Occam's grasp of Nen techniques was still woefully inadequate.
He lacked a deep understanding of the fundamentals, which often led to flawed assumptions.
After Kaizen used In to hide his presence, Occam's initial interest in the match waned significantly.
Earlier, Occam had been able to sense Kaizen's aura and quickly pinpoint his location. But when Kaizen cloaked himself using In, his presence vanished entirely from Occam's perception.
"Disappeared?"
Occam was startled. He turned his head frantically—only to find Kaizen standing right behind him.
Reacting on instinct, Occam charged forward.
Kaizen shifted his stance and sidestepped effortlessly.
"In. Not bad," Kaizen remarked with a smirk.
He crouched down, picking up a shard of floorboard.
"Envelop!"
A surge of aura extended from Kaizen's fingers and wrapped around the fragment, reinforcing it. In the next moment, he flicked his wrist and hurled the shard at Occam with incredible force.
Boom!
Occam barely registered the attack. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late to fully evade. He twisted his body just enough to avoid a critical hit.
Thud!
The shard pierced into his shoulder. Blood gushed from the wound.
Kaizen's eyes narrowed as he recalled a memory.
During the dodgeball match between Razor and Gon, Killua, and the others, Razor had infused aura into the dodgeball, transforming the soft rubber into a weapon far harder and deadlier than steel.
"At the time, Razor must have been using Shu," Kaizen mused.
Among the Emitter-types, Razor stood out as one of the most notable figures Kaizen could think of. He was strong enough to intimidate several members of the Phantom Troupe on his own. If Kaizen hadn't developed his own unique techniques, he might have taken Razor as a role model.
Though Razor might not have been as formidable as Ging Freecss, that didn't mean he was weak. In fact, Razor could be considered one of the stronger Nen users by most standards—something made clear by Ging's cautious attitude toward him.
The Greed Island game itself existed in the real world, and Razor played dual roles: both as a Game Master (GM) and as the final boss. As a GM, his strength had to surpass the average player to maintain balance. Otherwise, the role would lose its purpose.
"Razor leaned heavily on aura beasts and physical enhancements, but his Aura Ball technique was where he truly excelled," Kaizen reflected.
This train of thought led Kaizen to consider Hisoka.
"Hisoka has no interest in straightforward, brute-strength fighters like Uvogin, Razor, or even Biscuit. What excites him are fighters with potential—diamonds in the rough."
Kaizen smirked as he thought back to Hisoka's interactions with Gon and Killua.
"Hisoka takes pleasure in watching promising individuals grow and evolve. He thrives on the thrill of facing a fully realized opponent, someone who can surprise him in a fight."
For Hisoka, battles were not merely about winning. He sought the unknown—the exhilaration of improvisation, the adrenaline of outsmarting an opponent in a fight that could go either way. Fighters like Chrollo or Illumi also fell into this category for him: individuals who promised the unexpected.
"Predictable opponents bore him to death," Kaizen thought. "Hisoka would never waste time on someone who relies solely on brute force or telegraphed attacks. He craves the thrill of surprise."
Kaizen returned his attention to Occam, flicking another shard of the floor toward him.
Boom!
The fragment hit its mark.
Occam staggered, barely managing to stay on his feet.
"That should be enough," Kaizen muttered. He had tested In, Zetsu, and Shu in this match. There was no need to continue.
Thud!
Another shard struck Occam's calf, and the man finally collapsed.
"The winner: Kaizen!"
The referee's voice echoed across the arena.
Kaizen turned and walked toward the exit tunnel, the roaring cheers of the audience fading into the background. Those who had bet on him celebrated wildly, while those who had lost cursed at Occam's ineptitude.
"Trash! I can't believe I bet on that loser!" one spectator shouted.
Meanwhile, in front of a live screen, an older observer's eyes gleamed.
"In, Shu, Zetsu. Judging by his control over these techniques, Kaizen's mastery of Nen is already exceptional for someone his age. The Heavens Arena may soon have a new Floor Master."
Many who understood the intricacies of the match recognized Kaizen's potential. His performance far outshone that of Juliana, the current contender on the 200th floor.
Kaizen had just stepped out of the tunnel when a familiar figure blocked his path.
"Kaizen."
"Juliana?" Kaizen raised an eyebrow.
"I watched your match just now," Juliana said. "You're strong. Among the fighters on the 200th floor, you're clearly one of the best. The others are just too weak—it's pointless to challenge them."
She crossed her arms. "Our goal is the same: to become Floor Master. The only way to improve is by fighting strong opponents. What do you say?"
Kaizen considered her words. "I plan to apply for a match in three months. If you're willing to wait until then, we can settle it in the ring."
Juliana's eyes sparkled. "It's a deal!"
For Kaizen, the stronger the opponent, the better he could refine his high-level Nen techniques.
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