Kaizen and Zeno changed into new clothes that blended more seamlessly with the worn, tattered styles of teor City. Their goal was to attract as little attention as possible.
"Parker, lead the way," Zeno instructed, his voice calm but commanding.
Without further conversation, the three began their journey toward the old garbage district.
Kaizen cast a glance at the crystal sphere he carried. Slowly, it was absorbing the aura of the area, gathering the essence of teor City bit by bit. He smiled to himself, a glint of excitent in his eyes.
Specialists had a distinct advantage when it ca to combat versatility. The unique nature of their abilities allowed them to tailor their attacks to match different kinds of enemies—sothing not easily achieved by other Nen users.
For example, Uvogin from the Phantom Troupe excelled at brute force. But with his own Nen beast, Raiken, Kaizen believed he could match or even surpass Uvogin’s power soday. As long as he provided Raiken with enough aura, it could rival Uvogin’s raw might.
And in a different situation, facing a new opponent, Kaizen could summon Killer Queen—another beast capable of explosive attacks—fueled by the sa level of aura. His strength didn’t lie only in creating powerful entities but in his ability to switch between them effortlessly. A single thought was all it took to change strategies.
For soone like Uvogin, gaining that kind of adaptability would be a herculean task. It would require painstaking training and extensive sacrifices. But for Kaizen, this adaptability ca naturally.
This was where Kastro, the warrior Hisoka dismissed, had gone wrong. His developnt was too rigid—unable to break free from his initial skillset to evolve. Hisoka’s disappointnt with Kastro’s abilities was the reason he killed him.
Not all Specialists had Kaizen’s unique edge, though. His power leaned toward Specialization, giving him even more versatility. And unlike most, Kaizen had the advantage of a ti traveler’s knowledge, having mories of events from another life.
"We’re here," Parker announced, halting abruptly.
Kaizen looked ahead. Before them lood a massive garbage heap, reeking of decay and abandonnt. The stench of centuries-old refuse filled the air. Shadows of people crawled across the mountain of junk, scavenging for anything of value.
Despite the presence of Kaizen and his companions, the scavengers barely reacted, their eyes hollow and devoid of life. They moved chanically, like soulless automatons. Even Zeno, who had dealt with the dark underbelly of teor City for years, was montarily taken aback.
The Zoldycks were familiar with teor City’s underground dealings. But even Zeno hadn’t expected this grim, eerie scene on its outskirts.
A thin, pale youth caught Kaizen’s attention. The boy rummaged through a pile of unidentifiable black sludge, inspecting it carefully. After a mont, he stuffed a piece of the filth into his mouth and began to chew. Dark liquid oozed from the corners of his mouth, staining his lips and shirt.
Suddenly—
Bang!
The boy collapsed without warning, his body limp on the ground.
At the sound of his fall, the other scavengers stopped their search and slowly gathered around the lifeless boy.
Without hesitation, they began devouring his body.
One bite. Two bites. Three bites. Blood stained their faces and hands, and the tallic stench filled the air. Yet their expressions remained disturbingly blank—neither satisfaction nor disgust flickered across their faces.
They ate chanically, without greed or desperation. It was unlike the frenzied hunger of people starving during a crisis. Instead, it felt cold and robotic, as if hunger was simply another function their bodies perford.
Watching this, Kaizen felt an unsettling chill crawl up his spine. These people didn’t seem human. They were more like lifeless machines, running on instinct alone.
Even Zeno was shaken by the sight. He had dealt with monsters and assassins, but this was different. This was beyond cruelty—this was emptiness.
"This... is what it must feel like to be truly abandoned by the world," Kaizen whispered, the weight of the scene sinking in.
When the scavengers finished eating, they turned away, their faces still devoid of emotion. So wandered down the heap of trash, curled up in random spots, and fell asleep without a care, like animals seeking rest after a al. Others continued their search among the debris, indifferent to the presence of Kaizen and his companions.
Parker’s face was tight with emotion. He had seen this part of teor City before, but the horror never diminished. No matter how often he witnessed it, it always stirred a sense of helplessness within him. Even the elders of teor City couldn’t change what happened here.
"Parker, let’s keep moving," Kaizen said quietly.
The three pressed on, venturing deeper into the old garbage district. Everywhere they looked, the scenes were the sa—lifeless figures scavenging, eating, and sleeping.
Kaizen glanced at the crystal sphere. It continued to absorb the aura of the area, the progress steady with no sign of slowing. He had no intention of leaving until the sphere was fully charged.
His previous experiences had taught him a crucial lesson about the nature of his ability: observation was the key. The more he observed, the stronger the sphere beca.
It had taken him only a month to map out the aura of the Zoldyck Manor. But Heavens Arena had been more challenging—its size and complexity required more ti to understand.
teor City, however, was proving to be even more vast and enigmatic.
"I wonder how long it’ll take to fill this crystal," Kaizen murmured to himself.
Just then—
Waaaaaah!
A baby’s cry pierced the oppressive silence.
Kaizen, Zeno, and Parker stopped in their tracks.
The cry was faint but distinct, coming from a nearby pile of freshly dumped garbage.
Without a word, Kaizen moved toward the sound, the others following closely behind. They peered into the heap, where the baby’s cries grew louder and more desperate.
And there, amidst the rotting waste, they found the source of the noise—
A tiny, wriggling infant, half-buried in the filth.
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