Hunter × Hunter Chapter 49: May the Fight Begin!

Three close-up panels show the left side of a masked or helmeted face with a snout-like protrusion, the calm closed-eyed face of a blond man in a dark robe, and the profile of a spiky-haired boy wearing a blindfold. In a wide arena shot under a spotlight, Gon and Killua sit with their backs to the viewer facing two opponents across a circular platform; one opponent is the blond man standing with arms outstretched while the other sits in a chair. A digital timer displays 10:37 with the sound effect "Bip". The blond man says "YES... THEY CAN USE IT, CAN'T THEY?" Gon replies "YEAH." and Killua adds "LET'S GO." The page footer reads "N°49 MAY THE FIGHT BEGIN!"

Gon stands in close-up, his large eyes focused and thoughtful as he raises one hand near his face with fingers slightly curled. Within the silhouette of his spiky black hair, a detailed cityscape rises under a starry night sky filled with twinkling stars. The bold chapter title "MAY THE FIGHT BEGIN!" stretches across the top of the page beside the boxed chapter number.

Gon and Killua stand together as a female announcer welcomes them to the 200th floor group and asks them to sign the inscription form. She explains the three-month delay system for choosing fight days and the 90-day preparation period after each fight declaration. The announcer warns that missing fights during the delay results in disqualification. Gon and Killua react with surprise upon learning they must secure 10 victories to advance while avoiding 4 losses. The announcer points out that reaching 10 wins allows a challenge against the Floor Master. Gon questions the meaning of fighting several times after the first match.

A towering view of Heavens Arena dominates the page. Large text explains the stakes: "YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS, DON'T YOU? IF YOU CHALLENGE THE FLOOR MASTER AND WIN, YOU BECOME THE FLOOR MASTER!!" Another block adds, "THE FLOOR MASTERS ARE THE 21 MOST PRESTIGIOUS FIGHTERS!! EACH ONE LIVES ON ONE FLOOR BETWEEN THE 230TH AND THE 250TH!" In smaller panels, an eye reacts with shock lines as narration continues: "THERE'S A SPECIAL EVENT, THAT TAKES PLACE ONLY EVERY TWO YEARS, ON THE LAST FLOOR!" The female announcer leans forward excitedly, arms outstretched, declaring, "BECAUSE IF YOU CAN BECOME A FLOOR MASTER... NO, THAT'S NOT ALL!!" and "AND YOU'RE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO TAKE PART IN IT!" A final panel shows her pointing dramatically toward the arena below.

Gon and Killua lean over a railing with wide eyes while a long-haired figure shows no visible reaction. The female announcer continues: "PLUS, YOU'RE OFFERED A SUPER RARE TREASURE!!" and "IF YOU WIN, THE LAST FLOOR BECOMES YOUR DOMICIL!! IT'S SAID TO BE THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE WORLD!! THAT'S A GREAT HONOR!!" Killua reacts with surprise, "WHAT?!" while Gon asks, "ISN'T THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS STAGE?" The announcer gestures again as text notes the estimated height of Hisoka's birthplace at 3700 m. Killua wonders what they will do now that the last floor no longer interests him. Gon insists, "YOU FIRST HAVE TO WIN ONCE," and later states he wants to know the difference from their previous match. Killua replies he came to confront Hisoka.

Killua stares ahead with wide eyes and asks, "A PROBLEM ?" A man with light hair and closed eyes smiles and replies, "WE ALSO WANT TO FILL OUT A FORM, SO WE'RE QUEUING." Gon, Killua, and the man stand in line before a service window. In profile, the man glances sideways while Gon and Killua examine a sheet of paper. Killua tells Gon, "I THINK THEY WANT ME TO CHOOSE THE SAME DAY AS YOU." The man chuckles "HE HE HE" as Gon and Killua study the form. The document reads: "PLEASE CHECK THE BOX CORRESPONDING TO YOUR CHOICE. □ INDICATE THE DAYS WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT. (GENERAL PROPOSITIONS) DAY MONTH DAY MONTH □ BETWEEN THE .... AND THE .... WHATEVER DAY IS ALRIGHT. □ WHATEVER THE DAY. □ OTHERS" with several checkboxes and handwritten notes visible at the bottom.

Killua declares with a determined face and motion lines, "FOR ME, THE DAY DOESN'T MATTER." He checks a box on his form with a pen, producing a large "TADAN" sound effect. Gon stands nearby holding his own paper. At the service window, Gon leans on the counter and says, "PERHAPS, BUT..." Two masked figures, one with a pointed head and the other wearing a blindfold, write on documents nearby. The light-haired man hands two keycards to Gon and Killua and states, "GOOD, GON-SAN, ROOM 2207, KILLUA-SAN, ROOM 2223, HAVE A GOOD REST!" while adding, "WE'LL TELL YOU WHEN THE FIGHT'S DATE IS FIXED." The boys stand together in the dimly lit arena area receiving the cards.

