Togiri took a deep breath, trying to steady himself before the imposing figure he was facing. *Cough* "Alright! I won. Who's next?"
"...." Silence hung in the air, an eerie response to Togiri's cocky remark.
"Let's make this simple. You three against me. Surrender, death, falling off the arena, and knockout count as losing. You don't even need to defeat me; just throw me off the podium."
"I agree," said one of the three remaining opponents, stepping forward. A thread mill extended, connecting the three prisoners to the arena.
Two prisoners cautiously crossed the thread mill, while a mountain of a man leapt over ten meters (thirty feet) to join them. His landing left deep indentations in the ground—his feet disproportionately small compared to his massive frame.
Now, three men stood side by side, facing Togiri. With a simultaneous motion, they discarded their tattered cloaks hiding their faces.
"Ooooh. Alright. Alright," Togiri began clapping, his tone tinged with sarcasm. The largest of the trio, a colossal, obese man, stood like a behemoth.
He resembled Buhara, but even more enormous, with a full grrown beard and long, braided hair that cascaded down his thick neck. This man, more beast than human, appeared as ferocious as a starved lion.
"Hmm. Food. My name is Roro. What is food's name?" Roro drooled as he rubbed his stomach.
"Tsk! You can eat him after I rip out his guts and bathe in his blood." The prisoner standing in the middle, directly opposite Togiri, grinned wickedly.
He was a scarred, sinister figure, his face, neck, and arms bearing the marks of countless battles—slashes, bullet wounds, burn marks.
His fingers, blackened as if dead, added to his ghastly appearance. Beneath the scars, a once-handsome face lurked, now marred by cruelty. His buzzcut and blood-red hair gave him the appearance of a deranged game character rather than a real person.
"Kekeke. My name is Jack, little boy! You should know the name of your killer when we meet in hell." Togiri was momentarily taken aback by Jack's words.
"What makes you think I'll end up in hell?" Jack's grin widened, making him look even more like a demon. "Kekeke. I can see your darkness. You're broken. You've never killed, but you're itching for it."
"Kekeke. I ain't like that boring bitch. I ain't so easy. Killing you... seeing your desperate face before you take your last breath... *Moan* it's... orgasmic." Togiri recoiled in disgust, taking a step back.
'Another Hisoka like character' said Togiri to himself.
"What about you, old man?" Togiri addressed the last prisoner, who stood apart from the others.
This man, older than Roro and Jack, appeared to be in his forties. His long black hair, streaked with grey, was tied with a red wool thread.
He wore dirty, old white bandages around his eyes and held his right hand in a sword-like position, his fingers pressed together as if ready to strike.
His demeanor was calm, reminiscent of a veteran samurai who had traveled through time.
Unlike Roro and Jack, this blind man made Togiri wary. The swordsman's expression was blank, emotionless.
"Let me make it clear. I'm not like the others. I'm not a bloodthirsty mercenary, cannibal, assassin, or terrorist. I'm..." He paused, his gaze dropping to his feet. His expressionless face turned bitter as if burdened by painful memories.
"Shut up, you useless blind old man! Let me show you how it's done." Jack pierced the ground before him with his blackened fingers.
"Hah!" Jack ripped a boulder the size of Roro which was double the size of him from the arena floor.
"You're pretty fast. Let me see how you dodge this!" He hurled the massive rock at Togiri.
Togiri didn't move. Just before the boulder could hit him, he smirked. *BAM* The boulder exploded, sending shards flying toward the prisoners.
Roro stood his ground, unaffected by the debris, while Jack dodged and blocked the incoming pieces. The blind man remained unfazed, as if the boulder had never been thrown.
From the cloud of dust and debris, Togiri's voice rang out, "Hahaha. You talked so much. I guess what they say about barking dogs not biting is true. Before I start, last chance to surrender"
"...."
Togiri smiled. "What is your name? Unlike these clowns, your name is worth remembering." Togiri's gaze fell upon the blind man.
"Hmm. Does a name matter in a fight?" "I guess not. Jack, you're first!" Togiri pointed at Jack.
"Kekeke. Cocky brat!" Jack dashed toward Togiri, his hand formed like a spear, aiming to pierce Togiri's chest. "DIE!" Jack struck, but Togiri didn't even bother to guard.
"AAAHHHH!" Jack screamed in agony, collapsing to his knees. His left hand was shattered, his black fingers twisted and bloody.
"How is that possible?! Let me rewind the video!" exclaimed the examiner, staring at the monitor.
"What? The camera couldn't catch it properly. Damn low quality!"
---- Back to the arena
"What did you do?! My hands can dent steel." Jack was still on his knees, clutching his ruined hand.
Togiri hadn't used Nen or caught Jack's hand. He had simply flexed his muscles, allowing Jack's hand to destroy itself. "Steel, huh?" Togiri walked over to Jack and placed a foot on his head.
