15:25.
The airship flew from the mountainous city of the Republic of Padokea to the city of the Heaven's Arena, taking six hours.
"Is that the famous Heaven's Arena Tower?"
Irumi stood by the window, gazing at the towering skyscraper in the city center. The sky outside was bright and cloudless.
"It has a total of 251 floors and a height of 991 meters, making it the fourth tallest building in the world."
"Is Irumi interested in Heaven's Arena?"
Tsubone and Gotoh stood behind Irumi, smiling as they asked.
"I do pay some attention to external information." Irumi, facing away from the two, replied in a flat tone.
At 15:55, the airship landed at the airport in the city where the Heaven's Arena was located. In the bustling crowd at the airport, four figures of varying heights disembarked from the airship and entered the airport terminal.
"Master Silva, Young Master Irumi."
The two butlers, who had been waiting at the airport for a long time, bowed respectfully to them.
"Let's go."
Silva gave the order, and the two butlers bowed once again, turning to walk towards the parking lot outside the airport. The group of four became a group of six, and the uncommon sight of the butlers in tails attracted the attention of many ordinary people.
After all, it was rare to see someone being served by so many butlers. They might not necessarily be from a noble family, but they were definitely from a wealthy one. The four of them got into the prepared car and drove to the Heaven's Arena.
"Oh, impressive! Foksi has defeated Riman and completed a three-game winning streak!" As soon as Irumi and the others got off the car, they heard a passionate and high-pitched female voice.
They looked up and saw a large screen hanging on the facade of the Heaven's Arena tower, broadcasting a match that had just ended.
"This is the Heaven's Arena. You have to climb 200 levels here, with no time limit."
Silva introduced to Irumi, looking towards the entrance of the Heaven's Arena, where a constant stream of people were entering and exiting.
"The rest of the journey, you'll have to walk on your own."
Irumi nodded gently, carrying the gray backpack prepared by Gotoh on his back, which contained a few sets of clothes for him to change into.
"There's something I want to tell you, Irumi." As Irumi was about to enter the lobby of the arena alone, Silva suddenly stopped him.
"After reaching the 200th level, don't register for more battles."
"Just come back."
Irumi glanced back at Silva, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
"I understand."
He knew what it meant to go beyond the 200th level, and since Silva didn't plan to tell him, he didn't plan to ask either. Once the concept of Nen abilities was introduced, he couldn't resist the urge to train in it. That's how Irumi was. His abilities, though growing with time, were actually related to mental strength, the result of his daily meditation.
And mental strength was connected to Nen abilities. He often couldn't help but want to awaken his own Nen abilities, but he held back at critical moments. At least when dealing with the Zoldyck family, he couldn't engage in Nen training. Otherwise, with his limited knowledge of even the Zetsu technique, Silva and Kenno would easily see through him.
He couldn't explain why he had Nen abilities and the practice of Nen. This time at Heaven's Arena was an excellent opportunity to train his Nen abilities.
"Tsubone, Gotoh." After Irumi entered the lobby of the arena, Silva instructed Tsubone and Gotoh. "Both of you stay here and protect Irumi."
"Yes, Lord Silva."
Tsubone and Gotoh nodded in response to Silva and bid him farewell with a bow.
Silva glanced once again at the entrance of the Heaven's Tower Tower, then turned and entered the car. Tsubone and Gotoh remained behind, guarding Irumi.
"I never thought they would leave both Tsubone and Gotoh to watch over me."
Leaning against the glass curtain wall on the left side of the entrance, Irumi looked at Tsubone and Gotoh who stayed behind.
"I thought only Gotoh would stay."
"I didn't expect Tsubone to stay as well. It seems that I hold a certain degree of weight in this father's heart."
Actually, Irumi's perspective is misplaced. He is looking at the Zoldyck family from the standpoint of twenty years later, not twenty years ago.
The next generation of the Zoldyck family consists of only two children, and Irumi, who possesses exceptional talent, is naturally the key member being cultivated in the Zoldyck family today.
"So many people in line." Irumi looked at the long line stretching for fifty meters in the lobby, feeling helpless. He hated waiting in line; it made time feel incredibly long.
"Welcome to the Heaven's Arena." Although the receptionist at the registration desk was surprised by Irumi's age, she still smiled and welcomed him. "Please fill out your personal information on this form."
A registration form was handed out from the registration window, and Irumi picked up a pen placed on the registration counter and filled out the form. After completing the registration, he handed it to the staff in charge of registration.
"Mr. Irumi Zoldyck, you are participant number 1068."
The staff member introduced Irumi with a friendly expression.
"Number 1068 will be called on the first-floor arena, so please pay attention."
"Then, please proceed inside."
After saying that, the staff member raised her hand, gesturing for Irumi to walk towards the right corridor leading to the first-floor arena.
Irumi walked along the corridor towards the end. Before reaching the exit, he could already hear the clamour of the audience.
"It's quite big."
Appearing in front of Irumi was a spacious and bright space. This was the first-floor arena. The arena's facilities resembled a gladiator's arena, with sixteen platforms labelled from A to P. The audience in the stands cheered and shouted for the contestants on the platforms.
Carrying a grey backpack, Irumi sat in the audience stands, watching the ongoing matches.
'It's just an ordinary competition with no remarkable characters.'
He surveyed the contestants on the sixteen platforms, all of them ordinary people at best, with some boxing and modern combat training.
'You have to reach the 50th level in one go, or else you'll go hungry.'
Irumi had no money on him, as Silva hadn't given him a single penny. If he wanted to eat, he had to earn the money himself.
"Participants 1068, 1125, and 1138, please prepare for the matches at platforms A, D, and E, respectively."
Soon, the outcomes of three platforms were decided, and Irumi's participant number was announced over the loudspeaker. He stood up and walked to the edge of the audience stands, placing his hand on the advertising board, effortlessly leaping into the competition area.
Arriving at platform A, Irumi put down his backpack. When the referee saw him, he hesitated.
"Are you a participant?"
Ignoring the referee's uncertain tone, Irumi jumped onto the platform and faced a thirty-year-old muscular man wearing a taekwondo uniform.
"Hey, take a look at that kid."
Some spectators in the nearby stands immediately noticed the unusual situation on the platform.
The referee approached the two of them, glanced at Irumi with a slightly furrowed brow, and then raised his finger to introduce the rules of the arena.
"In the matches on the first floor, the participants' strength will be judged based on the match process."
"Please demonstrate your abilities within the three-minute time limit and conclude the match."
"Well then..."
The referee scanned the expressions and attitudes of the two participants, raised his arm, and suddenly swung it down.
"Begin!"
The man in the taekwondo uniform on the platform posed in front of Irumi, grinning.
"Sorry, little boy."
"I will end the match in an instant, and you won't stand a chance..."
*Bang!*
Before he could finish his sentence, Irumi suddenly appeared before him, punching him in the abdomen, leaving a fist imprint. The taekwondo practitioner's mouth opened wide, his eyes turned white, and Irumi retracted his arm, stepping to the left.
"Uh..."
The man took a step forward and collapsed, unconscious.
"Impressive!"
"He took down that taekwondo black belt with just one punch."
The audience in the stands erupted with excitement. The referee focused his gaze on Irumi and picked up a terminal device, printing out a slip of paper and handing it to Irumi.
"Participant number 1068, you can proceed directly to the 50th floor for your match."