The Final Elimination Tournament, Licenses and Choices

Early the next morning, all nine candidates who had passed the fourth phase boarded the Hunter Association's private airship and headed for its headquarters in the republic's capital. After a two-hour flight, the airship landed on the headquarters' rooftop. The imposing skyscraper stood over a hundred stories tall in the heart of the city, a symbol of the greatest power and strength in this world. Staff escorted the nine candidates to the dueling arena on the building's top floor. A massive circular ring stood in the center, surrounded by spectator seating. The Hunter Association's senior officials sat in the front row, along with Chairman Netero. Netero still wore his yellow suit. He stroked his white beard as he watched the candidates enter, a kindly smile on his face. At the sight of him, all the candidates instinctively reined in their presence, their expressions filling with reverence. The chairman of the Hunter Association was widely acknowledged as one of the strongest people in the world, and no one dared act out in front of him. Only Hisoka retained his flippant air, leaning against the wall and toying with playing cards. His gaze swept over Lin Ye and Gon now and then, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Illumi stood expressionless in a corner, his cold gaze fixed firmly on Killua. There was not a trace of warmth in his eyes, and even the air around him seemed to drop a few degrees. Once all the candidates had taken their places, Netero rose and walked to the center of the ring with a drawing box in his hand. He smiled at them. "Welcome to the final phase of the Hunter Exam. I'm Netero, the head examiner for this final test." "The rules are simple: a single-elimination tournament." "We'll draw lots to determine your match order. You'll face each other one on one, with no time limit and no restrictions on techniques. The only thing forbidden is deliberately killing your opponent. Deciding the winner is simple. If one side voluntarily concedes or loses the ability to fight and can no longer continue, the other side wins." "Winning candidates will immediately receive a Hunter License and become official Hunters. Those who lose needn't be discouraged. You'll enter the losers' bracket and continue facing the other defeated candidates to compete for the remaining licenses." "We'll issue seven Hunter Licenses in this exam. In other words, seven of the nine candidates will ultimately receive a license and become official Hunters." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Seven out of nine would pass-a remarkably high success rate. Winning just one match would practically guarantee a license, and even losing would leave them a second chance. Only Lin Ye understood that beneath the seemingly generous odds lay the cruelest test of all. This exam had never been about combat strength. It tested the candidates' mental fortitude, their moral limits, and their understanding of what it meant to be a "Hunter." "Now, please come forward one at a time and draw your match numbers," Netero said, raising the box with a smile. The candidates stepped forward in turn and drew their numbers. Lin Ye drew number three. He had a bye for the first match, and his opponent in the second match was candidate number seven, Tonpa. When Tonpa saw the matchup on the bracket, his face turned deathly pale, and he nearly fainted on the spot. He had never imagined that his final opponent would be Lin Ye. The bracket was soon finalized: first match: Gon vs. Hanzo; second match: Lin Ye vs. Tonpa; third match: Kurapika vs. Hisoka; fourth match: Killua vs. Bodoro; fifth match: Illumi, bye. Under the rules, Illumi's bye sent him straight into the winners' bracket, securing him a Hunter License in advance. The remaining eight would face off in pairs. The winners would enter the winners' bracket and receive their licenses, while the losers would enter the losers' bracket to compete for the two remaining licenses. Once the bracket was announced, the staff immediately began preparing the ring. The first match was about to begin. Gon and Hanzo entered the ring from opposite sides. Hanzo was a ninja from Meteor City, an exceptionally powerful fighter. Apart from Hisoka and Illumi, he was the strongest among the candidates. He looked at Gon with a confident smile, clearly thinking little of the teenage boy. Gon showed no fear. He clenched his fists and stared firmly at Hanzo, ready to fight. "First match, Gon vs. Hanzo-begin!" At Netero's command, the match officially began. Hanzo moved with incredible speed, instantly closing the distance and thrusting his kunai at Gon's shoulder. His movements were crisp and efficient, without the slightest hesitation. Gon reacted swiftly. Relying on his animal-like instincts, he twisted aside to evade the attack, then clenched his fist and punched toward Hanzo's chest. They clashed at once, their figures weaving across the ring as their punches whistled through the air. With his immense strength and extensive combat experience, Hanzo kept Gon under constant pressure. Gon relied on his astonishing resilience and instincts to evade Hanzo's deadly