THE JURY

A hand presses a button on a digital watch strapped to a wrist, producing a sharp Clic sound effect. The watch screen clearly reads 69:17:31. Below, several panels depict a group of applicants gathered in a tiled hallway. A brick wall with a closed door is shown on the left. Gon stands in the center looking around, Killua stands nearby with hands in pockets, Leorio in a white shirt holds a bag, and Kurapika appears with spiky hair. Other applicants including a boy with a skateboard and applicant 403 are visible. Speech bubbles read OH., WELL..., and AND THE DOOR APPEARS ...? In the final panel applicant 403 speaks to Killua: AH, OK... WHEN THE FIVE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED, WATCHES SYNCHRONIZE...

The large title "THE JURY" dominates the top of the page beneath a sign marked N°016. Applicant 16, the bald man in a numbered uniform, stands at the center with a wide grin, thrusting his right fist forward as he shouts "WELL! LET'S GO!" To his left, Gon (applicant 405) watches with a curious expression while applicant 403, the tall scarred man in a lab coat, mutters "HMM, HE'S ACTING ODDLY..." On the right, Killua (applicant 404) stands with one hand on his hip, looking ahead. In the lower panel the group walks down a brick corridor toward a closed door. A sign on the left wall reads "GO GO GO" while an exclamation mark floats near the door. The four applicants proceed in single file with applicant 16 at the front.

The applicants stand before a heavy metal door fitted with an electronic panel. The panel displays symbols and the text "THE DOOR : O OPENS X DOES NOT." Gon, Killua, and the others examine the device. A close-up shows Leorio pressing a button on his wrist device that beeps "BIP" while he remarks "THE ANSWER SEEMS OBVIOUS TO ME HOWEVER..." and "ALREADY A CHOICE..." The door suddenly begins to open with a loud rumbling "ゴゴゴゴ" sound. Multiple small panels show the applicants reacting with surprise as more "BIP" sounds come from their wrist devices. Gon and Killua look up in shock while applicant 16 and applicant 403 also react to the noise and movement of the rising door.

A large digital display glows with the result 04 x 1 beneath stylized symbols. An angry man with a facial scar glares and demands, "WHO PUSHED ON X?". Nearby, a cheerful elderly man with round glasses rubs his head and admits with a wide grin, "I MESSED UP PUSHING!" and "AH, SORRY!!!". The spiky-haired boy and other applicants react in confusion. One voice questions, "SO, GRANDPA? YOUR SIGHT IS GETTING WORSE?" while another snaps, "DON'T KID US!". The elderly man protests, "I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO'D CONFUSE AN X AND AN O!" and insists, "I APOLOGIZED, DIDN'T I?". The spiky-haired boy exclaims "HUH?!" as tension rises among the group.

Gon and Killua stand together as Killua notes, "TIME IS ACTING AGAINST US." and "NOT SO FAST! SINCE THE START, WE'RE STILL ON A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM...". Gon replies, "YES." and adds, "WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD." and "EVEN IF HE DOES EACH TIME...". In the hallway, an applicant calls out, "HEY! IT'S OPEN, SO ARE WE GOING?". Someone else insists, "I'M SURE THAT JERK DID IT ON PURPOSE!!". A foot steps forward with a "Tap" sound as a voice says, "WELL! IT'S OK, LETS GO!". An angry face growls "GRRR". The group of five applicants then enters a long brick corridor ending in a barred gate, where an exclamation mark appears.

Leorio leans forward with a tense expression, muttering 'LEFT...' as a small 'BAP' sound effect appears near his hand. He continues, 'WE'VE JUST PASSED THE DOOR AND IT'S BEGINNING AGAIN!' Nearby, Kurapika studies a device and replies, 'IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE TIME THAN I THOUGHT.' A large electronic panel displays a quiz question with symbols: 'Φ.0+0.0•IK?' and options 'O→lill. X→l.0.1.0' along with the prompt 'WHICH WAY : RIGHT O LEFT X'. Below it, a massive illuminated sign reads 'O3 X2 Z'. In the stone corridor, applicant 152 glares angrily and declares, 'FOR ME CHOOSING THE LEFT SIDE IS OBVIOUS! THE RIGHT ISN'T REASSURING TO ME!' Gon and Killua stand nearby as another applicant asks, 'WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? USUALLY, IN SUCH A CASE, WE CHOOSE THE LEFT, DON'T WE?'

