Capítulo 24: Chapter 24: The Final Round
Three days have passed since the end of the fourth phase, and we have finally arrived at the site of the final phase—a hotel managed by the Hunter Association. This place will be our home until the end of the final phase of the Hunter Exam. I hope everyone has rested well, because now they are going to have to trample over each other to get the license
'I hope I can use the tools I've prepared for this phase. In canon, Hanzo could use his hidden blades and Illumi his needles, so I don't think I'll be banned.' I think grabbing my travel bag and heading off to disembark with the others.
Once out of the blimp, Netero and the examiners guide us to a big room where he reveals what will be the final test—A series of one-on-one duels in a tournament format.
First Match:
Gon vs Hanzo
'The setup is a bit different than I remembered from canon, but the first fight is at least the same.' I think looking at the diagram of the fights.
The chairman starts to explain the rules: "Despite what the diagram may imply, you only need one victory to pass the exam. In this tournament, the winners quit the game and the losers advance to the next round. Do you understand?"
"Then only one of us won't pass?" Hanzo asks in confirmation.
"That's right." Netero answers nodding. "Using this format, everyone will have at least two shots at winning."
"Yeah, but some people have more opportunities to win, like numbers #294 and #405" Pokkle comments.
Bodoro quickly follows after, "Why are the rounds so off-balance?"
"That's a fair question. TThis classification was grouped based in the results you had in the previous phases of the exam. Simply put, those who performed better up until now have the most chances to pass." Netero responds.
Killua, clearly unhappy with the explanation, protested, "I am not convinced. Explain to us how you rated the performance at least."
The chairman replied with one simple word, "NOOOOO!" Netero exclaimed, shaking his head like crazy before calming down.
"Why not?!" Killua asks annoyed and startled.
Netero laughs and starts to elaborate, "Your scores are confidential information, so I can't reveal the specifics of our scoring system. However, I can explain our criteria. The evaluation is based on three essential points: Physical abilities, Mind, and Charisma. Physical abilities include strength, speed, suppleness, resistance, and the use of the five senses. The evaluation of the mind regroups the resilience, judgment, adaptability, and creativity. You've all reached the finals, so there's little you need to prove in those areas. Finally, charisma is the hardest to quantify but crucial for a Hunter. We make our assessments in your potential and the opinions of the applicants have of you. The match-ups reflect all this."
Netero continues, "Hopefully, this puts your mind at ease. Now, back to the rules. As I stated before, they are quite simple. Weapons are allowed, and pushing your opponent to quit is what gives you the victory. However, if you kill your adversary, you will be disqualified, and at that point the exam will end with you failing and everyone else passing. Do you understand?
Everyone remains silent to his question, but I raise my hand, attracting the attention of Netero and the rest of the candidates, "I have a question regarding the weapons rule? If weapons are allowed, does that mean that any object in the room can be used to win? If for example I were to take the briefcase of number #403 and use it to somehow force my opponent to surrender, would that be allowed?" I ask ponting at Leorio briefcase.
Netero looks at me with wide eues before starting to laugh happily, "Wow, I hadn't thought of that possibility. Interesting indeed. Sure, you can use any object in the hotel to win as long as you don't kill your opponent with it."
After I nod in confirmation, one of the suited Hunters shouts: "Now, let the first round begin! The first match: #405 Gon vs. #294 Hanzo!" At his words, Gon and Hanzo start walking towards the center of the room.
"I'm Masta, and will serve as referee. I wish you the best of luck." Says the same suited Hunter.
"We meet at last!" Hanzo says looking at a confused Masta. "You were the one following me during the last phase of the exam, right?"
"So you noticed?" Masta replies.
"Of course I did. I guess that each candidate was being followed by a examiner during the fourth phase. You weren't hard to miss. Bet others noticed too." Hanzo affirms.
'Obviously I noticed it too, but I was surprised to realize who my follower was.' I think averting my eyes towards the stoic Satotz.
Hanzo continues speaking with a smile, "I must thank you! If I was so well-placed in the pyramid, it's thanks to the reports you gave them, right?"
"S-Sure." Masta replies.
"By the way, I have a question for you." Hanzo says pointing at him and changing his attitude to a serious one.
"What is it?" Masta asks.
"We can only win if our opponent admits defeat. It means there is no victory if we knock them out or leave them unconscious, right?" Hanzo questions the referee.
"Yes that's right." Masta responds.
"I see. This might be difficult." Hanzo says averting his gaze at Gon,
"All right... BEGIN!" Masta screams, signaling the start of the fight.
It was an exact replica of canon: Hanzo incapacitates Gon with a quick karate chop, and spends the next three hours beating the shit out of him in a futile attempt to get him to submit. While I truly want to get Hanzo as an ally, watching the protagonist of my favorite manga get beaten to a pulp in front of my eyes was a most unpleasant experience, making me feel very angry.
However, my bad mood improved when Gon took advantage of Hanzo's chatter to kick him in the face. 'Well, that's what you get for letting your guard down in a fight, even if it's against a kid.'
After Hanzo witnesses the determination and purity in Gon's gaze, he finally decides to stop fighting, and when Gon refuses in his usual childish behavior, Hanzo knocks him unconscious once again. After Hanzo explains to Killua his reasons for leaving, and Gon is taken to receive medical treatment, it is time for the next fight.
Second Match:
Kurapika vs Ponzu
The atmosphere tenses up as Kurapika and Ponzu step forward for their match. The other contestants watched with bated breath, not knowing how this duel will unfold. This is a good opportunity to assess Ponzu's abilities.
