A Swarming Trap

In a dense, tangled forest filled with massive twisted roots and thick foliage, a lone figure walks along a narrow path among the trees. Two examinees navigate the rugged terrain, one leaping across thick roots while the other follows closely behind. Killua, the white-haired boy, glances sideways with a neutral expression, a small sweat drop visible near his face. Leorio, the dark-haired man, stares forward with a serious look, sweat drops on his face. Killua turns slightly and states, "ONLY ONE DAY LEFT." Leorio replies with concern, "6TH DAY IS ENDING..."

Leorio confirms with a tense expression, "YES..." Killua continues, "THREE DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE OUR MEETING WITH HISOKA..." and questions, "WHAT IF WE RETURN TO THE STARTING POINT?" Leorio responds while gesturing, "OPPOSITELY, EVEN IF YOU REACHED 6 POINTS..." and warns, "ONE OF THE PARTICULARITIES OF THE 4TH ROUND IS THAT IF YOU HAVE YOUR TAG STOLEN... YOU STILL HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOVERING IT." He adds, "MAYBE THE FIRST QUALIFIED ARE ALREADY THERE... IT WOULD BE SURPRISING." Killua agrees from below, "YOU'RE RIGHT." A wide panel shows the dark treeline with birds flying as a voice concludes, "IN THIS ROUND, NO PARTICIPANT FINISHES BEFORE THE OTHERS."

Killua leans in close with a confident smile and declares, "I'M IN THAT CASE." Leorio and Kurapika stand together in the forest as Leorio replies, "WELL. SO LET'S GO." Nearby narration continues, "THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY GATHERED 6 POINTS... SHOULD BE APPROACHING THE FINISH LINE TO SEE HOW THE SITUATION HAS EVOLVED. HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO GO AND SEE. ONLY ONE DAY LEFT." A wide view shows a small boat drifting on the open water with the sound effect "TAF TAF" echoing across the waves. In the forest below, Gon, Killua, and Kurapika react with surprise. Gon exclaims, "DAWN!" Kurapika notes, "IT WAS FORESEEABLE THAT THEY WOULDN'T STAND IN OBVIOUS PLACES." Leorio asks, "SO? DO YOU SEE ANYBODY?" Killua answers, "NOPE."

Killua suggests, "EVEN MORE AT THREE, NE?" while Kurapika proposes, "AT TWO, EACH ONE LOOKING FROM HIS SIDE, WE'LL HAVE BETTER LUCK... LET'S ARRANGE A DATE AND PLACE TO MEET UP LATER..." Gon suddenly spots movement and climbs a tree with an exclamation mark. From the branches he shouts down, "FROM ABOVE, I SAW SEVERAL PEOPLE COMING HERE LIKE YOU... EVERYONE IS THINKING ABOUT THE SAME THING..." Leorio warns, "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! IT WORKS FOR HIM SINCE HE HAS SIGHT BEYOND NORMAL SIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT... WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED FROM ABOVE!" Kurapika asks, "GON, HAVE YOU FOUND TAGS?" Gon answers, "SERI-OUSLY?" and points excitedly. Someone questions, "AMONG THE PEOPLE YOU SAW FROM ABOVE, WERE THERE ANY GIRLS?" Gon identifies, "GON, WE'RE LOOKING FOR #246, "PONZU," A GIRL." Gon replies, "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! SO I'M THE LAST LEFT?" and confirms, "YES, I'M OK..."

Killua counts off possibilities about Ponzu on his fingers while Gon watches intently from the side. "1: SHE'S HEALTHY AND STILL HAS HER TAG," Killua states. "2: SHE'S HEALTHY AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE HER TAG ANYMORE." He continues, "3: SHE'S HAD A PROBLEM BUT STILL HAS HER TAG," and finishes with "4: SHE'S NOT ONLY HAD A PROBLEM, BUT HER TAG'S BEEN STOLEN AS WELL." Gon reacts with shock, exclaiming "THERE ARE FOUR POSSIBILITIES," then "NO? DAMN IT!" and finally "NO..." Leorio and Kurapika discuss the situation. Leorio suggests, "YES. IF SHE WAS BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL BY A SUDDEN ACCIDENT, OR SHE WAS ATTACKED BUT MANAGED TO HIDE HER TAG." Kurapika adds, "FOR THE 3RD, DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SHE COULD STILL HAVE HER TAG EVEN IF SHE'S NOT HEALTHY ANYMORE?" Leorio growls in frustration, "IT'S MAKING ME GIVE UP HOPE..." while Kurapika notes, "THEN IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER IT." Kurapika also considers, "IF BY MISFORTUNE SHE HID HER TAG BEFORE DYING..." Gon questions the group with a puzzled expression. Leorio explains, "FOR EXAMPLE, LEORIO USES A PARTICULAR COLOGNE, WHAT COULD IT BE FOR HER?" Gon asks, "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS 'PONZU'?" Someone replies with a simple "?" and another voice cries "AH!"

