A Promise Between Worlds

by CrafterofTales

When Emma's life hangs by a thread, a mysterious entity offers her a chance to free her family from the Demon World. The price: she must participate in a competition between people from several worlds, and enter numerous events for the promised wish. Meeting those of other-worldly abilities, she is a child not only relying on smarts and tenacity, but her heart as well.

14. The Wired

Cheers to the End of The Promised Neverland Manga series. May everyone hold onto their smiles after the conclusion of a story we'll keep to our hearts.

Chapter 14: The Wired

Entering into the End Point doorway, its warm brightness lasted only for a few seconds before they came to a new area, and their feet skidded to an abrupt halt. It was a large, spacious circular room, about fifty-to-fifty yards. A simple room with nothing else but dark gray metal walls and a steel-gray floor with pale white lines that triangulated and across the floor, pointing towards the open and wide corridor that look to go for quite a walk.

They looked around for a little longer, eyes wondering their surroundings, and then the entrance behind them suddenly shuts close like a dropped shutter where they were startled by. A small circular door opened from one of the walls, where a humming noise rattled out, and a spherical grey and black drone floated out a tiny circular front at the center, and a single line around across it. The drone floated towards them, a blue holographic line from the center trails across their bodies in a scan. Emma rapidly blinked when she had looked at it directly and was momentarily blinded.

"[Emma of Gracefield - Stars Collected: 5.

Garou the Human-Monster - Stars Collected: 5.

Gon Freecs - Stars Collected: 5.

Killua Zoldyk - Stars Collected: 5.

You have met the requirements and are approved to be official participants of the Competition Between Worlds. Congratulations on your passing the Preliminary]" Announced the drone through unseen speakers, "[Please proceed down the hallway. A staff member will be awaiting there to guide you to the next area]."

They looked to each other first, Garou keeping his eyes to the hallway before he made the first move for it, and Gon and Killua walked after him. They walk through the corridor that could fit up to perhaps two hundred people at width, and thousands in length. Following along the arrows painted on the ground and on the wall to this singular direction.

"Um. Garou? You can put me down now," Emma asked politely, patting his arm that still carried her around the waist. Garou abruptly stopped and looked at the girl, as if he had forgotten he'd been carrying her, and sets her down. On her feet once more, they continued their walk down the wide corridor, until eventually they came upon the end, where they immediately spotted someone standing there. She was a girl at her teenage years, her hair short and softly pink, a placate yet friendly face with gentle violet eyes behind a pair of spectacles she wore. A black short dress with a white coat over it, a red tie at her center, dark leggings and brown short boots.

She bowed her head at the arriving four, and spoke in a soft, gentle note that it almost sounded monotonous, "Welcome. My name is Mashu Kyrielight. I am one of the workers of this facility."

She pulls back up and her hand gestured towards the other corridor at their left. "Please follow me, I will lead you to another place where you'll be provided food, rest, and treat any injuries you have sustained during the event."

"Oh. So this is an intermission kind of deal. A break between rounds?" Killua assessed, openly aking to confirm.

Mashu nodded, "That is correct. After every round, there is an Intermission for all competitors to be given the chance to recover their strengths. The Intermission lasts two days and three nights, including this night. On the third day, there will be a gathering where further information will be given, and the first round will be announced and begin shortly after. Until then, you are all free to prepare and do as you like. If you have any concerns, look for any available staff members here at this facility, and we will provide assistance within our knowledge and authority."

They nodded their understanding, and began their follow of her as soon as the pink-haired girl started her walk down the new corridor. "You're one of the last competitors who managed to arrive just before the End Point closed. Good work," she said in gentle applaud, her clapping soundless and slow.

"Yeah. It really was a close call," Gon breathed out his obvious relief, smiling at Killua and Emma who grinned back his way. Emma, though, was quick to return her observation to her placate surroundings, her habit of examining everything practically kicking at her out of survival instincts, to look out for any type of information deem vital around her. Gon and Killua, and even Garou seemed relaxed though, only few glances to the large hallway with its placate white walls and smooth dark floor.

"How many competitors have made it pass the Preliminary?" Killua asked.

The staff member brought back down her hands and answered, "We have an enormous number of unique individuals this time's competition, all with great skills, assets, and determination. About over three million have been qualified to enter."

"Three million?!" The children screamed out. Garou stared blankly, having heard of the large number beforehand.

"That's so many..." Emma grabbed her head with gawked eyes. Far too many for her to actually fathom the number of people who are here for a single prize.

"It is," Mashu acknowledged, hearing their appalling, "After every round, the number of participants will usually drop drastically, until only the finalists remain - though how many would still vary."

"Well, that explains why this competition would last up to a year, with that many competitors," Killua fathomed, mentally agreed with by the others.

"The competition will introduce every competitor with challenges and obstacles of all variety," Mashu continued, listing off rules and other forewarned expectations, "including opposition between competitors in direct combat, a battle of wits, or any other manner of contests."

She then passively bid the competitors behind her, "I wish you all the best efforts in future events."

So we do eventually have to compete that way... Emma comprehended with sad eyes. It was long suspected, and yet, she'd hope it would not be so. She'd rather not fight against anyone, even for something as needed as the wish.

"Hmph. Just the kind I was hoping for," Garou said with a little breath of anticipated laugh.

"Is it true that we get a wish if we win?" Gon asked curiously and for confirmation.

Mashu responded with a nod, "Yes. All competitors will be elaborated on that matter sometime before the next event begins, and what the requirements are to win the competition and the wish."

She then added with a subtle emphasis. "In the meantime, please take care of those stars. I can't explain at this moment, but those stars will be important. If during your stay here you lose one or all of your stars, don't worry. Since you have already been accepted into the competition, your standing will only vary upon your results in the first official Round, and rounds thereafter."

So these stars have something to do with our place in the competition... Emma and Killua easily concluded. There were reasonable implications to what exact manner that these stars held some importance to, one that actually seems almost obvious, and yet, there could also be several other variables to this.

"For the duration of the Intermission, you will be assigned dormitories, and access to any available resources provided in individual stations," Mashu informs as they were approaching an arched entrance up ahead, wide enough for a parade to walk through. "There are certain guidelines that must be followed, however. Throughout the Intermission, you are not to cause harmful or destructive disruptions at any of these stations, or fight among NPCs or other competitors unless it is within a training field. It is also outright forbidden to kill any NPCs or competitors during the Intermission. There will be warnings and penalties, but for severe actions done without justifications, will be given harsh punishments, and you will either be detained, or disqualified from the competition."

This was a time for all to rest, the act of quelling potential threats will not be stand for until the next round begins. This is what was understood in the words of Mashu, and the children nodded in comprehension. Garou remained attentive, and only attentive. He knows though that he ought to be careful if he were to come across any heroes or tough-looking opponents by chance. Better keep his eagerness at bay then, at least until the Intermission is over.

"Accepting those terms, and other rules that may be plastered around the stations, you are free to roam around the entire vicinity," she steps beyond the lined floor of the entrance and onto a dark blue surface. "So long as you follow the signs and the maps set around multiple areas, you should be able to find your way around, if not, ask any nearby NPCs and they should be able to help you."

They followed her out, the immediate reveal before them an amazing sight. Emma's jaw hung low, her eyes widened with instant impression of astound. Gon "whoa!"'d while Killua's brows rose, and Garou also takes in the view with a face of surprise.

Mashu approaches the rails as they followed her in suit, "There are over countless stations to provide for you whatever necessities you require, clothes and armors, ammunition, training grounds, food courts serving free meals, activities to alleviate any stress and all else."

She turns to their wowed expressions with a kind smile, and introduces the view behind her with a raised hand. "Here we are; the main setting of which all competitors will live throughout the Intermission - Welcome to the Wired."

Behind her hand that introduces the scene, tall buildings of colorful lights and signs. Numerous towers of these glass-window structures. Moving letters that formed into words that slide across electrical-powered signs, animations as well. Poster boards upon several buildings, promoting products or stores, advertised by beautiful-looking individuals. They joined Mashu at the rails, Garou looking down and over the bars while the children looked through them. Numerous people were walking in and out of the tall buildings and walking across the wide field of stone tiles and paved streets, with benches and signs planted there, heeded by these other competitors below them that carried about them some weapons of blades and guns, dressed as if built for adventure and war this area was populated with.

A city. This is a city. It's even bigger than what Emma and her family believed cities to be!

"-an interconnection between multiple dimension," Mashu further explains the existence of the Wired, "An "in-between" realities, where people from several worlds can walk across the same plane."

"Wow!" Emma said with an at awe gaze.

"Cool!" Gon grabbed and lifted himself up easily from the rails, looking at the buildings before them.

"...huh," Garou simply said. It took him a while to comprehend that this is incidentally a place where he's literally not in his world anymore, and he had to think about that for a while before it actually hit him with a holy shit realization. He does well to keep control of his reaction though. He takes a gander at around themselves, from two direction that they were in between, a wide walk way with some people just entering almost the same time as them, a handful of people, he guessed they were other late comers as well. He then looks behind him.

"Oh." He said in wide-eyed surprise, Emma looked at him when she heard this, which had her looking back, and found what he was staring at and she too let out a surprise gasp, grasping Gon and Killua's attention which turned them to look as well. "Ah!" Gon joined in the surprise, while Killua blinked.

