Recap: Gon and Phinks face off against a new enemy who claims to be a Hunter, Mato.

"Pay for my crimes...?" Phinks stepped forward. "Tell me. You the Chain User?"

The Hunter's eyes gave a pause through his ruffling grey hair. "Chain User? No, I don't believe so." He gestured to the false reality that entrapped them, the grassy field swirled, as if in response. "Do you see any chains here? But why do you ask?"

"It doesn't matter." Phinks advanced to the pale sword fixed on his side, his right arm winding in anticipation. "You're dead all the same."

Mato released his blade from the earth. "I would wait if I were you." He held it up, brandishing its blackness. "I haven't explained the rules yet."

"Rules? This one of those Hunter games?"

"Not a game, a duel. A real judicial duel. It's what they did in the day's past. It is a lawful practice, and thus it has rules." He fixed Phinks a lofty smile. "It's for your own benefit. You do want to leave this place, don't you?"

Phinks seemed unimpressed but stayed quiet.

"It's simple," Mato continued. "Whoever takes the other's longsword wins the trial." He glanced at the watchful faces looming over them. "They will be judged innocent."

"And the loser?"

Mato frowned. "What should happen to the guilty?"

Phinks clasped his left hand around the lucid blade beside him. "And what about the kid? Is he in this too?"

"These duels are one on one," said Mato. "Whoever picks the blade will go first, and once I defeat them, the other. Not too difficult to understand I hope."

Phinks wrested the sword from the grass. "Did you hear that kid? Looks like you won't even have to fight tonight."

Mato turned his gaze to Gon. His glare carried a hint of recognition, as if he prowled through his mind—like Chrollo, Gon thought. "We have our first contender," he said to him. "I suggest you vacate the arena. Interference carries harsh punishment."

Gon looked to the Spider for approval, but Phinks was completely enamored by his weapon. Fine. He took the spot between the inner pillars, on the western side.

Here he had a perfect view of the two fighters. The Hunter Mato, and the bandit Phinks. The latter deserved to lose, there was no question. Not just for Killua and Kurapika, but also for everything else Gon could imagine he had done. But if Phinks was defeated, then he would be next. And if he lost…then the Troupe would have no use for Killua. Besides even if he managed to win against this two-star Hunter, it's not like the others would welcome him after losing their comrade. He remembered how Nobunaga had cried over the one that was killed by the so-called Chain User. It was such a strange sight then, but now it was beginning to make sense. Phinks' punishment, he thought, would come later. Hopefully.

The two men brandished their weapons. Mato held his up in both hands, and stood ready, one leg in front of the other. Phinks meanwhile kept his to his side, clenching his other fist. The field swirled in anticipation, as the two men glared each other, waiting for the gong. And it came.

"BEGIN."

The booming voice did not come from Mato, nor Phinks—but from everywhere. Gon's attempt to search for the source was cut short; Mato was already on the move.

The clash ringed throughout the phantom arena. Mato had brought down a direct over hand strike on Phinks. The sound itself was enough to apprise Gon of its strength, yet the Spider hardly moved, his blade mantled by his aura had completely absorbed the impact. Gon could still discern the reverberations propagating through Mato's black blade as it bounced back off Phinks'. A normal sword would have instantly shattered. Phinks was definitely an enhancer.

But the Blacklist Hunter did not relent, continuing his onslaught with several more strikes within the next second. Every single one of which were turned back by a grinning Phinks. The frustration grew on Mato's face as he was pushed back by Phinks' own assault.

"Enough!" hollered Phinks, dashing forward. He let out a swift slash enamored by nen—clearly intending to knock Mato's weapon out with sheer force. Too obvious, Gon thought just as he was proven right. Mato expertly ducked under and entered Phinks' right, completely avoiding the attack that could have ended the fight. Not giving the Spider a chance to recover, the Hunter unleashed his own counterattack on his opponent's flank.

