A one-on-one wager, a fight to the death

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. Cold killing intent spread from the prisoners opposite them, colliding with the five examinees' wary auras until even the air seemed thick and sticky. The electronic screen began displaying the five prisoners' profiles in order. Every one of them was a hardened criminal sentenced to more than three hundred years in prison, with dozens of lives on their hands-vicious criminals through and through.

[Contestant 1: Chahhu. Prison term: 402 years. Principal offender in a series of murders. Specializes in psychological warfare and close combat. Expert at attacking the human body's weak points.]
[Contestant 2: Leilute. Prison term: 328 years. Con artist. Specializes in psychological games and hypnosis. Expert at setting traps in all kinds of wagers.]
[Contestant 3: Shiba. Prison term: 296 years. Professional sniper. Specializes in ranged attacks and trap placement. Proficient with all kinds of firearms and concealed weapons.]
[Contestant 4: Johnny. Prison term: 512 years. Serial killer. Specializes in unarmed combat. His knife-hand strikes can easily cleave steel. Known as "Scissorhands Johnny."]
[Contestant 5: Hisoka. Prison term: ... No data. Identity unknown. Crimes unknown.]

Seeing Hisoka's profile, Leorio could not help swearing. "Damn it! That lunatic really is here! How the hell did he slip in among the prisoners?" "He probably struck a deal with the warden," Kurapika said gravely, frowning. "As long as he beats us, he can get his sentence reduced. With his strength, those prisoners couldn't stop him. Getting in would have been easy." Killua's gaze turned cold. With his arms folded, he watched Hisoka across the room and said quietly, "That guy knows exactly what he wants. He's here for Lin Ye." Gon nodded too, clenching his fists as he looked at Lin Ye. "Lin Ye, if you don't want to fight him, we can change the order. I'll take him on!" Seeing their worried expressions, Lin Ye smiled and shook his head. "No need. Hisoka's target is me. Even if you stand in his way, he won't fight you. I'll have to face him sooner or later." His gaze fell on Hisoka, who was watching him too. The smile on Hisoka's lips grew more excited as he waved the playing cards in his hand at Lin Ye, as though offering both a greeting and a challenge. Lin Ye looked away and turned to the others, speaking earnestly. "Now let's decide our fighting order. We have the profiles of all five opponents. We need to match each of them against the right person and make sure we take three wins." The others immediately gathered around, studying the prisoners' profiles on the screen and discussing them seriously. "The first one, Chahhu, specializes in psychological warfare and attacks on the body's weak points. He's extremely good at close combat," Kurapika began, looking at the others. "Leave this match to me. His mind games won't work on me, and I'm confident I can handle him in close combat." "All right." Lin Ye nodded. With his strength and composure, Kurapika really was the best choice against Chahhu. "The second one, Leilute, is a con artist who specializes in wagers and hypnosis." Leorio rubbed his chin. "Leave her to me! It's just a wager, right? I might not be good at much else, but I've never lost when it comes to luck! Besides, her hypnosis probably won't work on someone as simple-minded as me!" Everyone paused, then laughed. Leilute's abilities worked best against meticulous people who thought too much. Leorio's straightforward personality might actually be the perfect counter to her. "All right, the second match is yours, Leorio." Lin Ye smiled and nodded. "But be careful. Don't fall into her traps. If anything feels wrong, surrender immediately. Don't try to tough it out." "Relax! I know what I'm doing!" Leorio thumped his chest confidently. "The third one, Shiba, is a sniper who specializes in ranged attacks and concealed weapons." Killua raised an eyebrow. "Leave him to me. I know all about guys who hide in the shadows and shoot people in the back. I'm absolutely sure I can handle him." No one understood assassination and long-range ambushes better than Killua. Using those skills against him was like trying to teach a master his own trade. No one objected, and they immediately nodded in agreement. "The fourth one, Johnny, specializes in unarmed combat. His knife-hand strikes can split steel, and he's incredibly strong." Gon's eyes lit up as he read the profile. "Leave him to me! I want to fight him! I know I can beat him!" Gon's close-combat skills and resilience made him well suited to an opponent who relied on raw power like Johnny. Everyone nodded, agreeing with his choice. "And I'll take the last one, Hisoka," Lin Ye said calmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll handle that fight." The others looked at him. They were still worried, but when they saw the resolve in his eyes, they finally nodded. They all knew that the depths of Lin Ye's strength were unfathomable. Even against Hisoka, he could certainly hold his own. Their fighting order was settled. First match: Kurapika vs. Chahhu. Second match: Leorio vs. Leilute. Third match: Killua vs. Shiba. Fourth match: Gon vs. Johnny. Fifth match: Lin Ye vs. Hisoka. The instant they entered their order into the electronic system, the prisoners submitted theirs as well. It was exactly as they had expected, with each opponent matching up perfectly. The match information immediately appeared on the electronic screen, accompanied by a cold system announcement:

[Both sides' fighting orders have been confirmed. Match one, Kurapika vs. Chahhu, begins now! Both contestants, please enter the ring!]

Kurapika took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and nodded to the others, his gaze firm. "Don't worry. I'll win the first match." "You can do it, Kurapika!" Gon shouted, pumping his fist at him. "Be careful. Don't force it!" Lin Ye told him. "If you're in danger, surrender immediately. We'll still have a chance." Kurapika smiled and nodded, then turned and stepped into the ring. Across from them, Chahhu rose from the spectator seats and walked into the ring step by step, a cruel smile on his face. He was tall and heavily muscled, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust as he looked at Kurapika as though he were already dead. "Kid, I suggest you surrender now." Chahhu's voice was hoarse and unpleasant, thick with malice. "Otherwise, I'll pull your bones out one by one and let you die slowly in agony." Expressionless, Kurapika tightened his grip on his Nunchucks and said coldly, "Enough talk. If you want to fight, fight." The system announcement sounded again:

[Match one officially begins!]

Before the announcement had finished, Chahhu moved. He was incredibly fast, charging up to Kurapika like a savage beast. His enormous fist whistled through the air as he drove it straight at Kurapika's head. The punch carried tremendous force. Even steel would have been flattened if it connected. But Kurapika did not panic in the slightest. He instantly turned sideways, neatly avoiding the punch as his Nunchucks whipped out like a nimble venomous snake, lashing toward Chahhu's ribs. Chahhu had not expected such a quick reaction. He immediately pulled his fist back to guard his side. The Nunchucks slammed into his arm with a dull thud. Chahhu grunted and stumbled back several steps, a trace of surprise entering his eyes as he stared at Kurapika. He had never imagined that this refined-looking boy could be so strong. Below the ring, the others watched the fight tensely. "Kurapika's amazing! He actually dodged that punch!" Gon shouted excitedly. "Don't get careless. Chahhu is strong, and he specializes in psychological warfare. He's bound to have something else up his sleeve," Lin Ye said gravely, his eyes fixed on the ring. If Kurapika was in any danger, he would act immediately. The fight in the ring grew fiercer. Chahhu's attacks became increasingly savage, every strike aimed viciously at a vulnerable point on Kurapika's body. Kurapika responded calmly, whirling his Nunchucks in an impenetrable defense while constantly looking for openings. His offense and defense worked as one, and he did not give an inch. After more than a dozen exchanges, Chahhu grew increasingly impatient. He had not expected to struggle against a teenage boy. A vicious glint flashed through his eyes, and he abruptly changed tactics. Instead of continuing close combat, he began attacking with words, repeatedly trying to provoke Kurapika. "Kid, those eyes of yours look pretty special." Chahhu grinned, his voice dripping with malice. "I hear the Kurta Clan's eyes turn scarlet when they get emotional. Is that right? Beautiful things. They say a pair of scarlet eyes can sell for billions of Jenny on the black market." Kurapika's body stiffened instantly. His grip on the Nunchucks tightened so sharply that his knuckles turned white. The Kurta Clan. The scarlet eyes. They were the deepest wound in his heart, and the source of a hatred he would never be able to let go of. Seeing Kurapika's reaction, Chahhu's grin widened. "Oh? Looks like I guessed right. So you're one of the Kurta Clan's surviving remnants? It was the Phantom Troupe that slaughtered your whole clan, wasn't it? How pathetic. Every last one of them killed, with only you left clinging to life." "Shut your mouth!" Kurapika jerked his head up. His eyes instantly blazed scarlet, seething with overwhelming hatred and killing intent. His emotions spiraled completely out of control, and his aura surged. He charged at Chahhu recklessly, bringing his Nunchucks down with devastating force. "Oh no!" Leorio shouted. "Kurapika, you fell for it! He's trying to make you angry!" A triumphant smile appeared on Chahhu's face. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The instant Kurapika lost control and left an opening in his attack, Chahhu ducked beneath the Nunchucks. At the same time, a poison-coated short blade appeared in his hand, and he thrust it viciously toward Kurapika's lower abdomen. The stab was swift and ruthless, carrying deadly poison. If it landed, the consequences would be unthinkable. At that critical instant, Kurapika twisted his body at an impossible angle, narrowly avoiding the blade. At the same time, his left hand shot out and seized Chahhu's knife wrist, while the Nunchucks in his right hand smashed into Chahhu's arm. With a sharp crack, Chahhu's arm broke. "Aaargh!" Chahhu let out an agonized scream, and his short blade clattered to the floor. Kurapika gave him no chance to react. He drove a fierce kick into Chahhu's chest, sending him flying. Chahhu crashed heavily against the edge of the ring, coughing up blood and completely unable to fight. Kurapika's eyes were still blazing scarlet as he stared coldly at Chahhu on the ground. His voice was bone-chilling. "You can insult me, but you will never insult my people." The system announcement sounded immediately:

[Match one: Kurapika wins! Examinees: 1 win. Prisoners: 0 wins!]

"He won! Yes!" Leorio jumped up excitedly and shouted. Gon and Killua also breathed sighs of relief, smiles appearing on their faces. Kurapika put away his Nunchucks, the scarlet slowly fading from his eyes, and stepped down from the ring. Lin Ye patted his shoulder with a smile. "Nicely done, Kurapika." Kurapika smiled and nodded, a trace of exhaustion showing on his face. Though he had won, the fight had taken a heavy mental toll. Immediately afterward, the second match, Leorio vs. Leilute, officially began. Carrying his scalpel, Leorio marched proudly into the ring, watching warily as Leilute approached from the opposite side. Leilute was a woman with a voluptuous figure and a seductive smile. She looked at Leorio and spoke in a soft, coquettish voice. "Hey, handsome, don't be so tense. Instead of fighting and killing, why don't we make a wager? Whoever wins it wins the match." Leorio paused, then frowned. "A wager? On what?" "Let's bet on the match we just watched. How long do you think Kurapika and Chahhu's fight lasted?" Leilute asked with a smile. "Whoever guesses closest to the correct time wins. Simple, right?" Leorio immediately felt nervous. He had been so focused on the fight that he had not paid any attention to the time. But faced with Leilute's seductive smile, he did not want to concede. He gritted his teeth. "Fine! You're on! I say it lasted eight minutes!" Leilute smiled. "Then I'll say seven minutes and forty seconds." The electronic screen immediately displayed the exact duration of the previous match: seven minutes and forty-two seconds. Leilute's guess was only two seconds off, almost perfectly accurate. "You lose, handsome," she said with a smile. "According to our wager, I win this match." Leorio's face fell instantly, his expression devastated. "What?! I lost just like that?!" Below the ring, the others looked helpless. Leorio had indeed fallen into Leilute's trap, losing on the very first wager. The system announcement sounded:

[Match two: Leilute wins! Examinees: 1 win. Prisoners: 1 win! The score is tied!]

Leorio trudged out of the ring, his head hanging and guilt written all over his face. "Sorry, everyone... I lost..." "It's fine, Leorio." Lin Ye patted his shoulder and smiled. "It's only one loss. We still have a chance." Kurapika nodded and reassured him. "Don't worry. She was too cunning. It's not your fault." Gon immediately added, "That's right! We still have three matches left! We'll definitely make up for it!" Just then, the announcement for the third match sounded:

[Match three, Killua vs. Shiba, begins now! Both contestants, please enter the ring!]

