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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, I'm Gon Freecss, age 5.

Please, have some tea and calm down. After all, I'm the one who's least calm in this situation, so I can hardly laugh about it.

To summarize: shortly after turning 5, I suddenly realized that I was in the world of HUNTER×HUNTER and that I possessed memories from a previous life. However, since my memories before age 5 are fragmented, it seems I was reincarnated as Gon from the very beginning, rather than possessing his body. The only thing I can clearly recall is the moment I became self-aware.

Fortunately, it doesn't seem like anyone will think my personality suddenly changed, since I was already recognized as a mysterious child who acted strangely from a young age.

Now, let me explain the main reason why I believe I'm a reincarnated individual rather than someone who possessed this body. It can be summed up in a single sentence:

"At age 5, Gon already had his spiritual orifice open and was maintaining his aura."

Those familiar with HUNTER×HUNTER will understand how absurd this is. In the original story, Gon doesn't awaken his Nen abilities until age 12, and even then, it's through an unconventional method forced upon him by others.

On the other hand, I spent the time from what I believe to be birth using only a small portion of my time for "sleeping, eating, and defecating," and even after I could move around, I devoted only a small portion of my time to "playing, eating, sleeping, and defecating," steadily accumulating training. Through prolonged meditation, I awakened to Nen, following the orthodox path.

You might say that Gon, who should have incredible talent, taking five years to awaken his Nen means I should restart my "Nen awakening speedrun," but that's just nonsense. A child's instincts are truly instinctive. In fact, I'm proud that I was able to awaken almost unconsciously, with little knowledge of the original work's specifics.

That said, my Nen is still unstable, and when I sleep or eat, my aura leaks out like water from a broken faucet, so I'm still a beginner at best.

Now that I've assessed the current situation, I want to think about what to do next. Specifically, I need to determine my position as the protagonist in relation to the original storyline. The option of not getting involved with the original plot is completely off the table. While there are certainly many dangers awaiting me, the benefits I can gain—such as connections and power—far outweigh the risks.

If I stay as the original Gon, I'll meet my end in the Chimera Ant arc, but thanks to having already learned Nen, I was able to defeat the fox bear in the forest recently, so deviating from the original story doesn't seem to be a problem.

As a fan of HUNTER×HUNTER, I have a strong desire not to destroy the original story, which is both the origin and the pinnacle of the series. However, now that I've been reincarnated as Gon, I've developed an ambition that I want to achieve, even if it means going against that desire.

"I want to become the strongest Gon I can imagine."

As a fan of the original work, everyone has probably imagined new Nen abilities or modified existing ones for fun. Of course, I too have fantasized about numerous abilities and constantly pondered what kind of power would make one truly the strongest.

Now that I have been reincarnated as Gon, the protagonist and one of the most talented characters in the series, if I don't aim for the absolute strongest, I would be unworthy as both a man and a fan of the original work.

With that in mind, I've decided to position myself as a quasi-master using my knowledge of the original work. If I can maintain my role as one of the three best friends, I might be able to create opportunities during the Hunter Exam arc, and as the levels of those around me rise, my own level will also rise more easily.

With that decided, I'll continue to stabilize my Ten while following the original Gon's example and striving to improve my physical abilities in nature.

"Mito-san! I'm going to play in the forest!"

"Alright, alright. Don't go too deep, and make sure you're back by lunchtime."

"Got it! I'm off!"

"Have a good time."

I will become the strongest Gon!

Chapter Text

Hello everyone, it's Gon Freecss, 8 years old.

I can't hide my confusion over this unexpected situation that's suddenly unfolded.

"Eating such delicious home-cooked meals every day—it's no wonder Gon is growing up so well."

"Young people these days are so good at flattery. It's almost embarrassing."

"Flattery? No way! I mean every word. Um, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind if I stayed here a while longer?"

Kite, are you after Mito-san? That person isn't exactly your type, being a rootless hunter influenced by Ging, right?

This was a scene not in the original story, where Kite, having just met Gon, paid a visit to his home. It all started a few hours earlier.

Whale Island—a small, remote island with few inhabitants and hardly any tourists—was visited by a rare visitor who wasn't a fisherman.

His name was Kite. Trained by Gon's father, Ging Freecss, he was a professional Hunter with the experience and skills to call himself a veteran.

On this day, Kite had come to Whale Island, Ging's birthplace, to complete his final task from his master: "Find Ging."

However, Kite himself didn't think he'd find any useful clues here. He couldn't imagine that the cunning Ging would give him such an easy task as tracking him down just by visiting his hometown—especially since there was no sign that Ging had returned in recent years.

Still, he had come to Whale Island because he happened to be nearby during his journey, and out of a fanboy's curiosity to see the hometown of the man he admired. However, the desolate atmosphere of the island quickly made him regret his decision.

"Well, I'll just look around for a bit and then kill time in the forest."

Kite said this while putting on his favorite hat, convinced that his trip was a complete waste of time. Little did he know that his expectations would be pleasantly shattered.

Having given up on finding any clues about Ging, Kite found himself deep in the forest—a place even the islanders rarely ventured into. The dense forest seemed to reject human intrusion, and it was a dangerous realm where even experienced Hunters could easily lose their lives if they made a mistake, due to the presence of fierce beasts and poisonous insects.

Kite walked through the forest as if taking a leisurely stroll, moving further and further into its depths.

As a professional Hunter and a Magical Beast Hunter whose livelihood depended on hunting rare plants and animals, Kite had extensive experience staying in danger zones far more perilous than Whale Island. From his perspective, the forest of Whale Island—which lacked deadly poisons or curses and had no dangerous poachers who were his business rivals—was a place where he could stroll around without any issues.

However, it was precisely because of his extensive experience that Kite sensed something amiss in this forest.

This is odd. An ecosystem similar to this one can be found anywhere. There are no notable creatures, and there should be no abnormal environmental conditions.

To Kite, the forest was a picture of peace, and as a Magical Beast Hunter, he was even moved by its natural beauty.

That's why it's strange. Most of the creatures are familiar, but each one possesses abilities that surpass those of their original species.

Faster species were more agile, stronger species were more resilient, and timid species were more cunning—each had elevated their species' natural abilities to the next level.

If there's such a significant difference, there must be a cause. It's likely something that accelerated their growth. If it's a mutated wild animal, that's not a problem, but if it's a human with malicious intent, that's trouble.

Changes in the environment and other factors can alter an ecosystem, which is a fairly common occurrence in nature. This isn't necessarily something to be avoided, but in Kite's experience, when it's caused by human intervention, it rarely ends well.

Well, if it seems like it could have a negative impact on the island, I'll deal with it. For now, let's focus on finding the cause.

What was supposed to be simple pastime had turned into an unexpected duty as a Magical Beast Hunter, leading him deeper and deeper into the forest.

Still unable to find any environmental abnormalities, he reached what was likely the deepest part of the forest.

What Kite witnessed there was a sight that would astonish even a professional Hunter.

Two shadows collided with a tremendous, low rumble, each determined to defeat the other. They were surrounded by many beasts cheering them on, each raising their own cries of excitement.

The two combatants were a fox bear with a more compact build than usual—likely the apex predator of Whale Island—and a teenager with a similarly well-trained physique.

The two clashed repeatedly, astonishingly performing one of the Four Major Principles of Nen. The aura emanating from them was so powerful that even an inexperienced Nen user could be knocked out with a single blow.

The aura that serves as the source of Nen is the life energy possessed by all living beings, and no living thing is exempt from it. Generally, wild beasts are better at instinctively understanding how to handle aura than humans. This is likely because humans don't typically control their life energy in daily life—such as by concealing their presence—and because they live in an environment devoid of natural life energy manipulation. However, ordinary beasts rarely reach the level of the Four Major Principles of Nen, so the boy must have either been taught by someone else or learned by imitation.

In that case, the real mystery was the boy who could use Nen.

Kite had already confirmed that there were no Nen users among the islanders when he'd arrived. This meant that the boy had either trained himself to reach his current level or was taught by a third party whose abilities Kite couldn't detect.

It was a mystery, but at least the boy's aura was incredibly pure, and it was clear that not only the surrounding beasts but even the fox bear he was fighting were drawn to him.

A good Hunter is liked by animals.

For Kite, who had been a Magical Beast Hunter for a long time, the scene before him was an ideal that must never be destroyed.

That said, I should at least hear his story.

As the beasts grew more agitated after the boy defeated the fox bear, Kite approached the boy—who clearly appeared to be Ging's relative—wondering where to begin.

Chapter Text

Hello everyone, I'm Gon Freecss, 11 years old, waiting for the boss at the edge of the swamp.

It's been six years since I first became aware of this world, and I've finally taken my first steps into the original story. Though those six years were rather intense, in the end all I did was train, so in a way, it was a monotonous daily routine.

As for the results of my training... to be honest, I achieved more than double what I had expected. In terms of raw combat power, I believe I've reached a level where I wouldn't lose to the Phantom Troupe unless they attacked me as a group. However, I realized that even this wouldn't be enough to survive the Chimera Ant arc, so I decided to focus even more intensely on my training.

In terms of training content, thanks to the Fox Bear who served as an excellent training partner for developing proper nen, and Kite, who stayed with me for a long time and provided guidance, my training was far more fulfilling than I had anticipated. The Fox Bear utilized not only offensive and defensive abilities but also movement and even stealth techniques driven by its wild instincts, while Kite, who had balanced and highly developed all branches of nen, as evidenced by his ability to materialize weapons with multiple capabilities, provided guidance that became fully integrated into my body.

And the most crucial aspect: the creation of abilities. I ultimately developed three abilities.

I'll omit the details, but the first is the foundational ability for aiming to become the strongest, the second is a boost ability for close-range battles, and the third assists in aura manipulation. The first ability received criticism from Kite, but I decided to proceed with it for the sake of creating the strongest version of Gon I envisioned. The ability itself was completed just before Kite departed, and he confirmed its effectiveness by testing it against me, though he praised it by saying we would never be able to fight fairly again.

Now, all that's left is to keep improving my basic abilities and devise a training plan for my best friends.

Incidentally, perhaps due to the effects of reincarnation, my nen type is Manipulation.

As Gon's mind filled with thoughts of the past and future, he easily reeled in the fish that had taken the bait with one hand. Even this small achievement made him feel that his efforts were paying off, and with his expectations for the upcoming Hunter Exam high, he headed home with the excitement of a child his age.

***

Gon returned home carrying the swamp boss, ignoring the commotion around him, and insisted that Mito sign the application form for the Hunter Exam.

Like in the original story, Mito had demanded that Gon catch the swamp boss as the final condition for taking the Hunter Exam. The reason was simple: she believed that catching the cautious swamp boss would be more challenging and thus more likely to prove Gon's true strength than simply seeking raw power.

However, Mito wasn't as opposed to Gon taking the Hunter Exam as she had been in the original story. This was largely because Kite, a legitimate professional Hunter, had trained Gon for roughly half a year and had given his stamp of approval for Gon's success. Additionally, Gon had earned high school-equivalent credits through correspondence courses and had convinced Mito of the potential for a Hunter career, leading her to shift her stance to one of support.

After obtaining Mito's signature as his guardian and confirming there were no errors on the application form, Gon immediately headed to the post office to submit it. Mito and the neighborhood onlookers watched his unusually focused behavior with smiles, so different from his usual carefree attitude.

After successfully applying for the Hunter Exam, Gon headed straight to the training ground deep in the forest. There, he found representatives of various animals, and most importantly, the Fox Bear who had trained with him for the past six years.

Before turning 11, the age at which he enters the original story, Gon had already explained that he would one day leave the island and rarely return to the forest, and he had expressed his gratitude for everything they had done for him.

After expressing his gratitude, he had prioritized finishing his correspondence courses, so this was his first visit in a while. However, Gon immediately noticed that something was off about the animals. In particular, the young Fox Bear that used nen, the one called Kon in the original story—was standing motionless with a body that was significantly larger than usual, which made Gon chuckle.

"I came because I thought everyone was calling me, but did the master's child do something? As I said before, I'm no longer involved with the forest, so I won't interfere."

Noticing that the master of the forest wasn't moving, Gon urged him, and the master, who had been lying silently, slowly stood up. He had no name, but since learning to use nen, his body had gradually become more toned, now resembling that of a muscular adult man.

Gon had realized just a few months ago that this phenomenon was caused by the master's ability to compress and strengthen his original body.

As the master moved toward Gon, he let out a single cry and turned to look at the animals behind him. In response, the Fox Bear stepped forward ahead of the other animals, swelling its large body and beginning to threaten both Gon and the forest master. The other animals echoed this behavior, each desperately trying to drive the two away.

The forest master looked at the animals with satisfaction, snorted, and stood beside Gon as if that were his natural place.

"Sorry, can you wait a moment? I understand that the master wants to come along, but it's just too much. I even refrained from giving him a name to avoid getting too attached."

While this was pleasing to Gon, the master was not yet a Hunter and was not someone who could be taken along by a minor. Though he possessed high combat prowess and the intelligence to control it, and could be trusted not to cause trouble, he was simply too conspicuous. If Gon took him home, Mito would faint.

"If you were just a newborn, I could take you with me, but there's no way you can get that small. I'm sorry, but could you just stay here in the forest?"

The master growled in dissatisfaction at Gon's words, but after staying still for a while, he began to shrink at an incredible speed, accompanied by an indescribable sound. Eventually, he became small enough to fit on Gon's head and shoulders, and he let out a high-pitched cry like a baby.

Gon was amazed that he could compress his body to such an extent, but realizing that this was the first time he had shown this ability, he concluded that he was weakened like Biscuit and smiled wryly.

"Alright, if you'll go to such lengths, I'll take you with me. From now on, I'll call you Gin. I hope you'll stay calm most of the time. Nice to meet you, Gin. Oh, and I'll call the new master Kon. I'll leave the forest in your care."

While petting the master, now renamed Gin, who had climbed onto his shoulder, he turned his back on the animals that had stopped threatening him and were now waving at him. Leaving the place where he had spent most of his life since becoming conscious was sad, but he was more excited about what lay ahead.

He didn't know what kind of changes would occur now that he had gained a partner named Gin, who didn't exist in the original story, but in the world of HUNTER×HUNTER, most troubles could be resolved with fists.

"Bye! Stay safe!"

"Kyuun!"

Laughing at Kon's oddly human-like salute in response to Gin's cry, he began preparing for his departure and headed back.

By the way, even though Gin had compressed his body to become small, Gon's shoulder was bearing the weight of hundreds of kilograms, yet his footsteps and core remained completely steady.

———

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[10 Advanced Chs][7 Chapters/week]

Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss. When Gin sits on my shoulder, it throws off my balance, so I have him perch on my head instead.

At last, after being seen off by Mito-san and the islanders, I've set sail on my journey into the world of HUNTER×HUNTER. As for Gin, Mito-san offered to take care of him because of his calm temperament, but once Gin got a taste of her cooking, he initially resisted leaving. Still, we managed to depart together safely.

Since I don't know the exact date and time, I was worried about whether we'd be able to board the ship from the original story. But finding Leorio earlier put those concerns to rest. I plan to spend the time until that scene cuddling with Gin.

However, this has turned into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with Gin, who doesn't appreciate being petted too much, so it's also valuable training.

***

The massive sailing ship carrying Gon and the others plowed through rough seas that made even the worst storms seem like child's play. Inside the vessel, which was being tossed about by waves that could have torn it apart at any moment, nearly all the young men aspiring to become Hunters were suffering from seasickness.

As expected, this was no ordinary voyage that could be endured with just slightly above-average training. This route, deliberately chosen to weed out the weak by passing through stormy seas, boasted a repeat rate of nearly 0% once experienced.

Inside the violently rocking ship, Gon was tending to the sick candidates with the same dedication as in the original story. Glancing sideways, he could see Leorio and Kurapika going about their respective tasks as he remembered, their excitement building despite themselves. However, not everything was identical, there were clear differences from the original.

(Leorio was supposed to be reading an erotic book at this point, but it's probably a medical textbook instead. And Kurapika's wooden sword is now a proper blade. There are quite a few differences from the original after all.)

With a partner named Gin who already differed from the original, and differences appearing even in scenes he wasn't involved in, this world was increasingly likely to be a parallel universe similar to HUNTER×HUNTER.

Still, Gon had hoped that since the story had followed such a similar pattern so far, going with the flow would prevent it from diverging too much from the original.

***

Just as they had finally escaped one storm, another powerful tempest was announced, eliminating all other examinees except Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio from the ship voyage. The ship's captain, who had come to assess the remaining examinees, was aware of the growing expectations surrounding the unusually young trio.

However, he deliberately glared at the young people before him, tilting a bottle of alcohol to his lips, and asked the standard question.

"Tell me why you're aiming to become Hunters. Just so you know, I'm one of the examiners. If you give me a false or unsatisfactory reason, I'll fail you without hesitation."

The captain boldly declared that he would disqualify anyone based on personal judgment, causing Kurapika and Leorio to frown. But they didn't dare argue further after being threatened with failure.

Seeing the two remain silent, Gon stepped forward from the line with Gin still perched on his head.

"My name is Gon. The one on my head is my partner, Gin. I'm becoming a Hunter to grow stronger than someone I aspire to surpass one day. Oh, and also to punch my pro Hunter father in the face."

Gon's declaration was surprisingly confident for the youngest of the three. He didn't express a desire to become a Hunter—instead, he stated that becoming a Hunter was merely a stepping stone.

The captain, who had seen many applicants before; Leorio, who usually teased people; and Kurapika, who understood the difficulty of the Hunter Exam—all remained silent, staring at Gon.

The determination and resolve emanating from the youngest and smallest figure in the room stirred various emotions in each of their hearts.

"Well, I'm curious about your father, but for now, let's hear your motivation, sunglasses guy."

Leorio, who had snapped back to reality first due to his experience, closed his eyes to calm himself before stepping forward in Gon's place.

"My name is Leorio. The reason I aim to become a Hunter is simple: money and fame. With those two things, I can buy anything and get anything!"

His loud voice and exaggerated gestures, meant to inspire himself, were also a show of bravado born from nearly being overwhelmed by Gon. The display had a comical, clown-like quality to it.

"You can't buy decency with money, Leorio."

"Yeah, right. You must have some noble reason, then? And you're clearly younger than me, so shouldn't it be Leorio-san?"

While Leorio was as rough as he looked, Kurapika—who appeared calm but was actually ready for a fight—was also struggling to recover from the shock of nearly being overwhelmed.

"My name is Kurapika. I am the last survivor of the Kurta clan. My motivation is to revive my clan and seek revenge on their murderers, and I judged that becoming a Hunter was the most suitable path to achieve that goal."

Kurapika poured out his deep sorrow and anger, but even that couldn't match the vivid impression Gon had left earlier.

"Pfft! I thought you were some big shot, but it's just a bloodthirsty revenge drama from some backwater tribe. You're trying to pass by making people cry, but isn't that a bit too cheap?"

"You lack not only dignity but also the basic qualities of a human being. May I ask where you plan to buy those?"

The two escalated their verbal sparring, but the captain noticed that Gon was being negatively influenced, though he casually remarked that they seemed more tense than in the original story.

Just as it seemed they'd come to blows, Gin, who was hungry, started meowing. Gon realized it was a request for food, but to others, it looked like a small animal was scared and crying, creating an awkward pause.

"Leorio, you're being a bit too harsh, aren't you? I understand why Kurapika is angry, but you started it with that provoking remark. Why don't you both eat something and calm down? I have a feeling that if you talk it out properly, you two would actually get along pretty well."

Gon, who had been offering dried fruit to Gin, made the suggestion in a relaxed manner, defusing the tension. The two of them paused for a moment before turning to face each other again with wry smiles.

"I'm sorry, Leorio. I shouldn't have meddled in others' motives. I also apologize for my rude behavior afterward."

"Hmph, don't call me '-san' now. Just call me by my first name. I'll also retract all the insults I made about the Kurta tribe. I'm sorry."

Once they calmed down and talked, they found they didn't feel any mutual dislike. They even spoke without honorifics in front of Gon, and the conversation turned out to be more lively than expected.

As the three of them started preparing dinner while chatting as if they were old friends, the captain was left alone, feeling out of place.

"I never said you passed or anything," he muttered, but the three ignored him, continuing to chat cheerfully. The captain watched them with a touch of melancholy, but he couldn't help thinking they made a good trio—enough to make him feel a little jealous.

———

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, and I can't hide my excitement over a steak that's been slowly cooked over low heat, it turned out incredibly delicious. Even Gin couldn't help but smile.

Two-choice old lady? Kiriko? We don't have anything like that here.

Ever since I read the original, I thought that a steak cooked on low heat might taste a bit off, but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious. The three of us plus one were like a human power plant. Upon reflection, I realized that such mysterious meats exist in the Hunter × Hunter world, and my excitement as a foodie for unseen ingredients just won't stop.

By the way, right after I thought it was pretty different from the original, the reassuring familiarity of the Two-Choice Old Lady and Kiriko hit me, with the only difference being Gin's presence. There was the issue of Gin being too heavy and putting a strain on Kiriko and the others, but this was the moment I felt most connected to the original work, and my heart was fulfilled.

However, this carefree atmosphere won't last. From here on out, it's a demonic realm overrun by darkness.

Since I plan to strengthen my close friends at this point to aim for the strongest Gon, I want to proceed with this Hunter Exam as smoothly as possible.

Let's hope that the clown turns out to be the person we imagined.

***

Hisoka Morou, an abnormal individual who spends his days thinking about when and which toy to destroy, feeling little interest in anything. Though he is somewhat satisfied, he cannot shake the feeling that something is missing, leading him to destroy even toys he has no interest in.

Fed up with the hassle of cleaning up after himself, he took the previous exam with the intention of becoming a Hunter who could kill without hesitation, but his bad habits resurfaced, and he failed. Though his skills were sufficient, he had decided to give up on becoming a Hunter if he were to be rejected again due to the examiner's discretion.

Then, during his second attempt, while contemplating whether to play with his favorite toy who happened to be taking the exam with him, he found himself drawn to the elevator where the examinees were boarding.

The elevator doors opened, and new examinees stepped out.

That day, Hisoka met his destiny, something to fill the void within him.

***

Gon and his group received the license plates from Beans as in the original story. Tonpa, who instinctively recognized the newcomers, instinctively backed away. Upon arriving at the exam venue, the elite examinees, said to be one in ten thousand, made way for the young man in clown makeup: Hisoka.

Everyone was immobilized by the malevolent aura emanating from Hisoka, but Gon, holding back Gin in a defensive stance, stood before Hisoka, who wore a blissful expression on his face.

"Nice to meet you ♥ I'm Hisoka ♥ May I ask your name and the name of the child on your head?"

Despite the murderous aura directed at him, Gon remained calm, and Hisoka was intrigued by both him and Gin, who was on guard but not afraid.

Hisoka was surprised that they didn't attack him without warning, but he understood that this exchange would determine his future relationship with the boy.

"My name is Gon, and this is Gin. I can tell you're someone strong, Hisoka, and I can sense your desire to fight, but I'd rather not right now."

