Training matches between allies is common in anime. It’s a way to see our heroes compete against each other without the fear of death. The fights between hunters are brief, but we some glimpses of each of the hunters skills. Baek notices that Atsushi isn’t much of a fighter. He figures Goto is using his group as test dummies for Atsushi and the others. Then two of Baek’s teammates go down, leaving just him and Hae-In.
Hae-In takes out her opponent and rushes to help Baek, but Atsushi blocks her path. She injures him, and in a fit of rage, he tries to strike back. Before he can, Jinwoo steps in and shuts him down. When Jinwoo sets in to protect Cha Hae-In, he a Goto Ryuyji begin to spar. Jinwoo challenges Goto to “go all out”. However, the other hunters interfere preventing an all out brawl. This is predictable of course, as neither Jinwoo and Goto need to really kill each other.
Jinwoo and Byung-gu decides to he won’t help the hunters on the Jeju Island Raid Mission, he wants to spend time with his mother. However, 15 S-Rank Hunters will participate. On Jeju Island, a Queen ant watches ant cannibalize each other. I’ve seen many anime fans note that this was similar to the beginning of the Chimaera Ant arc in Hunter X Hunter. I assume that the arc was inspiration for this one.
The hunters arrive on Jeju Island, they’re quickly attacked by ants. They activate interference waves, to prevent the ants from receiving signals from the Queen. Choi enters the cave and seals it. Inside, they find an egg nest and an empty cocoon. The other team featuring Kenzo and Shimizu, are the first attack as an ant decapitates Shimizu. The Jeju Island arc is starting off brutal and I don’t think with Jinwoo missing they’re going to survive.
