The Third HxH Hunter Exam

In a dimly lit hospital room, Gon sits up in bed with a dazed expression. A small figure in a striped beanie sits nearby on a stool, holding an open book. The figure asks, "HOW ARE YOU FEELING?" Gon suddenly clutches his head in shock as multiple speech bubbles erupt around him: "WHERE AM I!? HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN ASLEEP!?" and "OCTOPUS!?" He shouts, "DON'T CALL ME OCTOPUS!!" while sweat drops and motion lines emphasize his panic. An IV stand stands beside the bed, and another patient lies covered in the background.

In a secret underground hospital, a nurse points toward a group of injured men sitting on a bench. One man explains that this facility specializes in treating people involved with organized crime or anti-government activities. Gon, still in his hospital gown, stands with the beanie-wearing child and declares he must continue the plan. The child warns him not to be stupid and risk aggravating his wounds. Gon looks determined despite his injuries. Later, the beanie-wearing child tells Gon he was on the brink of death, while another voice notes he has been sleeping for two whole days. Gon replies that he needs at least a few more days to recover.

In the hospital room a stern nurse confronts the injured Gon. She states that only after receiving the medical fees will she process his release. Gon thanks her and says he appreciates it. The nurse warns that if he cannot pay they will take a body part instead, listing expenses for the bed, medicine, blood, IV, disinfection and stitches adding up to 1,800,000 jeni. She adds that his skin, bones, organs and everything else would be sold and that there would be nothing left to put in the coffin. Gon replies that he does not have his wallet with him and will wire the money once he gets back. The nurse insists he must remain hospitalized until someone brings the money. Gon snaps that no one is stupid enough to say that and tells her to shut up or go away. The nurse explains the exchange rate is ten thousand jeni per minute and offers to exchange at one jeni per five hundred thousand bel. Gon grabs the phone and shouts that he does not have that kind of time, then yells into the receiver 'Killua!?'

On the phone Gon frantically asks Killua if he is all right after being beaten up by a tough opponent and promises to tell him everything when they meet. Killua replies that he is relieved and asks how things are over there. Gon says he got the money and will be back soon. In a forest Knuckle laughs loudly while a man in a cap remarks that Knuckle is totally hitting it off with someone. Elsewhere a suited man at a public phone tells Gon he will deposit the money soon and that they might be able to defeat the King if all goes well. Gon stands at the phone booth looking concerned as the man mentions meeting within the day.

A close-up reveals a wide eye staring in shock as a thought bubble reads, 'HIS WOUNDS... HAVE HEALED...!? ALREADY...!?' Nearby, a figure in a knitted hat gapes with an open mouth while Gon stands tall, his spiky hair prominent and torso heavily bandaged with crisscross tape across his abdomen. Gon extends his bandaged arm, testing movement with motion lines and a grunt of '!' as he bends and stretches his leg. 'NO PROBLEM.' appears beside his focused profile. In a wider view, the knitted-hat figure runs toward a distant glowing figure while shouting 'OKAY!' A voice declares, 'OKAY, WE'VE CONFIRMED THE DEPOSIT. YOU CAN GO NOW.' The knitted-hat person turns with a surprised expression marked by '.....' as Gon walks away barefoot on the tiled floor.

A close-up reveals a wide eye staring in shock as a thought bubble reads, 'HIS WOUNDS... HAVE HEALED...!? ALREADY...!?' Nearby, a figure in a knitted hat gapes with an open mouth while Gon stands tall, his spiky hair prominent and torso heavily bandaged with crisscross tape across his abdomen. Gon extends his bandaged arm, testing movement with motion lines and a grunt of '!' as he bends and stretches his leg. 'NO PROBLEM.' appears beside his focused profile. In a wider view, the knitted-hat figure runs toward a distant glowing figure while shouting 'OKAY!' A voice declares, 'OKAY, WE'VE CONFIRMED THE DEPOSIT. YOU CAN GO NOW.' The knitted-hat person turns with a surprised expression marked by '.....' as Gon walks away barefoot on the tiled floor.

The small beanie-wearing character hesitates with a flustered expression. "AH... ER... AH, BUT..." Gon stands nearby and offers, "TO WHERE MY FRIENDS ARE. I'LL INTRODUCE YOU." A tiny surprised figure blurts "EH?" while in the background a group of people runs forward, one shouting "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? LET'S GO." Gon appears in a stark black panel with a neutral, thoughtful face. In close-up profile Gon continues, "I'LL JUST THANK YOU THEN. THANKS." The other voice replies, "WELL... IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA COME, THAT'S FINE." Gon looks down, thinking hard: "SO I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO THOUGHT THAT WE WERE ALREADY FRIENDS? ...WHAT THE HECK." The beanie-wearing character turns with wide eyes and asks, "IS IT OKAY IF I COME?" then stammers, "AH... NO, UM... WHAT I MEAN IS... YOU KNOW..." In the final black panel the beanie character stands beside Gon, who looks back over his shoulder as the small figure finishes, "SOMEONE LIKE ME..."

The beanie-wearing boy stares upward with wide, watery eyes and asks, "REALLY... I CAN COME?" A single tear forms at the corner of his eye. In the next sequence the boy's bandaged legs are shown stepping forward as he shouts with excitement, "YE... YES!! I'M COMING!!" while Gon reacts with surprise. The boy continues, "IT'S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER YOU CAN COME OR NOT, ARE YOU GONNA COME!?" Gon, standing with arms at his sides, tells the boy, "YOU SHOULDN'T SAY THANKS TO ME EITHER." The boy replies, "SO THE NEXT TIME, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU AND I SAVE YOU..." Gon cuts in firmly, "I'M NOT GOING TO STOP AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE AGAIN." He adds, "NEXT TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS... JUST ONE THING THOUGH." The final panel shows Gon looking serious while the boy listens attentively.

