3k Chapter. Vote for me. Sorry for the delay of the chapter I was sick.
As the final phase of the Hunter Exam commenced, the sun cast long, slanting shadows across the arena, painting the battleground in a mixture of light and dark.
The remaining contestants, now whittled down to a mere handful, gathered at the center of the stone-floored arena.
The ancient stones bore the scars of countless battles, each scratch and groove a testament to the dreams realized and shattered on this very stage.
The rules of this phase were deceptively simple, mirroring the final test of previous exams: one-on-one battles where victory was determined not by the ability to defeat, but by the opponent's willingness to surrender.
Strength was only part of the equation; the will to endure, to outlast the opponent, was just as crucial. Killing was strictly prohibited, and surrender had to be verbal—no assumptions could be made about a contestant's intent.
The examiners, perched on their elevated platform, observed the participants with impassive gazes. Their expressions gave nothing away, but their eyes flickered with interest as they sized up each contestant, silently evaluating their potential.
Netero, the head examiner, stepped forward, with a swift motion, revealed a diagram that paired each contestant with their opponent.
"As you can see," Netero began, his voice resonating through the arena, "these are the matchups for the final phase. The rules are as simple as they are unforgiving. A single word—'surrender'—is all it takes to end your fight. Killing is forbidden, but I trust none of you need that reminder."
His eyes lingered on each contestant, conveying both authority and expectation. "Now, let us begin."
Fang's eyes narrowed as he scanned the board, noting that his match was set to be the last.
A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Togiri lips. 'So, the old man listened after all.'
Gon vs. Hanzo
The first match was called, and Gon stepped forward to face Hanzo. The arena, once filled with the low murmurs of the crowd, fell into a heavy silence.
Anticipation hung in the air, thick and oppressive, as the two combatants took their positions.
Hanzo's movements were a blur of efficiency and precision. He struck with the force and speed of a seasoned ninja, each blow calculated to break his opponent both physically and mentally. But Gon was far from ordinary.
His resolve was a living thing, fierce and unyielding, and no matter how many times Hanzo knocked him down, Gon rose again, his eyes blazing with an indomitable will.
The arena echoed with the sound of flesh striking flesh, but it was Gon's spirit that reverberated most. Each hit he took seemed only to fuel his determination, the pain sharpening his focus.
Hanzo, growing increasingly frustrated, intensified his assault, but no matter how brutal the attack, Gon refused to surrender even after his arm was broken.
Finally, in a moment that stunned the onlookers, Hanzo halted surrendered. He realized that no amount of force could crush Gon's willpower.
With a sigh that carried both resignation and admiration, Hanzo surrendered, granting Gon a victory that left the audience in awe of the young boy's resilience.
But Gon, in his stubborn refusal to accept anything less than a fair fight, rejected Hanzo's surrender. Frustrated, Hanzo delivered a swift punch, knocking Gon unconscious.
The crowd gasped, but the match had been decided—Gon's indomitable spirit had won the day.
Kurapika vs. Hisoka
The second match began shortly after, with Kurapika stepping forward to face Hisoka. Kurapika's steps were measured, his gaze steady and unyielding as he locked eyes with Hisoka.
The jester-like figure grinned, a predatory gleam in his eyes, as if savoring the upcoming battle.
The fight began with a flurry of movement. Kurapika clashing against Hisoka's agile defenses.
Hisoka moved like water, fluid and unpredictable, his every motion calculated to unnerve his opponent. Kurapika, however, remained focused, his eyes never leaving Hisoka's. He knew that this was more than just a physical battle—it was a test of wills.
Hisoka's grin widened as he delivered a powerful punch, sending Kurapika skidding across the stone floor.
The impact rattled through Kurapika's body, but before he could recover, Hisoka closed the distance, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.
Kurapika's eyes flickered with surprise, Hisoka stepped back, raising a hand in surrender.
The match ended as abruptly as it had begun, leaving the audience to wonder what words had passed between them.