"How cold of you. As for me, I'd rather do it now. Can you tell me why you want to postpone it?"

Despite being faced with an aura of murderous intent that could easily force a half-hearted hunter to surrender completely, Gon maintained an aura of complete calm, as if he were relaxing at home.

"I intend to pass this exam. So once the Hunter Exam is over, I'll fight you anytime. If the exam requires us to fight, I'll fight you then. But if you interfere with the exam, I'll come after you without hesitation alongside Gin."

As he spoke, Gon and Gin's auras trembled heavily. Unlike Hisoka's malevolent, sticky aura, theirs was fresh and majestic, like a great tree, giving those around them a sense of security while putting immense pressure on Hisoka.

"...♥ As long as you don't interfere with the exam, right? ♦ I'm persistent, but will you really fight me as much as I want? ♣"

"Becoming the strongest is my goal, so I welcome strong opponents. Of course, I wouldn't want to be taken hostage or killed without mercy, but as long as that's not the case, I'll always give it my all."

Gon's aura was crystal clear, and the intense desire and admiration emanating from it were enough to drain the venom from Hisoka's aura. After weighing the pros and cons, Hisoka suppressed the ache in his body and decided to wait for now.

The desired battle would come soon enough, and he was already accustomed to waiting for things to mature.

Above all, he had been made to understand through his aura that if he started under such unfavorable conditions, with no preparation or mental readiness, he would be the one to lose.

"Too bad, but there's nothing we can do. I'll pray for an opportunity during the exam. See you later, Gin-kun."

"I'm looking forward to fighting you too!"

"Kyuun, kyuun, gugu."

Hisoka was about to make a ridiculous face and... react due to Gon's straightforward words and Gin's mix of disgust and encouragement. Turning his back on Gon, he decided to stay until Gon failed so he could fight during the exam, and walked away.

Ignoring the chaos around him, Hisoka sharpened his aura with the highest concentration of his life.

When all the toys he had once cherished in his mind were replaced by Gon, he suddenly looked around as if he had noticed something.

Normally, only trash that annoyed him would enter his field of vision, but for some reason, he didn't care much about it. Instead, despite being deep underground, the world seemed to shine brightly.

"Ah, I'm really looking forward to this, Gon ♥ Just meeting you makes me wonder what would happen if we fought ♥"

Holding himself tightly, Hisoka was lost in fantasies of a deadly battle with Gon, completely forgetting about the Hunter Exam.

"No complaints. You're a perfect 100 points, including your potential."

As in the original story, he still doesn't know that Gon, who had retained his transformation, would defeat him fairly easily during the fourth exam.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, it's Gon Freecss, and I'm absolutely thrilled, the Hunter Exam, the first major challenge from the original story, has finally begun!

As expected, I got harassed by a pervert, but I'm still in good spirits.

After my encounter with Hisoka, Leorio and Kurapika continue treating me normally, which warms my heart. Though I wish they'd stop questioning me about that strange sensation I felt when I touched their Nen. Since it's classified technology, explaining it here where so many people can overhear might get me disqualified.

I managed to cover it up, and we were running together when, surprisingly, my older brother approached me before my destined friend did. That said, he just stood there for a while, making those clicking sounds in his guitar-like manner, before quickly walking away. As for my impression of touching his aura, it reeked so badly it made me want to vomit. Way worse than Hisoka's.

With all that happening, I started feeling anxious, but finally, my future best friend Killua appeared, riding a skateboard. He's different from the original character, but I hope we can build a strong friendship.

The encounter with Killua unfolded exactly as in the original story, much to Gon's surprise. This was because, though Gon himself wasn't aware of it, the spirit pulled into his body was a separate entity, yet its mental age and nature had already aligned with the original, so there were no issues during their first meeting.

"Huh, so his name is Gin? I have a pet named Mike at home, but he's not very cute. Maybe I should bring him along if he's that small."

"Well, he's not really a pet, he's more like a partner. We've been together for about six years now."

"A partner, huh? He does seem pretty strong for his size... Six years old?"

Now, just like in the original story, the two of them chat while overtaking other exam candidates. At first, Gon considered keeping up with Leorio and the others, but since Leorio told him to run at his own pace because he was being distracting, there was nothing he could do.

"Are you sure it's okay to leave those guys behind? Especially the one with the sunglasses, he looked pretty dangerous."

Although they'd only spoken briefly, it was clear to Killua that the three were close, and he thought it would be natural to stay nearby in case they needed help.

"If they're going to fail at this level, it's better that they fail now. Besides, those two will be fine. This is nothing for them."

Despite his harsh words, Killua doesn't seem to think they'll fail at all, and he makes an expression that's hard to describe, as if he's witnessed something dazzling.

"You really trust them, don't you? Have you known them for a long time?"

"Not at all. We only properly introduced ourselves two days ago."

"What?! They're complete strangers! How can you be so sure?"

Even Killua, who was usually oblivious to such emotions, could tell that this was unusually strong trust for someone he'd only met two days ago. As he stared at Gon, who seemed genuinely puzzled by the question, Gon paused for a moment before speaking.

"Three years ago, for about half a year, I was trained by a professional Hunter, and he told me, 'Good Hunters are blessed with good companions.'"

As Gon gazed off into the distance, recalling that time, Killua felt an overwhelming sense of trust toward that professional Hunter as well. For Killua, trust was something earned through assassination skills and strength, and the fact that he couldn't understand what Gon trusted so deeply made him feel inexplicably sad.

"It's just a hunch, but I think Leorio and Kurapika will definitely become good friends. True friends, free from calculation or self-interest."

This wasn't related to the original story, it was Gon's genuine feeling after interacting with the two. Leorio, who seemed more serious than in the original, and Kurapika, who seemed more emotionally volatile, had already captured Gon's heart enough to be included in his "two-choice old woman" list after just a few days.

Whether this feeling stemmed from the original story's revisionist power or from being influenced by the aura of the two he could now see after mastering Nen, Gon didn't know. But this emotion welling up from the depths of his heart was undoubtedly his own.

Seeing Killua's sad expression, Gon wanted him, who knew nothing of the world beyond the Zoldycks, to understand this emotion, to know that the world was so full of light.

Gon, who understood the importance of words, expressed his current feelings directly.

"I want to be friends with Killua, even best friends. I even think we could become partners like Gin."

What consequences this might bring was something even Gon, who wasn't the author, couldn't possibly know.

"To fulfill my dream, I definitely need Killua! Let's go see the world together!!"

Despite his words being too straightforward, Killua blushes all the way to his ears but still takes Gon's outstretched hand firmly.

Killua doesn't know the name of the feeling he's experiencing right now, but he knows it's something wonderful.

"Once again, I'm Gon Freecss. I'm aiming to be the strongest. Let's get along from now on!"

"I'm Killua Zoldyck. I don't know what I want to do yet, but let's get along from now on."

Meanwhile, the two psychopaths watching this scene were on the verge of either losing control or snapping, but fortunately, no one was harmed.

Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, feeling excited with spider eggs and delicious food from Great Stamp.

Gin compressed a few pigs and secured them as snacks.

The first exam ended surprisingly smoothly, and the second exam proceeded surprisingly true to the original story. It was like being in a Majin Buu state.

To begin with, the first exam had fewer dropouts because Hisoka didn't serve as an examiner, and Leorio and the others managed to reach the second exam venue on their own. Until the second exam began, we managed to pass the time without getting bored, introducing ourselves as the finally assembled group of four and dealing with Hisoka, who approached us with an expression that was beyond incredible.

The second exam, on the other hand, proceeded almost exactly as in the original work, with the only difference being that we were criticized for handling the sushi too much. If anything, the biggest trouble was that Gin, who was so absorbed in the Great Stamp, almost missed the airship needed to move to the next location.

Still, seeing Chairman Netero in person for the first time was intense. At my current level, I don't think I stand a chance against him. His signature technique, the Hundred-Style Kannon, goes without saying, but the fact that he's an Enhancement-type Nen user who's been training for centuries makes him undeniably powerful. It made me realize just how high the goal I'm aiming for truly is, but it's exhilarating.

I accidentally let some aura slip, and Killua fled at incredible speed, but I managed to catch him.

***

Inside the airship heading to the third exam venue, the waiting room reserved for examiners was filled with four professional hunters: the three who had conducted the previous exams and Netero. After finishing their meals and reports, everyone relaxed, and Menchi, who had conducted the second exam, asked questions about the candidates.

"Just to be clear, we're supposed to fail everyone, but this year's candidates are pretty impressive, aren't they? If we're talking about newcomers, number 294 isn't bad, I think."

"I thought number 99 was good. Considering their age, they've got real talent."

"Eh, that kid looks cocky. I'll admit they've got potential, but what about you, Buhara?"

"Hmm, to be honest, I didn't really pay that much attention, but if we're talking newcomers, I'd go with number 99 too."

"No way, that kid must have a terrible personality."

While watching the others get excited about who's good and who's not, Netero, who joined midway through the second exam and is uncertain of his judgment, asks about a candidate who's caught his interest.

"Hm, I'm interested in number 405 at first glance, but is there something concerning about him that no one's mentioning?"

The three remain silent with ambiguous expressions. After exchanging glances, Satotz, the eldest and the one who has been observing the longest, speaks up.

"There's nothing to complain about regarding his physical ability, judgment, and Nen usage. To be honest, we can't fully assess him."

They then report on the first exam, noting that he not only possesses remarkable physical ability but also the discretion to conceal his psychic abilities, and that his handling of candidate number 44, Hisoka, left a deep impression on them.

"He was able to communicate normally with candidate 44, who could be called a madman, and not only that, but he seemed to have some measure of control over him. In terms of combat ability, he would likely rank among the top professional hunters."

"Ah, so that's why number 44 was so calm. I knew about the previous exam, so I thought he'd be more aggressive. But after he released that killing intent at first, he seemed to lose interest. That was pretty irritating."

The report continues with high praise for his ability to control beasts with his spiritual energy, his generally calm and straightforward behavior, and other exceptional qualities.

Listening silently, Netero began to piece together the background of number 405 and form an impression of the person. He likely thought that adding a touch of youthful charm to that free-spirited individual would be quite appropriate.

"Hmph, so this year is not only a rare year of exceptional talent, but there's also an incredibly promising prospect. I only intended to watch for a bit, but I think I'll stay until the end."

Netero, the top hunter, suddenly decided to accompany the exam, but the three examiners were in complete agreement. Normally, once their assigned exams were finished, the examiners were free to do as they pleased and had no obligation to follow the rest of the exams. Despite this, all three of them intended to stay until the end, just like Netero, and were very curious to see how everything would unfold.

"Well, now that that's decided, let's take a stroll and assess the candidates."

"I don't think it's necessary to tell the chairman, but please don't overdo the fun."

"Hahaha, that's an impossible request. Enjoying myself is the secret to my youth."

As he laughed and walked out of the waiting room, his vitality was overflowing, and it was hard to believe he was over 100 years old.

Isaac Netero, the legendary hunter renowned for his skills and reputation, and those who become his playmates, whether it's a blessing or a curse.

"By the way, the chairman keeps staring at my chest. Can I report him for sexual harassment or power harassment?"

"…I think you have a problem with your outfit too."

Lechery is also one of Netero's secrets to staying young.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, enjoying a brief rest before we arrive at the third exam venue.

On the airship heading to Trick Tower, the site of our third exam, Leorio and Kurapika decided to rest early, so Killua and I explored the ship instead. Those psychopathic stares I'd been feeling all day have finally disappeared, and both Gin and I can relax at last.

By the time Gon and Killua had finished exploring the ship, Netero, who had been wandering the corridors, spotted the two of them in the distance and let out a smile.

(Hmm, maybe I'll tease them a bit.)

With a mischievous expression, he sent a slight wave of aura infused with fighting spirit toward them. As expected, they reacted quickly and turned around, but at the same time, he swiftly passed by, making it appear as though he was approaching from the front.

"Ho ho, was there someone behind you?"

Netero's little prank was half successful. Killua, who had figured out his trick, wore a sullen expression, while Gon watched everything with sparkling eyes. Gin, who had been dozing earlier, was also hit by the fighting energy and was now ready to move at a moment's notice.

Seeing such young talent up close, Netero—who was aware that his prime had passed and he had grown more mellow—felt the urge to meddle.

"As expected, the young ones are full of energy. How about it? Will you join me for a bit?"

"Huh? Why us?" "Of course! Killua too!" "...Fine, just a little."

Killua tries to refuse, but gives in to Gon's enthusiasm and agrees to participate for a short while.

Netero smiles at their reaction and heads toward the exercise area to explain the game.

"What we're going to do is a simple ball game. If you can take the ball from me, you win, and as a bonus, I'll let you pass the Hunter Exam."

Surprised yet skeptical, Killua questions Netero, who unexpectedly offers passing the Hunter Exam as a prize.

"Are you serious about letting us pass? Isn't there some other condition?"

"Hmm, that's right. Killua, you may only use your right hand and right foot against me. Additionally, I will not attack you."

"...What?"

"As for Gon over there... 'The use of Nen is limited to the Enhancement level. No other restrictions.'"

Killua begins to emit a murderous aura at the difference in conditions between himself and Gon, while Gon observes the aura Netero has manifested into visible text.

As expected, Gon asks about additional conditions, since the flow differs from the original story.

"Is the challenge one-on-one? Can Gin join too?"

"Challenges are one at a time, and no pets on your side."

While Gon starts stretching, saying "Got it," Killua, feeling disrespected, takes a step toward Netero.

"Then I'll go first. Don't regret it, old man."

"Ho ho ho, come on, little brat."

(I'll make you eat your words.)

The killing intent that had been emanating from Killua suddenly vanished, and he moved with a specialized technique that combined quick and slow movements, as if he had split into multiple copies.

"Huh."

"Wow."

Using the advanced assassination technique known as "limb bending," Killua performed fluid, unpredictable movements, feinted at the ball, and delivered a powerful kick to Netero's standing leg. The collision sounded unusually heavy, and Killua was the one who took damage.

"Ugh!"

Netero casually watches Killua retreat while holding his kicked leg, showing no reaction to the feint. Killua's frantic movements alone give him a slightly comical appearance.

"Damn it! Gon! Switch!"

Having taken damage he couldn't ignore due to his all-out effort, Killua reluctantly requests Gon to take his place.

Gon, excited by the raw physicality of the fight, finished his stretches, took a deep breath, and walked straight toward Netero.

(...What the hell? At his age, he's got some serious skills. It's like peering into the depths of the ocean or looking up at an ancient tree.)

Netero, who had reached this level in his later years, found Gon's combination of youth and skill to be a terrifying contrast.

Gon slowly approached and extended his right hand toward the ball. Understanding his intent, Netero interlocked his left hand with Gon's.

From the moment the two shared a smile, Killua couldn't stop sweating and trembling. At first glance, it looked like they were simply gripping each other with one hand, but even from a distance, Killua could sense the unimaginable force being exerted between their bodies.

What had started as an evenly matched struggle gradually began to tilt in Gon's favor. Netero's body trembled, sweat poured out, and as he was slowly pushed back, he eventually exhaled and shouted.

"I give up! Let's take a break!"

"Ho ho, you've still got a long way to go."

Watching Gon walk toward Killua while loosening his arms, Netero glanced at his own left hand, which was trembling slightly.

(This is strange. Even though it's not my dominant hand, I shouldn't be struggling this much, both in terms of aura and physical strength.)

Watching the two of them get excited about their strategy, he hurriedly urged them to continue before time ran out.

While fending off Killua, who was trying to exploit his disadvantage of being limited to one hand and one foot by varying his attacks, the aftereffects of the earlier strength contest lingered in Netero's mind.

(This is getting serious. I just meant to play around a bit, but this is becoming intense.)

The game had only just begun, and he smiled even more, wondering what they would show him next.

How much time had passed? Killua was gasping for breath, and Gon could no longer hide his fatigue. In contrast, Netero was sweating but breathing steadily, still showing no signs of exhaustion.

"Enough! Stop! Damn it, if we keep this up, it'll affect tomorrow!"

As expected, Killua was the first to give up. He gathered his jacket and shoes and headed for the exit. Turning back to Gon, who was taking a break, he opened his mouth with a complex expression of regret and sadness.

"It's frustrating, but I got too cocky. Honestly, I didn't think there was such a big difference between me and Gon. But this is just temporary! I'll catch up soon, so wait and see, you bastard! And make that old man eat his words!"

After watching Killua run off screaming, Gon couldn't help but suppress a laugh. Netero also watched the two of them with a smile.

"Ho ho ho, I thought he was harboring darkness, but he's quite a straightforward good kid after all."

"Yeah. I really respect him. If I were in Killua's position, I couldn't have done what he did."

"Well, he has his way of living, and you have yours. Respect him, but don't let it make you feel inferior."

Gon is impressed by Netero, who is unusually serious—to the point that anyone who knows him would be surprised. It's getting late, and if he doesn't hurry, it might affect his performance in the third exam.

"Chairman Netero, Killua said it too, so can I go all out one last time?"

The swelling aura awakens Gin, who was sleeping peacefully in the corner.

Netero, who had come into close contact with Gon, realized that he had underestimated him and adjusted his assessment.

"If you can ensure that tomorrow's exam isn't affected and the ship isn't damaged, then I'll allow it. But there will be no extra points for passing."

"Thank you. I'll give it my all under those conditions!"

As Gon's aura surged, Netero also raised his own aura, and Gon uttered the name of what appeared to be his ability.

"—!"

"Huh!?"

Still stunned in the training area, Netero begins to analyze Gon's psychic abilities based on what he had just witnessed.

(Impossible. What kind of restrictions and oaths would be required to achieve that? There must be another ability separate from the one he activated, but if that's the case, I have no idea what his lineage is.)

Though he had been thoroughly humiliated, Netero felt a surge of energy he hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Interacting with young talent is the secret to staying young," he thought, and with a broad smile, he headed back to his room, telling the control room to fly as slowly as possible.

"That kid might become stronger than me."

Meanwhile, a certain pervert who had been daydreaming and sleeping woke up suddenly, but thinking it was just his imagination, he went back to sleep to continue his dream about Gon.

———

Author’s message:

Please note that this is full of convenient plot devices.

Ability Name: Muscle Reserve (Muscle is Power)

System: Focuses on Manipulation with some Specialist traits and Enhancement.

Restrictions and Oaths:
You can store muscle that you currently have or will gain in the future, but your regular muscle mass will decrease. There is almost no risk when returning to your original muscle, but if you enhance it beyond your original level, it will cause a backlash, causing your original muscle to atrophy (officially adopted with permission from Kiyumi O).

Additional Explanation:
Honestly, this is a toned-down version of Gon's adult transformation ability. It doesn't reach the same level of enhancement, but it can be used as a short-term boost without sacrificing everything.

This was the first ability I created for my version of Gon.

As mentioned briefly, my Gon awakened to Nen early, causing his growth rate to become bugged (as mentioned in the comments for Chapter 0.5's note). As a result, his base height is already between that of Kurapika and Leorio.

With muscles to match, his base form is just a smaller version of adult Gon.

However, that wouldn't fool Mito, so I referenced Biscuit to recreate his original appearance.

I imagine this ability as a combination of Manipulation-type muscle control, a Specialist trait that allows muscle storage, and Enhancement-type abilities that can surpass his original muscle mass in critical situations.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, it's Gon Freecss here, feeling refreshed after returning to my original body, even if only for a little while.

Gin, you can come back once the fourth exam starts, so please wait just a little longer.

Last night was incredible. Though we couldn't take the ball until the very end, we at least made Chairman Netero break a sweat and got to see that surprised expression on his face. Even if it was just a game, feeling like I'm getting closer to Gon-san gives me the motivation I need for what lies ahead.

Anyway, moving on to the third exam: Trick Tower. This tower serves as a prison for vicious criminals and is said to be completely impregnable. To pass the exam, we must descend from the rooftop all the way to the first floor. At first glance, the rooftop appears empty, but hidden floors meant for the first person to reach them are scattered throughout the structure, and each participant must proceed along their respective routes.

Actually, this third exam has one specific purpose: to have the team members gain an understanding of "nen" for the sake of strengthening the group. The ideal progression is for them to learn about "nen" during the third exam, gain a foothold for awakening in the fourth exam, and achieve full awakening at Kukuru Mountain.

To make this happen, we need to choose the same majority decision path as in the original story, but since we don't know where it is, we just need to find it quickly.

Hmm, the pervert who's supposed to pass the third exam in first place is approaching. What's he up to?

***

Some time had passed since the start of the third exam, and in a corner of the rooftop where half of the examinees had already been eliminated, Gon and the others had gathered with Hisoka to discuss various matters.

The topic of discussion was whether to use the hidden floor Hisoka had discovered, but as expected, the reactions weren't exactly enthusiastic.

"The method is a trade secret, but these five entrances all lead to the same room. If we go together, it should be easier to clear. That's why I invited you all."

After being brushed off by Gon all this time, Hisoka had stumbled upon five hidden floors that all led to the same destination. He approached Gon, who seemed lost in thought, and to his surprise, Gon appeared eager to discuss it.

They had gathered to talk it over together, but the other three weren't very enthusiastic, so they pressed them for their reasons.

"I don't trust him."

"It just feels wrong, so I'll pass."

"Even if they're entrances to the same room, there's a possibility of a battle royale. Could he be targeting that because of his obsession with Gon?"

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it, but that's pretty harsh."

Each had their own valid concerns, leaving Gon to ponder what to do. Especially in response to Kurapika, who raised specific worries, Hisoka shared his own thoughts, mixing facts with personal opinions.

"Actually, this is my second time taking this exam. What I've learned is that the exam content is always very specific. If they were going to make the candidates fight each other, they'd announce that upfront. Though, to be honest, there's a part of me that thinks it'd be a nice bonus if I could fight Gon in a battle royale."

Even after hearing that explanation, the other three remained hesitant. It was clear that wasting more time would be problematic, but since Hisoka couldn't be trusted, the conversation was at a standstill.

"Everyone, wanting to take the same route is just my own selfishness. If we miss this chance to separate from the other examinees, the next opportunity might not come until the exam itself."

From Gon's perspective, since he knows it's not a battle royale, he desperately wants to take this route to strengthen his friends. However, to convince them to proceed despite the risk of stepping on the landmine that is Hisoka, he needs to give them a compelling reason, so he plays his card about Nen.

"Leorio and Kurapika, you both felt something was off when you first met Hisoka at the exam site and asked me about it, right? Killua, you also thought something was strange during yesterday's battle with Chairman Netero, didn't you?"

Ignoring Hisoka, who looks shocked to hear about such an enjoyable incident, Gon addresses the three's suspicions.

"That's a proper technique with both theoretical foundation and practical application. It's something everyone inherently possesses, and with training, everyone can learn to use it."

When told that it's a systematized technique that can be mastered through training, their interest is immediately piqued, having experienced it firsthand.

"It's classified technology, so I can't reveal specifics yet, but I'll explain the benefits each of you could gain."

