A GAME AT MIDNIGHT (2)

The page opens with three small panels: falling droplets labeled MPF, a damaged robot-like device on the ground, and a clock showing nearly midnight. Below, Gon stands watching as Killua and Netero clash in motion. Netero, in the foreground, holds a striped ball and declares, "I'LL LET BOTH OF YOU ATTACK ME AT THE SAME TIME." A voice replies, "WE'LL GET NOWHERE LIKE THAT!" In the bottom panels, Gon shouts "NOW!" while Killua yells "GO!" with intense expressions and motion lines emphasizing the moment.

A full-page spread shows Netero, Gon, and Killua tumbling through the air against a starry background. Netero is central, arms outstretched, with Gon reaching forward on the left and Killua twisting on the right. The striped ball floats nearby. The chapter title N°014 A GAME AT MIDNIGHT [2] is displayed prominently, along with small Tic Tac symbols and a clock at the bottom.

Gon sweats heavily as he thinks, 'EVEN WORKING TOGETHER, I'M NOT SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DEFEAT HIM...' Beside him, Netero sits relaxed with the ball, noting 'NETERO DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO BE BREAKING A SWEAT...' Killua and Gon both look exhausted, with Killua adding 'KILLUA AND I ARE SWEATING AS IF WE HAVE FEVERS, BUT...' A dramatic panel declares 'INCREDIBLE!' The ball streaks through the air with motion lines and a loud 'TAP' as someone wonders 'IS HE UNBEATABLE AT THIS GAME?!' In the next sequence, Gon is struck hard with a 'STAM OUCH !?' and impact effects. Netero hops lightly with a 'HOP' and 'FLUT !!!' before landing a blow. Netero then stands over the fallen Gon and declares 'WELL! WELL! TIRED ALREADY? YOUR ATTACKS GIVE ME A FEELING OF 'DEJA VU!' ...' while Gon lies on the ground shouting 'TAKE THAT !!!'

Netero comments on the attack 'LETTING YOUR SHOES SLIDE OF TO HIT ME...' as Gon retorts 'THAT'S NOT A FAIR WAY TO FIGHT ...?!' Killua watches with wide eyes while Netero moves with 'CLOURS' sound. The ball is struck with a 'BTAM' sending Netero flying backward with a pained 'ARGH !!!' as Killua and Gon press the assault. Killua shouts 'NOW!!' from the foreground. In the final panels, Gon and Killua are sent sprawling across the floor as the ball bounces away.

Gon lunges desperately with a 'TAP' and cries 'DAMN!' as the ball flies past. Netero looks surprised, muttering 'PAR-DON ?' In the next moment Netero reaches out yelling 'WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT!' while the ball rolls toward him. Gon and Killua charge forward with Killua growling 'GRR' and Netero exclaiming 'WHY, YOU LITTLE ...' The ball is kicked hard with a 'VLAN !!!' and impact lines, leaving Netero stunned with 'EH?'

Gon and Killua soar through the air with arms extended, a striped ball between them. Killua yells triumphantly, 'WE GOT IT!!' as motion lines radiate outward. Far below, Netero stands ready. In the next instant Netero lunges forward with tremendous force, his body twisting amid jagged impact lines marked 'DAN'. A close-up of his intense face shows 'PFF' as the shockwave erupts around him.

Gon and Killua react in shock, '!!?' and 'SHAT' as something strikes nearby. A small panel shows them wide-eyed with 'FU' flashing between them. Below, Netero's massive claw-like aura slashes through the air while Gon tumbles backward and Killua drops to one knee amid debris and motion lines labeled 'BOUM'. At the bottom of the page the three lie sprawled on the floor, Netero clutching the striped ball as Gon and Killua sit up dazed.

Gon sits on the floor looking up, then stands with a determined expression. Netero appears in a dramatic close-up, holding the ball and saying 'YOU ALMOST GOT IT...' while another balloon reads 'NICE TRY!'. Killua stands with hands on hips and declares, 'I GIVE UP. THAT'S IT FOR ME!'. Small panels show cracked walls, debris, and Gon looking surprised with sweat drops. Netero remains composed, ball in hand.

Killua turns to Gon with a sharp look. "DIDN'T YOU GET IT?" Gon stares back, wide-eyed. "REALLY... WE ALMOST GOT HIM! WHY? WE'VE STILL GOT TIME LEFT!" In a large close-up, Killua sweats heavily, his expression grim. "EVEN IF WE TRIED A WHOLE YEAR, WE COULDN'T CATCH THE BALL. HE DIDN'T EVEN USE HIS RIGHT HAND AND LEFT FOOT!!" Gon and Killua both react with shock as Netero stands confidently in the background. "AAAARGH! THAT OLD BAG IS GETTING ON MY NERVES!" Gon yells. Netero rubs his chin. "I THOUGHT I'D HID IT WELL, THOUGH... I'VE BEEN HAD..." Killua snaps, "WHAT?!" Gon clenches his fist. "I'M GONNA TRY A LITTLE MORE. LET'S GO GON!" The two boys stand together, determined, while Netero watches from the side.

Killua points forward. "NOW, I'D LIKE TO FORCE HIM TO USE HIS RIGHT HAND!" Gon replies, "WE'VE STILL GOT TIME LEFT..." Netero smirks in close-up. Killua's eyes widen in disbelief. "HUH? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, YOU'LL NEVER GET THE BALL!! DID YOU LISTEN TO WHAT I JUST SAID?!" Killua turns away. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE BALL..." Netero bounces the ball with a "CHANG" sound effect. Killua walks off, waving casually. "I'M GONNA REST A LITTLE. OK, GOOD LUCK..." Netero leans in toward Gon. "THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO USE OR KNOW IT... OH, THAT'S A TRICK THAT ONLY BLACK MARKET DEALERS CAN USE..." Gon points excitedly at the floor. "WHAT IS IT THAT KILLUA DID TO MULTIPLY HIMSELF WHILE WALKING SLOWLY A MOMENT AGO? HOW DID HE DO IT?" Netero answers, "YES? TELL ME, NETERO-SAN."

