Face Off Part 7

The intense rally continues with rapid motion lines streaking across the page. Reiza in jersey 2 is shown mid-air being struck, with impact effects and debris flying. Small inset panels capture Golimu and another player colliding. Killua and Gon stand on the sidelines watching with wide eyes. A man in a black jacket stares forward and mutters, "THIS..." Below, Reiza is sent flying backward from the hit, marked with large SFX "バン!!!" The court view shows scattered players as the ball arcs through the air.

Spectators watch intently from the stands as the intense volleyball match unfolds. A player in a white uniform and black hat marked with the number 2 is struck hard, sent flying backward with limbs flailing amid dramatic speed lines and impact effects. The volleyball hovers prominently in a separate panel. Below, the same player #2 recovers in a low stance, one hand extended, while a large muscular opponent in a padded uniform stands ready in the background. Other players position themselves across the court. In the foreground, a spiky-haired man with a scar stares in shock, sweat flying, as he utters 'THIS...'. The next panel shows a close-up of the volleyball hurtling directly toward a determined face with gritted teeth and motion lines, accompanied by sharp impact symbols.

Gon and Killua react with surprise as Golimu is sent flying by a powerful strike. A large player #13 delivers a crushing blow, creating massive impact symbols. In a side panel, Killua shouts 'GOLIMU!' while Gon yells 'GO...'. Another panel shows a character leaping with 'YOU SHOULD TREASURE IT!' and 'THAT'S AN EXCELLENT ABILITY.' The scene shifts to Biscuit confronting a man with a scar on his cheek, who responds 'HMM?' to her question about passing rules. She asks 'WAIT A MINUTE, HOW CAN YOU DO THAT?'. A flashback panel depicts a figure being slammed into the ground with motion lines. The scarred man explains 'IT'S THE SAME REASON THAT LAST ATTACK WAS LEGAL. IF THAT BALL HAD TOUCHED THE GROUND I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT.' and adds 'RULE ALLOWS YOU TO BE OFFENSIVE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON THE COURT.'

A hand gestures upward as a voice states, "HOWEVER, I DOUBT THAT WILL HAPPEN." Another speaker continues, "IF GOLIMU WAKES UP BEFORE THE MATCH IS OVER, THEN THE BLACK NEN BEAST MAY RETURN." In other words, they are not self-reliant and must be controlled. Just as I suspected, when the user loses consciousness, the Nen beast will disappear. A figure in a black helmet with a diamond emblem and jagged mouth adds, "THEN THE MATCH IS OVER..." and "IF GOLIMU DOESN'T WAKE BEFORE THE LAST PERSON IS KNOCKED OUT..." A smiling man with spiky black hair watches closely. Below, three men confer tensely: "HE'S IN NO SHAPE TO SUMMON THE NEN BEAST," "IF HE MANAGES TO WAKE UP...," and "THAT... THAT CAN'T BE." The scene shifts to a dark indoor court where the inside court has become 3 vs. 3. Silhouetted players stand at positions marked 1 through 6, with several figures on the near side facing three opponents across the net.

Small frog-like creatures react with surprise as the opponents surround the outside court and can attack anytime. Half the team is out and only an injured kid remains in reserve, placing the team at a disadvantage. Reiza still has his "back" that allows him to return to the court. A terrible situation unfolds as the ball falls into the enemy's hands again. Killua, Gon, and Biscuit brace themselves with intense expressions. A player dashes forward, declaring "ALRIGHT..." before leaping high. With dramatic motion lines, the spiky-haired player spikes the ball and shouts, "THE NEXT ONE!?" while an opponent wonders, "WHO WILL BE..."

A massive curved projectile dominates the upper panel as a muscular figure is hurled backward through the air, limbs flailing from the impact. Below, Gon crouches low with wide eyes, thinking rapidly. "I'll dodge for now..." he decides, but immediately realizes the danger: "No, I can't catch it!" Panic rises as he shouts, "It's me! What do I do!?" Biscuit stands ready nearby while another fighter watches from the side. A close-up shows Gon's shocked face with sweat drops as motion lines and impact symbols fill the frame, the ball's trajectory marked by sharp black streaks and exclamation effects.

Speed lines explode outward as the ball suddenly changes direction. Gon stares in disbelief, his thought bubbles reading "90 degrees?" and "The ball turned..." The massive projectile now hurtles horizontally toward the group with fresh impact marks. Gon braces himself in the foreground while Biscuit and another fighter react in the background, the ball's altered path cutting through the air with violent motion lines and debris effects.

Hisoka's head jerks back amid radiating speed lines as a surprised reaction escapes him. "HMM?!" A powerful strike launches a figure wearing a black cap marked with a white 5 through the air, limbs flailing. Hisoka tilts his head upward, star-shaped mark visible on his cheek, eyes narrowed. A massive impact erupts with bold "VILL" lettering as the capped fighter swings a heavy blow. Gon leans forward urgently, shouting "HISOKA! WATCH OUT!" while Killua and other spectators react with wide-eyed alarm and sweat drops. Hisoka remains composed yet alert, a single bead of sweat forming on his face.

