Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, whose food expenses are rapidly depleting my fight money at the Sky Arena. I think shrinking is causing me stress, so I think I'll go outside and wrestle someone.
The audience was stunned by the unexpected event that occurred on the ring before they could even react to the deafening noise.
As soon as the fight began, Gon closed the distance and lunged forward, but his opponent used his strength to throw him forcefully onto the ring. The fact that he had jumped up to strike Gon's face worked against him, and the throw, combined with the damage Gordon had sustained but managed to barely parry, created a small crater.
Phew! I made it just in time. That was a perfect move!
The impact didn't stop at creating a crater; Gon bounced off and flew through the air. Gordon, unable to parry the remaining force in time, focused on recovering from the damage he had taken. Though he had sustained some damage, Gordon began to relax, thinking he had achieved a significant advantage. However, his guard was raised again when Gon landed lightly on the edge of the ring.
Is he really unharmed by that?! That should have been enough to finish him off even for a Floor Master. Is he using some kind of defensive ability?
That was an incredibly precise throw. In terms of aikido, he might even surpass Wing. Plus, there's something off about the way he was hit.
As Gordon recovered and gauged Gon's next move, and Gon pondered the oddness of their previous exchange, a pause developed in the battle. Those who had been caught off guard from the start finally caught up, and the brief silence was shattered by the commentator's screams and the crowd's cheers, causing the floor to physically shake.
"What an incredible exchange! Just as Gon's first strike landed, Gordon countered with a throw!"
"That was a brilliant Aikido move, but Gordon took damage. However, since the throw landed, the point goes to Gordon."
As the crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch over Gon's first hit and the loss of a point, Gordon did his best to calm his mind and continue to gauge Gon's next move. Having discerned Gon's abnormal strength and the mysterious weight on his head from their earlier clash, he judged that attacking first would make it difficult to execute aikido.
With that weight on his head, it's only natural that his balance would be off, but he's using brute force to turn himself into a hundreds-of-kilogram mass. Then, using that strength, throwing him with his own weight would be the most damaging option.
This is the first time I've experienced aikido at this level, so while I still have some room to maneuver, I'll just go for it without overthinking it.
After confirming that he hadn't taken any damage with a quick squat and jump, Gon launched a reckless charge—the worst possible strategy against an opponent with superior technique. Unlike the first attack, which he couldn't react to in time, Gordon calmly observed Gon, dodged the attack from below, lifted him into the air, and slammed him back into the ring before he could counterattack.
From there on, a kind of reversed battle ensued.
Despite his small stature, which should have put him at a significant disadvantage, Gon attacked boldly, while Gordon, who should have had the advantage with his muscular build, deflected his attacks with elegant techniques. The ring was littered with cracks from Gon's lunges and craters from his throws, and the relentless attacks and throws left the referee no time to announce points.
Eventually, the crowd was inspired by Gordon's unexpected performance, and the boos that had been heard before the match were now nowhere to be heard. The crowd's support gradually shifted toward Gordon, and by the time the number of craters exceeded ten, the cheers were almost entirely for Gordon.
"Who could have predicted this? The arena is now filled with chants for Gordon, completely different from before the match! Oh no! Gon, who had lunged forward, was thrown with a kick! What incredible technique!"
"Some of his throws seem a little off, but Gordon is moving better than expected. If Gon doesn't come up with something, it wouldn't be surprising if he loses."
Just as Gon thought he had Gordon in his grasp, he was thrown instead, bringing the score to 9 and putting him on the brink of defeat. When Gon stopped his reckless charge, a slight gap opened up, and the battle paused once more.
The two facing each other were truly contrasting figures. Gordon, who should be cornering Gon, was sweating profusely and breathing heavily, while Gon casually brushed the dust off his clothes, seemingly without a drop of sweat.
"Hmph, if you're willing to stall for time, I'd like to know why you haven't taken more damage."
"Hm? It's partly due to the effect of the attack, but it's just that I'm hard."
