please proceed to your assigned room.”

His room number was 2105, styled like a presidential suite, luxuriously decorated.

As Hather entered, the display screen in the hall flashed new information:

“Battle date confirmed! At the arena on the 221st floor, starting at 9 a.m. on April 17th!”