attacks again and again, searching for chances to strike back. The match lasted a full two hours. Hanzo tried everything, but nothing could make Gon surrender. Even battered and covered in injuries, Gon gritted his teeth and refused to give in, staring at him without a hint of retreat in his eyes. In the end, Hanzo broke down completely. He knew he would never make Gon surrender. He might defeat Gon's body, but he could not break his will. He forfeited the match and conceded. Gon won the first match, received his Hunter License immediately, and became the first official Hunter of this exam. He was covered in injuries when he stepped down from the ring, yet his smile was dazzling. Lin Ye and the others immediately gathered around him to treat his wounds and give him thumbs-up. "Great job, Gon!" Leorio said excitedly. "You actually beat Hanzo! That was incredible!" Gon scratched his head and chuckled. "Now it's your turn! We're all going to get our Hunter Licenses!" Soon, the second match, Lin Ye vs. Tonpa, officially began. As Lin Ye entered the ring, Tonpa dragged his feet up as well, his legs trembling and his eyes full of fear. He knew Lin Ye's strength all too well. On Zebira Island, Lin Ye had subdued him effortlessly without so much as moving his hands much. Now, facing him one on one in the ring, he had no chance whatsoever. "Second match, Lin Ye vs. Tonpa-begin!" The instant the referee finished speaking, Tonpa raised his hand and shouted, "I surrender! I forfeit!" The entire arena fell silent, then erupted in laughter. No one had expected Tonpa to surrender without even daring to fight. Lin Ye looked at him without the slightest surprise and simply shook his head. In the end, this "Rookie Crusher" only dared play dirty tricks in the shadows. He had no courage to fight head-on. The referee froze for a few seconds, then announced loudly, "Tonpa has voluntarily surrendered. Lin Ye wins this match! Lin Ye receives a Hunter License!" Lin Ye bowed slightly to the referee, turned, and left the ring. Less than ten seconds had passed between his stepping into the ring and stepping out. This was probably the fastest match in the history of the Hunter Exam. "Not bad, Lin Ye! You beat him without even fighting!" Leorio laughed and clapped him on the shoulder, his face full of admiration. Lin Ye smiled without replying. His gaze settled on Kurapika, who was about to enter the ring. The third match was Kurapika vs. Hisoka. This was a match that was bound to defy expectations. Kurapika entered the ring, tightened his grip on his nunchucks, and stared coldly at Hisoka, ready to fight. He knew how terrifying Hisoka's strength was. He had no chance of winning this match, but he would never surrender easily. Hisoka stepped into the ring with a flippant smile. He looked at Kurapika, but his gaze kept drifting toward Gon below, his eyes full of amusement. "Third match, Kurapika vs. Hisoka-begin!" The referee had barely finished speaking when Hisoka suddenly raised his hand and smiled. "I surrender." The entire arena erupted into an uproar. Everyone was stunned. Even Kurapika froze in place, unable to believe his ears. Hisoka had voluntarily surrendered? Netero, too, was briefly taken aback before giving a knowing smile. Only Lin Ye understood what Hisoka was thinking. Hisoka did not care about the Hunter License at all. All he wanted was a fight with Gon. He had surrendered and entered the losers' bracket so that he could face Gon again there. "Hisoka has voluntarily surrendered. Kurapika wins this match! Kurapika receives a Hunter License!" Only after the referee loudly announced the result did Kurapika finally recover. He bowed to the referee and stepped down from the ring. "My god, that lunatic Hisoka actually surrendered?" Leorio asked incredulously. "What is he trying to do?" "He wants to enter the losers' bracket and find another chance to fight Gon," Lin Ye said calmly. Understanding dawned on the others, leaving them speechless. That lunatic really did think of nothing but fighting. Soon, the fourth match, Killua vs. Bodoro, officially began. Killua entered the ring with an expressionless face and cold eyes. His gaze instinctively swept toward Illumi below. Illumi sat in a corner of the spectator stands, watching him without expression, an icy threat in his eyes. Killua's body stiffened for an instant, and his fists tightened slightly. Bodoro entered the ring as well. He was a doctor with hardly any fighting ability, and his face was filled with anxiety as he looked at Killua. He knew how strong Killua was. He was no match for him at all. "Fourth match, Killua vs. Bodoro-begin!" The instant the referee finished speaking, Killua moved. With incredible speed, he appeared in front of Bodoro and lightly struck his neck with a knife-hand blow. Bodoro had no time to react before his vision went black and he fainted, unable to continue fighting. The entire exchange took less than a second. Just as the referee was about to announce the result, Illumi suddenly spoke from the stands, his voice cold and utterly emotionless. "Killua." Killua froze. He jerked his head up to look at Illumi, the coldness in his eyes vanishing instantly and giving way to a bone-deep terror. Illumi slowly rose and walked to the edge of the ring, one step at a time. He looked at Killua and said flatly, "You want to kill him, don't you?" Killua trembled slightly and said nothing. "You were born a killing machine. You're not suited to making friends, or to being some Hunter." Illumi's voice was calm, yet each word stabbed into Killua's heart like a knife. "You can't even distinguish between people you should kill and people you shouldn't. Staying in the Hunter Exam will only get you killed, along with those so-called friends of yours." "Come home with me, Killua. This isn't where you belong." Killua trembled harder and harder. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed, as though his soul had been torn out. He had grown up under Illumi's terrifying control. Illumi's words were engraved in his bones like a curse. Below the ring, Lin Ye and the others sprang to their feet, their faces filled with anger. Gon shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! Killua is our friend! He won't go with you!" Illumi swept a cold glance over Gon. The killing intent in his eyes made Gon stiffen instantly, every hair on his body standing on end. Just then, Lin Ye stepped forward and met Illumi's gaze. His aura slowly surged out, and his rigid, domineering Gale Force steadily blocked Illumi's killing intent. "Mr. Illumi, this is the Hunter Exam arena, not your Zoldyck Family home." Lin Ye's voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable force. "Killua has the right to choose his own life. You have no right to make that decision for him." Illumi's gaze settled on Lin Ye. A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes before they turned cold again. He could sense that the boy before him possessed unfathomable strength, greater even than he had imagined. Their gazes collided, and invisible waves of aura spread through the arena. The very air seemed to freeze. In the end, Illumi withdrew his gaze and said no more, merely watching Killua coldly in the ring. But his words had already taken effect. Killua stood in the ring with hollow eyes, as though he had lost all will. Looking at the unconscious Bodoro on the floor, he suddenly raised his hand, gathered Nen at his fingertips, and thrust viciously toward Bodoro's heart. "Killua! Don't!" Gon screamed in anguish. But it was already too late. Killua's fingertips pierced Bodoro's heart. Bodoro's life vanished instantly. The entire arena fell deathly silent. Everyone was stunned. Even Netero's smile disappeared. Deliberately killing a candidate was strictly forbidden in the Hunter Exam. Killua had gravely violated its rules. He withdrew his hand and walked down from the ring with empty eyes, stopping beside Illumi with his head lowered. He was like a puppet on strings, devoid of all emotion. Watching him, Illumi's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile. He patted Killua's shoulder and spoke calmly to Netero. "Chairman, my younger brother broke the rules. Handle it however you must. We'll accept whatever punishment you impose." Netero remained silent for a few seconds before finally sighing. "Announce the result," he told the referee in a grave voice. The referee nodded, picked up the microphone, and announced in a trembling voice, "Candidate Killua deliberately killed his opponent, Bodoro, during their match, gravely violating the rules of the Hunter Exam. He is disqualified and permanently barred from taking the Hunter Exam! Bodoro wins this match!" Once the result was announced, Illumi turned and left the arena with Killua. Killua never once looked back, never spared his companions a glance. Watching him leave, Gon's eyes reddened instantly. Tears spilled uncontrollably down his face as he shouted, "Killua!!" He tried to chase after him, but Lin Ye caught him. "Gon, don't go." Lin Ye's voice was heavy. "Chasing after him now won't change anything. Illumi was controlling Killua. He didn't truly want to do this." "Then what do we do? Just watch him get taken away?" Gon turned to Lin Ye, his eyes filled with tears and frustration. "Of course not." Lin Ye looked at him seriously. "Once the exam is over, we'll go to the Zoldyck Family together and bring Killua back. He's our companion. We can't just abandon him." Kurapika and Leorio immediately nodded as well, looking earnestly at Gon. "That's right! We'll go together and bring Killua back!" Gon looked at the companions around him, nodded firmly, and wiped the tears from his face. Determination rekindled in his eyes. "All right! We'll go to the Zoldyck Family together and bring Killua back!" What had happened to Killua cast a heavy shadow over the final elimination tournament. The losers' bracket matches continued according to the rules. Hisoka swept through his opponents and easily secured a Hunter License, but never got the chance to face Gon again. Tonpa was eliminated in his first losers' bracket match, losing his chance at a Hunter License altogether. In the end, the seven Hunter Licenses were issued to Gon, Lin Ye, Kurapika, Hisoka, Hanzo, Bodoro, and Illumi. The Hunter Exam, which had lasted several weeks, finally drew to a close.