Ko—the advanced technique of focusing 100% of one's aura into a single point. It maximized destructive power but left the rest of the body completely defenseless. It was the ultimate high-risk, high-reward gambit.
For an Enhancer like Gon, it was perfect.
He practiced it obsessively. On the train platform, on the ferry deck, even while walking. He would flare his aura, focus it, fail, and start again.
Killua and Kyle exchanged wry smiles as they watched him. Once Gon locked onto a target, nothing could derail him.
By the time the ferry docked at Whale Island, Gon finally lowered his fist. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned at Killua.
"Hey, Killua. I think I'm close to mastering my special move. Hehe."
Killua raised an eyebrow, a competitive spark lighting up his eyes. "Oh? Then let's make a bet. Whoever masters their Hatsu first wins. The loser has to be the winner's servant for a whole day. Fetch drinks, give massages, the works."
"You're on!" Gon accepted immediately, his eyes burning with confidence. "But it has to be a real special move. Kyle can be the judge!"
"Deal," Killua smirked, already imagining Gon serving him chocolate robots on a silver platter.
Kyle watched them bicker fondly. Competition was the best fertilizer for growth.
"Kyle," Gon turned to him suddenly. "What about you? Are you going to develop a combat Hatsu?"
Kyle paused. It was a valid question. His Book of Resonance was a strategic masterpiece, allowing him to stockpile growth from multiple worlds. But in a sudden death match in the Hunter world—where he couldn't access his pirate crew—he was vulnerable.
"Abilities aren't static, Gon," Kyle explained, his tone serious. "Just like Hisoka added properties to his Bungee Gum, I can evolve my ability through training and innovation. This book... it's just the first form."
He tapped his temple. "Nen isn't about having many abilities. It's about depth."
Gon nodded, absorbing the lesson. Before he could ask more, a woman's voice cut through the air.
"Gon! Gon!"
Gon spun around. Standing on the pier, waving enthusiastically, was a woman with orange hair and a warm smile.
"Aunt Mito!"
Gon's face lit up. He grabbed Kyle and Killua by the wrists and dragged them forward.
"Aunt Mito!" he shouted, pointing at them like he was presenting a treasure. "These are my best friends in the whole world! Kyle and Killua!"
"B-Best friends in the whole world..." Kyle felt his face heat up. Gon's sincerity was a weapon more dangerous than any punch.
Killua turned pink and looked away, muttering, "Idiot... that's so embarrassing..." But the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Mito looked at the two boys and smiled—a smile so gentle it felt like sunshine. "Welcome to Whale Island, Killua, Kyle."
The two boys straightened up instinctively. "N-Nice to meet you, Aunt Mito! Please take care of us!"
Mito giggled at their politeness and ushered them toward the house.
Dinner was a feast. The table groaned under the weight of fresh seafood, roasted meats, and island vegetables.
The three boys stared at the food, swallowing hard.
"Dig in," Mito smiled. "Don't be shy."
It was a massacre. The plates were cleared in record time, accompanied by a chorus of "Delicious!" and "Amazing!" that kept Mito beaming the entire meal.
Later, after bathing, the three sat in Gon's room.
"Gon," Killua murmured, toweling off his hair. "Your Aunt is... really nice."
He thought of his own mother—a screaming cyborg wrapped in bandages and electronic eyes. The contrast was depressing.
"Yeah," Gon said softly. "She raised me since I was a baby. She's my mom."
Kyle nodded silently. This was why Gon had cut off Ging's recording about his mother. He didn't need biological trivia. He already had a mother.
"Gon, are you still going to look for Ging?" Kyle asked. "He's an elusive man. Even the Chairman probably doesn't know where he is. Finding him is harder than finding a needle in a haystack."
"I will," Gon said, his eyes firm. "I used to want to know why. Why he chose being a Hunter over being a father. But now... I think I understand a little. He has a dream that's bigger than anything else."
"I want to find him," Gon continued. "I want to introduce him to you guys. I want to tell him everything."
Kyle sighed internally. Ging Freecss was a terrible father but a magnificent Hunter. Gon's desire to meet him wasn't about resentment anymore; it was about meeting a peer.
Just then, the door creaked open. Mito walked in, holding a small, rusted metal box.
"Gon," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "This is from Ging. He told me to give it to you once you became a Hunter."
"From Ging?" Gon took the box, his hands shaking with excitement.
"Get some sleep, boys," Mito ruffled his hair and left the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, Killua pounced. "Open it! Let's see what's inside!"
Gon tugged at the lid. It didn't budge.
"Let me try." Killua grabbed it, his muscles bulging as he applied enough force to bend steel.
Nothing.
"What is this thing?" Killua frowned, inspecting the seamless metal. "It's welded shut. Is it a prank?"
Kyle watched them struggle, a small smile playing on his lips. He knew what was inside: a cassette tape, a ring, and a memory card. The triggers for the Greed Island arc.
He glanced at the calendar. September 1st. Yorknew City.
They had a month and a half. The Phantom Troupe would be there. Those monsters were far above their current level.
If we go now, we're just cannon fodder.
He thought about the Chimera Ants. The Queen would wash up after the Greed Island arc. If they could intercept her... they could save millions. But the timeline was tight.
We need time, Kyle thought frustratedly. If only my ability could dilate time...
"Kyle!" Killua's voice snapped him back. "How do we open this stupid box?"
Kyle looked at the frustrated assassin and chuckled.
"Think about what Mito said. 'Give it to you once you become a Hunter.' What is the one thing you have now that you didn't have before the exam?"
Gon's eyes widened. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Hunter License. He tried to jam the card into the seam.
Bonk.
Killua chopped him on the head. "Idiot! Not the card! He means Nen!"