He explains to Leorio that it could be tremendously advantageous for his future as a doctor, to Kurapika that all members of the Phantom Troupe, his enemies, possess this power, and that he must master it to stand against them, and to Killua that without this power, he would never be able to catch up to him, no matter how long he trained.

The three of them, who had been hesitating until just moments ago, were already quite eager to choose this path after hearing Gon's explanation.

"I have a question. If this is classified technology that can only be taught in a place where no other candidates are present, doesn't that mean it's not something to be taken lightly? Honestly, I'd like to learn it right now, but if it would negatively impact Gon's exam performance, I'm fine with waiting until after the exam."

"Thanks for worrying about me, Kurapika. It'll probably be fine. It's more of an unwritten rule not to spread it around carelessly, and anyway, it's a mandatory skill once you become a professional Hunter."

With Kurapika's concerns dismissed as unfounded, the three of them finally decide to choose this route. They settle on their hiding spots and, as a final confirmation, Gon speaks up.

"So, if it turns out to be a battle royale, we'll focus on taking out Hisoka first. If not, we'll work together to clear it!"

"Alright!"

"That's pretty harsh, don't you think?"

The five of them timed their movements perfectly, passed through the hidden floor, and successfully started the majority vote route, aiming to clear the third exam.

Hisoka had been coldly dismissed, but he couldn't suppress the excitement building in his chest at being surrounded by the members who would be the most watched in this exam.

***

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[20 Advanced Chs] [14 Chapters/week]

Chapter Text

Hello everyone, I'm Gon Freecss, the Nen Evangelist.

Gon and his group have successfully started their journey through the majority rule trials and completed several tutorials. Now, Gon begins to explain the basics of Nen.

"First, the name of this power that Hisoka and I use is called 'Nen.' In simple terms, it's a technique that harnesses the innate abilities of living beings to create supernatural phenomena."

Killua and the others focus intently, not wanting to miss a single word of the explanation, while Hisoka eagerly awaits what Gon will say next.

"Basically, Nen users are stronger than non-Nen users. Just being able to manipulate aura makes you stronger, but adding Nen abilities makes you even more powerful."

Confused by the unfamiliar terms "aura" and "Nen ability," the three friends need a more relatable example.

"Think of a faucet and a garden hose. The faucet and hose represent your body, and the water flowing through them is your aura. Right now, you three are like faucets left slightly open, letting the water flow freely without control. Hisoka and I have learned to attach a nozzle to the end of our hose, allowing us to control the flow of water however we want."

"Sorry, but you mentioned that handling aura and Nen abilities are different things. Can you explain that part?"

Kurapika, judging that the basic explanation was complete, asked the question that had been weighing on his mind. Gon, confirming that Leorio and Killua were following along, answered.

"Handling aura is like controlling the water flow in my previous example, grabbing the end of the hose to stop the flow or increase the pressure. Once you can do that, you can call yourself a Nen user. Nen abilities, on the other hand, are the pinnacle of a Nen user's skills, the power to manifest whatever abilities you desire."

Kurapika pondered this explanation for a moment, then Leorio raised another point that was bothering him.

"From what you said back on the rooftop, it sounds like some kind of dream power that can do anything, but that's impossible, right?"

"You're half right. Basically, you can create any ability you want. But whether you can actually use that ability depends entirely on the individual. Even if you attach a fire hose nozzle to a regular garden hose, it won't work properly if your water supply is just normal household pressure, right?"

"So if you could generate infinite aura, you could achieve any ability?"

"You'd also need a body that couldn't be destroyed. The hose would burst from the water pressure. The important thing is to create Nen abilities that match both the aura you can generate and the body you've trained."

Leorio nodded in understanding. When Gon looked over at Killua, who hadn't asked anything yet, Killua seemed to remember something and asked a question at just the right moment.

"So that's why the old man, the Chairman, was so incredibly tough yesterday? And Gon's strength is unbelievable too. Can you tell me which of the things you did yesterday were Nen abilities?"

"There were no Nen abilities in what Killua saw. It's like when water pressure increases, the force becomes stronger, and when pressure is applied, the hose becomes harder. Also, you shouldn't ask others about their Nen abilities unless you're really close to them. Some abilities are deadly to reveal to strangers, and others are powerful precisely because no one knows about them."

"Hmm, so will Gon tell us if we ask?"

Killua, still feeling a bit frustrated from yesterday's events, realized he was being somewhat petty, but he couldn't help asking Gon about Nen abilities. Kurapika and Leorio also seemed interested, glancing cautiously at Gon.

"Of course I'll tell you! But not yet. If you don't have a solid understanding of your own abilities first, it might negatively influence your development."

Gon answered immediately, addressing not just Killua but all three of them. The three friends, who had just been declared close enough to share such secrets, looked at each other, feeling a bit embarrassed but not entirely displeased.

"Then I'll definitely tell you once my ability is decided. If you could give me some advice, that would be really helpful."

"Teach me more too. I'm curious about what's possible and how it might apply to healing."

"Well, I've got a rough idea of how to catch up, so just wait and see."

Gon smiles broadly at his friends' responses, while Hisoka basks in the joy of watching the four interact.

"Won't you teach me too? ♥"

"I wouldn't want to teach you privately, even during a fight. You don't mind spoilers, do you, Hisoka?"

"That's a shame. I'm looking forward to it."

As more detailed explanations and questions were exchanged, the five of them proceeded smoothly toward the majority decision trials. There were no major obstacles or conflicts, and even Leorio and Killua began to lose their initial tension and concentration.

Before Gon's group, a bottomless pit appears with a ring positioned in its center. On the other side of the ring, six hooded figures stand waiting, and tension rises among the group as this is the first non-trap test they've encountered.

"Candidates will engage in one-on-one battles in the ring. If you lose more than once, you're disqualified. Even if you win, you'll lose the time spent on losing matches. The details of each battle will be explained by your opponent. That is all."

As soon as the examiner's announcement ended, one prisoner removed his hood and stepped forward to explain the rules of the test.

The content of each battle and how victory is determined are entirely up to each prisoner. Leorio protests that the rules heavily favor the prisoners, but his protest is rejected. Since they're told they'll fail if they don't decide on the first challenger, they have no choice but to comply. After a brief discussion, Hisoka decides to step into the ring to assess the situation.

Finally, the decisive moment of the Trick Tower majority vote has arrived, and the five consecutive battles that will consume so much time are about to begin.

To be honest, I didn't think that simply having Hisoka accompany us instead of Tonpa would make this journey so much easier. Thanks to him, I've mostly finished explaining the concept of "Nen" to Killua and the others, and we should be able to avoid any major delays, so this must be the proper route.

With Hisoka stepping onto the ring, one of the hooded men also steps forward, but it's not the one who explained the rules earlier. There are six of them, so the numbers don't match up, and I have no idea what's going on, but Hisoka won't lose, so let's just watch and see what happens.

The man who emerged after shedding his hood was not a prisoner but a rugged man with prominent scars covering his face. He raised his eyebrows and glared at Hisoka, then raised his voice and unleashed murderous intent toward him.

"I've been waiting for this moment, Hisoka! I became a demon just to get my revenge on you!"

"...Hmm... Sorry, I can't remember. Who are you?"

Hisoka, completely uninterested in the enraged man, stood in stark contrast to his opponent's fury. However, Hisoka wasn't letting his guard down, he had judged from the man's aura that he was also a Nen user with the ability to at least injure him.

"If you say you've forgotten, then I'll remind you! Ever since I lost to you in last year's exam, I haven't forgotten for a single moment! I've been living all this time just to kill you here today and settle our past!"

Hearing the man's agonized scream, Hisoka finally remembered his face and completely changed his attitude, becoming friendly.

"Oh, I remember now. You were the examiner from last year, weren't you? ♦ I've been meaning to thank you for that. ♥"

Confused by Hisoka's sudden familiarity, the man was taken aback, but Hisoka continued speaking rapidly.

"Thanks to you disqualifying me last year, I had a dream-like encounter this year. ♥ I think I had a negative image of you before the exam started, but now it's all positive. ♦ As a token of my gratitude, I'll grant you one wish."

Seeing Hisoka's overly cheerful demeanor, no longer viewing him as an enemy, the man's anger reached its peak. He wrapped himself in dark, cold killing intent and announced the rules.

"Don't mock me! The rules are a death match, a fight to the death until one of us stops breathing!"

"...I understand. I'll let you go first. Come at me whenever you're ready."

Having reached his limit with the man's constantly condescending attitude, he drew his two curved swords without waiting for any signal and hurled them with all his strength.

Hisoka easily dodged the curved swords, which were moving at incredible speed. The man swung his two remaining swords and closed in on Hisoka. The swords he had thrown earlier changed direction like boomerangs and targeted Hisoka from behind. The man attacked at the exact moment the thrown swords returned, confident in his victory against Hisoka, who remained standing almost motionless.

"Die, Hisoka! Perish under my ultimate technique, the Infinite Four-Sword Style!!"

Only Gon and Killua were able to see what happened next, and they barely managed to discern what had occurred.

Just before the four curved swords could strike, Hisoka flashed the playing cards he had pinched between his fingers. With that single motion, the two curved swords approaching from behind, the two curved swords held by the man, and the man's neck were all severed in one clean stroke.

The severed curved swords and the man's head rolled lifelessly across the ring, while the headless body continued moving forward for a few more steps before collapsing onto the ring as well. The man's head, frozen in an expression of dark satisfaction at having killed Hisoka, showed no sign that he realized he was dead.

"I really did appreciate you. ♦ So as a thank-you, I killed you in one swift blow. ♠ Sleep well in that convenient dream from which you'll never wake. ♣"

After glancing at the man's expression, Hisoka turned away, and the man's memory was completely erased from Hisoka's mind.

Hisoka had no interest in broken toys; what interested him were promising young fruits and toys worth playing with.

While the other three stood speechless at Hisoka's unexpected display of power, Gon, who had recognized the high level of the battle that had just occurred, clapped his hands to greet Hisoka.

Aware of the bond between them, Hisoka, unusually for him, smiled naturally and high-fived Gon.

***

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[10 Advanced Chs] [14 Chapters/week]

Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss. After my battle with Hisoka, the story has progressed almost exactly as it did in the original manga, so there isn't much to discuss.

Following Hisoka's victory, both Kurapika and Leorio ended up with one win and one loss, staying true to the original storyline. While Kurapika secured a solid victory, he couldn't control his opponent as effectively as he had in the original story. He delivered two additional blows to Majitani, nearly killing him in the process.

In contrast, Leorio scolded Kurapika for his recklessness and showed his maturity by treating Majitani's injuries. The match ultimately ended in defeat for Leorio, who lost the rock-paper-scissors tiebreaker just as in the original story. However, he refrained from making any inappropriate comments toward the female prisoner and accurately guessed her gender, displaying a level of integrity that wasn't present in the original timeline.

Killua and I proceeded exactly as we had in the original work, resulting in a 4-1 victory for our group, surpassing the original work's win rate.

In the waiting room where our group had to remain due to Leorio's defeat, we briefly rested in amenities that seemed more suited for prison guards than a detention center.

The topic of conversation naturally turned to Hisoka, and Leorio and Kurapika, who had no idea what had transpired, couldn't even begin to fathom Hisoka's true strength.

"Wait, Nen is really like cheating, isn't it? How can a simple deck of cards cut through a knife, let alone slice a person's neck? Anyone who can't use it has no chance of winning."

Killua, who had barely grasped what Hisoka had accomplished, was once again overwhelmed by Nen's extraordinary nature. For instance, if you were wearing metal armor and knew it could be shattered to pieces with a single playing card, it would be utterly demoralizing.

"It's good that you understand Hisoka's strength, but don't think this is normal. In terms of combat power, he's definitely world-class."

"How embarrassing ♥"

Now that Killua and the others had come to understand the true terror of Nen, I suggested we make good use of our waiting time.

"We definitely don't have enough time, but let's start training to awaken your Nen. First, you three need to focus on recognizing the aura flowing around you and learning to keep it circulating around your bodies."

The exercise was meditation. They had to strongly believe they possessed aura, concentrate their minds, and begin by recognizing the aura flowing around them.

"I thought Gon would do that, but he's not forcing it open, is he?"

After confirming that Killua and the others had begun meditating in their preferred positions, Hisoka, who now had some free time, posed this question. Even from Hisoka's perspective, there was no doubt the three possessed talent, so he naturally assumed that opening their aura nodes quickly would be the optimal approach.

"I've mostly learned this on my own and don't know the proper method. I can't risk putting everyone in danger. Besides, Hisoka..."

If there was a chance they might not awaken, that would be one thing, but the three of them awakening to Nen was a foregone conclusion. From my perspective, there was no need to take unnecessary risks, and since I trusted the three of them more than Hisoka did, I even thought he was underestimating them.

"Of course, it depends on the remaining exam schedule, but I think there's a good chance they'll awaken during the exam itself."

I spoke with confidence, and while Hisoka seemed slightly taken aback, he realized that if that happened, his own enjoyment would only increase.

With the three of us having started meditation, Hisoka, now idle, passed the time building a card tower while struggling to suppress the aura threatening to escape his control.

Having exerted himself in battle, Hisoka felt heat building deep within his body and was aware that he would soon be unable to contain it.

Of course, no matter how much talent one possesses, Nen isn't something that can be awakened in just a few hours. With Killua and the others feeling discouraged by the lack of immediate results, we decided to focus on the Trick Tower—the next Hunter Exam challenge.

There were more vicious traps than in the first half, but none of our members were weak enough to be troubled by them. As a result, we cleared the third exam in the same order as the original story, with about ten hours to spare.

After the third exam ended, Killua and the others continued their meditation. Using Gin as a weight for self-training, I was already thinking ahead to the fourth exam.

In the week-long ordeal, how quickly could we gather the license plates? Where would we establish our base for training after collecting them? And above all, how would we navigate the intense competition among the examinees?

Illumi—also known as Gitarakuru—who had already passed the third exam, showed no signs of concern for us. Even I, who knew Illumi from the original story, couldn't understand his motives. I was prepared for the worst-case scenario of Illumi interfering during the license plate battle with Hisoka.

(I have no idea what he's thinking, so the only solution is to prepare for the worst. For the fourth exam, I'll have to rely on Gin to make up for what I couldn't accomplish before.)

My partner, who could barely move due to the effects of compressing his body to the limit, would undoubtedly take the initiative once freed from these constraints. As Tonpa had mentioned in the original story, being a Hunter is a profession where teamwork is crucial, so helping out Leorio or Kurapika shouldn't pose any problems.

When the remaining time dropped below an hour, Tonpa crawled to the goal, bringing the total number of Trick Tower conquerors to 32. We had passed the third exam.

The first full-power battle using Nen between Hisoka and me in this timeline, the battle that would bring significant changes to Hisoka's future, was just moments away.

I struggled to suppress my overflowing aura, unable to hold back the aggressive smile that began to form on my face.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, and I can barely contain my excitement for the fourth exam that's about to begin.

The fourth exam is a battle royale between examinees on a deserted island to collect license plates. The moment the exam details were announced, every elite examinee who had made it this far instinctively distanced themselves from a certain person.

At the center of the empty zone stands Hisoka, clutching his body tightly. His expression is a complex mix of joy and sorrow, and the aura radiating from him is filled with malevolent energy that instills fear and despair in anyone nearby.

As everyone watches Hisoka warily, the rules are explained: each participant must collect six license plates, three points for their own plate and one point for each of the other five plates, and defend them for a full week to pass the exam.

"Now, in the order you cleared the third exam, draw a lottery ticket from this box with your target number written on it. The order for entering the island will be the same. Move quickly without wasting time."

As the examinees drew their lottery tickets, Gon and the others, who had cleared the exam simultaneously due to the majority rule, decided to draw in the order of their five consecutive battles with the prisoners. Even during the discussion, Gon and Hisoka avoid making eye contact, but to the examiners and Gitakuru, their auras seem to be crushing each other in an invisible battle.

Finally, it's Gon's turn. After taking a deep breath, he pulls a slip of paper from the nearly empty box. Confirming the number 44 written on it, Gon holds it up so everyone can see and declares to Hisoka.

"Once we get to the island, I'll come get your plate, so find a good spot and wait for me."

"~♥ Ah, I'll be waiting, Gon~♥ Come see me as soon as you can~♥"

With their auras no longer concealed, the surrounding area was overwhelmed by their presence. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Netero hinted at disqualification, and the drawing of tickets resumed.

"Sorry everyone! I got a little too excited."

During the short journey to the island, Gon, who had been overflowing with aura, apologized profusely to Killua and the others. Since he had been facing Hisoka with his aura, it was better than being faced directly, but it was by no means a pleasant experience for them.

"Well, at least we knew what was happening, so we were better off than the others. It's fine now. Are you really okay? The enemy is Hisoka, you know?"

Killua spoke up on behalf of the group, expressing his concerns about the previous declaration of war. Since it was a survival game, there was no reason to fight honorably, and if necessary, they could clear the stage by collecting three plates from other participants.

Kurapika and Leorio also suggested taking precautions after witnessing Hisoka's true strength in the Trick Tower.

"If we could be certain of victory, that might be different, but judging from Gon and Hisoka's reactions, their abilities are evenly matched. It might be too late now, but there's no reason to deliberately put ourselves in danger."

"You're right, Gon. We owe him a favor from the Trick Tower, but Hisoka doesn't seem like a trustworthy guy. No one will blame you if you avoid him to pass the exam."

Despite feeling guilty for the concern shown by the three, Gon has no intention of backing down from this battle. The dimension he aims for doesn't exist in a place where he's just standing still.

"It's okay! If it comes down to it, Gin will help us, so we won't die at worst. Besides, I'm looking forward to this battle with Hisoka! I'll definitely win so we can train without any reservations. Everyone, gather the plates as quickly as possible!"

Though their time together had been brief, the three knew that Gon wouldn't listen anymore, so they forced wry smiles, thinking it was pointless to meddle further. They decided to make the most of the time they had left and began discussing how to gather the plates as quickly as possible.

"I'll go alone; it's easier that way. If you want, I'll gather extra in case Gon loses."

"Then Leorio and I will work together; it'll be more efficient that way."

"Alright! Count on me, Kurapika!"

As Killua and the others brimmed with determination, Gon narrowed his eyes and silently thanked them once more. As long as Gon aimed to be the strongest, no matter how much he tried to sugarcoat it, he would have to walk the path of a warrior. Even if he stumbled and fell, they would surely reach out a hand and pull him back up.

"Once we're done here, we'll ask Gin to guide us to the next location. If you're still collecting plates, give us a hand."

Shortly thereafter, they arrived at the fourth exam venue, Zebir Island, and the plate-grabbing battle among the 32 examinees began.

***

Hisoka chose a spacious plaza near the center of the island as the meeting place with Gon. With its decent size, it was easy to handle third-party interference and an ideal location for a fair fight without any tricks.

Hisoka, sitting cross-legged at the center of the square, waited for Gon without setting any traps, simply letting his aura surge.

Hisoka had rated Gon at 100 points when they first met, but that was a score that took into account his potential. In terms of combat power alone, he estimated Gon to be around 80 points. Additionally, Hisoka had absolute confidence in his own strength and a tendency to enjoy the process.

In short, Hisoka doesn't even consider the possibility of losing to Gon. All he thinks about is how much he can enjoy himself while bringing out Gon's full potential, and this time, he's just treating it as a taste test. Even arrogance and complacency, which are normally unforgivable, are merely spices for enjoyment in Hisoka's eyes, and since he has never lost, there is no reason for him to change.

On this day, Hisoka comes to deeply understand the unintended defeat brought about by arrogance and carelessness.

***

Gon arrives at the square where Hisoka is waiting, accompanied by Gin. Gin has released the compression he had been maintaining since leaving Whale Island, and his massive frame, twice as large as Gon's, exudes an overwhelming presence.

"Gin, please keep an eye on the surroundings. If anyone tries to interfere, take care of them."

Hisoka is stunned by Gin's completely different appearance, but when he sees Gon walking toward him alone, he pushes the thought to the back of his mind.

Gon stops just two meters away, his usual cheerfulness subdued, his face contorted into a fierce smile filled with fighting spirit.

"It's only been a few days since we met, but it feels like we've been waiting for this moment for years. Please don't break down yet, Gon. Let's spend the best time together."

Hisoka's aura grew even more ominous at the sight of Gon's expression, while Gon's aura emitted a heavy, oppressive pressure, as if gravity had increased.

Even the two professional hunters watching from a distance couldn't hide their trembling as they felt the aftereffects of the aura. Worse still, Gin's warning not to interfere made them realize, whether they wanted to or not, that they were the weak ones here.

"I thought you might be preparing something, but it doesn't look like you're doing anything."

"Of course not. It's their first time, after all. It'd be a waste not to go head-to-head first."

From Hisoka's attitude, Gon realized once again that he was being underestimated. He had felt it in his words and actions before, but seeing it so clearly now made him feel a bit uncomfortable. Though the worry about traps had disappeared, making things easier, he decided to accept this anger as retribution.

"I'll let you take the first move. Show me your strength, Gon."

Those words cut away all of Gon's hesitation.

"...Here we go."

As his aura surged, Gon's form changed. His height stretched to nearly match Hisoka's, and his muscle mass was clearly superior.

His enhanced physical abilities were matched by an elevated aura, making the Gon from moments ago look like a child.

"The punch is aimed at the abdomen, so defend yourself with all your strength."

The aura, further swollen by training, gathered at Gon's feet.

From the planted foot to the twisted waist, through the pumped-up latissimus dorsi muscles, and into the right fist clenched at the shoulder. The transmission of force was reinforced through a fluid motion, and at the moment of impact, the concentration of power achieved even greater force.

In the moment stretched to its limit, Hisoka fought with all his might to survive.

Believing Gon's words, he transformed the hardness in his abdomen into rubber-like elasticity, focusing solely on enhancing its elasticity.

It was too late to slip an arm between them; Hisoka's arrogance and complacency finally caught up with him.

The impact was so intense that even the professional hunters watching couldn't help but look away. However, despite the loud sound, Hisoka only managed to retreat a few meters, leaving behind the imprint of his shoes.

There were two reasons why it ended so lightly. First, Gon's "Ken" technique was superior to Hisoka's "Ken" technique in terms of offensive and defensive power. Second, Hisoka's "Bungee Gum" was exceptionally strong against physical attacks.

"To be honest, I thought I was going to die. If I had known you had such a hidden trick, I wouldn't have let you take the first move."

Despite trying to maintain a composed demeanor while bleeding from his mouth, Hisoka couldn't help but kneel down due to the unexpected damage remaining inside his body.

(This is odd. While that was indeed a remarkable strike, sustaining this much damage is unusual.)

In close combat between Nen users, the defensive power of aura plays a crucial role. Gon's strike was not particularly high in terms of aura defensive power, so sustaining this much damage while being hardened suggests the presence of another factor.

"I was surprised by how smooth your flow was, but you must be hiding something else as well. You're ignoring defensive power way too much."