It was, from what they could tell where they were standing from, a massive dome-like facility. Nothing but smooth white walls and reaching several hundred meters high, and multiple entrances at the highest levels down to where they are, which was actually the third level from city-ground. There were pathways, stairways, and what appears to be elevators as well, where other late comers of competitors were also spotted, taking their individual stride down to the lower levels to each wherever their destination in mind.

"That is one of the facilities where staff members like myself occupy," Mashu said as soon as she saw their changed gaze from the city to the building they had came out of. "It is where all of the competitors arrived from the preliminary came out of, and the main exits which competitors will leave through for every conclusion of future events. If you need to speak to someone like me, you can find us here. There will always be someone available to assist any competitor at all times, providing twenty-four hours service, which the same can be said for most of the stations and stores in the city."

"Pretty dedicated," Killua commented lightly. He and the others then felt a calmed-pace presence approaching their side and they all turned at the footsteps.

"Good evening to you all!" A joyous greeting from a joyful looking woman. Her hair a hot-pink with fluffy curled bangs and big twin circled strands tied behind her ears. Her eyes large and a caring blue. She wore a nurse outfit with a white apron and a pink dress underneath, and a nurse hat with a red plus at its center. Her hands were cupped in front of her, and she greeted the competitors with a sunny and friendly smile.

Mashu walked to the nurse woman's side and introduced her, "This is Nurse Joy. She's one of the workers of the medical department. If you require medical assistance, the medical departments will always be within reach of this facility.

The nurse bowed her head, "I'm happy to give whatever service and healing you need. May I see that arm, sir?"

She looked to Garou with a polite request. Garou glanced down at his arm, raising it to examine it up close with a barely clenched fingers, and then wordlessly offered it to the nurse. The nurse steps forward, gingerly taking hold of his arm. "Oh my, this arm is fractured entirely. It's amazing that you could move it still."

She then moves for his wrapped shoulders, "And this wound here. Judging by the blood patterns seeping through the bandages, looks to be a nasty infliction. I'm honestly surprised that you're holding up as much as you are."

Not that it's been easy for him, but Garou decides to keep this fact to himself. The nurse pulls out her own bandage wrappings from the pockets of her uniform, making a cast support for the broken arm with kind and the gentlest movements. Garou allowed her actions wordlessly, attentive to her movements until she was finished, and his wrapped broken arm was now being carried with better comfort he would not have to strain doing by himself.

"We better get you to our hospital right now, and treat these wounds before they could get infected or worse," she added. After checking his injuries, Nurse Joy then looks to the children, "And what about you children? Are any of you hurt?"

Emma and Gon shakes their heads. "We're alright Ms. Joy," Emma politely affirmed. Perhaps a few scratches here and there, but nothing that she couldn't walk off, she was accustomed with these little battle scars during her rough play of the outdoors, and her recent travel through the dangerous woods lived by demons, and there was no severe injuries about here either.

"Please, call me Nurse Joy, it's what everyone calls me," the nurse giggled lightly and then looks to the white haired boy. He waved his hand at her pointed gaze.

"I'm okay too, you don't need to worry about me," Killua said. Nurse Joy made a visual once over of the children, and confirming their truths of their lack of severe injuries aside from some scuff marks they should wash themselves off with, the nurse smiled.

"Well I'm glad that the three of you are unharmed, just be sure to clean up once you find your rooms," she encouraged, and then looks to Garou. "If you will follow me, I'll take you to one of our available doctor."

With an inviting gesture, Garou stares a moment at the direction. Well, might as well, he thinks to himself. He shouldn't turn down an available heal offered like this, it was rare enough back in his world since no one wants to help a patient with a scary face. With this thought, he started his follow of the happily leading Nurse Joy.

Emma, Gon, and Killua watches as their temporary member separates himself from them, the dark fighter they have been tensely cooperating with throughout the last days of the preliminary, now leaving their company. A breath of relief, Killua would say, at least, until they have the misfortune to come across that older teen again. Gon is reminded of the deal he and Garou had agreed upon in exchange to spare them throughout the preliminary, and now with the preliminary over, all that awaits is their fight at any upcoming rounds should they might meet again, he takes to heart not to forget their deal, and looks forward to it with anticipation.

Emma simply watches as the odd young man of vicious streak departs to take care of his wounds. It was good that such help was granted the minute they left the Monster Hunting event, though with a broken arm that normally takes an extensive amount of time to heal, she wonders if he'll be ready for the next round, but considering and remembering his fast healing regenerative ability unlike any human, perhaps he'll be okay, though it's uncertain for her.

She was worried for him, for all the efforts he's done for them, she found him to actually be a decent person. A rough personality for certain, but through all that...

"Would you all wish to see to your dorms? Or would you like to stop by the nearest food courts?" Mashu brings back their attention with this question. The children considered both options.

"Well, we did miss breakfast and lunch," Gon puts a hand over his stomach, feeling its faint rumble. "Hehe. Yeah, I'm kind of a little hungry."

"Yeah. So am I," Emma said, looking down to her belly as she felt its small complaints as well, her hand over it.

Killua, on the other hand, can do well with hunger for a lot longer, but that's to say if he has to, and seeing as how both Gon and Emma were obviously hungry, they might as well go for some food right now, restore their energy after that whole day spent running through an entire valley of monsters and travel down the tall mountain on foot, "Alright, we'll get something to eat and then find our dorms. Is there rooms for me and Gon? We both entered this competition together."

Mashu nodded, "We have a room already assigned for the both of you to share. There will be someone who can help guide you to your rooms."

She moves her hand for a stairway that was ten feet aside from them. "If you all wish to eat, I can guide you three to the nearest food court."

They followed her, just as they made a few steps towards the stairs, Emma abruptly stop. "Oh! Before I forget!"

Gon and Killua halted and looked around in curious perplex. Emma surprised them when she made a full turn, running back quickly. "Emma?" Gon called out to her.

The little girl stopped at a short distance away from Gon and Killua, with an intake of her breath, she picked up both hands as her amplifier, and shouted.

"THANK YOU GAROU!"

Sharp eyes propped opened widely in shock, the sudden stiffness of Garou's body from the words that froze him in place, heard over the noises of the city background and the moving people who some looked in confusion at the shouter. He slowly turned his head, his obvious stupor to the girl far behind him.

"Let's help each other again next time we meet! Get well!" She waves both her arms as she bid the man with a wide smile before running back for the astound-face boys and the patiently awaiting older girl.

"Okay. I'm ready now. Let's go and get some food," said Emma with a glow of her satisfied grin.

"...You really are a weirdo," Killua bluntly told her with the most are you even sane? face she has ever seen since Ray gave her that very look when she wanted her whole family to escape Gracefield.

"That's mean," Gon chastise Killua with pouted disapproval. "She was just being nice."

"Like that guy even cares about that," Killua said, going down the steps first, "You know he's going to want to fight us the next time he sees us right?"

Emma follows after him, grabbing the rails as they made their way down, Gon following behind her. "Well, yeah..." She said slowly, "but it wouldn't feel right if I didn't thank him for sticking with us as long as he did, and he got hurt from keeping me safe from that zombie ape and those skeletons."

"He did?" Killua asked, actually taken aback as Gon showed his visible surprise as well. It was true that Garou went after the Nevermore, but Killua's best guess was that Garou believed she had her tracker still, and without it, they - more especially him - would have been walking dangerously blind throughout the whole valley. But to have gotten that hurt for it?

"Huh... I guess you might be right about him, Emma," Gon said, smiling.

"Is he a friend of yours?" Mashu asked curiously.

"Uh... sort of...?" Gon offered. If someone was willing to help them, especially help a friend of theirs who helped him and Killua so kindly and generously, then perhaps there was that possibility? Gon still has his mixed feelings of the older teen. As incredibly skillful and strong Garou is, it's not to say that Gon likes the person.

Killua shakes his head, "Not really. He may have helped us, but that doesn't make him a friend. We just managed to get through the preliminary together, that's all."

"Right... he really does kind of remind me of Hisoka," Gon easily concludes. The best example and way of comparison. Neither friends nor enemies - at least not at this moment, and reasonable enough to offer assistance - at least to a point. And more comparatively, their awaited fight for when Gon may re-deliver his attacks against the strong opponent he seeks to fight no matter how much it shakes him inside with instinctual terror.

Killua openly grimaces the undeniably accuracy of Gon's comparison, "I guess that's one way to put it." That might actually be the perfect way to put it.

Emma has no idea who this Hisoka person was, but if they were comparing him to Garou, he might have also been an odd man as well, but maybe decent too. This, she came to reason. She opts to ask for more elaboration on who this person was.

Mashu was even more confused, watching as the children went ahead down the stairs, and she soon followed them after, her curious look about them remaining, as she can only listen over to their discussion and Emma's given question of the named Hisoka man mentioned.

Garou turned slightly to where the girl had ran off, his gawked gaze prying through his disbelief as she descended down the stairs in follow of her comrades, stopped dead cold in his tracks from just her words. He barely even blinked, mentally rearing after her out of nowhere gratitude that denied his earlier objections to her spoken thank you's.

"Sir?" The wondering eyes of Nurse Joy regarded behind him, having stopped as well when she heard the sudden shout, and noticed the ceased follow of the injured figure with her.

He said nothing, as if deaf to her call. His fingers reaches up and scratches his scalp of an unknown itch through his silver hair, his stomach churning uncomfortably. He quickly turned back around for the awaiting nurse, his thoughts hidden behind a neutral mask of his expression, and walked passes her calmly. Surprised at his sudden movement, the nurse hurries and catches up with him, and after composing herself, happily leads him to the stationed hospital nearby.

