What Larry hadn't known was that Biscuit and Piyon were friends who frequently kept in touch. Apparently, Piyon had told Biscuit everything that had happened at the Solvren Ruins. That included the discovery of Water Glaze… And of course, Larry's battle against the "Seven Deadly Sins."
Biscuit had been dying to see Water Glaze for herself, but Piyon had been too busy to meet her in person. So, naturally, Biscuit had come looking for Larry instead. First, it was a rare opportunity to see Water Glaze, one of the Seven Most Beautiful Gems in the World, up close. Second, she was curious about Larry. The young man had recently made a name for himself in the Sky Arena, and after hearing about his exploits, she wanted to see him with her own eyes.
As the Sky Arena's live broadcasts continued to replay his match against Shaq, Biscuit had wasted no time. She boarded an airship immediately and headed straight for him.
After a long time, Biscuit reluctantly handed back the glass of Water Glaze to Larry. She had finally finished admiring it. Taking a deep breath, she refocused her thoughts. Then, without hesitation, a surge of aura burst forth around her, rippling through the air before slowly condensing into a humanoid form. Her Nen ability—"Magical Beautician, Miss Cookie."
Miss Cookie, Biscuit's unique Nen construct, was a beautician specializing in professional-grade massage techniques. Her abilities weren't just for relaxation—they could accelerate recovery, relieve fatigue, and even enhance training effects. Miss Cookie's massages induced a deep sense of relaxation, making the recipient feel as though they had experienced eight hours of rest in just thirty minutes. She also applied a special Nen-infused beauty lotion, which changed properties depending on the user's Nen condition, providing various healing and strengthening effects.
It was a purely supportive ability, one with zero combat applications. Even Killua had once scoffed at it, calling it a useless combat skill. And yet, the fact that Biscuit had no need for combat-oriented Nen abilities spoke volumes about her strength. She didn't rely on fancy tricks. Her power was built entirely on years of mastering Nen to its absolute peak.
Biscuit never wasted a single ounce of aura. Every bit of it was used with precision, maximizing its effectiveness in battle. That level of control—that was the true mark of a Nen master.
Miss Cookie, a doll-like woman with long cherry-red hair, stepped forward, her expression unreadable. Her hands glowed with thick, pink aura, swirling gently as she approached Larry, who was already lying on the bed. Then, her hands began to work. "Pink Breath." Larry felt an instant wave of warmth spread through his body. His muscles loosened. His mind drifted into a state of pure relaxation. It was beyond a simple massage—it felt like he was soaking in a hot spring while receiving an expert's massage at the same time. Then—multiply that feeling several times over.
It was a sensation he had never experienced before. Even back on Earth, no spa, no luxury treatment, nothing came remotely close to this. Larry had always been curious about Miss Cookie's massage ever since he saw Gon and Killua's reaction in the anime.
Now that he was experiencing it firsthand, he understood—it wasn't just some exaggerated reaction. This ability was the real deal. He could already feel the effects. His fatigue vanished almost instantly. His Nen circulation sped up, his aura flowing through his body more smoothly than ever before.
The last time he had felt something similar was when he ate the Pale Sand Scorpion King in the Gordeau Desert, an event that had greatly boosted his Nen efficiency. Biscuit wasn't just a skilled fighter. She was the perfect mentor for training Nen users. Her massage ability wasn't just for relaxation—it was a training tool.
With Miss Cookie's techniques, even days' worth of training results could be condensed into a single intense session. Larry let out a slow breath. His thoughts shifted. 'Maybe… he should take his training in Sky Arena more seriously. He had always maintained a casual Nen training routine—one day of practice, two days of rest. His main focus had been on "Ten" for health and longevity and "Gyo" for seeing through opponents' attacks. But in reality, neither of those techniques were strictly necessary for him.
For longevity, he already knew about Nitro Rice, the legendary food from the Dark Continent that could extend one's lifespan. He even knew where to find it—in the swampy region southeast of Lake Mobius. Of course, it was guarded by one of the Five Great Disasters, the Hellbell Serpent.
But that was a problem for later. As for seeing through enemies' attacks—his Pokémon could handle that for him. Between Gengar, Gardevoir, and others, he had a constant flow of battlefield awareness being transmitted to him at all times. And in emergency situations, his Pokémon could instantly shield him with Protect, an ability that guaranteed blocking any incoming attack. With that kind of defense, even if he trained harder, it wouldn't necessarily save him against someone overwhelmingly stronger.
Instead, Larry had been more focused on expanding his own Nen abilities. If his current plans worked out, he wouldn't ever have to worry about his strength again.
For now, though—Becoming Biscuit's disciple was never an option for Larry. There were two simple reasons for this. First, her training was brutal, and he had absolutely no need to put himself through that kind of suffering. Second, he had already defeated Netero and was considered to be on the same level as him—possibly even the strongest in the world. If he were to become Biscuit's disciple now, wouldn't that put him several generations beneath the old man in terms of seniority? That was completely unnecessary.
For someone weaker, training under Biscuit and learning Shingen-Ryu would make perfect sense.
But Larry?
He was already at the top. There was absolutely no reason to add the title of "Shingen-Ryu disciple" to his name—it came with no real benefits and would only feel restrictive.
Larry preferred freedom, a life with no unnecessary constraints. The deal he had made with Biscuit—exchanging Water Glaze for Miss Cookie's massage—was ideal. No obligations. No commitments. Just a simple exchange between equals.
***
Larry's first battle didn't just shock the audience—it sent waves through the entire Sky Arena.
At first, the higher-ups had dismissed him as just another random fighter, someone thrown into the spotlight to generate some temporary hype. But after watching Shaq get obliterated in seconds, they realized the truth. A real dragon had arrived. The higher-ranked Floor Masters could immediately tell how Shaq had died. Even the lower-ranked ones, who lacked the ability to analyze Nen battles in detail, knew enough from the gruesome aftermath— Shaq and Larry were not on the same level at all. What was supposed to be a small, routine match had turned into a battle that shook the very foundation of the Sky Arena.
Now, the other Floor Masters were hesitant.
Should they accept Larry's challenge?
If they refused, their reputation would plummet. A Floor Master who ignored a challenge would be seen as a coward, and that would damage their status in the arena. But if they accepted… They risked dying just like Shaq.