Leorio and Kurapika both turned serious. Gon looked the sa as ever, while Killua couldn't help glancing Ron's way. Ron gave Killua a small smile, and Killua quickly looked away.
Just then, a voice crackled over the speakers, explaining the next set of rules:
There were five examinees and five convicts. Each side would compete in one-on-one matches, and if the examinees could secure at least three victories, they would pass.
The bald convict stepped forward first. Ron recalled how, in the original storyline, Tonpa's antics had landed everyone in a tough spot. But with Ron here instead of Tonpa—and given they had also won back then—there was now even less chance of losing.
Ron didn't focus much on the match itself.
"Purposely throwing a match to drag things out isn't worth it," he thought. "I'll let them handle it. I'll step in last. In the anti, I can concentrate on developing my new ability."
He could feel that he was nearing the end of creating a new power. Before long, this new ability would fully erge—a prospect Ron found exciting. After all, even if a Nen user's intentions shaped their powers, the end result sotis took form in surprising ways. So Nen users couldn't even predict what their ability would look like until it materialized.
"You go first, I'll stay here," Ron said, then moved off to one corner and sat down cross-legged.
He sensed a sudden, familiar aura—strong, yet recognizable.
"That's Hisoka," he thought. "These criminals aren't that big a deal, so maybe Hisoka has already co across that examiner?"
With a silent shrug, Ron let his awareness slip inward, shutting his eyes. A swirl of aura floated before him, growing denser and shifting shape as he concentrated.
anwhile, Gon and the others eyed each other.
"So, who's up first?"
"I'll go," Killua said, raising his hand.
He and the bald convict stepped onto the makeshift ring.
Thud!
An instant later, Killua was already behind the man, chopping him sharply on the neck. The convict dropped imdiately.
"You're too slow, old man," Killua remarked, hands in his pockets as he walked off.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio brightened.
"Nice one, Killua!"
"That was aweso!"
"Killua, how does he compare to the opponents you fought at Heaven's Arena?" Gon couldn't help asking.
Killua thought for a second.
"When I first got to Heaven's Arena, he's stronger than most I encountered. But after about a year, everyone I fought was way tougher than this."
Leorio glanced over at Ron.
"What about Ron?"
"Not even on the sa level," Killua said, shaking his head. "Heaven's Arena has more than two hundred floors; people asure strength by what floor you fight on. Soone on a hundredth-sothing floor is definitely tougher than soone stuck below floor fifty or sixty, assuming both are stable fighters. Baldy here is probably around the strength of a 120th-floor fighter at best.
"But Ron is well above the 200th floor. He's a Floor Master, and there are only a couple dozen of those in the entire tower."
Kurapika reasoned aloud, "Killua's already bagged one win. From what you've said, Ron should easily secure another. Then we just need one more victory among the rest of us."
Leorio grinned.
"That ans we're guaranteed to pass, right?"
Across the way, the mood among the convicts was the complete opposite. They had a lot riding on these matches: if they lost, their sentences would only get longer, but if they won, they could drastically reduce their remaining ti. Each of them was serving a length of ti that far exceeded a normal human lifespan.
Still, the hope of ever leaving prison, even for a day, was a dream worth fighting for.
"Who's next?" one of them growled.
A convict sitting off to the side stood up, and the other four stepped back hurriedly. The man pressed a hand against the wall and walked; as he moved, the stone sank inward, leaving a deep groove behind. Chunks of masonry clattered to the ground. Leorio and Kurapika grew tense. Killua gave the man a casual glance, frowning slightly.
Pulling off the cloak, the convict revealed short blond hair and a brooding expression. Leorio's face darkened further.
"That's him!"
"You recognize him, Leorio?" Kurapika asked.
Leorio nodded.
"He's Johness the Dismberer—he's killed more people than you can count, no regard for age or gender. All at random—he carves them up just because he likes it. Nobody here can handle him. Anyone who fights him is done for."
Killua glanced over at Gon, who seed more eager than frightened. Killua himself was fairly confident in his abilities, but he worried about Gon's chances.
As for Leorio, from his perspective, not even Killua or Ron could stand up to Johnny.
"I'll handle this one," Leorio declared. He stepped onto the platform. Since he was the oldest he felt he should be the one taking the chance.
Johness studied him blankly, as if devoid of emotion. Leorio felt a chill.
"Begin," the voice announced.
Leorio imdiately took a step back.
"I forfeit!"
Johness's face contorted, but he didn't stop. He charged straight at Leorio, clearly intending to kill him regardless. In that instant—
Whoosh!
A shape blurred past Leorio, barreling toward Johness.
Slash!
A bright red stain blossod on Johness's chest.
He looked down in shock, then collapsed with a heavy thud.
Killua cast a cold glance at the remaining four criminals, then walked calmly off the stage. Leorio, still in a daze, stared first at Johness's corpse, then at the four convicts, and finally at Killua and the others.
"What…just happened?" he stamred.
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