The moment the starting signal was given, I plunged into the forest at a full sprint. I moved at maximum speed while carefully erasing all traces of my passage. My immediate goal was simple: get as far away from Hisoka as humanly possible. That psychotic clown was scheduled to depart a mere two minutes after me. The absolute last thing I wanted in this life was to bump into him again so soon.
...Would it be better to just ambush him right here, take his badge, and disqualify him on the spot? No, taking his badge wouldn't stop him; he'd just hunt down other examinees. For someone of Hisoka's caliber, gathering six points worth of badges is as easy as breathing. What if I beat him so severely that he couldn't fight anymore? ...If someone else murdered him while he was incapacitated, I'd have nightmares. Though honestly, the world would objectively be a much better place without Hisoka in it.
I didn't know which part of Zevil Island I had reached, but I had definitely put enough distance between myself and Hisoka. Now, all that remained was to track down other examinees.
En... I should refrain from using it. My aura was constantly being drained by my passive abilities. Unless it was an absolute emergency, maintaining Zetsu was the best course of action. It conserved my energy, and whether I was ambushing or fleeing, staying completely undetectable was always the superior choice.
I maintained Zetsu, completely erasing my presence as I searched for examinees for two hours. Still, I couldn't find a single person. Well, that was to be expected. Since I had bolted at maximum speed right at the start, the chances of encountering examinees in this remote sector were slim.
Should I pulse a quick En to locate someone? ...No, that would be foolish. Aura consumption was already steep enough; expanding an En sphere would deplete my reserves even further. That was the eternal annoyance of having Angel's Veil and Boss Trait active. Furthermore, this terrain was ill-suited for En. There were too many obstacles. En cannot penetrate solid objects. If a person completely covers their body behind something dense, they can slip right out of En's detection.
Of course, any unnatural physical displacement would be obvious, but in a dense jungle, hiding inside thick brush or covering oneself in branches and foliage made visual and sensory confirmation tricky.
With my one-kilometer En, finding examinees moving normally would be child's play. But the drawback—massive aura consumption—was simply too painful. Remaining in Zetsu was the rational choice. En had to be reserved as a last resort.
...Wait. For a while now, I've had the distinct feeling that someone is watching me.
...Is it just my imagination? I couldn't sense any aura. Even without En, I could detect presences within a reasonable radius. All I picked up were small woodland creatures.
A gaze... No, I couldn't feel one anymore. It must have been my imagination. Not to brag, but I took immense pride in my sensory detection. There was definitely no human within several hundred meters. Did I mistake a squirrel for a person? Has my intuition grown that dull...?
Well, whatever. Time to pull myself together and keep hunting.
Three examinees defeated, badges secured!
With this, all I needed to do was protect my badges until the exam ended. Phew. Moving nonstop for two full days had built up a decent layer of sweat.
I recalled spotting a freshwater spring nearby. I could take a quick dip to wash off the grime.
...No human presence in the vicinity. Looks clear. Not that being seen would kill me, but being watched while bathing is embarrassing regardless of whether you're a man or a woman. If Mother were here, she'd scold me about proper manners and etiquette.
Mother... I still haven't been able to visit my real mother's grave...
...Someday, I will definitely find her resting place. And when I do, I'll report that her child is living well.
◇
Ahhh. The cool spring water felt heavenly against my overheated skin.
Right, I might as well wash my clothes while I'm at it. If I leave them like this, the stench will—a gaze?!
Who's there?! The distance... roughly fifty meters! To get that close without me noticing... an elite master!
Tch! The moment they realized I noticed them, their presence vanished completely. They've already withdrawn!
Was that an examinee just now...? No, their skill level was on a completely different plane.
Regardless, I need to get out of here immediately.
"Are you truly going out into the field yourself, Chairman?"
"Indeed. I shall personally oversee the surveillance of Examinee #401."
"B-But, sir—"
"This matter is settled. I will accept no objections."
"Y-Yes, sir. Understood."
During the Fourth Phase, a proctor was assigned to shadow each examinee to evaluate their competence, psychological fortitude, and tactical adaptability.
There was no way I was letting this golden opportunity slip through my fingers. By shadowing Examinee #401... young lady Aisha, I might finally confirm whether she is Ryusho reincarnated.
If she truly is Ryusho reborn, I have a mountain of complaints to throw at him. I'll make certain I see right through him!
