Akira's grin was easy, almost careless."I'm down for anything to reach my goal," he said. "So yeah—if they're in the way, they can all die."
Hinata didn't flinch. His violet-and-white hair caught the dim light like polished steel. "Then you and I are opposites," he said evenly. "I fight to stop evil. If they stood against me, then they were already in the wrong."
Kaori exhaled smoke, unreadable. "Both answers are honest. That's all that matters."After several more answers—some confident, some trembling—she finally stood, the chair groaning behind her. "Good enough. All of you, go on. The next gate awaits."
The iron doors shuddered open.
Akira walked through first, arms swinging at his sides, expression unreadable.Dreams are what separate people like me from everyone else.
He stepped into a vast chamber lined with mirrors and marble. The air buzzed with Tao energy.
A voice echoed from unseen speakers above them:
"The next trial is one of trust. There are fifteen of you remaining. Each of you holds a key. Only by uniting all keys can the next gate open. However—only ten of you may pass through. The rest will fail the exam."
A flash of golden light filled the room. A key materialized before each contestant, hovering midair. Above them, a glowing timer flickered to life—01:00:00—counting down from an hour.
Akira caught his key out of the air and slammed his chest once. "I'm not failing this test."
"Me neither," said Hinata, his violet eyes narrowing. He turned to the group. "All right, everyone—state your reasons for wanting to become a hunter. Then we'll decide who deserves to pass."
A woman in the back spoke first, voice trembling but resolute. "I need to support my family. That's all."
Another followed. "Same here. If I can make it as a hunter, my little brother won't starve."
One by one, the stories spilled out—each one different, but all the same. Survival. Money. Duty.
When Akira's turn came, he straightened, eyes bright. "I'm becoming a hunter to take the first step toward becoming King."
A few scoffs rippled through the group.
"That's ridiculous," someone muttered. "You're chasing a fantasy while we're fighting for our families."
Akira's smirk faded. His voice grew low, but it carried. "Dreams are the most important thing there is. They're what make humans more than just moving objects. People without dreams… they're already dead. They don't fight—they just exist."
His words hung in the air, sharp as glass.
By the time the arguing died down, the group had already divided. Ten stood together—those who had agreed on compromise and practicality. The other five—Akira, Hinata, the boy in the yellow-striped jacket, and two quiet figures—stood apart.
Akira turned to them, voice casual again. "So, what about you two?"
The boy with the yellow jacket grinned and raised a hand. "Name's Jackson. I need to become a hunter to get stronger, plain and simple."
Hinata crossed his arms, his tone cool. "And the last two? They said they're just in it for the money."
Akira glanced up at the glowing clock—00:42:11. The ticking felt louder now.
Trust, huh? he thought. Guess we'll see how long that lasts.