/.\

It was utter amazement as Emma looks at the surroundings of the city they walked through. Tall buildings of mainly blue-tinted glass, the white concrete the skyscrapers were built from. She kept close to Gon and Killua as they follow Mashu through several competitors still among the streets. The sky was dark, not a star in sight, likely outshone from the bright lights of the city, yet a longer look of the sky, and one may be able to tell it's illegitimate space - an evident blockage far far far above, made from thin grid lines, as if they were inside a cage, or perhaps that is simply the borders from where they are not to pass beyond.

She lowered her gaze from the sky and to the stations around them that made up most of these buildings. These stations that were actually stores, grocery stores, clothes shops, bars, clubs, and more. Vending machines that served free drinks and snacks against the concrete walls among the sidewalks. Several coffee shops of various themes - cat-loving aesthetics, waitress dressed as maids, and other curious settings over something as simple as serving people drinks. There were also stations for stress-relieving services, such as spas, indoor play grounds from children to adults, petting cute exotic creatures, and other activities meant to satiate any tension from on edge customers that certainly, most of the competitors were.

"-and here we have one of the many artillery store. If you ever need to restock on ammunition, this is a good place to start. Stores like these are also likely to have target practicing areas, but there is a training station available for every competitor to practice in private. A personal training ground. There are also public gyms available throughout the Wired for physical training, and gyms that helps competitors train in mental fortitude as well. Several signs are placed around the city that maps each section of the Wired, but you may also ask any NPC within the area for a specific location you are looking for, and they may point you to the right direction."

Emma takes a long notice of the store, seeing people moving in and out with guns of normal or unique mechanisms and appearance. This sort of place would be well-warranted for her. She wonders if they may have bullets for her specially designed four-barrel pistol? She shall have to take a look at it some other time.

Gon's eyes wandered in utmost curiosity of the surroundings. "This place really reminds me of York City."

Killua hummed in agreement, "Wonder if their training ground is anything like Heaven's Arena?" His wonder lead to his follow up question, "You said that competitors are allowed to spar, so long as we don't try to kill each other, yeah?"

"Yes," Mashu confirmed. "Killing your opponent without justified reasons, such as in self-defense or if to oppose any wrong doings done by another competitor, is a severe penalty. Depending on the circumstances, the punishment will either be incarceration, restricting access to any station within the Wired, a suspension for a certain amount of time before the competitor would be allowed to enter the next event, or disqualification from the competition."

She then added, "If, however, you do witness a violation committed by anyone you witnessed, it is best to inform the authorities, accessed through all available telephones within the area," a gesture to the phone booths around them. "Using one of the phone booths, you can simply dial: zero one one, and you will automatically connect to an operator who will assist you with anything you need. We also have patrolmen working twenty-four hours; day and night, their detainment stations are placed several locations in the city, which are depicted in any of the map signs you may find if you ever wish to speak with a specific officer."

"Are these officers strong enough to deal with any tough competitors around?" Killua asked. He knew and seen news of officers being easily beaten and eaten by the Chimera Ants, and frankly, are people that no matter their training, wouldn't stand a chance against Nen-Users.

"Not all of them, but there are some who are qualified and very capable," Mashu answered. "We also have a group that are specially reserved to subdue and detain those that have been deemed a high-level threat."

The children suddenly stilled at a sensation and arriving noise, like propelling fires at high speed. They looked up and head. A figure of some kind flew across the sky, his red feet blasting fire-like energy that sends him across the air, like a small rocket. His distant figure shot by quickly and around the corner of another building, rushing for whatever destination and disappearing as fast as he had just been seen. Emma was unable to grasp the absolute appearance since it was quite quick and afar, but noticed a dash of black hair, and the figure to be small - child-sized.

"Whoa!" Gon expressed when he saw the small figure soar by. Killua looked on impressed.

"That there you just noticed, he is one of them - the Guardians of the Wired," Mashu referred to that distant and gone flyer. "The Guardians have the authority to quell abrupt and intense violence caused by competitors. They have the ability to oppose or restrain powerful competitors of any level. Should an identified threat be considered too dangerous, the Guardians have the freedom to use any means of arrest, or execution."

Execution? "You mean, they can kill outright?" Emma asked.

Mashu nodded, her peaceful face seeming more controlled, "Yes. It is a means of disqualifying competitors who are causing disruptions that endanger the lives of other competitors and NPCs in this city. Once the competitors perish, they will be returned to their world. This does not apply to all competitors who are disqualified, as they can leave through a transportation system we have set up, this is allowed any time if anyone wishes to forfeit. The manner of killing rogue competitors is a last resort if ever the competitors do not cease their rampage and crimes."

While understandable, even for that reason, Emma found it unsettling to hear it. A group that have the authority to kill if it was deemed necessary, such harsh instances happening in this city.

"Although the guardians have their own way of keeping the peace, they are supervised by a higher authority and will of the Wired. For the most part, they are only given authorization to act as they deem to be appropriate as long as it is within lawful justification."

Killua hummed in thought as he heard that. He expected some quality of management and supervision in a massive-scale competition as this, and the penalties weren't that much of a surprise. It was a lot like the Hunter Exam, with the judges there professional hunters, and possible intervening figures if ever they had to, but for the most part, they keep out of exam-takers ways. Here though, it seems to be a bit more personal in their intervention, which makes sense given the setting that they were in.

They walked further down the sidewalk, passing by both resting competitors and working NPCs. Gon began to pick up the smell of food, one that, which each step, grew stronger and stronger, it almost made his stomach growl. For several more minutes, until eventually they heard increasing noises up ahead, louder with bustling talks and other movements and sounds that were all together in one place.

Passing one more building, they arrive to the scent of endless cuisines of countless varieties.

"This is Food Court R-2, one of the many food courts of the Wired. I hope there's something here that's to your liking," Mashu said.

The sight before them incredible. It was like a massive courtyard, of tables with several chairs at each, and competitors that occupied nearly all of them. The delicious scent of food that was unlike Emma has ever intake, and that which almost overwhelmed Gon's sense of smell even more so now that they arrived. The tables were cluttered or mounted with food, plates with residue and remnants of whatever meal had been done, and picked up by passing janitors as the eater resumes its self-serving banquet while chatting with some friends, many opposing competitors finding mutual grounds between shared meals of delicious tastes.

On each side of the main dining area were wide and tall buildings, wide pathways that extend to the other building as extra floors that also held tables and chairs, where they see more competitors eat at as well. At the sides of the buildings that faced the center of this court, were various fronts of over-the-counter serving restaurants, pouring out steam and noises of preparing and cooking food, NPCs working behind registers behind the counters, and the chefs that can be seen working at their kitchens.

"We have a variety of restaurants that extends to suit anyone's preferences and tastes," Mashu explains, "There are fifty levels of food service here, with plenty of options to choose from at each and every station. We have a breakfast isle available at this hour, a dessert isle, beverage machines, fruit stands, and salad bars set in several places here in the food court. You may also use this service to pack any amount of food you require before the next event begins. Everything is without cost, so feel free to have as much food as you like - but please eat at a considerable pace, and don't overindulge yourself. Eating too fast or too much can be harmful to your body and yourself. The food court will always be supplied with enough meals for everyone to have, and will be open all day and all night, so there is no need to rush."

"Yes Mashu," the children agreed to the considerate gentle teen.

The pink haired girl smiled at the children, her soft voice sounding her pleasant gratitude. Some competitors would have just bolted the minute they smelled and saw the food before she would give them her word of caution. These were very well-mannered children then, or at least, not as glutton-thrilled as many competitors here are. "Good, then go ahead and enjoy your meal."

"Yeah. Thanks for leading us," Gon said to her.

Mashu bowed her head politely, "It's no trouble. If there's anything else you may require, please do not hesitate to come to an associate like myself, or a patrolman you may find around here," She gestures to one patrolmen in blue uniform, standing and observing the area nearby. "Once you are done eating, they will help escort you to your resting quarters. I'll be heading back to the End Point facility now, have a good night."

After bidding them well with another congratulations to their achievement of succeeding the preliminary, Mashu then reverted back to where they had all arrived from and walked. Emma and Gon waved in parting for her, thanking her again as she goes, and seeing her turn back to give another bow of her head before resuming.

"Come on! Lets see what we can find!" Gon eagerly ushered Killua and Emma along, and the two other youngsters followed in suit.

They huddled closely and walked through the openings between the tables crowded with people, many competitors munching their meals happily, gorging themselves with the delicious delicacy. It was such a captive sight for Emma, to see so many humans at once, many grown and young, and many with curious and fascinating traits like animals ears and demonic-like tails worn by those with human faces, and other unique looks. She couldn't help but look and stare, even if she is aware how impolite it would be to gaze at someone too long.

Of course, her impoliteness was the least thing to happen in this court, as she sees many not using much of the table manners her foster mother had implemented in her family for so long, laughing in between eating food and chewing without closing their mouth as they talked, eating chips right from the bag and slurping salsa and drinks loudly, slouching in their seats and elbows on the table - these sightings could give the nameless man and his own bad manners a run for their money. It was also pretty notable just how much there were people here who really loved food.

"-gahAW HAW HAW HAW! MEEEEEAT!"

"Hey! Are those rice-cakes? Let me have a bite of that!"

"No way! Get your own!"

"DELICIOUS~!"

It was bustling with joy and savoring of the meals being cooked, it was such a robust court, Emma almost felt overwhelmed by it all. Hills of food that stacked over each dish of enriching warm aroma, people of all physique from well built to big muscles to the leanest of figures, of several ethnicity and appearance, and tables that are serving practically a banquet for a single or two individuals, defining the massive appetite that they have.

