Chapter 22: The Strength of the Killer Queen!

The Killer Queen had a peculiar ability—within its body existed a space where objects could be stored away.

Kaizen slipped the parchment into the invisible storage. It was now hidden, safe from prying eyes, accessible only to him. As the Killer Queen finished its task, its figure shimmered and vanished.

Sanghir had arrived.

When Sanghir first noticed Shinji, he faltered, unsure of how to act. But seeing the Zoldyck servant's attire, his expression changed to one of understanding and cautious respect.

It had become clear to Sanghir that compared to the Zoldyck family, his dojo and accomplishments were meaningless. Even a servant from Zoldyck Manor was someone far beyond his ability to offend.

"Master Kaizen," Sanghir greeted with a polite bow.

Kaizen gave a subtle nod from the second floor.

"The name Shinji reminds me of someone," Kaizen thought aloud. "Oda Shinji—the samurai."

A brief memory flickered in Kaizen's mind, connecting Oda Shinji with Nobunaga Hazama, one of the Phantom Troupe.

"Shinji... Nobunaga…" Kaizen mused. "There's a real chance Shinji is somehow connected to Nobunaga. Maybe they both came from the same lineage or were abandoned on Meteor City for similar reasons."

In the following days, Kaizen organized duties for both Shinji and Sanghir.

Sanghir was tasked with managing the household's grounds, while Shinji's role would be to supply Kaizen with remote intelligence, acting as his eyes and ears from afar. Kaizen, however, had his own plans.

His time at Zoldyck Manor was coming to an end.

The Observer's Will, an enigmatic force he carried, had already absorbed much from the manor's aura and characteristics. But Kaizen knew if he wanted to grow stronger, he needed to move forward.

Staying here would not have worked. To evolve, Kaizen needed to encounter more rare creatures—each one would grant him a new ability. With every new beast assimilated, his power would grow.

"When the Observer's Will finishes absorbing these traits, I'll receive the feedback immediately. Just like when the Killer Queen was born…"

The creation of the Killer Queen had already given Kaizen a noticeable boost in mental clarity. His thoughts had sharpened, expanding his mind's capacity, even though his physical strength remained unchanged.

And there was more—a hidden gift.

The Killer Queen wasn't just a bomb-wielding entity. Despite its explosive abilities, it excelled in close-quarters combat, with terrifying speed and strength. Kaizen realized that the Killer Queen embodied some of his own memories—refined into combat techniques.

It was a blend of Kaizen's instincts, Zoldyck training, and the unique abilities of the mind beast itself.

"Even without using the Killer Queen," Kaizen thought, "I'm no slouch in combat. But mastering higher-level Nen techniques would make me even deadlier."

Kaizen tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Still, it's more efficient for me to fight from a distance. My best strategy is to support my beasts and bombard enemies with Nen bombs from afar. That's how I'll win."

He stretched, the weight of anticipation settling in. "Today, I'll test my progress."

The Training Grounds

Kaizen arrived at the arena, an open circle drawn into the dirt. It wasn't one of the grand, formal arenas of Heavens Arena—just a basic training ground at Zoldyck Manor.

Standing across from him was a young butler.

The servant, sharp and disciplined, stood at attention.

"Master Kaizen," the servant greeted, bowing deeply.

Kaizen gave him a brief nod. "Let's begin."

The servant straightened and confirmed, "Understood. Beginning now."

Kaizen took a step back, already summoning his power.

"Killer Queen!"

A tall, humanoid figure materialized beside him, its pink body gleaming in the light. It was muscular and elegant, exuding an aura of restrained menace.

"Gyo!" Kaizen whispered, channeling aura into his eyes.

For a Nen user, Gyo—the act of concentrating aura into specific body parts—was essential in any fight. It enhanced perception and strength, ensuring no subtle movement went unnoticed.

Maintaining Gyo wasn't just a combat practice—it was second nature in any potentially dangerous situation unless stealth demanded otherwise.

The Killer Queen charged forward.

The servant, already prepared, summoned two enormous axes into his hands with a flash of aura.

"A Manipulator-type, huh?" Kaizen noted.

He narrowed his eyes—everything at Zoldyck Manor was purposeful. If the servant used materialized weapons, they wouldn't just be ordinary axes. Manipulator abilities were defined by precision, their constructs always had unique properties.

Kaizen sent a mental command to the Killer Queen.

Nen beasts like the Killer Queen came in two main varieties:

Controlled beasts, which required constant direction from the user.

Autonomous beasts, capable of thinking and fighting on their own.

The Killer Queen was the latter—but that didn't mean it acted without guidance. Kaizen could issue mental orders instantaneously through the invisible bond they shared, exchanging information directly through their aura.

This method was far more efficient than giving spoken commands.

The Killer Queen darted around the servant's axes with fluid grace, closing the distance in an instant.

Kaizen raised his hand, aura pooling at his fingertips. His focus was razor-sharp.

The battle had begun.

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