(Massaru, Shigeru, and several subordinates are at work. They dig up soil to construct a kind of bunker, weld pieces together, and move carts filled with mechanical parts underground. There are several stairways, and some areas of the underground bunker have already been paved.)
(Five days after Fakuro's departure, Noru can be seen lying on the roof of his house, eating an apple.)
Noru Takeda(In his thoughts) A wise man once said, "Expect the unexpected." But if you expect the unexpected, does it stop being unexpected? And if that's the case, when does the expected become unexpected? Or should I act unexpectedly when something expected finally arrives?Aaaaahhh… I'm way too bored.
(A noise is heard, and an arrow can be seen embedded in a tree near Noru's house.)
Noru TakedaWhat the hell is this?
(He takes the letter and reads it.)"Dear aspiring official hunter, you are cordially invited to attend the recruitment for a mission led by Emerald-rank hunter Massaru and Sapphire-rank hunter Shigeru. The meeting will take place at Fortress Lake tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. If you do not know how to get there, you may depart from the central village and travel 30 km northeast. We hope to count on your valuable participation. Kind regards."
Noru TakedaWooow, a mission! How exciting—but… honestly, I don't even know where northeast is. Guess I'll have to miss it this time.(He crumples the paper and throws it away.)
(Another arrow strikes the tree.)
Noru TakedaHuh? Another message?
(He reads it and brightens up.)"Buy a compass in the central village… Useless."
(He gets annoyed.)
(Scene change. Noru arrives at the lake, where Tsubaki and Hisoka are already present. Use the reference example for the lake's layout.)
Noru TakedaHeeey, Tsubaki, Hisoka! Long time no see.
Tsubaki IkariIt's only been five days.(She shows a small smile.)
Hisoka AhaneI missed you! Come here!(He hugs Noru and lifts him up.)
Noru TakedaSee, Tsubaki? It wouldn't kill you to be a little more like Hisoka.
Tsubaki IkariThat's never going to happen.(She keeps her subtle smile.)
(Two new hunters descend from among the trees. Refer to the character reference file to identify them and draw their proportions.)
Tensei BushidaGood morning, everyone. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Tensei Bushida, I'm fifteen years old, and this is Jìngzhōu Wáng.
Jìngzhōu WángH-h-hello…(She looks shy.)
Noru TakedaWooow, fifteen? I was rejected from the hunter trial when I was your age. Times really have changed.
(Tensei looks embarrassed and laughs.)
Tsubaki IkariHello, nice to meet you as well. It's good to see new faces.
Tensei BushidaYeah. I've been looking for you for four days—the last three survivors of the trial.(He smiles.)
(The three of them show shocked expressions.)
Hisoka AhaneWhat do you mean, the last three?
Jìngzhōu WángY-yes… a-apart from… us… o-only… y-you three… are left.
Noru TakedaThat's impossible. There have to be more.
ShigeruUnfortunately, they are correct. Village 1 has five students still alive. Village 2 has eight survivors. Village 3 has four.
ShigeruToday, as part of the special mission you were summoned for, you will have to pass four trials. These will determine whether you are worthy candidates to become hunters of this organization.
(The five of them look at him with confused expressions.)
ShigeruYou from Village 1 will face five of the recruits from Village 2 in or—
Noru TakedaHey, sorry to interrupt, but I don't understand anything that's going on.
ShigeruYou useless idiot—so you did manage to make it after all. Relax, you'll understand soon enough. Just remember this: it's a competition. Do your best, and try not to die.(He smiles.)
Tsubaki IkariAre you at least going to tell us who you are?(She looks serious.)
ShigeruMy name is Shigeru. It's a pleasure to meet you.
(He bows while pulling out a remote control.)
ShigeruAnd goodbye.
(He presses the button on the remote, and the ground beneath the five of them breaks apart, sending them falling into the void.)
Shigeru(Speaking through his hunter bracelet) Massaru, they're on their way. I'll head down shortly.