Using the time to recover from the damage, he asked Gon, who wasn't following up. The blow to his body was slowly draining Hisoka's stamina and willpower with each passing moment.

"Buying time? Fine, but you've got some nice abilities too, Hisoka. Does it feel like rubber or something when you hit it?"

"Hehe, both are correct ♥ My ability combines the properties of gum and rubber. If you could also tell me about your ability while buying time, that would be nice.♠"

Despite being looked down upon by the massive Gon, who bears no resemblance to his usual face, Hisoka maintains his arrogance, is it his pride or his innate temperament?

"My ability is physical enhancement, as you can see. I also have a supporting ability for the flow aspect."

Even though it's obvious, there's still something off about Gon casually revealing his ability.

"That's not all, is it? Those two abilities alone don't explain the difference in offensive and defensive power."

Finally able to stand up, he managed to shake off the humiliation of being looked down upon, but he didn't stop asking questions. It would take some time before he could recover enough to resume the fight.

"Hisoka, have you ever thought it was a waste?"

"…?"

"Hisoka's Bungee Gum is centered around Transmutation abilities, right? Do you incorporate all six systems, including support?"

"…Now that you mention it, I only use Enhancement and Emission. But I don't think using all six systems would make it a stronger ability."

Hisoka responds to Gon's question by explaining his own thoughts. While it is generally considered best to train one's strongest type to the peak and then evenly develop all others, that doesn't mean you should become a jack-of-all-trades. Even if you could create an ability that incorporates all six types, Hisoka believes that your weaker types would hold you back, resulting in a mediocre ability.

"So, Hisoka is wasting the proficiency rates of two systems, Manipulation and Conjuration, except for his special trait, right?"

"What are you trying to say, Gon?"

"Don't you think it's a waste to allocate proficiency rates to systems you don't use?"

"…Gon, are you serious?"

At first, he didn't understand, but as the conversation continued, an answer began to form.

"They're merely auxiliary abilities, meant to enhance my true ability."

The heavy aura emanating from Gon, even assuming he's an Enhancement-type, clearly indicates a high enhancement rate. The words "wouldn't it be a waste to allocate unused mastery rates?"

"The name of the ability is 'Vow'! In exchange for never being able to master the three systems of Emission, Transmutation, and Conjuration again, all unused mastery rates are added to the Enhancement system."

This ability defies the established principles of Nen. It's a reckless pursuit of the ultimate, sacrificing adaptability for a single goal.

"I'm originally a Manipulation-type, so theoretically I can master Enhancement-type at 240%. But right now, 140% is my limit."

Hisoka couldn't believe it, but he also realized that this ability was incredibly troublesome if it was real.

Even now, with the multiplier still low, there's still room to exploit, but once it exceeds 200%, it'll be impossible to handle.

"Enough stalling. I want to pass the exam too. If you're going to blame anyone, blame yourself for letting me take the first move."

Gon closes the distance, his muscles and aura surging. Hisoka has recovered quite a bit, but not enough to ignore it during combat.

"I'll keep hitting you until you make a sound. Is there anything you want to say?"

Regretting having underestimated Gon all this time, he vowed revenge while at least being grateful for not being killed.

"Next time, I'll pay you back. Wait with your neck washed clean, okay?"

Despite his desperate resistance, Hisoka was crushed by the gap in offensive and defensive power and sank into Zebir Island with an ecstatic expression.

***

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[10 Advanced Chs] [14 Chapters/week]

Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who has collected six plates and is now entering the elimination matches.

Just as Gon was beating up Hisoka, candidate number 384, Gereta, witnessed the carnage from the edge of the square.

As a seasoned hunter, Gereta had been certain he'd cleared the fourth exam the moment his target, a child named Gon, was chosen under rules that seemed practically tailored for him.

However, upon closer inspection, Gon had grown larger than Gereta himself, and the madman Hisoka was being beaten senseless in a completely one-sided fight. There was no way he could handle opponents like these.

(I'll just collect three cards from the other candidates. That's the safest bet.)

Gereta decided to abandon Gon and move on, but he took too long to act.

For the first time in his life, Gereta, who had always preyed on others from behind, found himself clearly outflanked. The warm breath on his neck, the wild scent, and the absence of the strange beast that should have been diagonally across from Gon were all signs that something was terribly wrong.

(What an idiot! How could he not notice a beast of that size moving? But he's just an animal. He'll regret not attacking when he had the advantage!)

"Grumble. (What's he doing? Just watching?)"

"(Oh no, I'm going to die...) Um, this is nothing special, but..."

"Grumble?"

Gereta, a hunter who failed the fourth exam. After the exam, he joined an organization dedicated to protecting nature and wildlife, and while working as an amateur hunter with exceptional skills, he also developed his talents as a lecturer and commentator.

One day, during an interview, when asked if he planned to become a professional hunter, Gereta replied, "This is not a world where someone like me can succeed", a statement that further highlighted the harsh reality of hunters to the public.

On Zebir Island, deep within the forest, Killua was wandering aimlessly.

He had already taken the plate from the examinee following him, securing a promising start, but he had no idea where to find his target, number 199, and was walking around unsure of what to do.

(I didn't expect to meet anyone, and I already boasted, so I need to at least get six points to look good.)

"There he is, brother! That's him!"

Just as he was considering shouting to gather people, three examinees surrounded Killua. One of them was the person whose plate Killua had taken earlier, and from their calls, he realized the others were likely their brothers.

"You got beaten by a kid? Get your act together, you coward!"

"Come on, don't say that. Now that we've formed this formation, victory is certain."

"I'm getting my plate back! There's no way you can beat three of us!"

Needless to say, Killua defeated the three attackers and retrieved four plates, including his target's plate numbered 199.

"...Anyone still watching? If the target is among these weaklings, I'll give it to you. Come out."

There was no response to Killua's call for a while, but eventually a young man in ninja attire appeared from a distance. Though initially wary, he relaxed his guard upon seeing that Killua had no intention of fighting.

"You noticed my presence, huh? What's your purpose?"

"I didn't know exactly where you were, but my purpose is to avoid being followed by you from now on. I've gathered six points, and I plan to train after this."

After thinking for a moment, he nodded in agreement.

"...In that case, I'll gladly accept. My target is number 197."

After confirming that the plate thrown by Killua was indeed his target, he put it away and threw his business card to Killua in return.

"My name is Hanzo. I'll repay the favor I received as a ninja, so contact me if you need a hand."

Hanzo disappeared without waiting for a response. Killua remained motionless for a moment before rejoining Gon and the others.

The three brothers, Amori, Iromori, and Umori, failed the fourth exam.Having suffered such a humiliating defeat, they gave up on the next year's exam and joined a local entertainment agency as a trio of comedians.

Thanks to their exceptional physical abilities and distinctive personalities, the trio, known as "The Iu Morimori Brothers' Strange Adventures," became a hit on various variety shows. They were affectionately called "Mori Sanchū" and entertained audiences for many years.

Leorio and Kurapika, who had safely reunited, confirmed what they knew about their respective targets and discussed their plans for the future.

Fortunately, Kurapika's target, Tonpa, was the last person to clear Trick Tower, so both of them had a clear impression of him. The problem was Leorio's target, whom neither of them had any leads on, so they were considering the worst-case scenario of needing to collect three random cards.

"Alright, let's focus on finding the old man at number 16 first, and if we can target others along the way, we'll go for it."

"Hmm, that's probably our only option. If possible, we'd like to finish within three days."

With their plan decided, the two were about to take action when suddenly a large beast rose from the nearby grass.

Kurapika and Leorio instinctively raised their weapons, but Leorio, who had been observing the beast, spoke up.

"Hey, Kurapika, isn't that Gin?"

"Stop saying stupid things and get ready, Leorio! That cute little Gin isn't this big!"

Kurapika's words made sense, but Leorio, who was training himself to observe things as he aimed to become a doctor, could see many similarities between Gin and the beast before them.

"You're Gin, aren't you? Here, sit down and have some of the emergency nuts we had before."

"Guh."

Gin obediently sat down and opened his mouth wide. Leorio apologized for the small amount, given his size, and poured an entire bag of nuts into his mouth. By this point, Kurapika had no choice but to believe, shaking his head in disbelief at the impossible transformation.

"It's definitely a Nen ability. He's way too smart, and something's off about him."

As Leorio spoke while stroking Gin's shiny fur, Kurapika, who had only thought of him as cute before, couldn't help but feel a hint of jealousy. However, the fact that Gin was doing this meant that Gon had defeated Hisoka, and that he had come to help the two of them. Kurapika tried to cheer himself up with this thought.

"Gin, do you remember the middle-aged man who appeared last in the Trick Tower? If possible, I'd like you to take me to him."

"Guh."

As Gin stood up and began leading the way, the two hurriedly followed, feeling the depth of his spiritual power in his previously unseen, reliable figure.

Near the starting position of the fourth exam, behind a rock, candidate number 16, Tonpa, sat dejectedly. The cause of his situation was the route he had chosen in the Trick Tower, the escape route. To put it simply, it was a test where you had to escape from approaching poison gas amid numerous obstacles.

The usual Tonpa would have withdrawn around the third exam for his own safety, but he chose the path of disqualification, which meant certain death, and ended up advancing to the fourth exam. The price he paid was high, and he analyzed that he would need at least two days of rest before he could move properly.

(Is this finally my time to pay my dues? Or will I survive depending on who comes to take it from me?)

It is unclear whether his prayers were answered, but he was later visited by Kurapika and Leorio, who treated him and provided him with nutrients in exchange for the plate. This gave Tonpa some leeway, and although he failed the exam, he was able to complete the Hunter Exam safely and sound.

Tonpa, who failed the fourth exam and was known for crushing newcomers. In the end, he was saved by the very newcomers he had crushed before. After the exam, he resolved to train himself once again and successfully regained his peak physical condition. He continued to participate in the Hunter Exam as long as his body would allow, helping newcomers clear exams beyond their abilities.

And he continued to witness the expressions of betrayal and despair up close in the final moments.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who is delighted that everyone gathered on the second day, unlike in the original story.

Hisoka set off on a journey to collect the remaining plates.

***

Killua and the others joined Gon on the morning of the second day of the exam, just as he was preparing breakfast. Gon had compressed Great Stamp steaks, caught from a nearby pond, along with shellfish and mountain vegetables, creating a hearty meal. However, with the hungry men and Gon eating together, it was devoured in five minutes.

"So Killua and the others have already gathered six points!? That's amazing! Now we can dedicate almost all our time to training!"

"I owe most of it to Killua, but I'm relieved I managed to get one on my own," Leorio said.

Killua smirked smugly, and Leorio, who had been given his plate, couldn't respond strongly, only growling in frustration. The thought of what might have happened if they hadn't obtained the 118th plate during their journey made him shudder.

"♥"

Then Hisoka, who had been deliberately ignoring everyone, puffed out his cheeks like a petulant child and spoke, but his words were barely comprehensible through the swelling.

"It's good that Gon brought the target. We only need three more plates, so it's much better now."

"♥"

"Hey, do you want some ointment for the swelling?" Leorio offered.

"♥"

"Still, were you guys really that evenly matched? That's pretty harsh, don't you think?"

Seeing Hisoka's pitiful state in contrast to Gon's unharmed appearance, even Leorio took out some medicine and handed it to the magician. Curious about the nature of the battle, Killua asked what had happened, and Gon, with a wry smile, explained the basics of the fight.

"It was all Hisoka's carelessness. He gave me the first move, so I went all out and won by damage difference."

"Hmm, so you couldn't tell who was actually stronger?"

Despite Hisoka's carelessness, it had been almost a surprise attack, and Killua, who had been wondering who would win in a fair fight, felt a little disappointed.

"Well, at this stage, I think Hisoka would probably win 8 times out of 10."

Surprised by Gon's unexpected assessment, despite having won without a scratch, Killua and the others looked at Hisoka in astonishment. Despite his swollen face covered in ointment, Hisoka didn't deny the prediction, and it became clear that he shared a similar opinion.

"I realized after the fight that we just don't match up well. I still have a lot to learn."

Gon spoke with a complicated expression, his heart filled with both the joy of victory and the frustration of still not being strong enough.

Seeing Gon like that, Hisoka smiled and, after finishing applying the medicine, stood up and walked toward the forest.

"♦♥"

As Hisoka disappeared from sight with a clear voice and light footsteps, Leorio, who had been holding back, finally spoke his mind.

"How the hell did he manage to make such clear sounds with that swollen face?"

Hisoka, who had walked alone into the forest away from Gon and the others, stopped at a safe distance, looked around, and called out.

"♦"

"Just stay still while I reduce the swelling."

Suddenly, a man with needles protruding from every part of his face emerged from the forest. He nonchalantly pulled out a fresh needle and thrust it deeply into Hisoka's forehead. Hisoka's face twitched several times before the painfully swollen features returned to their original form.

"Thanks ♥ That was pretty painful, you know? ♠"

"If you pull out the needles, it'll swell up again! Leave them in for a while."

The needle-wielding man, now calling himself Gitarakuru, stroked Hisoka's face, which had returned to normal, and asked him about yesterday's battle with a cheerful smile.

"So, I told you not to interfere, but I didn't go to check. How did it go? Well, I can tell just by looking at your face that it didn't go as planned."

"It was even better than I imagined ♥ I thought he was still green, but he's already a prodigy who's starting to bloom ♥"

Illumi, who had known Hisoka for a long time, recognized that this was genuine praise. He had already realized that Hisoka was deeply invested in the boy, as evidenced by the fact that he had specifically asked him not to interfere—but it seemed that Hisoka's interest had grown even stronger.

"Oh no, now I can't get rid of him. I wanted to eliminate that pest crawling around Killua sooner rather than later."

Rarely, Illumi was genuinely disappointed.

He had only briefly observed Gon at the start of the exam, but the quality of his aura and the glimpses of his personality were all types Illumi despised. He had wanted to eliminate the boy during the Hunter Exam, but since Gon had already gained Hisoka's favor, he couldn't bring himself to act, weighing the pros and cons.

"Gon will grow stronger at an accelerating rate from here on out. ♦ From what I saw, what he lacked was practical experience, right? ♠… This is my first time experiencing this thrill of being pursued from behind. ♥"

Despite saying "thrill," Hisoka smiled ecstatically, and Illumi, who knew his nature but couldn't understand it, quickly finished the medical treatment and took out three plates from his pocket.

"Here's the item for the request. Transfer the money to the usual account."

"Got it ♦ Yeah, I'll tell you as a favor since we're friends ♠ Gon is either a Manipulator or Specialist type, so your needles might not work on him ♣"

Receiving the three plates, some of which were stained with blood, Illumi, who was also a Manipulator type, felt no sympathy and just looked annoyed.

"I see. If it's a close-combat style, getting beaten one-sidedly makes sense. If he were an Enhancer type, I could've taken him down."

"True, since I won't get killed, I guess this is what happens when I indulge myself. From now on, I'll have to hold back a bit more."

"Oh, well, I need to collect more plates too, so see you later."

Having heard what he wanted to hear, Illumi turned his back on Hisoka and disappeared into the forest.

Having collected six points, Hisoka decided it was pointless to return with the needle still in his face, so he started walking again. Still basking in the afterglow of yesterday's battle with Gon, he hummed a tune as he wandered aimlessly through the forest.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss and his friends, who spend their days endlessly meditating and sparring. Killua's body movements are like those of a true assassin, I'll keep that in mind.

On the fourth morning after passing the midpoint of the fourth exam, Gon and Hisoka found themselves whispering to each other during their usual post-breakfast meditation time.

"You said you wanted to talk. What's up? Did you separate from everyone else because it's about my abilities?"

Gon believed that Hisoka possessed more knowledge about Nen, so the only thing he could think to ask about was his own abilities. While his abilities wouldn't cause any problems if others found out, he couldn't figure out why Hisoka was bringing it up now.

"If you're going to tell me, I'll listen, but it's not that. I want advice on my new ability."

Hisoka's request was something Gon, as another Nen user, couldn't believe.

Generally, revealing one's abilities to others is pointless unless it's an ability that requires others to know about it. Moreover, asking for advice on a new ability you're creating is something you'd only do if you had an extremely strong trust relationship.

"Hmm, before I give you advice, can I ask why you're asking me?"

"Gon, your idea was eye-opening. I think borrowing that concept could make for a great ability."

Surprised that his evaluation had risen so high, he continued asking questions.

"I don't know how many abilities Hisoka has, but why suddenly increase them? That's a really good ability you have, though."

"I already had another ability that wasn't suited for combat, and it was enough until now ♦ But now that I know about Gon's ability, if I don't do anything, I'll definitely lose ♠"

Currently, thanks to Bungee Gum, which is well-suited for combat techniques and close combat, he holds the upper hand. However, as the enhancement rate of Gon's "brawn over brains" approach increases, the tables will inevitably turn.

He concluded by saying he wanted to increase his options before that happened, and that Gon's words about wasting his potential had really hit home.

"My Bungee Gum is like that too, but I plan to make sure any new abilities I get won't be a problem if they're discovered, so it's fine if they know about them. I got the basic idea yesterday, so I thought I'd ask you now."

"Well, if you're going to say that, I'll give you some advice, but don't be disappointed if I don't have any good ideas."

And the ability explained by Hisoka was:

Ability Name: Undecided
Type: Materialization
Effect: Materializes playing cards with effects corresponding to numbers and suits
Restrictions:

The Ace is the strongest, and the 2 is the weakest, unable to deal damage even to an amateur's aura.

The effect is reduced if not used according to the suit.

Once used, a card disappears, and you can't replenish them until you've used all 53 cards in a set (due to aura limits, you can only materialize two sets at a time during combat).

What is drawn is completely random.

Jokers can be treated as any Ace with your chosen design.

"...Where should I give advice? Should I just go ahead and make it?"

There are no obvious areas to comment on given the highly detailed ability, so I ask what specifically doesn't work.

"The effects of the suits and how Jokers are handled don't feel right. Spades are for cutting, and Diamonds are for throwing, but..."

I think about what I would dislike and propose a solution, along with how to use it.

"Assuming you're using it with regular playing cards for camouflage, wouldn't it be good to have something that's easy to hide and something that's easy to imbue with aura?"

"...That's a good point. Something easy to hide is great, and something easy to imbue with aura would balance it out, so that's not bad either."

With a positive response, I also share my thoughts on the Joker's handling.

"Isn't a high-risk, high-reward Joker more Hisoka's style? If you draw it first, all the other cards become 2s, and if you draw it last, it becomes an Ace with the effect of all the other cards, and you can use it multiple times."

"Let's go with that ♥"

Hisoka excitedly reviews the new settings, making sure nothing is missing and considering any additions.

For Gon, it was a rather troublesome ability that was hard to counter, and he felt frustrated thinking that the gap would widen again once it was completed.

The pervert was excited about their first successful collaboration, while Gon's spirits dropped at the thought of the gap widening.

Gon took a break to clear his mind and wrestled with Killua, but Gon couldn't get into it.

That evening, the first person to reach the "Ten" stage among Killua and the others appeared.

"That was a bit unexpected, but congratulations, Leorio! Welcome to the starting point of Nen!"

"I'm surprised myself, so it's fine, but isn't Gon being a bit rude?"

Surpassing even Killua and Kurapika, Leorio managed to master the technique, albeit imperfectly.

"Sorry, Killua. Not only did you let me have the plate, but you also let me take first place. To thank you, next time I'll bring you some sweets..."

"Uraaa!"

"Hidebu!?"

Killua is frustrated, but Leorio taunts him with an annoyingly smug expression. His taunting is so annoying that Killua hits him pretty hard, but Leorio just touches his cheek in surprise.

"Ah, I see. I can understand why you can't beat a Nen user. No matter how you look at it, the damage is way too small for the impact."

Having experienced the usefulness of Nen firsthand, Leorio's motivation to train intensifies. He presses Gon for the next training content, but is told to continue meditating and improve the accuracy of his Nen, causing him to suddenly deflate.

"I understand that you want to develop Nen quickly, but there's no point in rushing. First, you need to build a solid foundation so that you can develop the abilities you want. Let's keep working hard starting tomorrow, okay?"

Incidentally, Leorio, who had resolved to try harder starting tomorrow, ends up being thoroughly mocked by Killua and Kurapika, who had stayed up all night and not only mastered the technique but also surpassed him in precision.

A week after the fourth exam began, nine candidates gathered at the beach where the exam was to start, just as in the original story.

The examiners, upon seeing the faces of those who had passed, stared at the three who had awakened their Nen abilities with expressions of astonishment.

While it is extremely rare for someone to awaken in just a week, the fact that three people did so at once—and all of them complete novices—was undoubtedly an abnormal situation.

"Ho ho ho, of course the three of them have remarkable talent, but perhaps number 405 is also an excellent instructor," Netero mused, watching the fourth exam passers with a smile, as he pondered the final exam content.

As the examinees rested on the airship heading to the final exam venue, an announcement was made by Hunter Association Chairman Netero that individual interviews would be conducted, and Hisoka, the youngest examinee, was the first to visit Netero.

"There are three questions. This interview will not determine your pass or fail, but it will influence the exam. Tell me your reason for applying, the candidate you're most interested in, and the candidate you least want to fight."

"I don't really have a reason for applying. I just thought it might be convenient to have one ♦ The ones I'm interested in are 99, 403, and 404, but 405 is definitely the one I want to fight ♥ The ones I don't want to fight are 53 and 191. I wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole ♠"

"I see. If there's nothing else you want to say or ask, you may step down."

Netero, who was taking notes on Hisoka's answers while seeming to think about something, looked completely vulnerable, and Hisoka felt his aura drain away.

"As for me, I'd like to fight you too. How can I get you to agree?"

"Well, if you live to be 100, I'll consider it."

Even when Hisoka deliberately unleashed his killing intent, Netero's attitude remained unchanged, and not a single ripple disturbed his aura.

Having quickly given up on the idea, Hisoka reached for the door handle to leave, but at that moment, Netero asked him a question.

"This has nothing to do with the exam. It's just my personal curiosity. Was number 405 strong?"

Hisoka, still holding the doorknob, paused for a few seconds before turning around and telling Netero with a smile as if a weight had been lifted.

"He's a monster ♥"

Hisoka's subsequent interview proceeded almost exactly as in the original story, and finally it was the turn of candidate number 405, Gon.

He was asked the same questions as the other candidates and answered without hesitation.

"My reason for applying is that I aim to be the strongest. The candidate I'm keeping an eye on is number 301, and the ones I don't want to fight are 403 and 404."

"Hmm, may I ask why you're keeping an eye on them and why you don't want to fight them?"

"Number 301 occasionally lets his killing intent slip, so I feel uneasy if I don't keep an eye on him. As for 403 and 404, I know their reasons for applying, and I want them to become hunters, so I don't want to fight them."

"I see. By the way, you're the one who taught the three of them, including No. 99, about Nen, aren't you? Who taught you?"

"I learned about Nen from Kite, a Phantom Beast Hunter. He's my father's disciple, and I happened to meet him."

"I've heard that name before. I see."

