Amori approached, a determined look on his face. "This is just the beginning."
He joined his brother for a brief conversation while men in black moved Gozu's body.
Umori: "Well done. You're bleeding quite a bit; you should go to the infirmary."
Amori: "I'll go after your fight. The old man is strong despite his age. You should—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the examiner interrupted.
Examiner Fiona: "Participants 318 and 78, step forward."
Umori and Bodoro approached the center of the arena, locking eyes. The tension was palpable as each fighter sized up the other.
Examiner: "Begin!"
Bodoro, a veteran martial artist known for his brutal and relentless fighting style, immediately took an aggressive stance. Umori, though less experienced, had a keen sense of observation and a defense honed by training as Amori's sparring partner, plus significant strength on which he knew he could rely.
Bodoro charged with a flurry of rapid strikes, testing Umori's defenses. Umori parried the blows, focusing on reading Bodoro's movements. Despite his age, Bodoro was fast and powerful, each punch packing considerable force.
"Stay calm, find the pattern," Umori thought, carefully observing the rhythm of Bodoro's attacks.
Sensing that Umori was waiting for the right moment, Bodoro pressed harder, aiming a powerful kick at Umori's midsection. Umori barely managed to block it, the impact forcing him back a few steps. Bodoro didn't relent, following up with a barrage of punches. Umori began to dodge left, then right, searching for an opening.
Spotting a slight opening during Bodoro's last punch, Umori seized the opportunity. He quickly closed the distance and delivered a solid blow to Bodoro's ribs, causing the older fighter to grunt in pain. Bodoro countered with a swift backhand, grabbing Umori by the shoulder and making him stumble.
Despite the hit, Umori stayed focused. "His attacks are strong but predictable," he analyzed, preparing for the next wave.
Irritated by Umori's resilience, Bodoro decided to change tactics. He feigned a high kick, then quickly aimed low, sweeping Umori's legs. Umori anticipated the move and sprinted towards Bodoro, twisting and delivering a precise kick to Bodoro's chest, using it as leverage to distance himself.
The audience was on edge, the intensity of the match was evident. Both fighters showed signs of wear, but neither was ready to back down.
Breathing heavily, Bodoro launched another assault, this time aiming a series of kicks at Umori. Umori blocked and dodged as best he could, but a kick grazed his side. Taking advantage of the momentum, Umori grabbed Bodoro's leg and then delivered a powerful punch to Bodoro's jaw, making him stagger. He seized the moment to grab Bodoro's long hair, yanking it sharply and slamming Bodoro's face into the ground. The impact was palpable, but it wasn't over. Umori stood over Bodoro, ready to continue, but the examiner intervened.
Bodoro was momentarily unconscious, and Umori, in the heat of the battle, hadn't noticed.
Examiner: "The winner of this duel is Umori!"
Amori's Point of View
Amori, watching from the sidelines, let out a sigh of relief. "Good job, Umori," he thought.
Amori: "Next, we'll face even tougher opponents. Let's be ready for anything."
Umori: "He was old but powerful. I want to meet more different opponents to test my limits." Amori: "That's the next step. Your fight revealed your fierce side."
The brothers stood side by side with expressionless faces, but inside they were jumping for joy thanks to their victory. The doors to Nen would soon open for them.
Examiner Fiona: "Number 27, Leafa vs. 85, Ponzu. Step forward."
We watched the last fights of the day when I felt my body starting to give out and began to stagger, which didn't go unnoticed. Umori helped me to the infirmary. We were going to miss part of the fight. I was settled on a bed, my wounds disinfected, and I was given some blood. "You should drink some water or juice. In an hour at most, you'll be able to walk." Then he left me to check on the other participants. Umori went to watch the fight, but suddenly I felt a strange sensation in the room. My gaze lingered on Kyon, who was awake and staring at his body. Two examiners immediately moved towards Kyon. It didn't take me long to understand what was happening: he had awakened his aura.
Satostu's POV
The fights were going as planned, although there could be surprises. I watched the last match where Leafa clearly had the advantage. She stores her poison in her body and releases it through her skin. It's very intriguing to be able to do such a thing. How much pain did she have to endure to achieve this result? Suddenly, I felt an unknown Nen in the infirmary. Others noticed it too but didn't move. Another examiner and I headed to the infirmary. The young Kyon had received a baptism of Nen. Fortunately, there was no irreversible damage. His misfortune of encountering a Nen user could very well be a gift from heaven. I looked at him and said, "Come with me, I'll explain. If it keeps leaking, you'll die." Kyon, though bewildered by the phenomenon happening to him, understood that the examiners could help him. He followed them without a word.
Back in the Arena
Leafa approached Ponzu while releasing a dose of poison to keep the bees away from her. She sprinted towards Ponzu, who responded by sending her bees towards Leafa to drive her away. Leafa, undeterred, charged through and pulled out two spikes from her sleeves, colored purple. Despite being stung by some bees, she stabbed Ponzu in the shoulder and thigh. From the intense pain, Ponzu screamed, "I surrender!"
Examiner Fiona: "The winner is Leafa!"
Although Leafa had won, she did not emerge unscathed from her duel. The bees that had stung her injected another poison into her body, starting to take effect. She needed to go directly to the infirmary if she didn't want to die.
For the 286th exam session, the candidates Hashibara, Amori, Umori, and Leafa are qualified to be Hunters. Congratulations!