[There are many ways to make someone suffer. If I can't kill, I can cripple to threaten them. For this kid, I probably need to make him realize he could be crippled for life, so his will gets worn down. Bit by bit, once he falls into despair, he'll give up. He's just a kid—how many times can those determined eyes last?]

Saiki Kusuo: …

Even knowing Chrollo wouldn't hold back, even against a child.

It was clear this was going to be one-sided abuse.

Saiki Kusuo knew this was part of the story—a key moment to show Gon's growth and perseverance.

But would it really go smoothly? The opponent was… Chrollo.

Bang!

Right from the start, Chrollo punched Gon into the wall, before Gon could even get his prized speed going!

"Ah! Gon!"

Alluka, who often played with Gon, panicked when she saw him beaten so badly.

Seeing what was coming, Saiki Kusuo wanted to take Alluka away, but Illumi blocked him.

Illumi said, "Didn't you want him to come out? If you take him away now, I'll assume you want him to be protected by his family forever. That's fine too. Alluka and Killua can just stay home forever. As long as Alluka has Killua to play with, isn't that enough?"

No. Saiki Kusuo sat back down, surprising Alluka. He patted Alluka's head to calm him.

It was just instinct to shield Alluka from this sight. But he almost forgot—they were already twelve.

In his original world, twelve was the age to graduate elementary school. But here, twelve meant growing up fast.

Just like Uchiha Itachi and Namikaze Minato in Naruto—in unstable, dangerous times, children at twelve could grow up quickly.

Chrollo's goal was to get the Hunter License. Killing Gon would go against that. He had spent so many days here—he wasn't leaving empty-handed.

As long as Gon didn't die, Saiki Kusuo could heal him, no matter if Chrollo left him with life-long injuries.

Looking at the outcome calmly, there would be no real damage. But the process would torture every ordinary person watching.

Alluka, you have to understand this scene well. Under the arena rules, Chrollo isn't doing anything wrong. Gon never asked him not to kill, either. They both agreed to the rules before starting. Gon could surrender at any time to avoid suffering.

If we believe the original story, this match would probably only end when Gon is covered in crippling injuries, with Chrollo surrendering because he can't make him give up. By then, Gon's condition would be unimaginably bad.

The arena.

Gon struggled countless times, only to be knocked down hard by Chrollo again and again. Each time he fell, he stood back up. Chrollo swept his leg, sending Gon to the ground, then pinned him with his knee.

Looking down at him, Chrollo's eyes were dark, carrying a suffocating pressure.

"With those determined eyes, let's have a little chat." Chrollo calmly grabbed Gon's wrist.

"Isn't it strange? Before you were twelve, your father never raised you or cared for you, so why are you looking for him? Can't you live on your own? Why worship someone you've never met, and chase after him?" As he spoke, Chrollo broke one of Gon's fingers.

He didn't give Gon any chance to talk back, sealing his words with pain. It was almost like his questions were just him talking to himself. "Never giving up, even until death—does saying that out loud make you braver? Your body is shaking in fear." Another finger bent backwards, joint by joint, until it snapped. He didn't move fast—slow enough to let the pain hit deep.

"You said your fishing rod was from your dad. Look at your hands—do you really think you can still hold it? Even for the sake of being a Hunter, you still wouldn't be able to reach your dad."

"This way of breaking fingers leaves permanent damage. If you don't understand, that doctor you know can tell you."

Every sentence ended with the sound of bones breaking and Gon's screams. The pain of ten fingers is beyond imagination.

Under the heavy atmosphere, everyone looked fearful—not only for Gon, but also at Chrollo's complete indifference.

Chrollo shook Gon's wrist, and the broken fingers dangled loosely from his hand. "I've broken the pinky and ring finger on each hand. Next is the index finger—the one that really affects movement. When all ten are done, I'll crush your palms and wrists. You'll be left with damage you can never recover from, but you won't die. Even if you don't surrender, I can still make you useless for life, and when you see your father, it'll be from a wheelchair."

"If you're not strong enough, you can go home and train. If your dad loves you, he'll wait. All it takes is one word—surrender. Are you feeling lucky just because I'm breaking your fingers one at a time? Kid, if I don't hear those two words before I finish my next sentence, I'll break all your fingers, and you'll never pick up your fishing rod again."

Chrollo was calm, clean, and at ease.

He let go so Gon could feel his own fingers. They were limp, pressed against his palm at odd angles. Inside, the bones were snapped and crushed.

Chrollo's mind was steady. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a cross-shaped shadow over him.

He wasn't someone who enjoyed torture, nor someone who felt pressured by it.

He was simply doing what the exam rules allowed. Nothing more.

Gon trembled. He realized his fingers were completely numb, their bones broken so badly they'd lost their original shape. Other than pain, he could feel nothing—they no longer felt connected to him.

Maybe he'd never feel them again.

And next, he would lose his middle and index fingers. He might not be able to hold chopsticks, pick up food—he'd have to be fed.

Fear hung over him. Safety was only two simple words away.

Leorio shouted, Kurapika shouted, Killua tried to convince him…

Everyone waited.

But!

"I won't!" After a long silence, Gon suddenly yelled.

"No! No! No!" he shouted, his body surging upward. His injured ankle forced him into a twisted one-knee stance, but his eyes blazed like fire. He looked up at Chrollo, and under the light, there wasn't a hint of hatred or anger in them.

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