Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss. It looks like Zushi's muscles have really developed thanks to his compatibility with Leorio's ability.
Zushi follows the same Nen path as in the original timeline, but he's about to reach the 200th floor almost simultaneously with the others.
Gon and his group, including Leorio and Kurapika with their distinctive marks, all reached the 200th floor on the same day, perhaps due to the Sky Arena's scheduling.
In the end, Gon's group didn't have to fight each other after the 100th floor, and they all advanced with ease. Whether this was beneficial or detrimental to their training remained to be seen.
However, since Hisoka was absent, Zushi and Wing provided structured technical opponents, allowing everyone except Killua to significantly improve their fundamental skills.
Leaving behind Zushi, who regretted being unable to keep pace with Gon and the others, the four humans and one beast headed toward the 200th floor reception via elevator.
The elevator attendant, thrilled to have four devoted fans, explained the rules for floors 200 and above. Though confused by the completely different system, they managed to understand it.
For some reason, even after exiting the elevator, they continued following the attendant as she guided them. At the end of the corridor before the reception desk, they found a magician waiting.
"Welcome to the 200th floor. I thought you'd arrive quickly, but you exceeded my expectations ♥"
There stood Hisoka in his usual clown attire and makeup, radiating a sticky, malevolent aura.
"But all four of you have grown remarkably. Gon has improved as well... perhaps you found a good teacher? ♠"
Despite sensing the killing intent leaking from Hisoka, Gon and the others didn't flinch. Hisoka smiled, suppressed his surging aura, and turned to leave.
"For now, fight a few matches to familiarize yourselves with the rules. I'm looking forward to facing you all someday ♥"
After watching Hisoka disappear down the hallway, Gon and the others registered as 200th floor fighters at the front desk and returned to their hotel.
"Tomorrow, I'll bring Zushi to watch, so everyone stay focused and make sure to win your first matches!"
Upon returning to the hotel, Gon and the others were quickly assigned matches for the following day, with their opponents being so-called "newbie hunters" with unremarkable records.
Wing, who had briefly researched the 200th floor fighters, refrained from revealing his students' opponents' names under the guise of training but assured them they posed no real threat.
"Actually, from Wing's perspective, what's the skill level of fighters beyond the 200th floor? So far, the only one I've seen who could be a real challenge is Hisoka."
Wing smiled wryly at Killua, who was lying in bed complaining about his opponent, and prefaced his assessment by noting this was based solely on what he had observed.
"Excluding Leorio, who specializes in healing, honestly, there are only a handful of strong fighters, including the Floor Masters. At Killua's level, you could count them on one hand."
Killua's expression was ambiguous, neither pleased nor competitive, but when Wing continued, he frowned openly.
"On the other hand, please recognize that all of those few fighters are of a higher caliber. Among those you might face, Hisoka and Kastro are the two to watch out for."
"Hmm, we have some information about Hisoka, but what kind of fighter is this Kastro?"
After pausing to gather his thoughts, Wing explained that Kastro was likely an Enhancement-type fighter who used a technique called Tiger Bite Fist.
"His record is 9 wins and 1 loss, with his only defeat coming in his debut match on the 200th floor against Hisoka. Considering he won his subsequent matches without using any special techniques, his raw power is quite formidable. In my estimation, even Killua might struggle against him."
"Then should we just avoid him? I don't know his personality, but he'll either try to avenge his loss to Hisoka or quickly aim to become a Floor Master, right?"
Killua, annoyed by the suggestion that Kastro might be a tough opponent, quickly dismissed him, deciding it wasn't worth provoking a fight.
After that, since they were all fighting their debut matches, Gon and the others made some light preparations before parting ways with Wing and returning to their rooms.
To save money, Gon and the others shared a large room. After taking turns bathing, they spent the remaining time before bed chatting, which had become their recent routine.
Usually, they would discuss the next day's match or that day's training, but on this evening, the conversation centered more on Hisoka, whom they had encountered earlier.
"Still, Kurapika was flawless. Hisoka doesn't remember any of the training he did here, so it's just a matter of when he'll recall it."
"I was surprised by how effective it was. I suppose Hisoka registers as a spider in my mind. At that time, I couldn't even materialize the chains, but I somehow pushed through."
Before parting ways with Hisoka and departing for Kukuroo Mountain, Kurapika was still using an incomplete Judgment Chain.
Despite the uncertainty of using it for the first time and the power difference between him and Hisoka, he managed to seal Hisoka's memories from after the exam and send him to the Sky Arena without incident.
The fact that Hisoka had no intention of resisting was a major factor, but since Kurapika continues materializing chains and growing stronger daily, there was no need to worry about the Judgment Chain's effectiveness.
