Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who is suffering because my best friend moved back home while I was recovering from multiple fractures.
That brocon psychopath, seriously.
Two days after the fourth exam ended, the examiners gathered to hear from Netero about the final exam. As they peered at the exam contents handed to them, their expressions grew increasingly grim with each line they read, until eventually everyone fell silent.
"Chairman! Are you serious about this exam!?"
"Come on, this is way too harsh, isn't it?"
"Given the high quality of this year's candidates, I can understand the losers' tournament. But are you seriously planning to have a 12-year-old rookie face the Hundred-Style Kannon?"
"It's serious. Is there a problem? As it says there, the matter of the Hundred-Style Kannon was not my decision—it was the request of No. 405 himself."
Menchi, Buhara, and Satotsu were already confused by the elimination tournament, but they were even more outraged that No. 405 alone was assigned a different exam—the Hundred-Style Kannon, which was Netero's signature move.
However, Netero himself remained unfazed by the criticism, maintaining his nonchalant attitude and even going so far as to shift the blame onto Gon's request.
"Even if it's 405's request, openly discriminating against other examinees is problematic. Without a clear reason for going this far, I can't accept it."
Everyone except Netero agreed with Satotsu's reasonable argument, but Netero showed no signs of backing down and explained the reason for the exam content.
"First of all, an exam where the results are already decided is nonsense. Every candidate should have both opportunities and risks. The elimination tournament takes this into account, and I'm sure you all agree."
The elimination tournament, which takes into account the differences in ability among the examinees, does indeed give all examinees a mix of opportunities and risks, albeit to varying degrees. Satotsu and the others acknowledge this, and no objections are raised.
"Now, regarding candidate number 405, is there anyone who can predict that he will fail? It's awkward for me to say this since I proposed it, but honestly, I can only think that he will definitely pass. That's why I thought it lacked fairness."
The subsequent explanation was also easily imaginable to the examiners who had observed Gon's abilities and popularity up to that point, and if someone were to say that he was being favored, that too could not be denied.
"Well, this is a topic that could go on forever, so initially, I intended to place him at the far left of the bracket. However, as I mentioned earlier, he requested it himself, so we decided to make it an individual exam."
"Was it truly his request? Even though he can use Nen, where did a rookie like him obtain information about the Hundred-Form Kannon?"
"The one who taught him the technique was a phantom beast hunter named Kait, so some of you might know him."
"...I see. He's the disciple of Hunter Jin, and I've heard he's quite skilled. If that's the case, it wouldn't be surprising if he heard about the Hundred-Style Kannon from Jin. So, the one with number 405 is definitely Jin's..."
"There's no doubt he's Jin's son. He calls himself a Freecss, and his face looks just like his."
Menchi was surprised by something else in the conversation between Satotsu and Netero.
"Wait a minute, is that really Double's kid? He's a perfect purebred. I've never met him, so I didn't notice, but that explains why he's so extraordinary."
"Well, they don't really resemble each other in personality. They haven't had any contact since he was old enough to remember."
"Just a bunch of crappy parents."
As the others around them chuckled at Menchi's blunt insult, Satotsu, who had been deep in thought, proposed a compromise regarding Gon's exam.
"I understand the chairman's point of view. However, the difficulty of Exam 405 is still too high compared to the other candidates. Perhaps we should make survival the only qualifying condition."
"That seems reasonable. Does anyone else have any objections?"
Though everyone's expressions remained stiff, they reluctantly agreed to the alternative exam for 405 since they had no valid reasons to object.
After confirming this, Netero nodded firmly and instructed his secretary, Beans, to bring 405.
"The exam will begin immediately. Bring 405 here."
"The exam now!?"
"Relax, the time was already communicated during the interview. The exam location is an abandoned wilderness on the outskirts of the city. Medical staff are already on standby, so let's get moving."
The examiners were disheartened to realize that everything had been under Netero's control, but since they were also curious about the exam, they followed Netero out of the room without saying a word.
***
In the outskirts of the city, there was a barren wasteland with no vegetation in sight. Several figures and small tents could be seen scattered across the area.
Gon and Netero faced each other, while the examiners and medical staff from the Hunter Association watched nervously from a distance.
"Well, if there are no objections, let's get started. I'll even accept your last words."
Gon's face was slightly tense with a mixture of tension and anticipation as he faced Netero, who was smiling maliciously.
The aura emanating from Gon was worlds apart from what it had been on the airship, and even Netero and the examiners could feel his determination and resolve.
"As you know, my Hundred-Form Kannon is an unavoidable swift attack. I'll strike the moment your preparations are complete, so brace yourself with all your strength."
"Got it!! I'll push my limits to the max!!"
As Gon spoke, his body began to grow rapidly, surpassing even the form Netero had seen on the airship, with an additional layer of muscle thickness.
"Come on!!"
With a split-second burst of determination, an aura that even the examiners trembled at enveloped Gon.
"Hundred-Style Kannon, First Palm"
The palm of the Kannon deity fell onto the barren land.
Even Satotsu and the others, who were at a distance, could not see the strike despite their full concentration.
Though the Kannon had vanished, the dust swirling around where Gon had stood clearly testified to the ferocity of the strike.