...There is no way in hell I'm letting that bastard die and get away with a hit-and-run victory!
Ah, before I forget, there was an important directive I needed to issue.
"A general order to all Hunters shadowing examinees: If Examinee #401's tracking signal enters within five hundred meters of your designated applicant, immediately withdraw from the area. This is an absolute command."
I had to operate under the assumption that little Aisha was Ryusho. Even if my concealment remained undetected, it would be pointless if she sensed an examiner tailing another applicant nearby.
That would immediately tip her off to my presence.
Well then, the examinees have all departed. Time for me to make my move.
Just to be safe, I draped cloth over my body and camouflaged it with twigs and leaves. A countermeasure against En. In life, Ryusho's En easily had a radius of five hundred meters.
Checking the receiver, finding young Aisha's coordinates was effortless. ...My, she certainly dashed deep into the interior. Time to pick up the pace.
With that, I slipped into the shadows of the forest, pursuing young Aisha.
◇
I followed the transmitter embedded in young Aisha's badge, but... this is absurd. I cannot get any closer than this.
If I close the distance even a fraction more, she will spot me. My instincts are screaming it. Her sensory range is utterly ridiculous! Just stepping a few paces forward earlier almost gave me away!
This only strengthens my conviction that she is Ryusho! Who else notices someone masking their presence in Zetsu from this distance? I have complete confidence that not even top-tier masters could detect my stealth. I even took great care to defocus my gaze so as not to project direct intent...
And what in the world is with that Zetsu of hers?! Without the transmitter, tracking her would be a monumental nightmare! Have a little consideration for the poor soul tailing you, will you?!
Good grief... it was a stroke of luck that I released a few wild animals in her direction to divert her attention. It seems my surveillance hasn't been exposed yet.
Young Aisha resumed moving. Maintaining this delicate distance, neither too close nor too far, I continued the pursuit. Honestly, this is shaving years off my life...
◇
...It seems she has located an examinee.
Her target is... hopeless. Not noticing young Aisha is understandable, but beyond that, the fellow is simply too weak. Aisha won't need to exert even a fraction of a percent of her strength to crush him.
See? Just as I thought. In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance and chopped the nape of his neck. Down he went, knocked cold in an instant. She didn't even need to employ Kazama-ryu. How pathetic. At least put up a token struggle!
Well, no matter. I already have a firm grasp of her martial prowess. After all, she pulled off a flawless Tornado Drop in Trick Tower. The security cameras captured every glorious frame.
I never thought I'd live to see the day I felt genuine pity for Hisoka. Surviving that bone-crushing throw was a miracle in itself. Wait a minute... did Ryusho ever unleash such lethal techniques on me back in the day?
...I swear, when I catch that bastard, I'm going to wring his neck.
Well, considering I pelt him with my 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, I suppose we're even.
Oops, no time for nostalgic reminiscing. The young lady is on the move again. Now then, let's see when she finally slips up.
◇
In a mere two days, she effortlessly gathered all the badges she needed. One can only offer prayers for the poor souls who crossed her path. The gap in ability was astronomical.
She moved almost without rest, yet showed zero fatigue. Her stamina and physical conditioning are on an entirely different level compared to Ryusho. To possess such physical attributes at thirteen... she has boundless room to grow. Ryusho's godlike technique combined with peerless physical potential... is this some kind of sick joke?
The primary reason I always held the upper hand against Ryusho was his fragile mortal vessel. His durability, reflexes, and kinetic vision, while trained far beyond average men, were noticeably inferior to peak martial masters.
He compensated for that shortcoming through sheer depth of anticipation, an astronomical aura pool, and the absolute pinnacle of aura manipulation. No one in the world could read his aura flow to predict his next strike. His ability to shift offensive and defensive aura distribution (Ryu) was unnaturally fast. It was so fast that his Ryu could barely keep pace with my 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Yet even with all that mastery, the moment I unleashed the Bodhisattva, my victory was guaranteed. No matter how deep your foresight, how vast your aura, or how divine your technique, if you cannot evade unavoidable strikes, you will inevitably collapse. With Ryusho's fragile endurance, defeat was only a matter of time.
...Though enduring twelve direct blows before going down was still a terrifying feat. A single lapse in my concentration, and he would have turned the tables on me.
If young Aisha truly is Ryusho... does that mean Ryusho's greatest weakness has been completely eliminated...?