"The keyword to make Hisoka remember his memories is 'perverted clown,' but there was something else, right?"
"If we get any new information about the Phantom Troupe, make sure you remember it, Leorio."
Ignoring Killua and Leorio, who were playfully teasing each other as usual, Gon asked Kurapika about tomorrow's match.
"Kurapika, you're going to keep materializing the chains, right? Will you use them tomorrow?"
"I'll test them just in case. I want to check how much they weaken someone I have no feelings toward."
While Kurapika prepares to test his technique, Killua and Leorio declare they will fight using only their aura without revealing their abilities. Even though their powers can be recovered if discovered, it's better not to let anyone know about them.
After some casual conversation, the four retired to bed much earlier than usual to prepare for their matches.
The next day, despite being rookie versus beginner matches, Gon and the others' first matches on the 200th floor were packed to capacity with incredible excitement.
Unlike matches below the 200th floor, where contests are spaced out and brutal outcomes are common, such crowds were unusual unless it was a highly anticipated match or a Floor Master bout.
However, on this day, many spectators had gathered at the venue due to information from an insider, eagerly awaiting Gon's match.
In the fighters' waiting room, some were already on the verge of breakdown due to the unprecedented excitement they had never experienced in their careers.
Gido, who supported his body with a single prosthetic leg, Sadaso, whose face resembled a Noh mask with his left arm missing, Riehlvelt, a frail man in a wheelchair, and Gon, whose right half of his face was disfigured.
"Hey, maybe we've bitten off more than we can chew?"
"No, no, even if they're strong, we can't escape now. It's okay, it's okay."
"It's over, we're done for!"
As three of them were on the verge of collapse, only Gon, the leader, was filled with fighting spirit.
"Calm down, you idiots! This is just another easy match where we beat up rookies like usual!"
Gido was matched against Kurapika, Sadaso against Killua, Riehlvelt against Leorio, and Gon against Gon. For Gon, this was a crucial match where victory would bring him to ten wins.
"Sure, they're strong for rookies, but if they can't maintain their composure during combat, it's no problem! Don't try to torture them, just finish them off quickly!"
The four of them, who had undergone their baptism at the same time, developed an odd camaraderie. They sometimes competed over rookies and sometimes fought each other, but they managed to survive on the 200th floor, a place that felt like a nightmare.
"We're going to become Floor Masters! That's why we've come this far, so stop whining and get your act together!"
Thanks to Gon's constant encouragement, the three managed to regain their spirits, albeit with forced brightness, and once again vowed to secure victory.
However, Gido, who was first to head to the venue, couldn't stop the cold sweat pouring from under his mask until the very end.
"Alright, everyone gathered at the arena! The match we've all been waiting for is about to begin!!"
The female announcer, who had secured her position by openly showing her bias toward Gon and the others, was once again at the peak of her career, enthusiastically commentating on the match.
With the exception of Leorio, the profiles of Gon and the others, explained in rapid succession, covered everything known about them within the Sky Arena, thanks to their status as members of various fan clubs.
"And now, let's welcome the first fighter to the ring! The most popular of the four, the classic heartthrob whose fans are clamoring to be bound by his chains after his performance on the 100th floor, the nobleman Kurapika!"
"He's a well-balanced fighter, both offensively and defensively. However, he lacks standout qualities, so it will be interesting to see how he performs in this 200th floor debut."
"Next up is Gido, the mysterious fighter with an unsettling presence and lackluster record, who aims to be the one to give the noble prince his first loss on this floor!"
"He's interesting for his tricky fighting style, but he lacks decisiveness and adaptability. Unfortunately, without some kind of breakthrough, he's likely to fade away."
"Leaving aside the mysterious long-haired commentator, the highly anticipated match is finally about to begin!"
As he listened for the starting signal, Kurapika quietly observed Gido with intense focus. Even though Gido had been baptized and was physically battered, Kurapika knew that the fact he had awakened Nen and survived meant he couldn't lower his guard.
I see. Just the fact that my opponent is an unknown Nen user makes them this troublesome. They don't seem to have much mobility, but how are they compensating for that?
Kurapika, being the type to analyze before acting, inevitably ended up watching his opponent's moves. That wasn't necessarily bad, but for Gido, who was mentally cornered, it worked in his favor.
"Damn it, I'll show you! I'll beat that pretty face to a pulp! Dancing Tops!"
"There it is! Gido's signature move, the Dancing Tops! Though they look like ordinary spinning tops, each one packs enough power to knock out a grown man! Today he's really going all out, there are more of them than usual!!"