Emma was stunned when she spotted someone, more than once actually, eat a big steak that's about the size of her own head in a single bite - and the first time she had seen this was someone who looked so skinny she would think he'd be filled already after that one thick steak taken after one wide chomp, but the red-vest wearing individual, with black hair and a straw hat hanging from his back, just kept eating his own personal banquet with the biggest grin she's ever seen. Frankly, it should be impossible for a single human to eat all that food in one go.

"Emma! Over here!"

She turned back for Gon who waved for her. She made one more amazed look at the people of endless hunger before going for Gon, who he and Millua had managed to find a table for them, having been left by a few other competitors and already cleaned by a janitor nearby. It seemed to be at around near the center of this food court, with seated competitors all around them.

"Check this out! It's a menu!" Gon pulls from the center of the table a thin rectangular device. It was a tablet, an electronic that was the first time Emma has ever seen one, the wonder to alighting her eyes with a quizzled look. Sitting on the white chair of the white round table, with Killua joining beside him on a second chair, Emma goes, pulls, and climbs the third chair of the table, sitting upon the board seat and reaching for the given tablet.

She looks at the screen curiously. Multiples of logos were lined in rows of five to seven, each logo having different names, and more being revealed by sliding the screen that took her to another page; logos of the restaurants that were nearby and all around them. A single press of one random restaurant logo; a yellow W shape called Wcdonalds, and she is introduced a brief summary of the restaurant's available dishes from burgers and fries and etc - the sort of foods she's rarely seen and differs from the sort of proper meal and delicacy Mama mainly likes to serve her family.

"I asked the janitor that was just here. He said we can order whatever and have it brought to us," Gon said.

"A good call too. I hate to stand in line for hours at just any food stations around here," Killua said as he picked out his own menu tablet and looks through it. "I doubt we would even be in the one we want if it was just rows of people all cluttered together."

"Y...yeah," Emma managed to say, lifting her eyes from the device to gaze around the surroundings once more.

Killua, observing her wandering glances, and asked about it. "What's up?"

Her attention shot back for the white-haired boy, "Oh, well... It's kind of surreal. I've never seen this many people together before. It's so incredible honestly." Her own family of over thirty children was a tiny portion compare to this planetary of people.

A wide smile from Gon, "I'm sure it'll be just as amazing when you get to the Human World. I lived on a small island all my life. When I left and got my Hunter's license, all the places I visited were so awesome! I can tell you about it if you want!"

"Mm..." Killua said as he pondered over Gon's saying, but said nothing more as Emma eagerly accepted the young Hunter's offer.

"I would love to!" She said, and gazes back at the tablet menu, scrolling through the many logos until finding one that struck familiarity with her and she presses it.

"EH?! Look at this Killua! They even got food only Whale Islanders makes! Not even York City had this! Cool!" Gon said exuberantly in mention of his home as he looks through the section of his decided course. Killua looks at Gon's menu-tablet curiously.

"Huh. Guess they really do have just about everything for everyone," He imagined that this city has about all information on every competitor, the tipping-point of this was the before beginning of the preliminary, when their own data was shown and recorded as soon as they confirmed it. It wasn't mentioned then about their favorite food or the like, but Killua could see that it would have been included if so much about them were already known.

A bit off-putting, since Killua is a boy who likes to have some kind of discretion, and he begins to wonder just how much the people running this competition knows...

After they selected and confirmed their order of their individual meals from each of their chosen station, as they awaited and chatted idly; Gon beginning his talk of all the places he and Killua seen in York City, and how this place appeared just as big if not even bigger, elating Emma with serious intrigue.

Suddenly, a flicker in the large monitors that were hung upon and over each of the individual food stations, large television screens that Emma was honestly so surprised to see come in these large sizes. A person then appeared in every screen, a person introduces himself with a bow of his head and sitting at the right side, the channel logo appearing behind him, the immediate appearance instantly clicked for those who were familiar with television and lived in modern societies, a news anchorman was what this person appeared. Emma was not wholly familiar with the concept however, and instead, reasonably and simply took the person as an announcer of some kind.

"Good Evening everyone," the newsman greeted behind the screen, the loud chattering among competitors suddenly quieted at his pleasant voice that spoke through the speakers stations somewhere around them.

"This is News of the Wired, reporting to you live, and welcoming the official participants for the Competition Between Worlds -"

"What the hell is that a window?"

"Holy shit! Why's there so many of this guy?!"

"He's massive!" A reference to the jumbo screen.

Emma hears the startled voices and incomprehension of those who were seeing this type of technology for the very first time, especially to the giant screens overhead. There were many workers and patrolmen nearby and around to affirm to them calmly, that this was an announcer as Emma had accurately described, telling with information and reporting to the general public as a knowledge distribution.

She was actually somewhat mesmerized by this fathom, realizing that there were actually people who were not even aware of this type of technology existing, could it be that they didn't even have books to inform them of such things? Or from a place where no such things exist? Was it even possible that there were really people here who came from different time periods altogether?

This really is a plane of existence between and beyond space and time.

The competitors that were not technology-aware were settled down soon enough, their brief uproar clouding the name of the anchorman before the loud voices dulled once more, and everyone could hear the many, many, and many more TVs again.

"To the competitors who have passed the preliminary; congratulations on your official entree to the Competition Between Worlds. Remember to rest well, and be fully prepared for when the next round is announced, which will be given on the third day after the resting time-period concludes."

Emma adjusted her seating as she looked at one of the TV screens with grasped attention as Gon and Killua also observed the television with her, and everyone else as only some are now still eating their meals idly, their eyes to the screen.

"We have an enormous number of competitors registered this time's event. Throughout the preliminary, we managed to gather endless recordings of impressive feats performed by these now official participants. Here we have selected our top five moments. Let's take a look at them now."

The screen changes into that of a video recorded by some distant camera that was mobile across the air. Emma watches the screen in surprise. "We were being recorded?"

"Our number five would be these two boys full of spirit and ingenuity," the announcer continued as the two particular individuals were shown and-

"AH!" Gon shot up from his seat, wide eyes at the screen, "That's us! We're on TV! Awesome!"

Killua looked on with captured intrigue, as the video indeed show the boys going through a grass-area land, "Oh. This is when we first got our first star."

Emma looked to the two Hunters with her, absolute shock that these boys were granted an honorary screening of their endeavors. She wanted to applaud to them, but as she looked back at the screen, there was something strange about this, something she can't help but feel. More so that she probably would have considered them to be recorded, although she can't even imagine how and from what the cameras were hiding from.

"Huh? It's just a pair of kids!" She overheard one saying.

"Aww~ They're kind of adorable!" Another spoke, a cooing female.

"Got to be something though if they're here," said another one.

Emma looked around weirdly. Do... do they not notice her friends here at all? Or maybe perhaps they were too invested to the TVs or to their food. She looked back to her friends, and it was then that she realized, their presence seem rather subdued to her, and figured out why. Are they using Nen... to hide their presence?

She remembered how that one time, it almost seemed as if Killua had vanished, even catching the highly alerted Garou off-guard - this seems a bit more subtle however, evident that she could still notice that they were there, but paying close attention and she would notice that they were... much more quiet in existence. Was this one of their powers that they could use? They did mention that there were more fundamentals to Nen, and better yet, perhaps they're trying to keep their presence quiet so not to earn instant looks from everyone around them, looks from potential opponents - she quickly understood, or simply not wanting to be bothered by the attention in general.

"JAN! KEN!... GUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!"

They watched as, much to Emma's own awe, the video of which the young Hunters approached a massive rock, as big as a house, and Gon with his signature move, punched the boulder in a single hit, and it exploded upon impact.

"HOLY SHIT! THAT KID JUST BROKE THAT HUGE BOULDER IN ONE HIT!"

"WHOA! AMAZING!"

"Better not underestimate those brats then! Hahaha!"

Killua huffed at the "brats" comment before keeping his sight to one of the TVs they were looking at.

The video showed the tree it's complete descend and crashed into the ground, where several creatures had fluttered out from the remains of the boulder, rock-like creatures that flew like beetle-bugs with wings, the rocky exterior protecting their bodies, Killua made quick works of capturing many of the rock-beetles, with the joined efforts of his quick-foot work and his yo-yos, and Gon following in suit with the use of his own fishing rod, and together, they captured a total of one hundred-twenty rock-beetles.

"Wow!" Emma could not help but utter out. Gon looked back and grinned at her expression.

"We pretty much exchanged all those beetles for some supplies at a nearby village we found, and it also got us those Support Cards we've used to get our second and third star," Killua stated as he kept watching, arms crossed and rested over the back-support of the chair he was sitting backwards on.

"Our next top moment, we have another young competitor who shines brightly as a shooting star, and moves just as quick as one."

The video then showed the next individual, and it was one which they recognized at once, Emma's eyes widening at that familiar, armored gleaming figure.

"Hey! It's that guy Seiya!" Gon spoke their thoughts and recognition.

The video showed Seiya at a red-desert like field, before him, a snarling creature, with raging muscles as big as the boulder Gon smashed. Its hardened flesh a reddish-orange that matched with the sands of the flat area they were upon. The beast stood sixteen feet tall, a truly huge size compare to Seiya, yet Seiya showed no fear or even wariness, he simply bounces on his feet eagerly, a hint of a smile that invites the beast to attack, which, it did. Or at least, attempted to.