No, no, what kind of nightmare is that? She took my Bodhisattva's palm and walked away with a few scratches! Are you kidding me?!
...Heh. Hehehe. Fascinating. Truly fascinating! Lately, the world has grown dreadfully dull without a worthy rival to test my limits.
The only man who could ever withstand my absolute full power has reincarnated, and he's growing stronger than ever before. If that isn't the greatest blessing under the heavens, I don't know what is! Even if young Aisha isn't Ryusho, her strength is undeniably authentic.
My fighting spirit is throbbing. I sincerely hope you can give me the fight of my life!
Hm? Uh-oh! The young lady is focusing her senses and scanning the surroundings! Did she catch wind of me?! I must fall back immediately!
...Wait, it seems she didn't spot me after all. Whew, don't scare an old man like that... Huh?! W-Wait, she's taking off her outerwear to wash in the spring?!
Oho! That flawless martial posture, framed against the clear spring water, carries a radiant grace!
—Eep! Crap, she noticed me! In my excitement, my presence must have leaked!
Curse it all! She hasn't deduced my identity yet. As much as it pains me, a tactical retreat is required!
There are still five days left in the Fourth Phase! Another opportunity to test her will surely come!
Mark my words, young lady Aisha, I will uncover every last secret you possess!
◇
Four days have passed since I felt that creepy gaze. There are less than twenty-four hours remaining in the exam. Ever since that incident, I've maintained maximum vigilance, but I haven't sensed that presence again. I occasionally picked up other examinees, but none of them matched the terrifying aura of my stalker.
That stalker was in a league of their own. That level of stealth... they were on par with Chairman Netero or myself. Not to toot my own horn, but I never expected to encounter such a monster in the Hunter Exam.
Was it the needle-faced man? If it were Hisoka, he wouldn't run away after being spotted.
Could it be an examiner? Regardless, their motives for stalking me remain a mystery.
I can make a few guesses, though.
Either way, there's a strong chance they are still shadowing me right outside my sensory range. Because of that, I haven't been able to relax for a single second. I haven't taken a bath in four whole days...!
Worse than that... I am exhausted! I haven't had a wink of real sleep.
If I fall into a deep slumber, that stalker might suddenly turn into an assassin. While I can sense threats in light sleep, someone of that caliber is an entirely different beast. I don't have the confidence to react in time.
Well, whatever. Let's finish up the remaining time. I can sleep like a log once the exam is over. Failing here would make all my past efforts meaningless.
Stay sharp until the very end... Hm? Human presences. Multiple... three people, roughly.
They seem to be searching the area. Looking for examinees, most likely... but three people working together is unusual. Are they cooperating? That's quite impressive. Maintaining an alliance in a cutthroat survival trial proves they possess sound judgment and high rationality.
Let's take a closer look... Oh, it's Gon and the others!
The trio of Gon, Leorio-san, and Kurapika-san. If it's those three, mutual cooperation makes total sense.
How wonderful. That's what you call true friends and comrades.
I'm so jealous.
...Maybe I should say hello. Seeing them makes me feel terribly lonely.
Right! Why not give them a little scare while I'm at it? A harmless prank shouldn't hurt, right?
◇
Erasing my presence, I hopped onto the tree branch directly above them. It seems they haven't noticed. Now, dropping straight down to the ground...
"Boo!!"
"Waaah?!"
"Gah?!"
"What the—?!"
Oho. That was an even bigger reaction than I anticipated. But credit where it's due: they instantly snapped into combat stances.
...Did I go a bit overboard?
"W-Whoa, sorry! It's me! Aisha!"
"...What the heck, it's just you, Aisha! Don't scare us like that! We thought an enemy was dropping on our heads!"
"Phew... seriously. You got that close and none of us noticed a thing."
"...You two let your guard down far too easily. We have not established that Aisha is an ally. She may very well be here to claim our badges."
Oof. Leorio-san and Gon seemed willing to brush it off as a harmless prank, but Kurapika-san was eyeing me with deep suspicion.
Given the nature of the exam, his wariness was completely justified.
"I am truly sorry. I happened to be passing by and saw you three, so I couldn't resist... But you don't need to worry about your badges. I've already collected six points, so I don't need any more."
"Hey now, Kurapika, you're being way too suspicious. Aisha would never resort to dirty ambush tactics like that!"
