York New City Part 3 Heaven's Doors

With the incident behind us and a renewed sense of purpose, Nicolas and I decided to head to Heaven's Arena. This massive structure was famous among Hunters and fighters alike, known for its intense battles and the vast wealth that could be earned by those who climbed its floors. It was the perfect place for us to test our skills, earn money, and further hone our abilities.

As we approached Heaven's Arena, the towering building seemed to touch the sky, its gleaming exterior reflecting the bustling city below. We entered the grand lobby, filled with fighters of all shapes and sizes, each with their own unique style and purpose for being there.

"Alright, Nicolas," I said, turning to my partner. "Let's set some rules for ourselves. No using Nen so we will be remaining in a Zetsu state until we reach the 200th floor, and we'll focus only on using kicks. This will help us improve our physical abilities and keep our Nen abilities under wraps until we really need them."

Nicolas nodded, a determined look on his face. "Agreed, boss. It'll be a good challenge for us. Plus, it'll keep things interesting."

We registered ourselves and received our initial assignments. The first few floors were filled with novice fighters, eager to make a name for themselves. It didn't take long for us to make an impression. Our strategy of relying solely on kicks caught many opponents off guard, as they were used to fighters who relied heavily on their upper body strength and conventional punches.

Our first matches went smoothly. I faced off against a burly fighter who seemed to rely on brute strength. He charged at me eagerly, fists swinging wildly. I dodged his attacks with ease, countering with swift and powerful kicks that targeted his legs and torso, then his head. Within seconds, he was down, unable to continue the fight.

Nicolas had a similar experience. His opponent, a lanky toned boxer with a quick jab as his specialty, tried to keep him at a distance. But Nicolas closed the gap quickly, his kick striking with precision and power into his stomach. His opponent stumbled back, unable to keep himself up any longer, passing out from Nicolas's single attack, and soon found many fans.

As we climbed the floors, the fights grew tougher. The opponents were more skilled and experienced, each with their own unique fighting style. But we adapted, learning from each encounter and refining our techniques.

One particularly challenging fight on the 150th floor was against a pair of female twin fighters who used a strange fighting style. They moved with incredible coordination and rhythm, their attacks complementing each other seamlessly; it was like seeing double. Nicolas was the first to fight one of the twins with light blue hair and a skin-tight unitard. She was strikingly beautiful but also dangerous. She lasted longer than any opponent me and Nicolas had faced before.

"Nicolas, watch their timing," I called out, Nicolas dodging a swift kick aimed at his head.

"Got it, boss," Nicolas replied, his eyes focused. He synchronized his movements to hers, countering her kicks with his own. Both Nicolas's and the girl's kicks became a blur of motion, striking with precision and force. Slowly, he began to disrupt her rhythm, creating openings for more powerful strikes to land.

In the end, he managed to take her down, his effort and overwhelming kicks winning him the fight. It was a hard-fought victory, but it reinforced our belief in our abilities and our strategy to reach the 200th floor.

I was up next to fight. Her sister was stunning as well, her purple hair shimmering under the stage lights. Her peach skin was as smooth as butter, and her unitard was black with traditional black slippers to match her sister's attire.

"Start the match," said the referee.

She was the first to move. She was fast, but I was fast too. We met in the center as we both exchanged attacks. She threw a punch, which I was not expecting, hitting me square on the face, while I threw a kick to her torso, which she blocked with her elbow.

"You're weak. You know no martial arts," said the girl.

"If I'm weak, why am I still standing?" I retorted.

"Because you have good reactions, but your moves are amateur. I will show you true martial arts."

"Then how about we make a bet? If I win, you go on a date with me."

"Sure, but if I win, I want all the money you will win from now on."

"Cool by me," I said smugly.

She took a pose that resembled a crane, while I took a pose from Sanji from One Piece. She jumped into the air, aiming a downward kick. Her attack was easy to read, so I sidestepped. But she changed her move mid-air into a back kick that hit me in the face. The referee awarded her with a clean hit, giving her 1 point to my 0.