Leorio questions whether Ponzu might use perfume, asking, "MAYBE, BUT HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SHE USES ANY PERFUME?" Killua confidently replies, "THAT'S TRUE. GON IS ABLE TO FOLLOW SOMEONE USING SMELL!" Gon confirms, "YEP! I CAN TRY." Kurapika leans in and explains, "THE ONES SHE USE USE PROBABLY HAVE A STRONG SCENT. SHE USES PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS TO DEFEND HERSELF?" A large bubble declares "A SMELL OF MEDICINE." Kurapika points upward with emphasis. Gon holds a small object near Kurapika's face and asks, "WHAT ABOUT THAT, GON?" Kurapika inquires further. Gon responds with determination. In the final panels Kurapika looks thoughtful while Leorio and Gon stand together. Leorio wonders with a question mark above his head. Gon states, "THAT'S WHY I CAME HERE."

Gon stares intently to the right with a focused expression. In the dense forest, Leorio stands pointing forward while Gon, Killua, and another examinee look ahead among the massive roots and trees. Gon, Killua, and Leorio crouch low in tall grass, scanning the area. Gon suddenly hurls a small object with a slingshot-like motion, the projectile arcing through the air. The three boys sprint through the undergrowth, motion lines streaking behind them as birds scatter into the sky. A dramatic close-up shows Gon’s wide-eyed, startled face with a sharp highlight. The scene shifts to a rocky outcrop where Gon and Killua hide; impact sounds echo as something strikes the stone repeatedly. A voice cries out that she is close to them. Another voice shouts to go this way, and Gon points urgently in that direction.

A wide view of the ancient forest reveals a massive tree with enormous roots forming a dark, cave-like opening at its base. Empty speech bubbles hover in the foreground. Leorio, Gon, and Killua crouch behind cover in the woods; Leorio asks what they should do next. Another panel shows the boys peering toward the tree. In a dramatic close-up, Leorio turns with a serious expression and tells both boys to wait for him there, declaring that he is going for sure.

A lone silhouette stands atop a jagged rocky outcrop against the night sky, one arm raised high. The figure grips a long staff and the sound effect TAC rings out. Below, Gon climbs desperately through a narrow crevice, his staff tapping TOC TOC against the stone walls as he struggles upward. A close-up shows Gon’s wide-eyed, sweat-streaked face staring upward in alarm. He then lies flat on a broad ledge, peering over the edge into darkness. Outside the cave entrance, Gon stands alone in the grass, gazing into the black mouth of the tunnel. His close-up reveals a tense, surprised expression as he declares, “I DON’T SEE ANY TRAP…”

Killua stands with his back to the group, raising three fingers and setting a thirty-minute limit: if there is no news, the others will enter. Gon and Leorio watch from behind as Killua walks toward the cave mouth, declaring he will look inside and that no one should enter until he says it is safe. A wide black panel shows only speech bubbles reacting in shock: “IMPOSSIBLE.” “JUST GO TO THE FINISH WITHOUT ME!!” “NO WAY!!” In close-up, Leorio glares angrily while Killua calmly explains he made an alliance with Gon and therefore cannot leave him behind. Leorio shouts that the alliance is over, tells Killua to go to the finish alone, and insists he will act alone from now on, thanking them for their help until this point. Gon and Killua stand together facing Leorio’s outburst.

