"I'm up!" Hearing his na called, Leorio quickly snapped back to reality. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and strode onto the field with high spirits.
"Go for it!!!"
Zane and Kurapika both cheered Leorio on.
Imdiately after, Zane glanced at the now-silent Killua.
He had done everything he could; the rest was up to the boy's own choice.
The sixth match began.
Leorio and Tonpa were relatively well-matched.
Leorio had the advantage of youth and strength, while Tonpa excelled in experience.
Once the fight started, a uniquely fierce battle unfolded.
The reason it was called unique...
...was naturally not because of their power.
Rather, it was because Tonpa had prepared a multitude of gadgets.
His satchel was like a treasure chest.
One mont he was tossing stink bombs, the next he was scattering caltrops, and occasionally he would even spray pepper water.
It was clear that as the Rookie Crusher, Tonpa was a professional.
Under the barrage of gadgets, Leorio was left in a miserable state.
However, Leorio's tenacity was beyond doubt.
No matter how much he was toyed with, Leorio refused to give up.
Eventually, the battle devolved into a war of attrition.
Bam! Bam!
Following two face-shattering punches, Leorio and Tonpa collapsed backward simultaneously, both falling unconscious.
Seeing this, the referee couldn't help but look toward the Chairman.
Netero stroked his beard and said, "Both candidates are unconscious. This match ends in a draw. Once they wake up, they will have a tie-breaker at the very end!"
And so, Leorio was temporarily moved off-stage.
Next was the seventh match.
"I... I concede!"
Just as the referee announced the next candidates, Killua made his decision after a long silence.
He knew very well he was no match for his older brother.
Combined with the influence of the Nen needle in his head, Killua didn't even dare to face Illumi.
"Very good, Killua. You truly rembered my instructions: never fight an opponent you aren't certain you can defeat." To the surprise of the others, Illumi stepped forward.
He looked down at his younger brother, his words expressing pride, though his face remained utterly indifferent.
Beside them, Zane watched him calmly.
Kurapika frowned as he looked at Illumi.
Even without knowing the details, he could sense that Killua's older brother was highly problematic.
Killua remained silent, his head bowed.
Illumi didn't care and continued, "By the way, I was quite surprised when you ran away from ho. I heard you even injured Mother. She was actually very moved by that."
"But why did you co here? To beco a Hunter? That can't be right. You're a natural-born assassin; why would you do sothing so boring? Like , I only ca because it was necessary for my current job."
"Alright, you've had enough fun. You can go ho now and focus on becoming a professional assassin."
Each of Illumi's words caused Killua to tighten his fists further as he kept his head down.
Finally, unable to take it any longer, he snapped his head up.
"That's not true! It's true that I only joined the Hunter Exam because I was bored at first, but I've had a lot of fun here."
"I'm tired of killing. I... I want to be friends with Gon and Zane! I want to laugh and play with them like a normal person!"
Illumi replied blankly, "That's impossible. Soone like you can't make friends. Your only judgnt of people is whether or not you can kill them. Beyond that, you think of nothing else. After all, that's how Dad and I raised you."
"You only feel this way now because of the novelty, as if you've gotten a new toy. But once you're bored, the day will co when you won't be able to resist testing if you can kill these people. Deep down, you are a born killer."
"Hey, you bastard! I don't care if you're Killua's brother or whatever, what the hell are you talking about?!"
Leorio, who had just regained consciousness after so brief dical treatnt, overheard the conversation between Killua and Illumi. He imdiately ignored his injuries and scrambled to his feet.
With veins bulging on his forehead, Leorio pointed at Illumi and roared. Then, he looked at the dazed Killua and shouted, "Killua! Don't listen to this jerk's nonsense! Gon, Zane, and all of us—aren't we already friends?!"
Killua's body jolted.
Friends?
So Gon, Zane, and I are already friends!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several Nen needles were shot toward Leorio without warning.
But they were intercepted mid-air by a hand strike.
The needles snapped and fell to the ground.
"Heh, getting angry because you were called out? Not surprising. After all, a cold-blooded killer to the core like you could never understand the bond of friendship."
Having blocked Illumi's needles, Zane stepped in front of Leorio.
A smile played on his lips, but his gaze toward Illumi was frigid.
Clang!
Scabbards hit the floor. Beside Leorio, Kurapika solemnly drew his dual blades, his focus locked onto Illumi as he stood ready.
'Don't do anything rash now.'
Not far away, Hisoka held a playing card between his fingers, smiling as he watched the confrontation. Wisps of malice leaked from him, drifting toward Illumi.
Illumi stared at Zane, who blocked his way.
At the sa ti, he felt the malice coming from Hisoka behind him.
"Candidate! If you engage in any further hostile behavior toward another candidate, you will be disqualified imdiately!"
Several suit-wearing n responsible for maintaining order rushed over and issued a warning to Illumi.
"This is quite troubleso. I really need a Hunter License for my next job. It would be a hassle if I fought you now. Oh, right—I can just wait until the Hunter Exam is over to make my move." Illumi tapped his chin with his index finger, feigning distress before putting on an air of sudden realization.
Having said that, he turned back to Killua.
"Just quit the exam and go ho. If you're willing to go ho right now, I might consider sparing these people." Illumi placed a hand on Killua's head and ruffled his hair.
Zane frowned as he watched the interaction.
This guy...
"I... I quit!" Killua's eyes had beco vacant and dark at so point.
Leaving those words behind, while Leorio and Kurapika looked on in shock, Killua turned and walked out of the arena like a marionette, his face expressionless.
"Today has certainly been an eye-opener. I didn't expect the so-called Zoldycks to have soone like you among them." Zane didn't stop Killua from leaving; he simply glared coldly at Illumi.
The Nen flow he had sensed when Illumi touched Killua's head was no illusion.
Therefore, the reason Killua suddenly gave up was most likely because Illumi had triggered the Nen needle inside his head, exerting forced control.
Because there was no way to break it for the mont and Killua's life wasn't in danger, Zane hadn't intervened.
But that didn't an he was going to do nothing.
Illumi glanced at Zane.
He didn't offer any rebuttal, simply turning and walking back to his original position.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comnts are highly appreciated to keep going.....( 40 chapters) patre0n.c0m/Royal_ink]
User Comments
0 comments from readers