While taking notes, he glanced sideways and was met with a straight, sparkling gaze. Even Netero felt uncomfortable under the gaze of respect and envy that differed from that of other hunters and the Twelve Zodiac Signs.

"That's all I wanted to ask. Do you have anything to say?"

When Netero asked Gon, who seemed eager to ask something, he hesitated for a moment before uttering words that surprised Netero.

"I'd like to experience your Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva once."

Netero was surprised not only because he knew about his Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, but also because someone had asked to experience it.

Due to his status and nickname, Netero was often challenged to fights by those seeking to raise their name or by battle-crazed individuals, almost as a daily occurrence. What they all had in common was the desire to win or defeat their opponent.

However, despite stating that he aimed to become the strongest, Gon had never expressed a desire to fight. In other words, he didn't think he could win, but he still wanted to experience the power of the strongest class in order to become stronger.

For the day when he would surpass Netero.

"Ho ho ho!! This is the first time I've been asked such a thing. To be honest, I've been struggling with how to handle you."

Netero saw a reflection of his younger self in Gon's earnest pursuit of becoming the strongest. And he admired that desire to help others, seeing it as a noble quality he didn't inherit from his father.

"Since you once made me look like a fool in a ball game, I'll give you a special test separate from the others."

Netero smiled slyly, and Gon, having caught on, responded with a broad smile.

"Your final test will be to survive my Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva."

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who is suffering because my best friend moved back home while I was recovering from multiple fractures.

That brocon psychopath, seriously.

Two days after the fourth exam ended, the examiners gathered to hear from Netero about the final exam. As they peered at the exam contents handed to them, their expressions grew increasingly grim with each line they read, until eventually everyone fell silent.

"Chairman! Are you serious about this exam!?"

"Come on, this is way too harsh, isn't it?"

"Given the high quality of this year's candidates, I can understand the losers' tournament. But are you seriously planning to have a 12-year-old rookie face the Hundred-Style Kannon?"

"It's serious. Is there a problem? As it says there, the matter of the Hundred-Style Kannon was not my decision—it was the request of No. 405 himself."

Menchi, Buhara, and Satotsu were already confused by the elimination tournament, but they were even more outraged that No. 405 alone was assigned a different exam—the Hundred-Style Kannon, which was Netero's signature move.

However, Netero himself remained unfazed by the criticism, maintaining his nonchalant attitude and even going so far as to shift the blame onto Gon's request.

"Even if it's 405's request, openly discriminating against other examinees is problematic. Without a clear reason for going this far, I can't accept it."

Everyone except Netero agreed with Satotsu's reasonable argument, but Netero showed no signs of backing down and explained the reason for the exam content.

"First of all, an exam where the results are already decided is nonsense. Every candidate should have both opportunities and risks. The elimination tournament takes this into account, and I'm sure you all agree."

The elimination tournament, which takes into account the differences in ability among the examinees, does indeed give all examinees a mix of opportunities and risks, albeit to varying degrees. Satotsu and the others acknowledge this, and no objections are raised.

"Now, regarding candidate number 405, is there anyone who can predict that he will fail? It's awkward for me to say this since I proposed it, but honestly, I can only think that he will definitely pass. That's why I thought it lacked fairness."

The subsequent explanation was also easily imaginable to the examiners who had observed Gon's abilities and popularity up to that point, and if someone were to say that he was being favored, that too could not be denied.

"Well, this is a topic that could go on forever, so initially, I intended to place him at the far left of the bracket. However, as I mentioned earlier, he requested it himself, so we decided to make it an individual exam."

"Was it truly his request? Even though he can use Nen, where did a rookie like him obtain information about the Hundred-Form Kannon?"

"The one who taught him the technique was a phantom beast hunter named Kait, so some of you might know him."

"...I see. He's the disciple of Hunter Jin, and I've heard he's quite skilled. If that's the case, it wouldn't be surprising if he heard about the Hundred-Style Kannon from Jin. So, the one with number 405 is definitely Jin's..."

"There's no doubt he's Jin's son. He calls himself a Freecss, and his face looks just like his."

Menchi was surprised by something else in the conversation between Satotsu and Netero.

"Wait a minute, is that really Double's kid? He's a perfect purebred. I've never met him, so I didn't notice, but that explains why he's so extraordinary."

"Well, they don't really resemble each other in personality. They haven't had any contact since he was old enough to remember."

"Just a bunch of crappy parents."

As the others around them chuckled at Menchi's blunt insult, Satotsu, who had been deep in thought, proposed a compromise regarding Gon's exam.

"I understand the chairman's point of view. However, the difficulty of Exam 405 is still too high compared to the other candidates. Perhaps we should make survival the only qualifying condition."

"That seems reasonable. Does anyone else have any objections?"

Though everyone's expressions remained stiff, they reluctantly agreed to the alternative exam for 405 since they had no valid reasons to object.

After confirming this, Netero nodded firmly and instructed his secretary, Beans, to bring 405.

"The exam will begin immediately. Bring 405 here."

"The exam now!?"

"Relax, the time was already communicated during the interview. The exam location is an abandoned wilderness on the outskirts of the city. Medical staff are already on standby, so let's get moving."

The examiners were disheartened to realize that everything had been under Netero's control, but since they were also curious about the exam, they followed Netero out of the room without saying a word.

***

In the outskirts of the city, there was a barren wasteland with no vegetation in sight. Several figures and small tents could be seen scattered across the area.

Gon and Netero faced each other, while the examiners and medical staff from the Hunter Association watched nervously from a distance.

"Well, if there are no objections, let's get started. I'll even accept your last words."

Gon's face was slightly tense with a mixture of tension and anticipation as he faced Netero, who was smiling maliciously.

The aura emanating from Gon was worlds apart from what it had been on the airship, and even Netero and the examiners could feel his determination and resolve.

"As you know, my Hundred-Form Kannon is an unavoidable swift attack. I'll strike the moment your preparations are complete, so brace yourself with all your strength."

"Got it!! I'll push my limits to the max!!"

As Gon spoke, his body began to grow rapidly, surpassing even the form Netero had seen on the airship, with an additional layer of muscle thickness.

"Come on!!"

With a split-second burst of determination, an aura that even the examiners trembled at enveloped Gon.

"Hundred-Style Kannon, First Palm"

The palm of the Kannon deity fell onto the barren land.

Even Satotsu and the others, who were at a distance, could not see the strike despite their full concentration.

Though the Kannon had vanished, the dust swirling around where Gon had stood clearly testified to the ferocity of the strike.

Even if they had braced themselves, it would have been impossible to endure. In Satotsu's mind, Gon's horribly transformed form was vividly etched.

As medical staff rushed to begin treatment, Netero, still maintaining his guard, suddenly tensed.

Like parting the dust, a small demon shrouded in an aura of fury stomped the ground and rose to his feet.

Confusion dominated Netero's mind as he witnessed this continued struggle.

Netero, who had dedicated over a century of his life to martial arts, had spent his life striking countless people.

Yet the sensation he felt from the Hundred-Form Kannon was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

The first sensation was the softness of an infant, something that should not have been felt from Gon's muscular build.

The next sensation was the lightness of feathers, an unimaginable lack of resistance given Gon's size, which should have weighed over 100 kilograms.

And finally, in the moment he was slammed into the ground, the sudden onset of steel-like hardness and lead-like heaviness.

Gon did not know how he had achieved it, but he understood its purpose through his own body.

(Was it achieved through shock dispersion and defense, or through pure technique separate from mental power or physical ability?)

Though I inflicted damage, it was minimal. The test was passed, but Gon's nature as a warrior refused to let Netero show mercy.

And then, an aura of furious anger erupted.

Though I instinctively braced myself, Netero, who had experienced it himself, felt Gon's anger acutely.

What he couldn't forgive was his own weakness, the helplessness that drove him to such fury.

The small demon striving for the strongest rises to overcome his own weakness.

***

Gon, in the midst of extreme concentration, kept the Hundred-Style Kannon within his field of vision as it was swung down.

As his accelerated consciousness left his body behind, unable to move a single finger, Gon activated his ability.

(Complete relaxation of the body, as if vaporizing)

Just before the Hundred-Style Kannon touched him, he perfectly relaxed his body to disperse the impact, minimizing damage by letting his body take the blow.

(Muscle control, tensing from relaxation to achieve steel-like rigidity throughout his body)

Just before being crushed between the ground and the Hundred-Style Kannon, he tensed his body to withstand the impact, minimizing damage by protecting himself.

(...Huh?)

Though he took damage, it was minimal. Momentarily confused by the unexpected result, blood rushed to his head at the fleeting doubt that crossed his mind.

He had been spared.

Likely, Netero had no such intention, but to Gon, who had actually endured the Hundred-Form Kannon's strike, it felt uncharacteristically light.

The gratitude that should have been the essence of the Hundred-Form Kannon was absent.

He had expected to feel it, but there was no gratitude for the opportunity to face Gon.

Gon was enraged.

He was furious at himself for allowing Netero, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, to deliver such a hollow blow.

(Don't mess with me. The Hundred-Style Kannon isn't supposed to be this weak. I'm not strong enough to be held back like this!)

As his muscles, drained of power, returned him to his childlike form, a rage so intense that he despaired at his own weakness welled up within him.

(Don't get cocky, Gon Freecss! Is this the peak you think you can reach with such weakness!?)

The aura overflowing from him was dyed with fury, and he hurled a blood-curdling scream at Netero, who was looking at him.

"I'm not strong enough to make Netero-sama take me seriously! But please let me give everything I've got!"

The aura of anger swirled around Gon's hair, twisting it as if it were a pair of horns.

"Once more, the Hundred-Form Kannon!"

The small demon who had traversed the path of hell once again faced the Kannon statue.

As no one could move in the face of Gon's anger, Netero gazed at him with the gentle eyes of a bodhisattva.

It was the anger that comes from being unable to forgive one's own weakness—a feeling that all warriors must eventually face.

Though it was an emotion that was normally negative, Gon's anger shone so purely and brightly that Netero couldn't help but be amazed, even after all the times he'd witnessed it before.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hold back. I guess I'm getting old."

"It's my fault for being held back. I should have given it my all. I'm the one who's sorry."

Netero bowed his head without hesitation to an opponent who was only a fraction of his strength, and Gon also bowed his head, acknowledging his own fault.

When the two raised their heads and locked eyes again, a piercing aura unlike anything Netero had emitted before erupted from him.

Gon's fiery aura and Netero's needle-sharp aura clashed, warping the space around them, and finally broke through the critical point.

"This is my all-out destruction!!!"

The still immature little demon, though immature, is on the path to becoming a demon lord.

"I thank you for being born, and for everything that raised you. "Hundred-Form Kannon, Third Palm""

The Kannon, offering gratitude, swung both palms as if in an embrace.

The shockwave from the previous blow that races across the wasteland now feels like mere child's play.

The examiners and medical staff, unable to move as if they had forgotten how to breathe, watch as Netero, who has released his remaining resolve, approaches in the form of a child.

Gon's left arm is crushed, his entire body covered in bruises and abrasions, but his feet, planted firmly on the ground, greet Netero with an unwavering smile.

"The Hundred-Form Kannon is amazing! I'll beat you someday, so wait for me!!"

"Ho ho ho, don't keep an old man waiting too long."

As he catches Gon, who has lost consciousness and collapsed, the Hunter Association Chairman delivers the verdict of the exam.

"Candidate number 405, Gon Freecss, you have passed the 287th Hunter Exam with flying colors."

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, currently healing my broken bones and fractures with my muscles. I'm having Gin help me walk around.

In a small lecture hall where the six other Hunter Exam candidates who passed had gathered, Leorio and Kurapika were protesting to Netero about Killua's disqualification.

As their protest against Netero reached a stalemate, Gon entered the room with his left arm suspended in a bandage-wrapped sling. His battered appearance left everyone speechless, but he ignored them and walked straight toward Illumi, Killua's older brother.

"You said some harsh things to Killua. I don't want to interfere in family matters, but maybe you should stop. And you said you're going to kill me? That's not even funny."

Ignoring Gon, who was speaking right beside him, Illumi didn't even glance at him, let alone respond, treating him as if he weren't there.

"If that's how you want to play it, then so be it."

Seeing Illumi's attitude, Gon gathered his aura in his less-injured right hand and struck Illumi, who sat there ignoring him.

Finally, Illumi defended himself by extending his arm, and only then did he glance at Gon with a displeased expression.

"What? Are you looking for a fight? I was going to let you off easy, but maybe you should just die."

"You started it. You're the one who filled my important friend's head with all those lies."

Illumi stood up, enveloped in a dark aura, and Gon responded with an equally intense aura.

"Whether Killua befriends anyone or lives however he wants, you have no right to interfere. Stay out of our business."

"What's wrong with interfering in family matters? You stay out of our family affairs."

In the tense atmosphere, killing intent finally began to leak from Illumi, and in response, Leorio and Kurapika, despite their injuries, moved to protect Gon and aimed at Illumi.

Ignoring the two, who were barely holding their defensive positions, Illumi tried to attack Gon, but stopped when Gon spoke.

"If you want to fight, I'll be your opponent, Hisoka."

Hisoka, who had been watching the situation unfold, smiled wryly at Illumi's caution and suddenly addressed Gon.

"I didn't mention it before, but I've known Illumi for quite some time now. As a business partner, he's hard to come by. 'I'll grant you one request'... Sorry, Illumi, you were a good friend."

"It's not exactly thrilling, but the fact that Killua is getting stronger isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'll keep an eye on things for now."

Illumi immediately suppressed his killing intent and aura, raising both hands lightly to signal his surrender to Gon.

"You're the one weakening Killua, yet you say that? Just wait, I'll be stronger than you soon enough."

With Illumi having backed down, his aura also calmed, and Gon thanked Hisoka, who had been caught off guard, as well as Leorio and Kurapika for protecting him.

"Hmph, so the matter is settled. Now that everyone is here, I'll explain again, but the outcome will not change under any circumstances. It doesn't matter if anyone has complaints. From now on, you are free to act as Hunters."

Netero looked over the seven successful candidates, nodded in satisfaction at their faces, and continued speaking while stroking his beard.

"This year's Hunter Exam was a rare year of bountiful results, but becoming a Hunter is not the goal, it is the start. Those who stagnate will be mercilessly eliminated, and only those who move forward will survive. Never cease to strive for improvement."

With a loud laugh, he left the rest of the detailed explanations to Beans and headed for the exit.

As he was about to leave the room, he glanced back and caught Gon's defiant smile.

(I've been slacking off lately... maybe I should toughen up too.)

Hearing the phantom sound of footsteps approaching with incredible force from behind, Netero tightened his resolve, refusing to be easily surpassed.

His expression was a smirk backed by experience and confidence, a smirk that was as arrogant as it was intimidating.

After the detailed explanations about being a Hunter were finished, the successful candidates who had finally received their Hunter licenses set off toward their respective goals.

Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika, who had decided to go pick up Killua first, were approached by two men with shaved heads and large hats.

"Hey, you guys are going to see that Killua guy, right? I would've joined you if I didn't have a mission, but could you tell him I said hi?"

"I'm Pokkle. You guys seem decent, so I'd like to get along with you as fellow rookies. Count on me."

After introducing themselves, Hanzo and Pokkle exchanged their contact codes, chatted briefly, and parted ways, wishing each other safe travels.

Gon, as a senior monster hunter, introduced Pokkle to Kite and strongly urged him to ask Kite to train him.

"Excuse me, may I take a moment of your time?"

The one who approached Gon and the others was Satotz, the examiner from the first phase.

Satotz confirmed Gon and Ging's relationship once more, shared some information he knew about Ging, and made a request that was hard to tell if it was a joke or not: "Since he's a hunter I respect, please don't kill him when you hit him."

"You all will undoubtedly grow greatly from here on. This exam has given me a lot to think about. As the Chairman said, let's all strive to improve ourselves every day."

After shaking hands with the three of them, he left with the same good posture he had shown during the first exam, exuding a slight aura of authority.

"So, we're going to go pick up Killua, but are you two really coming with us?"

After the long but short Hunter Exam, Gon and the others left the venue and took a short break at a nearby café to discuss what to do next.

The topic, of course, was Killua, and since they were heading to the assassins' hideout, Gon was making final confirmations due to the expected dangers.

"Of course. Killua may be a kid, but if I leave him behind looking so miserable, I'd never forgive myself."

"We've only known each other for about ten days, but I already consider all of you my lifelong friends. Even if we end up going our separate ways, please let us stay together for a little longer."

Gon's words did not deter the two, who showed their determination to accompany him, their aura clearly brighter than when they first met.

"Yeah! I love you all too! I'll train hard and surprise Killua!"

Gon smiled broadly at their resolve and growth, while Leorio and Kurapika blushed at his straightforward words.

A strange atmosphere lingered for a moment as they drank their beverages, but the café's bell rang, signaling new customers.

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting? ♥"

Hisoka, who had been acting separately due to prior commitments, sat down next to Gon, who was sitting alone. He had been waiting at the café to ask Gon and the others for a favor.

"To get right to it, can I explain the details of the errand and what I need you to do? Especially for Kurapika, I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Wait a minute, if Kurapika is involved, does that mean..."

Kurapika, who had a hunch about the conversation from the tournament, frowned, and Leorio, sensing something, created a tense atmosphere.

"That's right. The Phantom Troupe has decided on their next target. On September 1st, they're going after an auction in Yorknew City."

Kurapika's aura turned red with anger upon hearing the information about his revenge target, and Leorio, noticing this, quietly asked Hisoka.

"Setting aside how Hisoka got that information, what exactly is the favor you want us to do?"

"Actually, I've been targeting the Phantom Troupe's leader for quite some time now, and I'm ready to hunt him down. But his guards are too strong. ♦ So I want you guys to clear the way for me by taking out the other members of the Troupe. ♣"

"Huh, well, Gon aside, I don't think we, who are still beginners in Nen, can handle them. What do you think, Gon?"

"Honestly, we don't have enough time to train to fight them one-on-one. But if we have enough people, I think we can handle it."

Thinking that Gon's assessment wasn't as bad as he had expected, Leorio asked Hisoka while directing his killing intent toward him.

"To cut to the chase, are you a member of the Spider?"

Depending on his answer, Kurapika might attack immediately, but Hisoka answered calmly without disturbing his aura.

"Half right. Technically, I'm part of the group, but I didn't get the tattoo, and I have no intention of betraying them. So you can trust me with information about the group."

Kurapika took a deep breath to calm himself, then turned to Gon and Leorio and declared his decision.

"I've decided to accept Hisoka's request. But I can't drag everyone else into my personal vendetta—"

"Hey!"

Before Kurapika could finish, Leorio's fist smashed into his forehead, causing him to turn in pain. But to his surprise, Leorio's gaze was gentle, and Kurapika was left speechless.

"Considering your circumstances, it's no wonder you feel that way. But you just called us lifelong friends, didn't you? Sure, maybe no one else can be relied on besides Gon, but that's what friends are for, to be there for each other."

Roughly ruffling Kurapika's hair, he turned to Gon and declared with a serious expression.

"Going to college will have to be postponed for now. Train me hard until at least September, Gon."

"Of course! As Menchi-san said, strength is a minimum requirement for Hunters. I'll train you as much as I can until everyone is satisfied."

"I'll help you out separately from the commission fee, since it'll benefit me too if you get stronger."

Leorio expressed his gratitude for the words from the two overwhelmingly powerful individuals, while Kurapika bowed deeply in silence.

"By the way, Hisoka-san, how much will you pay for the commission?"

"Hmm, at least 500 million, and the rest will depend on the results ♦"

"I'll risk my life for it, sir!"

"You're getting ripped off, Leorio!"

"What!?"

"Heh, ha ha ha!"

It was the first time in about five years that Kurapika had laughed from the bottom of his heart.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, now transformed into a human atronic. For Ging, I'm a human massage machine.

The dormant volcano Kukuru Mountain, owned by the Zoldyck family of assassins.

Gon and his group, aiming to rescue Killua, boarded an airship bound for the Republic of Padokia on the very day the Hunter Exam ended. They planned to arrive in Padokia without delay, but with the clash against the Phantom Troupe scheduled for September, there was no time to waste.

"So, there's something I need you two to prioritize above all else. What is it? Come on, Leorio, answer."

"Huh? Isn't it Nen ability? The enemy consists entirely of Nen users, so we can't even begin without it, right?"

While training in a private room on the airship, Gon suddenly poses the question. Leorio answers confidently that it's Nen ability.

"Wrong. While Nen abilities are necessary, there's something even more important. Alright, Kurapika, your turn."

"Hmm, if it's not Nen abilities, then... Ah, I see. It's information about the Spiders, right? I've heard that those who control information control the battle. Since there's a traitor among us, having information will give us an advantage in the information war!"

When Kurapika is asked the same question, he answers confidently, taking Leorio's response into account.

"That's even worse than Leorio's answer. You could have crammed for that on August 31st."

"Worse than Leorio..."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Dissatisfied with their answers, Gon sighs deeply and fixes his gaze on Hisoka, the strongest person present, with high expectations.

"Hmm, from my perspective, they need physical ability. In Gon's terms, they lack muscle."

"Spot on! You two need to build at least the minimum amount of muscle first."

Gon declares this loudly, but Leorio and Kurapika look slightly confused and ask for further explanation.

"To put it another way, you two are like skinny amateurs trying to challenge a boxing champion. If you're aiming for a quick victory in a short period of time, you need to focus on building your body before honing your skills."

Kurapika nods in agreement, but Leorio remains unconvinced.

"I've been training pretty hard, but muscle training is still the top priority? Gon's physical ability is heavily influenced by his Nen, right?"

In response to Leorio's question, Gon picks up Ging, who was standing beside him, with one hand and hands him to Leorio.

"As you can see, I'm injured and not at full strength, but can you lift Ging?"

Gon effortlessly holds Ging with one hand, and Leorio tries to take him, but he can't even support him and drops him.

"What the hell is this?! He's unbelievably heavy!"

"Ging is just shrunk down by his ability, but his weight remains the same as during the exam. You can't fight the Phantom Troupe if you can't even lift Ging."

Leorio tries again with both hands, but Ging doesn't budge, causing Kurapika to widen his eyes and ask.

"How much does Ging weigh?"

"I've never measured it, but I think it's probably close to 500 kilograms."

As the two of them fall speechless at the unexpected weight, Gon says seriously,

"Of course, this can't be generalized, but this is the world of Nen users. Well, I can't deny that I prioritize physical strength over others."

Once again, Gon lifts Ging with one hand and tosses him toward Hisoka, who catches him effortlessly with one hand.

"It's hard to do regular workouts on an airship, but I plan to use my Nen abilities for intensive training. I said I wouldn't teach you during the exam, but wasting time would be a shame."

He tells Kurapika and Leorio to lie down on the bed, then activates his ability while touching their bodies.

"The ability's name is... I think you'll faint, but try your best to endure it."

"What? That's so painful!"

"Gwaa!?"

Suddenly, their bodies convulse at high speed, and they let out short screams before losing consciousness.

While Gon continues massaging their muscles with his ability, Hisoka, who is being scratched by Ging and bleeding from his face, voices his confusion.