...Um, Leorio-san, I actually collected all my badges by ambushing examinees from behind... An ambush isn't considered a dirty trick, right?
"It's fine, Kurapika. If Aisha wanted to attack us, she could have struck when she landed."
"...You're right. Forgive me, Aisha. I've been on edge."
"Not at all. Given the circumstances of the trial, caution is essential for anyone aspiring to become a Pro Hunter. Your reaction was entirely appropriate."
"I appreciate your understanding."
"Hey, hey! You're making it sound like Leorio and I aren't cautious at all!"
"Leorio, including Gon in that statement is an insult to Gon."
"What did you say?!"
Watching Leorio-san and Kurapika-san bicker brought chuckles from Gon and me. Soon enough, both of them broke into smiles as well.
Ah, this is wonderful. This is the exact kind of camaraderie I've always yearned for.
"By the way, have you three gathered enough badges? ...You looked like you were searching for someone."
"...Well, about that."
"Leorio and I have already secured our passing quotas. The problem is..."
"Yeah... my target badge..."
"We can't find the examinee carrying the three-point badge Gon needs."
"We managed to join forces successfully, and through good fortune, Leorio and I secured our respective targets. However..."
I see. So that's how it is.
Kurapika-san... is truly a kind person.
While the other two probably hadn't considered it, Kurapika-san must have briefly entertained the idea of taking my badge. My statement that 'I don't need badges, so I'm not your enemy' doesn't mean they aren't enemies to me. They still need badges.
Therefore, holding extra badges technically made me a viable target. Kurapika-san's sharp mind undoubtedly arrived at that conclusion.
Yet he chose not to act on it. That alone speaks volumes about his character.
"I see... By the way, which number is Gon looking for?"
"#90."
Hm? ...#90? Could it be...?
I reached into the back pocket of my rucksack and pulled out four badges. One of them had the digits '90' stamped on its surface. ...Oh, boy.
"Um... I actually happen to have that badge right here."
""Eh?!""
"See?"
I held it out for them to see. All three of them froze, staring at the small metal disc in stunned silence.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
A heavy silence descended upon the clearing. I had randomly taken down examinees I encountered, but in doing so, I had inadvertently stolen someone else's three-point target. And that person just happened to be Gon...
What should I do? Handing it over is simple enough, but... Gon would definitely refuse charity. He's that kind of boy.
Yet gathering three separate one-point badges with less than twenty-four hours remaining was virtually impossible.
If I just hand it to him, he'll reject it on principle...
Wait! I have an idea! It might be a little mean to Gon, but...
I'll challenge Gon to a wager. If Gon wins, I hand over the badge. If I win, he must follow one absolute command from me.
Then, when I win, I'll simply order him to accept the badge. If I lose on purpose, it would only wound his pride.
Even if he feels indebted to me, I can't think of any other way to get him to take it. Giving up this badge means I'll be one point short of qualifying, but unlike Gon, I only need to hunt down a single one-point badge. That should be manageable.
This is the only way forward.
"Gon, would you like to have a contest with me?"
"A contest?"
"Yes. A wager. If you win, I will hand this number plate over to you."
"What?! I couldn't possibly accept that!"
Hold on, please don't answer as if you've already won...
"And what if Aisha wins? You have no need for more badges, correct?"
"If I win... let's see. Gon must obey one command of my choosing, no matter what it is. I believe that is a fair trade for a three-point badge, wouldn't you agree?"
"I see... And what kind of contest would this be?"
"Kurapika! I haven't agreed to—"
"Calm down, Gon. Do you have any other alternative? If you wish to pass this exam, accepting this proposal is your only realistic option."
"But..."
"(Listen closely. If we don't secure this badge, we still need three points. You understand that, right?)"
"(...Yeah.)"
They were whispering among themselves. I stood patiently and waited.
"(Even if we take the badge from Aisha, she will only need a single point. If all four of us work together, finding one badge is well within our capability.)"
"(Ah... but what if we can't find one in time? Aisha would fail...)"
"(This is the most efficient path for all of us to pass. With four people searching, securing a single badge will be trivial.)"
"(The four of us... Yeah, you're right.)"
Hm? Finished deliberating?
"Alright, Aisha. I accept your challenge."
"Wait, are you serious?! But then Aisha will—!"
"(Get over here, you idiot! Listen...)"
