[The Airship]
The final candidates had boarded.
Thanks to Ryker's carry, Ponzu made it through. But from here on, she was on her own. Ryker wasn't a babysitter.
Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio also passed smoothly.
"We meet again, Ryker-kun!"
Netero greeted him with a smile, looking over the survivors.
There were more than usual this year. And the quality was high.
He was satisfied.
The airship cruised through the night sky. Netero called each candidate into the interview room individually.
[Interview Room]
Ryker was the first one called.
"Hungry? You probably didn't eat well on the island," Netero smiled kindly.
"I ate fine. What does the Chairman want to ask?"
"I've looked at your performance. You're currently the top-ranked candidate. Before the Final Phase, I need to ask everyone a few questions."
Netero sat cross-legged in front of a calligraphy scroll that read "Heart."
"First, Ryker-kun. Why do you want to become a Pro Hunter?"
"Only with a license can I access restricted areas. I have many places I want to go, and many challenges I want to face."
Ryker's eyes burned with "passion" and "justice."
"I love fighting! Combat makes me stronger!"
Gotta sell the Battle Junkie persona, Ryker thought. If I look like a shonen protagonist who loves fighting, it explains why I hunt people for traits.
Besides, he had copied Netero's [Absolute Will]. He might as well act like a martial artist.
"Ho ho! High spirits! Admirable!" Netero praised.
Yeah, yeah, old man. When are you going to let me copy your Bodhisattva? Ryker grumbled internally.
"Second question. Aside from yourself, who among the candidates interests you the most?"
"No one really stands out. But if I had to pick... Gon. His potential is huge."
"I see."
Netero asked a few more standard questions.
"Final question. If you could choose your opponent for the Final Phase, who would it be?"
Ryker grinned.
"I want to fight a lot of people. Rather than the license, I enjoy the process."
"Hisoka (#44). Gittarackur (#301). Hanzo (#294). Killua (#99). And..."
Ryker listed almost everyone strong.
These were the big fish.
"Cough... that many?" Netero blinked. "This is a tournament, Ryker-kun. You can't fight everyone."
"Chairman Netero," Ryker leaned forward. "I recall you owe me a favor."
"Oh?"
"Can you arrange it? Give me more fights. I want a gauntlet."
"That... is difficult. The bracket is already set to be fair. If you fight everyone, stamina becomes an issue."
"I'm sure. 100% sure. Please, Chairman."
Ryker wasn't going to let these traits swim away.
"If that's too hard... how about this? Let them fight me in a wheel battle! Anyone who defeats me gets a license!"
Netero: "..."
Good lord. He wants to be the Raid Boss?
Netero knew Ryker was already Pro Hunter level. If he was the gatekeeper, maybe three people would pass. Maybe none.
"Ryker-kun, your standard is too high. And I don't know you well enough to trust you with that kind of authority."
Netero chuckled, shaking his head.
But then his smile vanished.
His eyes went wide.
In front of him sat... Isaac Netero.
Ryker was gone.
In his place was a perfect copy of the Chairman. Same kimono. Same earlobes. Same aura.
What the hell?
Netero rubbed his eyes, then reached out to grab the "imposter."
His hand moved at supersonic speed.
But the "Fake Netero" leaned back casually, dodging the grab with the exact same rhythm and flow as the real one.
It looked slow because of the afterimage, but it was impossibly fast.
"Chairman, you wouldn't want to lose a genius like me, right? I hope to serve as an Examiner for this round!!"
The fake Netero spoke, then shimmered and reverted to Ryker.
[Super Copy] (Gold)!
"Transmutation? Conjuration? Incredible... you copied my appearance, my aura, and even my rhythm perfectly," Netero gasped. "This is the most flawless disguise I've ever seen."
So he really has awakened Nen. And he's a genius at it.
Netero felt a spark of excitement.
This boy... could he be my successor?
"Interesting... Letting a candidate be an Examiner is unprecedented. But..." Netero stroked his beard. "You did beat me at the ball game. And I do owe you a favor."
While Netero mused, Ryker's appearance shifted again.
The air in the room grew heavy. Oppressive.
A deep, magnetic voice resonated.
Ryker was gone.
Standing there was a tall man with brown hair slicked back, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a white captain's haori.
He exuded an aura of absolute transcendence.
"In this world, truth is merely what the living choose to believe."
He pushed up his glasses.
"From now on, I will stand at the top."
"Chairman Netero... Examiner Aizen Sousuke reporting for duty!"
Read ahead with 30+ chapters now with daily updates!
@patreon.com/Authorizz