Chapter 20: Nen Beast?

A girl with long black hair, dressed in a sleek suit, held a sharp, slender blade.

Next to her stood a woman with flowing blonde hair and a soft, gentle demeanor.

A man with cold eyes, hidden beneath the brim of a hat, calmly raised his hand. The trigger clicked, and a gunshot echoed.

A powerful figure, muscular and pink like a seasoned boxer, flexed his strength.

Then, in an instant, all these figures were pulled into a crystal ball.

Boom!

A cracking sound echoed, and Kaizen's consciousness snapped back as if yanked by an unseen force.

Kaizen opened his eyes to the familiar surroundings of his room.

In front of him stood a familiar pink figure, its presence both strange and comforting. Simultaneously, a surge of knowledge flooded his mind.

"Killer Queen..."

He whispered the name to himself, as if testing its weight on his tongue.

"Not bad."

Kaizen absorbed the information now imprinted in his mind.

Killer Queen—an ability seemingly drawn from another world, specifically the JoJo universe, serving as a manifestation of Yoshikage Kira's stand. A power known for close-range combat with a unique ability: it transforms anything it touches into a bomb. But Kaizen's Killer Queen wasn't a mere copy. This creation was born from his own Nen, shaped by the essence of Zoldyck Manor. It was a fusion, a hybrid between the stand and a Nian Beast, unique to him.

"According to Uncle Silva's rating system, this version of Killer Queen is at a D-level strength."

Kaizen mulled over the evaluation.

"But that's without factoring in the explosive abilities."

For now, Killer Queen possessed only one type of explosive ability. It allowed the creature to imbue objects with explosive properties in two distinct ways.

Detonated by command.

Triggered upon touch.

Kaizen studied the pink, humanoid form of Killer Queen beside him, comparing it to other Nen abilities he'd encountered.

"This ability reminds me a bit of the Bomber from Greed Island," he thought aloud. "Though each has its strengths and weaknesses."

The explosions offered two variations:

The object explodes upon detonation.

Or, the object touching the 'bomb' triggers the explosion, but the original bomb stays intact.

He recalled Uncle Silva's advice:

"Abilities with multiple applications tend to be the most powerful. The more versatility an ability offers, the more potential it has to grow."

Kaizen clenched his fists thoughtfully.

"In the JoJo world, Kira's Killer Queen had other abilities, like a partial explosion that left things intact. Mine doesn't have that—yet. But it's something to aim for."

The Heart Attack technique and Sheer Heart Attack—those could come later, with time and mastery. As Kaizen grew stronger, so would his Nen Beast.

He stood and made his way toward the door, Killer Queen silently following at his heels. With a mere thought, the pink figure vanished from sight, only to reappear again with another flicker of intent.

Maintaining the Killer Queen drained half of Kaizen's stamina, but fortunately, his endurance ranked above most other Nen users his age. This gave him confidence.

"Even in prolonged fights, I can manage just fine."

Kaizen thought back to another master Nen user from Greed Island: Razor.

An Emitter whose strength was so impressive that even members of the Phantom Troupe tread carefully around him. Razor had trained his body to an absurd degree, rivaling Enhancers like Uvogin in raw physical power. Despite being an Emitter, his body was as durable as an Enhancer's, giving him a terrifying edge in battle.

The door opened, and Gotoh greeted him with a respectful nod.

"Master Kaizen," Gotoh said in a measured tone. "Master Silva sent word—your trainee butlers have finished their training. They're waiting for you to select one."

Kaizen nodded. "Understood."

He withdrew the Killer Queen, conserving his Nen.

Creating Nen Beasts consumed energy in two ways:

Manifesting the beast required a significant amount of aura upfront.

Sustaining its activities demanded a continuous supply of aura, directly siphoned from his Nen pool.

Gotoh's eyes lingered briefly on the spot where Killer Queen had disappeared, his expression composed.

"Was that... your Nen Beast, Master Kaizen?"

Kaizen gave a slight nod.

"Yes."

Gotoh smiled faintly. "Before you leave the manor, would you like to spar with someone, Master Kaizen?"

Kaizen had learned the value of sparring against different opponents. Training with Sanghir helped him hone his combat techniques, while battling the beasts in the forests around the Zoldyck estate toughened his mind and sharpened his instincts. Silva's sparring sessions, on the other hand, were tests of skill, intended to assess his progress and identify weaknesses.

But today, Gotoh was suggesting something different—a match against another Nen user of equal strength.

Kaizen considered the offer for a moment before giving a slight nod. "Sure."

At the training grounds, Silva was already waiting.

"Uncle Silva."

Silva gave a small nod in return.

"Kaizen."

Standing beside Silva were three figures—three young butlers-in-training, each wearing the Zoldyck insignia. They had clearly been selected from among many, each of them likely the best of their cohort.

Kaizen scanned the three with interest.

These weren't ordinary trainees. They were Nen users—sharpened tools ready for both service and battle.

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