Essentially, the plot does not deviate much from the original story, and the opponents encountered by Gon and his four companions are the exact same bunch of weaklings.
The only difference is that, due to certain unknown factors, the order in which they stepped up changed, leading to different outcomes.
Netero, the warden, secretly watched the candidates' performance through surveillance monitors. His Manipulator ability seemed to come with a built-in commentator feature; behind his lengthy words lay calm judgment and deep deliberation. His presence felt like the maker of the rules, having every single detail at his fingertips.
Chapter 177