Pokkle vs. Bodoro
This match proved to be quite interesting. Strictly speaking, their strength was nearly identical.
Back in the Trick Tower, both had made it to the first group of examinees, right after Ronnel and Hanzo. Pokkle's abilities couldn't be taken lightly. You could compare him to Geretta, who reached the tower at the same time.
Geretta had been Ilumi's prey. Despite being severely injured during Ilumi's hunt, Geretta managed to escape and find Hisoka. Surviving an encounter with Ilumi without awakening Nen was no small feat—proof of considerable skill among non-Nen users.
Leorio's eyes widened as he observed the match, keen to glean any useful insight since the winner would become his next opponent.
After a tough battle, Pokkle unleashed his accumulated poisons on Bodoro, winning through tactics reminiscent of Ronnel's threats.
Hisoka vs. Hanzo
Hisoka's battle with Hanzo was as direct and brutal as expected—more so than Ronnel's usual antics. From the outset, Hisoka hurled a few poker cards toward Hanzo. Although Hanzo dodged them in haste, he couldn't hide his shock at Hisoka's precision.
Once he'd demonstrated his skill, Hisoka issued a chilling threat:
"If you don't surrender, I'll break your legs and leave you crippled. A Hunter's license won't help you then."
Hanzo: "..."
The other examinees and examiners could only exchange uneasy glances.
Netero: "Hohohoho~"
Hanzo's frustration was palpable. Being the first to fight carried its risks—stronger opponents still had multiple rounds ahead of them, which meant they could ruthlessly pressure weaker ones. In the face of Hisoka's sadistic nature, Hanzo had no choice but to surrender again.
The other examiners glanced at Ronnel, blaming him with amused stares. His threats during his own match had inspired this ruthless trend. Initially, they thought it would end there. However, the next battle was anything but ordinary.
Gittarackur vs. Killua
When Gittarackur removed the needle from his face, the audience witnessed a heartbreaking clash between two brothers—one seeking control through obsessive love, the other resisting fiercely.
The twisted dynamic between them made Leorio mutter, "This trip was worth it just to see this mess play out."
Under the influence of the needle in his forehead, Killua lost the will to fight and decided to forfeit the Hunter Exam. As he prepared to leave, Gon—despite still recovering from his injuries—leapt in front of Illumi, standing between the brothers.
"Killua is my friend. He has his own thoughts. You can't control him," Gon declared firmly.
This statement instantly sparked murderous intent in Illumi, but before he could act, Killua intervened.
"Stop, Gon," Killua muttered, pushing his friend back. "I'll go home and accept whatever punishment waits for me."
Kurapika and Leorio stood beside Gon in silent solidarity. Hisoka, disappointed at the interference, clicked his tongue—his much-anticipated "fruit" had yet to ripen.
Seeing that the exam setting restricted his actions, Illumi reluctantly let Killua leave.
"I'll let them go for now. Mom, Dad, and the others will handle this." A cruel smile spread across Illumi's face. "Killua doesn't need friends. If he has any... we'll just kill them."
Aftermath
In the final rounds, Leorio fought against Bodoro, but Bodoro met a tragic end—killed by Killua, who was briefly out of control. Killua then left the arena alone.
Gon tried to follow him, but Ronnel stopped him.
"Strictly speaking, this is a Zoldyck family matter. You shouldn't interfere."
"But—" Gon protested.
Ronnel gave a knowing smile. "You're his friend, right? It's natural to want to help. But help after their family issues are resolved. Visiting him as a friend then would be the right thing to do."
Gon's eyes brightened at Ronnel's words. Kurapika and Leorio exchanged relieved glances—they'd feared that if Gon rushed into the Zoldyck family, he'd be killed on sight.
Determined, Gon resolved to visit Killua once everything with the Hunter Exam was settled.
Illumi, seeing no immediate threat, dismissed the situation with a glance. "There's no need to act now. He'll come to us on his own... and then we'll deal with him."
Hunter Exam Results
At the conclusion of the 287th Hunter Exam, eight examinees passed. One died, and the rest were disqualified.
In the hotel's lounge, Mr. Beans gathered the newly minted Hunters to provide them with essential information. After running through the benefits of being a Hunter and the importance of the license, he asked:
"Any questions?"
Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika all raised their hands simultaneously.
Beans blinked, surprised. "Yes, Gon? What's your question?"
"When will we learn about Nen?" Gon asked eagerly.
At this, Illumi remained silent, while Hisoka gave Gon an unreadable glance before losing interest.
Hanzo and Pokkle exchanged puzzled looks—they had clearly never heard of "Nen" before. Intrigued, they turned toward Mr. Beans, waiting for an explanation.
Beans: "..."
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