The group looked at the iron gate behind Ronnel. There was no sign of Netero coming out.
Apparently, he had no issue with Ronnel's tests and results.
A defeated silence lingered as the disqualified examinees left, their shoulders slumped under the indifferent gazes of nearly a thousand remaining candidates.
The first phase was over. Out of the thousand who passed, many were severely injured. Though technically still in the competition, they were in no condition to continue. The real competition had narrowed to around nine hundred.
There were plenty of people left, but in Ronnel's mind, only two specific numbers mattered.
"The next set of numbers is…"
As soon as he spoke, the examinees tensed up, hearts pounding in their chests.
"Four hundred and ninety-nine."
Four hundred and ninety-nine? Just one short of five hundred?!
And… nearly half of them would be eliminated this round!
The tension was palpable as Ronnel raised a finger and shook it slightly.
"This time, you have ten minutes."
Ten… ten minutes?
The candidates' expressions turned serious.
By now, they were familiar with Ronnel's testing methods, especially after forming groups of 140 and 500 earlier. But now, he was giving them twice as much time as before.
Was this to encourage them to fight it out?
Ponzu, Sommy, and several others exchanged uneasy glances.
The rest of the examinees seemed to have reached the same conclusion, their eyes darkening with determination.
"I gave you this much time, but it's not for you to fight~"
Ronnel clicked his pocket watch, starting the countdown.
"I just want the test to end quickly. In fact, the next phase will likely have no casualties, because…"
His gaze landed on a conspicuous silver-haired kid shifting restlessly in the crowd. A slight smile played on his lips.
"Some people can't sit still~"
Boom!
The moment Ronnel pressed the watch, someone moved.
In an instant, chaos erupted. One by one, candidates began to collapse.
"Ten minutes… Knock out the others and leave four hundred and ninety-nine standing."
Killua darted through the crowd, his movements a blur. Wherever he passed, examinees dropped like flies, as if he were harvesting heads.
"Enough!"
The sudden drop in numbers sent a wave of alarm through the remaining candidates.
"That kid…"
Watching Killua flicker between opponents, his speed incomprehensible, fear crept into their hearts.
They scrambled to get out of his way. Even the veteran examinees strategically repositioned themselves.
The three Amori brothers, who had already learned the hard way how terrifying Killua was, backed off cautiously. Though they had mocked him earlier, now they were just relieved they weren't in his direct path.
After all, in the previous hunting phase on Zevil Island, Killua had easily taken their number plates. The memory was still fresh in their minds.
Seeing him go all out now, they didn't hesitate to retreat.
Of course, some examinees refused to back down, either due to arrogance or blind confidence in their own abilities. They charged at Killua head-on.
The result was obvious.
One by one, they crumpled to the ground.
Still, their sacrifice wasn't meaningless.
At the very least, they served as an example, making others realize just how powerful Killua was. One by one, candidates abandoned the idea of direct confrontation and opted to steer clear of him.
"Hiss… Damn."
Among the remaining examinees, Bourbon—a thick-browed, sharp-eyed fighter—had managed to survive the previous phases thanks to his agility and combat skills.
Now, watching Killua effortlessly dominate, his eyes gleamed with excitement. He wanted to rush in, test his skills, maybe even align himself with the silver-haired menace.
But then…
"Ah? Oh, it's you. Sorry, I'm in a hurry. Let me pass."
And now, with only four hundred and ninety-nine spots open, there was no point in taking him out.
So, with a brief nod, Killua stepped past him, leaving Bourbon standing there, dumbfounded.
"Did he… just let me go?"
Still reeling from the encounter, Bourbon barely noticed as the battlefield shifted around him.
Killua was almost done.
All fighting had stopped.
The remaining examinees stood in stunned silence, staring at the silver-haired boy who moved like lightning.
"Is he really one of us?" someone muttered in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding. The gap is insane…"
Candidates exchanged uneasy glances, swallowing hard.
"As expected of the Hunter Exam," another mumbled. "You meet monsters everywhere…"
Some were terrified.
Others, those obsessed with power, were exhilarated.
But no matter their reaction, one thing was clear.
Killua was on a whole different level.
Even among the veteran candidates—those who had previously seemed like potential threats—many had fallen to him.
Among them were the three Amori brothers, who had tried so hard to stay out of his way. It was futile.
Killua had picked them off one by one.
Even though they had carefully hidden themselves, he found them.
With a swift hand chop to each, he ended their hopes of passing this year's Hunter Exam.
Their journey had come to an abrupt and humiliating end.
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