Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who has collected six plates and is now entering the elimination matches.
Just as Gon was beating up Hisoka, candidate number 384, Gereta, witnessed the carnage from the edge of the square.
As a seasoned hunter, Gereta had been certain he'd cleared the fourth exam the moment his target, a child named Gon, was chosen under rules that seemed practically tailored for him.
However, upon closer inspection, Gon had grown larger than Gereta himself, and the madman Hisoka was being beaten senseless in a completely one-sided fight. There was no way he could handle opponents like these.
(I'll just collect three cards from the other candidates. That's the safest bet.)
Gereta decided to abandon Gon and move on, but he took too long to act.
For the first time in his life, Gereta, who had always preyed on others from behind, found himself clearly outflanked. The warm breath on his neck, the wild scent, and the absence of the strange beast that should have been diagonally across from Gon were all signs that something was terribly wrong.
(What an idiot! How could he not notice a beast of that size moving? But he's just an animal. He'll regret not attacking when he had the advantage!)
"Grumble. (What's he doing? Just watching?)"
"(Oh no, I'm going to die...) Um, this is nothing special, but..."
"Grumble?"
Gereta, a hunter who failed the fourth exam. After the exam, he joined an organization dedicated to protecting nature and wildlife, and while working as an amateur hunter with exceptional skills, he also developed his talents as a lecturer and commentator.
One day, during an interview, when asked if he planned to become a professional hunter, Gereta replied, "This is not a world where someone like me can succeed", a statement that further highlighted the harsh reality of hunters to the public.
On Zebir Island, deep within the forest, Killua was wandering aimlessly.
He had already taken the plate from the examinee following him, securing a promising start, but he had no idea where to find his target, number 199, and was walking around unsure of what to do.
(I didn't expect to meet anyone, and I already boasted, so I need to at least get six points to look good.)
"There he is, brother! That's him!"
Just as he was considering shouting to gather people, three examinees surrounded Killua. One of them was the person whose plate Killua had taken earlier, and from their calls, he realized the others were likely their brothers.
"You got beaten by a kid? Get your act together, you coward!"
"Come on, don't say that. Now that we've formed this formation, victory is certain."
"I'm getting my plate back! There's no way you can beat three of us!"
Needless to say, Killua defeated the three attackers and retrieved four plates, including his target's plate numbered 199.
"...Anyone still watching? If the target is among these weaklings, I'll give it to you. Come out."
There was no response to Killua's call for a while, but eventually a young man in ninja attire appeared from a distance. Though initially wary, he relaxed his guard upon seeing that Killua had no intention of fighting.
"You noticed my presence, huh? What's your purpose?"
"I didn't know exactly where you were, but my purpose is to avoid being followed by you from now on. I've gathered six points, and I plan to train after this."
After thinking for a moment, he nodded in agreement.
"...In that case, I'll gladly accept. My target is number 197."
After confirming that the plate thrown by Killua was indeed his target, he put it away and threw his business card to Killua in return.
"My name is Hanzo. I'll repay the favor I received as a ninja, so contact me if you need a hand."
Hanzo disappeared without waiting for a response. Killua remained motionless for a moment before rejoining Gon and the others.
The three brothers, Amori, Iromori, and Umori, failed the fourth exam.Having suffered such a humiliating defeat, they gave up on the next year's exam and joined a local entertainment agency as a trio of comedians.
Thanks to their exceptional physical abilities and distinctive personalities, the trio, known as "The Iu Morimori Brothers' Strange Adventures," became a hit on various variety shows. They were affectionately called "Mori Sanchū" and entertained audiences for many years.
Leorio and Kurapika, who had safely reunited, confirmed what they knew about their respective targets and discussed their plans for the future.
Fortunately, Kurapika's target, Tonpa, was the last person to clear Trick Tower, so both of them had a clear impression of him. The problem was Leorio's target, whom neither of them had any leads on, so they were considering the worst-case scenario of needing to collect three random cards.
"Alright, let's focus on finding the old man at number 16 first, and if we can target others along the way, we'll go for it."
"Hmm, that's probably our only option. If possible, we'd like to finish within three days."
With their plan decided, the two were about to take action when suddenly a large beast rose from the nearby grass.
Kurapika and Leorio instinctively raised their weapons, but Leorio, who had been observing the beast, spoke up.
"Hey, Kurapika, isn't that Gin?"
"Stop saying stupid things and get ready, Leorio! That cute little Gin isn't this big!"
Kurapika's words made sense, but Leorio, who was training himself to observe things as he aimed to become a doctor, could see many similarities between Gin and the beast before them.
"You're Gin, aren't you? Here, sit down and have some of the emergency nuts we had before."
"Guh."
Gin obediently sat down and opened his mouth wide. Leorio apologized for the small amount, given his size, and poured an entire bag of nuts into his mouth. By this point, Kurapika had no choice but to believe, shaking his head in disbelief at the impossible transformation.
"It's definitely a Nen ability. He's way too smart, and something's off about him."
As Leorio spoke while stroking Gin's shiny fur, Kurapika, who had only thought of him as cute before, couldn't help but feel a hint of jealousy. However, the fact that Gin was doing this meant that Gon had defeated Hisoka, and that he had come to help the two of them. Kurapika tried to cheer himself up with this thought.
"Gin, do you remember the middle-aged man who appeared last in the Trick Tower? If possible, I'd like you to take me to him."
"Guh."
As Gin stood up and began leading the way, the two hurriedly followed, feeling the depth of his spiritual power in his previously unseen, reliable figure.
Near the starting position of the fourth exam, behind a rock, candidate number 16, Tonpa, sat dejectedly. The cause of his situation was the route he had chosen in the Trick Tower, the escape route. To put it simply, it was a test where you had to escape from approaching poison gas amid numerous obstacles.
The usual Tonpa would have withdrawn around the third exam for his own safety, but he chose the path of disqualification, which meant certain death, and ended up advancing to the fourth exam. The price he paid was high, and he analyzed that he would need at least two days of rest before he could move properly.
(Is this finally my time to pay my dues? Or will I survive depending on who comes to take it from me?)
It is unclear whether his prayers were answered, but he was later visited by Kurapika and Leorio, who treated him and provided him with nutrients in exchange for the plate. This gave Tonpa some leeway, and although he failed the exam, he was able to complete the Hunter Exam safely and sound.
Tonpa, who failed the fourth exam and was known for crushing newcomers. In the end, he was saved by the very newcomers he had crushed before. After the exam, he resolved to train himself once again and successfully regained his peak physical condition. He continued to participate in the Hunter Exam as long as his body would allow, helping newcomers clear exams beyond their abilities.
And he continued to witness the expressions of betrayal and despair up close in the final moments.
***
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