However, all of this was only the beginning...
"Though in a normal duel, this would decide the winner, but alright, wake up quickly!" Looking at the fallen Gon, Hanzo helped him sit up, even using his knee against Gon's back, causing him immense pain...
"It must feel terrible, right? After all, my last move left you dizzy. My strength is worlds apart from yours. I think you should just surrender quickly!" Hanzo advised.
"No way!" Gon stubbornly replied.
What greeted him was another slap, making his head spin even more.
Hanzo then urged him to surrender again, saying he could preserve his strength for the next match.
But the single-minded Gon naturally wouldn't just obediently give in. He was punched again by Hanzo.
Seeing this, the spectators couldn't bear it. Kurapika and Leorio, who were closer to Gon, watched Hanzo with gritted teeth. Killua also unconsciously released killing intent towards him.
Umaru also felt sorry. After all, Gon was someone she was relatively familiar with in this world, and Gon was a very kind and sunny person. Seeing him being abused like this, she felt uncomfortable.
Takeru, seeing this, had nothing much to say. Everyone needed to take responsibility for their actions. He wouldn't judge whether Gon's persistence was right or wrong, but the consequences had to be borne by oneself.
Soon, as Gon persisted in standing up, Hanzo delivered a heavy blow to his abdomen, making him curl up again.
Seeing this scene, Leorio really couldn't take it anymore: "Gon, stop being stubborn! You still have another match later. For now, just..."
"Leorio, if it were you in Gon's position today, would you surrender?" Before Leorio could finish, Kurapika's words interrupted him.
"I'd die before surrendering!" Leorio instinctively replied.
"Gon is the same!"
"I know, I know, but right now, surrender is the only way!" Leorio naturally understood but still retained a shred of rationality.
"I know it's contradictory. I understand how you feel, but..." Kurapika also said through clenched teeth...
On the field, Hanzo continued to abuse Gon. Since he couldn't kill or fully knock him out, Hanzo had to restrain his actions.
Below the ring, Kurapika also prayed for Gon to surrender, but he clearly knew Gon's personality made it very difficult. Kurapika also understood that Hanzo wasn't like him; he wouldn't go easy on Gon.
"Ah, just mentioning Chairman's nasty personality… it's something we can't compare to!" Menchi couldn't help but complain upon seeing this.
"What do you mean?" Buhara asked, surprised.
"Everyone who has made it to the final test… who would surrender in this situation?" Menchi said directly.
"That's true."
"Rather than calling it a special duel, this duel system is too much! That kid's situation is dangerous." Menchi also saw through the Chairman's twisted hobby...
On the central area, Hanzo's one-sided beating continued relentlessly...
As time passed, three hours went by. Even so, Gon still gritted his teeth, refusing to surrender.
The onlookers couldn't help but be moved by Gon's persistence, even if it seemed a bit foolish.
Leorio and Kurapika, who were closer to Gon, kept trembling. As for Takeru, he simply closed his eyes and began meditating...
This situation, for Takeru, had little to do with him regardless. If Hanzo killed Gon, Takeru and the others could win without fighting. Though he might feel some regret, he would also respect Gon's spirit...
"You should stop there, or I'll kill you! Let me fight you instead of Gon!" Below, Leorio's veins bulged as he glared angrily at Hanzo.
Hanzo, however, paid Leorio no mind, instead coldly mocking him to leave if he couldn't watch, saying it would only get more cruel...
Because Leorio and Kurapika seemed inclined to attack, they were directly warned.
Due to this interruption, Gon persisted in standing up again, but Hanzo lightly touched his leg, making him fall again. Hanzo then threatened to break his arm, demanding surrender...
A crisp bone-breaking sound followed. Gon's left hand was ruined...
Seeing this, the atmosphere in the venue became even heavier and more oppressive...
Since ancient times, people easily sympathize with the weaker side. Gon, compared to Hanzo, was in an absolute disadvantage. Combined with Gon's unique personal charm, he directly stirred the entire venue's atmosphere.
Leorio's anger was maxed out, and Kurapika was also almost losing control. Both had received great kindness from Gon, making the current situation hard to accept for them.
Leorio even told Kurapika not to stop him, because if Hanzo did something even more outrageous next, Leorio would attack Hanzo even if it wronged Gon.
On the other side, after seeing Gon's continuous three hours of persistence, Hanzo also felt somewhat mentally tired and involuntarily felt a touch of recognition.
But to win, he began describing the terrifying training he received as a ninja from childhood, and how he had already killed people at Gon's age...
'Hmph, what's there to be arrogant about?' Killua thought disdainfully, looking at the bald man. Compared to Hanzo, as the most talented member of the Zoldyck Family, Killua had received even more inhuman training at a younger age and killing was commonplace for him...
Just as Hanzo was doing a one-handed handstand, Gon suddenly stood up and kicked him flying away...
"Damn it! Because of the pain and your long lecture, my thoughts are clearer now!" Gon said loudly, holding his arm.
"Great! Go for it, Gon!" Seeing the sudden change, Leorio cheered excitedly.
"You're 18, only 6 years older than me. And, this match isn't about who is stronger, but about whether you can make your opponent surrender in the end!" Gon said seriously.
The suddenly attacked Hanzo quickly got up, stubbornly telling Gon he had intentionally let him attack, then swiftly wiped his nosebleed and dirty face...
"You really don't get it. This isn't me giving you advice, it's an order. Is my order hard to understand? Then let me be clearer: I'm going to cut off your leg, so you can never use it again!"
As he spoke, Hanzo took out the blade hidden on his arm...
"Once you see an irreversible wound, you should understand better. Before that, I have a request: please surrender quickly!"
"That would trouble me," Gon said seriously.
Hearing Gon's words, everyone in the venue was stunned. No one expected Gon to say he would be troubled by such a thing.
"I don't want you to casually cut off my leg, but I also don't want you to surrender. So, let's try deciding with another method!" Gon said seriously.
"Damn it, do you even know your own position?!" Looking at Gon's appearance, Hanzo was extremely angry. The people in the venue also couldn't help but laugh because of Gon's words.
Killua especially didn't understand why the heavy atmosphere vanished in an instant, even though Gon was still in an absolute disadvantage...
After another exchange between the two, Hanzo couldn't help but stab at Gon's forehead with his sword. Instantly, blood began flowing down from his forehead...
"In the end, you still understand nothing. If you die, you have nothing. Even if I make you unfortunately lose your life now, I can just try the Hunter Exam again next year. My position is different from yours!" Hanzo said darkly, looking at Gon.
Everyone naturally understood this logic. Though just amused by Gon's words, Hanzo made it clear: he might just lose an opportunity, while Gon would lose his life. The cost was completely unequal...
However, facing Hanzo's words, Gon looked at him calmly.
Hanzo couldn't help but roar, not understanding why he had to be so persistent. If he had recognized the strength gap and surrendered at the start, he would have had at least four more chances. But now, he insisted on risking everything on this one chance...
Gon then gave his reason: he wanted to find his father, wanted to become a Hunter like him. He believed he could find him, but giving up now might mean never seeing him again...
Facing Gon's determined expression, combined with his earlier actions, Hanzo thought for a moment and finally decided to give up...
"I surrender. I surrender this match." Hanzo said with complex emotions to the referee. Three continuous hours of abuse had, unintentionally, made the strong-willed Hanzo recognize Gon.