Inside room 2207, a spacious hotel suite with ornate curtains, a chandelier, and neatly made beds. In the hallway outside, two figures walk away down the long corridor lined with draped windows. A voice reflects, "You think that if we had come here without knowing anything, we would have met the same fate?" Another replies, "Them, you can be sure they've been hazed." Back inside the room, Killua stands near a television while Gon sits on the floor. Killua suddenly turns and shouts, "Gon! Look!" Both boys stare at a large illuminated screen displaying bold text and symbols: "THE DATE OF THE FIGHT HAS BEEN SETTLED!! FIGHTING ROOM OF THE 225TH FLOOR. MARCH 11TH AT 3PM."

Gon stares with wide eyes and an exclamation mark above his head. A small chibi-style Killua floats nearby as text reads, "The 11th, that's tomorrow, isn't it?" Gon replies softly, "But..." In close-up panels, Killua stands determined against a dark background, declaring, "I wanna test this new force... I'd like to know how it's gonna work..." Gon responds in profile, "I don't think I'll win tomorrow. But I don't care." The final panels show a starry night sky through a window and Gon looking forward with a quiet, resolute expression, ending in silence.

A dramatic view of the Heaven's Arena tower looms as excited narration declares that today is the day of a fight that seems fascinating. Gon arrived throwing everything on his way and did not wait to enter the scene. Killua stands beside a cheering girl with headphones while an old man with a cane watches from the side. Bold text highlights Gon's record: 4 victories and 1 defeat in 5 meetings. Smaller panels explain Nen concepts, showing Gon and Killua training silhouettes. A voice warns that even increasing defense strength with Ten will not prevent injury from hits. Another panel notes that if the opponent is used to the Nen technique, small hits can fatally injure. Killua turns and asks Gon if he will manage to do it.

Wing stands with glasses and raises two fingers, declaring he will teach everything he can during this time and that Gon must wait two months before fighting. Gon leans forward with a sweat drop, apologizing to Wing and stating he wanted to try whatever the cost. Wing sighs and calls him a troublesome kid. In the arena, Gon faces an opponent as the referee raises an arm and shouts 'BEGIN !!!' with dramatic sound effects. The crowd cheers with 'OUAIé' calls while Gon takes a fighting stance.

A massive impact shakes the arena as a hand slams down. "SO YOU WON'T DIE," the towering fighter declares. "BECAUSE I HAVE NO STRENGTH," he continues while looming over the ring. "KID... YOU'RE LUCKY TO START WITH ME," he adds with a grin. Gon stares upward in shock, eyes wide and mouth open. The fighter, Guido, then unleashes a barrage of spinning tops that whirl across the arena floor, their strings trailing behind. "LET'S GO! THE WALTZ OF COMBAT!!" Guido shouts as he manipulates the tops with precise hand movements. The announcer's voice booms over the speakers: "OOOOOOH! THAT'S IT!! GUIDO HAS PUT OUT HIS OFFENSIVE DANCING SPINNING TOPS! OUUAI OUUAI" The crowd reacts with excitement as the tops spin violently, becoming Guido's signature weapons.

Guido’s spinning tops fly wildly through the air, striking with sharp CLAG sounds and leaving impact trails. Gon leaps and dodges between the projectiles, his body twisting mid-air as exclamation marks show his surprise. The tops ricochet and spin around him with intense Viiim sound effects. Gon continues to evade the barrage, landing and jumping again while the arena floor erupts with more impacts. A powerful FUUUUU- effect signals a massive strike as debris flies. The final panels show a top crashing into the ground with explosive force, sending smoke and fragments outward.

Gon reels backward as multiple spinning tops slam into him with explosive force, the impact marked by a massive VLAM. His face twists in pain as he cries out, 'Ouch...' The tops, charged with Nen, shock themselves and fly unpredictably through the air, striking from every angle. 'SPINNING TOPS THAT SHOCK THEMSELVES AND ATTACK ME WHILE FLYING!' Gon thinks. In the next panels, the complex aerial movements continue to baffle him: 'THE COMPLEX WAY THEY MOVE IN THE AIR IS UNPREDICTABLE! EVEN FOR ME!' Zushi stands triumphantly with one finger raised, declaring a 'CLEAN HIT!!' The tops are full of Nen and can spin for hours while attacking. At the bottom of the page Gon, still under assault, grits his teeth and thinks, 'THEY'RE SMALL, BUT IT'S AS IF I WAS BEING HIT BY HAMMERS!! NOT STRONG?! YOU'RE KIDDING!!'