Chapter 22: Floor Master X Key Battle
When Ryker heard the details of the information, he couldn't help but wonder if he had either crossed into the wrong world or if there were other transmigrators here.
The moment he learned about these details, an image from his past life immediately came to mind: a certain big-nosed martial arts superstar.
Curious and unsettled, Ryker spent a considerable amount of money to acquire recordings of this "Jackie Chan" competitor's matches.
These weren't just any recordings—they were the kind where you could see an opponent's aura, rumored to be captured using a nen-infused camera. Naturally, they came at a high price.
But once he started watching, he was utterly shocked. This Jackie Chan not only had an outrageous backstory but also an 80% resemblance to the superstar he remembered.
What stood out most was the man's weapons of choice: a mop and a folding chair.
The sheer absurdity of such unorthodox weaponry left Ryker wide-eyed. In his opinion, only Shizuku, the naturally ditzy big-eyed girl from the Phantom Troupe with her vacuum cleaner, could compare in eccentricity.
Back in his previous life, Shizuku had been his favorite among the few female members of the Phantom Troupe.
As for the others—like Machi—her newer design lacked the same allure as her old blue-haired look, and her sixth sense was far too sharp to consider for a waifu material.
Pakunoda? Her abilities also made her unsuitable for marriage. And in the new version, her exaggerated features were a turn-off.
But enough digression—let's return to Jackie Chan.
Ryker could confirm one thing: Jackie Chan's nen abilities revolved around his unique weapons.
Based on available intel, it was highly likely that this man was an Enhancement Type nen user, enhancing those weapons specifically. However, there was a slim chance he could also be a Specialist.
In the match footage, Ryker observed the weapons glowing with a powerful aura whenever Jackie Chan fought.
From his analysis, the amount of nen infused into those weapons far exceeded the levels the man himself should naturally possess.
This led Ryker to two conclusions :-
1. Why would someone choose unwieldy and relatively harmless objects like furniture as weapons over more conventional choices like swords or spears?
2. Jackie Chan had almost no kill records—at least none documented in his battles at Heaven's Arena.
Combining these points, it was possible that the man's nen ability required a restriction, such as not being able to kill, thus necessitating the use of non-lethal weapons.
Alternatively, perhaps his nen ability worked such that the less lethal his weapon, the stronger the aura he could infuse into it.
These were just theories, however. The truth could only be discerned during a direct battle.
Still, Ryker's analysis of the match footage made one thing clear: this fight was going to be a tough one.
Jackie Chan's nen output, particularly when channeled into his weapons, surpassed anything Ryker had encountered before.
And this time, Jackie Chan would undoubtedly study Ryker's past matches to prepare.
Having reached this stage, most of Ryker's cards were already laid bare.
He had relied purely on his foundational training and experience in prior battles, leveraging his Sharingan and dual nen affinities to make up for his lack of a unique nen ability.
But to win this battle, he needed something unexpected—something he hadn't shown before.
Ryker did have a trump card, but he was torn about whether to reveal it in such a public setting.
Using it would expose him, and even he wasn't entirely sure how effective it would be. In this world, the stronger and more resolute one's spirit, the stronger their nen.
If he gambled on his trump card and it failed, it would be a disastrous loss.
But overthinking wasn't going to help now. The battlefield was unpredictable. Plans were just plans. Whether he could use his ace depended on the opportunities the fight presented.
.........
The day of the match arrived. The arena was packed to the brim. Floor Master challenges were rare events, and the audience's excitement had reached its peak.
With the announcer's voice echoing through the arena, both fighters emerged from the tunnel, one after the other.
"First, entering the arena is the Heaven's Arena's rising star! A super rookie who's gone from dark horse to legend in record time—the Masked Killer, Ryker!"
As Ryker walked out of the tunnel, he nearly tripped upon hearing the announcer.
'What the hell kind of nickname is that? If I find out who came up with it, I'll kill them!'
After introducing Ryker, the announcer moved on to the highlight of the match: the Floor Master's entrance.
"Now, stepping onto the stage is our reigning Floor Master, known for his unique combat style and eccentric weaponry—the one and only Jackie Chan! No further introduction is needed. Just watch his performance!"
.........
Meanwhile, in the audience, Illumi and Tsubone had arrived on time.
In another corner of the stands, Biscuit and Wing were also present.
Biscuit, however, looked frustrated. Recent events had drawn some unwanted attention to her, and she knew Tsubone was watching her.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't hesitate to deal with someone tailing her. But this time, things were complicated.
She suspected Ryker's identity, and the last thing she wanted was to provoke unnecessary trouble with the Zoldyck family.
Moreover, she wasn't alone—she had Wing with her. In a worst-case scenario, she was confident in her ability to protect herself but couldn't guarantee Wing's safety.
Thus, she had to maintain a low profile, playing the role of a harmless little girl and suppressing her urges to do what she wanted—like buying magazines featuring handsome, muscular men.
..........
Back on the stage, all attention was on the fighters. Both Ryker and Jackie Chan had adjusted themselves to peak condition.
The arena fell silent as the referee prepared to start the match. The tension was palpable.
After confirming with both fighters, the referee raised his hand and then brought it down with a shout:
"Begin the match!"
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