Gon looks puzzled and says, 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING! WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF THE RESULT OBTAINED, ISN'T IT? WHAT HAVE YOU CHOSEN?' Killua interjects, 'WAIT A SEC!' and adds, 'I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING.' Kurapika explains, 'ACCORDING TO SOME BEHAVIOR STUDIES, IT SEEMS THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOST AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT KIND OF DECISION, MOST OF THE TIME, THEY UNCONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE THE LEFT...' Leorio points and confirms 'RIGHT!' while Killua echoes 'RIGHT!' A diagram shows a silhouette choosing a path. A large man states, 'IF THE MEMBERS OF THE JURY KNOW THIS, THERE'S A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THEY PUT A HIGHER LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY ON THE LEFT WAY.' Another voice adds, 'INSTINCTIVELY, WE CHOOSE THE LEFT SIDE.' The group walks down the corridor as someone yells 'WELL !!!' and another laughs 'PFF!' while agreeing 'EXACTLY!' Applicant 152 reacts with shock, 'OH!' as the others continue forward.

In a vast, dimly lit chamber, a massive square platform floats atop a thick central pillar, surrounded by four flaming torches and a small monitor screen mounted on a stand. Far to the right, a raised platform holds a cluster of tiny figures. Below, four hooded and chained figures stand together on a lower level. One of them shouts 'LOOK!' while pointing upward. Nearby, a small spiky-haired figure stares up at the platform. To the right, Killua appears in profile, gazing intently toward the scene with a focused expression.

A security camera hangs from the ceiling as a voice declares 'OK.' The chained candidates are shown up close; one says 'UNTIE ME.' Another panel reads 'THE CANDIDATES ARE HERE.' with 'VIIIIII' sound effect. Metal restraints clang and beep as they are removed. One freed candidate exclaims 'AT LAST I'M FREE!' while others shout 'OK! OK!' Heavy 'DONG DONG' sounds echo. In a large panel below, a bald muscular man with a scarred head smiles slightly as another man in a torn shirt stands beside him, hand resting on his shoulder.

The applicants stand in tense silence as the bald, scarred juror looms forward. In the background, a line of identical jurors waits in arched doorways. The bald juror declares their mission is to fight the applicants. He announces they are the jurors for the Trial Commission. Another speech bubble explains that the applicants must reach three victories to proceed. Matches are strictly one-on-one, and the order of passage is free. The bald juror’s face fills the panel as he shouts that the rules are extremely simple. In the final panel the applicants react with shock: applicant 403, applicant 405, and applicant 99 stare at the imposing figure while the bald juror gestures emphatically.

The bald juror’s face erupts in a massive close-up against radiating speed lines. He yells that there is no limit and that the defeat of one means the victory of his opponent. Everything is allowed. In the next panel the applicants stand together, applicant 403 looking alarmed. Smaller panels show the group debating: applicant 403 exclaims they still have to choose, while the spiky-haired boy and others worry that refusing means disqualification. The bald juror points directly at them, demanding they accept the trial by choosing O or X. The applicants realize they have no choice but to fight if they want to qualify.

Gon and Killua stand side by side watching the proceedings. A man with a stern face nods and says, "IT'S OK... I UNDERSTOOD." Nearby, another applicant with spiky hair glares and shouts, "YOU MUST BE REALLY DUMB TO CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE!" as a sharp "TAC" sound effect punctuates his words. In the background, a small figure hurries down a hallway past signs marked "05" and "06." The scoreboard displays "05 X 0" in large dotted lights. A close-up shows a man with a serious expression replying simply, "OK." The scene shifts to a raised platform where a group of applicants stands together. One man gestures broadly and declares, "THERE WE ARE! UNANIMOUS!" Below, a bald man with a scarred head yells upward, "CHOOSE NOW! I'M THE ONE BEGINNING!"