But what should have been Mato's perfect comeback utterly backfired. Attacking from Phinks' empty side, gave him the easy opportunity to simply—catch it. Not even shedding any blood, Phinks gripped the tip of the black blade hard, destroying its momentum. The resilience of his aura was impeccable. The sight flashed the bout with Nobunaga in Gon's mind. He must have been watching.

Inevitably, the two fighters entered a tug of war. Phinks may have been stronger, but Mato held the blade in both hands and had better leverage. Phinks' grip quickly began to slip. But Gon was not dismayed; he knew Phinks still had another card to play—his own sword, ready and waiting in his other hand. Gon had never seen The Spider so pleased.

Yet just as Phinks' ashen steel began to soar towards his opponent, it lost its impetus. Bale blue light blazed between his fingers loosely grasping Mato's steel, with a fury enough to wash out the bright summary arena. Gon immediately recognized the hue—the same light that had nearly halved their car.

Phinks' right hand—a part of his right hand flew in the air followed by a bloody trail, and its owner's curse. Eventually plopping down beside the Spider as he jumped back gnarling in anger and pain. Gon cringed at the sight. The last he had seen such a wound was back in Heaven's Arena, where he remembered how Hisoka had surrendered both his arms to Kastro. He had not even winced. Yet it seemed not everyone could be insane as the clown—or perhaps it was just shock.

A series clumsy blocks was Phinks' only response to Mato's new fury. Ruthless strikes from all angles shook the Spider, blades of grass flew around the two men like confetti as Mato continued his relentless barrage and pushed his enemy down the arena. Eventually, when his jacket tore to reveal gashes on his chest and stomach, his face teemed with a half a dozen slits dripping blood, Phinks found himself backed up between the last two pillars of the arena. Where the moment he took another step—he vanished.

"What the…!?" Gon gasped.

Mato, with quickness unlike the boy had ever seen was rushing to the opposite side of the arena, where to Gon's shock, stood Phinks—back to his enemy.

"Behind you!"

He must've managed to say it in time, because Phinks' severed bloody red fist whirled around and rammed squarely on the Hunter's jaw. A punch (if you could call it that) lacking knuckles but evidently made up for it with nen, delivering force enough to send Mato skidding back.

"You were expecting the sword, weren't you?" Phinks sneered. "You didn't say this place looped around. So much for a fair duel," he spat.

"Fair? There's no such thing. Do I know about your abilities?" Mato wiped Phinks' blood from his cheek. Unfortunately, it had made the punch look far more effective than it was. He took a step forward and studied Phinks with a broad smile. "Look at you—trembling. You might as well hand me that blade now. This is already over."

Mato wasn't wrong. Drenched with sweat and blood, Phinks looked to be doing all he could to just maintain his ren. Majority of his quivering aura bathed his wound, obviously attempting to slow the bleeding. Enhancer healing. That's why his attacks weakened. But it seemed hopeless; using the wound as a fist had only heightened the blood loss. And the results were already on display.

After fixing Gon a quick glare, the Spider smiled at his enemy. "Come and take it."

And Mato did.

But not immediately. Not until six grueling minutes of jangling steel. The two men traded back and forth. Mato's quick skill and speed colliding with the Spider's raw strength and nen. Despite his wounds, at some points Phinks managed to take the advantage, yet the moment Gon dared to hope, Mato tore through his guard imprinting his opponent with another bloody tear. The Spider would then make a roaring comeback only for the process to repeat.

At last, when Phinks looked hardly able to stand, a look of resignation forged his face. All that was left of his yellow aura congregated on his blade, leaving his scathed body defenseless and his sword brilliant with the last remains of his nen.

He charged in for the final time.

Gon had to admit, even after everything, its power was immense. Thunderous claps followed each clash, and Mato's dark blade shuddered giving the air of shattering at any moment. It was the most edge Phinks gained since the battle had begun. But Gon had seen the tide turn enough times to know it was not to last.

"Watch out!"

Once more the blue had enveloped Mato's blade. Its light like another sun. A star in The Hunter's hands that struck in a smooth slash, his hold on it tight and squeamish as if it threatened to turn on its maker. Though Phinks was more than a few feet away, the radiance extended much further than the blade it originated, threatening to easily slice the Spider in two.