The agility of the Saint warrior was truly stunning, like indeed, a shooting star that appears and reappears in deliverance to heavy blows and kicks that crushes through the tough exteriors of the beast's flesh with ease. Emma was at a loss for words, and thought to have blinked every time she missed seeing his movements, even though, much to her own stunned awareness, the wondrous display of the Saint's power had her eyes completely glued to the video unblinkingly so until her eyes strained and she had to recover.

Gon was just as in awe, an impressed gasp that drew a wide smile from him. Killua's eyes widened as he watches the footage. "Whoa. He's fast. Really fast."

Even faster than Killua, at least at this moment. But the speed of this competitor was truly an awe-struck. It was like Seiya was teleporting, and with those fists that could crack the earth itself. Fighting this beast that's about a triple of Seiya's own size like he was a fly. This guy that's no older than Gon or Killua, he truly is strong, stronger than any Hunter they met in their own world. This guy really is superhuman.

"Whoa! This guy is quick! I can barely... I can't keep up at all!"

"He's punching through that stone armor like smashing cakes!"

"There's cakes? Where?"

"I-is he even human? How can anyone go that fast? Or be that strong?!"

The audience around them spectated and expressed collective awe at the show of Seiya's abilities. Emma, able to tear away her amazed gaze from the footage, looked among the cheering people. They mainly ceased their eating, practically all of them having their captured attentions to the screens and the person in it.

However, from where she could see, she noticed a few others that were glaring at the footage, assessing Seiya's strength and speed, the contemplation in their eyes that wondered about the individual, a look that questioned and plotted how they may catch up to him. She was reminded then, what Garou had told her at their first meeting; this is a competition, and everyone will be wanting to get ahead of the other, no matter how or against who, even fellow humans. A sense of sadness settled in her with a frown that questioned this sort of mental state, and she gazes back to the screen.

"Pegasus Comet Fist!"

He delivered the final blow, a beautiful blue energy from his fist that was like a furious storm of sapphire flames, punching the creature a single time. Obliterating it's upper body and head until only its chunks remained, and the beast fell defeated, the victor standing upon it, not seeming to be winded at all from his efforts.

The crowd cheered for Seiya, some looking quite eager while others paled and whispering hopes that they would not come across the warrior. Taking heed of all their meshed comments, Emma could only look at the figure in the screen.

Seiya. What an incredible boy with an incredible strength. Such a strong individual among many others here. This honestly feels more like a dream, but reality was indeed before her, the truth of just what humans are capable of. She felt the urge to clap along for him, although this recording would certainly not hear her or the others applause.

"Next, we have our next competitor, who also uses his body as his weapon. A true vicious battle between monsters."

The next footage showed. Another area that was set in a forest, a single man walks through it with ease, a forest that actually looked familiar to Emma.

The man was tall and well-built with muscles,a dark shirt light tan baggy pants but with a tight clutch around the ankles, and black slip-on shoes. He seemed like an ordinary man that held great strength, the way about him though demand not only respect, but to be bowed at. What truly stood out, however, was his terrifying face gnarled with relentless cruelty, and his blazing red hair as if drenched in blood.

The sight of him, Emma was instantly reminded, the description of which the ogre's village was destroyed by a man who was more monster than man, with wild red hair. An unsettling in her stomach, though there were plenty of other red haired competitors she's seen, yet, something about this person spoke volumes, something about him that reminded her of Lewis.

That sense of sadistic love in a fight of life and death.

Her breath hitches as he approaches the edge of what appears to be a village, her eyes widened in realized horror of what she had feared this person to be, and the riled up emotions that soon stirred inside her.

"Halt! State your business human," the guard that stood in front of the village spoke, his features identifying himself and the other one beside him as monsters.

A low laughter breaks from the approached competitor.

"Who would have thought that I get to meet real ogres? Let's see if any of you can put up a good fight," the grueling red-haired man said in a deep voice, his smile widening.

Anger rushed her heart as the man said these words. His declaration, her otherwise assessed confirmation. This was the man, this was the one who invaded and left that village to ruin, leaving her friend the ogre child fatherless and the rest of his people to survive the harsh wilderness with what little they could recover from, the amount of losses they all endured. This was the culprit.

"So it was this guy..." Killua said. By the look of that sort of grinning face, this blood-haired man's attitude what that of a battle-maniac.

Gon stared at the screen intently. Grasping the same understanding as the other children. They watched as the ogre-like man faces against the real-blooded ogres, and to their own astound, watched as he dispatched the weapons the ogre guards held and quickly smashes the faces of both monsters with swift punches, bone shattering under his unrestrained attack. He was not as blindingly quick as Seiya, but this man still held a power worthy of his own boast.

Gon looked over to Emma, her expression appeared to be calm, but he saw the fierce rage in her bright green eyes. "Emma."

The little girl awoke from her fearsome reaction and looked back at Gon, and saw the regret on his face. "I'm sorry," he said, "If we had gotten there earlier, we could have saved that village."

She shook her head. She didn't want him or Killua to feel responsible for this. Neither of them could have known, though even so, her heart still beats with anger that if she doesn't keep consoling, she would no doubt be lost in it. The ogres were kind people who helped her, even for their admitted callous views of humans, they treated her with welcoming arms. For them to have been attacked this way, and the aftermath of it, at the hands of this person whose ruthless eagerness says it all. How could anyone be this way? To the villagers who were only living their lives in peace.

"It's not your fault, or Killua's, and we were able to help them in the end when we could." She spoke with some soft-hearted positivity, even though she was just as sorry. If only she had gotten there sooner, if only...

But what was lost can never be returned, never be taken back, and so, all she can and must do for the people who had helped her, was to live and fight on, in the names of their existence, and the names of the survivors she, Gon, and Killua gave.

Gon looked back to the screen once more, his own anger showing in his bright round eyes for the harm that has been done to those their new friend held close to her. Emma, very focused to the TV as well, did not overhear the reaction and comments of some of the competitors, who instantly knew the sense of cruelty to this shown person.

"You can practically smell the arrogance off of this guy." Emma heard someone nearby.

"I don't like the looks of him," another said. "This guy's obviously bad news."

"This man," one more person says, "You can tell that this is the kind of man whose never known defeat."

With all of her will that she could muster, Emma observed as the blood-haired man, after getting through the guards, waltz further to the village, surrounded by ogres ready to fight, his own amusement increasing, as he was then also confronted with the ogre chief. The face of the previous chief pulled her heartstrings, sadness flows through her, but she remained strong. Determined to see this to the end, even though she felt completely helpless, and the urge rattling her heart to rush over and intervene what was already long past.

It was an idle conversation between the ogre chief and the ogre-like man, a clear enough want and intention in the blood-haired man's words and face, and the ogre chief willing to accept his challenge. What came after was truly an epic fight. The chief was amazing with his spear work, the blood-haired man just as skillful in his ability to avoid any fatal blows, earning only deep cuts to his flesh that which blood spilled from, but his grinning remains, even wider than before. An enjoyment to this dance of battle. Their fight intensified, their bodies rushed through many of the houses, a fire breaking out as the severe strength between two strong men clashed.

It would seem that the ogre chief had the upper hand, but then, a tear of the blood-haired man's shirt, ripped from the flex of his muscles, a hungry vicious growl through his wicked smile. His great muscular body that carried its cut-through flesh and bloody drips, pulping with veins of his fury and the power behind those muscles. He looked even more monstrous, especially at the sight of his back, muscles that made into this nightmarish shape, the jaw-dropping view of his back wearing that face-likeness of a blood-thirsty creature.

It was then that it was realized, this man of blood-red hair had only been playing around, and now, he's seen the worthiness of his opponent's strength. His attacks became more brutal, swifter, his usage of fighting styles that Emma recognizes from Garou, this man was a martial artist as well, a grand level fighter as it seems, and in a stunning display of himself, he allowed one spear to go through, but the weapon only made so much as a graze through his suddenly toughened muscles, the shock in the ogre chief's eyes matched with the disbelief of most the audience, including Emma herself.

Nen powered Gon's eyes; Gyo, as he peered to the large TV screen ahead with frowning wonder, "Killua. Do you see him using anything?"

Killua answered as he also uses Gyo, "Nothing that I can see. It doesn't look like he's using any type of aura-like ability. He really is just using his own body to tank that hit."

Hardened muscles as if his own near-indestructible armor. That kind of thing should be impossible at a normal feat, not unless this person knew any sort of ability like Nen to protect the person. There was definitely an aura to this man though, something that may have been the answer to this incredulous thing, something which he's heard, and perhaps can confirm to not only Gon but to a few other people they've seen.

A fighting spirit.

And yet, it was not the sort of spirit that was protecting this man from anymore wounds, no, it was this man himself, and his raw strength that has proven the ogre chief's spear to be utterly useless now. No wonder he was in third place on this list of top five moment; while Gon and Killua, and Seiya showed their own incredible feats, this is a human whose combating a strong monster bare-fist, catching the chief in a stunned stupor with his spear caught between the abs of his clenched muscles. No matter how much he imposed his own strength, the human before him did not relent.

"Who are you...?" The ogre chief asked wide-eyed.

"I am Yujiro Hanma," The blood-haired man answered, "The strongest creature alive."

An inconsideration to his own humanity, and that may very well be. It was clear that at this point, with the spear proven mute, there was no winning for the ogre chief. Yet, his pride did not allow him to fall willingly before his opponent.