"(Who are you calling an idiot, damn it?! What is it?)"
...Those two really are close friends.
"So you accept. As for the rules... Since I set the stakes of the wager, it is only fair that Gon decides the competition."
"Really?"
"Yes. I won't go back on my word."
"Any kind of competition?"
"Yes, whatever you like."
Bring it on! Win or lose, my objective is secured.
Though, as a martial artist, I have no intention of throwing the match on purpose.
"Then... since there are fish in that spring over there, let's have a fishing contest!"
"A fishing contest, got it... Wait, what did you just say?"
"A fishing contest! Ah, we should set a time limit. Whoever catches the most fish within ten minutes wins! Leorio, keep time for us!"
"Fishing?"
"Yep."
"For fish?"
"Yep."
"With fishing rods?"
"Yep."
"Can I use my hands?"
"Rods only."
"My feet?"
"Rods only."
"Where do I get a rod?"
"You make your own."
"And the time limit?"
"Ten minutes."
...There is a demon standing before me.
"The clock is already ticking! You better hurry, Aisha! Leorio, how much time is left?"
"Uh, nine minutes and fifteen seconds! (Damn, that's ruthless...)"
"H-Haha... (This is brutal...)"
"Waaaah! Gon, you absolute monster!!"
"Alright! That's one fish!"
As I frantically began carving a makeshift fishing rod from a tree branch, Gon's cheerful victory cheer echoed from behind me...
***
Ten minutes later, the badge officially became Gon's property.
Hmph! All according to calculations!
I-I'm not bitter at all...!
"I'm sorry, Aisha. For taking your badge like that."
"I-It's fine. It was the result of a fair contest that I proposed myself. I have no right to complain."
"Actually, I think you have every right to complain..."
"I agree..."
Was that a bit underhanded of me? But honestly, I couldn't envision a single scenario where I could beat Aisha in a fight.
What was that feeling? It wasn't the chilling, blood-curdling terror Hisoka gave off, but it felt impossible to land a strike on her... To instill a sense of absolute defeat before a fight even begins... Aisha is truly incredible.
I need to become much stronger. If I don't, I'll never be ready to meet Ging... Right, Kite?
"What's done is done. More importantly, Aisha... It might be presumptuous of us to ask now, but would you care to join forces with us? You only need one more point to pass. With the four of us working together, our chances of finding an examinee will increase significantly."
"That's right, Aisha! Let us help you!"
"Yeah! There's no way we're letting you wander off on your own after this!"
"...Are you certain?"
"Of course!"
"Then... I will gladly accept your help."
Wow... what a radiant smile. Leorio's jaw practically hit the floor seeing her smile like that. Maybe Aisha hasn't had many opportunities to talk with people her age. Whenever she's with us, she always looks so genuinely happy.
Talking with friends like this is so much fun. There weren't many kids my age on Whale Island... Well, Leorio is quite a bit older, though. If Killua were here, it would be even livelier. I wonder what he's up to right now? Knowing Killua, he's probably already secured his badges without any trouble.
I can't get distracted. We need to find an examinee for Aisha as fast as possible!
Less than twenty hours remained on the clock.
This was the final stretch. Even if you gathered six points, it meant nothing if you couldn't defend them until the deadline. At this stage, examinees who hadn't reached the passing threshold would be desperately hunting for any prey they could find.
I won't let them take mine. I swore I would pass the Hunter Exam and become a Mythical Beast Hunter. I didn't come all this way just to fail now.
Masking my presence, I maintained sharp vigilance over my surroundings. ...You never know where an ambush might come—An enemy! Sensing a presence, I spun around to find a tall man wearing sunglasses. Too careless, buddy; your stealth needs work!
Nocking an arrow to my bowstring, I prepared to loose—Another presence behind me! Damn it, a two-man squad?! At this rate—Someone on the right as well?! Three people?! Wait, hold on! As panic seized me, a hand gently tapped my shoulder. I whipped my head around, and there—!
Standing before me was a fourth assailant, wearing a deeply apologetic smile... A four-on-one ambush...? Ha... ha, is this a joke?
A sharp impact struck the back of my head, and consciousness instantly faded to black...
◇
—Applicant #54, Pokkle, lost his number plate. Ultimately, he failed the 287th Hunter Exam. Unlike the original timeline, he would pass the exam two years later to earn his Pro Hunter License.