Reincarnated in Hunter x Hunter

Obviously, all the time we spent in the cave wasn't wasted. Not only did I train my muscle control with Killua, but I also gave Nicholas lessons on hand-to-hand combat. I knew what the last phase would be about, so I thought it would be best to prepare him a little in advance. 'With this performance, it seems he was able to learn something from my lessons. Although...'

As I find myself recapitulating our training, Pokkle headbutts Nicholas backwards to knock him free of his hold. The two of them get up, with Nicholas bleeding from the nose and Pokkle raising his guard.

"I see I was hasty with you. It won't happen again." Pokkle say preparing to continue.

After a moment of stillness, Pokkle approaches Nicholas again, but this time he does so more slowly and cautiously. When he reaches him, he starts throwing several jabs, which Nicholas parries. At one point, Nicholas ducks to avoid a blow and throws a punch at Pokkle's face, but Pokkle manages to dodge it and takes the opportunity to kick Nicholas in the stomach.

Taking advantage of his pain, Pokkle brings his hands together and hits Nicholas' back hard next, but showing strong determination, Nicholas resists the hit and pushes against Pokkle to throw him to the ground. With Pokkle lying beneath him, Nicholas begins to throw punches wildly. Pokkle blocks them with his arms, and in the midst of the attack he throws a punch at Nicholas' face, stunning him and giving Pokkle the opportunity to escape from that position.

Pokkle quickly throws several punches at Nicholas, which he is unable to dodge this time, and when Pokkle lands a kick to his midsection, Nicholas falls to the ground rolling before coming to a stop.

"Are you ready to give up now?" Pokkle asks Nicholas, who winces in pain as he tries to get up.

Nicholas manages to stand up and glare defiantly at Pokkle. "I'm not done yet. I just need to rethink my strategy to beat you."

During the next minutes, the crowd and I watch the street fight between the weakest finalists of the exam. Pokkle maintained his relentless assault, and Nicholas tried to distance himself and execute the martial arts movements I taught him, landing several punches and pulling out some immobilization techniques. However, showing off his superior physique, Pokkle gradually began to gain dominance, breaking free of his techniques and landing more and more blows while Nicholas found himself on the defensive.

After blocking a barrage of punches, Nicholas is finally knocked to the ground by a strong right hook from Pokkle. As he stands there panting, Nicholas lies trembling on the ground, unable to get up from the pain. It looks like despite having had the advantage for the first half of the fight, it seems that in the end he was unable to overcome his limitations.

"Don't you think that's enough? Give up and end this charade already." Pokkle says looking at Nicholas the same way Hanzo looked at Gon. "You shouldn't have gotten this far in the first place. The only reason you made it this far is because you've been relying on others to pass the exam. Someone like you who lacks the strength to fight on your own isn't fit to become a Hunter. If you were to become one, you'd only be a burden to others. So stop trying to fool yourself and give up that foolish fantasy."

Knowing of Nicholas's previous breakdowns, I am concerned hearing Pokkle's harsh and cruel words to undermine his will. Nicolas, however, isn't going to be so easily discouraged, not anymore. Despite the pressure and the pain, he remains calm remembering all the experiences and teachings he has shared with his friends throughout the exam.

Unwilling to continue feeling useless and powerless, Nicholas tries gathering strength to overcome the pain and get up, and while he struggles to get it, I and the examiners are left flabbergasted at what we are witnessing right now. Unbeknownst to him, Nicholas has just unlocked his Nen nodes.

Managing to stand up, Nicholas gasps and concentrates, starting to analyze the situation to devise a plan, and after a moment, he dashes forward with a burst of speed, closing the gap between him

and Pokkle.

Pokkle, taken aback by the sudden change in pace, hastily throws a punch with his left, but Nicholas dodges it and lands a strong left punch to Pokkle's stomach. Although Pokkle coughs upon receiving the blow, he remains firm and tries to respond with a right, but Nicholas blocks it by raising his left arm and counterattacking with his own right to his face, and taking advantage of Pokkle's contusion, he quickly pin him to the ground and immobilizes Pokkle with an armlock.

