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.
