Chapter 43 – The End of the First Phase
Out of the 405 elite candidates gathered from every corner of the world for the Hunter Exam, only a fraction still remained.
After seven relentless hours, the first phase was finally drawing to a close.
Inside the long, dim underground corridor, the sound of countless footsteps echoed endlessly.
The path, though mostly flat, twisted again and again—filled with sharp turns, hidden traps, and exhaustion that eroded both mind and body.
One by one, people dropped out, collapsing or falling behind.
The rest grit their teeth and ran harder, desperate to endure to the very end.
But life, as always, had a way of tossing in surprises—
and that unpredictability was exactly what made it so intoxicating.
---
At last, the runners at the front began to see a faint glow up ahead.
After hours of darkness, that single sliver of light felt like dawn breaking after a long night.
Excitement surged through the group—
but just as hope bloomed, it was crushed in the next instant.
A towering flight of steep stone stairs loomed before them, stretching upward like a vertical waterfall.
It wasn't just tall. It was endless.
The kind of climb that mocked your strength and patience alike—
the perfect embodiment of the saying "A horse dies before reaching the mountain."
---
"Alright, everyone!" Examiner Satotz's calm voice rang out ahead. "We're nearing the final stretch! I'll be increasing my pace!"
Before anyone could react, his already long strides became even longer.
In the blink of an eye, he turned into a blur—
and within seconds, even his shadow vanished into the distance.
"Wait—what?!"
The crowd froze for a split second before panic set in.
Those stairs didn't even look like stairs anymore—they were a wall.
But no matter how much they wanted to complain, the truth was simple:
if they didn't move now, they'd lose sight of the examiner.
And in the Hunter Exam, losing sight meant failing.
So they ran. Harder than before.
---
Osren, of course, wasn't panicking.
He was comfortably perched on Tonpa's back, arms loosely around his neck, looking as calm as a cat napping through a storm.
Tonpa, on the other hand, wasn't having such a good time.
The extra weight was starting to show.
Sweat trickled down from his temple, his breathing grew heavier—but his pride wouldn't let him complain.
He'd agreed to this.
And if he backed out now, all that effort to build up his "friendly veteran" image would go up in smoke.
Losing their trust now would only make it harder to crush them later.
Not worth it, he decided grimly.
If he'd already spent the energy, he might as well finish the act and look good doing it.
---
"Uncle Tonpa," Gon said between breaths, running beside him, "do you want me to take over? You're sweating a lot."
Tonpa almost wanted to say yes.
Almost.
But the words that came out were the complete opposite.
"Haha, no need! Didn't you hear the examiner? It's the final sprint—I can handle this!"
He forced out a hearty laugh, though his legs were starting to tremble.
Gon gave him a worried look but didn't argue further, choosing instead to stay close, ready to help if needed.
---
Step by step, they pushed forward through the suffocating darkness toward that glimmer of light—
toward the end of the first phase of the Hunter Exam.
And though none of them knew it yet,
what waited beyond that stairway would be a far greater trial than anything they'd faced so far.
As they pressed forward, Tonpa, the man once dubbed one of the "Ten Most Inspiring Hunters", now wanted nothing more than to slap himself in the face.
"Almost there," he muttered, staring up at the seemingly endless staircase ahead, trying to comfort himself.
---
"Huff… huff…"
Leorio was practically half-naked by this point—his shirt long gone, only a pair of pants and that ridiculous tie still hanging loosely around his neck. Sweat poured off him in streams as he gasped for air, flinging droplets everywhere. The sight was… valiant, in a messy sort of way.
"So that's why, huh? You big liar." Kurapika ran beside him, unable to resist teasing after hearing what Leorio had said earlier.
If you asked Osren, Leorio wasn't a liar at all—just misunderstood. A good guy who talked tough. But of course, Kurapika wouldn't admit that out loud; this was his subtle way of making up for judging too quickly.
"I never lied!" Leorio barked back. "I said I was in it for the money—and I am! I love money, sure, but that's not a crime. I don't steal or cheat. I just work for it."
It was blunt, honest, and somehow refreshing.
"Then I wish you success," Kurapika replied sincerely. Ever since overhearing Leorio muttering to himself earlier, his opinion had changed. The guy wasn't greedy—he was driven.
"I don't need encouragement from some kid!" Leorio shouted, but his flushed face told another story. "Even if it kills me, I'm becoming a Hunter!"
From Osren's vantage point on Tonpa's back, his sharp eyes easily caught the truth—Leorio's face was redder than a monkey's behind.
---
Gon and Osren saw the two bickering ahead but decided not to interrupt. Gon wasn't the type to "watch drama," but he did stay close—just in case Leorio ran out of strength and needed a hand.
Killua, meanwhile, jogged beside Tonpa, sneaking glances at Osren and Gon. Now he looked like someone watching a live show.
---
"I meant becoming a doctor," Kurapika said suddenly, voice calm but firm, as if he truly believed Leorio would make it happen.
"Wha—don't say stuff like that so casually!" Leorio's ears turned red instantly. "If people misunderstand—ugh, forget it! I'm sprinting ahead!"
And like a man with his pants on fire, he bolted.
"No problem, Leorio!" Kurapika called after him.
"You'll see!" Leorio yelled back between breaths. "Once I set my mind to something, I never quit! Even if I die gasping for air, I'll make it to the finish line!"
He pumped his arms and legs furiously, throwing himself toward the light ahead.
---
"I should learn from him," Kurapika murmured with a faint smile, shrugging off his jacket and speeding up.
Ever since he'd met Gon and Osren, he'd become more open, a little more alive. The ache of losing his clan still lingered, but it no longer chained him. He could laugh now—like Leorio did—and that, in itself, was healing.
---
At last, faint white light glimmered ahead. The tunnel's monotone darkness was finally giving way to brightness. The end was in sight.
"The exit's right there, Osren!" Gon grinned.
"Yeah… we made it," Osren said softly.
Just like in the original story, when they neared the end, the tension melted away.
Victory close at hand, no one felt the need to rush anymore.
Osren hopped down from Tonpa's back, and Tonpa let out a deep, grateful sigh.
"You look awfully happy," Killua remarked, noticing Gon's wide smile. "It's just the exit. You weren't going to lose anyway—what's the big deal?"
"You're not happy?" Gon blinked.
"Not really," Killua said with a shrug. "It's just an exit. This exam's kinda boring. Not fun at all."
"But if we pass, we'll become Hunters!" Gon's eyes lit up with excitement.
Killua tilted his head. "Why do you even want to be a Hunter that badly?"
He genuinely couldn't understand the obsession. To him—a member of the Zoldyck family— a Hunter license wasn't anything special.
"Because my dad's a Hunter," Gon said simply. "I know he must be an incredible one."
"Must be?" Killua echoed.
"Yeah. I was raised by Aunt Mito, so I've only ever seen pictures of him," Gon admitted. "But that's fine. I just want to become a Hunter like he is."
Killua looked at him, surprised.
He couldn't relate to that kind of faith—but somehow, it was fascinating.
---
So this is it, Osren thought with a small smile. The start of Gon and Killua's friendship. Just like in the original story, even with me here, their bond still forms the same way. And honestly, I'm glad. Following these two? Definitely the right choice.
Killua, now glancing toward the glowing exit, found himself smiling too.
Maybe this exam wasn't as boring as he thought.
"Lots of good food ahead," Gon said cheerfully.
"Yeah," Osren grinned. "And we love good food most of all."
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