Chapter 20: Target X Rules
The crowd remained in high spirits even as the referee concluded the match.
After all, Ryker's opponent hadn't just been defeated—it was nothing short of a complete dismemberment.
The scene on the arena floor could only be described as brutal, even by the bloody standards of Heaven's Arena, where fatalities were not uncommon.
Competitors like Ryker, who aimed to kill their opponents in every match, were a rarity. Despite his departure from the arena, the audience showed no signs of dispersing.
The announcer, an enthusiastic young woman, was still hyping up Ryker, building anticipation for his next fight. Given his momentum and the application he had submitted, it was almost certain that his next match would be against a Floor Master.
For Heaven's Arena officials, this was a golden promotional opportunity.
The prospect of Ryker challenging a Floor Master was a massive draw for both spectators and gamblers, and the organization was keen to capitalize on it.
After all, ticket sales and bets were their main sources of revenue.
Meanwhile, in the audience, Tsubone, who had watched the entire match, felt both proud and awed by Ryker's growth.
"Master Ryker's improvement is terrifying," Tsubone mused. "He's already capable of defeating opponents at this level. If this were an assassination mission instead of a match, the victory would've been even easier.
"That final feint and the use of concealment—it was a perfect dissection of his opponent's mindset and tendencies."
"Ryker has grown stronger again, hasn't he?"
"Yes, Master Illumi. However, I suggest you refrain from addressing him by name directly in the future. It would be more appropriate to call him 'brother.'"
Elsewhere, in another corner of the audience, Biscuit Krueger, who had also watched the match, was visibly excited. Even her apprentice, Wing, noticed her enthusiasm.
"Master, what's gotten into you? Was that short fighter really that impressive?"
"Of course! Your talent is already extraordinary, but you're still far behind that kid. At least, for now."
"Master, how can you be so sure he's just a kid? Maybe he's just short. After all, he's wearing a mask, so it's impossible to tell."
Wing refrained from adding that it could also be an anomaly like his master herself.
"With my eye for talent? Don't underestimate me. I'm a Gem Hunter. I could never overlook such a rare gem.
Judging by his performance, he's no unpolished stone; he's already undergone some refinement. His foundation is solid. The only question is whether I can lure him over. Hehehe."
"Master, are you planning to take him as your apprentice?"
"I need to find a way to meet him first. What comes next can wait."
Meanwhile, the announcer was still speaking:
"After this match, our contender Ryker has achieved a ten-match winning streak, earning the right to challenge a Floor Master!
"Since stepping onto the 200th floor, Ryker has demonstrated immense strength and an unstoppable determination. We hope he can maintain his undefeated streak and go all-out in his next challenge. Let's all look forward to his next match!"
As for Ryker, after securing his victory, he had returned to his room and was reviewing the points he had earned.
He was satisfied with the outcome. This had been his toughest fight so far. In his previous match against Swain, he had won easily due to his opponent's misjudgment, never feeling truly at risk.
This time, however, he had taken significant risks to ensure his opponent's death. The strategy he had employed carried the highest stakes he'd faced yet.
It reminded him not to underestimate the local fighters who weren't mentioned in the original story. The world was vast, and its surprises many.
The points he had earned brought him within reach of acquiring Kamui, something he had been eagerly anticipating.
If the Floor Master's strength was on par with Warwick or Swain, he believed the fight wouldn't pose too much of a challenge, even if there were minor gaps in power.
Ryker decided that if necessary, he could target some gang members to make up any shortfall.
Even if the gangs were composed of ordinary people, their numbers could suffice. With his many enemies, wiping out a gang overnight wouldn't arouse much suspicion.
With that thought, Ryker turned his attention to a pressing question.
'System, I need you.'
[At your service]
'Why isn't the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan listed as an upgrade option? Does this mean I'll go blind after overusing my abilities?'
[Not at all. As mentioned before, all items have been localized and improved.]
[The Mangekyo Sharingan you acquire will not suffer from vision degradation. Moreover, because your Sharingan is activated using Nen, as long as your aura reserves are sufficient, it can be used indefinitely.]
'What about Susanoo? There's only one option for it. Whose version does it provide?'
[Susanoo can be unlocked multiple times, each instance corresponding to a different version. However, unlocking it requires having the respective Mangekyo abilities from the original series.]
[For example, to unlock Itachi Uchiha's Susanoo, you must first acquire Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu]
[Once unlocked, you gain the final form, complete with its unique weapons, such as the Yata Mirror and Totsuka Blade for Itachi, or the Indra's Arrow for Sasuke.]
'So the Susanoo variants are limited to known ones, and unclear abilities like Indra's aren't available?'
[Correct]
'That's expensive. How many more people do I have to kill to afford all this?'
Ryker pondered. The original story mentioned roughly 700 registered Nen users worldwide. However, given the Hunter universe's scope, the true number was likely far higher.
Even so, he realized he needed to focus on his immediate challenge—the match against the Floor Master in a month. Preparation was crucial.
Ryker resolved to thoroughly investigate his opponent beforehand to ensure nothing went wrong when victory was within his grasp.
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