Everyone, hello. I'm Gon Freecss, finally challenging the Razor match. Feels like I'll barely make it in time.
"You really sure about this, Motarike? There might not be another chance to escape the game."
"I've got a family to protect now. How could I leave them behind? I don't need Leave—I need money so they don't struggle!"
"Though with an NPC wife and kids, I don't think there'd be struggles..."
Five days after Gon's group and Tsezguerra's team joined forces, they'd procured number-filler players as planned and were about to head to Soufrabi.
The five number-fillers were bottom-tier players languishing in the prize city of Antokiba—the starting town—who'd gathered in seconds when recruitment offered Leave cards as payment.
They'd promised four people Leave cards to escape the game, and one person exchangeable in-game currency cards as cooperation rewards.
"Well, Pig did in-game marriage too, so it's fine, but what's it like here? I'd hate it if they only said fixed lines."
"From what I saw in Aiai, it wasn't that off. Don't know what happens spending long periods together though."
"Biscuit was playing around making a harem. Don't know about conversation patterns, but NPCs do normal daily conversations."
Among the number-fillers was a warrior married to an NPC with a regular job, but they were all rock-bottom Nen users for whom even the journey to Masadora would be life-threatening.
Having not returned to the real world for over ten years, they huddled together feigning composure while harboring unhideable joy and slight anxiety.
"Alright, let's head to Soufrabi now. Who's using Accompany?"
"We'll use it. Since we brought the proposal, we don't want to burden you too much."
Everyone entered range, watching Tsezguerra orchestrating and Goreinu pulling out a card, then flew to the decisive battleground Soufrabi via Accompany.
Four pairs of eyes monitored from a distance as they went to obtain the final card deciding game completion.
***
Razor, who'd been working out that day too, sensed through the game system that fifteen players had arrived in Soufrabi via Accompany.
While cooling down and taking nutrition, waiting in perfect condition, the faces he'd recently seen arrived with new companions.
(Ho, quite skilled additions. The five in back are number-fillers, but when should I go?)
Quickly excluding incomprehensible players like the small elderly man and excessively hunched man from consciousness, he nearly ignored even Tsezguerra, focusing intently on Gon.
Having learned from fellow Game Master Elena that this was definitely Gon, he saw Ging's features even more than their previous encounter, his gentle expression nearly softening further.
With unchanged expression to outside observers, he explained rules like before, and challengers smoothly challenged the pirates.
First, from Tsezguerra's team, short-haired, freckled Barry won at boxing.
Second, also from Tsezguerra's team, straight-nosed Doppel won at free throws.
Third, from Gon's group, Leorio challenged bowling and won.
Fourth, Tsezguerra team's dark-skinned, muscular Rodriot won at sumo.
During sumo, Gin desperately wanted to participate, but was told that since he entered Greed Island with Gon, they were a set. He tearfully gave up and sulked.
Then Kurapika took the fifth win at keepy-uppy. Finally, as challengers passed the halfway point, Razor raised his heavy hips.
"The farce ends here. Fine, I'll face you myself."
As GM positioned to let players enjoy the game, and as one bearing Ging's expectations, Razor's first and greatest showcase finally arrived at full force.
"The event is eight-versus-eight dodgeball. Of course, we're playing for eight wins. These are my members."
Aura spreading at Razor's feet wavered, and eight Nen beasts emerged as if rising up.
The variously-sized Nen beasts wore pirate-like clothing, but differed in having masks instead of hats, with numbers 0 through 7 carved on hats and abdomens.
"Greetings, I will serve as referee—Number 0. Razor team has eight people. Please register eight players from challenger team."
Though within expectations, at the blatant table-flip, Kurapika—who'd already won—raised his hand to question.
"First, must we also have eight people? Second, can members who already won re-enter?"
"Of course, not fielding eight means forfeit. And players who already challenged naturally can't participate. You've got numbers, so no problem, right? Though I can't guarantee your lives."
Massive aura and killing intent gushed from Razor's fearsome smile. The number-fillers—bottom-tier yet still Nen users—trembled and staggered back.
"N-no! I participated because you said there was no danger! If we die, Leave won't matter?!"
"Yeah, yeah! We absolutely won't participate!"
Continuing to voice rejection, the number-fillers received contemptuous gazes from Tsezguerra and extremely cold looks from Killua.
Since they couldn't match without enough people, when Gon asked if Gin could count, he was told Gon and Gin were one person.
"What do we do? Ideally we'd want one more, but we could somehow manage."
At Goreinu's words, everyone nearly resigned to having no choice, but one number-filler stepped forward while trembling and sweating.
"D-dodgeball has outfield too, right?! If outfield's fine, I'll participate!"
"Motarike?! Don't say stupid things—get back! You'll seriously die against that monster!!"
Who stepped forward was Motarike, the man with an NPC wife and children in Greed Island.
Though pale enough to collapse any moment, his eyes held clear will and love for his family.
"Of course, increase my reward! Also, I'm seriously deadweight, so don't expect anything!!"
At his figure—giving up on game completion and returning to reality yet still trying to protect what mattered—seeing a real man, Gon's group and Tsezguerra exchanged glances then nodded.
"You're a lifesaver, Motarike. We'll pay your reward properly and swear not to put you in danger."