"BEGIN!"
With Masta signaling the start of the match, Kurapika is the first to move, launching himself at Ponzu with his bokken swords in hand. She swiftly dodges by moving to the side, and immediately grabs Kurapika's neck and trips him up to try to throw him to the ground, but he quickly puts his hand down and raises his leg to try to kick her head. Ponzu narrowly dodges it and moves backwards as Kurapika regains her footing.
"You're quick," Ponzu says attentive to his rival.
"You have ability too. I must take you seriously if I don't want to be in a bind." Kurapika says poised with his bokken swords.
The battle lasted longer than I expected, with Ponzu keeping her ground with Kurapika for 13 minutes. Ponzu was agile and flexible in combat, managing to past Kurapika guard in some intances to try to hit him or immobilize him. However, Kurapika speed and technique kept him one step ahead of her, parrying each blow with his bokken swords and slowly wearing down Ponzu stamina with his relentless attacks.
Seeing the panting and sweat on Ponzu's face, Kurapika lunges towards her with a determined glint in his eyes, feigning a lunge to the left to draw Ponzu's body in that direction. At the last second, he spun to the right, bringing his bokken down in a powerful overhead strike. Ponzu tries to block it, but she is a fraction too slow, with the bokken connecting with her shoulder and sending her crashing to the ground.
On the floor, Ponzu grits her teeth, pain shooting through her side while Kurapika bokken sword looms over her.
"Will you yield?" He asks, his voice calm and steady, but also threatening.
Ponzu looks up at him, her expression a mix of frustration and respect. She knows she has been bested, and that the best course of action would be to withdraw and try to use what she learned to beat another applicant.
"I won't." She states without flinching. "You can hit me or torture me, I don't care. It'll be better than having to face that card-dealing madman."
After what happened on Zevile Island, Ponzu feels no confidence in being able to make Hisoka surrender. Even if she has the option to retreat, she would be missing two opportunities, and she cannot afford such luxuries. That is why he prefers to endure the torture she saw Gon suffer rather than surrender.
They both stand still for a while before Kurapika sheathes his wooden sword. "Okay, then I forfeit. It's your victory." Kurapika says, starting to walk away and leaving a shocked Ponzu on the ground.
"The winner is Ponzu!" Masta yells.
As Kurapika returns with the rest of the examinees, Leorio immediately greets him with his loud and hot-blooded personality. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! You had her completely cornered! I'm sure she would have relented if you were a little rough! Why did you give up?!"
"Did you forget how you passed the fourth phase?" At Kurapika's question, Leorio falls silent, and together with Kurapika he turns his gaze towards me. "It was thanks to Mr. Kai's help that you were able to get the points to pass, so you should show some gratitude for that."
"I don't know what you're trying to say. It's true that I gave you her badge, but that doesn't mean we have any kind of relationship. I was just racking up badges left and right to have more options and decided to lend you a hand. That's no reason for you to give that girl the victory." I explain, trying to project a sense of indifference.
"If you had really stolen her badge, she most likely would have failed the test. Plus, I noticed how worried you seemed about her during the fight." Kurapika says, making me frustrated at his ability to analyze body language. "You helped a friend of mine, so I decided to help a friend of yours. It won't happen again." He says in a calm and respectful tone.
"Tsk, I still think it's kind of silly of you to give up on a sure victory like that. But it's also true that Kai helped us in the previous phase, so I won't dwell on it any further." Leorio says conceding and rubbing the back of his head.
"Do as you please." I say averting my head to Kurapika and Leorio show of kindness.
While they smile at me, Ponzu approaches me grabbing her hitten shoulder with a defeated look.
"That was a good fight." I say.
"Yeah, but in the end I couldn't defeat him. Looks like your involvement has saved me again." Ponzu replies with a clear lack of self-confidence.
"Don't sell yourself short. You faced a strong opponent head on and held on for quite some time. You've really impressed me." I say honestly.
Ponzu's gaze slightly brightens at my words. "Really?"
"If the battle had been under different conditions, you could have won. So wipe that gloomy face off and use this experience to improve even more, okay?"
At my words of encouragement, Ponzu nods with a not-so-convinced smile and is led out of the room by one of the suited Hunters to have her wounds treated. 'Now Kurapika will have to face Hisoka and will get involved in the great massacre of Yorknew City by the Phantom Troupe. With Kurapika around, it will be much harder to handle the whole situation. If Ponzu had given up on Kurapika and Hisoka, she would surely have been able to overwhelm Bodoro. That would have been the best outcome. Well, what's done is done, so I'll think of a plan to handle that problem when the time comes.' I think as I watch the next contenders advance.
Third Match:
Pokkle vs Nicholas
Looking at the other applicants, I can see that they clearly aren't putting their bets on Nicholas, and I don't blame them for that. While Pokkle might be the weakest approved in the canon, he still has good physical ability and is quite agile. Comparing him to Nicholas who couldn't even finish the first phase alone, it's clear who has a better chance of winning. Well, at least he would have before.
The referee raise his hand to signal the start of the match. "BEGIN!"
Pokkle wastes no time, swiftly launching a straight punch to Nicholas face. However, Nicholas dodges to the side, and wrapping his arm around Pokkle's, he throws him to the ground to hold him in a grab lock.
A smile forms on my face as I look at the surprised expression on the other examinees, 'It seems the training has paid off.'
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
David_Arenas
David_Arenas You can find the tournament structure in the chapter comments, in case you are interested.
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