"That ability works on others too, huh? I thought you said you'd given up on projecting it, so I assumed it only worked on yourself."

"It doesn't activate unless I touch them, and I can only output a level that affects amateurs. Even against Hisoka, or even Killua, massage is the limit."

Gon finishes relaxing the muscles that had been overused in an instant and forces himself to drink the ultra-high-protein liquid that Ging had compressed for him.

While soothing Ging, who is protesting about being thrown at Hisoka, Gon continues his full-body muscle training using muscle communication.

"That usage makes it a pretty convenient ability. I thought your physical abilities were already quite high, but this makes sense."

Full-body load training achieved by simultaneously contracting all the muscles in the body, something impossible for an ordinary person. Furthermore, it allows for targeted muscle training and can even balance the strength of both sides of the body.

Hisoka initially thought it was a combat ability, but seeing this, he begins to suspect it might have been created for training purposes.

"Actually, once I tried making it, I found it could do a lot more than I expected. It's a pretty good ability, if I do say so myself."

"Sometime, give me a massage too ♥ Anyway, maybe it's time to challenge the other three advanced techniques besides Ten."

"Do you think so too, Hisoka? Both of them are improving quickly, so maybe we can move things up a bit."

After that, Gon and Hisoka continue discussing their future training plans, and their night together stretches on for hours.

***

"Cough, cough, hey, stop using that Ten! It's not doing any damage and it's not even torture!!"

In the dimly lit stone torture chamber of the Zoldyck family, Killua, suspended from the ceiling by chains, maintains his Ten while falling into a deep sleep.

"Get up! What's wrong with you? Are you reflecting on your actions or not?"

Milluki, the second son of the Zoldyck family, whips Killua with all his might, but the only damage he can inflict is a faint red mark.

Enraged, he swings the whip even harder, eventually turning on the electric current, but Killua remains unconscious.

"Damn it, who taught Kill the power of Nen? If I get caught, father will scold me. I'm the one who was stabbed in the stomach!"

Milluki, whose abdomen had already healed thanks to his thick layer of fat, strokes his belly and makes his way to the room where the butler is waiting to serve him his second midnight snack of the day.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss reporting from the Trial Gate.

Gin is very interested in Miki.

***

Gon and his group arrived at Kukuru Mountain, the Zoldyck family estate, via a sightseeing bus tour. After completing the trial gate tutorial with the thugs, just like in the original story, they asked the gatekeeper Zebro to connect them with the Zoldyck family's butler.

"Hello! Is Killua there? Please tell him that his friends Gon and the others have come to visit."

"Go away."

Gon called Killua three times, only to be hung up on each time. After that, he informed the butler that they would be staying for a while.

The butler offered no particular response, and Gon's group was finally allowed to enter the gatekeepers' employee housing.

Gon, having fully recovered from his injuries, opened the fourth trial gate. Meanwhile, Gin—who had released his compression, was teasing Miki, causing quite a commotion. However, Kurapika and Leorio said nothing, simply walking slowly into the gatekeeper's forest house with dead eyes.

The house was designed for the gatekeepers' training, so everything was as heavy as barbells. Yet despite some strain, the two handled doors weighing over 100 kilograms and slippers weighing over 10 kilograms with surprising ease.

"That's impressive. As friends of Killua-sama, you've been well-trained. Opening the trial gate should only be a matter of time."

"Even if we can open it, we'll need to stay here for a month until our visas expire. This kind of facility is rare."

After hearing from Zebro about any chores they could help with during their stay, they decided that Hisoka would pay for anything else in cash, then went to bed.

As Leorio and Kurapika headed to their beds, they noticed that Zebro was trembling slightly, but they didn't think much of it and returned to their rooms.

Before Zebro fell asleep, he thought he heard a short scream coming from Gon's room, but he dismissed it and closed his eyes.

Two weeks had passed since Gon and the others arrived at the Zoldyck family mansion. Leorio and Kurapika had successfully opened the second trial gate.

As a result, they graduated from Gon's "muscle dialogue" and were told they could now train normally. The two embraced and quietly shed tears of joy.

Their simultaneous Nen training was also progressing smoothly. Although Leorio struggled somewhat, both managed to master the four major techniques. Finally, they moved on to investigating their Nen affinities.

"Simply put, Nen is divided into six categories, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. It's an important factor in determining your abilities, but once established, it can't be changed, so pray you get the category you want."

Excited at the prospect of finally creating their desired abilities, Leorio and Kurapika began.

After briefly explaining the six categories and the Water Divination test, they started with Leorio's assessment.

"Hey, the color changed slightly! That means I'm an Emitter. Honestly, I wanted to be a Conjurer so I could create various medical tools, but I guess this will work too!"

As Leorio said, the water in the glass turned a faint yellow. He felt a hint of disappointment that it wasn't the category he'd hoped for, but his natural optimism quickly shifted his mindset.

Following Leorio, Kurapika also performed the Water Divination test. A small amount of something resembling dust appeared in the glass.

"So I'm a Conjurer. Considering my desire for revenge, I would have preferred Enhancement, but if I can't change it, I'll have to fight with this hand."

Kurapika also wasn't the type he had hoped for, but since Gon had repeatedly told him about the freedom of Nen, he didn't dwell on it too much.

"Now that your categories have been determined, focus your training on enhancing the changes in the Water Divination. Kurapika, you should also start thinking about what you want to conjure."

As the two pondered their affinities and future paths, Gon hesitated before telling Kurapika about the Trick Tower incident.

"You know, Kurapika, you manifested the Scarlet Eyes during the Trick Tower, right? Actually, your aura was surging at that time. Maybe your affinity changes when you enter the Scarlet Eyes state."

At those words, Kurapika and Leorio looked surprised, and Hisoka, remembering that moment, smiled slightly.

"Really, Gon?! Then wait here for a moment. In this forest, we should be able to find a spider quickly."

"Stop♥ This is more exciting, right?♠"

As Kurapika rushed off to find a spider that could trigger the Scarlet Eyes, Hisoka suddenly removed his upper clothing, exposing his back.

"What?! Hisoka! That tattoo?!"

The spider with twelve legs drawn across Hisoka's back, bearing the number 4 signifying Phantom Troupe No. 4—vanished without a trace in the next instant.

"There's a trick to it, you know♥ Come on, do the Water Divination now while you can♣"

Kurapika's expression was indescribable, but upon seeing the spider tattoo, he entered the Scarlet Eyes state and performed the Water Divination.

"Whoa?! What the hell is this?!"

"Hm, this is interesting♥"

The result was dramatic: red water overflowed from the glass, leaves shook without wind, and dust appeared. When Gon licked the water on his fingertip, he tasted a faint spiciness, confirming that all reactions except for the Specialist category had manifested.

"So when I have the Scarlet Eyes, I become a Specialist and can master all categories at 100%. With this, I can definitely make those spiders pay!"

"...Kurapika, creating abilities based on that state is fine, but combat abilities are prohibited. Especially those limited to targeting the Phantom Troupe are absolutely off-limits."

Kurapika, who had been smiling crookedly at the Water Divination results, had his smile shattered by Gon's warning. His expression turned complex with anger and sadness.

"Why, Gon?! You know my lifelong wish and are supposed to support me, aren't you?! With this power, I can definitely defeat the Spider!"

Kurapika grabbed Gon's chest with a pained expression, but his strength seemed to leave him, and he collapsed to his knees, looking up as if clinging to him.

"Are you telling me to give up my revenge? Answer me, Gon!"

Gon just stared back at Kurapika, who was crying and screaming as if spitting blood.

"I've lived my entire life for revenge!!"

"...That's how it is. I don't want to give in either, but when I think about Kurapika's feelings, I just can't help but feel down."

"Ah, well, I guess that's how Kurapika feels. But you're still so impatient when it comes to the Phantom Troupe."

Killua remained suspended in the torture chamber, holding the receiver with the butler Gotoh, communicating with Gon.

This exchange had been happening every day since Gon and the others arrived at the Zoldyck family estate, and Killua had mastered Nen just as well as Kurapika and Leorio in the Four Major Principles.

"I'm getting tired of hanging around with my brother, so I think I'll join you guys soon. That way, sparring will be fresh and exciting, and it'll take Kurapika's mind off things."

"Everyone's waiting for Killua to come. Let's start training together as soon as possible!"

While Killua continued his lighthearted conversation, Gotoh smiled quietly, careful not to let him see.

At first, this communication arrangement had a bad reputation, but perhaps because they could see Killua becoming brighter day by day, there was no end to the number of staff who wanted to facilitate it.

"Killua-sama, Milluki-sama will be back in a minute, so it's about time to end today's session."

"What, already? I guess I'll just hang with my brother today."

"See you tomorrow, everyone. Call early."

"Okay. But is Kurapika going to be alright tomorrow? He's out somewhere, right?"

"Don't worry! Leorio should be with him, so they'll be back soon."

As Killua worried about Kurapika again, he could see Gon smiling on the other end of the phone.

The view from Kukuru Mountain, over 3,700 meters above sea level, was unobstructed, allowing one to see far and wide.

Kurapika sat quietly on the trial gate, gazing at the setting sun on the horizon. His heart was filled with shame for losing his composure during training and guilt toward Gon.

After exhaling a sigh he couldn't count how many times he'd released, Leorio—who had been desperately climbing the Trial Gate for some time—finally emerged.

"What the hell are you doing up there? You should've thought about me having to come look for you!"

Leorio, breathing heavily, had Gin perched on his head. Kurapika, exasperated, called out, "You could've climbed up easier if you'd put him down."

"I didn't ask you to come looking for me. Come here, Gin—you're swaying."

"You're such a stubborn one. Hmm, this is quite a view."

Kurapika stroked Gin, who had climbed onto his knees, and Leorio joined him to gaze at the landscape dyed crimson.

A moment of silence passed, but it was Kurapika who unexpectedly broke it.

"I understand that spider-specialized abilities have significant drawbacks, such as being unable to respond effectively in critical situations."

Speaking calmly, Kurapika had noticed Gon's concerns despite his usual composure. Now that he had cooled down, he could objectively see how narrow-minded he had been.

"I know that you're guiding me to increase my chances of revenge, and that Leorio and Killua are helping me because they want to."

Without looking at Gin, whom he was stroking, or Leorio sitting beside him, nor at the scenery, Kurapika could see the days he had spent with the Kurta tribe, who were now dead.

"I can't stop it. The final moments of the Kurta tribe, the eyes of those who died, the hatred toward the spider—it all screams inside me."

Kurapika's true brown eyes were illuminated by the setting sun, and Leorio saw tears welling up that threatened to turn them scarlet.

"...I told you during the exam, but I'm just an ordinary person who's lived an unremarkable life, unlike you and Killua."

As silence fell once more, Leorio spoke quietly.

"But even though I was just an ordinary person, here I am, in this unbelievable place."

Recalling everything that had happened, Leorio couldn't help but smile—a mix of wonder and bitterness.

Kurapika, unable to discern what he meant, turned his face toward him, only to meet Leorio's serious gaze.

"A month ago, I couldn't even imagine this. What the hell is opening an 8-ton door or carrying hundreds of kilograms? The only reason I've made it this far is because of Gon and you guys."

Saying that, he turned his body toward Kurapika and declared with unwavering confidence.

"We've come this far in a month. With another six months, we could go anywhere! The Phantom Troupe is nothing. With the four of us, plus Gin and Hisoka, there's nothing we can't do!"

It was a baseless claim, but for Leorio, it was an undeniable fact.

"I understand you're anxious and worried. So if you're going to be alone with these feelings, pour them all out to us. No one here will think you're being unreasonable."

He tapped Kurapika's shoulder, who had unconsciously looked away, and conveyed what Gon and Killua were probably thinking.

"We're complete strangers to you, but we'll be there for you as much as you need us. Even if you find a real family someday, we'll always be family to you."

"...I have no real family and no place to return to. Where else could I find a family besides you guys?"

Blushing from the setting sun's glow, Kurapika implied that he didn't want anyone else.

However, Leorio didn't notice and suddenly wore a lecherous expression, as if his previous seriousness had been a lie.

"What the hell are you talking about? You said your goal was to revive the Kurta tribe, right? So you're actually aiming for a harem, aren't you?!"

Ignoring Kurapika, who couldn't respond to the sudden change, Leorio continued to get more and more worked up.

"You're so popular, aren't you? I'm so jealous. I wish I could be with a blonde, busty girl too."

"..."

"Hey, when you're building your harem, make sure to save some for me. It'll be a good reward for helping you defeat the Phantom Troupe, right?"

"I'm not thinking about that! I can't think about anything beyond revenge right now!"

"No, you need to think about it."

"Leorio! Enough with the nonsense!"

When he finally turned back to scold Leorio, the latter had already returned to a serious expression, as if the earlier nonsense had never happened.

"As a future medical professional, let me tell you this: there's no medicine that can save a patient who's given up on life. To truly heal, the desire to live must be strong enough to overcome death itself."

"So you're telling me to create a harem? That's quite a leap, isn't it?"

"Just focus on the future, whatever it takes. If all you see is revenge and you're willing to die in the process, you'll never succeed. Revenge is something you should be able to accomplish! You have to think of it as a stepping stone!"

Kurapika let out a deep sigh and tried to rephrase what Leorio was trying to say in his own words to show he understood.

As Leorio said, if they were to raise the banner of restoring their clan, they couldn't be satisfied with revenge alone.

"You're right. We still have half a year left. I'll take this time to think things through again, both about revenge and about rebuilding the clan—while continuing my training."

Leorio's face lit up at Kurapika's words. He stood up, confirmed that the sun had set, and extended his hand.

Kurapika took Leorio's hand, and for the first time since the massacre of his clan, his eyes were no longer fixed on the past but on the future.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, it's Gon Freecss, whose tourist visa is about to expire.

A week had passed since Killua joined Gon and his group's training. That day, the three beginners were holding a debriefing session after being soundly defeated by Hisoka in sparring.

Killua, who already had a solid foundation, came closest to victory. Despite the rule forbidding actual attacks, he managed to land several blows on Hisoka.

Leorio, though technically the weakest of the three, possessed considerable physical strength due to his build. He achieved a decent win rate against other beginners, even if he couldn't match Hisoka.

Kurapika, on the other hand, had the lowest win rate among the three. Though he held a slight edge in Nen fundamentals, the gap in actual combat ability was becoming apparent.

"Leorio doesn't think enough, Kurapika overthinks everything, and Killua is too cautious," Hisoka assessed. "That's my honest evaluation. Leorio and Kurapika are practically beginners, so their performance isn't too concerning. But Killua—honestly, if he doesn't fix that habit, he'll break under pressure someday."

The three had trained the Four Major Principles of Nen to a reasonable level and were now focusing on refining their offensive, defensive, and movement techniques. Each displayed the exact weaknesses Hisoka had identified.

Killua, in particular, had developed an automatic retreat response whenever he sensed aura above a certain threshold. Both Gon and Hisoka had been pointing out this flaw repeatedly, but it seemed ingrained in his very instincts and showed no signs of improvement.

"I know, I know," Killua said, scratching his hair with a bitter expression. "I've been told the same thing since I started training at home. I just can't help it. Maybe I need to be pushed to my absolute limit once."

Since this was fundamentally a mental issue, finding a solution proved difficult, even for Killua himself. Leorio and Kurapika similarly understood their own weaknesses, but these simply reflected their personalities—early improvement would be challenging.

"If you watch Gon and Gin spar, you'll see that Nen's offensive and defensive applications are so crucial they might as well be basic techniques—or even advanced ones," Hisoka explained. "The higher your level, the faster you need to make split-second judgments about your limits."

As if to prove his point, Gon and Gin could be seen sparring in the distance, their fists and claws colliding at speeds that made it look like a genuine life-or-death battle. An ordinary person stepping into that exchange would be reduced to mincemeat, yet the two were simply taking it seriously—like an intense game of rock-paper-scissors.

Even Killua and the others, whose Nen offense and defense hadn't yet caught up, could barely follow their movements in an unrestricted sparring match.

"If you can move like that, you could call yourself an intermediate Nen user," Hisoka continued. "You three have reached a level where you can graduate from 'beginner' status. Fix the flaws I pointed out, and you'll improve drastically."

As the three watched the ongoing brawl, Killua asked Hisoka about something that had been bothering him.

"I understand that Gon is strong, but honestly, I don't see how he could ever beat you, Hisoka."

The past week of training had painfully demonstrated the strength gap between Gon, Gin, Hisoka, and everyone else to Killua.

Hisoka's power, in particular, was overwhelming—he surpassed everyone present in both aura manipulation and combat technique.

Gon's strength was catching up in terms of aura manipulation, but he still couldn't match Hisoka. His combat techniques were only refined enough that Killua could win against him in no-aura sparring.

Killua believed Gon could only win if his attack timing was absolutely perfect, but during the Hunter Exam, Hisoka had claimed his timing was superior.

"Isn't it because Gon is more of a Manipulation type? If his grappling techniques connect, he could win," Leorio suggested.

"No, if Gon were Manipulation type, muscle-to-muscle combat would be too ineffective for him," Kurapika disagreed. "Judging by his emphasis on fundamentals alone, I think Gon is Enhancement type."

Killua voiced his own opinion: "I also think Gon is Enhancement type. When he sparred with Gin and Hisoka, even though Gon had less aura, his power matched theirs. Plus, everyone's fighting style focuses on close-range combat—considering that, Enhancement fits best."

Leorio and Kurapika couldn't read as much from the sparring as Killua, but after hearing his explanation and observing more carefully, they could indeed see that Gin was using more aura output.

"Hmm, Killua really is observant," Hisoka noted with his characteristic unsettling smile. "Leorio and Kurapika are improving considerably as well. It might be time to begin serious training to establish your individual combat styles."

Confirming that Gon's sparring had ended, Hisoka announced a change in the training schedule.

"First, let's explain our techniques to resolve Killua's questions. Then we'll discuss developing yours."

As physical training like sparring concluded, the usual time for mental conditioning arrived with dusk. Gon and the others sat in a circle in a forest clearing.

Though observing the instructors' techniques directly would have sufficed, preparations for the Water Divination ritual were made at Leorio's request.

Just as they were deciding who should perform the divination first, Gin—still in his enlarged form without releasing his compression—held his paw over a glass and began the practice.

"Wow! Gin is Emission type like me. But seeing this reaction, mine is still way behind."

As Leorio said, Gin's Water Divination dyed the water in the glass such a deep green that light couldn't penetrate it. Not only Leorio, but Kurapika and Killua as well, were stunned by the intensity of the reaction.

Though it wasn't particularly praiseworthy, they had decided to understand each other's abilities in preparation for their battle against the Phantom Troupe, so Gon explained Gin's abilities.

"Everyone knows about Gin's compression ability. As for his attacks, he has three types that involve projecting aura through roars. The first is for long-range—he projects it forward in a focused beam. The second is for close-range, he blows away everything around him. The third involves amplifying high-frequency sound waves to damage inner ears and internal organs."

While Gin sat with a smug expression, Leorio was simply impressed, but Killua and Kurapika were troubled by how problematic those abilities sounded.

Gin, being a large beast, already surpassed humans in physical capability and senses. After years of training with Gon, he boasted an even more resilient physique.

Simply charging while wrapped in aura was threatening enough, but the fact that he could maintain distance while still having multiple attack options made him genuinely formidable.

"This is a more dangerous combination than I expected," Kurapika acknowledged. "I'll be counting on you in the fight against the Spiders, Gin."

As Gin responded with a grunt to Kurapika's request, Leorio refilled his glass and glanced expectantly at Gon and Hisoka.

Hisoka performed the Water Divination first, but after a moment, no visible changes occurred. When Hisoka stopped concentrating, Killua—looking displeased, dipped his fingertip into the water and tasted it.

"Tastes like cheap, overly sweet candy. Since Hisoka is Transmutation type like me, the taste is similarly sweet, huh?"

"Haha, you should be happy, I'm the best at teaching your type," Hisoka laughed. "My ability transforms aura into properties of both gum and rubber, allowing me to create deceptive textures on thin materials like paper or fabric."

"Hm? So the ability itself has no direct attack power? I was imagining something more combat-oriented," Leorio questioned.

"Actually, I'm developing a new ability right now. That one is combat-oriented, so keep your expectations high," Hisoka replied.

Leorio's question was shared by Killua and Kurapika, but before they could think deeper about these abilities, Gon interjected with additional insight.

While acknowledging the versatility of Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise, Gon pointed out that Bungee Gum's combat contribution was incredibly high due to Hisoka's fighting skills. Everyone nodded in understanding.

"So Hisoka really is one of the strongest in close combat? Then why develop a new technique? Wouldn't it be safer to keep improving your current abilities?" Leorio asked, building on Gon's explanation.

In response, Hisoka smiled broadly and turned his gaze toward Gon.

"While changing combat styles carries risks, if I remain as I am now, I'll never be able to defeat Gon in the future. If Gon continues growing steadily, there will be no one capable of beating him in direct confrontation."

Hearing Hisoka's assessment, Killua and the others all looked at Gon, who responded with a smug double peace sign.

Ignoring the irritation of the other three—who were smiling despite themselves, unlike Hisoka—Gon quickly prepared for his Water Divination.

"If you're so confident, show us your Water Divination and your technique!" Leorio declared.

As soon as Leorio finished speaking, Gon began concentrating on the glass.

It lasted mere fractions of a second, but enough time for a small puddle to form around the glass's base.

Leorio instinctively stepped back, while Killua and Kurapika leaned closer, certain that what they'd witnessed wasn't a mistake.

"I see, so that's Gon's reaction," Kurapika murmured.

"What the hell, Gon?" Killua pressed. "If Hisoka is Transmutation type and Gin is Emission type, you should be Enhancement type. But you're supposed to be Specialist type, right?"

As Killua demanded an explanation, Leorio looked confused. Kurapika then explained the Water Divination reaction.

"Increased water volume indicates Enhancement type, but in Gon's divination, the leaves were also vibrating at high frequency. In other words, Gon displayed an inexplicable dual reaction of Enhancement and Manipulation properties—characteristic of Specialist type."

"What the hell is that? How does such a reaction even happen? Are you saying Gon is like a defective version of Kurapika?" Killua exclaimed.

As Killua and the others crowded around him, Gon calmed them down and explained his ability...

The three fell speechless hearing about Gon's original physique when muscle release was activated, but upon learning the effects and limitations of "Brain Muscle Victory," they finally reached their breaking point.

"You kept warning us about limitations, yet you set such extreme ones for yourself!" Kurapika shouted.

"How can you talk about adaptability being key when your technique can only charge straight and knock people out?!" Leorio added.

"Wait, isn't it all just 'muscle' anyway?!" Killua concluded.

Hisoka, who had been watching Gon get surrounded by the three, finally intervened when the conversation stalled.

Though they clearly had more complaints, the three temporarily stopped pressing Gon.

"Well, I understand you have plenty to say, but Gon's technique is genuinely powerful. My new ability is specifically designed to counter Brain Muscle Victory, after all."