Netero snatches the ball mid-air with a "CATCH" sound. "NAIVE." He faces Gon and Killua. "KILLUA IS REALLY GREAT! YOU NEED A HUGE AMOUNT OF PRACTICE TO GET THERE... BUT THAT'S A SUPER TECHNIQUE HE'S GOT THERE!" In a dramatic full-page spread, Netero lunges forward with intense speed lines. "YOU'RE NOT AS INNOCENT AS YOU MAY SEEM... ACTING LIKE THE BALL DIDN'T INTEREST YOU ANYMORE... IT WAS OF NO USE, THEN?" Gon stands frozen in a dark close-up panel. "HECK..." Later, Gon walks alone down a dim hallway, muttering, "DAMN, I CAN'T CALM DOWN..."

Several examinees react angrily as a figure brushes past them. "HEY, KID, YOU COULD AT LEAST SAY EXCUSE ME!!" one shouts. Another complains, "MAN, YOU'RE SWEATY!" A sound effect reads "TAK" as the spiky-haired boy stands near a doorway marked with "TAP." Close-up panels show the boy's hand gesture and a surprised face exclaiming "OH!" In a large dramatic panel, Killua stands shirtless with number 391 on his shorts, surrounded by floating, defeated examinees. His inner thoughts read: "I WANTED THAT BALL SO BADLY ... THAT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP KILLING THE OLD GEEZER, AND THAT ..."

Netero and Gon face off in a fast-paced exchange. Large sound effects "ZAT" and "ZAT" fill the air as the old man swings the ball and Gon dodges with swift movements. Smaller panels show Gon blurring with "SHU" effects while Netero calls out "SHU" and "SHU." The sequence continues with rapid taps labeled "TAP HOP" and "TAP" as the ball bounces between them. Close-ups capture intense eye contact and focused expressions. Netero lunges forward with the ball while Gon reaches out, ending with a surprised "ZON" and "PUTT" as the old man reacts.

Netero suddenly leaps with the ball raised high. A panel notes "HE FEINTED ..." as impact lines and "DON" explode across the page. Gon is struck hard in the stomach. The next spread shows Netero twisting mid-air with "THE STOMACH ...!!!" and "DONG" effects while Gon is sent flying backward. Gon cries out "OH!" and "MY ...!!!" as he crashes down. Netero lands with a calm "ZUU" while Gon lies sprawled on the floor, the old man watching closely.

Gon leaps and taps the ball with his foot, sending it flying. The old man with the ponytail stretches to catch it but misses as Gon flips away. The old man shouts, "OUT OF REACH!" Gon thinks, "If he hits one more time with such strength, he'll split his skull. But if I relax my muscles, I'll be the one that gets hurt!" The old man yells, "THIS TIME!!" as he lunges for the ball. Gon dodges with a "DOOGE!" and the old man flaps past him. The old man wonders, "DID HE DIE?" as Gon lands safely with a "DONG" sound effect.

Gon cheers, "HURRAY!! I WON!!!" The old man reacts in shock, "WHAT?!" Gon asks, "You used your right hand, right?" The old man admits, "EHR... YES..." Gon hops away happily. The old man thinks, "IS THIS KID A LITTLE INSANE?" as Gon lies on the floor laughing. Later, the old man calls on a phone, "EVERYTHING GOING WELL ON BOARD? PERFECT. CAPTAIN? IT'S ME..." while Gon sleeps soundly with "ZZZZ" above him.

A voice requests, "COULD YOU SLOW DOWN A BIT?" as the airship flies over mountains with "VOOOOOO" sounds. Killua, Hisoka, Leorio, and Kurapika sit together; Leorio yawns while Kurapika rests. Gon wakes up stretching with "OUF" sounds. An announcement declares, "WE ARE READY TO LAND. TO ALL PASSENGERS..." as the group prepares near the window.

A massive airship glides through the cloudy sky above a towering stone pillar, its engines roaring with a deep VOOOOOO as it approaches the cliffside. Sound effects echo across the landscape: ヴォオオオオ and ダァー. The ship descends toward a circular stone structure built into the ground. In the next panel the airship hovers low, releasing a shower of small figures that plummet toward the sandy earth below while emitting a shrill フィュルルルル. A group of examinees stands at the base, staring upward in confusion. One of them asks, "WHAT IS IT THEY WANT US TO DO?" Another voice replies, "THERE'S NOTHING, NOT A LIVING SOUL, AROUND HERE..."

The bald examiner in a double-breasted suit stands alone on the vast stone platform and addresses the gathered applicants. "HERE ARE THE JURY'S ORDERS... CONCERNING THE TRIAL ITSELF... IT'S HERE THAT THE THIRD TRIAL ROUND SHALL TAKE PLACE. YOU ARE HERE AT THE 'SHREWD-NESS TOWER'..." In a dramatic close-up his face fills the frame as he continues, "YOU'LL NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS TOWER. ALIVE, OF COURSE... WITHIN A 72 HOUR TIME PERIOD..." Dark silhouettes of the examinees stand against a dramatic sky streaked with motion lines. The final panels show Gon and Killua in profile, both looking determined. Gon declares, "IT'S OUR TURN NOW..." as they face the entrance to a long, dimly lit stone corridor leading downward.