Kaizen had his reservations about Hisoka's scoring system.
The first issue was that Hisoka's evaluations might not solely reflect strength but rather his personal whims and fascination with surprises. Hisoka sought battles that thrilled him, ones that carried an air of unpredictability. If his scoring was based on the "surprise factor," it didn't necessarily equate to the actual strength of those being assessed.
The second issue was the reliability of Hisoka's judgments. Nen wasn't a straightforward power system, it wasn't just about raw aura. Strength encompassed temperament, mastery of skills, unique abilities, and even the strategic use of Nen tools or spirits. Aura could also be hidden. Unless deliberately revealed, even an experienced user like Kaizen couldn't gauge it perfectly.
Nen was far from omnipotent.
Tools, tactics, and environmental advantages could drastically sway outcomes. For instance, during their battle with Crawford and his team, Dominica's Kolossim had been critical. Without it, Kaizen and his team would have likely lost. Dominica had managed to win a three-on-one duel, but against all four opponents at once, even she would have fallen.
Still, Kaizen had to admit that Hisoka had an exceptional eye. For instance, he'd quickly noticed Biscuit Krueger's potential when they first met. However, even Hisoka couldn't pinpoint the full extent of her abilities.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Kaizen noticed one of Gelu's disciples open a small container. A faint, peculiar scent wafted out, causing the nearby wildlife to scatter. Strangely, the group remained unaffected.
Gelu then unfurled a map of the Talis Kingdom, pointing to a marked red dot.
"Kerr Prison," Gelu announced. "That's our first target. According to the map, we'll arrive in about an hour. Are you ready?"
Gelu's gaze shifted to one of her disciples, Cheryl, the only A-level Nen user among them.
"I'm ready, teacher," Cheryl replied with confidence.
"Good."
...
An hour later, they reached Kerr Prison.
The facility was massive, with towering walls and a sunken interior. An ominous, oppressive aura radiated from within, similar to what Kaizen had felt in Kolossim before.
The entire prison seemed to have fallen. There wasn't a trace of normal life inside.
Kaizen observed Gelu and Cheryl closely. It was evident they didn't plan to charge in recklessly. So far, Gelu hadn't involved Kaizen or Wendy in any direct battles. She seemed capable of handling the situation on her own.
Cheryl stepped forward and materialized a drone-like Nen construct. Carefully, she loaded a strange liquid into the device before sending it skyward. Hovering over the prison, the drone released a fine mist that gradually blanketed the area.
Kaizen watched as the eerie aura surrounding Kerr Prison began to dissipate, melting away under the mist's influence.
Moments later, inhuman roars echoed from within.
Figures emerged from the prison, grotesque and monstrous, exuding an overwhelming aura. They resembled those Kaizen had encountered before but seemed far more alien and dangerous.
"This is what complete alienation looks like," Kaizen muttered, recalling Cook and Charlotte's transformations in Kolossim. "These are no longer humans—they're pure monsters."
The creatures radiated a terrifying presence, their strength far surpassing typical A-level Nen users. What made them even more dangerous was their sheer number.
Gelu acted swiftly, retrieving a glass bottle filled with a viscous purple liquid. With precision, she hurled it at one of the monsters.
Crash!
The bottle shattered on impact, the liquid splattering across the creature's body. A hissing sound followed as blue smoke rose from the corroded flesh, spreading rapidly.
The monster howled in agony, collapsing to the ground.
Gelu didn't hesitate, pulling out more bottles and launching them at the advancing creatures.
One monster tried to deflect a bottle with its tentacles, only for it to burst on contact, drenching it in the deadly liquid. Another attempted to hurl a stone to intercept, but the bottle seemed guided by an unseen force, dodging the projectile and striking its target.
Within moments, Gelu's precision and poison had eliminated every monster. Not a single one managed to reach Kaizen or the others.
As the prison fell silent, Gelu marked the map with a triumphant stroke.
"Kerr Prison is cleared," she declared. "We'll conduct a search of the area for the next three days, splitting into teams. Afterward, we'll regroup here."
Turning to Kaizen and Wendy, Gelu continued, "You two will team up with Kaka for this operation."
Kaizen exchanged a glance with Wendy before nodding. The mission was only beginning.
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