Gon's casual response to Gordon's question, who had managed to catch his breath, was one of the last things he wanted to hear.
"This is getting annoying. The KO victory is out of the question now. By the way, you seemed to be thinking about it, but did you figure out my ability?"
"It's friction manipulation or enhancement, right? After being thrown that many times, I'd notice."
Gordon smiled wryly at Gon's confident answer and touched the pieces of the ring scattered at his feet with his index finger, lifting them in a circular motion. The pieces, which were only touching the side, stuck to his fingertips as if ignoring gravity.
"You're right. If I could manipulate it, that would be ideal, but unfortunately, it's enhancement-type. Don't aim too high; focus on enhancement alone. The simpler the task, the better it suits you."
As if on cue, the fragment naturally fell from his fingertip. When he touched it with the back of his other hand, it stuck as if glued. Thanks to this ability, Gordon could now apply aikido techniques perfectly just by touching an object, without needing to grasp it.
"Right now, I can collapse or redirect an opponent with just a single point of contact on my fingertips or toes. Even though I've been holding back on recovery, I'm confident I can finish this with a TKO."
With his stamina restored and standing in a steady stance, Gordon faced Gon, who awkwardly scratched his cheek. Gon struggled to find the right words, but Gordon, sensing his hesitation, spoke first.
"I know you're not giving it your all, but I can tell you're serious about the technique. The true use of aikido is to defeat an opponent who is physically weaker than you. Even if you give it your all, I'll take the next strike with my life and win!"
Gordon, his fighting spirit and aura surging, smiled as he opened his eyes, which had been closed, and faced Gon without flinching, despite feeling his intensity.
"I have no intention of losing here either. I'll crush your Aikido head-on."
"Hah, if you think you can..."
Gordon tried to laugh through his nose and steel his resolve, but the sweat that had been pouring down his face began to flow again as he was overwhelmed by the overwhelming aura rising from Gon. Unlike the heavy, tree-like aura from before, this was a brutal energy that felt like a small sun had been born.
"Ah, that's right. I've been wrapped up in it the whole time."
The thought of being in an advantageous position evaporated in an instant, but he mustered what little strength he had left and threw everything into his next strike. No matter how much his physical abilities increased, without technique, he couldn't perform Aikido.
Even the audience, unable to sense his aura, fell silent at the overwhelming pressure emanating from Gon. In the ring, now once again shrouded in silence, Gon slowly closed the distance, step by step.
Damn, I'm honestly scared. Who the hell named him "King"? He's clearly no match for me.
Despite merely walking, the force behind each step was immense, causing new cracks to appear in the ring with every step Gon took. Suppressing the instinct to turn and run, he stood his ground, driven by the pride and stubbornness of a martial artist.
"!!"
Focusing all his senses on Gon, who had come right up to him, he accelerated his thoughts to the point of nosebleeds. His determination not to miss a single attack or movement was achieved in an unexpected way.
Too slow!? Grab him and run? No! Win!
Gon, who had come to grab him at a speed that even an amateur could easily avoid, chose to counterattack rather than evade. At that moment, if Gordon had landed a single jab as a counter, there was a real possibility he could have won. However, his relentless focus on aikido and his single-mindedness as an Enhancer had left him with no other options.
A type of small wrist throw that is simple yet highly effective, targeting the wrist and locking the elbow. Gordon aimed to destroy Gon's elbow and shoulder, concentrating all his strength into his right arm.
Gon's arm did not flinch.
Gordon's aikido, which had channeled all his technique and strength, had no effect whatsoever. Instead, Gon's hand continued to move toward him at the same steady pace.
No matter how he tried to manipulate the flow of power, it was as if he were trying to paddle against a tsunami, utterly ineffective.
Don't mess with me! Is he using just brute force for this aikido!?
Gordon grabbed Gon's wrist with both hands and tried to channel power in every direction, though it was invisible to the naked eye. His feet braced against the ground, and his hands gripped tightly, but the palm pressing against him grew closer by the second, and a sense of despair grew within him.
"Ugh!"
"Huh?"