(Scene change. They are now underground, inside a room with steel walls.)
Noru TakedaOuch, that hurt! What just happened?!
Jìngzhōu WángWe fell.(She maintains her timid demeanor.)
Tensei BushidaI don't think that's what he meant, Jing.(He gets excited.)
Tensei BushidaLook! There are games in the center of the room. Anyone feel like playing poker?(He approaches and takes a deck of cards from a box. There are several decks, a Rubik's Cube nearby, and a box with wooden Tetris-shaped pieces.)
Hisoka Ahane(He walks over and picks up the Rubik's Cube from the floor.)What kind of test is this supposed to be?
(A voice is heard through a loudspeaker.)
MassaruWelcome, dear recruits, to the Purification Trial—a special test designed to measure the level of this generation of hunters and to separate those who are useful from those who are not. You will have to clear four levels. Solve the mystery of each one, and you will find the exit. Good luck to you all.First stage: "Mind Games."
Tsubaki IkariWhat kind of stupid test is this? Let us out of here.(She looks furious.)
MassaruAs high-ranking hunters, we have the authority to deploy recruits on missions. Consider this one of them.
Hisoka AhaneIt's useless, Tsubaki. We won't get out unless we do what they said. We'd better try to solve the puzzle.
Tsubaki Ikari(Resigned.) Fine. You two, stop playing around and give me the cards.(Noru and Tensei are seen on the floor playing.)
Noru TakedaWait, I'm one card away from winning.
(He whispers to Tsubaki.)I just need the eight of hearts, and victory is guaranteed.(He has two eights in his hand, and five more cards are on the ground—one of them is an eight.)
Tsubaki IkariA strong hand
Noru TakedaShhh—hey, you're ruining my game.
Tensei BushidaI raise the bet to ten apples.
Noru TakedaI'll call.
(The final card is revealed: the King of Spades.)
Noru TakedaThree of a kind—eights!
Tensei BushidaThree kings.(smiles smugly)
Noru TakedaNooo… my apples…(sighs in defeat)Tsubaki, lend me some apples. I'll pay you back—with interest.(Hisoka and Tsubaki are standing nearby, watching.)
Jìngzhōu WángUm… do you… think… this… means… something?
(They all stand up and walk toward a wall. Several cards are pinned to it.)
8 of Hearts, 5 of Spades, ________, 9 of Spades________, 6 of Hearts, 7 of Spades, ________
Hisoka Ahane(thinking)Cards… pinned to the wall.
(Tensei opens the remaining decks, checking whether they are complete.Tsubaki and Noru step away.)
Tensei BushidaAlright.(He starts sorting them, while Jìngzhōu stares at the wall, fully focused.)
Tsubaki IkariThere's something strange about this wall too.
Noru TakedaSame here.(He's standing on the opposite side from Tsubaki.)
(Scene change. Hisoka, Tsubaki, and Noru regroup.)
Hisoka Ahane(looking at Noru's wall)One wall is incomplete, the wall near Tsubaki has a square cavity, and the first wall has the cards.The deck must correspond to that wall—the cards are missing from it.The Rubik's Cube likely connects to Tsubaki's wall.That leaves the box of wooden pieces for this one.
Tsubaki IkariIt's not as difficult as I expected.The cube fits the cavity perfectly.The logical step is to insert it once it's solved.
Hisoka AhaneThen it's some kind of circuit. All three games need to be completed.Alright, let's split up.Tsubaki, you handle the cube.Noru and I will work on the wall puzzle.Tensei and Jìngzhōu, take the cards.
Tsubaki IkariMe? I don't think that's a good idea.I've never been good with things that require patience.
Hisoka AhaneThere's always a first time. Whoever finishes first will help you, and—
(Shigeru's voice echoes through the speakers.)
ShigeruYou have eight hours left to clear this level.
(The side walls begin to close in. A clock lights up on the wall without a game.)
Noru TakedaWhat's happening?!
