Wendy wanted to intervene.
However, bound by the rules of Kolossim, she was unable to attack the audience.
All she could do was watch as the spectators succumbed to the seeds of death planted in their minds, transforming into part of the monstrous creation—just like those people in the small town.
A disheveled, middle-aged man glanced at the stands. A strange daze clouded his gaze.
Kaizen looked away.
The scene felt eerily familiar to him.
In the original events, Hisoka and Chrollo fought at Heavens Arena.
Hisoka—a true psychopath, no doubt—was willing to go to any lengths to experience the thrill of battle. He'd sought out numerous opponents: Gon, Killua, Illumi, and Chrollo. Each intrigued him in their own way.
To face Chrollo one-on-one, Hisoka went so far as to join the Phantom Troupe. He even carried out various tasks for the Troupe—before eventually betraying them.
After the Yorknew City incident, Chrollo finally agreed to Hisoka's request for a duel.
Once his Nen abilities were restored, Chrollo met Hisoka at Heavens Arena.
By then, Chrollo had become a Floor Master, and the two engaged in a fierce battle.
Chrollo emerged victorious, and Hisoka died at his hands.
But using his Bungee Gum ability and meticulous planning, Hisoka managed to restart his heart and breathing. Even so, his injuries were grave.
The loss deeply unsettled him.
In the aftermath, Hisoka sought revenge by targeting the Phantom Troupe's members. He ambushed Shalnark and Kortopi, killing them in a bathroom—earning him the infamous title "God of War in the Toilet."
Hisoka's frustration stemmed from Chrollo's strategic approach. Chrollo had prepared extensively, borrowing abilities from others and manipulating the battle to his advantage.
From Hisoka's perspective, the fight felt unfair—devoid of the spontaneity he craved.
But in combat, fairness is a luxury.
Chrollo's strength lies in preparation. He meticulously gathers intelligence on his opponents, steals abilities with his Skill Hunter, and employs every possible tactic to ensure victory.
During their duel, he even turned the audience into living bombs.
That's just Chrollo's way.
Hisoka, on the other hand, thrives in unplanned encounters. He excels in improvisation, relying on instinct rather than strategy.
Perhaps Hisoka had hoped for a more spontaneous fight with Chrollo.
But Chrollo wasn't about to give him that.
In the Phantom Troupe, it's always about pragmatism.
Chrollo's response seemed clear:
'I didn't want this fight. You insisted. Fine, but we'll do it my way—or not at all.'
Both men left that battle unsatisfied.
Back at the Kolossim, the carnage continued. Almost everyone in the audience was dead, and a massive monster loomed over the arena.
Charlotte's eyes lit up.
"Come on!" she shouted, brimming with excitement.
But then—
Thunk!
A long, massive spear impaled Charlotte, piercing her from back to front.
Dominica snapped her fingers.
Boom!
The spear exploded, consuming Charlotte in the blast.
Charlotte collapsed, her wide eyes filled with reluctance.
"Just… a little more…"
But it wasn't enough.
Charlotte was dead, and yet Dominica remained on high alert. The monster that had formed from the audience now turned its focus toward the arena, its sights locked on her.
"Die!"
A wave of murderous intent washed over Dominica.
She clenched a lump of earth in her hand, biting down hard and swallowing it.
"Eat this… and my strength will return!"
Kaizen observed Dominica closely. He noticed that her recovery was slower than usual. The restorative effects of consuming earth had diminished significantly.
Over the past few days, Dominica had faced relentless battles.
From the monstrous girl in the small town to the balloon-headed abomination in the city, she had pushed herself to the limit.
If not for Kaizen stepping in to handle the monster fish, Dominica's situation might have been far worse.
Now, she faced the death-fueled monster from the audience.
Dominica's resilience and talent for attrition warfare were undeniable. But her opponent wasn't weak. The prolonged battles had taken their toll.
Boom!
A massive, muddy palm materialized, slamming into the monster and reducing it to pulp.
As a beam of light descended, Dominica returned to the players' area.
Without a word, she sat in a corner, closed her eyes, and began recovering.
Across the room, Crawford and Ito Hughes exchanged glances, entirely unfazed by Charlotte's demise. Their focus remained on Dominica.
"She's severely drained," Ito said, a sly grin on his face. "Her condition has dropped significantly."
"I might even win this next match without needing your help."
Crawford nodded.
"Then go," he said. "Kill her."
Ito's smug expression faltered.
He had hoped to manipulate Crawford into fighting the third battle instead.
"Coward," he muttered under his breath, resentment flickering in his eyes.
The countdown ended.
Dominica opened her eyes and stood. The short rest hadn't been enough to fully recover. But the rules of Kolossim couldn't be changed.
Then, a figure rose to his feet.
"I'll take this fight."
All eyes turned toward the middle-aged man.
"I don't fully understand what's happening here," he said, his voice steady. "But if it weren't for you, I'd have died with the others."
"So, let me take this one."
He paused, glancing at Kaizen and Wendy.
"I won't win. But I can buy you some time.
"Rest. Regain your strength."
Then, he added, "I only have one request…"
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