Ep 23. The x Guard's x Duty!

Gon and his team have finally made it to the final phase of the Hunter Exam, but they're not the only ones left standing. As they prepare for the next challenge, they meet Leorio's old friend Kurapika, who is also taking the exam with a different goal in mind.

The fourth phase of the exam takes place in a heavily guarded underground facility, where the remaining candidates are divided into two teams: attackers and defenders. Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika all end up on the same team, the defenders, along with Hanzo and Ponzu. Their goal is to protect a certain target from the attacking team for 72 hours straight.

As the defenders prepare their strategy, they are introduced to various members of the guard team. These guards serve as neutral parties, ensuring the fairness of the game and intervening only when necessary. Each guard has their own unique specialty and role in the game, and the defenders are allowed to choose which guard they want to accompany them during the challenge.

Gon and his friends choose to team up with an elite female guard named Biscuit, who is able to transform her appearance and possesses incredible strength. She seems strict and demanding at first, but she proves to be a valuable asset to their team.

The challenge begins, and the attacking team wastes no time in launching their assault. The defenders are forced to split up and guard multiple entrances, while also keeping an eye out for hidden traps and obstacles. The guards also play a key role in securing the safety of the target, and Biscuit's strength comes in handy when they face their first major obstacle: a gigantic beast.

As the hours pass and exhaustion sets in, various members of the team begin to doubt their ability to protect the target for the full 72 hours. Killua, in particular, struggles with his own fears and insecurities. However, Leorio's courage and determination inspire him to keep fighting, and Gon's positivity helps lift everyone's spirits.

Just when things seem to be going well, the team is faced with an unexpected challenge: they must protect not one, but two targets. The attackers have discovered a loophole in the rules and have managed to capture the second target, a small and defenseless girl, in a different location. The defenders must now split up their already depleted forces to protect both targets simultaneously.

As the hours tick away, tensions rise and the defenders are pushed to their limits. However, their teamwork and determination ultimately prove to be too much for the attackers, and they manage to successfully protect both targets for the full 72 hours.

The episode ends with the successful completion of the challenge and all the remaining candidates passing the Hunter Exam. However, it's clear that the journey is far from over, and the next chapter in Gon and his friends' adventures is just beginning.