As we stood on the precipice of the Fifth (and final) Phase, Bodoro a veteran among us made a remark that echoed in everyone's mind:
"We've been tested on everything endurance, deception, courage, adaptability… but not intelligence."
That struck nerves. Suddenly, everyone scrambled. Gon, Leorio, Hanzo, Killua, Kurapika, Gittarackur and Bodoro charged into the Hunter Association library as i walked there. Towering shelves of arcane tomes beckoned. We raided books on combat philosophy, ancient history, logic puzzles anything they could access in the limited hours before the tournament.
Leorio underlined paragraphs in frustration, Hanzo tapped a katana mock‑slice through the air as to keep himself awake as he took notes, Gon tried and failed to read a book, Killua ran basic foe analysis, Kurapika cross-referenced factional codes, Gittarackur scribbled mental models on tactical maps.
Every candidate sweated. Every candidate burned midnight oil. Except me.
Leorio found me reclining in a quiet corner, shoes off, laying there calmly.
"Why aren't you reading anything?"
Leorio spat.
"I'm the smartest guy here," I answered, unmoved. "I've used my head to pass every exam. I'm not wasting reading book, as i know i am smarter than all of you, sooo i know i will pass"
He sneered, "You bastard." Then stormed back to watch his notes.
I stretched out on the cot and took a nap, light, composed.
Before the tournament began, the venerable Chairman Netero sat us individually.
He asked two deceptively simple questions:
Who among your fellow applicants interests you the most?
Who would you most like to avoid fighting?
When it was my turn:
"Gon interests me most—he's young, instinctive, and raw in talent. He's progressed faster than most, and I want to understand why [i already know why]."
"Hisoka is someone I'd avoid. He's a lethal wildcard [pun], intellect and power fused with unpredictability."
Netero's eyes twinkled. Maybe he can tell i was making a pun. Either way, my answers seemed to satisfy him.
Nine candidates remaining.
A single-elimination tournament, but with a twist:
A win and you pass.
A loss puts you in the next round, and gives gives you another chance to win and pass.
Only when one candidate loses all of his fights with every other loser, does the tournament end with one person not getting their hunter card.
Winning requires opponent's admission of defeat or the opponent can't fight anymore, explicit words or obvious incapacity.
Killing results in immediate disqualification, nature of rule: absolute.
This meant eight out of nine would become Hunters, one would not.
Bob vs. Leorio
Weapons were legal, improvised weapons, or brute force. I went in with:
Pepper spray: quick-blind tool.
Taser gun: non-lethal, high-voltage immobilizer.
In the ring, spectators hushed.
I looked Leorio in the eye:
"Forgive me, my friend, but i have to win."
From my belt, I unscrewed the pepper spray. With calibrated aim, I sprayed directly at his face. The spray dispersed, a cloud with burning intensity. Leorio's eyes bulged; tears streamed as he staggered back. He tried to blink it away, confusion blooming as vision blurred.
Then, before he could recover, I flicked out the taser gun. Two short bursts, both at his chest. His muscles convulsed sharply, arms locked mid-air, legs wobbled, and his world tumbled. He hit the ground with soft thud, consciousness fading.
He never said "I give up", but Netero ruled unconsciousness acceptable for defeat. There was no protest; his hand slid emptily on the mat.
Match over.
I raised my arms, victory was mine.
With Leorio out of the winner's bracket, he entered the loser's pool. His next match was against Bodoro.
Before that fight could begin, Killua walked to Bodoro… and ripped his hand clear through Bodoro's chest. Bodoro collapsed, bled out in seconds.
The stadium froze. Horror spread like wildfire.
Netero's said solfly:
"Any killing is a automatic disqualification."
Killua stood stunned. As his brother told him to go home. He was expelled.
Suddenly, the tournament rules flickered: only eight remained. All others including me earned the Hunter license, except for the sole remaining loser and that was Killua .
A few hours later...
Netero stood at a wooden podium. With deliberate solemnity, he took a sleek, red and black card from beneath the podium and placed it in each successful candidate's palm.
A Hunter License
Photo, name, unique ID, Hunter Association watermark
Grants for access, missions, global credibility.
I closed my hand around it. Felt embossed letters under my fingertips.
Outside the building.
Walking out into the sunlight outside the Hunter Exam building was surreal. Security clearance doors parted silently as if for royalty. Civilians passed by, oblivious. Taxi horns, shopfronts, sunlight. And man that was hard for an above average dude.
Survived sea storms, swamps, tower traps, deceptions, culinary trials, staged combat.
Made strategic decisions: while everyone read under panic, I waited; while others lost their heads, I used mine
Leorio limped beside me, nursing pride shards. He tapped his newly minted card and sighed, "do you have a clue why Killua did that."
I lied "nope, no clue" as i don't want to get his older brother attension.
Around me, Gon, Kurapika and Leorio wanted to go to Killua's home for more anwsers but i did not go with them, as i have my own plans, and bet them farewell.
My journey was just beginning.
Author: this is where the fun begins [sorry if the past chapters were a bit boring]