"Admit your defeat, or I'll break your arm like Hanzo!" Nicholas yells as he grabs Pokkle's left arm with both arms and pulls it back.

Pokkle looks back, trying to break free from the hold, but this time Nicholas has taken a more efficient position, and his newfound strength makes it impossible for Pokkle to break free, being only able to hold back the squeals of pain as Nicholas pulls harder and harder on his arm.

"Alrigth, alrigth, I yield! You win, so let go of my arm already!" Pokkle screams helplessly trying to stop Nicholas from breaking his arm.

Masta raises his hand to signal the end of the match. "Winner: Nicholas!" 

At the winner announcement, Nicolas releases Pokkle, and hearing a clap sound while catching his breath, a picture of pure bliss adorns his face as he notices me clapping with a proud smile among the applicants. Standing up, he extends a hand to his fallen opponent, helping him to his feet.

Pokkle, though defeated, accepts the gesture with grace. "Well fought, Nicholas. Sorry about what I said earlier. It seems like you do have what it takes to be a Hunter."

Nicholas humbly smiles, "I appreciate those words, Pokkle. But you were right that I couldn't have gotten here on my own. The truth is, I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for the boss." He says looking in my direction.

Both nods acknowledging their merits, and as they come back, Nicholas feels a sense of accomplishment wash over him. He has proven his abilities. His victory is a testament to his determination and the hard work he has put in becoming a Hunter.

In the examiners side, Satotz and Lippo watch with interest. "He's come a long way since the first phase." Satotz remarks, his eyes never leaving Nicholas.

Lippo nods in agreement. "Indeed. Both Nicholas and Kai have shown great promise in this exam. A bright future awaits them if they continue working together."

"I agree. They obviously have a lot of potential and complement each other abilities and needs. I can't wait to see how they grow from here." Netero adds with a laugh at the end.

Back in the applicants side, I greet Nicolas with a congratulatory pat on the back and a proud expression on my face. "You did it, Nicholas. That was an incredible fight. Congratulations on becoming a Hunter."

"Thanks, boss, but I couldn't have done it without everything we've been through." Nicholas says shyly grinning, his confidence bolstered by the victory.

"And this is just the beginning, bud. We'll have plenty more victories to celebrate once we both get our licenses." I say with my gaze pointing towards the future.

Nicholas however looks a little downcast at my words. "To get it, you'll first have to pass the exam. And to do that, you'll have to beat him." He says looking at Hanzo position.

"Are you worried?" I ask also looking at Hanzo.

"I've researched his stats and abilities as you asked, and from what I've seen of him throughout the exam, he seems to be the most well-rounded candidate this year. Do you think you can get him to give up? If you yield, you'll still have a several chances of passing the exam." Nicholas says giving me a worried look.

"That's not an option for me." I respond very seriously, to which Nicholas tilts his head in worry.

"Why not?" He asks.

As I begin to walk with Hanzo towards the center of the room, I answer without turning around: "I made a promise."

Fourth Match:

Hanzo vs Kai

'The words I told Hanzo the first time we met weren't just bluff, they were the truth. If I want to keep my promise and prove to Hanzo my unwavering determination and seriousness in partnering with him, I have to achieve a perfect result, and to do that I have to manage to surpass him without yielding and without using Nen.' I think as I stand face to face with Hanzo.

'It may seem stupid to take on a challenge of that magnitude, but that's what Hunters do—Overcome challenges that are considered impossible'

"BEGIN!" Masta shouts signaling the start of the match.

Unlike the previous combatants, Hanzo and I stood still in our place, noticing how any careless move could cost us victory.

"I really didn't expect that we would meet again under these circumstances. I must admit that you have some skill if you've managed to get this far. But I warn you: I don't plan on holding back with you like I did with that kid." Hanzo says me with a soft spoken tone, but looking at me intensely.

"That's what I hope, because if not, I won't be able to prove my conviction to you beyond any shadow of a doubt." I respond with a smug smile.

