The Next Day
Ted arrived early, only to be stopped by the guard at the entrance.
The three major dojos of Fiora's royal family maintained a cooperative front to outsiders, but internally, competition was fierce. Members of one dojo could not enter another without an invitation from someone of lower status.
Ted, a member of the Dojo of Beasts, had no right to casually enter the Dojo of Dragons.
"I have an appointment with Kaizen," Ted said firmly.
The guard frowned. "Kaizen?"
"You don't know? Fine—Wendy, I'm looking for Wendy. Let her come out."
Moments later, Wendy received the message and relayed it to Kaizen.
"Kaizen, Ted's here. Let's go."
"Alright."
The two made their way to the entrance, where Ted's eyes lit up the moment he saw Kaizen. He grinned and waved.
"This way."
Ted's excitement was evident. "I've been looking forward to this fight for days. The Zoldyck name is legendary, but I've never actually seen a Zoldyck in action."
Before Kaizen could respond, Wendy cut in.
"Ted, if Kaizen goes to your Dojo of Beasts, I'm coming too."
"You?" Ted raised an eyebrow.
"As the son of the beast, you don't have the authority to bring a guest?"
"Of course I do."
"Then it's settled." Wendy crossed her arms. "Kaizen is my friend. I invited you here, and now you want to take him without me? That's a bit much."
Wendy wasn't actually eager to watch the fight. She was more concerned for Kaizen's safety. Even though she doubted the dojo would deliberately harm him, the members of the Dojo of Beasts were known for their aggression. When emotions ran high, things could spiral out of control.
"Alright, alright. Get in the car, let's go." Ted gestured towards his vehicle.
The car sped through the streets. Fortunately, the road was mostly empty, and Ted's reflexes as a Nen user ensured they didn't crash. Otherwise, several people would have been casualties along the way.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Dojo of Beasts.
Unlike the structured elegance of the Dojo of Dragons, this place had a wild, untamed atmosphere, like the depths of a vast jungle where danger lurked in every shadow. The air carried a primal energy, as if a ferocious predator could leap out at any moment.
The moment they stepped out of the car, sharp gazes turned toward them.
Most recognized Ted and Wendy, but their main focus was on Kaizen.
"This is Kaizen Zoldyck," Ted introduced. "I invited him as a guest."
He turned to the guards. "We'll be having a match in the dojo. Wendy's here to watch."
After confirming their identities, the guards stepped aside.
As they walked in, word of Kaizen and Ted's upcoming battle spread like wildfire. Within moments, the dojo buzzed with anticipation. Unlike the Dojo of Dragons, where discipline tempered enthusiasm, the Dojo of Beasts thrived on raw excitement. At the mere mention of a fight, crowds gathered, eager to witness the spectacle.
"Kaizen, are you okay with all these people watching?" Wendy asked.
For a Nen user, keeping one's abilities hidden was often an advantage. And as a member of the Zoldyck family, secrecy was second nature.
Kaizen simply shook his head. "It doesn't matter."
Wendy nodded. "True. Even I haven't seen your full strength. Ted definitely hasn't."
The training ground loomed ahead, an expansive arena where warriors tested their might.
Ted stepped into the center. "Kaizen, come on. Show me what the world's most infamous assassin family is capable of." He smirked. "Wendy told me even she couldn't beat you."
Kaizen raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you lose to Wendy?"
"That was different!" Ted's face reddened slightly. "My fighting style just happened to be a bad match-up against hers. That doesn't mean she's stronger than me."
He crossed his arms. "You might've beaten Wendy because your style countered hers. But if someone's style doesn't counter mine, they won't have an easy time taking me down."
Wendy shook her head, unconvinced.
Spectators Gather
More members of the dojo arrived, drawn by the prospect of the match.
"Who's Ted fighting?" one asked.
"Kaizen Zoldyck," another replied. "From the world's most infamous assassin family."
"A killer, huh? Can he actually fight?"
"They say he's stronger than Wendy."
"That makes it worth watching."
The Zoldyck name carried weight, even here. Though Fiora's royal family and the Dojo of Beasts had their own pride, they couldn't ignore the reputation of the world's top assassins.
"I wonder what their combat style is like."
"They're known as assassins, but how do they actually fight?"
The anticipation grew.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Kaizen. Wendy couldn't beat him, and Ted couldn't beat Wendy."
"That logic doesn't always hold in Nen battles. I think Ted has the edge—this is his home turf."
"Yeah, just because Wendy lost doesn't mean Ted will."
"And who knows if Wendy's assessment was accurate?"
The discussion continued, but one thing was certain—everyone wanted to see what a Zoldyck was truly capable of.
After all, the Fiora Kingdom was part of V5. Their strength surpassed that of a single family. While they acknowledged Kaizen's abilities, they remained confident in their own power.
Just as that woman, the one who had brought Wendy back to Fiora, had dismissed Wendy's evaluation of Kaizen, many here shared the same sentiment.
And now, they would finally see for themselves.
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