And so Yujiro answered his defiance with a finishing blow. A gut-wrenching witness as Yujiro slammed both hands to each side of the ogre chief's head, blood spurts from the chief's ears at his retract, the eardrums ruptured, and a follow-up punch was thrown. The blood-haired man's fist caving into the chief's face and buried the head into the ground with a crack of the earth. Emma was mortified by the brutal display, and even some of the competitors around them commented as much.

Gon looks back to Emma at her horror, he reaches out and grasped her shoulder, patting in console. Her eyes wavered with disparity until she felt Gon's grasp, a thankful gaze at his way, though she doesn't know if she managed to smile back at him in appreciation, her distraught and anger for the ogre chief's fate damper at her heart.

Yujiro, satisfied from his fight, and the ogres keeping at bay, in shock at the loss of their leader. The proclaimed strongest creature then saunters out of the village, his demonic back at the burning wake of it all. The savagery was actually rather depressing than it was impressive, though no doubt many in the audience acknowledge the strength of this person, but no one offered an applause for this blood-haired man reeking with violence and hideous arrogance, and even felt sympathy for that ogre chief, who had fought valiantly.

How could people be this ruthless? What was the point of it? If it had been self-defense or survival, then this outcome would have been a tragedy, yet it would have been more understandable. But what was the reason that this man sought the ogres out personally? What drove people like Lewis to have the thrill in this sort of hunt? Emma doesn't understand it. She doesn't understand how anyone could find joy in this, and against people who only wanted to live their life in peace.

The anchorman then spoke, "Next we have number two on our list: an incredible pattern of men using their bodies as their weapons, but for this competitor, the slightest touch would prove to be fatal."

The next footage shows. A transition from the flaming village behind the grinning and bloody Yujiro, to the dust cloud that swarms grayish sandy area, and a shadow of a figure that slowly walks out of it. A desolated desert that clouded the environment with gust storms. The camera moves to a group of monsters; about twenty in numbers, and all facing against the approached. The monster's bodies were bigger than human-size, built as warriors with black-plated armor worn and each holding a blade-weapon, their heads pig-like, with tusks poking out from their mouths, and eyes empty of remorse. Orcs.

"Look brothers, another meal approaches us," one of the orcs said.

The shadowed figured then stepped out of the dust storm, himself revealed. The children's eyes widened with instant recognition. Gon spoke all their thoughts, "Ah! That's-!"

/.\

"Here we are! One of our base of medical operations for check-ups and treatments."

Garou scales up and around the building with his eyes. A tall and wide complex of white exterior walls and medical symbols of red crosses. He wasn't a fan of hospitals, there were unfavorable experiences with it.

The nurse then led Garou inside. It was as huge inside as the out of it. A couple of injured looking competitors sat at the waiting lounge with several TVs hung on the walls, showing random shows at each one. NPC workers occupied a wide round desk at the center of this entrance room, and guards monitoring the halls.

"Welcome back!"

Garou stopped at a voice and he turned... then blinked twice. He looked back at Nurse Joy whom he is with, and then back to the other person, who looked exactly like her. Exactly alike. The same pink hair, style, face, and outfit. A second Nurse Joy?

"Oh hello! We have another patient here who needs medical assistance," the first Nurse Joy explained.

"Well, you're just in luck," the second Nurse Joy said. "One of our doctors is available. He'll be sure to look after him."

"Perfect!" The first nurse said and turns to Garou, pulling him out of his bemused staring when she spoke to him. "Let's take you to one of the shared rooms. It's where we would bring injured patients for immediate check-ups and recovery, so you'll be seeing other patients there as well. I must implore that you will not cause any aggression or instigation against other competitors within hospital grounds. This is a place of healing, so no fighting or we will have you escorted out."

He complied with a nod. Garou knew better than to start a fight on hospital grounds. It wasn't a good place for him to cut loose when he could, with all the needles around and such. Nothing of phobia, he was just aware of how much it would hurt if he stepped on one.

From the stern demand that meshed well with her upbeat attitude, the nurse smiled and said, "Good. Now normally, a broken bone like that would take months for it to heal, but with the advanced technology we have, and the abilities practiced by our nurses and doctors, months-worth of recovery will take no less than a day."

Huh. That's kind of impressive, and convenient. "I'll be good with just a big meal, you guys offer any food?"

The nurse responded, "Oh! I see. You have a fast regenerative ability?"

Garou shrugged, "I get anything to eat and I'll be good as new." Preferably something that isn't raw and in great quantity, but he can't complain if he's really hungry, or beaten to a pulp.

The Nurse Joy mentally made note of that info, and her bright and wide eyes return to Garou, "In that case, we'll provide you with a substantial meal at you choosing and tend to your wounds. It shouldn't take more than a few hours. Our services are entirely free and easily accessible for all competitors. We're all more than happy to help our patients get right back on their feet and in time to do anything before next round begins."

Content with that, Garou found himself distracted at another appearance of a Nurse Joy look-alike sitting at the front check-in desk, and another one leaving from another room, and another one tending to a patient sitting on a gurney. He stared eye-widely for a moment before following the nurse he is with down one of the halls, "Are these your sisters?"

"Oh. No actually," the nurse answered, "These are all other Nurse Joys like myself. There's a lot more nurses that looks like me in other hospitals too. We all happen to graduate from the same medical school, and this is the official nurse uniform we were given."

"...That's kind of creepy, don't you think?" Garou stated. Wouldn't it certainly garner a double-take and suspecting raised brow at the fact that nurses like the one he's following would have look-alikes? He has heard of groups having some sort of matching appearance, but that's with uniforms and maybe tattoos. With twins, triplet, or quadruplets, he can see that, but this is a whole other level of weirdness.

"Is having the same face a requirement too?" He added.

The Nurse Joy chuckled at that, "Oh no. We just happen to look the same."

Garou very much doubts that, and starts to think the head master of whatever school they went to has a weird fetish, the type obvious too.

Seeing his perturbed face, Nurse Joy laughed. "There's no need to worry! There are some of us who happen to be cousins, we all have very a strong family resemblance."

"That's a lot of same-looking cousins you have if they're all at the other hospital with the same names. Keeping up with the family business or something?" He asked, so many questions running through his head.

"I suppose you can say that. We all just have the same passion to help and heal others. It does take a lot of people by surprise though when they see us," she said with a smile before they reached to a double-doors to one of the available shared rooms. "Here it is. This is where you'll be staying."

She pushes one of the doors and enters. Garou follows in, the door held by her at his step in. A quick scan of the room and he sees rows of beds on each side, curtain stands separating between them, a large window at the end of the room where a garden is shown outside. There were a few competitors here at their individual beds, sleeping in, reading a book, or gazing out the garden. He was then guided to the nearest bed and sat down upon it.

"Please wait here and rest. The doctor will see you shortly," The nurse went to the foot of the bed where a medium-small TV is stationed, turning it on. She then pulls out a menu from a holder behind the foot of the bed and brings it over to Garou.

"This is what we have available at our cafeteria. It's not as extensive as something you might find at the food courts in the city, but they're very nutritious meals." She places the menu on the bed beside Garou, along with a TV remote. The nurse then mentions that if ever there were anything he requires, questions or emergencies, she points to a white square button on the wall right above his head rest and all assistance will be given speedily so.

After informing him of everything else in brief and short workings around here, she then bowed her head, and leaves to find the available doctor. His eyes were upon her until the door shuts closed behind her, and he was left to himself and the few people he paid no mind to. Disinterested in whatever soap opera was on TV, he flips open the menu with his available hand, seeing a variety of options.

A minute goes by and one of the double-doors opens. His immediate attention was to it when he sensed approaching footsteps, and his sight of the two figures was immediate. The Nurse Joy had returned with her remaining friendly smile, followed by a man in a white doctor's coat. A nice-looking man, with a neatly cut wavy black hair, and warm gentle eyes that held a maturity and experience between the interlocking of life and death, as any doctor would.

"Good evening. I'm Dr. Kenzo Tenma, I'll be looking after your recovery for tonight," the doctor greeted pleasantly, going and taking a seat from the walls beside them, and bringing it over where he placed it and sat upon it next to Garou, who eyed him attentively. He was an average and normal looking man, kindness in his gaze, a clipboard in the doctor's hand, and a stethoscope around his shoulders.

"Mind if I ask your name, young man?" The doctor added. Garou answered simply and the doctor looks at his clipboard, writing on it with a pen. "Let's have a look at those injuries now. Nurse Joy already put me up to speed. It's thankful that you were able to arrive here, you're in the best of hands now."

He starts by gently removing the wrappings that held his broken arm together and its support. The Nurse Joy provided assistance as she looks to the bite wound on Garou's shoulder, a healing ointment in hand and fresh bandages in the other. "We'll need to remove your shirt to treat your shoulder. Is that alright?" She asked.

Not minding it, Garou grabs the end of his skin tight black shirt and starts pulling it up with one arm.

"O-oh! You don't have to-" Nurse Joy quickly sets aside the medicine and new wrappings at a small square table beside them, seeing his eased efforts with only just one arm and her mind only aware of the difficulty it would be with his broken limb. "L-let me help you with that!"

She quickly helps along the removal of the shirt, successfully pulling it off his head and around his damaged arm. Tenma observed and also input his own assistance to it, and as his eyes scanned other physical ailments on Garou, his calm eyes widened.

"You were hit in the stomach also?"

At Tenma's words, Garou raised a brow. A brief glance at his person from Nurse Joy and an "Oh dear!" escapes her. From their pointed gaze, Garou follows and glances down.