Luckily, Gon had issued a warning.

Clumsily, Phinks stooped low enough for the blue haze to pass over his head and diminish into nothing. Yet it was that inelegance that lost him the fight. Mato, muttering under his breath, moved in, and instantly knocked his opponent's weapon away with a single swing. Phinks' sluggish attempt at retrieval was futile, his opponent caught the blade the moment it slipped his fingers.

Mato, now holding both swords, jumped back, a keen smile forming his lips. He eased his stance and released his ren. "It's over."

Phinks clutched his severed hand and looked daggers at his opponent. Were he not beaten down, it would have been a daunting sight. "What now?" he muttered.

"This."

The gazes on the tall pillars around them suddenly seem to shift and focus on Phinks. Their eyes blazed. Every one of Phinks' cuts, bruises, and scabs down to the smidge of dirt he endured in the fight became keenly visible, as all the light congregated on him. The Spider gawked at Mato, as if waiting for an explanation, but nothing came besides a knowing smile.

"GUILTY."

It was the same voice as before. With its judgement, the light dimmed to nothing, and the gazes returned to the eerie stone faces as if they had never changed at all.

Phinks collapsed on his knees. He looked down, eyes dead, weather in resignation or due to his injuries, Gon could not tell. Mato loomed over his opponent. The two swords in his hands had returned to one, now a pale grey, he held it loosely in his left hand.

"You heard it," said Mato. "Anything to say before I deliver what you deserve?"

Phinks did not respond. His body lay still. Frozen.

Mato whispered some silent words before casually planting his sword in Phinks' chest. The Spider quietly fell forward, giving no curse or grunt, and laid anchored by the hilt at the Hunter's feet. An island of deep red engorged his once green jacket.

Gon's mouth hung open. Not only had he failed the mission—but now this. Even if he beat Mato now, there would be no hope, not for him or Killua once he returned to the layer. Tears began to swell in his eyes.

Mato turned to the boy, his face solemn and washed of triumph. "And how are you doing?" he asked, running his fingers through his long hair. He hadn't escaped the fight unscathed either. Phinks' erratic attacks had marked him with bloody cuts and bruises at almost every point on his body. Yet nothing about the man's demeanor gave the hint that he was really injured.

Gon stared back at the Hunter. "You killed him..."

"Kill? You think he's already dead? Don't you have some faith in your partner?" He glanced at Phinks, smiling. "No. There's so much to learn from him yet."

"He's still alive?! Gon exclaimed, only to immediately regret his outburst.

"For now. Even now I can see a sliver of aura. He's trying his damnedest to stay alive, that's evident." He narrowed his eyes at the boy. "But why do you concern yourself. You're not really with him, are you?"

A chill went down Gon's spine. What did this mean? Had he somehow recognized him? He grasped for what to say, but Mato's scrutinizing gaze forced out the easiest answer. "No."

Mato smirked. "I thought so. Your eyes are nothing like his. Too clear. In that case, there is no need for us to go through this again." He snapped his fingers.

"Wha—"

Gon shielded his eyes from the blinding light. For the second time, everything seemed to tremble for a few moments, until he could finally see again.

They were back.

It had been long enough for the rain to disappear and leave the strong scent of petrichor, yet not long enough for dawn. The road was dark as ever. Their totaled car still stood where it had crashed before. Everything seemed the same to Gon, until he spotted the car parked just behind him. A red sedan. At the sight, his eyes darted around and locked on the young woman emerging from behind the wreckage. She looked to be in her twenties with dark brown hair and eyes to match, meagerly trying to piece together the sight before her.

"I was just checki...where did you come from?!" The horror in her eyes grew worse as they darted between Gon and Mato, who still carried the marks of battle on his body. Until she finally landed on Phinks, who still lay collapsed on the hilt of Mato's sword. Even his severed hand, blood, cloth, and all residue of the two fighters had returned with them. The woman let out a shrill scream, before collapsing into Gon's arms as the boy rushed in to catch her. He gently set her down on the asphalt.

