Chapter 4

**Bang!**

Izumi collided with a large tree and slowly slid down. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he immediately turned and darted into the forest, running quickly.

"Oh~ You can still run after taking my punch?"

Zibonian's face showed surprise, and with a "whoosh," she also began to run quickly through the forest, quickly catching up to Izumi ahead.

"Hmph~"

Izumi, who was running at full speed, suddenly groaned in pain, slowing down his pace.

"My stomach hurts, and my left hand is already useless."

Izumi had not fully taken Zibonian's punch; instead, he used his left hand to block the punch before it hit him.

The punch struck his left forearm, which then collided with his abdomen, sending him flying.

Even so, the pain was unbearable, and his left forearm was already red, swollen, and bruised. To recover in a short time, he would need to soak in a bath with special herbs from the Zoldyck family.

"Hohohoh..."

A strange laugh reached Izumi's ears. He turned his head to look at the forest path beside him, where Zibonian was looking at him with a gentle smile.

"What, Young Master Izumi, can't run anymore? Are you tired?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Zibonian suddenly rushed at Izumi, punching straight at his face.

Izumi's eyes narrowed, and as Zibonian swung her fist, he bent over and punched toward her waist.

**Bang!**

The sound of flesh colliding echoed.

"Ugh..."

Izumi bent over, eyes wide open, mouth agape, and drool dripping from his mouth.

He had anticipated Zibonian's punch and immediately bent over to attack her, but Zibonian seemed to have known his intention all along.

Just as he was about to punch her waist, her left knee suddenly lifted and struck his abdomen with a **bang**, causing his entire body to arch.

"Puh..."

Izumi was sent flying backward, sliding a considerable distance on the ground before coming to a stop, lying on the ground.

"Cough, cough..."

Lying on his back, Izumi looked up at Zibonian, whose face was blurry. He tried to breathe but coughed in pain.

His hands clutched his abdomen, eyes wide open, mouth agape, and saliva uncontrollably flowing from the corners of his mouth.

The pain was unbearable, almost unimaginable.

The intense pain made him feel that even breathing was a torment.

"You definitely didn't use just thirty percent of your strength just now..."

Izumi's body trembled as he flipped over, his lower body still motionless, but his upper body turned to face down.

His body pressed against his right arm, sweat dripping from his chin to the ground.

"Hohohoh, Young Master Izumi is right; I used fifty percent of my strength just now."

"But, the reality is that Young Master Izumi is weaker than me. I can use whatever percentage of my strength I want to deal with you."

"Weaklings have no choice; that's the privilege of the strong."

Zibonian smiled gently.

"But, Young Master Izumi has already surpassed ninety-nine percent of his peers at this age."

"Even I didn't expect you to dodge that punch just now."

Over the past three years, she was the most satisfied with Izumi's performance.

Izumi's comprehension ability was stronger than that of children his age. Whether it was learning assassination techniques, theoretical knowledge, or other skills, he learned very quickly.

His strength grew rapidly, and he completed the arduous training that should have taken six or even nine years in just two and a half years.

And his talent didn't stop there. His perseverance and determination to become stronger through hard training were also remarkable.

Combined, Izumi was a genius, and Zibonian believed this.

"Can you still move?"

Zibonian squatted down, looking at the sweating Izumi and smiled.

"Young Master Izumi?"

Izumi's eyebrows twitched, and his body trembled as he flipped over, using his hands to support himself and struggle to stand up.

"Remarkable, to still have the strength to stand after taking a knee strike with fifty percent of my power."

Zibonian praised Izumi, who was struggling to stand. Although Zibonian was not at her peak, she had used a force of 16 tons with that knee strike.

"It hurts like hell."

Izumi frowned, glanced at Zibonian, and, with trembling legs, walked toward the Zoldyck family mansion.

Today's practical training was over, and he would now face the daily routine of cruel training, including poisons, electric shocks, and endurance training.

And all of this had become a habit.

*

*

*

It was 8:30 PM.

In the room where Silva was, Zibonian stood straight in front of Silva and Kikyo, her posture respectful.

"How is the training of Izumi and Illumi going?"

Silva, sitting on the sofa, propped his chin with his right hand and asked casually.

"Master Illumi's training is proceeding according to the normal schedule."

"Although he is still very young, it is clear that Master Illumi will be a very meticulous assassin," Zibonian answered truthfully.

"Meticulous?"

Silva muttered, and Kikyo looked at him.

"Meticulousness is a necessary trait for an excellent assassin. Illumi will certainly become a top-notch professional assassin."

Silva nodded in agreement with Kikyo's theory and asked again.

"Then, what about Izumi?"

A glint of light flashed in Zibonian's eyes, and she pressed her right hand on her monocular, speaking solemnly.

"I believe that Young Master Izumi is already fully capable of serving as a qualified assassin."

Upon hearing this, Silva immediately frowned, and Kikyo's mouth opened in surprise.

"Zibonian, why do you think so?"

Silva frowned, looking at Zibonian, his eyes narrowing, creating a sense of pressure that enveloped her.

"Izumi is only six years old, far from the age to leave home."

A drop of cold sweat rolled down Zibonian's forehead, but she still had to express her thoughts.

"I am the most familiar with Young Master Izumi's training progress."

"Actually, half a year ago, Young Master Izumi had already completed the training that should have taken six or nine years to complete."

"During these six months, I have been keeping Young Master Izumi by my side to enhance his practical combat skills."

Zibonian recounted Izumi's performance over the past three years, which made Silva's frown ease, and the atmosphere in the room became less oppressive.

"Master Silva, Young Master Izumi is the most talented person I have ever seen."

"He has the potential to possess strength no less than Master Silva's by the time he reaches adulthood."

"I believe it is time for Young Master Izumi to be exposed to the dark world earlier."

"This will help him develop his talents and grow quickly."

The room fell silent for a moment. Silva remained silent for a while, then looked at Zibonian and said,

"Then, let's test his strength first."

"I will take him to the Sky Arena. If he can reach the 200th floor there,"

"I will let him carry out assassination missions."