Emerging from the fighters' entrance, Illumi stepped into the ring.
Arena A was packed with spectators eagerly awaiting the fighters' entrance. Kansai was already standing in the ring, glaring fiercely at him.
"Greetings, everyone! Thank you for your patience!" The announcer's sweet, clear voice rang through the arena as she introduced the fighters. "Next up is a rather unique pairing."
"Both contestants are boys under the age of ten."
"But don't underestimate them!"
"These young fighters both delivered outstanding performances in their first-floor matches, climbing all the way to the 50th floor in one go."
"Now, let's watch some highlights from their VTRs."
The screen shifted, showing footage of Illumi and Kansai's first-floor matches.
The commentator's voice returned.
"As you can see, Illumi swiftly knocked down his opponent, a taekwondo black belt, with lightning-fast strikes."
"Meanwhile, Kansai sent a 90-kilogram behemoth flying out of the ring with a perfectly executed uppercut."
"Viewers, are you ready to place your bets?"
"Betting is now open!"
The commentator's sweet voice ignited the crowd's excitement as spectators frantically pressed the betting buttons in their hands.
The numbers beneath the fighters' avatars on the screen rapidly changed, quickly settling at 1560:1990, indicating Illumi held the advantage in betting odds.
Perhaps it was his clean, efficient movements that gave the impression he was holding back considerable reserves of strength.
"Are these people blind?" Kansai muttered, glaring at the numbers on the screen. "What makes that brat think he's better than me?"
With the betting closed, the referee approached the fighters to explain the rules.
"The match will be a three-round, three-minute bout using a points-based knockdown system."
After confirming both fighters were ready, the referee raised his right hand and swiftly brought it down.
"Begin!"
The instant the referee declared the start, Illumi lifted his foot and stepped forward.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Kansai immediately leaped backward, creating distance between himself and Illumi. He positioned himself at the edge of the ring, his expression wary.
"I didn't expect you to be so cautious," Illumi said, his foot pausing in midair before landing. "But the fact is, you were never a match for me from the start."
Illumi took another step forward, slowly approaching Kansai with an indifferent expression.
Illumi's calm demeanor and nonchalant expression put considerable pressure on Kansai.
"Hah!"
Kansai roared, charging forward and throwing a punch at Illumi's face.
A slight smirk played on Illumi's lips as he effortlessly dodged the punch by shifting his body to the left. His left foot shot out, kicking Kansai's lower body and twisting his foot.
"Huh?"
Kansai's punch missed, and he stumbled toward the ground, his face freezing in shock.
Thud!
Illumi delivered a swift chop to the back of Kansai's neck. Kansai's eyes rolled back as he collapsed unconscious to the ground.
"Clean hit!"
The referee raised his right hand, extending two fingers to signal that Illumi had scored two points for a successful attack and knockdown.
"Hey, referee," Illumi called out, standing beside the unconscious Kansai with his hands in his pockets. "The match is over."
The referee paused, then immediately rushed to Kansai's side to assess his condition.
"KO!"
After confirming Kansai's condition, the referee immediately declared Illumi the victor by knockout.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has ruled that Player Kansai is unable to continue. Player Illumi wins by knockout!"
The audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers as the commentator's voice boomed once more.
"Both competitors won their first matches with a single strike, yet the gap between them is astonishingly clear."
"Truly unexpected!"
"Player Illumi secures his first victory and advances smoothly to the 60th floor."
The commentator's impassioned announcement sent the crowd into another frenzy, with many shouting that they would follow Illumi to the 60th floor to witness his future matches.
By 9 PM, Illumi had fought three matches, each ending with a one-strike knockout, propelling him swiftly to the 90th floor.
Just one more victory would secure his advancement to the 100th floor.
"I could have had a room by now if I'd just won one more match," Illumi murmured, standing at the entrance of Heaven's Arena and gazing at the dimly lit night sky.
He shook his head slightly.
"Guess I'll find a hotel." Illumi scanned his surroundings, strolling along the main avenue and keeping an eye out for hotels.