"Really? I feel like anyone using trickery or fighting from range could counter it pretty easily. Isn't it problematic that you can only charge straight and try to knock them out?" Leorio doubted Hisoka's assessment.

Killua and Kurapika, though looking displeased, understood the ability's power.

"Countermeasures against Manipulation-type abilities targeting Enhancement users are already covered by the fact that I'm manipulating myself," Killua explained. "Besides, using trickery usually means low direct combat power, so Gon probably plans to bulldoze through anyway."

"And 240% Enhancement is way too much," Kurapika added. "The aura required for concentration is more than double even for Enhancement types. For Transmutation and Emission users fighting nearby, you'd need three times as much. That's a nightmare, how do you even prevent someone like that from closing distance?"

"Exactly. Gon is currently at about 150%, right? At that level, I can still fight him head-on, but once he surpasses 180%, it's going to get rough," Hisoka confirmed.

"Ah, so even though his thinking and methods seem stupid, the results are genius-level... Nen really is profound," Leorio concluded with growing tension.

As he listened to the explanation, Leorio's expression became increasingly strained. Gon, having put away the Water Divination materials, asked Killua and the others about their technique concepts.

"Alright, let's continue. I'll go first," Leorio began. "Though honestly, I've only decided on the basic framework. I want to modify Gon's muscle manipulation for medical applications. Is that possible?"

"Of course. Specializing it for medical use would make it far more powerful than mine. I have several ideas I'd like to incorporate, so let's work on it together next time," Gon replied.

Leorio, having only settled on the medical application, wrapped up quickly. Killua spoke next.

"About my technique—actually, I've already figured it out. When I realized I was Transmutation type, I had this sudden inspiration and tried activating it recently."

Saying this, Killua slowly brought his index fingers together. A small crackling sound and flash of light appeared.

Gon and Hisoka were stunned, while Kurapika and Leorio simply marveled.

"As you can see, I transmuted my aura into electricity. Right now it's only static electricity, but I should be able to increase the output soon and think of various applications."

He demonstrated by channeling static electricity into Gin, making his fur stand on end. The three celebrated while Gon stared at Killua with an indescribable expression.

"Honestly, I'm quite shocked. I've never seen such an incredible ability before. ♥ Well, Gon probably has plenty to say, but Killua seems to be enjoying himself right now, so maybe you shouldn't worry too much. ♦"

Hearing Hisoka's rare words of comfort, Gon took a deep breath and finally understood the true meaning of Biscuit Krueger's words from the original story: "The fact that we can laugh now is a miracle."

"I understand the Zoldyck family raised Killua with his best interests in mind, but I still can't help wanting to complain," Gon murmured.

As Gin—growing increasingly agitated from the static, rampaged and got tossed around, the three laughed joyfully. Gon watched them with a complex expression mixing admiration and tenderness, carefully choosing his words.

"We have to keep working hard so we can all laugh together like this forever."

Hisoka observed Gon, who had renewed his resolve, with a lecherous expression, his tongue darting out in a way that made him look utterly perverted.

As Gin finally calmed down and the sun began to set, Kurapika started explaining his situation.

Due to Kurapika's emotional outburst the previous week, Leorio—who had witnessed it—and Killua—who had heard about it—seemed slightly uneasy.

Kurapika looked around at the two of them and at Gon, who wore a stern expression, then began explaining his thoughts from the past week with a wry smile.

"First, as a basic premise, I've decided not to create a Spider-specialized ability. Instead—though it's hardly a substitute, since I tend to become emotional at times, I'm considering making my emotional state's effect on my abilities more extreme."

Rather than specializing against Spiders, Kurapika decided on a restriction he wouldn't compromise on: imposing a limitation that would maximize effectiveness against Spiders specifically.

While the drawbacks were significant for everyday use, applying this restriction to only one of his planned abilities, and since it would enhance performance against non-Spider targets as well, made it overwhelmingly more versatile.

"For materialization targets, I plan to materialize five chains, each with its own ability. When the system became clear, this vision emerged in my mind."

"Materialize chains? Honestly, I was imagining something more aggressive," Leorio questioned.

Everyone else was thinking the same thing and waited for Kurapika's response.

"That's a fair question. I was surprised too. When I first learned about the six Nen types, I assumed Conjuration would manifest as swords, which I'm familiar with."

Running his fingers over the twin blades he'd carried since before the Hunter Exam, he continued with a resolute expression showing no trace of regret.

"When the chains appeared in my mind, I thought I couldn't let the Spider roam free, I had to bind it. But after a week of reflection, I realized that was just a pretext."

Closing his eyes and releasing his grip on the swords, Kurapika felt the deepest emotions within his heart.

"If this were purely about revenge, there are plenty of other suitable tools. I chose chains because they represent what I value most right now, they bind what I hold dearest."

Opening his eyes, Kurapika met the gaze of Gon and each of the others in turn, then spoke his feelings with a slight blush.

"What I want to bind are the bonds between us. There's an Eastern legend that destined lovers are connected by a red thread, but I couldn't settle for something as fragile as thread. The result of wanting a stronger connection was chains."

The chains, the bonds, extending from Kurapika's hands to each of Gon and the others seemed to shimmer faintly but distinctly in the air.

Finally, with a completely serious expression, he declared the name of his ability with all his heart.

"Chain Jail, that is the name I have chosen."

However, Hisoka could not see any chain extending from Kurapika to himself.

He watched the exchange between the four friends and the beast with an uncharacteristically beautiful smile, murmuring to himself, "How noble."

***

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Chapter Text

Please note: This story contains significant changes from the original source material.

***

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss—aside from the Zoldyck family themselves, I can't bring myself to dislike their butlers.

After Kurapika announced his hatsu name "Link Chain" and explained each chain's individual abilities:

Inspire Chain Modeled after Leorio, this supportive chain strengthens the user, others, or other chains through binding. While it has no direct offensive power, its design for combination use provides enhanced strengthening effects. The chain ends in an arrowhead.

Assassin Chain Modeled after Killua, this chain drains life aura by wrapping around opponents or piercing them with its blade tip. Though the most fragile, it's correspondingly thinner than the other chains, making it easier to conceal with Zetsu. The chain ends in a knife.

Titan Chain Modeled after me, this chain has no special abilities but is incredibly durable and strong. Its power fluctuates based on the user's emotional intensity toward the target, against the Phantom Troupe, it could become nearly unbreakable. The chain ends in a weight.

Guide Chain Modeled after Ging, this chain uses dowsing and subconscious intuition to lead toward the correct path. It excels in precision control and maintains good durability, making it suitable for everyday use. The chain ends in a cone.

Ruling Chain Modeled after Kurapika himself, this chain can only be used during Scarlet Eyes state. It's driven into the opponent's head to impose rules upon them. During insertion, specific emotions or memories are designated—breaking the rules destroys the designated elements permanently. Depending on the rules, it can manipulate memories or force a single desired action. The chain ends in a key.

Each chain would be materialized connected to a bracelet at the base. While damaged chains could be repaired using aura, destroying the bracelet itself would prevent materialization for 24 hours.

Kurapika was attempting to materialize five chains total, and despite the complexity, he confidently declared it was entirely feasible based on his intuition.

"Initially, I considered recovery abilities or specialized powers using full constraints. However, since Leorio will handle healing, I simplified it to pure enhancement abilities. The specialized powers also worked out better when simplified."

After hearing Kurapika's explanation, everyone pondered the implications. Killua, the first to organize his thoughts, raised a fundamental question.

"Hey Kurapika, I'll be blunt—do you really intend to get revenge? None of these abilities have high lethality, and even that last Ruling Chain doesn't seem designed to kill."

From an assassin's perspective, Killua criticized Kurapika's abilities as roundabout and unsuitable for revenge. Understanding that this harsh but honest assessment came from concern and care, Kurapika smiled faintly.

"The reason is simple—while I intend revenge, I don't particularly want to kill."

This answer only deepened everyone's confusion, and they looked to Kurapika for elaboration.

"Of course, if push comes to shove, I won't hesitate to kill. But this is a matter of sentiment—my weak aversion to death means I can't see it as proper retribution."

Kurapika glanced at Leorio, then continued with a bitter smile.

"When Leorio urged me to think about revenge before, I realized that even if I eliminated every last spider, it wouldn't satisfy me. To me, death has aspects of salvation, so showing them a living hell would be more fitting revenge."

He then looked at Hisoka with a certain conviction and asked about the Phantom Troupe.

"There are battle maniacs and sadists among the spiders, right? Conversely, there are also those devoted to their comrades, but none possess normal sensibilities that would make them fear death."

"Kukuku, indeed—myself included, everyone's screws have come completely loose ♣ Battle maniacs, torture enthusiasts, the comrade-devoted, and leader supremacists ♦"

Hearing this reaffirmation of the Phantom Troupe's abnormality, Leorio—the only one present with truly normal sensibilities—grimaced deeply. Having received confirmation from Hisoka, Kurapika's smile turned unusually dark as he explained his intended revenge.

"Using Ruling Chain's rules, I'll impose penalties for using Nen. I'll steal the thrill of battle from the battle maniacs, and memories of companionship from the devoted ones. No human can remain unchanged after losing what drives them at their core. Whether they take their own lives in despair or continue existing in meaninglessness—wouldn't that be quite a spectacle?"

Watching Kurapika chuckle quietly to himself, Gon understood his resolve was firm and spoke with forced brightness.

"Then we need to train even harder! Hey Killua, if you have any extras, could I get some regular chains?"

"Hm? Sure, a chain or two is no problem, but what for?"

"From now on, Kurapika needs to immerse himself completely with chains to materialize them. To the point of hallucinations, even."

While Kurapika himself looked most apprehensive at this prospect, seeing Killua instruct a butler to bring chains made him steel his resolve.

"So I'll be pursuing chain materialization alongside regular training. How long might this take?"

"Hard to say without knowing your limits. But I thought I saw something faint earlier, so it might not take too long."

"Oh, Gon saw it too? It disappeared so quickly I thought I'd imagined it."

"I saw it too."

"Guma!"

"Then you might materialize them surprisingly fast. Hold onto those feelings from earlier and focus on the image."

The chains arrived with unexpected speed, and Kurapika returned to his room with them, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Hey Gon, I'm planning to work on increasing my electricity output, but got any other suggestions? Seeing Kurapika create so many abilities makes me feel like I could do more too."

After seeing Kurapika off, Killua asked this question, and Gon pondered briefly.

"Honestly, developing your electrical hatsu seems plenty, but if you want more, materializing a battery or capacitor to store electricity and aura could be interesting. It'd improve your sustained combat ability and let you boost power output in bursts."

"That's great! I'll start messing around with batteries now so I can make one when I have time."

"Also, this is pretty important—make sure to give your hatsu a proper name. Same with technique names. Having them versus not makes a huge difference in stability."

"Got it, I'll think of something. See you tomorrow."

Killua headed home with the butler who'd brought the chains. After Gon finished returning the butler's bow, Hisoka also departed, claiming he needed to adjust a new hatsu. Only Gon, Leorio, and the miniaturized Ging remained.

"Alright, let's work out the details of Leorio's hatsu."

"Yes sir! Please teach me, Gon-sensei!"

Though joking around, Leorio's eyes were serious. Gon nodded and first had him choose from three paths:

First: Medical specialization with no combat consideration.

Second: Medical abilities adaptable to combat.

Third: Combat abilities adaptable to medicine.

Each had advantages and disadvantages, and Gon assured Leorio he could excel with any choice. However, Leorio didn't hesitate to select the second option—medical abilities adaptable to combat. Always being protected didn't suit his nature, but he had no intention of abandoning medicine either. For Leorio, no other choice was possible.

"The abilities I'm about to suggest are just references—you can modify them or use them as-is. But if anything feels off, adjust it until it feels right. That's what matters most."

Gon offered two reference abilities:

First: Manipulating and enhancing viruses and bacteria. Mastered fully, it could create both poisons and medicines, making him a versatile medical Nen user.

Second: Using the advanced Nen technique En as an operating room. Medical procedures within the En would receive bonuses, and mastery would make him a highly adaptable medical Nen user.

"I see. I'm drawn to the operating room ability. By the way, how would it work in combat?"

"If opponents have even minor injuries, you could interfere under the guise of treatment. Like saying they need to stay still and then flooding them with anesthesia."

"Hmm, within the En I could probably do something like your muscle communication remotely, and I could create disinfectants through Transmutation too."

After continued discussion, they tentatively settled on Leorio's hatsu:

Ability Name: One-Man Doctor

Category: Balanced use of nearly all Nen types

Effect: Designates an area enclosed by En as an operating room, providing bonuses to medical treatment. Within the En, the user can manipulate others' bodies and, with proper knowledge, transmute aura into anesthetics and similar substances.

Restrictions: ① Cannot harm opponents through non-medical means within the En ② Cannot use aura for non-medical purposes within the En③ Maximum enhancement when the subject is unconscious or entrusts themselves to Leorio ④ Basic use enhances natural healing, but actual surgical treatment provides stronger effects

Having achieved a basic framework, they decided to refine it gradually while working toward hatsu mastery. Since Leorio wasn't weak with En, he would also focus intensively on En training to expand his ability's range.

"By the way, why 'One-Man'?"

"Eventually I won't need any medical equipment or drugs at all—it's the ultimate cost reduction, so 'One-Man' it is."

Leorio proudly declared himself a penny-pincher.

After returning home and finishing his poisoned dinner, Killua visited his father Silva, the head of the Zoldyck family. Silva's sharp, intense gaze and muscular frame radiated the authority befitting the family head, appearing even more terrifying to Killua now that he'd learned Nen.

"The butlers have reported—you plan to leave home again soon?"

"Yeah, this time I'm going with a real purpose. I won't be back until at least after September, no matter how fast things go."

Suppressing his urge to cower before that low, authoritative voice, Killua met Silva's eyes directly. Silva had been lightly pressuring him with aura, but seeing Killua's lack of trembling, he inwardly praised his son's growth. However, his expression and atmosphere remained unchanged as he had Killua explain the purpose himself.

"I'm helping a friend I made for the first time. And I'm going to catch up to Gon, who called me his best friend, so I can proudly call myself his partner."

"Then swear it, that you will never betray your comrades."

Silva cut his thumb and extended it toward Killua, but after brief consideration, Killua pressed his uncut thumb against his father's.

Looking puzzled at Silva's confusion, Killua spoke with slightly increased intensity.

"I've already sworn it—to myself, no one else. I won't let anyone interfere, not even you, Dad, especially if you're hiding something."

Silva nearly reacted to those words, but whether Killua noticed or not, he continued.

"I'm being manipulated by Illumi, right? I think some of my memories have been altered too. I didn't notice until recently, and I don't know how he's doing it."

Stating this with conviction, Killua stood and looked down at the seated Silva with a bitter smile.

"I don't really get Illumi, but I know you and Mom are thinking of what's best for me. I'm grateful for that, and I don't think I could ever hate you."

He turned on his heel and walked to the door, but before leaving, he looked back with the absolute zero expression of an assassin.

"I'll advance by my own will. If anyone tries to interfere with that, Zoldyck or otherwise, I'll slaughter them all."

The killing intent Killua left behind felt both ice-cold and burning hot to Silva. Silva continued laughing quietly, savoring his son's growth, until his wife Kikyo came to protest his failure to stop Killua.

Roughly a month after Gon's group began training on Kukuroo Mountain, with their tourist visas nearly expired, they held discussions about their next steps. While only Killua had mastered his hatsu among the four, all three had reached a level where they could graduate from beginner status in Nen fundamentals. The conversation moved toward gaining practical combat experience against other Nen users.

"So starting tomorrow, we'll depart for Heavens Arena, our next training ground. We'll also be distancing ourselves from our special advisor Hisoka, so if anyone has something to tell him, do it today."

Seeing Hisoka's unusually dejected state, Leorio took pity and asked why they needed distance. Gon's reasoning was simple—Heavens Arena was an extremely public place, so they needed separate actions to prevent any chance of the Phantom Troupe discovering Hisoka's betrayal.

"Once you reach the 200th floor of Heavens Arena, you can fight other Nen users. Most aren't impressive, but with luck you might face skilled opponents under competitive rules, good experience."

"If timing works out, you could even fight me, so try to climb up quickly ♥"

Even the dejected Hisoka looked forward to serious matches with all four under regulated conditions. Everyone grimaced at the sticky aura leaking from Hisoka, and Killua, having reached the 200th floor years ago, pointed out the low level of competition below that point.

"Since none of you would struggle now, I'm thinking we should climb to the 200th floor with Ten prohibited. For all of you who now maintain Ten unconsciously even while sleeping, fighting with pure physical ability while concentrating on staying unsealed should provide good handicap training."

They'd handle the rest after actually arriving at Heavens Arena. Since this would be their last meeting before separate actions, Hisoka had something final to give them.

"Since we don't know when we can coordinate again, I've compiled everything I know about the Troupe ♦ I don't know everyone's abilities, but I'm quite confident about the categories, so use it as reference ♣"

These were individual memos for each Troupe member, one sheet per person. Starting with precise portraits, they detailed projected categories, combat styles, and personalities—everything Hisoka knew. The leader Chrollo Lucilfer's memo was especially detailed, including hobbies and preferences. All eleven memos contained enough information to build a fortune if sold to information brokers.

"I'm just copying them with my Texture Surprise, so they'll all disappear in about two days ♠"

They passed the memos around for strategic discussion, and their last night on Kukuroo Mountain continued late into the evening.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss. I'm surprised at how refreshing the atmosphere feels without Hisoka lurking around.

Even though this place is supposedly a sanctuary for fighters, wild beasts are apparently banned from competing, and Gin has been sulking ever since he found out he's been left out.

After several days of travel, Gon and his group finally arrived at the Sky Arena—a tower known as the "fighter's holy land" and the fourth tallest structure in the world.

The surrounding area bustled with inns and training dojos catering to challengers and combat sports fans, with crowds of people flowing in and out every day.

Rather than lingering to explore the town, Gon's group lined up early in the morning at the Sky Arena's entrance.

Since the line consisted mostly of burly, intimidating men, Gon and Killua—who were obviously children, along with the tall but slender Leorio and delicate-looking Kurapika, naturally drew unwanted attention from those around them.

To make matters worse, Kurapika was in a state of mild nervous breakdown from his Nen manifestation training, giving him a pale, haunted complexion, while Leorio couldn't take his eyes off the prize money amounts he'd heard about. This made their group stand out even more conspicuously.

"Listen up, Kurapika and Leorio," Killua warned. "Make sure to write 'over ten years of martial arts experience' on your registration forms, or it'll take forever to advance through the floors. And Leorio, be especially careful not to accidentally kill someone. Get your act together."

The warning from Killua, an experienced Sky Arena veteran and current assassin, made Leorio, who aspired to be a doctor and didn't want to harm people unnecessarily—refocus his determination.

Though Kurapika's expression remained somber, he answered firmly, and it seemed he wouldn't make any careless mistakes.

Gon, who had been training at full strength with Gin for years and was actually terrible at holding back, was being sternly lectured by Killua. But he casually looked up at the massive tower and exclaimed in wonder.

Led by Killua, who had become something of a guardian for the other three, they checked in and waited in the participants' waiting room until the announcement was made.

"By the way, we never discussed this—what happens if we end up fighting each other? And if we encounter someone else who can use Nen, are we allowed to use it too?"

It was inevitable that as they advanced through the floors, the number of competitors would decrease, increasing the likelihood that Gon and the others might face each other in battle.

And even though there weren't many of them, some competitors could use Nen. If they all registered at the same time, there was a real chance they might end up fighting each other.

"If we do fight each other, let's agree not to use Nen and keep it fair. If our opponent can use Nen, then we'll decide what to do in the moment."

"Agreed. Hey, let's make it a race to see who can reach the 200th floor first! The loser has to do a penalty game."

Killua's suggestion about the penalty game was rejected, but they decided that whoever performed the worst would treat everyone to dinner that evening.

When Leorio was called first among the four, the others were summoned immediately after and made their way to their respective rings.

From that day forward, the Sky Arena would be engulfed in unprecedented excitement, though no one was aware of it yet.

First Matches and New Encounters

Gon and the others won their matches without any issues or memorable moments. When instructed to proceed to the 50th floor, they all boarded the elevator together.

However, there was another child on the elevator who looked similar in age to Gon and Killua, and they were vaguely aware of each other's presence.

"Hey there! I'm Zushi from the Shingen-ryu school of martial arts! Your matches earlier were incredible! Could you teach me some techniques?"

As the elevator doors opened, the other child—Zushi—approached Gon and the others with an enthusiastic greeting.

Gon and Killua mimicked Zushi's energetic "Hey!" while Leorio and Kurapika, who had been watching the three with amused smiles, introduced themselves before joining them in the waiting room for casual conversation.

Zushi was amazed to learn that three of them—excluding Killua—were professional Hunters who all knew Netero, the grandmaster of the Shingen-ryu school. Then he asked the question that had been bothering him the most.

"Your techniques were amazing just now, but why didn't you use them during your matches? Even talking face-to-face like this, I can tell how much stronger you are than me."

In response, they explained that the real training begins on the 200th floor, and that they had intentionally imposed restrictions on themselves for the sake of gaining experience.

Zushi sincerely respected the four who viewed things so differently from himself, yet couldn't hide his growing competitive spirit toward Gon and Killua, who were on the same level as him.

"That's incredible! If you're all okay with it, could we have a match sometime? I want to see how far I can push myself!"

"Well, isn't that exactly why you're here? Our goal is also to fight against Nen users, so it's not something we'd refuse."

While Leorio was responding to Zushi—who looked even younger than Gon and Killua—an announcement was made that Leorio and Zushi would be fighting next.

"Alright then, Zushi will fight as usual, and Leorio won't use his advanced techniques. I think it'll be good experience for both of you."

This proposal from Gon would eventually cause quite a stir, but at that moment, no one could have foreseen it.

The 50th Floor Battle

The Sky Arena's familiar simple square ring, constructed of nothing but stone slabs.

On the ring stood the two combatants—Leorio and Zushi, along with the referee, and the match was about to begin.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Today's matchup features Leorio and Zushi, both of whom dominated the first floor with overwhelming strength!"

Unlike the first floor where multiple matches occurred simultaneously, by the 50th floor, spectators, commentators, and betting were all standard features.

"Leorio, despite his slender build, has been using incredible strength to throw opponents clear out of the ring, while Zushi has been using flawless combinations to overcome significant size disadvantages and secure knockout victories!"

The commentator hyped up the betting by briefly describing each fighter's background and fighting style. Once the odds were set, the match began.

"The betting odds are 1.5 to 3.0 in favor of Leorio! Can Zushi pull off the upset? Let the match begin!"

"Fight!"

At the signal, Leorio moved first, rushing toward Zushi, who held his ground. Leorio grabbed for Zushi's collar to execute the same throwing technique he'd used on the first floor.

However, for Zushi, who had mastered the Shingen-ryu style, Leorio's movements were far too crude. He deflected Leorio's attack and delivered a clean straight punch to his abdomen.