A massive last-second intervention unfolds with explosive speed lines and the large caption "LAST MINUTE SAVE!" Razor's muscular form twists mid-air, intercepting the attack aimed at Hisoka. Smaller figures tumble in the background amid debris. Razor stands with arms crossed, face shadowed. Gon stares intensely, declaring "REIZA.. THAT BASTARD!! WHAT IS HE PLANNING!!" while narration explains the feint: "FEIGNING AN ATTACK TOWARDS ME, THEN ACTUALLY TARGETING HISOKA AND BISCUIT!" Hisoka holds a striped ball, eyes half-lidded with a sweat drop, processing the shift in targets.

A gloved hand raises high as the referee declares the outcome. 'PLAYER BISCUIT IS OUT!' the announcement rings out. 'PLEASE MOVE TO THE OUTSIDE COURT!!' Biscuit is sent off the playing area. In a thought panel, someone reflects, 'IF HE WAS RIGHT, I PROBABLY COULDN'T ESCAPE IT!' and 'NO... HE MIGHT HAVE GUESSED THAT I WOULD DODGE TO THE RIGHT!' Two muscular players react in shock, one shouting 'DIDN'T SHE DODGE IT!?' while the other exclaims 'WHAT!?' Biscuit stands calmly in her frilled dress, thinking '...AM I RIGHT?' with a small Japanese note nearby, and a bubble notes 'CLOTHING COUNTS AS A PART OF THE BODY...' A fallen player on the floor yells 'ONLY YOU TWO ARE LEFT. DON'T LET THEM HAVE THE BALL!' as another mutters 'DAMN... BUT SHE DODGED SO WELL.' Finally, a hand extends forward with the command 'BACK!'

Gon stands tall and composed in the center of the court, his clothes torn and dirtied from the previous exchange. Behind him, Reiza in the number 2 uniform watches silently. Background figures in uniform stand along the walls. A voice calls out 'PLEASE MOVE TO THE INSIDE COURT!' while another bubble states 'GON HAS USED "BACK".' In the lower panels, three observers discuss the situation: one notes 'HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO TOOK REIZA'S ATTACK HEAD ON.' Another replies 'BUT HE'S NOT A NORMAL KID.' The third wonders 'WILL THAT KID REALLY BE OKAY?' Gon remains motionless, staring forward with a determined expression.

Gon stares upward with a puzzled expression, murmuring "MMMM." and "1+1 EQUALS?" while Biscuit stands beside him. Killua turns sharply, asking "YOU ALRIGHT?" and warning "DON'T BE RECKLESS! HEAR ME?" Biscuit snaps to attention with "YES SIR!" then urges the group, "OK, FORGET IT. OK, LET'S NOT FIGHT THEM TO THE DEATH." The star-marked fighter with a tear tattoo explains the danger: "IF THE BALL PASSES THROUGH THE OUTSIDE, THEN IT BECOMES MUCH LESS DESTRUCTIVE." He offers, "LET ME MAKE ONE THING CLEAR," and checks with Gon, "YOU OKAY?" Gon replies firmly, "NO PROBLEM!" The fighter demonstrates by raising three fingers, noting, "EVEN WITHOUT 'HARDEN' I ONLY BROKE 2 FINGERS." In the final panel he grabs Gon and Killua by the collars, declaring, "BUT WE CAN'T WIN LIKE THAT!" and "THAT'S ALL," while adding, "EVEN IF IT'S REIZA'S ATTACK, IF YOU CAN AVOID IT THEN DAMAGE WILL BE MINIMAL."

Gon shouts angrily at Killua, "YOU HAVE TO COOL YOUR HEAD, BA---KA!" Killua fires back, "DON'T SAY STUPID THINGS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN EVERY SINGLE TIME!" Both boys glare at each other with intense expressions. Biscuit steps between them, warning, "IF YOU HAD DODGED, THEN YOU MIGHT ALREADY BE DEAD." Gon clenches his fist, declaring, "I WANT TO TAKE HIM DOWN COMPLETELY!" and "I'M VERY ANGRY RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE A HALF ASSED EFFORT WON'T BEAT HIM!" Killua questions, "AREN'T YOU ANGRY?" and "RIGHT?" In the final close-up, Biscuit stares forward with a serious face and states, "I WILL BET MY LIFE ON THIS MATCH!!"

Killua points and directs, "YOU STAND OVER THERE. KILLUA..." A voice answers, "I'LL DO IT." The tall spiky-haired man asks, "DO YOU GUYS HAVE SOME SORT OF STRATEGY?" Killua replies, "SURE?" while instructing, "PLANT YOUR FEET AND HOLD IT STEADY!" Gon watches intently with a focused expression. The spiky-haired man in the white shirt stands ready on the court as the ball is held. Killua and Gon exchange a glance; Killua says, "THAT'S RIGHT!" Gon suddenly bursts forward with intense speed, motion lines and impact effects exploding around him. He winds up a powerful strike, shouting "ROCK!" as the ball is gripped tightly. Narration declares, "GON FINALLY GOES ALL OUT! PUTTING EVERYTHING INTO ONE PUNCH!! A GLORIOUS PUNCH!!" The first strike begins.