After another moment, the heavy atmosphere of silence is broken as we both launch into an attack. In a flash, I block his kick to my head with my forearm, and he dodges my straight punch by moving his head to the side. The next second, we both jump back to distance ourselves, and Hanzo starts running around me looking for an opening.

Despite his astonishing speed, I am able to dodge his left attack by leaning back, and we both begin to exchange blows at close range, with me loosely dodging his quick jabs and him parrying my punches. In the midst of the flurry, I manage to dodge a direct a jab with two bent fingers aiming for my chest by moving to the side, and taking advantage of his body posture in the attack, I use his attacking arm as support to launch him into the air and leave him unprotected. Contrary to my beliefs, Hanzo is not disturbed by the movement and throws some shurikens at me while he is in the air, and as I quickly move away to avoid them, Hanzo regains his balance and lands without problems.

For the next few minutes, I make use of the variety of martial arts styles that I have integrated during the exam to try to overwhelm Hanzo's defenses, but unfortunately, Hanzo's also appears to have unquestionable martial arts training, and using his commendable agility and reflexes, he's able to go toe to toe with my attacks and counterattack.

As I am going back and forth in my fight with Hanzo, the spectators watch our clash of styles with bated breath. The most notable is Nicholas, who watches the fight with strain and awe at our performance, refusing to blink to avoid missing a single moment.

'It's amazing. I already knew the boss was strong, but to think that he was also so skilled in hand-to-hand combat. And at the same time, that Hanzo guy is also able to keep up with him. Watching them go head to head, I realize that I still have a lot to learn.' Nicholas meditates as he focuses on the fight.

Hanzo and I continue exchanging blows with each other in hopes of landing a direct hit, and at one point, Hanzo kicks me in the air from the left, but I block it with my left arm and throw a punch at his chest, and although Hanzo blocks it with his forearm, the force is enough to send him flying backwards, to which he lands with one hand on the ground to push himself off and land back on his feet.

However, looking up, Hanzo is unable to locate me in front of him, and sensing the danger at his back, he turns to look at me with my fist raised ready for a decisive blow. Showcasing his splendid reaction speed, Hanzo steps away from the spot as I lower my fist and crack the ground with the force of my blow.

"Wow, you're pretty good. I guess those statements you said weren't just empty talk after all." Hanzo says still in place.

"You don't disappoint my expectations either. I knew I had not been wrong in assessing your potential." I reply.

Hanzo then changes his stance, and from his right forearm he pulls out one of his hidden swords. "Well, now I see I won't be able to defeat you if I don't go all out. Here I come!" He yells closing the distance between us in a flash.

Even though he manages to cut my shirt, I manage to avoid the sudden slash by stepping back, and then Hanzo begins his onslaught of cuts. Even though I was previously a match for Hanzo speed, with his new reach and the risk of amputation or serious cuts, I am now unable to find an opening to get close and hit him, and I am unable to dodge all of his swift attacks, having to prioritize those that aim for serious wounds and receiving minor cuts along my body.

When Hanzo attempts a wide horizontal slash, I jump over him to dodge it, and taking advantage of the position I launch a left kick with all my strength. Although Hanzo manages to block it with his right arm, the force of the impact makes him slip a few meters while I land back on the ground, and at that moment, Hanzo's sharp blade falls to the ground. It seems that the system holding it to his forearm has been broken by the impact.

"Gosh, I didn't expect you to be able to counterattack after taking out one of my hidden blades. It's really kind of frustrating." Hanzo says as he unwraps his right arm and drops the bandages and the damaged device that was hiding his sword. "Hey, Kai, don't you think it's time for you to forfeit?"

Despite his annoyingly condescending attitude, I remain unfazed and on high guard. "What's this all of a sudden? Asking me to leave when you've been unable to land a clean hit on me. Are you by any chance tired and want to go to bed?" I mockingly ask in an attempt to destabilize his emotional state, even if just a little.

