Wendy carefully put on the necklace, only to realize a moment later that something felt off—it still carried Kaizen's body heat. Her face reddened slightly as she recalled that when she had handed the necklace to Kaizen earlier, it had carried her own warmth.
Dominica, sitting nearby, ate a small portion of food and drank some water before closing her eyes to rest against the mountain wall. Kaizen, too, closed his eyes, though he didn't fully relax. Instead, he extended his En cautiously, remaining on alert.
Wendy sat near the cave entrance, keeping watch over the surroundings while occasionally stealing glances at Kaizen. He had brought far too many surprises into her life.
At first, she had thought Kaizen was just another talented Nen user among her peers, much like herself. But the events following the death of the giant fish had shattered that assumption. Kaizen wasn't merely strong—he was extraordinary.
When Kaizen defeated Ito Xius, a seasoned A-rank Nen user, Wendy's disbelief had been overwhelming.
Nen rankings weren't absolute, a weaker Nen user could occasionally outwit and overpower a stronger opponent. Factors such as environment, experience, and strategy often played a significant role.
Yet, Ito Xius was a true combat specialist, even if severely injured before his fight with Kaizen. Wendy had assessed her own strength and known that even if she and two others joined forces, they would still fall short against Xius.
But Kaizen had dominated the fight.
His abilities were baffling.
"An immense aura—far greater than mine or even others of his level," Wendy thought to herself. "His Nen Beast ability is remarkable—switching places with the beast, with enemies, and even creating devastating explosions. His strategy, too, was flawless, laying traps that Ito Xius couldn't escape."
Kaizen wasn't just strong—he had the intellect to back it up. Wendy marveled at how he seemed capable of outmatching most B-rank Nen users.
"Is this what it means to be a true genius?" she wondered, feeling a tinge of inadequacy.
As she reflected, a sense of shame crept into her thoughts. She recalled the pride she had carried back in Fiora Kingdom, where people praised her endlessly. She'd always been a prodigy, the best among her peers, and had become complacent in her training.
Determination flashed in her eyes.
"I can't stay like this. If I want to catch up to Kaizen, I need to push myself harder than ever before."
The night passed without incident, and the first rays of dawn filtered into the cave.
Dominica was the first to wake, stretching lightly despite her still-healing injuries. Kaizen stood near the cave entrance, keeping watch. Wendy, meanwhile, was sound asleep, leaning against the wall.
Dominica approached Kaizen quietly.
"Thank you for staying vigilant," she said.
"You're too kind," Kaizen replied. "If it weren't for your efforts back on the airship, we might not even be here right now. Those attackers were vicious."
Dominica shook her head, her tone filled with self-reproach. "I underestimated them. Kolossim distracted me, and I let my guard down. If it weren't for your strength and quick thinking, we'd all have died because of my failure."
Kaizen didn't respond immediately, sensing Dominica's guilt. From her perspective, trusting Kaizen with the situation hadn't been her first instinct, so she naturally blamed herself for their predicament.
"Dominica," Kaizen said earnestly, "you don't need to shoulder all the blame. It was a team effort, and we survived."
Wendy stirred, waking just in time to hear the end of their conversation.
"Good morning," Dominica greeted her. "Let's eat something before we set out."
After a simple breakfast, Dominica laid out the plan.
"We'll head to the wreckage of the airship. I'll also try to contact the others. According to Crawford, there are more Nen users operating, and I don't know what the situation is elsewhere."
Wendy and Kaizen nodded in agreement. They understood that the destructive power of Nen users, especially those targeting ordinary people, could devastate entire cities if left unchecked.
The trio set off toward the airship wreckage, the wilderness around them eerily silent. The flames that had consumed the airship had long since died out, leaving only scorched debris. Dominica pulled out her phone and made a call, her voice low and serious as she relayed information to the other end.
Kaizen, meanwhile, focused on himself.
His progress had increased significantly. The experience from the battles had been invaluable, and he could feel his abilities evolving. Even his cursed blade seemed on the verge of a breakthrough.
As the call ended, Dominica returned to them, determination clear in her eyes. "Let's keep moving. We've got work to do."
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