Two hands clasp in a gesture of mutual support. "SUPPORTING EACH OTHER ISN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL," one voice states. "WE WILL PROBABLY RUN INTO ALL KINDS OF SITUATIONS WHERE WE'LL NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER..." A dramatic panel shows Gon with spiky hair, eyes closed, declaring, "FRIENDS ARE SUPPOSED TO SAVE EACH OTHER WHEN NEEDED." Large eyes stare forward as a thought continues: "ISN'T COOL, RIGHT? HAVING TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR SUCH A REGULAR THING..." Scribbled circles represent inner turmoil. "THE WORLD I'D BEEN ADMIRING AND DREAMING OF. THIS IS IT... AHH..." The scribble expands. "THE WORLD I'D BEEN DESIRING AND SEARCHING FOR... BUT SOMEWHERE IN MY HEART HAD GIVEN UP ON, THINKING IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE, THAT I WAS NOT WORTHY OF IT, THAT I HAD UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS..." At the bottom, Gon stands with his back to the viewer beside a seated Killua. Gon says, "I..." Killua replies, "KILLUA..." A final panel shows a dripping shape: "WOULD NEVER REACH... A WORLD THAT SOMEONE LIKE ME..."

Killua, wearing a checkered hat, trembles with tears. "FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME..." he mutters, sweat drops flying. "BUT THIS..." Gon leans in with a serious expression. "WHAT ARE YOU CRYING FOR!?" he demands. "HUH!?" Killua reacts in surprise. "I... CAN GO AND DIE NOW~~" Killua continues crying. Gon leans closer and says firmly, "I'LL TELL YOU ONE MORE THING. YOU." A close-up of Gon's intense eyes follows: "WILL BE EVEN HARSHER THAN THE WORLD OF THE ANTS!! THE WORLD YOU WILL BE STEPPING INTO FROM NOW ON..." Lower panels show bandaged legs and an eye. "WILL NEVER THINK THAT THEY CAN GO AND DIE NOW. THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE LINE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH... MAY SEEM THE SAME, BUT THEY'RE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK AND TREATING YOUR LIFE LIGHTLY..." The final wide panel shows Killua standing in a coat facing a glowing Gon from behind. "THAT'S THE KIND OF WORLD IT IS," Killua states. "THE ONES WHO GO THROUGH A COMPLETE PHYSICAL CONDITIONING REGIMEN EVERY DAY AND DRINK A NEAR-FATAL AMOUNT OF POISON WITHOUT HESITATION AT ANY TIME ARE THE ONES WHO SURVIVE."

A small figure in a knit cap sits on the ground and declares, "It's paradise before my eyes." Nearby, a spiky-haired boy stands with his back turned. The boy says, "I've... already seen it." The knit-cap figure turns with wide eyes and asks, "To this side? Can you come?" The boy replies, "How is it that... you know exactly the words I want to hear most right now...?" The knit-cap figure leans forward intensely, stating, "That 'it really exists'!!! Even if I have to leave behind everything!! I'll go... By meeting you I've confirmed it." In a dramatic full-body pose, the knit-cap figure leaps forward shouting, "CAN GO THERE!!!" while the spiky-haired boy watches from a distance. The final panel emphasizes the words "THAT 'EVEN I'..."

Morel, Killua, and Gon stand together outside. Morel wonders if Palm's presence has already been detected by Pitou's 'En'. Killua notes they still cannot get a hold of her. Gon confirms Palm is probably still inside the palace. A close-up shows Killua explaining that both the entrance and exits are located inside the palace, so Palm may be stuck inside without being able to escape. He adds that she is probably in the hangar area in the basement with a five-kilometer-long passageway beyond the range of even Neferpitou's 'En'. Elsewhere, a long-haired character leans against a wall and thinks, "He's..." while gazing toward distant palace domes and asking how Novu's condition is. In a final panel, the same character sits on the ground with head bowed, thinking, "Probably retired."

Gon listens intently on his phone, eyes wide with concern. A voice explains the situation: 'THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE OR HINDRANCE TO THE PLAN.' Another voice adds, 'BUT THE "EXITS" HAVE BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY.' Far away, a lone figure stands before a massive stone wall. On a crowded bridge packed with vehicles and people, the narration notes 'THREE DAYS...' and 'REMAINING...!!!' A sweeping view shows an ornate cityscape with domed rooftops under a vast sky. A hand reaches down and presses a small round device, displaying '1° F...'. In a grand hall, the chessboard sits between players as someone declares 'CHECKMATE.'

Killua sits with his back turned, looking exhausted. A close-up reveals Komugi's bandaged face, sweat dripping as she reaches her limit. Narration states the King will most likely be victorious in the next match. Morel, wearing his helmet and armor, stares intensely. Killua protests, 'HUH!? NO, I CAN STILL...' Morel replies, 'WE WILL RECOMMENCE IN HALF A DAY. REST.' He continues, 'JUST REVITALIZE YOUR CONDITION.' A small figure of Killua sits alone on the floor. The final panel shows a close-up of a woman's eyes as she says, '...THE KING HAS WILLINGLY... GONE BACK ON HIS OWN WORD...!?'

Killua's sharp profile fills the first panel, eyes narrowed in focus. Beside it, a lone silhouetted figure stands against the white space. In the large central panel Killua's face dominates the right side as his thoughts erupt across the page: "THIS WOMAN... IS DANGEROUS...!" To the left, Gon crouches low, spiky hair bristling, watching the scene with a tense expression. Below, a close-up reveals a different character with closed eyes, sweat drops trailing down their face, and strange mechanical or armored fragments framing the head. A caption box declares: "★An unexpected turn—!? The Kingdom is beginning to crack...!!"