Togiri vs. Hanzo
Next, it was Togiri's turn to face Hanzo. Both contestants stepped onto the arena, the air between them crackling with tension.
Togiri drew his black dagger, a weapon he had refined himself, its blade gleaming ominously in the sunlight. He waited, poised, for the signal to begin.
'I don't think I can win without using Nen' Togiri thought to himself, 'but it's about time I added another Avatar to Virtual Fighting.'
As soon as the referee gave the signal, Togiri charged. Hanzo, quick as ever, pulled out a kunai, and the two weapons clashed with a sharp ring, sparks flying from the point of contact.
Hanzo sneered, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Not bad for a kid," he muttered, his voice tinged with mockery.
Togiri, undeterred, pushed back, his muscles straining against the weight of his clothes. 'If Seven hadn't increased the weight of my clothes from 100 kg to 150 kg, I wouldn't be able to stand my ground' Togiri thought grimly, as he slowly gained the upper hand in the struggle.
Hanzo's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face as he felt himself being pushed back. He quickly ducked, aiming a sweeping kick at Togiri's legs, but Togiri was ready.
He leaped into the air, twisting his body to deliver a kick to Hanzo's face while still pressing his dagger forward.
Hanzo caught Togiri's foot and slammed him into the ground. Togiri, quick to react, used his left hand to break his fall and sprang back, creating some distance between them.
The two combatants smiled at each other, their respect for one another evident as the tempo of the fight increased.
Togiri threw his dagger, a move Hanzo easily dodged, but the distraction allowed Togiri to close the distance and launch a barrage of punches.
Hanzo put away his weapon and was now fighting barehanded. He deflected and dodged with practiced ease. His speed, reach, and experience far outclassed Togiri's, making it clear who the superior fighter was.
Ten minutes passed in a blur of movement, with Togiri relentlessly attacking and Hanzo skillfully evading. By now, Hanzo was barely winded, while Togiri was panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face.
'If I reduce the weight back to 100 kg, or even another 50, I'll be faster, but the force I generate won't be enough to injure someone like Hanzo' Togiri thought, retreating slightly to catch his breath.
'If I only aim for his vitals, my attacks become too predictable. He's in a different class than anyone I've fought before. Let's make the most of this for the training avatar.'
With a deep breath, Togiri shifted his stance and charged at Hanzo again, adopting the unpredictable, flowing movements of Drunken Shaolin. 'Seven, reduce the weight of my clothes back to 100 kg and then to 50 kg in 5 seconds'
Togiri's movements became erratic as he stumbled toward Hanzo, striking from odd angles with bizarre techniques. But even this unconventional style failed to faze Hanzo, who continued to suppress Togiri with minimal effort.
Minutes passed, and Togiri, now exhausted, jumped back to regroup. 'I've used everything—external styles with punches and kicks, internal styles with palm strikes and grappling.' He glanced at his hands, frustration gnawing at him.
'Blaming this underdeveloped body would be an excuse. I'm just a beginner in the world of martial arts. It's strange how Hanzo hasn't attacked aggressively at all. It's almost like he's letting me gain experience.'
Hanzo smiled slightly, his gaze unwavering as he addressed Togiri. "It's time for you to surrender, or you'll end up like your friend."
Togiri chuckled, defiance flashing in his eyes. "Try me!"
In an instant, Hanzo closed the distance, his movements a blur. He threw a few feints before swiftly subduing Togiri, pinning him to the ground with a knee pressing into his stomach and his arm twisted painfully behind his back.
Togiri felt a wave of despair wash over him, not because of Hanzo, but because of what he represented.
'I didn't go all out. I didn't use my weapons, my Nen, or my environment. I fought with pure physical strength and technique, and I lost so easily. Almost five years of training, and this is all I have to show for it. Maybe this is as far as I can go with self-training and my potential'
Hanzo could feel the fight draining out of Togiri, but the boy still refused to cry out, even as his arm hovered on the brink of being snapped.
