"Over there!"
"Kill him!"
A dozen young monks charged at Kaizen.
At first, Kaizen hesitated slightly, concerned that these monks might use aura techniques. But it quickly became apparent that they didn't know how to wield aura at all.
"Pathetic," Akutagawa Ryunosuke muttered as he approached Kaizen. The fabric of his robe shifted unnaturally, transforming into razor-sharp claws.
Slash!
The sound was sharp and final. In the blink of an eye, the dozen monks who had charged Kaizen fell, pierced by Ryunosuke's ability.
"That's it?" Kaizen shook his head and turned to Ryunosuke, nodding slightly.
Kaizen thought to himself that while he could take down such opponents using Raiken's techniques, it wouldn't be as effortless as Ryunosuke's clean, devastating strike. This was the difference between their abilities.
On the other side of the temple, Silva's relentless attacks left the host of Ganlu Temple reeling. Silva's precision was unmatched, each move calculated to ensure no chance for the host to turn the tide.
Even with the enhancement from his Nen ability, defeat seemed inevitable for the host. He glanced desperately at the approaching young monks, their hurried steps offering a fleeting glimmer of hope.
"Master!" one of them called.
"Oh no!" another shouted, panic evident in their voice.
The host's eyes lit up. "Come here!" he barked.
Following his command, the young monks charged at Silva. But they were far too weak. Silva didn't even need to exert effort—just the shockwave from one of his punches sent them flying, lifeless.
"What about the other side?" the host demanded from one of the monks.
The young monk stammered, "There's a boy over there… but his strength is overwhelming. We're no match for him. Something invisible keeps attacking us, and we can't even see it."
Hearing this, the host's face darkened. Nen… he thought grimly. Regret seeped into his expression. He cursed himself for not training these monks in Nen. Even one or two with proper training might have helped him turn the tide.
The host's thoughts lingered on Kaizen. He assumed Kaizen's strength was exaggerated, likely relying on tricks rather than true mastery of aura. If only he'd had a nen-user among his disciples, things might have been different.
But regret was useless now.
The host's eyes flickered with desperation. Then, his face contorted unnaturally as he opened his mouth wide—far wider than any human should.
Crunch!
The host bit down savagely on one of the young monks. Blood and flesh vanished into his maw, and his previously faltering aura surged. The life force he absorbed stabilized his condition, momentarily reversing his injuries.
Silva frowned for the first time since arriving at the temple. His expression remained neutral, but a subtle glint in his eyes hinted at disdain.
"This is your trump card?" Silva muttered. But even this grotesque ability was not enough to change the outcome.
Boom!
A massive vibration shook the temple. Kaizen looked up, feeling a concentrated wave of energy above him. The oppressive presence seemed to focus solely on him. Yet, strangely, it didn't attack.
Moments later, Silva approached Kaizen, dragging an unconscious figure. In Silva's grasp was the shriveled body of the host, blood still dripping from his face.
"Kaizen, we're done here. Let's go," Silva said bluntly.
Kaizen's gaze lingered on the host's lifeless body. "Uncle Silva, there's something strange about him," Kaizen observed. The body wasn't decaying, nor did it carry the usual aura of death.
"His nen ability is unique," Silva explained. "He could borrow energy from Ganlu Temple's nen to sustain himself. But more than that, he consumed humans to replenish his strength and heal his injuries."
Kaizen's eyes widened. "Cannibalism? Living people?"
"Yes," Silva replied. "The monks in the temple were his food supply. By eating them, he could recover faster and even boost his Nen output temporarily."
Kaizen's mind raced. "So those monks who disappeared… he ate them? And the missing people from the nearby towns—those were all his doing too?"
Silva nodded solemnly.
"Altan's investigation turned up hundreds of cases. There are likely even more that were never discovered. He might have killed thousands."
Kaizen frowned. "What about the Nen energy in the temple? Should we deal with it?"
Silva shook his head. "No point. That Nen is tied to Ganlu Temple itself. Unless you destroy the entire temple, it can't be removed. Besides, it isn't necessary. I have other ways to handle this."
The two descended the mountain, returning to their parked vehicle. Silva tossed the host's corpse into the trunk before getting into the driver's seat. As they drove away, Silva made a call.
"I have the item," Silva said curtly before hanging up.
When they reached a nearby town, Silva stopped the car.
"Kaizen, head back to Heavens Arena. I'll handle the rest. Once I finish the delivery, I'll transfer your cut—10% of the bounty."
"Understood," Kaizen replied. He purchased a bus ticket and boarded shortly after.
Several hours later, Kaizen was back in Heavens Arena, ready to resume his training.
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