Chapter 126

A massive explosion erupts in the arena with the sound "BOOOM", sending shockwaves outward. Gon stands small in the center of the blast radius, reacting with surprise "!!". The impact creates a blinding flash and radiating lines. Below, a character with spiky hair reacts with a sweat drop as a sliding door sound "shuuu Z" echoes through the hall, the figure glancing sideways with concern.

Gon stands wide-eyed with his backpack as a loud voice calls out his name. A heavy door clacks shut nearby while two stern men glance toward the sound. In the next moment Gon and Killua face Tsezugera on the stairs. Killua shouts that Gon passed the test too. Tsezugera explains that he had been asked to strike the wall with that technique. Gon simply answers “Yep.” Below, Tsezugera stands calmly before a massive shattered section of wall. In the foreground a bearded man stares at the destruction and mutters that those kids are terrifying.

A bald man in a patterned robe watches a small puff of smoke on the stairs. Gon and Killua lean over a railing, Gon asking about a secret technique while Killua teases him. Two stern men with headbands and facial markings stand nearby. In a grand hall a man in a jumpsuit announces that twenty-one people have been chosen to play Greed Island. He begins congratulating them. In the foreground Mr. Battera holds a contract and states that the other details are written inside. He adds that anyone who clears the game will receive fifty billion jennies and that the ship departs York Shin at five p.m.

A voice instructs the group to pack their bags for the game and meet back at the main entrance to Targetol Station after reading and signing the contract. At a table inside, Leorio raises a glass and declares that Gon has passed the first stage, prompting cheers from the others. A hand pops open a bottle with a loud sound effect nearby. Gon sits holding the contract document, asking if it is a contract and requesting to read it. Leorio, seated across from him, wonders aloud what old man Richard is thinking and notes the fifty billion in the end. Leorio then reads the contract aloud, summarizing its three main points: candidates must be prepared for possible casualties or injuries, Mr. Battera keeps all rights to objects obtained in the game, and successful candidates receive a reward of fifty billion Jenis. Gon and Killua examine the paper together as Leorio confirms they can sign if the conditions are acceptable.

Leorio tells Gon to take care and wishes him luck on his exams. He says he will be going now. Gon responds with a hesitant 'Well…'. Leorio asks if Gon realizes they will not see each other for at least four years and declares that next time they meet he wants to be called 'Doctor'. In a ruined street, Gon and Killua stand facing each other at a distance. Gon notices something on the ground and asks what it is. Killua says he understands something now. Gon agrees it is time to go. In a close-up, Killua states that the 'something' Mr. Battera wants at any cost is the same 'something' they are able to return to reality with.

Gon and Killua stand side by side on a busy train platform. Gon grips a long golf club resting on his shoulder while Killua keeps his hands in his pockets. A large speech bubble above them reads, "WE HAVE RESERVATIONS ON THIS TRAIN." To the left, another bubble states, "AFTER THE THEFT OF THE FIRST GAME, HE'S TAKING PRECAUTIONS." Behind them, passengers wait near the station entrance beneath a small flag marked "3," and a large clock shows the time. The next panel streaks with motion lines. The bottom panel shows a sleek white train racing past a hillside building with a tower and mountains in the distance, smoke trailing behind it under a bright sky.

Under a starry night sky, an imposing stone castle sits atop a steep rocky cliff surrounded by dense trees. A caption reads, "AN OLD CASTLE ..." Inside a dimly lit corridor, a bearded man with a ring on his finger stands before a wooden door marked with symbols and says, "HERE WE ARE." Two speech bubbles follow: "PLEASE DO NOT GO OUTSIDE OF THE ROOMS WE INDICATE, IF YOU WISH TO STAY ALIVE." and "THAT DOESN'T KEEP IT FROM HAVING ONE OF THE MOST MODERN SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS." In the lower left panel, a spiky-haired man reacts with wide eyes and a double exclamation mark while a bald bearded man looks on with concern. The final panel reveals a grand hall with a staircase, chandeliers, and several figures standing in the distance.

