Kaizen left, but the chaos in Heavens Arena was far from over.
The deaths of three Floor Masters were a major event for Heavens Arena.
After all, there were only twenty-one in total.
Losing three at once meant that one-seventh of them were gone.
Even if they were lower-ranked, their deaths were still a significant loss.
Naturally, speculation ran wild.
Some believed Heavens Arena had made a powerful enemy.
Others suspected internal conflict.
However, those who knew the truth remained calm.
The other Floor Masters also refrained from commenting.
They understood that this was nothing more than a power struggle within Heavens Arena.
More importantly, Kaizen had single-handedly eliminated three core members of AKA.
And he had done it all in a single day.
With no loose ends left behind, no further trouble would follow.
The ones most affected were the remaining members of the AKA group.
With their core figures gone, maintaining the organization became impossible.
Some members left immediately.
Others desperately tried to keep AKA alive.
However, they could no longer remain on the higher floors of Heavens Arena.
New Floor Masters would soon rise, and those floors would belong to the next generation of challengers.
For those ambitious enough to claim the vacant positions, it was a golden opportunity.
"That spot is mine!"
An elderly man stared out the window, determination burning in his eyes.
"I will definitely become a Floor Master!"
A young fighter clenched his fists as he gazed into the distance.
"No one can stand in my way!"
A woman narrowed her eyes with a confident smirk.
Three open seats among the Floor Masters—an opportunity like this was once in a lifetime.
A grand battle for supremacy was about to begin.
...
Two days later…
"Kaizen, over here!"
Wendy waved enthusiastically from a distance.
Her long blue hair swayed as she moved, exuding an air of youthful energy.
A few passersby took notice, but upon seeing her attire, they quickly averted their gazes.
She was royalty.
In the Kingdom of Fiora, social classes were rigidly defined.
The royal family stood at the very top, far above the common folk.
Below them were the nobles, forming an elite middle class.
Even in a modern society where Nen existed, its practitioners were few, and their influence on the world remained limited.
Most ordinary people had no knowledge of Nen, only knowing that fighters on Heavens Arena's 200th floor and beyond possessed extraordinary strength.
Yet, despite the modern era, Fiora still upheld a strict class system.
This wasn't just symbolic status—social hierarchy was a deeply ingrained reality.
But the citizens of Fiora saw nothing wrong with it. In fact, they embraced it.
After all, Fiora was one of the V5 nations.
Its economic power ranked among the highest in the world.
This prosperity ensured that even commoners enjoyed security, education, healthcare, and stable employment.
The only thing out of their reach was upward mobility.
Some opposed this rigid system and sought change.
A few even left the country in protest.
However, most soon regretted it.
Survival outside Fiora proved far harsher than they expected.
Eventually, many returned, preferring the comfort of stability over the struggle for status.
Discrimination and class divisions existed everywhere, after all.
Most people simply accepted it and lived their lives within their own social circles.
It was rare for them to even encounter the nobility, let alone interact with royalty.
"Wendy."
Kaizen smiled as he stepped off the airship and jogged toward her.
Curious onlookers turned their attention to him.
"Who is that guy?"
It wasn't every day that a member of the royal family greeted someone so warmly.
And Kaizen certainly didn't look like he was from the Kingdom of Fiora.
What was his status?
A sleek black car pulled up beside them.
The driver, a middle-aged man in a well-fitted suit, glanced at Wendy respectfully.
"Miss, where to?"
"Take us to the manor first."
"Understood."
From the driver's demeanor, Kaizen could tell he wasn't nobility—just an employee of the royal family, much like the stewards at Zoldyck Manor.
As they settled into the backseat, Wendy beamed.
"First, I'll show you my manor. Then tonight, I'll take you to a fantastic restaurant—one of Fiora's best. The cuisine is unique to our country. You won't find anything like it anywhere else."
Kaizen chuckled. "Sounds like something to look forward to."
As Wendy animatedly described Fiora's culture, Kaizen absentmindedly glanced at the crystal ball before him.
The moment they entered Fiora, the crystal began absorbing the unique aura of its surroundings.
Tiny motes of light drifted into the sphere, shimmering like captured fireflies.
Before long, the car pulled up to their destination.
"Kaizen, we're here."
A sprawling, elegant estate stretched before them.
Stepping out of the car, Kaizen took in the sight of the grand manor.
Wendy smiled. "Normally, the car would drive straight in, but I wanted you to see everything. We have time, so let's walk."
"No problem."
The entrance gate was opulent and imposing.
Not quite as formidable as the Testing Gate at Zoldyck Manor, but impressive nonetheless.
Beyond the gate, a vibrant landscape unfolded—lush gardens, pristine pathways, and an air of refined luxury.
Servants moved about their tasks, pausing to bow respectfully upon seeing Wendy.
The scene stirred a sense of nostalgia in Kaizen.
It reminded him of the ancient aristocracies from his past life.
"What do you think, Kaizen?"
"It's beautiful."
Wendy grinned. "It is, isn't it? But I don't spend much time here. Most of my days are spent training. Honestly, I'm not as familiar with this place as you might think."
Not far away, a woman dressed in regal attire observed them from a distance…
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