"Final trial, first match."
Beans's emotionless voice carried across the arena.
"Kurapika versus Hanzo."
The lights snapped on.
They illuminated the square-tiled floor in the center.
Kurapika walked into the ring, his face set.
Opposite him, Hanzo, the ninja wrapped head to toe in bandages, looked as though he were out for a stroll.
Beans repeated the rules.
"The winner becomes a Hunter immediately."
"The loser enters the losers' bracket and gets another chance."
"No killing. Kill someone, and you're out too."
"You may also surrender."
With that, he stepped aside.
The air in the ring instantly grew tense.
"Can he handle this?"
Leorio clutched his briefcase, his palms slick with sweat.
"He's up against a ninja. That's no easy opponent."
"Don't worry. Kurapika's really strong."
Gon had complete faith in him.
Luo Ye yawned.
His gaze drifted between Killua and Gittarackur.
One was scared out of his mind.
The other acted as though nothing were wrong.
When Gon faces him, that's when the real fun starts.
As for Kurapika's match...
Wasn't the outcome already set in stone?
"Begin!"
The instant the referee finished speaking, Hanzo vanished.
A second later...
He appeared behind Kurapika.
His knife-hand chopped toward the back of Kurapika's neck.
Thud.
A dull impact rang out.
Kurapika reacted in time to raise his arm and block, but he was still sent flying.
Hanzo followed him like a ghost.
Fists.
Elbows.
Knees.
Kicks.
Every move was meant to kill.
Kurapika was driven back again and again, unable to fight back at all.
"He's too strong."
Leorio watched, dumbstruck.
"Kurapika's being completely overwhelmed."
"That bald guy's good." Killua's face tightened too. "No wasted movements. Everything's built for real combat."
Luo Ye nodded inwardly.
Hanzo has solid fundamentals.
Too bad.
That's all he's got.
*His attack patterns are too rigid.