Rows of identical game consoles fill a dark room, each monitor displaying a different player's face alongside lines of data. A large banner reads 'Now playing' beside a shield emblem marked 'SKiii', while a small speech bubble shows the onomatopoeia 'viiiilii'. Below, the cracked stone floor of a spacious hall holds several people standing in a loose group. A man in the foreground turns slightly as he speaks. 'NOW, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING,' he announces to the gathered players.

A diagram illustrates a central 'VIRTUAL SPACE' hub connected to house icons representing consoles worldwide. The bearded man explains that the system functions like network games, granting access to the same virtual space from any location. Gon and Killua react with confusion, one asking how to explain it to a gaming newbie while the other admits he does not understand. The man continues, clarifying that all consoles lead to the identical arrival point and operate independently. He holds up a memory card, stating that once inserted the game begins, though most players already possess one. He warns that only one player may enter at a time and that an explanation of the rules will follow entry. In the background, three figures stand together as one asks about the order of passage.

Inside a room with a monitor displaying a small figure, a voice explains the situation to the gathered players. There are 21 of you, so about an hour will pass in all. The explanation only lasts a few minutes, but... To avoid quarrels within in deciding who goes first, I'd prefer if you decided on an order here. You mean, even if we all start at the same time, we'll have to wait inside the game? Exactly. A bearded man and a spiky-haired man with a ponytail face each other. Minority wins. We can just decide with Jan Ken Pon. The two men begin the chant as motion lines fill the panel: PON!! PON!! PON!! PON!! KEN-JAN. The bearded man turns to Gon and declares Okay then. You're first. Gon thrusts his fist forward with a bright YEAH!! I'm #17... In a smaller panel Gon stands with a small ball-like object floating near his head while the bearded man asks from behind Ah... yes. You brought saved data, correct?

Close-up of the bearded man's face as he asks Do you want to use it? Killua appears in a small panel looking concerned. The bearded man continues Your first destination is the same as the others. Don't worry, no matter what data you have... Gon stands holding a glowing card in his right hand while his left fist is clenched, bright light rays bursting outward. His eyes widen in a large close-up panel filling the frame. At the bottom of the page a cloaked figure sits hunched on the ground with the words I may finally become closer to you. JIN ... written beside him.

Gon stares at the message and declares, "I TRUST HIM!" He continues, "THAT'S THE MESSAGE JIN LEFT ME.... I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WAITING FOR ME, BUT... A GAME IN WHICH YOU RISK YOUR LIFE..." Killua, facing him, replies "OKAY." and "YES...! I'LL USE THIS CARD." The bearded man in the uniform instructs, "IN THAT CASE, SLIP THE RING ON." He adds, "AS SOON AS YOU'RE READY, YOU CAN GO. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE ACQUIRED THAT DATA, BUT IT CAN'T BE THE DATA I'M MISSING." Gon flashes a confident thumbs-up. Killua turns and calls out, "LET'S MEET AT THE STARTING POINT AFTER THE EXPLANATIONS! GON !!!" In the final panels, Gon’s gloved hands reach forward while he stands holding a long object beside a console-like device.

Gon lunges forward with both hands extended toward the game console as motion lines and impact shapes burst around him. The machine erupts in a violent explosion, scattering debris and smoke across the room. In the background, the bearded man and two other men react with shock while Killua watches with wide eyes. The bearded man, now close to a monitor displaying "NOW PLAYING", explains, "WHEN WE SEE THE MESSAGE 'NOW PLAYING' DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN, THE NEXT PLAYER WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER."

Gon stands in the foreground of the upper panel, looking back over his left shoulder with wide eyes and a tense expression. Behind him, a massive circular target fills the wall, its concentric black-and-white rings and evenly spaced dots framing a tiny suspended image of Gon himself in the center. In the lower panel, Gon faces a large double door from behind, his fishing rod resting over his right shoulder. The walls on either side are covered in complex black-and-white maze patterns. A circular emblem with four quadrants marks the center of the door. Gon wears his usual outfit with a backpack and tall boots, standing still before the entrance.

Against a plain white background, Leorio appears in the lower right, raising his right hand to his forehead in a crisp salute. He wears dark round sunglasses, a black suit jacket, white dress shirt, and black tie. His spiky hair is neatly styled, and a slight smile curves his mouth as he looks toward the left side of the frame.