Hanzo then continues the conversation, seeming mostly unaffected. "I recognize that you have great combat skills, and I completely understand why you have come this far. However, you have already reached your limit here." Hanzo says, pulling out a new hidden blade from his left arm.

"Even though you defended yourself well against my first blade, you cannot deny that you have suffered a lot of damage in your attempt to resist. That, combined with my conditioning to your way of fighting, makes it almost certain that you won't be able to resist for much longer. Even if you manage to take this blade from me as well, I'm pretty sure I could cut off a leg or an arm now. And even if I couldn't do that much, it's practically safe to say that I'd leave you battered and unable to fight any longer. That's why I'm asking you to forfeit."

"This fight has shown me that you really are someone I can put my trust in. Just as you said when we first met, I think it would be very beneficial for both of us to become allies. However, I have to become a Hunter to fulfill my goal, so I can't give up. And if I cut off an arm or a leg, that will leave a resentment in you that will affect our future relationship as Hunters. You will still have plenty of opportunities to overcome this test, so don't be stubborn and forfeit. It's the best solution for everyone." Hanzo says with a low tone and a sharp gaze that shows his willingness to start a bloodbath if I refuse.

"You are wrong. That is not the best solution." My words make Hanzo's expression show a small hint of doubt. "If I were to give up, then I would be breaking the promise I made to you of becoming a Hunter. Even if you claim that I have a better chance of passing the exam, if I didn't give it my all and gave up, I would be betraying the feelings and convictions I had when I made that promise. Even if you were okay with that, I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror knowing that I had betrayed my pride and determination."

"Cut off my arm or leg if you think you can. I assure you that I won't hold a grudge against you if you succeed. What will make me hold a grudge against you is if you don't give your all to accomplish your goals. So stop the talk and keep fighting! Face me with everything so I can crush your determination and spirit! I won't forgive you if you give up that easily! Give it all you've got!" I shout with unwavering conviction, trying to power up Hanzo and taking stance to act against him.

At my defiant words, Hanzo tightens his gaze and changes his stance, preparing to attack. The tension is palpable in the air, with the rest of the candidates watching expectantly for the resolution of this confrontation. Breaking the moment of silence, Hanzo lunges at me, his blade ready to strike, and when he is less than a meter away, his eyes widen in surprise as he observes the technique I use to counter him—"Rhythm Echo".

"What?" Hanzo blurts in disbelief as my afterimages split apart and surround him.

And it's not just Hanzo who's surprised. The other candidates and the examiners present also widen their gazes upon seeing my residual clones surrounding the confused Hanzo. Even Gittarackur shows a genuine expression of surprise upon seeing a stranger using such a high-level assassination technique in such a circumstance.

'How is that possible? I never imagined he could use this technique. Don't tell me... he learned it after seeing me use it against the old man in that game. No, that's impossible, it was just a few days ago. He hasn't had time to learn how to use it. Kai Ikeda... Who the hell are you really?' Killua thinks in shock and suspicion as he continues watching the fight.

Just as I had anticipated, the display of this surprise technique has left Hanzo in a state of stupor due to the rapid and unexpected turn of events, with his eyes quickly swifting between my afterimages without knowing what action to take, and before he can regain his composure, I take advantage of his distraction to land a chop to the back of his neck in the same way he had done to Gon.

Despite managing to stand up, Hanzo is stunned and disoriented by the precise attack, allowing me to grab his head and smash it against the ground, knocking him out once and for all. With Hanzo finally unconscious on the ground, I get up panting from the effort and the numerous bleeding cuts all over my body.

'Great. I had finally healed my wounds, and now I'm a mess again. Well, that's what it's like to live in this world.' I think, sighing in resignation as I walk past the other examinees to reach my bag.

Opening it I pull out some bandages and a rope while the other candidates look at me with intrigue. "Boss, what's that rope for?" Nicholas asks, conveying the thoughts of everyone present.

Displaying a mischievous smile and eyes narrowed in malice, I turn my head in his direction to answer: "For pre-torture preparations."