"How's that, amateur? This is real martial arts," the girl said.

"Okay, that was a good hit," I said as I wiped the blood from my mouth. "You wanna play hardball? Then let's play hardball."

I ran at her full speed. She put up her guard. I used an unexpected move: a frontal kick, which she blocked, then a low sweep, which she jumped over, giving me a chance to use a primary lotus upper kick that slipped through her guard to her face, sending her flying out of the ring and hitting the wall in the process. I was awarded 2 points for a critical hit. The score was now 2-1.

She stood up with her nose bloodied. As she tried to step forward, she fainted. The referee considered the match over. Her sister ran over. "Juri, are you okay?"

"Hey you!" said the sister.

"Me?" I replied.

"Yeah, you. I challenge you to a duel. Right here, right now."

"Nope, I'm good, whatever your name is, but your sister owes me for my win. Tell her to call me using the front desk. The name is Yuuma, by the way."

"My name is Rubi, and I won't forget your face."

"How could you?" I said, pulling back my hair from my face.

With that, I left to meet up with Nicolas at the penthouse before heading to the 160th floor.

 After the intense battles on the 150th floor, Nicolas and I retreated to the penthouse to reflect on our experiences. The luxurious suite provided a much-needed respite from the chaos of the arena, and we took the opportunity to review our performance.

Nicolas set up his laptop on the coffee table, pulling up footage of our fights. "Alright, boss. Let's break it down. What went wrong with our fights against the twins, and what went great?"

I nodded, leaning back on the plush couch. "For starters, their coordination was impressive. They were in sync with every move they made, and the attacks they used complemented each other perfectly. We Should have disrupted their rhythm earlier in the fights."

Nicolas clicked on the video of his match. "Yeah, I noticed that too. My opponent was constantly anticipating my moves. I should have focused more on feints and misdirection to throw her off."

"Exactly," I agreed. "Also, we underestimated their versatility. They were skilled not just in kicks but in punches and evasive maneuvers too. We need to be more prepared for a wider range of attacks."

Nicolas replayed a segment of my fight. "You did well with that upper kick, though. It was unexpected and powerful. We need to incorporate more unpredictable moves like that."

I chuckled. "Yeah, it worked out, but I took a few hits I shouldn't have. My guard was down a couple of times. I need to be more vigilant and maintain my defenses."

"We both need to tighten up our defenses," Nicolas said. "And maybe work on some new combinations to keep our opponents guessing."

"Agreed," I said, nodding. "We also need to strategize better. Understanding our opponents' weaknesses and exploiting them should be our priority especially if we are looking to fight the floor masters."

As we continued to discuss and analyze our fights, the phone in my penthouse room rang, interrupting our conversation. I stood up and walked over to the phone, picking it up. "Hello?"

"Is this Yuuma?" a familiar female voice asked.

"Yes, this is Yuuma. Who's calling?" I replied, curious.

"It's Juri," she said, her tone soft but determined. "I wanted to thank you for the match earlier. And, well... I owe you a date, don't I?"

I was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "Yes, you do. I wasn't sure you'd remember."

"Of course, I remember," she said, a hint of a smile in her voice. "Meet me at the café near the arena tomorrow at noon?"

"Sounds like a plan," I replied. "I'll see you there, Juri."

After hanging up the phone, I turned to Nicolas, who was grinning from ear to ear. "Looks like you have a date, boss."

I laughed. "Yeah, it seems like it. But let's not forget our training. We have a lot to improve on before we hit the higher floors."

Nicolas nodded. "Absolutely. Let's get some rest tonight and start fresh tomorrow. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

With that, we settled in for the night, ready to face the challenges of Heaven's Arena with renewed determination.