Jìngzhōu WángI-I'm… sorry…I p-put… the c-cards… from the f-first g-game… where I th-thought they g-go… and then… this h-happened…Please… forgive me…(She looks frightened and on the verge of tears. Tensei, meanwhile, casually keeps playing with the cards.)
Hisoka AhaneIt's okay. We still have eight hours.Just be careful—it looks like the time decreases every time we make a mistake.
EveryoneGot it!
(Time passes.Noru and Hisoka make steady progress on the wall puzzle.Tsubaki is sweating, barely making headway with the cube.Tensei watches her calmly.Jìngzhōu lays out possible card combinations on the floor, hesitating each time she considers placing them, still shaken by what happened earlier.)
(Puzzle reference for the wall. Keep in mind that it should be a larger extension of the room's wall, and the box of pieces must be proportional to the size of the puzzle.)
(Four hours have passed.)
Tsubaki Ikari(Tensei watches her as she struggles with the cube.)I give up—this is impossible!(She throws the cube aside, clearly overwhelmed.)
Tensei BushidaIt's not impossible. You just lack perspective.
Tsubaki IkariPerspective? What do you mean?
Tensei BushidaThe cube follows specific patterns when being solved.You just haven't been able to see them yet.The first thing is—
(The loudspeaker cuts him off.)
ShigeruYou have two hours remaining to clear this level.
(Everyone freezes in shock.)
Tsubaki IkariTwo hours?!But we had four just a moment ago!
Hisoka AhaneDid you notice what triggered it?(It's a rhetorical question. He turns toward Noru.)
Noru TakedaThe time was cut in half right after we placed the final piece in the wall puzzle.That means the remaining time decreases every time we complete a challenge.
Hisoka Ahane(Remembers the cards from earlier, when Jìngzhōu placed them.)I'll go check on Jìngzhōu.Try to support Tsubaki and Tensei.
(Scene shifts back to Tsubaki's side of the room.)
Tsubaki IkariSo… do you think you can solve the cube?(She's visibly shaken by the time limit.)
Tensei BushidaYes.It'll take a bit of time, though.(He says it calmly, still not worried.)
Tsubaki IkariAlright.Thank you… seriously.
(Scene changes to Hisoka and Jìngzhōu.)
Hisoka AhaneJìngzhōu, about the cards—
Jìngzhōu WángI-I still haven't s-solved it…I'm s-sorry… p-please don't be mad…(She raises her hands defensively, clearly frightened.)
Hisoka Ahane(confused)Hey, calm down. I didn't mean to scare you.I just need you to remember how you arranged the cards the first time.(He looks apologetic.)(Inner monologue)That's the first time I've seen someone react like that.
Jìngzhōu WángAh… o-okay… l-let me… arrange them…
8 of Hearts, 5 of Spades, 4 of Hearts, 9 of Spades3 of Spades, 6 of Hearts, 7 of Spades, 2 of Hearts
Hisoka AhaneWow, that was fast.What strategy did you use?Was there some kind of formula?Or a hidden code you had to complete?
Jìngzhōu WángI j-just followed the d-diagonal s-sequence.(She removes the missing cards.)We h-have 5, 7, and 9… so the m-missing one is 3.And for h-hearts, there's 8 and 6, so it c-continues with 4 and 2.T-Tensei told me it w-was correct the first time I placed them.
Hisoka Ahane(mentally stunned)Was it really that simple?!Well… yeah, that actually makes sense.Good job, Jìngzhōu.(He smiles at her.)
Jìngzhōu WángTh-thank you…(She looks happy, though still shy.)
Hisoka AhaneBut if Tensei already knew…why didn't he say anything?
Jìngzhōu WángHe s-said this w-was a t-test to see h-how g-good we are as h-hunters.If he s-solved everything himself, we w-wouldn't learn what we're c-capable of.
Hisoka AhaneSo he figured it all out the moment we got here…Now I understand why he's here.He's not a normal person—and yet, he acts like one.(He looks over and sees Tensei steadily solving the cube.)