"Relax, even if you catch a stray ball, I'll heal you as long as you're alive!"
Though Motarike's complexion worsened further, surrounded by tall Tsezguerra and Leorio, the eighth dodgeball participant was decided.
"Participating members decided. Razor team: Razor and Numbers 1 through 7. Versus challengers: Gon and Gin, Killua, Biscuit, Tsezguerra, Goreinu, Goreinu's two Nen beasts, Motarike. Now explaining rules."
Basically the same as normal dodgeball, but hitting anywhere on the body including face was allowed.
Even if outfield hit someone, they couldn't return infield, and once during the match, declaring "Back" let one person return infield.
Nen beasts could return by re-conjuring even if destroyed, but exceeding eight was a foul.
Gon and Gin were a set—if either became out, both were out.
"Those are the rough rules. Any questions? If not, we'll begin the match."
Then Motarike evacuated to outfield—more like spectators—while White Gorilla was additionally deployed outfield from infield.
"Then we'll start the match from jump ball. Representatives to the center, please."
From Gon's team, Killua stepped forward. From Razor's team, Number 1. Both lowered their hips and awaited the referee's signal.
"Ready? Then match begins!"
Number 0 threw up the ball. The final match over "Strip of Beach" began.
Killua jumped toward the thrown-up ball, but captured in his vision the opponent not even jumping, retreating to their zone, and showed a puzzled expression.
"I'll give you first strike as service. Since you're essentially one person short, it's a handicap."
As Razor stated flatly and Gon's group grimaced, Tsezguerra received the ball Killua got and rotated his shoulder.
"Quite confident. I've been underestimated. Let me show you Single-Star Hunters aren't for show!"
Tsezguerra threw the ball with extremely clean form and aura control, hitting targeted Number 2 precisely. The deflected ball rolled to outfield White Gorilla.
The ball passed to Tsezguerra, who'd requested return from White Gorilla. The re-thrown ball took out Number 1 and rolled to outfield again.
"What? Not as impressive as claimed. At this rate, I alone will finish everything."
"Is that so? We're shocked at how unexpectedly weak this Single-Star is. We'd like a proper match soon, so could you get a bit serious?"
Though Tsezguerra provoked Razor condescendingly upon receiving the return, being counter-provoked made him grip the ball tightly.
Though Goreinu and Biscuit advised staying calm, Tsezguerra's calm head and heated head reached the same conclusion.
"We've gained numerical advantage. Shouldn't we verify the main force's strength early? No problem if I take him out with this!!"
Unlike his previous two throws, Tsezguerra threw with true full power—intending to kill Razor.
Moreover, not just throwing, he cloaked the ball in aura and emitted it, giving it power that could seriously injure even mid-tier users.
"Well, about this much."
Tsezguerra's all-out pitch was anticlimactically caught one-handed by Razor.
"Wha... what?"
"Don't space out. Here, returning it."
While Tsezguerra stood stunned, Razor threw back the caught ball with the same relaxed form.
That ball was far faster than Tsezguerra's throw, approaching with overwhelming aura.
(Strong...! Fast... evade... impossible! Catch it, no, death!!)
In compressed thought, Tsezguerra was certain of his death. Still, struggling to the end, he concentrated aura toward his face where the ball approached.
Even if he didn't die, he probably couldn't continue as an active Hunter. He apologized mentally to companions of over twenty years.
Black Gorilla!!—
With a crunching sound of creaking bones, the ball hit.
The body was blown away, instantly reaching outfield. The ball also rolled to Razor team's outfield, barely losing momentum.
Tsezguerra stared stunned from inside the court at the ball and Black Gorilla rolling in outfield.
"Goreinu's Nen beast out! Loose ball goes to Razor team."
"...What just happened?"
"Sorry. Looked genuinely dangerous, so I acted without permission. I apologize if I stole your moment."
"...No, I'm genuinely grateful. That probably would've killed me. And sorry—falling for cheap provocation and ending up like this."
Understanding what happened by seeing Goreinu's words and Black Gorilla that took the ball in his place, Tsezguerra deeply regretted losing an extremely powerful card through his mistake.
Using this ability at the right timing could have easily taken out even Razor.
"Don't worry. Even exposed, this card forces opponents to choose. Black Gorilla's somehow safe, so I can activate again."
Though Black Gorilla rolling in outfield had a crushed face in tragic appearance, he slowly rose and stationed in outfield alongside White Gorilla, though staggering slightly.
Seeing the Nen beast unharmed after taking an attack that made him—though careless—prepare for death, Tsezguerra was certain Goreinu's abilities had increased incomparably from the selection meeting.
(It's only been half a year since then? What happened to him—no, what happened to them?!)
Having retrained after touching Gon's aura, Tsezguerra was certain he'd grown stronger than during the selection meeting.
Though he couldn't quite say he'd surpassed his prime, he'd prided himself on ranking high among current members.
(What presumption. No more disgrace from here. Focus, Tsezguerra! I'm the challenger!!)
"Guh?!"
Tsezguerra, renewing his resolve and tightening focus, couldn't respond to the high-speed passes from outfield that received the ball from Razor. Taking the ball to his side, his ribs spectacularly shattered. Becoming out, he received treatment from Leorio in the outfield.
***
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