A dark purple bruise practically splashed its color all over his gut, as if he landed on top of a stomach-sized ball of purple paint. The sight of it took him aback by a little, his intense gilded eyes blinking at it. Damn, that brat really hit hard.

He'll carry that with him once he gets his vengeance. Although a kid that boy was, he won't let any heavy hit slide. But, damn, this was a nasty bruise, worse than when Tank Top punched him. That boy with the fishing rod was certainly not a pipsqueak of cute strength. He honestly wondered what sort of life gave that boy his strength? Even Garou didn't reach this level when he was that kid's age.

I really got to be careful around him next time, he affirmed. "Huh... Didn't think a bruise would stay this long."

Usually any injury he gets would have faded with time, rest, and after eating and gaining enough nutrition in his body to heal his wounds. It was strange that this time, it hadn't, and he's been suffering this gut-wrenching pain for days now. What did that boy do to him?

Tenma rises from his chair, a collected yet firm look about him as he focuses on the newly discovered injury, "Let's make sure there isn't anymore hiding from us."

From other discoveries, there were only scratches and battered spots but nothing as severe as the three injuries shown upon him, not to the extent that which his shoulder, arm, and now gut perceived. Regardless of the level of severity though, he'd been treated kindly and with great care, the wounds coated in the healing ointment Nurse Joy gave that was cold yet soothing to the touch, and bandaging over other places, his waist being wrapped around. It was in actually a short time of treatment, with the sole thing to have taken about a minute longer was his damaged arm, which Tenma finishes evaluating.

"You have a severe fracture in several places. We'll have to get you a cast for this until we can get a hold of a healer or any available equipment that should fixed this quick. I understand though that you mention to Nurse Joy that you only required some food to heal your wounds?" was what Tenma said.

Garou nodded, and then lifts the menu, showing it to both the nurse and doctor. "Can I have everything that's on this?"

The nurse in particular was startled by his request. "You... want all of it?"

He nodded again, an expectant look on him that made him appear even younger, an erasure to the intimidating face that he holds.

Nurse Joy looked to Tenma, who held a smile in amused.

"You must have a real big appetite." The metabolism rates of competitors like Garou, even for an active and obvious fighter such as he was, always amazes the doctor as it was far greater than someone who works out daily. "If you can promise that you would be able to eat all of it, as well as promise that you won't over-stuff yourselves, then we can do just that. You're actually not the first one I've heard make that amount of orders."

"I-it's certainly a first for me," Nurse Joy said as she takes a step towards the double-doors, having done her treating of Garou's wounds that have now been newly patched up and bandaged over. "I'll... go get these orders in right now then. It might take a while, but we'll see that you'll be given everything on the menu."

"Yeah. Thanks," Garou said as he gave back the menu to Nurse Joy. "Oh, and a bottle of cola too."

Tenma obliged with a smile full of mirth. "Sure thing."

/.\

It wasn't that long before Garou was given a new arm cast, Tenma continuing to watch over him and evaluate him. Garou withheld the information about how his stomach had been hurting for days now, since the Hero Hunter was certain that he just needed a big quantity of food to consume and he would be all good to go. Nevertheless, Tenma seemed very thoughtful of his biggest bruise, and Garou begins to suspect that this man will ask of him to stay for the night. Hospital trips he can accept, overnight stay he cannot. There's a limit to how many sick people he would let himself be around with, and even more unappealing that he would be told to stay in bed the whole time. He didn't feel that harmed, aside from his grumbling gut, which he is sure will be satiated soon.

So the moment when Nurse Joy and other Nurse Joys (still really weird for him) brought in carts of food he requested, he offered his thanks, gave his respect before the meal, and dug into each and every portion with swift and graceful pickings using only one hand that held his fork.

"Be careful not to eat so quickly or you'll choke!" Nurse Joy urgently advises, though at the same time marveling the sight of his fast dining and eating. Meat being easily picked up from the bones so cleanly with just his fork and the soup being drunk as if it was a sake cup, not a drop spilled.

After a moment, he'd only made it half way, a bit of a hassle to using only one arm, but after gulping down three different bowls of soups, he sighed a satisfactory breath, setting aside the fork and grabbing a napkin from one of the trays and wiping his face with it. The other Nurse Joys watched with stunned reactions, having came here with the belief that he needed assistance eating with one arm, but it was clear enough that he had this easily.

"This thing's kind of annoying," Garou mumbled, looking down at the cast that surrounds his broken arm. With a swift, almost blinding swipe of his hand that made the doctor and nurses flinch, the cast of his arm broke with an instant crack, and fell upon his lap. "Sorry doc that you just got this for me. But it did good keeping my arm together until I got some food."

Tenma looked with a gaped mouth as he watched in amazement, Garou flexing his the fingers of what was his damaged limb with ease, rolling his arm and shoulder with only a simple pop, but no strained movement or pain in his expression, an eased look about him as his arm was fully mended.

"Incredible..." The doctor whispered out.

And then Garou resumed his eating, this time with a fork in one hand and another utensil in the other. He was even faster, with both arms now functioning, as he neatly dissected and consumed each of his food like a snapping turtle if the turtle knew speed like he did, his hands being the snapper that snatched each bit of meal and bringing it to his mouth as if it were rush hour.

"-Throughout the preliminary, we managed to gather endless recordings of impressive feats performed by these now official participants. Here we have selected our top five moments. Let's take a look at them now."

The wolfing down of his meal takes a pause, the piercing gaze of Garou taking notice of the TV, and what shows. He calmly gulps down the food he chews and looks to the screen. "Hm? Hey, it's those kids!"

The doctor snaps out of his amazement, looking at the TV. "Oh. It looks like their giving footage of some moments that happened in the preliminary."

Garou half-listened to him, leaning forward a bit as he continues his munching of his meals, watching the screen. At his calmed eating, Tenma then assured the nurses that their patient here will be fine, and the others but the first one leaves the room, their whispers about the competitors leaving beyond the double-doors.

Tenma then reaches over and collects the easily broken cast, examining it briefly with wonder and quiet awe, before looking back at Garou. "I ought to be happy that you needed this cast only for a moment. I think every doctor would want that for their patient."

A simple hum in response as he ate and finished yet another plate, eyes attentive to the screen. The doctor laughed lightly behind his smile, and then his pager beeped, he briefly looked it inside his pocket and then moves for the double-doors, "I'll check back with you in a while. Be sure to eat at a steady pace now."

Garou waved at him casually, eyes still focused at the screen and in between bites from a piece of steak meat. The doctor smiled once more, and then steps his way out of the room and for the next where he is needed.

"Hm. Guess those brats aren't so half-bad," the Hero Hunter said as he watched the TV at the foot of his bed, decidedly not reminding themselves of their previous show of power, and more over; "Still needs some work though."

They were young after all, and have more to develop still. Garou could tell, these boys will get stronger the further they train, however they do it. Well, he certainly won't allow himself to hang back behind them. The next time he sees them, he'll make sure of it.

The next footage then shows, and much to his own surprise, it was that Seiya kid. Punching the daylights out of that huge monster and smashing through the hard armor that beast was made up, with blinding speed that he couldn't even keep up with now matter how quick his eyes were. To his own astound and intrigue, this armored young teen really did have the speed that could touch maybe even Flashy Flash. No wonder this kid defeated that Greymon easily, it's because he could. Garou was honestly relieved he didn't get to fight him, not in the condition he was in at that time, though this time, with his body all healed up, he should give it a go the next time he sees this boy.

"Honestly, kids these days are even stronger and faster than when I was their age... damn I sound like an old man." He decided not to muse on that further, watching continuously at the TV when the next footage shows. "Oh? Now what do we have here?"

Now this was a hulk of a beast. He didn't have some sort of superpower as the previously recorded competitors had, but this man had the body built to stand against weapons that would slice through the human flesh easily. A terrifying look with a nasty grin, and the merciless of this man; Yujiro Hanma. This guy had the look of a villain alright, and the triumph of one who only knew about winning. Neither shown to be as strong or as fast as the previously shown competitors, but a martial artist of great caliber who only showed off his raw strength before deciding to become serious, some tricks up his sleeves and movements that Garou wouldn't mind taking for himself.

"Looks like there's some guys around here with the same idea." For the same ambition he's pursuing, in who should be renowned as the most fiercest and strongest, to terrify and fight against the world through might and carve their names into the abyss of people's nightmares. Talk about unoriginal, for both people like them to chase after this exact goal, but Garou also understood that this only means he'll have to face off this man from another world. He makes mental note and memory of this man's face, putting it in his hit-list of people to fight, second place that kid in armor; Seiya, and first place those two so called Hunters.

A brief flash of Emma's face crossed him, but he lets it go. She wasn't really worth his time, given how she is compare to all the other competitors he's fought against. She's smart and can be clever, and simple artillery for an eleven-year old to wield (seriously, who in the right mind gave a kid an assault rifle?), but he could easily overcome those with just a small doses of his strength alone, and his own cunning to beat with hers. Fortunately for her and her own unremarkableness, he'll leave her alone.

THANK YOU GAROU!

His mind dared to torment him at the memory of her hug and he shuddered, shoving down a chunk of garlic bread as he keeps himself occupied with watching the small television. The next footage shows a group of hungry and vicious-looking orcs facing against a distant shadow of a figure walking from a dust storm. Garou holds off his next bite of a turkey meat as the shape of the figure struck familiarity to him.

