The battle ended.
Ulquiorra became the star of the show, the most popular figure in Heaven's Arena.
His fighting style was too cool.
His oppressive aura was overwhelming.
He broke out from the "Supernova" pack and earned the title "Demon King"!
The audience's evaluation of Ulquiorra skyrocketed.
Everyone screamed that the ticket price was worth it.
Hisoka, the former hot topic, was now a drowned rat no one cared about.
He didn't even have the strength to stand up.
The crowd dispersed.
Finally.
A figure walked up to him.
"What an eye-opening match. I didn't expect you to lose so badly. But here's some bad news: your arm is gone."
"I can heal you, but the fee is double."
Machi stood before Hisoka, shamelessly extorting him while he was down.
"Fine."
Hisoka squeezed the word through his teeth, lying on the floor.
"If you can't pay later, the consequences will be dire."
Machi helped him up and took him to his room for treatment.
She was also surprised. Heaven's Arena produced such a talented monster.
Inviting him to the Phantom Troupe would be a great merit.
But his personality was weird and unpredictable.
She might end up like Hisoka.
So Machi stopped her dangerous thought. Let the Boss handle it. She would report everything truthfully.
The Following Days.
Life returned to routine.
After Hisoka and Kastro, there were no interesting opponents on Floor 200.
Ryker tried to get info on higher-ranked Floor Masters, but it was classified.
Other fighters couldn't query Ryker's data either.
Fine.
Thought I could farm more traits, but guess not.
Hisoka was basically the ceiling of active fighters here.
Who knew when the others would show up?
Next came Gon and Killua's matches.
Gon won easily. Then he matched against... Saitama.
Killua defeated his opponent, securing 9 consecutive wins. But no new opponents appeared.
Only Ulquiorra secured the Floor Master title.
As for the Battle Olympia? It was held last year. Next one in 3 years.
WTF.
Ryker twitched.
Thanks for nothing.
So after farming a bit longer, they decided to leave.
"Brother Ryker, we're done here. Want to go home together? I want to show Aunt Mito my Hunter License!"
Gon was excited. He hadn't been home in half a year.
"I want to see where you grew up too!" Killua added.
Canary returned to the team, shocked by the matches. Her view of the arena was refreshed.
"Home? Gon, Killua, go to Whale Island for me. Take this money to Aunt Mito and Uncle Corn."
Ryker handed over his bank card.
He accumulated over 200 million Jenny here. A small fortune.
"Brother Ryker?!"
Gon was stunned. He thought they were going together.
"Brother Ryker has his own plans. Let's go first, Gon!" Killua said sensibly.
"Okay. But promise to meet us in Yorknew City! Right?"
Gon cheered up. Yorknew wasn't far away. They would reunite with Kurapika and Leorio.
"Of course. Be safe. See you then. Take this money as my gift."
Ryker smiled.
He was a transmigrator, but he owed Whale Island a debt of gratitude. Aunt Mito raised him. Now that he was capable, he had to repay them.
"We promise! See you then, Brother Ryker!"
Gon shook Ryker's hand.
"Killua, take care of Gon. Bye, Canary. Let's go."
Ryker waved goodbye.
"Don't worry, Brother Ryker!"
Killua's eyes were red. Ryker was his most important friend/mentor.
Ryker didn't have time for Whale Island.
As a transmigrator, he knew the future.
The Chimera Ant disaster was coming. He had things to do.
His existence changed the timeline, so he needed absolute control over the situation.
Gon and Killua would be safe. They'd probably bring the Greed Island game card out.
Ryker's destination:
Meteor City.
District 9.
A region made entirely of trash mountains.
For 1500 years, it was a dumping ground. 8 million people lived here, on land the size of the Republic of Padokea.
Everything was tradeable here. Guns, drugs, women, bodies, even children.
The stench was nauseating.
Trash mountains piled high. Flies and carrion birds everywhere. People scavenged like animals.
An abandoned world. No country governed it.
It was the world's public toilet.
The inhabitants were the discarded ones.
Seeing Ryker and Canary, the scavengers scurried away like rats.
Ryker scanned them.
Mostly White/Green traits. Plus [Disease], [Infection], [Short Lifespan].
Few lived past 30.
"Sir... it's always like this. Outer zones are for the lowest scavengers. The rich mafia occupy the center with clean water."
"This place is ruled by the Council of Elders. They don't reject outsiders, but interfering with them is dangerous."
Canary explained everything.
She grew up here. She knew the rules.
This was why Ryker brought her.
They spent a week touring District 9.
Mostly ordinary people.
But remember, the Phantom Troupe came from here. The Zoldyck matriarch Kikyo came from here.
It was a guppy pond. Weak die young. Strong survive.
"Okay, you can go back now, Canary. Thanks for the trip."
"I... Yes, Lord Ryker. Here is all the info I collected. Please be careful of infection and poison... Call me if anything happens!"
Canary bowed deeply and handed him a booklet.
"Sure. Go back. I understand."
Ryker sent her away.
His next move was dangerous. Solo was better.
Canary served her purpose. No need to involve her further.
Ryker was destined to stand at the top of the world.
The Hunter World was his trait supplier.
So...
This backyard needed management.
Meteor City was a natural filter. Only strong traits survived.
Ryker wouldn't let this fat meat go.
Becoming the Shadow King of Meteor City. That was the plan.
After Canary left, Ryker found a broken house and activated his ability.
Thunder Nen Beast · Red!
With [Psychokinetic Nen], the range expanded to 50km!
The beast had low-level AI and acted on preset commands.
It was a mobile power bank made of lightning.
As Ryker grew, it grew.
Dirty work... shouldn't be done by himself.
Especially becoming a focal point.
Gun hits the bird that pokes its head out.
The Shadow Boss needed a new persona.
This dark city waited for salvation.
They craved a Savior.
So...
The Savior has arrived!
District 9, Central Area.
Dilapidated skyscrapers. Better than the trash heaps.
Clean water and expensive soft bread existed here.
Surrounded by an iron fence.
Outside, scavengers gathered.
It was Tax Day.
Even picking trash required paying tax.
Living here required more courage than dying!
"Hehe! Damn trash! This isn't enough for this month's tax. Take him to the Meat Market!!"
A man with yellow hair and piercings kicked a skeletal scavenger.
Thugs dragged the scavenger away.
Meat Market = Human butchery.
Human meat was a luxury here. Only the rich could afford it.
"This idiot is useless! But the face is okay. Take her to the Black Den. After she's played to death, send her to the Meat Market!"
The Piercing Man looked at a numb woman wrapped in rags and laughed lewdly.
No one dared to speak. Everyone looked like terrified mice. Fear, unwillingness, despair.
The woman's eyes were empty. Dead inside.
"What cruel conduct."
Suddenly.
A tall figure walked over slowly. His voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the noise, heard by everyone.
Countless eyes turned.
White Arrancar outfit. Handsome face. A lock of curly hair on his forehead. A katana at his waist.
Tall, straight, clean.
Completely out of place in Meteor City.
"Who are you?"
Piercing Man stared warily. This guy wasn't a scavenger.
"My name is..."
Aizen Sōsuke!
Aizen Ryker smiled gentlemanly.
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