Killua and Gon stand side by side, both in matching dark outfits with white collars. Killua speaks calmly while Gon looks defiant. "NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, DO YOU?" Killua asks. Gon replies firmly, "WE'RE GONNA STAY HERE 'CAUSE WE WANT TO." Below, three close-up panels show Killua glancing sideways with a neutral expression, Gon staring ahead with wide determined eyes, and a scarred man with short dark hair looking back with a tense, surprised face. In the large bottom panel, a hand holds a lit lighter near a checkered box while a figure in a light shirt turns away. A speech bubble reads "DO AS YOU WISH." Another bubble shows "Pff!" as the box is tossed. At the very bottom, the same checkered box lands in front of Killua and Gon, accompanied by the line "TAKE CARE OF THIS."

A wide forest scene shows tall trees, exposed roots, and a dark cave-like opening beneath a large root system. A small panel focuses on dense foliage. Next, two spiky round creatures with wide eyes peek from bushes, one marked with the sound effect "GRIN". Another forest panel repeats the view of the dark opening under the roots. At the bottom, Killua and Gon stand together looking toward the cave; Killua has a sweat drop and an ellipsis speech bubble while Gon stares with wide eyes.

A desperate voice rings out from the depths of a jagged rocky cavern as a dark silhouette tumbles amid writhing forms. "KURAPIKA!! GON!! DON'T EVER COME HERE!!" the unseen speaker shouts. "SNAKES ....!!" the warning continues. Gon and Killua stand frozen in shock, eyes wide and sweat flying, a large exclamation mark bursting between them. In the next instant the two boys sprint forward together, Gon gripping his fishing rod, their feet pounding the ground with sharp "TAP TAP" sounds as they race toward the dark mouth of the cave.

Against a black background, two small silhouettes stand at the bright cave mouth; one figure raises an arm as a voice calls out "LEORIO !!!" In close-up, Gon turns his head sharply with a sweat drop, motion lines streaking past. Another panel shows Gon from behind peering into the dark tunnel. Killua and Gon stand together at the entrance, both marked with exclamation points. Multiple overlapping "TAP TAP" sound effects fill the next panel as the boys dash deeper inside. The final panel depicts Gon running at full speed down a narrow rocky passage, fishing rod in hand.

From high above, the massive circular pit stretches downward, its rough rocky walls scarred and crumbling. Several examinees cling desperately to the sides or tumble through the air, their bodies silhouetted against the vast empty space. At the bottom of the frame, Leorio stands with sweat pouring down his face, his neck and cheek covered in multiple snakebite marks. Nearby panels show a cluster of spotted earth snakes slithering over a sign that reads 'SHIT! SHIT!', a stern bandaged man glaring forward, and a wide-eyed girl in a cowboy hat watching intently. In the final wide panel, Gon dashes forward with fierce determination, shouting Leorio's name as Leorio grips a weapon and braces himself amid motion lines.

Gon kneels on the ground, examining the snakebite marks on Leorio's body while holding a small bottle labeled 'CATCH'. Close-up panels reveal Leorio's sweating face as he mutters about the snakes being venomous and his body covered in bites. Gon analyzes the situation aloud, noting that Leorio's bites are not numerous and identifying the creatures as earth snakes whose venom is not too strong. In the bottom sequence, Gon presses his mouth to Leorio's arm and begins inhaling forcefully, with a 'PSHT' sound effect as he declares they will start sucking out the venom. Leorio's arm shows the bite marks clearly during the process.

Deep inside the rocky cavern, Gon stands near a lantern and warns that escape is impossible. A voice replies that trying would be pointless. Outside the cave entrance, Killua, Kurapika, and Gon struggle to carry the injured Leorio, shouting that they must get him to a doctor immediately. Kurapika explains that anyone attempting to leave is attacked by snakes and that the people who entered this place are the ones targeted. In the lower panel, Gon sits on the ground while the group rushes forward as a massive swarm of snakes bursts from the wall with loud ZAAA and ZAA sounds. Gon realizes aloud that this is Barbon's trap, the master of the snakes.

A huge panel shows countless snakes striking with sharp fangs and the warning that a bite means the end. Further text states the victim will be unable to move the injured person and will die within hours. Kurapika calls the situation useless and declares they must exit immediately. He adds that if they leave now they can hand over all the number tags they have collected. Kurapika then shouts Barbon's name directly. The final close-up reveals Barbon's stern face as he states that the person is already dead because he is...