The next morning, Nicolas and I woke up early, eager to start our training and improve on our weaknesses. We spent the first part of the day practicing our techniques, focusing on incorporating unpredictable moves and refining our defenses. Nicolas set up a makeshift gym in the penthouse, and we spared for hours, pushing each other to our limits.

As noon approached, I prepared for my date with Juri. I opted for a casual yet stylish outfit, hoping to make a good impression. Nicolas, ever the supportive friend, gave me a thumbs up as I headed out the door.

"Good luck, boss," he said with a grin. "Remember, it's just a date. Enjoy yourself."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Thanks, Nicolas. I'll see you later."

I made my way to the café near the arena, the bustling streets of Yorknew City providing a vibrant backdrop to my thoughts. Upon arrival, I spotted Juri sitting at a table by the window, her light blue hair catching the sunlight. She looked up and smiled as I approached.

"Hey, Juri," I greeted, taking a seat across from her. "Thanks for agreeing to meet."

"Of course," she replied, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "I wanted to thank you for the match and, well, I was curious to get to know you better."

We ordered some drinks and spent the next hour talking about our lives, our experiences, and our goals. Juri shared stories about her training and her twin sister, Rubi, while I told her about my journey to become a Hunter and my partnership with Nicolas.

"I have to admit," Juri said, taking a sip of her coffee, "I was impressed by your skills. You and Nicolas make a great team."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling a sense of pride. "We've been through a lot together, and we're constantly pushing each other to improve."

As we continued talking, I couldn't help but feel a growing connection with Juri. Despite the competitive nature of our initial encounter, there was a mutual respect and understanding between us.

"Yuuma," she said, leaning forward slightly, "I have a feeling you'll go far in Heaven's Arena. Just remember to stay true to yourself and your abilities."

"I will," I promised, feeling a surge of determination. "And maybe we'll face each other again in the ring."

She smiled. "I'd like that. Just don't go easy on me next time."

After our date, I returned to the penthouse, where Nicolas was waiting with a knowing grin. "How did it go, boss?"

"It went well," I said, feeling a mix of contentment and renewed focus. "She's great, and I think we can learn a lot from each other."

"Glad to hear it," Nicolas replied. "Now, let's get back to training. We have a lot of ground to cover."

Finally, after weeks of intense battles and relentless training, we reached the 199th floor. The atmosphere here was different, filled with an air of anticipation and tension. Fighters who made it this far were no ordinary combatants; they were the best of the best, each one a master of their craft.

"One more fight, Nicolas," I said, taking a deep breath. "Then we can start using Nen."

Nicolas nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Let's make it count, boss."

Our final fight to reach the 200th floor was against a seasoned fighter named Ryu and Ken. They were tall, muscular men with a calm demeanor and a reputation for being a tough opponent. As the fight began, it was clear that Ryu was no ordinary fighter. His movements were fluid and precise, each strike calculated and powerful.

We stuck to our strategy, relying solely on kicks. Ryu countered with a mix of punches and kicks, testing our defenses and probing for weaknesses. It was a fierce battle, each of us pushing the other to our limits.

At one point, Ryu landed a powerful kick to my side, sending me stumbling back. I gritted my teeth, fighting through the pain, and retaliated with a series of rapid kicks that forced him to back off.

Nicolas, too, was locked in a fierce exchange with Ken. His opponent's strikes were relentless, but Nicolas's agility and speed allowed him to dodge and counter with precision. Together, we managed to wear Ken down, finally overwhelming our opponents.

With a final, powerful kick, Ryu and Ken were knocked off their feet and fell to the ground simultaneously, unable to continue. The crowd erupted in cheers, and the referee declared us the winners.

"Congratulations," the referee said, raising our hands. "You've reached the 200th floor."

We had done it. We had climbed to the 200th floor using only our physical skills and teamwork. Now, it was time to take our training to the next level and unleash the full potential of our Nen abilities. The real challenge was just beginning, and we were ready for it.