"Do you think this body can be compared to steel? I've been training for years, constantly breaking and regenerating my body." @Thanks to me@ Togiri pulled a kunai from his pocket he early collected from Kikyo and pressed the tip against Jacks throat.
"Question: If you take something weak, nearly destroy it, and rebuild it hundreds, no, thousands of times, what happens?"
Jack's eyes widened in terror. He finally understood the monster he was facing. He had gravely underestimated Togiri. Sensing Jack's fear, Togiri pressed his foot harder onto Jack's head.
"Do you surrender, or should I see which is stronger: your head, the floor or your throat and the kunai?"
"I... su-surrender!" Togiri removed his foot and the dagger. Jack was swearing silently as he left the arena. He sat next to Kikyo, watching the rest of the battle while holding his broken fingers.
"Food is strong," Roro remarked, ceasing his drooling. "Thank you," Togiri replied. "But Roro more strong." Roro's confidence made Togiri smirk.
The bear-like man began lumbering toward Togiri, his steps causing the rocks around them to tremble.
Roro's gaze, filled with hunger, made Togiri's hair stand on end, and he decided to act first.
In a flash, Togiri appeared before Roro and delivered a swift palm strike to his massive belly.
"What?" Togiri was shocked to find his arm stuck in Roro's belly. "You fatass! Let go! Hmpf." Togiri tried to pull his hand free, but it was no use.
He punched Roro's stomach with his other hand, but the only effect was a wobble of Roro's belly.
@This shit is comedy. Hahahah@ 'After all the flexing I did, and now this bear's got me. Embarrassing.' Togiri blushed slightly, realizing the absurdity of the situation.
Frustrated, Togiri punched Roro's belly harder and harder. *Bam* Baam* Baam* BAM* The sounds of Togiri's punches on Roro's stomach grew louder, like a drumbeat.
"Auw!" Roro's skin began to bruise where Togiri had struck. "Food not nice," Roro grumbled as he grabbed Togiri by the shirt and lifted him high off the ground.
'He's either going to throw me or try to swallow me. Please thr—' Togiri's thoughts were cut short as Roro slammed him into the ground, then jumped into the air like a massive whale.
"What in the wrestling shi—" *BANG* The room shook slightly as Roro's enormous weight hit the ground. "Sandwich. Hahaha—" Roro's laughter suddenly stopped.
"Blind food! Help me. Roro don't eat blind food." Roro layed on his stomach, his arms and legs not reaching the ground due to his large belly.
The blind man smiled. "Thank you for the offer, but I think you already got help." Roro was confused.
"Huh?" Both Roro and the examiner were stunned. It appeared as if Roro, lying on his stomach, was slowly levitating off the ground.
He was slowly rising higher and higher until a shadow could be seen beneath him—Togiri was lifting him.
"Pig, what do you eat? You're a little heavy, even for me." Togiri then hurled Roro into the air and jumped after him.
"You're not a pig, but a flying whale," Togiri said, dropkicking Roro in the stomach and sending him even higher into the air.
Togiri turned in the air and landed on his feet. As soon as he landed, he jumped and drop-kicked Roro in the stomach once again.
Togiri repeated this for a couple of minutes until Roro could barely be seen from the ground.
"Wow! I can fly!" heard the other prisoners from a distant voice in the sky. "I'm not finished!" Togiri jumped against the walls and flew into the sky as if the walls were stairs to walk on.
He finished the flying adventure of the cannibal Roro with another flying drop-kick, but this time it was on his back and Togiri came jumping from the ceiling.
A voice getting louder from the sky could be heard. "aaaaaAAAAAAHHHH"
*BOOOOOOOOOM*
A huge dust cloud filled the room.
"I can't see anything!" exclaimed the prison warden watching the fight via the camerad and munching on his chips.
A cloud of dust made it impossible to see anything. Togiri felt a cold tingling in the back of his head and jumped to the side.
It was the blind swordsman. He attacked Togiri with a wooden stick made out of the torch stand.
"Oho? The final boss appeared!"
Togiri then heard a *zisch*. Togiri jumped to the side while blocking his vital organs.
Togiri closed his eyes and tried to hear the sounds of his opponent, but felt a sudden warm feeling coming from his arm.
'Warm water?' Togiri touched the warm place he felt on his left arm. It was blood. Togiri's hard skin and muscles were cut.
'The blood is light red and the cut is shallow. He managed to cut me with a wooden stick, not even a proper sword would leave a wound like this'
@He really is the last boss. He is good@
'No problem! Do you think it's my first time fighting against a swordsman?"
@But it's been a while since you got cut and hurt by someone else than Fang@
Togiri's vision was obstructed, and Gyo didn't help in this situation. Togiri didn't use En and only sharpened his senses of touch and hearing and tried to anticipate the next attack.
