A massive surge of soil erupted, encasing Cook's figure.
Moments later, more soil rose, swallowing him completely.
Layer after layer.
Dominica, who had defended herself against this very attack earlier, now turned it back on Cook with deadly precision.
Boom!
A loud crack resounded as Cook burst out of the packed dirt.
But before he could react, a massive earthen spike appeared directly above him, controlled by Dominica.
Crash!
It slammed down with immense force, driving Cook into the arena floor.
Yet Dominica's onslaught was far from over.
This was merely the beginning.
The Nen users of Taris Kingdom were known for their extraordinary vitality. When they unleashed their powers, they transcended humanity, becoming more akin to monsters.
Beneath the ground, a sharp earthen spike shot upward.
Squelch!
The spike pierced Cook's body. He howled in pain, clutching the wounded area and tearing at his own flesh. Blood and tissue spilled as he yanked the spike free with raw strength.
With a feral roar, Cook leapt toward Dominica, his movements wild and unrefined.
"Die!"
Kaizen, observing the battle from a distance, evaluated Cook's abilities.
"It's undeniable—Cook is a legitimate A-rank Nen user," he thought.
"Aura, speed, strength, reaction, Nen techniques… all at the level of a solid A-rank practitioner.
"But compared to Dominica, the gap is obvious.
"His individual strength doesn't measure up to the top members of the Kute Gang of Thieves. Among A-rank Nen users, he's likely at the bottom.
"He's comparable to some of the weaker Floor Masters of Heavens Arena.
"But he's still someone I can't handle right now—not unless he's already gravely injured."
Kaizen remembered Zeno's words:
"The gap between individuals at the same level can be even greater than the gap between entirely different levels of strength."
Boom!
Cook was sent flying once again.
The next moment, his aura shifted.
It grew darker, more chaotic—a clear sign of further alienation. He now fought like a frenzied beast, charging at Dominica with reckless abandon.
"Cook's fighting skills are basic at best," Kaizen analyzed. "I'm not sure if this is a trait of the Taris Kingdom's Nen users, or if Cook is just particularly inept in this area.
"If he had the combat prowess of someone like Raiken, he'd be far more dangerous for Dominica."
The battle in the ring appeared intense. But for most of the audience, fear and anxiety consumed their attention.
What began as a routine airship journey had turned into a nightmare. The entire airship had been seized—not by ordinary criminals, but by monstrous beings.
For the passengers, uncertainty loomed over their fates.
Only a small handful, either braver or resigned to their circumstances, focused on the fight in the arena.
"Time to end this," Dominica declared coldly.
Earthen pillars erupted from the ground, immobilizing Cook. At the same time, a massive clump of hardened soil materialized in the air, crashing down with crushing force.
Boom!
Cook was pinned beneath the enormous weight.
Dominica strode toward him. A colossal axe formed from clay appeared in her hands. With precision and strength, she swung it down onto Cook's neck.
Swoosh!
Cook's head flew into the air, his eyes wide with disbelief, his mouth agape as though voicing his unwillingness to die.
Even headless, Cook's body twitched violently, driven by instinct and alien vitality. But it posed no threat to Dominica, who methodically crushed the remaining pieces.
"The battle is over!"
Words materialized in the air above the arena, signaling Dominica's victory.
She turned her gaze to Crawford.
"Crawford," she said with icy calm, "now I can answer your question.
"The reason I wasn't concerned about my safety—why I asked about your plans instead—is simple:
"I never considered you a threat.
"You, and the others like you, are nothing more than failures.
"Monsters from Taris Kingdom? Freaks. Bugs.
"Your destiny is death and failure.
"Struggle all you like, it won't change your fate.
"So what if you have four of you? Compared to normal Nen users, you're vastly inferior. You're just trash that should never have existed."
Crawford's face darkened, fury barely restrained.
"Dominica, you're so proud of yourself," he spat. "But without that power, you'd have been dead long ago! You're no better than us—you rely on external tools to survive!"
"And yet," Dominica replied with a smirk, "I do have it. I can use it. What can you do about that?
"Excuses are for the weak. The truth is, you and your kingdom are too pathetic to matter."
As Dominica returned to the waiting area, a beam of light descended to repair the arena floor, its damage vanishing rapidly.
A countdown appeared, marking a thirty-minute break before the next match.
Crawford turned to Charlotte, his expression grim.
"Charlotte," he said sharply. "You saw Dominica's abilities just now.
"How confident are you in taking her down?"
Charlotte hesitated, her confidence wavering. Dominica's overwhelming strength had left a deep impression, and Cook's loss had only amplified her doubts.
"Crawford…" Charlotte began hesitantly, but Kaizen interrupted.
"Wait, I noticed something about Dominica's ability."
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