His four consecutive victories after reaching the 50th floor had earned him total prize money of 500,000, enough to last him a long time, let alone cover hotel expenses.
"If I'd had this earning power in my previous life, I wouldn't have had to be a corporate slave."
Soon, he spotted the five-star Hotel Vasnia and booked a king-size room for one night.
The next morning, at 7:10 AM, Illumi pulled back the curtains in his room.
The first rays of sunlight streamed in, instantly making him feel more awake.
After a quick ten-minute shower, he dressed in a pristine white tracksuit.
He slung a gray backpack over his shoulder, grabbed his room key, and left the room.
He ate breakfast in the hotel's first-floor restaurant before setting off on foot toward Heaven's Arena.
Today, he planned to reach the 100th floor.
Later that morning, 10:30 AM, Arena A, 90th floor.
"Good morning, everyone!" The commentator's sweet, high-pitched voice ignited the crowd's enthusiasm, and they erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Player Illumi has won every match so far with a single knockout blow!"
"Yesterday, he swept through five consecutive matches with unstoppable momentum, climbing from the 1st floor all the way to the 90th floor in one breath!"
"Will he continue his winning streak today, just like yesterday, and smoothly advance to the 100th floor?"
"Or will Player Kleiman defeat him today, bringing his ascent to an abrupt halt?"
"Let's wait and see!"
The commentator's impassioned delivery ignited the arena.
From Illumi's perspective, everyone was enveloped in swirling clouds of blue and pale red smoke, representing greed and extreme excitement, respectively.
"Hey, kid." Standing opposite Illumi was a short-haired man, shirtless and wearing training pants.
"I'm not some pushover you can knock down easily."
"I've trained in martial arts since childhood, mastering techniques from countless styles to forge my own unique path."
"I'm destined to become the Arena Master."
"A brat like you isn't even worthy to be my stepping stone."
"Still, being a mere footnote on my path to glory is an honor in itself."
"Oh, martial arts?" Illumi, who had shown no interest until now, finally looked up to study his opponent.
Kleiman's lips curled into a confident smirk.
"Such a self-assured smile."
"Interesting."
"What style do you practice?" Illumi asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Hmph. Only now do you realize my strength?" Kleiman sneered, clenching his fists together over his chest.
He raised his left hand, palm facing forward in a defensive stance, while his right fist remained clenched, ready to strike.
"Too late. As for my style, a brat like you isn't worthy of knowing."
"That stance... it's Jeet Kune Do, isn't it?" Illumi observed, recognizing the flawless posture that could only come from years of rigorous training.
"Oh, I didn't expect a kid your age to recognize this style." Kleiman was genuinely surprised.
He had learned Jeet Kune Do during his wanderings, and few outside its origins recognized it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Kleiman, born in the northern regions, has been practicing martial arts since childhood!"
At that moment, the commentator began explaining the origins of this martial art to the audience.
"What Kleiman is using right now is a martial art popular in a certain island nation in the East, called Jeet Kune Do!"
"Ready?"
While the commentator spoke, the referee stood between the two fighters, confirming their readiness.
Illumi remained expressionless, while Kleiman wore a confident smirk.
The referee's raised right hand suddenly swung down.
"Begin!"
"Hmph."
The moment the referee's arm dropped, Kleiman let out a cold snort, stepped forward with his left foot, and unleashed a powerful right fist from his chest.
Whoosh...
Illumi, still expressionless, subtly twisted his feet, shifted his body to the left, and effortlessly dodged the attack.
"Not yet!"
As Illumi evaded his strike, Kleiman roared, raising his right leg high and slamming it down toward Illumi's shoulder.
Thud!
His foot struck the ground with a dull, resounding thud.
Kleiman's eyes widened as he looked up.
Illumi had somehow moved directly behind him.
"Is this your martial art?" Illumi asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"How is it any different from ordinary boxing styles?"
Illumi's taunts were clear.
He wanted to see the martial art Kleiman had boasted about, and he wanted to see it now.
"You've only dodged two moves. Don't get too cocky."