For Togiri the whole Hunter Exam was valuable training data to test his strength in unfamiliar enviroment and situations.
The rocks, pebbles, cracks, dents, and the body of a big prisoner on the floor made it very hard to move without being heard for Togiri.
Togiri was slowly taking steps, picked up, and threw the unconscious Roro to the side of the arena, making more space.
When he was lifting the big and heavy cannibal, the blind swordsman didn't attack Togiri and waited for him, but continued attacking as soon as he noticed that Togiri finished moving Roro.
'Seems like he isn't like them. He has honor. That is something only a few have, but honor is just like status or face. It's a superficial thing to have. If you have strength others love and respect youm if you have none then others bully you.
Earth and society was always a "the strong eat the weak" type of world'
@This guy is the real deal, if he knew Nen or had a real sword I doubt you could walk away with all your limbs.@
The dust cloud still didn't disappear. The swordsman moved in silence and never made a crunching noise like stepping on a stone or pebble, unlike Togiri.
He moved and attacked like a ghost. Sometimes he made feints using noises, tricking Togiri into attacking and counter-attacking.
'He is a very experienced fighter. He makes the best of the environment. The movements of his sword and footwork were on a different level than anyone else I ever saw. I am sure he could keep up with Kaito/Kite.'
'I am sure he knows of Nen, but he Isn't using it for some reasons. He would make a great hunting dog and teacher for me'
*Swish* Another small cut appeared on Togiri's neck.
'He is using his tongue to make a sound. I know this technique! You need to spend years learning it so you can walk without bumping into obstacles. He isnt using En.'
Togiri's real face appear in the dust cloud. A face being expressionless and numb of the world and situation befor him.
*Nak* Another cut appeared on Togiri's leg. He wasn't bleeding very badly, but the small wounds accumulated.
'The dust cloud is almost gone. His attacks are increasing. He is getting impatient and greedy and is warning me to surrender'
The better Togiri saw, the better he dodged his opponent's attacks. *Wam* Togiri punched beside of him. He hit the air, and several cuts appeared on his arm next to the other cuts that were already there.
The attacks followed Togiri as if they were magnetic, always finding and cutting his body.
He dodged only because he was significantly faster than the swordsman; if the swordsman was serious, he would have already died multiple times.
'He is focusing the attacks in one area. Piercing my skin that way is easier. He is probably using isn't even using half his strength since I would have already lost a limb if his cutting force was stronger.'
"Finally" The dust cloud slowly disappeared, and Togiri could finally see the swordsman.
"HEY!" Togiri shouted, trying to disorient his opponent. He knew the blind man relied on his enhanced hearing to fight effectively.
The swordsman remained still, taking a defensive stance. Togiri charged, and the swordsman prepared to strike.
Despite Togiri's attempts to close the distance, the swordsman's skill with a sword made him a formidable opponent and cut Togiri multiple times on his legs to slow him down.
As Togiri advanced, the swordsman's wooden stick found its mark, partially piercing Togiri's shoulder.
Despite the pain, Togiri managed to hold onto the stick, blocking further attacks and preventing the sword from fully piercing through his shoulder.
Togiri, with blood trickling down his shoulder, punched the swordsman, but the blow was deftly redirected. Realizing that the swordsman's close-quarters combat skills were not as strong as his swordsmanship, Togiri saw an opportunity.
Using his superior strength, Togiri grabbed the swordsman, threw him over his shoulder, and pulled out the splintered stick from his shoulder. He held the stick against the swordsman's throat, forcing him to surrender.
"I surrender! I lost! You are a monster, kid. It's been a long time since I've had so much fun fighting someone stronger than me," the swordsman admitted.
Togiri, relieved, helped the swordsman up. "If you had used your full strength I would have lost." Togiri observed.
The swordsman nodded "You still didn't use any of your Nen" Togiri smirked "Neither did you"
The blind swordsman smiled lightly. "It was clever to use a shout to confuse me, but it's no longer a weakness"
Togiri asked seriously. "Can you take off your bandages so that I can see your eyes?" "Hmpf. Sure" Togiri looked at scarred eyes of the swordsman and saw his eyes lost all light.
"I can see the stord behind your eyes and the pain behind it" The older man was startled by the words of the boy before him.
The swordsman revealed his backstory: how he had lost his family to bandits and had sought vengeance, only to end up imprisoned for killing a powerful man's nephew.
He didn't fully complete his revenge, but was satisfied enough to spent his remaining life in prison.
Togiri, relating to the swordsman's pain, vowed, "I'll free you in a year! Till then start training again" The defeated old man didn't reply.
Togiri tended to his wounds, reflecting on his own struggles and how he had kept himself occupied to avoid confronting his past.
They shared a final handshake and mutual respect. "By the way, my name is Togiri,"
"Zashagi Tenkoi" the swordsman replied, and they both smiled faintly, having found a kindred spirit in each other.