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The atmosphere in the contestant lounge was tense yet charged with anticipation. Fighters from various backgrounds gathered, each preparing mentally and physically for their upcoming battles. Illumi remained calm amidst the chaos, his focus unwavering as he awaited his turn to step into the ring.
A Clash Between Prodigies
"Contestant 1068, Illumi Zoldyck, and Contestant 1138, Kansai, please proceed to Arena A on the 56th floor."
After a long wait, Illumi's name echoed through the speakers of the 50th floor. His opponent? None other than the hot-tempered punk who had been itching for a fight since their encounter in the elevator.
Illumi rose silently from his seat, leaving the lounge and boarding an elevator that whisked him up to the 56th floor. As he approached Arena A, the roar of the crowd grew louder, fueling the excitement in the air. Stepping out onto the stage via the contestants' exclusive entrance, Illumi surveyed the packed arena. The audience eagerly awaited the match, their cheers reverberating throughout the space.
Kansai stood at the center of the ring, glaring fiercely at Illumi even before the battle began.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting!"
The announcer's sweet voice boomed over the intercom, introducing the fighters. "Next up, we have a special pairing. Both competitors are under ten years old—a rare sight indeed! But don't let their youth fool you. These two prodigies showcased incredible skill in their debut matches on the first floor and have climbed straight to the 50th floor without breaking stride."
The screen above flickered to life, displaying footage of Illumi and Kansai's earlier victories. The announcer continued, "As you can see, Illumi Zoldyck defeated his taekwondo black belt opponent with lightning speed. Meanwhile, Kansai delivered a stunning uppercut that sent a 90-kilogram fighter flying out of the ring!"
The audience erupted into cheers as betting windows opened. Numbers beneath the contestants' portraits fluctuated rapidly, eventually settling at 1560:1990 in favor of Illumi. His clean and efficient style made spectators believe he still held plenty in reserve.
"These people must be blind," Kansai muttered bitterly, staring at the odds displayed on the screen. "That brat isn't better than me!"
Once bets were finalized, the referee stepped forward to explain the rules. "This match will follow a three-round system with knockouts scored within three minutes per round."
With both fighters ready, the referee raised his hand high before swinging it down sharply. "Begin!"
At the sound of the word, Illumi moved forward, his foot lifting off the ground in a measured step.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Reacting instantly, Kansai leapt backward, creating distance between them. He positioned himself near the edge of the ring, his expression wary.
"Not bad—you're more cautious than I expected," Illumi remarked coolly, pausing mid-step before planting his foot firmly on the ground. "But your defeat was inevitable from the start."
Resuming his advance, Illumi closed the gap between them, his demeanor calm and composed. His relaxed posture only served to unnerve Kansai further.
"Haaah!!"
With a fierce shout, Kansai charged forward, throwing a punch aimed at Illumi's face. However, Illumi simply tilted his head to the side, dodging effortlessly. In one fluid motion, he swept his left leg toward Kansai's lower body, causing the boy to stumble.
"What the—?"
Kansai's punch missed entirely, and his balance faltered as he began tipping forward. Before he could recover, Illumi delivered a sharp knife-hand strike to the back of his neck.
Thud!
Kansai collapsed, eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness. The referee immediately raised two fingers, signaling a successful knockout.
"Hit confirmed!"
Still standing casually beside the fallen Kansai, Illumi addressed the referee. "The match is over."
The referee blinked in surprise but quickly checked Kansai's condition. Upon confirming his unconscious state, the referee declared, "KO! Illumi Zoldyck wins by knockout!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has ruled that Kansai is unable to continue. Illumi Zoldyck advances to the 60th floor with this decisive victory!"
The crowd erupted once again, cheering wildly as the announcer praised Illumi's performance. "Both fighters secured impressive one-hit victories in their debut matches—but what a stark difference in skill! Truly unexpected. With this win, Illumi reaches the 60th floor!"
By 9 PM, Illumi had completed three additional matches, each ending with a single devastating blow. His streak propelled him directly to the 90th floor. One more victory would secure his place on the 100th floor—and with it, access to a private suite.
Seeking Comfort
"Guess I'll need just one more win for that room," Illumi mused aloud, standing outside the main hall of Heaven's Arena. Gazing at the darkening sky, he shook his head slightly. "But I might as well find a hotel instead."
Surveying the area, he strolled along the streets until he located a five-star establishment called Vasniria Hotel. Booking a king-sized bed for the night, he settled comfortably into his temporary accommodations.
Morning Preparations
The next morning, at precisely 7:10 AM:
Curtain opens.
Sunlight streamed into the room as Illumi pulled back the curtains, invigorating his senses. Within ten minutes, he had washed up, changed into a pristine white tracksuit, grabbed his gray backpack, and headed downstairs.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel restaurant, he made his way back to Heaven's Arena, determined to reach the 100th floor today.
Battle on the 90th Floor
By 10:30 AM, Illumi stood in Arena A of the 90th floor, listening to the familiar voice of the announcer.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good morning! Illumi Zoldyck has won all his previous matches with a single devastating blow. Yesterday, he stormed through five consecutive victories, ascending from the first floor to the 90th in record time! Today, will he maintain his unstoppable streak and reach the 100th floor? Or will he fall to his current opponent, Kiriman?"
The crowd roared in anticipation, their emotions swirling around the arena like colorful smoke. To Illumi's trained eye, the audience radiated a mix of greed (blue mist) and excitement (pink mist).
"Hey, kid."
Standing across from Illumi was a bald man wearing nothing but a martial arts uniform on his lower half. Muscles rippled across his torso as he sneered confidently.
"I'm not some pushover you can knock out easily. I've trained in countless styles since childhood and forged my own path in martial arts. I'm destined to become the champion of this tower. You're not even worthy of being a stepping stone for me—but serving as a footnote in my journey is honor enough."