Just as he was grabbed by the collar, he was forced to kneel down with a casual shout. His aikido was completely nullified, and the embodiment of injustice grabbed his temple.
"Ugh!"
It didn't take long for Gordon's resistance and screams to subside.
Even after the referee declared the knockout, the arena remained silent for a while. This match, which had been called a "rookie hunt" and a "disappointing match between a rookie and a veteran," was a memorable battle that could have been chosen as the best match of the year.
Gordon's figure, who continued to resist until the end and never let go of his hands, resembled a noble warrior kneeling in prayer.
"Man, I wasn't sure how it was going to end, but in the end, everyone came out on top! What a great outcome!"
"However, that Gordon was an unexpected powerhouse. He's not someone you can underestimate, even if you don't plan on losing."
"But I also think Gon was a bit too confident. He could have ended it with one punch if he'd really wanted to."
"I really wanted to experience that level of skill. It was incredibly valuable."
After easily winning their first match on the 200th floor, Gon and the others headed toward the registration desk to sign up for their next match before returning to the hotel. Fans and even TV crews had rushed over immediately after the match, but they managed to shake them off using Killua's assistance and were now proceeding without being noticed.
While walking and discussing the previous match, they noticed someone waiting for them at the end of the hallway near the registration desk.
When Gon and the others noticed and stopped, he closed the few meters between them with a smile.
"Everyone fought beautifully. To be honest, I underestimated you."
A tall, handsome young man with long hair, wearing loose clothing and a cloak, Castro was one of the strongest fighters recognized even by Wing. Noting that Gon and the others were slightly wary due to their lack of information beyond his battle record, Castro withdrew his smile and adopted a serious expression.
"I apologize for the sudden visit. It wasn't planned, but I had something on my mind and came to see you. There's no ill will."
Castro looked at everyone, including Gin, then bowed deeply in apology. His demeanor was rational and polite, causing Gon and the others to lower their guard and listen.
"I'll get straight to the point. Fight me in the next match, 'King' Gon. I need you to become the Floor Master and defeat Hisoka."
Castro's fighting spirit and aura burned brightly, proving his seriousness, but Gon felt as if he could see resignation and fear swirling in the depths of his eyes.
"Who was that handsome guy named Castro? I didn't say anything because Gon didn't say anything, but..."
After Gon accepted Castro's challenge, Gon and Castro completed their registration at the front desk and parted ways without incident, each heading home. After leaving the Sky Arena, Leorio complained about the earlier exchange, and Killua scolded Gon for not being more confident.
"Both of you, cut it out. I get that you have your issues with Castro, but in the end, the outcome of the match is what matters. Then we should just trust Gon and watch silently."
"I know that much. What I'm saying is that Gon is too relaxed outside of the match and training. I'm not saying he should be like Hisoka, but if he doesn't act the part, he'll get unnecessary trouble like today."
After that, Gon followed the three of them, who were arguing back and forth, with a wry smile, while Gin showed no interest. When they arrived at the hotel and visited Wing and Zushi's room to report, they were greeted by an unexpected person.
"Well, I reported to my master about all of you, and somehow he heard about it. He happened to be passing by, so he stopped by."
"I'm so moved! He signed my gi! I'll keep it as a family treasure!"
Wing was embarrassed and sweating, while Zushi was smiling from ear to ear with sparkling eyes. In the center of the room sat an elderly man in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sunglasses, leaning back in a chair with a drink in hand.
"Ho ho ho, I watched the match on TV. It seems you've all been training hard. That's good, that's good."
It had been about two months since they last met, but the Hunter Association Chairman looked noticeably more youthful.
"You passed the Underground Hunter Exam without a hitch. How about we have some fun with the former world's strongest?"
Enjoying the sight of everyone except Gon and Gin tensing up under his overwhelming aura, Isaac Netero reveals the purpose of his visit.
"I'll show these kids the true extent of the world."
The mischievous lesson from the benevolent deity begins.
***
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[10 Advanced Chs] [7 Chapters/week]