The smile vanished from Killua's face. His eyes turned icy, and his assassin's aura erupted. He nodded to the others and said calmly, "Don't worry. I'll win this one back." With that, he turned and entered the ring. Shiba, however, did not enter from the opposite side. Instead, he disappeared into the darkness of the spectator seats. Every light in the room went out at once, plunging it into pitch-black darkness. Only a dim spotlight remained above the ring, illuminating Killua. Shiba's sinister voice drifted out of the darkness. "Kid, welcome to my hunting ground. In the dark, you'll never know where my bullets will come from." Below the ring, the others immediately grew tense. "Damn it! He's going to ambush Killua in the dark!" Leorio shouted, gripping his scalpel. Lin Ye shook his head and said calmly, "Relax. When it comes to assassination in the dark, Killua is the real expert. Shiba is trying to beat a master at his own game." Before he had finished speaking, two muffled shots rang out in the darkness. Two bullets whistled sharply through the air, aimed simultaneously at Killua's back and head. Yet Killua stood where he was without moving. Just as the bullets were about to hit, his body suddenly twisted at an impossible angle, avoiding both perfectly. At the same time, he vanished from beneath the spotlight and melted into the endless darkness. Shiba's terrified voice rang out in the dark, followed by a piercing scream and then the sharp crack of breaking bone. A few seconds later, every light in the room came back on at once. Killua stood in a corner of the spectator seats with the unconscious Shiba beneath his foot. He had snapped Shiba's neck with his bare hands. Killua dusted off his hands and returned to the ring, looking utterly unconcerned. He spoke calmly to the referee. "He can't fight anymore. That means I win, right?" The entire room fell deathly silent. Everyone was stunned. Even the prisoners opposite them stared at Killua in horror, as though looking at a monster. Only after several seconds did the system announcement sound, its voice trembling:

[Match three: Killua wins! Examinees: 2 wins. Prisoners: 1 win! The examinees take the lead!]

"You won! Killua, you're amazing!" Gon shouted excitedly, jumping up to give him a high five. Leorio breathed a sigh of relief too, an excited smile spreading over his face. "You little rascal! Nicely done!" Kurapika and Lin Ye also smiled. Killua scratched his head and said casually, "That was nothing. Assassination at that level is nowhere near the training I get at home." Immediately afterward, the fourth match, Gon vs. Johnny, officially began. Gon leaped into the ring excitedly, his eyes full of fighting spirit as he watched Johnny approach from the opposite side. Johnny was an exceptionally tall, burly man whose fingers had been trained until they were as sharp as scissors. He looked at Gon with a cruel smile. "Kid, I'm going to cut you into pieces." Gon showed no fear at all. Clenching his fists, he said earnestly, "I won't lose! I'm going to beat you!" The system announcement sounded:

[Match four officially begins!]

Before the announcement had finished, Johnny moved. His hands slashed at Gon like two sharp pairs of scissors, slicing through the air with an ear-piercing whistle. Gon reacted incredibly quickly. Relying on his nimble movements, he repeatedly dodged Johnny's attacks while searching for a chance to strike back. His body was remarkably resilient. Even when Johnny's knife-hand strikes grazed him, they inflicted only minor injuries, and he could quickly charge back in. Johnny's attacks grew fiercer, but Gon was like a cockroach that refused to die, rushing in again and again. He only grew more determined as the fight went on, steadily adapting to Johnny's attack rhythm. After dozens of exchanges, Gon finally found an opening. The instant Johnny brought both hands slicing toward him again, Gon ducked sharply. At the same time, he clenched his fist and drove a full-strength punch into Johnny's lower abdomen. The punch gathered all the aura in Gon's body, giving it astonishing power. Johnny had not expected such a swift counterattack and took the blow squarely. He grunted, doubled over, and crashed heavily to the floor, foaming at the mouth and completely unable to fight. The system announcement sounded immediately:

[Match four: Gon wins! Examinees: 3 wins. Prisoners: 1 win! The examinees claim overall victory in this stage!]

"We won! We won!" Gon leaped excitedly down from the ring and threw his arms around the others. Leorio shouted jubilantly, while bright smiles spread across Kurapika's and Killua's faces. Watching his companions cheer around him, Lin Ye also smiled warmly. They had won. By taking three of the five matches, they had successfully cleared this stage. Just as they were celebrating, a crazed voice suddenly rang out from the spectator seats. "Oh dear, what a shame. You've won before I even had my turn." Hisoka rose from his seat and walked slowly to the edge of the ring, his gaze locked firmly on Lin Ye and his smile wild with excitement. "Lin Ye~" "Since the stage is over, why don't we have a fight?" "I simply can't wait to pluck such a perfect fruit with my own hands." The atmosphere in the room froze once again. Hisoka's challenge had come after all.