Chapter 43: Bursting with Anger!

Kaizen hadn't been idle these past few days. He'd been collecting information about the fighters on the 200th floor of Heavens Arena. Among the names, one stood out: Isaiah.

Isaiah was an old man who had spent his life training in a dojo. Now, in his later years, he'd ascended to the 200th floor. His rise through the ranks was impressive, but something strange had happened after he hit a slump. Following two consecutive losses, his strength surged dramatically—enough to make even Kaizen suspicious.

"That's Nen awakening for sure," Kaizen muttered to himself. Isaiah's aura had sharpened after his defeat. And every time he disappeared for a while, his abilities seemed to evolve further. Currently, Isaiah had four wins and three losses on this floor. With three more wins, he'd be eligible to challenge the floor master. But another defeat will not allow him to challenge, and he will have to start all over again—a risk he couldn't afford.

Isaiah wasn't just desperate. He was hunting for the perfect opponent—someone he could beat cleanly without jeopardizing his record. And Isaiah had set his sights on Kaizen.

But Kaizen didn't seem in any rush to fight. Three days had passed, and he hadn't made a single move, leaving Isaiah restless. No, not restless—anxious.

Isaiah showed up at Kaizen's door.

"Hi," Kaizen greeted him, already guessing what the old man was after. He saw right through Isaiah's intentions.

Isaiah gave a thin smile as he entered the room and slumped down on the couch. "Looks like you're settling in well."

"Not bad," Kaizen replied, stepping to the side. "The accommodations here are a lot better than on the lower floors. Bigger rooms, better food, and the view isn't half bad either."

Isaiah chuckled dryly but quickly moved to the point. "So, when do you plan on applying for your first match? I could help you strategize, you know. I've been on the 200th floor a long time—I know all the fighters' strengths and weaknesses."

Kaizen shook his head. "No rush. According to the rules, I've got three months to fight, right? I'm thinking I'll rest for a couple of months before stepping back into the ring. I rushed too much before."

Isaiah blinked in disbelief. Two months? He's really planning to sit out that long?

"But, Kaizen," Isaiah stammered, "if you wait that long, the other fighters will have studied your style by then. That could put you at a disadvantage."

Kaizen gave a dry laugh, seeing through the old man's ploy. "What's there to study? Those earlier fights were just warm-ups against regular fighters—nothing special. Besides, the battles here are all about Nen. Do you really think they'll learn much from the lower floors?"

Isaiah gritted his teeth. He didn't expect Kaizen to be this unbothered.

Kaizen continued, "Anyway, I'll change my approach after two months. Even if they study my past fights, it won't help them. And aren't you here to give me info on the other players? If they're studying me, I can study them too, right?"

Isaiah was momentarily speechless.

Kaizen gave him a calm but pointed look. "Don't worry. I've got a plan."

Isaiah stood up stiffly. "...Alright. I'll get the information for you." His voice was tight with frustration. "Since you've already made up your mind, I won't push. I've got my own match to prepare for."

"Good luck." Kaizen smiled as Isaiah headed for the door.

The moment Isaiah left Kaizen's room, his expression twisted in rage. His brows furrowed, and his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might snap. He muttered curses under his breath as he stormed down the corridor.

"Damn brat! Is he deliberately messing with me?"

He glanced back toward Kaizen's door with a scowl, as if glaring at it could force the younger fighter to change his mind. But there was nothing he could do—without Kaizen applying for a match, Isaiah's hopes of an easy victory were slipping away. His only choice was to focus on his next opponent and pray for a break.

Inside the room, Kaizen chuckled softly to himself. "He must be fuming right now," he whispered, amusement flickering in his eyes.

He returned his attention to a crystal ball on the table, focusing on his aura training. The crystal shimmered as it absorbed traces of Kaizen's aura, reflecting his growing mastery.

Meanwhile, a little girl from the neighboring room had started stopping by more often. She was getting familiar with Kaizen, peeking into his room curiously whenever the door was open. Her father didn't seem to mind her spending time around him either.

And so, Kaizen trained in peace, letting time slip by while Isaiah stewed in frustration.

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