The audience held its breath, waiting for Togiri to give in. But instead of surrendering, a disturbed, almost sinister smile crept onto Togiri's face.
'If this pain can make me stronger, then I'll endure it a million times' Togiri thought, a twisted sense of determination flaring within him. With a crazed glint in his eye, he shouted, "DO IT!"
Hanzo hesitated for just a moment, but then, with a sharp twist, he broke Togiri's arm, just as he had done to Gon earlier. But unlike Gon, Togiri didn't scream or even flinch.
He lay there, staring blankly at the ground, his face devoid of emotion, as if the pain had stripped him of all feeling.
The other candidates were shocked, and even Hanzo, accustomed to violence, found himself unnerved by Togiri's reaction.
He stepped back, releasing the boy, who slowly stood up, dusting himself off as if nothing had happened.
Togiri turned to Hanzo, his expression eerily calm. "I give up," he said nonchalantly before walking off the arena and back to where Fang stood, leaving behind an atmosphere so tense it could be cut with a knife. Yet, Togiri acted as though he hadn't just been in a brutal fight.
He sighed softly, his voice tinged with a rare vulnerability. "I wonder when I'll become the strongest."
Before he could spiral deeper into self-doubt, a firm hand clapped down on his shoulder. It was Leorio, his usual brashness replaced with genuine concern. "Cheer up!" Leorio said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.
"You're just a kid, and you're already stronger than most adults who didn't even make it this far in the exam. When you grow up, you'll be even stronger."
Togiri looked at Leorio's earnest face, his expression blank. After a moment, he nodded slightly. "Thanks, I guess," he muttered, turning away. Leorio looked momentarily stumped, and a few of the others chuckled at the exchange.
Normally, Togiri would have put on his energetic, cheerful facade, playing the role of the plucky underdog. But this time, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
The mask he wore so often felt too heavy. For once, he didn't want to pretend.
'Seven, how long will it take to heal?' Togiri asked telepathically, his thoughts directed inward.
@About a week. If you eat a lot, maybe five days. If I consume some of your muscles, Aura, and hibernate, I could fix it in 30 minutes.@
*Forget it. Stay in normal mode. No hibernation. I'll need you soon anyway,' Togiri replied. 'In a few days, I'll make my Nen ability just like Fang's.'
@I still can't believe he came up with that all on his own@ Seven responded, the skepticism clear even in its telepathic tone.
Togiri's thoughts drifted to the recent revelation about Fang's ability.
Fang had shared the story with Togiri before they left the island—the story of his death, his unknown resurrection, and the development of his Nen ability, shrouded in mystery and power.
Fang's Hatsu was a unique one, utilizing all Nen types to create food based on emotions.
When he created and consumed the food, he temporarily lost all emotions, but his physical and Aura surged.
The food acted as a catalyst, unlocking the extreme side of a specific emotion.
When Fang had fought Hisoka, the emotion he unlocked was rage, which had multiplied his Aura threefold and enhanced his combat abilities. But the cost was high—Fang couldn't fight with his usual clarity or style, and the aftermath left him drained.
Despite its drawbacks, Fang's Hatsu was a clear path—a direction he had chosen with confidence.
Togiri, on the other hand, still struggled to find his way, despite his relentless training and determination.
He glanced at Fang, who stood quietly nearby, his face unreadable. Togiri clenched his good hand, frustration boiling under the surface.
'I'll find my path too' Togiri resolved, though doubt gnawed at the edges of his conviction.
Hisoka vs. Bodoro
The next match was Hisoka against Bodoro, and from the moment they stepped into the arena, the outcome seemed almost inevitable.
Bodoro was a skilled fighter, but against Hisoka, he was hopelessly outmatched.
Bodoro made the first move, lunging forward with a punch aimed straight at Hisoka's face. But Hisoka caught his fist effortlessly, his grin widening with sadistic pleasure.