The numerous spinning tops enveloped in Gido's aura collided with each other, following irregular trajectories as they attacked Kurapika. At first, he dodged them with ease, but as the tops narrowed their range, he was gradually cornered.
Ignoring the screams of the fans and the commentary, Kurapika continued his focused observation, analyzing the tops' movements, their approximate power, and determining they were pure physical attacks with no additional effects.
This was unnecessary caution. As Wing said, they're not much of a threat.
He infused a single chain hanging from the loose sleeves characteristic of the Kurta tribe with aura, and by naming it, he also imbued it with his intent.
"Chain."
Immediately after whispering quietly, the countless tops that were about to swarm him were all destroyed or knocked out of the arena.
The chain, imbued with aura, intercepted the tops with incredible speed and optimal, shortest movements. Only a handful of true masters could discern everything that had happened.
"What on earth just happened!? There's not a single top left in the ring, and Kurapika is standing there unharmed!"
"Those chains deflected all the tops. The beautiful trajectories were flawlessly calculated, leaving no room for error."
While the arena heated up, Gido, whose attack method had been shattered in an instant, stood physically unharmed yet mentally shattered. He no longer possessed any tops, and even the tops spinning aimlessly outside the ring seemed damaged somehow.
"I have no interest in inflicting meaningless pain. I suggest you surrender."
Gido, having been shown his opponent's overwhelming superiority, instead channeled his fear and shame into defiant anger. His heart, which had been on the verge of breaking, ignited with a clarity of purpose uncharacteristic of him, emitting pure aura.
"If it comes to that, I'll take my chances even if time runs out! Tornado Top!"
"There it is! Gido's ultimate technique, the Tornado Top! By spinning at high speed, he deflects all attacks!!"
"Gido has mastered the art of spinning, so he must be well-versed in those kinds of movements. It looks comical, but it's a technique that shouldn't be underestimated."
Gido put up more resistance than the audience expected, but to Kurapika, it was nothing more than a flawed technique easily countered.
From among the feasible options, he deliberately chose the method with the highest probability of failure.
He pulled out a thicker chain separate from the guide chain, unfurled it around the rapidly spinning Gido, and finally pulled it tight to constrict it all at once.
"Chain Jail."
"Whoa!?"
Just as Gido and the entire venue held their breath expecting the outcome, Kurapika's chain shattered into pieces with a high-pitched sound.
The Chain Jail, whose power fluctuates greatly depending on the strength of one's emotions toward the target, completely immobilizes Killua and Leorio the moment they are captured. Even Gon, unless he transforms, cannot move, and even if he tries to cut it with all his strength, it is so durable it cannot be severed. However, against Gido, who held no significance for Kurapika, it exhibited a fragility inferior even to glassware.
As everyone fell silent in confusion, Kurapika, satisfied with the experimental results, once again pulled out the guide chain and aimed it at Gido, who was still spinning.
"What?"
The guide chain bound Gido's full-power Tornado Top with incredibly precise force, suppressing its rotation so quietly it was almost anticlimactic.
"I'll ask one more time. Do you surrender?"
"Yes, I surrender."
Despite being in a match, Kurapika remained as relaxed as if he were in his own room, causing Gido to tremble once again. Despite the crushing defeat, he somehow recalled something important: the ambition to become stronger that he had felt when he first began learning Nen, and the defiant spirit that had driven him to resist the countless setbacks he had experienced.
As the referee and commentator announced the outcome, Gido turned to Kurapika, who was already preparing to leave, and asked,
"Hey, do you ever feel like giving up?"
He didn't expect an answer, but Kurapika stopped and declared without hesitation.
"Every day is a repetition of failure. The strength I aim for is too high and too distant. But no matter how many times I feel like giving up, I'm fortunate to have friends who pull me back."
Kurapika turns slightly, flashing a smile that even the fans and Gido couldn't help but admire.
"I can't boast about my strength yet, but my friends are something I can proudly show the world."
Watching his brilliant figure disappear without stopping this time, Gido vowed to restart his training, including the Nen techniques he had neglected since his initiation.
The Sky Arena reached peak excitement during Kurapika's match, but the matches between Killua and Leorio ended so quickly that the venue fell silent.
In the match between Killua and Sadaso, Sadaso took the initiative with his opening move, but Killua, having awakened his Nen, could see Sadaso's aura without even activating his own abilities, so there was no way he could be caught off guard.
As a result, Sadaso was knocked out in less than 10 seconds, leaving even the commentators who were rooting for Killua feeling unsatisfied.