"Is that...?" He peered to the screen, though soon enough this was unnecessary as the figure steps out of the dust cloud. "Ah." His eyes widened.

"It's unfortunate for you human, that you have stumbled upon our dry lands. No food for miles, so you can imagine how famished me and my brothers are," one orc said.

The competitor walked further down, not a single hesitance in his steps even as his sad yet firm gaze met the white circles of the sickly-looking and deformed monster group before him. A casual climb of his feet over some rocks. His short spiky brown hair moving wildly under the bracing wind, the dark blue vest of plate armor over his shoulders, with the few small circular scars visibly seen on the bare skin of his chest between the open collars.

"Oh? Do you wish to offer yourself to us, human?" Another orc questioned, somewhat confused at this persons's unhesitating steps.

There was no fear in the man's steely gaze, his prejudice towards the wicked beings before him. "The bones of the remains I've seen; men, women, children, and the elderly. Like pigs, you've only known how to stuff yourselves in gluttony."

"It's all for survival," one orc excused themselves, offended by the "pig" remark, before an evil smirk showed his bloody tusks, "And it makes us stronger, the more living things we eat."

"I will show you that your efforts have been in vain," Kenshiro ceased his movements, his cold glare showing no mercy as he affirmed with a point of his finger, "I shall slaughter you all like the pigs that you are, just as you have for those you've killed. You have extinguished your rights to live."

"We're not PIGS! We're ORCS!" In a rage, and believing their greater numbers hold the better advantage, all of the orcs charged for the single man.

"aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Goosebumps traveled up Garou's skin as the televised face of the competitor morphed into that of pure fury. The muscles of Kenshiro seemed to expand, the dark blue vest he wore ripped from his sudden increasing built figure, his figure glorious as the previous filmed competitor, but with a distinct difference in fighting spirit between the man of violence and this man of righteousness. A wild flare of his spirit flowed from his body that showed several more scars on his body, scars that lined up to a certain constellation in the night sky Garou recognized, and then-

"ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA!"

Instant quick movements of his hands, flashes of his fingers touching - just touches, no punches or even strikes, simply touches - the bodies of the orcs that which he easily moves through with his continuous high-pitch shrill. Garou spectate with wide-eyed enraptured, trying and catching those movements but it was almost the same with what he witnessed with Seiya aside from this thrust of precision he could tell.

Those were the very same hands that which made Garou into a bloody mess, and so the Hero Hunter moved a bit, closing in on the TV quick as he tried to catch what technique this person had used upon him and now doing so to this group of orcs. The hint was unveiled when this man mentioned striking his pressure points, but how? For Garou, he would strike said points with punches and kicks, but how's a simple touch to leave an even more devastating effect?

He watches, visually analyzing as much as he could to what this footage could only offer, but it was difficult enough with all the dust storms swarming them and the bodies of the orcs mostly blocking his view of Kenshiro, and within not even a thirty seconds, the man had already passed through all of the orcs. Their bodies fell with surprised grunts escaping them, Kenshiro's back towards them.

The orcs looked confused, grasping and touching their own bodies to which this man barely even poked, and soon, laughter escapes them.

"Was that your attack? I barely even felt that!" One by one the orc rises, but the man did not move, nor turn, his bare back towards them.

"It's too bad for you human. Whatever you used didn't work. Now it's our turn to kill you-!"

The first orc raised his ax for Kenshiro when the man suddenly spoke. A calmed face, the man closed his eyes, and uttered simply with acceptance. "You are already dead."

"What?" The orc was confused, and suddenly, a bulge from the side of his head, several more bulges on several places. The orcs behind him following with the same reactions, and before any one of them would realize, the bulges erupted, an explosion of blood and flesh. Heads, limbs, chests. Their screams filling the area that soon painted from their insides that splattered everywhere.

Garou watched slack-jawed, eyes in disbelief as he saw the orcs, one by one, be blown up from the insides at such a gruesome display of whatever power this man used. It was far more volatile than what he endured. So this is what the Hokuto No Ken is about at it's full potential? It doesn't just make the flesh explode, it makes people explode.

Swift terror crawled his skin as he imagined facing this man again. One touch, one touch would be all that it would take and Garou would be finished. He honestly couldn't believe how careless he'd been by letting himself get as close as he did against this guy, but then... wouldn't he already be dealt with a finishing blow? Why was he left alive then? Did this guy, for his violent technique, actually went that easy on him? If so, Garou is honestly offended.

You do not have the eyes of a killer.

He "tch!" under his breath, his inner tremor still kept, and he continued eating the rest of his meals with a much determined feel to himself. "This guy's the most dangerous out of the others I've seen, and he's just one out of millions in this competition. I wonder what else do I have to look out for...?"

One at a time, he told himself. Whatever and who ever he may come across, he'll deal with them all one at a time. Of course, he was never given that much fairness in his life, but even if he ends up fighting everyone all at once, he'll do so with the biggest F you to all of them he'll dish out down to the last pint of energy and strength in his body.

"And now our final footage," the anchorman said. "The number one spot in our list of incredible moments filmed during the preliminary..."

He looked back to the TV, grabbing another loaf of bread. If that man was number two, then whoever took number one has to be really something else. Another tough guy using his body as his weapon? Someone faster? Stronger? Or an even more unbelievable technique?

"Just like the previous four, this competitor uses a body as a weapon, but with an even greater stature."

He lifted the bread to his open mouth, but it never even touched his teeth before the next footage shows, and his eyes practically threatened to bulge out, the bread slipping from his grip.

"What... the hell... is that?"

/.\

Emma, Gon, and Killua watched the footage in gawking aghast at Kenshiro's utter triumph and instant vanquishing of the monsters with blinding contact that Emma was still unsure what he had done exactly, but intuitively knew, that some form of physical touch was made. She held back the rising stomach acid of her sickness from such horrific executions as the horror and pained screams left the breaths of the near-instantly dead orc, keeping it down before it even reached her throat.

From her memory, she overheard this man mentioning his power something to do with pressure points, which she only knew about from the nervous system she's read in books. There was a treatment she also remembered reading about, involving the use of pin-needles, and at certain specific places of the body to insert the point of the pin-needle in, it could grant various effects from erasing body pains, changing ones sense of taste and smell, and other reactions. But there was certainly nothing that told her about pressing a certain place on the body that would cause this horrible reaction, which is reasonable considering that the Demons and Mama would never allow something so violent to slip under their noses, unless it was extremely well hidden.

Even so, for this man, if he had not been using any weapon she could see, then it had to have been really that, just as he had said when he admitted to Garou to have touched the other fighter ten times. His fingers. He really used his own fingers as his pin-needles. Such a terrible weapon of such easy access with total intense concentration judging from what she just saw. But what kind of method did he use to cause a person to explode?

The other competitors around them were also stunned to silence, some even losing their appetite and others breaking into an appalled utter. "He... he just touched them... and they all imploded like there were bombs inside them."

"I don't want to mess with a guy like that."

"Damn. He might be even scarier than that last guy."

Gon gulped at the sight of the carnage. "Amazing..." He could not help but utter, fear and awe in his bright amber eyes.

Killua calmly observed the footage with a thoughtful look, "I know for sure my grandpa and great grandpa mentioned a story about an assassin who can kill several targets just by touching them, but this might be the most messiest way of killing for an assassin."

As Emma overhears everyone around her, she kept watching the footage of Kenshiro. Even for his bloody victory, there was no joy of accomplishment on his face, nor relief, or the cruel battle eagerness the blood-haired competitor had. This man, who spoke in honor of the killed, done in by those monsters, and now stood without a glance to the work he had done, knowing full well of it. His hardened face that knew sorrow as he opened his eyes once more, that cold glimmer of his existing goodness she was able to read.

A good man with the most ruthless and violent power. Emma felt compassion and sorrow for this person, as she wonders what placed him in this position, the reason for it, and what he had went through to have that gaze that held such sadness. Her horror of his ability remained, but her fear of the man did not so much as come, as she only felt this person's inner pain.

The anchorman then announced the next and final footage, and most of everyone fell to a hush. "-With he himself controlling the reigns. A courageous pilot, with every step shaking the earth."

The video shows, and at first, it wasn't truly comprehended, it was obvious enough they were looking at a figure. However, the movement of the camera, lifting from the bushes that were actually the heads of trees upon the side of a mountain, the figure standing right beside it, it soon dawned on them what they were looking at, and all jaws fell.

"What the hell is-?! A titan?!"

"IS THAT A GIANT ROBOT?!"

"W-what kind of monster is that?"

It stood seventy five-meters tall, purple shiny metal exteriors on its body as its armor, with black and green arms, and armor plates over its feet, orange rims. Its helmet a horn at the front of its angular head. A humanoid giant creature of some sort, its neon-green eyes seeming to stare into the camera.

Not known as a titan, or a mere monster. It was a being created to be the protector of humanity in the world that it came from, against other worldly threats only itself may stand a chance.

An Evangelion.

---

Competitors Introduced:

Yujiro Hanma (Baki)

Non-Participating Contestants (NPC):

Mashu Kyrielight (Fate/Grand Order)

Nurse Joy (Pokemon)

Kenzo Tenma (Monster)

A/N: I decided to post one more chapter to commemorate the ending of the Promised Neverland series. It was a wonderful ride of keeping up to date with the series and new chapters, and now, it has finally come to an end. Originally there was much more planned but I believe it is best fitting to end this chapter the way it has. There are many loose ends that I unfortunately won't be able to cover until likely the next few chapters, so hopefully this chapter was enjoyable at the least.