Mato tittered. "Well done. I suppose not everyone can appreciate such a feat. To catch one of the Spiders..." He knelt over to Phinks, fully taking in the sight of his work.

With the woman quietly lying at his feet, Gon focused back on the Hunter. "What's going on? You're not gonna fight me?"

"There is no need. I can see you're innocent. And you said yourself you weren't really with him." Mato stood and gave him a curious look. "So, before I let you go, explain that to me."

He already judged him innocent, but he still wanted an explanation? Gon eyed Phinks' almost corpse. Now looking at it closely, Mato wasn't lying. The tiniest morsel of aura flickered around his body. He turned his attention to the unconscious girl at his feet. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts he said, "they forced me to work for them."

"What would they need from a child?"

"Because…they think I have talent or something," he answered carefully.

Mato looked him up and down, as if trying to confirm his words. "I wasn't aware they were this desperate," he mused. "It's clear you didn't stay with them long, but, what can you tell me about the Troupe? Their identities, hideout, abilities etc."

Of course this was coming. If Mato was hunting them then he was an obvious person to ask. Gon did his best to keep his expression blank. "I don't know anything. I've only been with them for a day."

Mato seemed struck. His green eyes searched the boy, lucid, like a cat's in the darkness. "I see." It was clear that wasn't the answer the Hunter wanted. "Well, I can't force you to answer," he sighed. "You're free to go. I'll just get my what I want from him."

"You mean it? I can go?" Gon asked.

The Hunter nodded, now focused on his phone.

Gon silently watched him. Was there any other choice? Any other way? Nothing was going to come to him, he knew. But he still had to give it one more thought. He inhaled deeply and clenched his fist.

Gon's heave jolted the woman back to consciousness. Any chance of a scream was muffled with his hand around her mouth, he snared her tightly. Only grunts and mumbles escaped her struggles, more than enough to catch the Hunter's attention.

Mato's eyes widened. "What're you doing?"

"Let Phinks go," Gon hissed. "Or it's over for her."

The Hunter stared at him blankly, as if he was having trouble comprehending his words.

"I mean it!" cried Gon. His vision was already beginning to muddle, but he did not dare let the tears flow down his face—unlike the woman in his grasp, who's weeping he could feel under his hand. Her muffled wails and kicks continued to worsen. "You wouldn't want to see this woman hurt, would you?" he continued. "You're a Blacklist Hunter right? So let him go now!"

The vacancy of Mato's expression twisted into indignation, the same kind he had given Phinks. But he still did not speak.

Gon tightened his grip. "Hurry up…I won't wait much longer!"

Mato turned to Phinks, who still lurched over on the asphalt, somehow still supported by the blade in his chest. "On one condition," he said after a moment. "Answer this question. What do you hope to gain from this? You're not one of them. Your eyes tell me that for certain."

"I don't have to tell you anything. Let him go, now!" He tightened his grip further until the woman gave another painful cry.

True fury had now washed over the older man's face. "Answer my question. Or do you want to wait until your friend is dead?"

"If he dies then she's dead too!" He shook the hostage in the most threatening manner he could, but then let out a sigh. Why did it have to be like this? "They have my friend," he spat out hoarsely. "And I'm not going to risk it. So just let him go."

Mato's expression lightened. "Then," he stepped forward and extended his hand, "let me help you. I can free your friend."

Help me? What can you do? Gon shook his head, "I'm going to count to five. One."

"I'll give you one more chan—"

"Three."

With a scowl Mato snapped his fingers, and the blade in Phinks' chest whisked into smoke, plopping the Spider on to the asphalt. Blood immediately pooled under him.

"You can take him," Mato said with disdain. "He won't live much longer regardless. But know this, by casting away my offer, I'll be remembering you as one of them."

And with that he was off. The Hunter disappeared into the night.

It took 5 months but this mission is finally over.

And thank you once again ScarletEyedChainUser for your review!