In the match between Leorio and Riehlvelt, Riehlvelt tried to defend himself with two whips from the start, but the techniques lacked impact and didn't contain much aura, making them ineffective.
Leorio, who had enhanced his aura through training, launched a direct assault, and like in Sadaso's match, Riehlvelt was defeated in less than 10 seconds.
In the waiting room where the "newbie hunters" gathered, the two defeated fighters, Sadaso and Riehlvelt, looked half-dead, while Gido, filled with hope, stood in stark contrast.
Gon, watching Gido encourage the defeated pair despite their loss, harbored hope that the Sky Arena might change due to Gon's recent string of victories.
Gon, whose right half of his face had collapsed due to the baptism, had invited the three others who underwent initiation alongside him to begin hunting newcomers. However, all of this was done with consideration for the rookies who had reached the 200th floor without awakening to Nen.
In recent years, the Sky Arena had seen an increase in fighters who believed winning was everything, and this trend was particularly pronounced among 200th floor fighters driven by the goal of becoming Floor Masters. Deliberately rendering newly arrived rookies unable to fight again was considered normal, and even eliminating rivals by staging accidents during matches was done without hesitation.
Since it wasn't prohibited by the rules, Gon couldn't complain, but he worried that if fighters started prioritizing harming others over self-improvement, it would inevitably lead to a decline in overall quality.
I never thought Gido, who endured the harshest initiation, would change, but it just shows how strong their influence is. The Sky Arena, which was once filled with blood and violence, is now filled with a refreshing yet intense atmosphere!
Though he wore a hopeful, gentle smile, Gon's expression was more menacing than a prison guard's, enough to make others uncomfortable. A fighter whose body and mind suffered due to his appearance, he was filled with determination for his first challenge against a higher-ranked opponent since he began hunting beginners.
"Hey, you guys, watch my match with the King closely. You'll definitely witness the moment the Sky Arena changes. Don't just watch it on a monitor, come and feel the atmosphere for yourselves!"
Gido realized that Gon, who looked like a villain, possessed the aura of a noble fighter, and he regained his spirit as a warrior. At the same time, he understood that all of Gon's words and actions until now had been based on certain beliefs, and that the time had come for their leader, who had been fighting alone against many things, to fulfill his dream.
"Gon, I think I finally understand you. I know it's none of my business, but let me say this: I wish you luck in your fight!"
Gon responded with his back and the aura emanating from him, then quietly left the dressing room and headed for the ring.
"Finally, the long yet short matches have come to an end, and it's time for today's main event! First up in the ring is the man who has won nine matches so far and is one step away from becoming a Floor Master, the veteran fighter Gon, who has achieved the fusion of strength and technique!"
"His large physique and well-developed muscles catch the eye, but what's truly remarkable is his ability to control that power with such precision. He's not only able to use his opponent's strength against them, but he can also overwhelm them with his own. There's no doubt he's strong."
"And here he comes! Where does all that power come from in such a small body? He's knocked out every opponent he's faced so far! The charming tyrant with the distinctive hair! It's 'King' Gon!!"
"It's rare to see a fighter with such unknown depths. His combat style and abilities are a complete mystery, and the only thing we know for sure is that he's incredibly strong. But what's truly terrifying is that no one dares to question why he's called 'King.' In this Sky Arena, there's no fighter who would openly challenge that title."
As he listened to the commentators' remarks, Gon, standing before his namesake, felt nothing but pure respect. The calm, heavy presence that was incomparable to his own self-taught approach, and movements that didn't betray extraordinary weight despite the sound of footsteps and muscle movement, were truly impressive.
This is undoubtedly the strongest opponent I've ever faced. How long can I hold on?
Gon had been disfigured by the baptism, but unlike Gido and the others, he hadn't needed rehabilitation or to change his fighting style. Moreover, he had trained honestly rather than simply defeating others, so despite being labeled a "newbie hunter," his true strength was comparable to a Floor Master.
Is his strength greater than mine? At least I have the reach advantage. If I keep my distance and take control first, I might have a chance.
"That won't work."
"What?"
"There are battles you can't win, but there are no battles you should give up on winning."
Gon, who had been thinking about fighting defensively rather than to win, was stunned by this declaration and took a deep breath, ashamed of his own weakness.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Gon, but I believe you should fight with everything you have, even if it's brief, rather than prolonging a losing battle. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much, but now I'm looking forward to fighting you."
Aware of the warrior's spirit stirring within him, Gon flashed a combative smile, and Gon returned it. Determined to give his all, he squeezed every ounce of aura from his body, refusing to abandon the hope of victory.
"Begin!"
At the referee's signal, Gon's fist connected with Gon's face.
***
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