A large man with a square jaw declares confidently, "I'M GOING!" In the background, applicant 16 stands with a surprised expression marked by exclamation points while another applicant laughs "HAA!" Gon and Killua watch from the side. The large man continues, "I'M GONNA BE THE TESTING ONE," sweat visible on his face, adding, "SINCE EVERYTHING IS ALLOWED, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN!" Applicant 16 gestures while asking, "IMAGINE, WE ARE AT A TIE AT 2 VICTORIES : WOULD YOU BE MORE CONFIDENT IF I WAS THE ONE WHO SHOULD FIGHT?" and follows with, "ACTUALLY, NO ONE TRUSTS ME, DO THEY?" The spiky-haired boy replies, "IT WILL BE ANOTHER WAY TO APOLOGIZE." The large man concludes, "IT'S CLEAR." Applicant 403 looks away and mutters, "SO?"

A raised stone platform ringed by torches stands in a dim stone chamber, a large sign declaring 'MAY ONLY THE FIGHTER TRAVERSE!' Heavy rumbling SFX 'GOGOGOGO' shake the air as the structure settles. Below, a man with glasses watches intently from the side while a spiky-haired boy walks carefully along a narrow beam toward the platform. Two small figures already stand on the grid-patterned surface. The spiky-haired boy pauses as a voice calls out. In a dramatic close-up, a bald muscular man with a stern expression looks upward and declares, 'I PROPOSE...' followed by '...FOR THE FIGHT ITSELF...'

Against a dark backdrop with a bright flash, the bald muscular man stands facing the spiky-haired boy and shouts 'A FIGHT TO THE DEATH !!!' In close-up he adds 'WE'LL FIGHT!!! UNTIL THE DEATH OR THE DESERTION OF A FIGHTER...' Nearby, Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio watch with tense expressions. The bald man and the man with glasses exchange looks. On the platform the spiky-haired boy stands ready while the bald man confirms 'I ACCEPT!' A stocky applicant with a sweat drop replies 'THAT'S OK WITH ME...!!!' as the man with glasses notes 'THAT'S CLEARLY DETERMINATION!'

A bald muscular man crouches low in an aggressive stance, surrounded by sharp motion lines and impact effects as he shouts with fierce determination. "LET'S GO!!" he yells. In the next panel, a spiky-haired boy lunges forward with intense focus, arms outstretched and body low, accompanied by a large "TADAN!!" sound effect. "I QUIT!!!" the boy declares loudly.

Close-up portraits show Killua, Leorio, Gon, and Killua again with varied expressions. Below, the bald applicant 16 is seen on the floor as the group reacts in shock. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" someone asks. "HE MUST HAVE WANTED TO SAY 'I'M QUITE READY, NE?'" "I'M DREAMING..." "HE SAID 'I QUIT,' DIDN'T HE?" Applicant 16 then smiles and states "I LOST." and "I QUIT." A close-up shows a sweating face with "ARGH." Machines display "BIP" as applicant 16 grins "HE HE HE." In the distance, laughter echoes "HA HA HA !!!" from the hall.

In a dimly lit stone corridor, a bald man clenches his fist and declares, "If we win twice more... It's over for you." Beside him, a scarred man with a confident smirk raises two fingers and adds, "Only two more victories." A large black panel displays a glowing white "1" formed by circles. In close-up, the scarred man narrows his eyes and states, "All you'll have to do is wait here until the end of the time period." Another speech bubble warns, "You won't be able to make half-turn nor move forward." At the bottom, Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio stand together with two other applicants. One applicant remarks, "Close up, he looked really really strong, but..." Another replies, "It's not very glorious, but..." Leorio concludes, "We have four left, and we need three victories...!!"

The scarred man shouts angrily, "Your hobby is to do all you possibly can to disturb others!" A smaller figure replies, "I understand well!" In a doorway, the group runs forward as someone yells, "Dumbass!" The scarred man glares with intense eyes while motion lines and "ZAT" emphasize his stance. In a dramatic close-up, a large spiky-haired man grins broadly and declares, "And I'm not even close to stopping it...!!" while another bubble affirms, "Exactly! You have understood everything!" Leorio speaks seriously to the large man, who responds with a sly expression. Nearby, an applicant comments on the chaotic scene. The large man continues, "Listen to me clearly... Well... There is a big difference between you and me... I don't want to be a Hunter!" The final panel shows the group standing on a platform as someone exclaims, "He he he!!!"