Gon's Harem System
Chapter 196: Hesitation

Chapter 196: Hesitation

His heart slammed against his ribs, the pulse of shock buzzing through every nerve, but Gon forced it down, pushing the wave of adrenaline back into focus.

He landed in a crouch, his knees bending to absorb the impact, and his sword still gripped tight in his hands, the steel gleaming under the sunlight.

The world around him seemed to sharpen, his breath steadying as he took in his surroundings, eyes darting from the snake, still poised for another strike, to the boy who had summoned it.

The pink-haired boy stood a few paces away, a wide grin spreading across his face.

His sharp, focused features were now softened by a look of amusement, like he was enjoying the show.

His chin-length bob swayed slightly with the motion of his head as he tilted it, studying Gon with an almost playful curiosity. The sight was unsettling.

There was no hint of the usual urgency or desperation of a battle, just a lighthearted demeanor, as though this entire ordeal were nothing more than a game to him.

The snake, after its failed strike, slithered back up the short stick with eerie calmness, its slender body winding around the wooden shaft like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It coiled itself tighter, its head resting near the top of the stick, flicking its tongue in and out, as if it were some sort of obedient pet waiting for its next command.

There was something disturbingly intimate about the way the boy handled it, like he and the serpent were one, partners in a deadly dance.

The roar of the crowd was deafening, a sea of noise swelling in the stands around them.

But to Gon, it was all background static, a distant hum that barely registered.

His mind was fixated entirely on the boy in front of him, and that grin, wide, unyielding, and just slightly off-kilter.

Suspicion crawled up Gon’s spine, a cold, creeping sensation that spread through his limbs like ice.

His instincts screamed at him, telling him that something wasn’t right.

It wasn’t that he doubted his ability to defeat the boy, snake or not, he’d faced far worse dangers.

But this situation, the way the boy was grinning at him with that unsettling ease, the calmness in the air, something felt off.

It wasn’t the snake that bothered him, it was the boy’s demeanor, the quiet confidence, the eerie sense that this was more than a simple fight. Gon’s gut twisted.

The way the boy stood there, so unbothered by the chaos around them

A chill crawled up Gon’s spine once more, sharper this time. What if that wasn’t the only snake?

His eyes flicked from the serpent coiled around the stick, to the boy’s loose tunic, and then to the hem of his boots, where the fabric hung just a little too freely.

The realization hit him like a lightning bolt, every inch of the boy’s attire could be hiding another weapon, another slithering surprise.

The sleeves, loose and flowing, seemed like perfect hiding spots for something dangerous.

The tunic itself, billowing around his midsection, could conceal all sorts of tricks.

And the boots, why had Gon not considered them before?

They were a strange, bulky style, more fitted than normal, almost as though they were designed to mask something hidden beneath.

Every part of the boy’s attire seemed suspicious now, from the way his fingers twitched at the ends of his sleeves to the subtle sway of his body as he shifted his weight.

If Gon charged in now, his movements reckless or too hasty, he knew the consequences could be catastrophic.

A second snake, hidden away in some blind spot he hadn’t yet considered, could strike out from the boy’s tunic or sleeves the moment he let his guard slip.

He couldn’t afford to take that chance.

His mind replayed the quick, vicious strike of the first serpent, its fangs sinking in with horrifying speed, the venomous promise of death behind each snap of its jaws.

He’d seen what those fangs could do, the way the creature had almost pierced his chest in an instant.

There was no doubt in his mind that a second strike would be just as deadly.

No, charging in now would be a death sentence

. He could feel his pulse thudding in his ears, his breath coming a little faster as the adrenaline surged.

Every instinct screamed at him to act, to be the first to strike, to assert dominance in this fight.

But he couldn’t ignore the possibility that he’d be walking straight into the boy’s trap.

The more he rushed in, the more he exposed himself to whatever hidden threat lurked just out of view.

So he held back, straightening slowly, his every muscle taut with the tension of the moment.

His eyes, narrowed to slits, never left the boy for a second, tracking his every movement, every breath, every slight shift of weight.

His sword stayed ready, held in a relaxed but firm grip, the steel gleaming faintly under the harsh sunlight. But his stance remained cautious, still, controlled.

His feet were planted solidly in the sand, knees slightly bent, anticipating a sudden need to move.

His blade was angled just enough to block an incoming strike, but he wasn’t prepared to swing just yet.

He wasn’t here to throw the first punch; not this time.

Instead, he observed.

The boy stood there, waiting, grinning that same maddening grin, his pink hair swaying gently in the breeze.

Every little motion of the boy, every flicker of his fingers, every subtle flex of his muscles, was under Gon’s watchful gaze.

The boy’s grin didn’t fade, stretching wider with every passing second, as if he relished Gon’s hesitation.

His posture was laid-back, almost bored, but there was a dangerous edge to his relaxed demeanor, a tension just beneath the surface that Gon couldn’t ignore.

The boy stood there as if the world itself was his to command, completely at ease, his hands resting casually on the short stick, the snake coiled like a serpent’s crown, its body a living extension of the weapon.

He seemed completely unbothered by Gon’s watchful stance, as though his very presence in the arena was enough to guarantee his victory.

And that grin? It was the kind that screamed arrogance, like he knew exactly what Gon was thinking, like he had already won in his mind.

The snake remained still, coiling lazily around the stick’s shaft, its tiny eyes gleaming like shards of jade.