"Clean hit! One point to Zushi!"

"Wow! Zushi takes the early lead! However, Leorio doesn't seem to have taken much damage! What will happen next?"

Zushi landed his blow and immediately backed away, while Leorio, though slightly hurt, didn't pursue him.

This is bad, Zushi thought. Leorio isn't wearing any protective gear, and he's physically stronger than me. If he gets a hold of me, I won't be able to do anything. I have to dominate the striking exchanges or I'll be overwhelmed.

This is serious, Leorio realized. There's no way I can grab him fighting like this. Honestly, I don't want to hit a kid, but if I want to win, I have no choice but to focus on strikes.

After a moment of tense silence as both fighters assessed the situation, Leorio took a deep breath and charged at Zushi again.

What followed was a fierce exchange of blows, with both fighters blocking each other's attacks. However, Leorio finally broke through Zushi's guard with a punch to the abdomen, forcing them to separate.

"This is an incredible back-and-forth battle! It's hard to believe this is only a 50th floor match—the intensity is electrifying the arena! However, Zushi's physical disadvantage is proving difficult to overcome!"

His punches are heavier than I expected, Zushi thought. If this continues, I have no choice but to use that technique.

Zushi lowered his stance into a unique fighting position, keeping his focus on Leorio while gathering his aura.

As Zushi prepared to unleash his technique, Leorio dashed forward to stop him, but—

"Zushi!"

"Huh?"

"What?"

A thunderous shout echoed from the stands, and everyone turned to see a seemingly ordinary man with black hair and glasses standing up from his seat.

After briefly observing the man's impressive presence, Leorio readjusted himself and faced Zushi, who had also resumed his stance, and the battle continued.

Throughout the remainder of the fight, Leorio maintained the upper hand, but due to Zushi's skill and tenacity, he couldn't finish him off. The match ended with Leorio winning by TKO after building a ten-point lead in a lengthy battle.

Initially, the audience was enthusiastic, but as time dragged on, they seemed to grow increasingly bored. Gradually, resentment toward Leorio began to build.

As a result, on his very first day at the Sky Arena, Leorio was given nicknames like "Demon Glasses," "Sneaky Gorilla," and "Torture Rio," becoming an overnight sensation as a heel fighter.

Despite being the first to have his match scheduled, Leorio was the last to finish. Accompanied by Gon and the others, he visited Zushi and the man who appeared to be his master.

Leorio was deeply troubled by the fact that he had inadvertently held back too much, causing unnecessary prolonged suffering.

Meeting Wing

"No, no, such injuries are perfectly normal. In fact, we should be thanking you for giving Zushi such valuable experience."

Zushi's master, a somewhat disheveled-looking man, introduced himself as Wing and responded with a smile to Leorio's apology about the previous match.

He also revealed that he had been observing Leorio's character ever since they'd been talking in front of the elevator, though he seemed slightly awkward about admitting it.

"I was surprised that someone your age could show such restraint. I knew there wouldn't be any real problems, but I think I was being overly cautious."

After a brief exchange of apologies, Gon suggested to Wing that he wanted to discuss something more serious, and Wing agreed, inviting Gon and the others to the hotel where he and Zushi were staying.

"To be completely honest, we want you to teach us the fundamentals of Nen. So far, we've managed with basic aura manipulation and its applications, but we know almost nothing about type-specific training."

As soon as they arrived at the hotel where Zushi and Wing were staying, Gon asked Wing—the deputy master of Shingen-ryu—to teach them Nen training.

Of course, since Gon and the others weren't part of the Shingen-ryu school, they proposed conditions: they would pay for the training using prize money earned at the Sky Arena, Leorio—who was developing medical techniques—would provide treatment for Zushi, and if Zushi was willing, they would share muscle enhancement techniques to improve his physical abilities.

"Wow, Gon, you're really mature for your age. I won't charge much for the training, so why don't you all stay at this hotel? That way, we'll have more time for training sessions."

In the end, the training fee was settled by offsetting it with the request for muscle enhancement techniques for Zushi, and Gon and the others decided to stay at the hotel instead of the Sky Arena dormitory.

"But is that really okay? As deputy master of the Shingen-ryu school, shouldn't you normally charge much higher fees?"

Given Wing's position as deputy master of the Shingen-ryu school, fees in the millions wouldn't be surprising.

As Leorio and Killua celebrated the reasonable cost, Kurapika scolded them, but Wing smiled and explained his reasoning.

"There are two reasons. First, Gon's muscle enhancement techniques are worth that much by themselves. Second, my master instructed me to nurture as many talented individuals as possible."

Wing then looked at Gon and Gin, speaking with conviction as if to convince himself.

"I'm certain that your character and talent are exceptional. To be honest, I think I may be inadequate as a teacher, but I'll do my best to share everything I know. Please count on me."

"Right!"

"Guma!"

The younger members and Gin responded enthusiastically to Wing's words, while Kurapika and Leorio bowed respectfully.

Wing nodded and noticed that Zushi looked surprised, asking if something was bothering him.

"I thought it was a hat, but it's actually a living creature! Is that Gon's pet?"

"His name is Gin, and he's my partner. He wanted to compete in the Sky Arena too, but since animals aren't allowed, he's been sulking ever since."

"Wow, he's adorable! I'm Zushi, nice to meet you."

"Guma."

Wing smiled as he watched Zushi and Gin shake hands, then issued a warning to Zushi, who didn't seem to notice anything unusual.

"Don't be fooled by his cute appearance. Gin is also a Nen user and far stronger than you, Zushi."

At those words, Zushi briefly pulled his hand back, but then, stunned, reached out to touch Gin again.

"Really? But he's so small!"

As Zushi expressed his surprise, Killua and the others, who had experienced the same shock, nodded knowingly. Gon nodded to Wing, giving him permission.

"After all, Gon and Gin aren't in their true forms right now. You can't judge Nen abilities by appearance alone."

The next moment, Zushi's eyes widened in shock as Gon and Gin began building up their aura. Even Killua and the others were surprised that Wing—who hadn't been told about their abilities—had somehow noticed.

"Actually, my master has a similar ability. It's just intuition, but those who know will understand."

"Is it really okay to reveal your master's ability?"

Even though he was technically a disciple, Killua couldn't help but call out Wing for revealing his master's ability to people he'd only known for a day.

"It's fine. It's not an ability that would put us at a disadvantage if others knew about it, and I don't believe any of you would misuse that information."

He continued, looking proud as if speaking about himself.

"Above all, my master—Shingen-ryu Grandmaster Biscuit Krueger—is simply the strongest. You're not nearly experienced enough to pose any threat to her, you rough diamonds."

Reflections and New Determination

Gon and the others returned to the Sky Arena to retrieve their few belongings and informed staff members that they would be staying at a hotel instead of the dormitory, which left some disappointed.

While confirming that Zushi was concentrating properly on his training to improve his aura precision, Wing pondered the four people and one creature who were no longer present.

First, what was astounding was the completeness of their physical conditioning. All of them were incredibly well-balanced and trained, able to utilize their bodies to their absolute fullest potential rather than simply being swung around by their strength.

Next was the precision of their basic aura manipulation. Even from that brief demonstration, it was clear they had mastered the Four Major Principles and their applications to an extraordinary degree.

As for the other three—excluding Gon and Gin—their talent was terrifying. They had only been practicing for just over a month since opening their aura nodes. Zushi was also a highly talented prospect, but honestly, he paled in comparison.

However, all of that was overshadowed by the glimpse of hellish aura he had felt emanating from Gon, which continued racing through Wing's mind.

When I calm down and think about it rationally, I realize I was getting competitive with a child no different from Zushi.

The reckless decision to teach secrets that should be kept within the school was driven by a desire to match Gon's bottomless potential.

If they fought right now, Wing would almost certainly win, but the aura he had glimpsed when he boasted about Biscuit was steadily eroding that confidence.

I thought that fire had already died out, but it seems my competitive spirit hasn't faded after all.

The limitations he had recognized in himself while training under Biscuit—the strongest of them all—and the obligation to nurture his juniors that came with his position as a senior disciple had caused him to turn away from his own growth.

The desire to become stronger, which he thought had been completely extinguished, was being rekindled by Gon's blazing passion.

I need to send an updated report to Master. I've discovered four incredible rough diamonds and one extraordinary creature.

The aura emanating from Wing was so intense that even Zushi, who was focused on his training, couldn't help but react.

"Um... the juice Master is squeezing right now came from the bottle I bought. And I'm the one who has to wash those dirty shirts and pants. Is there anything you'd like to say about that?"

"Ah! Oh no! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! I'll buy you a new one—please forgive me!"

Despite his flustered appearance, Wing—deputy master of Shingen-ryu martial arts—was undoubtedly one of the strongest fighters in the world.

***

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Chapter Text

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who is clearly more excited than in the original story at Heavens Arena.

The silver hair on my head, which I thought would be discovered at any moment, has settled into a hat and now I can't take it off.

Gon and his group's relentless advance continued unabated, and by the time they reached the 100th floor, everyone had been given fan club names and nicknames.

Leorio's initial nickname, "Ryona Rio," began to be recognized in a positive light as Zushi rose through the ranks, and now he enjoys passionate support from those who have always loved traditional pro wrestling.

The most popular character, Kurapika, with his handsome appearance, balanced fighting style, and mysterious expression, was adored by people of all ages, especially young women, and was known as "Prince."

Killua, like in the original story, continued to win by sneaking behind his opponents and striking with a single decisive blow. His speed and cat-like appearance earned him the nickname "Silver Panther," and his cocky attitude was also beloved.

As for Gon, unlike the original work, he consistently defeats his opponents by either taking their attacks or dodging them before delivering a gut punch. Initially called "Gut Punch Man," he eventually earned the nickname "King" because his opponents would collapse to their knees after being hit, resembling someone kneeling before royalty.

There is a rumor that the four fan club presidents are the same person, and some even whisper that they might be Floor Master-class members, but the truth remains unknown.

Despite their smooth rise, the four faced a major setback on the 100th floor of Heavens Arena, where two of them suffered their first losses.

The first to fall was Kurapika, who, exhausted from his life of sharing food and sleep with his chains, finally succeeded in materializing his chains on the 100th floor ring.

However, since the floor prohibited weapons, he was declared a loser by disqualification, leading to a near-riot by fans.

Nevertheless, he genuinely rejoiced at being freed from his life with the chains and appeared at the next match with a beaming smile, leaving many fans in awe.

The second loss came for Leorio, with the matchup for that day's 100th floor being Leorio vs. Killua.

As the four fighters gained fame, debates about who was the strongest grew more intense, and this match provided the first answer to that question.

"Here we go! The hottest match of the day at Heavens Arena, and the most anticipated battle of the 100th floor is about to begin!!"

Heavens Arena was packed with spectators, with the crowd growing denser as you went up the floors, and as you went down, the crowd became more of a mix of curious onlookers and fans chasing after their favorite fighters.

Amidst this chaos, tickets for the floor where Gon and the others were fighting were skyrocketing in price, with scalpers and even standing-room-only spectators crowding the area.

"First up is this fighter, despite starting out unpopular, he's now skyrocketing in popularity! Known for his bold, fan-favorite style, here's the sunglasses-wearing cool guy, Leorio, also known as Ryona Rio!!"

"No, no!"

Ignoring the commentator's usual provocation, Leorio responds to the loud cheers and steps onto the ring.

Though he was still advancing with ease, the caliber of his opponents was rising, and as the matches dragged on, he continued to grow through the experience of more one-on-one battles.

"Next up is the silver panther, whose ferocity doesn't match his appearance! Against Hoar, who, on the 90th floor, used an unconventional strategy of turning his back from the start to avoid a neck strike, he showed his composure by first facing him head-on before circling around to his back again! The mischievous mascot, Killua!"

Seeing the commentator's personal preferences on full display, Killua winks at her and steps into the ring.

By the time the commentator, who had been so excited he couldn't speak properly, managed to regain his composure, the referee's warnings and physical checks were complete, and all that remained was to wait for the starting signal.

"Ugh, I got carried away and apologize for the disruption. Let me start over! The main event of today's Heavens Arena, the match between Leorio and Killua, is about to begin!!"

The two facing each other on the ring showed no signs of tension, and their ideal mental state, free of complacency or overconfidence, was evident to even casual observers.

"I've been losing every sparring match lately, so I'm going to make you cry, Killua."

"Kyaa, Ryona Rio is scary! Don't say things you can't do, or you'll be embarrassed later."

Ignoring the tension in the audience and staff, Leorio takes his stance while Killua lightly steps in place.

Once the referee confirms that everything is ready, the once bustling floor falls silent.

"The match begins!!"

A deafening roar echoes across the floor at the referee's signal.

However, most of the audience, who had not moved from their starting positions, and Leorio, who had swung his fist, were unable to comprehend what had happened.

"...Clean hit! 1 point for Killua!"

After a moment of hesitation, the referee's decision causes confusion among the audience who couldn't see what happened.

"A mysterious loud noise, and then Killua scored a point! I'm ashamed to say I didn't see what happened at all."

"Hmph, I see. That's quite something."

"...Who are you!?"

A tall, dark-haired man had appeared beside the female commentator. With a smug smile, he spoke in a voice just loud enough to be picked up by the microphone.

"In that brief moment, we caught a glimpse of the incredible skill of both fighters. I had expected Silver Panther to dominate, but Ryona Rio isn't one to be underestimated."

"Did you see what just happened? If you could explain it to me, I'd appreciate it."

"Looking at the result, Silver Panther punched Ryona Rio in the abdomen, dodged the counterpunch, and returned to the starting position. However, there was a lot of psychological warfare within that moment."

"I can't believe that happened in such a short time! What's going to happen next in this match!?"

"Sigh."

Only a handful of people in the entire arena could see every moment of that split second before the match began, and only the participants themselves knew what they were thinking and feeling in that instant.

Killua, in the midst of extreme concentration at the start of the match, carefully executed a feint to move behind Leorio.

So far, Killua has won over 90% of their matches, but Leorio has been making him sweat lately, not just because he can't let his guard down, but because Leorio has been outmatching him in raw power.

That's why Killua abandoned the move he had been using all along, moving behind his opponent, and went for a head-on attack.

Damn, he didn't fall for it after all.

Since he began his training in the art of healing, Leorio had started claiming that he could hear the "voices" of his opponents' bodies.

He had begun to vaguely sense their next moves, physical weaknesses, and even invisible injuries simply by observing them.

Gon speculated that he was unconsciously perceiving an aura too subtle to be detected, analyzing its echoes and other subtle signals.

Well, even if I can react, it doesn't mean anything.

Killua struck Leorio's abdomen before his attack could land, then used the recoil to return to his starting position with a nonchalant expression.

If the missed punch had connected, it would have been fatal, but since it missed, it was no big deal.

I'll dodge everything and win easily this time too.

Killua wore a confident expression, but he couldn't stop the cold sweat from running down his back.

Leorio had already lost a point to Killua, but the damage from the punch was minimal, and he was almost completely unfazed mentally.

That's because he knew from their usual sparring that this would happen, and he understood that the key to victory lay in how much he could catch Killua off guard.

First, I can't let Killua attack freely. I have to end it with a single blow like before. Then, I have to somehow drag him into my territory.

Looking at Killua, it was unclear whether he was being cautious or just relaxed, but he didn't seem ready to attack.

Ignoring the cheers of the crowd, Leorio decided on his strategy, relaxed his guard, and began to walk slowly.

"Oh, Leorio! He's walking toward Killua as if he's taking a stroll! In response, Killua also relaxes his stance and stands still. What's about to happen!?"

"I see. Since he can't catch up with speed, Ryona Rio is deliberately walking to force the Silver Panther into a counterattack."

"What do you mean by 'force a counterattack'?"

"The first strike was when Ryona Rio tried to counter. Since he's walking slowly, the Silver Panther must be wary of a counter, making it difficult to deal damage. Therefore, by having the Silver Panther itself aim for a counter, he's trying to decide the match. That's not just standing still; it's a high-level technique known as the 'void stance.' However, without exchanging a word, they've signaled to each other that this time, Killua is trying to decide the match with a counter! Don't blink! It's like watching a beautiful dance."

As the audience watches with bated breath, the distance between Killua and Leorio grows closer and closer. When they are within arm's reach, the entire venue is filled with tension.

Finally, Leorio gets close enough to look down on Killua and stops without taking a stance.

"Both of them have entered each other's range and aren't moving. The end is near."

"What an intense tension! What's going to happen!?"

Everyone is certain that an intense battle is about to begin, but Leorio slowly extends his left hand as if to shake hands, and grabs Killua's right hand.

"What's happening? Leorio has caught Killua, who should be so much faster! Even I could have dodged that slow move! Why!?"

"I'm surprised. It's a strategy that can only be described as a strategy of no strategy. By deliberately abandoning an attack that could have ended everything in one blow, he caught his opponent off guard! Now that it's come to this, Ryona Rio, who has the physical advantage, will win the match in one fell swoop!"

"Killua, don't lose! Beat that gorilla to a pulp!"

...

Having successfully grabbed Killua's right hand, Leorio continued to stare intently at him, sweating profusely but refusing to break his concentration.

Having approached without resistance, his mental fatigue was at its peak, and he forced himself to hold back a breath that was about to escape, tensing his body.

There's a limit to how much he can dodge. I have to finish him here!

Despite being grabbed, Killua stared up at him with an unchanging expression, sending a chill down Leorio's spine. But he resolved not to let go of that hand.

Here we go, if I win here, it's a big victory!

Leorio gripped Killua's right hand with all his might, like a vise, and collapsed to his knees like a puppet whose strings had been cut, kissing the ring.

"...What?"

In the silent arena, Killua wiped the sudden sweat from his face without pausing to catch his breath.

As Killua struggled to free himself from Leorio's grip, the referee finally came to his senses and declared the match over.

"Leorio KO! Winner: Killua!!"

The frozen moment resumed, and the arena erupted in deafening cheers.

"It's settled! It's settled!! I couldn't see a thing, but Killua's big victory! Yay!!"

"What the hell? Is there someone who can do that at that age?"

"Did you see it, Long Hair!?"

"When a person acts, there's always a time lag between consciousness and movement. There's an instant gap between thinking and acting. If you can read that gap, you can attack an unconscious opponent unilaterally!"

"Just tell us what happened!"

"Ryona Rio was about to attack, but Silver Panther exploited that gap and countered with an attack from outside his consciousness. It's a technique that shouldn't be possible for a child, but it's truly divine speed, worthy of Silver Panther's name."

Amidst the deafening cheers, the clear commentary and analysis further excited the audience, who savored the afterglow of the match and cherished the opportunity to watch it live.

"Though the match was short, it will undoubtedly go down in history. Please give a big round of applause for the victorious Killua and the valiant Leorio! Killua is truly the best!!"

In a corner of the still-thrilled arena, there was a 200th-floor fighter who nodded deeply at the commentator's words.

As night fell, Gon and the others gathered at a hotel near Heavens Arena to hold their usual post-match meeting, with the sound of Zushi's screams serving as background music.

Lately, with the addition of Wing, a top-tier instructor, they've been given more concrete goals and challenges, which has accelerated their growth.

However, on this particular day, Kurapika, who had been freed from his chains, had already collapsed early on, so the discussion was lighter than usual.

"But how many times do you expect us to be amazed? Kurapika's ability to materialize his techniques so quickly is impressive, but the match between Killua and Leorio was truly remarkable. Honestly, even at the Shingen-ryu Dojo, we rarely see such a match."

Leorio blushed at Wing's praise, while Killua looked sullen.

It seemed like the outcome was reversed, but in reality, Leorio was the one who had achieved what he wanted to do, while Killua had simply taken a necessary action given the situation, and his success was merely a coincidence, so he couldn't bring himself to celebrate honestly.

"Killua, you should be more confident in that success. Taking the initiative in a real battle like that is almost impossible, even for me."

"That's right, that's right. You ruined my hopes of winning."

Killua, who is being teased by Leorio, sighs deeply and explains why he can't bring himself to celebrate.

"I only managed to do that because Leorio was holding me. I felt my ability activate, so I'm sure of it. In other words, I cheated."

Killua says regretfully that he knew he had lost the moment he was grabbed, but Leorio, looking puzzled, counters.

"The only thing you were supposed to avoid using was Nen, right? I might have used my ability unconsciously too, so we're even. If the winner whines, the loser won't find it interesting either. Be more confident, as Silver Panther would say."

As Leorio laughs and slaps Killua on the back, Gon, who has finished his training conversation with Zushi, joins them.

"Then, Leorio, you take care of the rest. I made the lower body stronger than usual, so good luck."

After the match, Leorio, who was in worse shape than before, heads toward Zushi to heal him. He surrounds himself and Zushi with aura to enhance his healing power while massaging him.

Impressed by Leorio's massage technique, which doesn't seem like that of a beginner, Wing is once again awed by Gon and the others' extraordinary abilities.

Leorio, who can perform treatments at a level that even a regular doctor couldn't handle, uses his aura to heal Zushi.

He can now generate electrical currents comparable to a stun gun with ease, and even demonstrate an application of the technique, albeit subconsciously.

However, what terrifies Wing the most is Gon's growth rate at this point.

Until now, Gon had only been able to fight using brute force, dictated by the circumstances of his training partners. But by coming into contact with Wing's well-structured martial arts as a disciple of the Shingen-ryu style, he has been able to absorb the missing techniques through physical communication, using sheer force.

If his physical abilities and techniques catch up, there will be no one left who can stop him using conventional methods.

Watching Gon casually chatting with Killua, Wing makes a decision.

Once there's nothing left for me to teach him, I'll ask the master to take Gon under her wing. He has the potential to become the strongest being in existence, surpassing even Chairman Netero!

After sending the three of them home to rest, including Leorio, who had finished his massage, Wing made a late-night phone call.

"What's up at this hour? It's been ages since you called me."

Apologizing to his master, who answered the phone looking sleepy but still polite, Wing got straight to the point.

"Actually, I'm currently taking care of four temporary disciples and one animal, and I called to report that to you and make a request."

"Huh, you taking on so many temporary disciples at once must be pretty serious. But if you need help, I'll have to decline. I'm busy with work for now, and I'm not exactly idle either."

Wing smiled wryly at his master's usual response and made a different request, though it was related.

"I'm fine with helping out, but I'd like you to take over their training after September. They're all exceptionally talented, and one of them is particularly gifted, so much so that I feel he might be too much for me to handle."

He was confident that mentioning their potential to surpass his master and Chairman Netero in the near future had piqued her interest, even over the phone.

"...I can't promise anything, but I'll keep it in mind. At least tell me their names."

When Wing lists the names of the four humans and one animal—Kurta Clan, Zoldyck Family, Freecss, and finally Fox Bear—his master's loud laughter echoes through the phone.

"Taking care of such people is really unlike you, Wing. But for the sake of such disciples, if the timing is right, I'll pass on the torch to you, this Biscuit Krueger."

The confident voice was filled with an overwhelming aura of dominance, worthy of one of the world's strongest.

***

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