Even if they had braced themselves, it would have been impossible to endure. In Satotsu's mind, Gon's horribly transformed form was vividly etched.
As medical staff rushed to begin treatment, Netero, still maintaining his guard, suddenly tensed.
Like parting the dust, a small demon shrouded in an aura of fury stomped the ground and rose to his feet.
Confusion dominated Netero's mind as he witnessed this continued struggle.
Netero, who had dedicated over a century of his life to martial arts, had spent his life striking countless people.
Yet the sensation he felt from the Hundred-Form Kannon was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
The first sensation was the softness of an infant, something that should not have been felt from Gon's muscular build.
The next sensation was the lightness of feathers, an unimaginable lack of resistance given Gon's size, which should have weighed over 100 kilograms.
And finally, in the moment he was slammed into the ground, the sudden onset of steel-like hardness and lead-like heaviness.
Gon did not know how he had achieved it, but he understood its purpose through his own body.
(Was it achieved through shock dispersion and defense, or through pure technique separate from mental power or physical ability?)
Though I inflicted damage, it was minimal. The test was passed, but Gon's nature as a warrior refused to let Netero show mercy.
And then, an aura of furious anger erupted.
Though I instinctively braced myself, Netero, who had experienced it himself, felt Gon's anger acutely.
What he couldn't forgive was his own weakness, the helplessness that drove him to such fury.
The small demon striving for the strongest rises to overcome his own weakness.
***
Gon, in the midst of extreme concentration, kept the Hundred-Style Kannon within his field of vision as it was swung down.
As his accelerated consciousness left his body behind, unable to move a single finger, Gon activated his ability.
(Complete relaxation of the body, as if vaporizing)
Just before the Hundred-Style Kannon touched him, he perfectly relaxed his body to disperse the impact, minimizing damage by letting his body take the blow.
(Muscle control, tensing from relaxation to achieve steel-like rigidity throughout his body)
Just before being crushed between the ground and the Hundred-Style Kannon, he tensed his body to withstand the impact, minimizing damage by protecting himself.
(...Huh?)
Though he took damage, it was minimal. Momentarily confused by the unexpected result, blood rushed to his head at the fleeting doubt that crossed his mind.
He had been spared.
Likely, Netero had no such intention, but to Gon, who had actually endured the Hundred-Form Kannon's strike, it felt uncharacteristically light.
The gratitude that should have been the essence of the Hundred-Form Kannon was absent.
He had expected to feel it, but there was no gratitude for the opportunity to face Gon.
Gon was enraged.
He was furious at himself for allowing Netero, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, to deliver such a hollow blow.
(Don't mess with me. The Hundred-Style Kannon isn't supposed to be this weak. I'm not strong enough to be held back like this!)
As his muscles, drained of power, returned him to his childlike form, a rage so intense that he despaired at his own weakness welled up within him.
(Don't get cocky, Gon Freecss! Is this the peak you think you can reach with such weakness!?)
The aura overflowing from him was dyed with fury, and he hurled a blood-curdling scream at Netero, who was looking at him.
"I'm not strong enough to make Netero-sama take me seriously! But please let me give everything I've got!"
The aura of anger swirled around Gon's hair, twisting it as if it were a pair of horns.
"Once more, the Hundred-Form Kannon!"
The small demon who had traversed the path of hell once again faced the Kannon statue.
As no one could move in the face of Gon's anger, Netero gazed at him with the gentle eyes of a bodhisattva.
It was the anger that comes from being unable to forgive one's own weakness—a feeling that all warriors must eventually face.
Though it was an emotion that was normally negative, Gon's anger shone so purely and brightly that Netero couldn't help but be amazed, even after all the times he'd witnessed it before.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hold back. I guess I'm getting old."
"It's my fault for being held back. I should have given it my all. I'm the one who's sorry."
Netero bowed his head without hesitation to an opponent who was only a fraction of his strength, and Gon also bowed his head, acknowledging his own fault.
When the two raised their heads and locked eyes again, a piercing aura unlike anything Netero had emitted before erupted from him.
Gon's fiery aura and Netero's needle-sharp aura clashed, warping the space around them, and finally broke through the critical point.
"This is my all-out destruction!!!"
The still immature little demon, though immature, is on the path to becoming a demon lord.
"I thank you for being born, and for everything that raised you. "Hundred-Form Kannon, Third Palm""
The Kannon, offering gratitude, swung both palms as if in an embrace.
The shockwave from the previous blow that races across the wasteland now feels like mere child's play.
The examiners and medical staff, unable to move as if they had forgotten how to breathe, watch as Netero, who has released his remaining resolve, approaches in the form of a child.
Gon's left arm is crushed, his entire body covered in bruises and abrasions, but his feet, planted firmly on the ground, greet Netero with an unwavering smile.
"The Hundred-Form Kannon is amazing! I'll beat you someday, so wait for me!!"
"Ho ho ho, don't keep an old man waiting too long."
As he catches Gon, who has lost consciousness and collapsed, the Hunter Association Chairman delivers the verdict of the exam.
"Candidate number 405, Gon Freecss, you have passed the 287th Hunter Exam with flying colors."
***
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