Chapter 36
The referee focused intently on the two fighters, observing and scoring each move.
In the Heaven's Arena matches, it's not necessary to fight to the death, nor does one side have to surrender to lose. Instead, there's a point-based scoring system:
- A successful attack earns one point.
- A particularly skillful attack earns two points.
- If an opponent is knocked down, initiating a referee countdown, it's one point.
Accumulate ten points, and you win.
Because of this, many fighters strategize around these rules. In this respect, Kyler has an advantage, as Isaiah doesn't earn points just by knocking down Kyler's puppet.
After dozens of rounds, both Isaiah and Kyler were gasping heavily for breath.
A shadow crossed Isaiah's face.
"I absolutely can't lose this match."
But Kyler was equally determined—he didn't want to lose either.
"One last chance. If I can't reach Kyler himself, I'll have to destroy his puppet and then target him directly!"
Isaiah gritted his teeth.
In the next moment, he rushed forward fiercely.
But again, he failed.
With no other options, Isaiah turned his attacks toward Kyler's puppet, pouncing and twisting his body around it, entangling himself like a giant snake.
"Here it is!"
The commentator's voice rang out with excitement.
"Isaiah's signature 'Constrict!'"
"In previous matches, no opponent could withstand this move from Isaiah."
"They could only surrender."
"But this time, it's different—this time Isaiah is trying to constrict Kyler's puppet!"
Ron raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Isaiah's an Enhancement-type?"
"That doesn't quite match his personality."
"Could he have chosen the wrong path, like Kastro?"
Meanwhile, Kyler smiled confidently.
"EXPLODE!"
A powerful force burst from Kyler's puppet, forcibly breaking Isaiah's constriction. Sending him flying with tremendous force.
"Winner... Kyler!"
The arena erupted in cheers.
Ron covered his ears, grinning slightly. "These fans are louder than I expected."
He walked along with the crowd as they exited.
Isaiah laying on the arena floor, looking devastated. After a long while, he finally seemed to accept his loss. In an instant, he appeared to age significantly. Suddenly, Isaiah saw Ron. Then he saw Kyler, who was waving to Ron.
In that instant, Ron's and Kyler's figures seemed unbearably harsh in Isaiah's eyes.
"That brat!"
"That devil!"
"Why didn't you compete?"
"Are you and Kyler in this together?"
"You're both targeting me!"
"I want you both dead!"
"I no longer have any chances to restart."
"You took away my last chance."
"If that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Without hope, I'll take you both to hell with me!"
Isaiah made a fateful decision.
But in reality, Kyler and Ron had only exchanged a casual greeting—just something neighbors might do.
After all, Ron was friendly with Lina, and with Kyler, he was only on somewhat familiar terms.
Isaiah's status as a 200th-floor competitor was revoked.
His luxurious room was reclaimed, and he had no choice but to pack his things and leave in disgrace.
However, Isaiah didn't go far.
Before leaving the city, Isaiah decided to do one last thing.
---
Not long after Ron returned to his room, there was a knock on the door.
Ron opened it and allowed Lina to come in and hang out for a while.
By evening, Kyler came by to pick up Lina.
"Congratulations, Senpai."
Kyler offered a smile.
"Luck was on my side." Kyler responded modestly.
"Lina, it's time to go home."
"Yes, Father."
With Kyler and Lina's departure, Ron's room once again returned to silence.
Ron looked at the crystal ball in front of him.
"It's over halfway there."
"The emergence of the second Nen Beast isn't far off."
Two days later.
"Ding-dong!"
A knocking sound came from the door. When Ron opened it, he found Isaiah standing there.
"Sinior?"
Isaiah forced a smile and handed over a small bag.
"Ron, this is for you."
"What is it?"
"These are my experiences."
Isaiah explained, "I lost too many matches and had my Heaven's Arena competitor status revoked. I don't have another chance to start over, but you still do, Ron."
"You're calm and didn't rush into competition; that's the right approach."
"In you, I see the hope of becoming a Floor Master."
"Please forgive me for placing this hope in you."
"I sincerely wish for you to reach Floor Master status."
"These notes contain everything I've accumulated over the years; they should help you."
Ron glanced down, then accepted the gift.
"Thank you so much, Sinior. Would you like to come in for a bit?"
"No, no need."
"Then, in that case, let me give you something in return. Just a small gesture of thanks."
Ron handed Isaiah a small speaker.
"This is a song I enjoy listening to while training. Please, Senpai, you must accept it."
Ron displayed an attitude that made it clear: if Isaiah wouldn't take his gift, he wouldn't accept Isaiah's either.
Isaiah reluctantly accepted it.
"Alright, I'll take it then. I'm preparing to leave the city. If there's ever a chance, let's meet again."
"Goodbye, Sinior."
Isaiah left.
Ron closed the door and took the bag back to his room.
He opened it.
A cold smile appeared on Ron's lips.
"This old man really is out to get me. Could he be blaming his losses on me?"
Inside the bag was indeed a notebook. But the main issue wasn't the notebook itself—it was the faint layer of poison covering it. A deadly poison.
A mere touch could be lethal, even to beasts like lions.
However, what Isaiah didn't know was that Ron had undergone such training at the Zoldyck estate.
Zoldyck family training was grueling; even Killua had shown little reaction to Tonpa's potent laxatives.
Chrollo had used a toxin that could kill an elephant with a single drop, and yet when it hit Silva, Silva simply used his hair to wrap his arm, squeezed the blood from the wound, and was fine.
The Zoldyck family members have absurdly high poison resistance.
Ron was no different.
For most people, this poison would be deadly, but for Ron, it had no effect whatsoever.
From the beginning, he was aware of the poison.
That's why he accepted Isaiah's gift with no concern.
As Isaiah walked downstairs, he looked back briefly.
"Kid, by now, you must already be dead."
"This is the price for defying me!"
Isaiah then got into a car and left.
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T/N
Yes, the fight between Kyler and Isaiah ended like that. No, I didn't miss anything. I was also surprised by it, but I guess the author doesn't care enough about them to describe it fully.