Tensei BushidaSee? Once you complete the first section, the rest becomes much simpler.Just don't lose that first face, and make sure opposite colors stay aligned with their correct center pieces.
Noru TakedaThat sounds easier than it actually is…Anyway, let's get out of here already.
Tensei BushidaWe will.After Tsubaki solves the cube.
Noru TakedaWhat?!(He freezes in shock.)
(Tensei tosses the scrambled cube to Tsubaki.)
Tsubaki IkariWait—no! You already had it solved.We could've escaped already.(She's clearly irritated.)
Tensei BushidaWe'll escape.You just need to put it together. Go on—you can do it.(He sits down cross-legged.)
Tsubaki IkariThis isn't a game. Stop acting like it is—our lives are at risk.(Her anger intensifies.)
Tensei BushidaAlright then.Look me in the eyes and tell me you're not capable of doing it.(His smile fades; he becomes serious.)
(Tsubaki meets his gaze, her reflection visible in his eyes. She grows serious, then looks at Noru and Hisoka before taking the cube.)
(Tsubaki is visibly stressed. Time keeps passing, and she starts to get stuck. She keeps trying, growing more desperate. The room continues to shrink, forcing them to remain standing.)
Tsubaki IkariDamn it… I can't do this.I don't want to fail… I don't want to fail you.(She's frightened and frustrated, tears welling up in her eyes.)
Tensei BushidaCalm down. You're close.You three, move toward the door.I'll stay here with Tsubaki while she finishes.
Noru TakedaAlright.
Tsubaki IkariTensei, I won't make it.Please, just solve the cube.If someone gets hurt because of me, I—(She's on the verge of breaking down, fully panicked.)
Tensei BushidaTsubaki… I'm sorry.I didn't mean to push you this hard.I just wanted to see how you'd react under pressure.
Tsubaki IkariWhat…?(She's confused.)
Tensei BushidaYou learn a lot about people in stressful situations.From the moment we entered, I could tell what each of you was like on the surface—but under these conditions, I can see what's inside.(He gives her a faint smile.)
Your reaction was exactly what I expected.But those two… Noru and Hisoka—they're not nervous at all.For some reason, they trust that you can do this.
Tsubaki Ikari(Looking at the cube)I don't want to give up.I want to save them… but I won't let anyone get hurt.(She's still sad, but steadier.)
Tensei BushidaLet's make a deal.If you haven't solved it when there are thirty minutes left, I'll finish the cube myself.
Tsubaki IkariDo you promise?(She sounds serious, eyes lowered, still nervous.)
Tensei BushidaI promise.Let's try one more time.
(Tsubaki takes the cube and starts solving it again. Her expression becomes focused and cold, fully concentrated.)
Noru TakedaTsubaki, I don't want to rush you, but there's barely any space left.
Tsubaki IkariRelax. I think I've got it.(She smiles as she keeps working.)
(She completes the final face.)
I—I did it.Did you see that? I actually did it!(Her calm expression breaks as excitement takes over.)
Tensei BushidaWell done.But let's save the celebration for after we're out.(He smiles.)
(They place the cube into the slot. The walls stop closing, and a hidden door opens in the wall where the clock was.)
Massaru – Scientist(Over the loudspeaker)Congratulations. Level one cleared.Climb the stairs to proceed to the second stage.
(Scene change: a control room filled with screens monitoring the different levels. Massaru reviews the feeds while Shigeru lies on a futon.)
Shigeru (Viking)What do you think of them?
Massaru – ScientistThey took too long.I don't see much potential—but they are entertaining.Team Village 2 is about to enter Level 3.They might even have time to sleep in that scenario.
Shigeru (Viking)I see.By the way… do you think it'll take him long to realize?
Massaru – ScientistHe'll find out tomorrow morning.He has a mission scheduled, and they were ordered to take at least one recruit whenever the mission is below Gold rank.
Shigeru (Viking)Alright.I'd better get some rest—tomorrow's going to be busy.
End