What followed was less a fight and more a merciless beating. Hisoka attacked with ruthless precision—each kick, punch, and elbow strike designed to break Bodoro's spirit as much as his body.
Despite the pain, Bodoro refused to surrender. His defiance was met with only more brutality, Hisoka's attacks unrelenting.
After minutes that felt like an eternity, Bodoro lay on the ground, barely able to move, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Hisoka knelt beside him, leaning in to whisper something into Bodoro's ear. Whatever Hisoka said drained the last of Bodoro's resolve, and with a trembling voice, he surrendered.
Hisoka rose, victorious, his smile never wavering, as if the entire ordeal had been nothing more than an amusing game.
Togiri vs. Killua
Togiri returned to the arena for his second match, this time against Killua. They walked on stage, the weight of the previous fights hanging heavy in the air.
Togiri's arm was still broken, but he showed no sign of pain as he faced Killua.
'I didn't let my arm get broken just because I was in the moment' Togiri thought, his eyes narrowing as he studied Killua.
'It was also because of him. In the original story, Killua surrendered because he didn't want a boring fight against Pokkle, but I once knocked out Killua. So maybe we will fight, if we do I will need to use Nen.'
The match started, but before Togiri could even move, Killua raised his hand. "I give up," he said calmly, turning and walking away without another word.
Togiri blinked, momentarily stunned. 'Oh. Yes! Sadly the Avatar of Killua in Virtual Fighting only captured his technique' he thought with a mix of relief and satisfaction.
Killua vs. Gittarackur
With Bodoro's brutal defeat still fresh in everyone's minds, Leorio requested a postponement of his match to allow time for recovery.
This led to the highly anticipated fight between Killua and Gittarackur, who finally revealed his true identity—Illumi, Killua's elder brother.
The revelation sent a ripple of shock through the crowd, but the real horror came with Illumi's chilling declaration.
In a cold, emotionless voice, he spoke of his desire to kill all the other applicants for Killua's sake, his words twisted with a warped sense of brotherly love.
Togiri, sensing the danger, instinctively pulled out his dagger, his stance tense as he prepared for the worst never knowing if the story deviated or not.
Fang, too, grew solemn, his presence darkening as he released a surge of Nen that pulsed like a heartbeat through the arena, making even the strongest fighters uneasy.
Illumi, however, remained unfazed. He continued his conversation with Killua, tightening his psychological grip on his younger brother.
Despite the oppressive atmosphere, the other applicants could only watch as Illumi manipulated Killua's mind, driving him deeper into submission.
Killua vs. Bodoro
In the final match, Killua faced Bodoro once again. But this time, under Illumi's influence, Killua was a different person.
The playful light that once filled his eyes was gone, replaced by a cold, distant gaze that sent chills through the spectators.
Without hesitation, Killua moved with lethal precision, striking Bodoro with a single, brutal attack that pierced his chest.
The crowd gasped in horror, the finality of Killua's actions leaving them in stunned silence.
The examiners immediately disqualified Killua, their dispassionate announcement ringing hollow in the wake of Bodoro's death.
The remaining applicants were declared to have passed, but the weight of their victory hung heavy in the air, overshadowed by the grim turn of events.
The Confrontation
A day later, the remaining applicants gathered in a large room, their spirits dampened by the events of the final phase.
The tension was palpable, a dark cloud hanging over the room.
Suddenly, the doors burst open, and Gon stormed in, his broken arm in a sling, but his determination undiminished.
His eyes locked onto Illumi, burning with righteous anger. The room fell silent as Gon marched up to Illumi, ready to confront him for what he had done to Killua.
-
Author note:
Suggestions for the name of Fang's new nen ability? Also it's time to create a Nen ability for Togiri.
i am gonna do it like this. I either ask you guys to choose between 3 or 5. You can suggests your own ideas, or I will choose my self.
Dont forget Togiri is a Conjurer and it should at least have something to do with books if not reviewing.