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It was the dead of night. The broad, deserted street lay silent under the slanting moonlight, which spilled across the stone pavement, casting a faint glow.
Hands in his pockets, Rinku strolled leisurely into the casino, as casually as if he were returning home—completely unguarded.
His confidence came from the presence hidden within him: Gardevoir, ever ready to emerge at a moment's notice.
Even without considering her formidable combat abilities, Gardevoir's capacity for survival alone was top-tier.
As long as the enemy wasn't vastly beyond her strength, her ability to teleport made retreat an effortless option.
After a brief glance around the area-
Rinku's eyes locked onto two figures standing in the center of the main hall.
One tall, one short. One fat, one thin.
The short, chubby one was a familiar face, Piers. He was grinning smugly as he looked at Rinku.
The tall, lanky man next to him was a stranger, someone Rinku had never seen before. His appearance was unremarkable, save for a prominent hooked nose that gave off a villainous air.
Activating Gyo, Rinku could clearly see a faint, smoke-like aura leaking from above Piers's head.
Ordinary people who hadn't learned Nen couldn't control their life energy—it naturally dispersed from their bodies over time.
Piers was clearly no threat; just a regular person.
But the man beside him was different, no life aura was escaping from him. Instead, his Nen clung tightly to the surface of his skin.
This meant only one thing: the tall man was a Nen user!
Rinku also noticed the man's exposed skin had an unnatural, cracked-glass appearance fissures lined his flesh like shattered porcelain.
There was only one explanation Rinku could think of for such a state: Baptism.
The term "Baptism" had first come up during the Heavens Arena arc, it referred to the trial one faced upon reaching the 200th floor, where combatants began encountering Nen users.
Some low-tier Nen users, lacking real strength, would only prey on ordinary people who had just reached that level—overwhelming them with malice-infused Nen.
Only a handful of gifted or lucky individuals could survive that ordeal and awaken their own Nen.
Most ended up with severe injuries, if not permanent disability. Yet those who survived might retain a sliver of Nen.
That was "Baptism."
"Hahaha! Brat, your time is up!" Piers laughed wildly, mocking Rinku's bold entrance.
His flabby face quivered as he cackled, making his already grotesque features all the more nauseating.
The tall man next to him merely glanced at Piers without saying a word.
"I knew you weren't some average punk, so I spent a fortune hiring this gentleman!" Piers boasted.
"You're gonna die tonight, this is the price for humiliating me that day!"
A flicker of pain flashed in Piers's eyes at the mention of cost, hiring a Nen user wasn't cheap.
Especially since he had already lost a fortune in the casino to Rinku. It was rubbing salt into the wound.
But Rinku had to die—not just for revenge, but to save face.
In Piers's mind, everything that happened that day had been a deliberate insult from Rinku. But the truth? Rinku hadn't touched him. Piers had tripped over his own feet—and begged on his knees all on his own.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Rinku applauded with exaggerated mockery, shaking his head.
"Such a petty man… I really was too soft on you that day," he sighed, tone full of regret. "If you'd just done your job quietly, none of this would be necessary. And now… my poor Gardevoir has to clean up the trash again."
If this were Earth, this guy would be the classic ranked-climber in a toxic online match.
"You!" Piers started to retort, but the tall man beside him raised a hand to stop him.
"That's enough talk. I don't have time to waste on this nonsense," the tall man said darkly, pointing at Rinku.
"Kid, don't think that scaring a few civilians with a bit of aura makes you invincible."
"I don't even need to come near you to crush you. Of course, to please my employer, I'll take my time… and make sure you suffer."
"I'll shatter every single bone in your body, i'll make sure you die in agony."
A twisted smile split across his face, revealing bloodthirsty delight. It only made his appearance more grotesque.
Failures of the Baptism often developed warped personalities.
As he spoke, wisps of white Nen began to seep from the cracks in his skin.
The sparse aura above his head quickly coalesced into a massive, spectral hand, formed of swirling white energy that lunged straight toward Rinku.
But just as it neared him, a pink flash shot out shaped like an arrow, and laced with immense Nen power.
The arrow cut through the air with a piercing whoosh, effortlessly shattering the giant white hand mid-flight.
Rinku remained perfectly still, untouched.
The tall man's face twisted in disbelief.
"H-How are you still standing?! You're supposed to be in pieces by now!"
"Huh? Wait… why is your aura so weak?" Rinku frowned, genuinely puzzled.
Without another word, he activated his Pokédex-like ability and scanned the man.
Name: Hōsu
Strength Level: D
Nen Abilities: None
…
Rinku let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead with a wry smile.
So he'd overestimated him after all.
He thought Hōsu might be a Baptism survivor with intact limbs and decent strength—but his actual level was a mere D.
The guy couldn't even use Gyo, let alone any advanced Nen techniques.
That aura-hand from earlier? It wasn't a true Nen ability just a crude discharge of energy aimed at the target.
"You bastard !" Hōsu tried to speak, but Rinku cut him off sharply.
"Shut up! You're nothing but a failure, a scrap heap left over from Baptism!"
Suddenly, a flash of white light burst through the room.
Gardevoir appeared beside Rinku, her full aura erupting outward in a massive surge of energy.
To Rinku, Gardevoir at that moment was like a blazing sun, radiant, intense, and awe-inspiring.
The release of her Nen stirred the air into a frenzy—tables overturned, chairs went flying, and casino chips scattered like snow in a blizzard.
Hōsu was immediately forced to his knees, buckling under the immense pressure. As for Piers, he collapsed entirely lying flat on the ground like a squealing pig, ready for slaughter.
"H-How can this be?!" Hōsu's voice trembled with terror. His facial features twisted under the pressure as he struggled to speak. "How are you this powerful?!"
The gulf between their strength was monumental. Gardevoir hadn't even attacked, just unleashing her aura was enough to keep Hōsu pinned and helpless.
"Oh? Why are you on your knees now?" Rinku smirked, taking a step forward. "Weren't you just saying…"
"You were going to crush… every… single… bone in my body?"
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 100, 200, 300 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!