Chapter 12: Hisoka's Challenge

"Oh! Oh! Oh! The fierce battle between Gryffindor and Hisoka has finally come to an end!"

"The winner is—Hisoka!"

The 221st-floor arena, "The Martial Arts Stage," plunged into a frenzy. The audience roared until their throats were raw, and the announcer did everything in his power to keep the excitement at a fever pitch. Regardless of the outcome, both Hisoka and Gryffindor had treated them to an exceptionally brilliant duel.

But as spectacular as the match had been, the expressions on the faces of the Nen users in the stands were even more dramatic.

"...Did I see that right? That kid actually... actually managed to steal his opponent's Nen ability??"

A pale-faced Nen user, breaking out in a cold sweat, stammered the question to his companion.

The muscular Nen user beside him was already trembling uncontrollably. "No, no way! My Nen ability is so powerful and so rare; he must have already set his sights on me! I need to get out of here and lay low for a while!"

*Damn, your ability is just making harmless soap bubbles. What’s so rare about that?* The first man thought to himself, though his disdain was overshadowed by the profound unease and dread he felt as he looked at the young man with glasses on the stage.

Every person's Nen ability is fundamentally unique. This is because no two people share the same life experiences, environments, or encounters, and no two people share the exact same inner thoughts—all of which are critical factors in the formation of Nen.

One could say that a Nen ability is every user's realization about their own life, a reflection of their desires, and the condensation of their beliefs.

This is why they were so terrified to see Hisoka mimic Gryffindor's ability; it felt as if their entire life and the very meaning of their existence had been seen through and perfectly copied by someone else.

While most of the half-baked contestants fled the stands in a panic, there were some who considered themselves powerful and were itching for a fight. What could be more satisfying than crushing and snuffing out a rising star in front of everyone?

In the stands, Killua wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his astonishment lingering. This guy with the glasses was terrifying. Not only did he copy his opponent's martial arts techniques and Nen ability, but he even optimized them. He’d have to ask Wing later if such freaks were common in the world of Nen. If the world was full of monsters like this, he would need to seriously rethink his training schedule.

As he thought this, Killua glanced toward Hisoka and was startled by what he saw.

Hisoka was trembling all over, his eyes rolled back, and a thin trail of drool was visible at the corner of his mouth.

*Ahhhhh!*

*I thought he was a delicious piece of fruit, but it turns out he’s already perfectly ripe! My apologies for giving you such a ridiculous score of 60 at the start... 75, no, 80 points!*

It was Hisoka's habit to mentally assign an approximate score to powerful Nen users on a scale of 100. Average Nen users usually scored around 40 to 50, while seasoned fighters like Gryffindor scored between 60 and 70. Once someone hit 80, they were added to Hisoka's target list—his list of prey.

And this technique of copying an opponent's ability—was it a Specialist-type Nen like Chrollo's? No... he hadn't sensed the activation of any specific technique. It must be his own overwhelming talent; whether it was martial arts or Nen, as long as it was a striking technique, he could learn it after being hit by it just once.

*Should I wait a little longer?*

*No more waiting. As soon as I find an opening, I’m challenging him!*

A flash of irrepressible killing intent emanated from Hisoka. He toyed with a deck of cards between his fingers to suppress his growing excitement.

On the stage, while accepting the cheers of the crowd, Hisoka—currently using the name Hisoka—suddenly turned his head toward the real Hisoka's direction and smiled, waving a hand at him.

*He sensed my killing intent from that distance?* Hisoka was stunned for a moment, then grew even more excited.

When Hisoka left through the contestant tunnel, he was met by a swarm of reporters and fans clamoring for autographs and photos. Realizing he wouldn't be able to leave without indulging them, he tossed out a few words, signed some posters, and then slipped away, ignoring the blatant hints from a few female fans.

Upon reaching the 210th floor, where his room was located, he found a man in a flamboyant clown outfit standing in the empty hallway, his killing intent laid bare.

Hisoka tilted his head. "Are you looking for an autograph?"

A few playing cards flashed between the clown's fingers. His laughter was tinged with uncontrollable excitement and fighting spirit. "No, I just want a battle with you! A fight to the death!"

"Are you a contestant here too?"

"Mhm~~ My name is Hisoka. My record is nine wins and three losses. Pick a day, and let's settle this in the arena! Don't you dare refuse, or I'll fight you right here and now."

A powerful aura surged from the clown. He was coiled and ready to strike. "To be able to steal an opponent's Nen ability in an instant based purely on talent—I truly want to see what your real Nen ability looks like!"

"Uh, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, Hisoka-san."

Hisoka picked at his ear with his pinky, his expression calm. "I haven't been out of training for long. I haven't even developed my own Nen ability yet."

"?"

The clown's face, previously filled with battle lust, went slack, turning into a blank, abstract painting.

"I only came to Heavens Arena to earn some travel money and see if it would help me develop my Nen. Of course, if you insist on fighting, I won't just sit here and be a punching bag."

Hisoka smiled slightly, and a dense, quiet aura, like a silent river, began to flow around his body. "Honestly, I don't think I'll lose."

The clown's face twitched several times before erupting into a look of ecstatic joy. *He hasn't even developed his Nen, yet he possesses such combat power after only just learning the basics!*

*90 points!*

*So delicious. I really want to... no, I must be patient!*

*I must wait until he has fully developed his own Nen and mastered it. Only then will he be able to provide me with the most perfect, ultimate battle!*

The clown took several deep breaths, finally calming himself down. "Understood. I will wait patiently. I believe that with your talent, it won't take long for you to develop your own unique ability. I, for one, will become a Floor Master of Heavens Arena first. When that happens, we shall face each other again. Until then, you are forbidden from dying."

With that, he flicked a playing card at Hisoka.

Hisoka caught the card—which was reinforced with Nen and sharp enough to slice through rock—with a light touch. He flipped it over to find a Joker card, with a phone number written on the back.

"When you feel confident enough to defeat me, CALL ME." The clown raised his right hand to his ear in a phone gesture.

"Don't worry. Once I've developed my Nen, I'll naturally come looking for you. Just don't let me beat you until you're crying."

Hisoka waved at him with a grin. "Take care."

The clown gave Hisoka a long, deep look, as if trying to etch his image into his memory, and then turned and slipped away quietly into the shadows.

Watching the figure disappear into the depths of the hallway, the smile on Hisoka's face faded slightly. *What a hassle. Being targeted by a pervert. Still, given his personality, he won't attack me before I develop my own Nen.*

*Well, I suppose I need to speed up the process of developing my Nen.*