Seven days later, Leo returned from the forest.
The harvest from these seven days of hunting was decent, and his Rank increased to 48 (30%).
There were not many large creatures left in the forest, and the efficiency was far worse than before, but it was better than nothing.
He returned to his room, and just as he washed off the dust from his body, there was another knock at the door.
Leo opened the door while drying his hair.
Hisoka stood outside the door with his usual smile, though this time, his eyes held a bit more playfulness.
"Mr. Leo, you really are ruthless~ The bruise on my back still hasn't fully faded."
Leo looked at him and remained silent for a full half-minute.
"I give up."
He finally said.
"You have the thickest skin I have ever seen."
"Thanks for the compliment~"
Hisoka accepted it gladly.
"Do you want to fight that much?"
"It is one of the reasons I live."
Leo closed his eyes.
He knew that if he did not satisfy Hisoka's obsession, this guy would haunt him like a ghost until the end of time.
"Fine."
He opened his eyes, his tone calm.
"Since you are in such a hurry to die, I will grant your wish."
Hisoka's golden pupils constricted suddenly, and the excitement almost spilled out of them.
He licked the corner of his mouth, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"Great... This kind of battle is the meaning of my existence. Death? It is merely a sweet seasoning."
The two walked one after another toward the registration desk on the 200th floor.
The staff member clearly recognized Hisoka—this was the man who had fought three matches on the 200th floor in the last few months, winning all by KO, and every time, his opponent was killed on the ring.
Seeing Hisoka back, the staff member subconsciously became nervous.
"Are you two here to register for a match?"
He asked cautiously.
"Yes."
Leo took the form and filled it out quickly.
Hisoka also took one and hummed an out-of-tune melody while filling it out.
After the forms were submitted, the staff member operated the System.
"The results will be sent to the electronic screens in your rooms. Also, the rules of the 200th floor are..."
"I know."
Leo interrupted him and turned to look at Hisoka.
"Are you satisfied now? Can you stop pestering me?"
Hisoka nodded, smiling brightly.
"No problem~ I will disappear now."
Both left separately.
Three minutes later, the elevator door opened with a "ding."
Uvogin walked out with a confident look on his face.
This young martial artist had just achieved victory on the 190th floor and had climbed all the way up with an undefeated record.
He stepped into the Domain of the 200th floor with high spirits.
He looked around and found the corridor empty—
"Not bad."
Uvogin thought to himself and walked straight to the registration desk.
He had no idea what he had just missed.
After getting rid of Hisoka, Leo felt the air in the Heavens Arena was much fresher.
He returned to his room, and not long after sitting down, the electronic screen on the wall lit up.
[Battle Date Confirmed!]
Date: January 26th, 2:00 PM
230th Floor Ring.
"Tomorrow afternoon... That's fine."
He turned off the screen and began to adjust his state.
Meanwhile, in Hisoka's room.
The electronic screen lit up.
[Battle Date Confirmed!]
Date: January 27th, 3:00 PM
225th Floor Ring.
Hisoka looked at the screen, curling the corners of his mouth in satisfaction.
He walked into the bathroom with light, mincing steps, turned on the shower, and started bathing while humming an off-key song.
In his mind, he was already rehearsing the battle with Leo—every move, every technique, every possible transition between offense and defense, and the moment he would finally pluck the fruit.
Just imagining it made him tremble with excitement.
The next afternoon at 1:40 PM.
230th Floor Ring, contestant tunnel.
Sophia said to Leo.
"Master, good luck."
"Mm."
Leo nodded and walked onto the ring.
His opponent was already waiting on the stage—a giant weighing at least two hundred kilograms, codenamed "Heavy Shield" Barton, an Enhancer, whose ability was to convert Nen into an exaggerated layer of fat defense, said to be able to withstand gunfire.
Leo raised an eyebrow and thought to himself.
Not Hisoka? Then which poor soul would be Hisoka's opponent...
The referee announced the start.
The battle had no suspense.
Leo only used basic "Ken" and martial arts, quickly finding the flaw in Barton's defense, and struck a straight punch into his ribs.
Barton groaned, his massive body crashed to the ground, unable to get back up.
After counting, the referee announced Leo as the winner.
The entire match took one minute and seventeen seconds.
When Leo walked off the ring, Sophia came up to meet him.
"Master didn't even break a sweat."
"The opponent was too weak."
Leo shook his head.
"Let's go, let's head back."
What they didn't know was that at this moment, Hisoka was staying in his room, quietly adjusting his state.
He did not go out, did not cause trouble—he wanted to greet the battle with Leo in the most perfect condition.
Time passed while waiting.
January 27th, 2:50 PM.
Hisoka changed into a set of deep purple tights, his makeup meticulously reapplied, the star and teardrop perfectly symmetrical.
He hummed a song as he walked out of the room and took the elevator to the 225th floor.
At 2:55 PM, he walked into the contestant tunnel.
Then he froze.
By the wall inside the tunnel, Leo was leaning there, arms crossed, seemingly waiting for someone.
Hisoka's eyes lit up instantly, and a joyful smile bloomed on his face.
"Mmhmm~ Mr. Leo, were you unable to wait to fight me to your heart's content? I'm so happy!"
Leo looked at him with a somewhat subtle expression on his face.
"Unfortunately."
He said slowly.
"Your opponent today is not me."
Hisoka froze completely.
"My match was finished yesterday."
Leo continued.
"It seems your luck isn't very good; the Arena didn't schedule us as opponents."
Hisoka stood in place, motionless.
Time seemed to have frozen, and the tunnel was so quiet that one could hear the faint roar from the distant ring.
Two minutes, a full two minutes, Hisoka did not speak, did not move, and even his breathing was barely audible.
Leo looked at his appearance and, in the end, couldn't help but chuckle.
"Enjoy your duel."
He stood up straight and patted Hisoka on the shoulder.
"Next time for sure, next time for sure."
Hisoka still did not react.
Leo shook his head and turned to leave the tunnel.
Not until Leo's figure completely disappeared did Hisoka slowly turn his eyeballs to look toward the ring at the end of the tunnel.
There was no expression on his face, no smile, no anger, no disappointment—nothing at all, empty like a doll.
Then, he took a step.
Step by step, walking toward the ring.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty tunnel, rhythmic, steady, yet revealing a certain unsettling oppression.
The light from the end of the tunnel shone in.
Hisoka's figure was swallowed by that white light.