"Would you like some juice?" Tonpa asked, taking advantage of the moment after sharing intel about some tough competitors in this year's Hunter Exam. He reached into his satchel and pulled out several bottles of beverages, distributing them among the group.
Gon accepted the juice without hesitation. Seeing this, Kurapika and Leorio also took the drinks. When Tonpa handed one to Daniel, Daniel looked at him with a sly smile before accepting the bottle.
Ah!
Suddenly, a scream echoed from nearby. The group turned to see a young man in a blue cloak, his arms inexplicably disappearing, blood spraying from where his arms once were. The crowd instinctively backed away, leaving only a red-haired youth in a suit adorned with red playing card symbols standing calmly nearby. Daniel immediately recognized him as Hisoka.
"Oh my, it seems your arms turned into flowers and vanished. That has nothing to do with me," Hisoka said with a smile, looking at the youth who had collapsed in pain, his arms stopping at the shoulders. "Next time, remember to apologize properly when you bump into someone."
With that, Hisoka continued walking, the crowd parting instinctively to make way for him. His earlier display had left a significant impact, and no one dared to approach him, maintaining a ten-meter distance around him.
"Nen is truly fascinating," Daniel thought. To the average person, watching someone's arms transform into flowers and disappear was incredible. However, for those who understood Nen and could see it, it wasn't as miraculous. Daniel, though not yet versed in Nen, could see through Hisoka's illusion with his own power.
Hisoka's Nen abilities, Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise, were well-known. Though not particularly strong on their own, Hisoka's masterful application of these abilities placed him among the top tiers in the world. Even those who knew his abilities often fell into his traps.
Daniel suspected that few members of the Hunter Association's Zodiacs could defeat Hisoka, excluding Ging.
"That's Hisoka, number 44. He could have passed last year," Tonpa explained as Gon and the others watched Hisoka. Tonpa had almost targeted Hisoka with his juice last year but decided against it, sensing Hisoka's dangerous aura. Despite his cowardice, Tonpa's keen sense of danger had kept him alive through numerous exams.
"Why didn't he pass?" Leorio asked, his dreams of becoming a Hunter making him particularly concerned about the exam.
"Because he beat up the examiner in the final test, so he was disqualified," Tonpa replied. For those unfamiliar with the true power of Hunters, Hisoka's action might seem shocking but not extraordinary. However, those who understood the prowess of real Hunters knew how incredible it was.
"Why let someone like him retake the exam?"
"Because the Hunter Association decides who passes. If they wanted, even a devil could qualify."
"Let's celebrate getting through this stage," Tonpa suggested, opening a can of juice and raising it in a toast. Seeing him do this, Gon naturally followed suit, as did Leorio and Kurapika.
Around them, several individuals smirked, anticipating the result.
Nobody exposed Tonpa's actions. Though he was despised, many were content to let him thin out the competition. Even young candidates like Gon and his friends weren't exempt.
Daniel also opened his juice. As Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika raised their cans, Daniel stepped beside Tonpa.
In a swift move, Daniel grabbed Tonpa's jaw and forced the juice into his mouth. As Tonpa struggled, Daniel opened several more cans from Tonpa's satchel and forced those down as well.
When the sixth can went in, Daniel sensed something wrong and threw Tonpa away. As Tonpa flew through the air, an unpleasant odor spread through the hall.
The stench made everyone glare at Daniel in fury. Even Hisoka pinched his nose.
"Damn, I overdid it," Daniel thought, seeing Gon's reaction and the angry stares. He had only intended to embarrass Tonpa.
"That guy," Leorio muttered, throwing away his drink. Though sometimes slow to catch on, Leorio wasn't stupid. Tonpa's predicament made it clear.
Kurapika, having already been suspicious, calmly discarded his drink. He had been more observant of their surroundings and had noticed the reactions of those nearby when they accepted Tonpa's juice.
"Hey, you!" Finally, someone couldn't hold back their anger. Tonpa, having ingested too much juice, lay incapacitated, his body twitching with each foul sound.
As the man approached Daniel, ready to attack, the doors suddenly opened. A man stepped in, sniffed the air, and quickly introduced himself.
"I am Satotz, the examiner for the first phase. Follow me closely."
Without delay, Satotz turned and left, unable to stand the smell. Hisoka and another man covered in strange needles were the first to follow, clearly eager to escape the stench.
The rest of the examinees quickly followed, many glaring back at Daniel.
"Let's go," Kurapika urged, taking the lead. Gon and Leorio followed closely.
"Kid, do you know what you've done?" The man who had intended to attack earlier was now waiting for Daniel. As Daniel approached, the man lunged at him.
"What's he doing?" Gon started, but quickly fell silent as Daniel swiftly took down his attacker.
"Impressive," Leorio commented, awed by Daniel's strength. Kurapika also eyed him cautiously.
"Good luck. Hope you pass the Hunter Exam," Daniel said, waving to the trio before running ahead.
"Experiencing this in person is very different from watching as a spectator," Daniel thought, overtaking a white-haired boy on a skateboard—Killua. He smiled and nodded at Killua before continuing on.
Daniel had followed Gon to find the exam site. Now that he was here and had dealt with Tonpa, who had later jeopardized Gon and his friends in the exam, Daniel saw no need to stay with them.
If he stayed too close, he might encounter Hisoka sooner than he'd like. Knowing Hisoka's nature, the man might target him, and Daniel didn't want to risk having to kill him prematurely.
Whether Hisoka lived or died was inconsequential to Daniel. He was more interested in learning Nen and perhaps exploring the Dark Continent. Other matters held little appeal.
Daniel joined the back of the first group, maintaining a steady pace.
"Gon and Killua have become fast friends," Daniel noted as the two caught up, seemingly in a friendly competition. Gon, from a forest upbringing, and Killua, from an assassin family, had a unique bond. Their friendship was indeed a twist of fate.
"The Numere Wetlands, a nest of deceivers. The creatures here are fascinating. I'll have to come back later," Daniel mused as they entered the second half of the first exam, remembering the trickster creatures.
The creatures in the Hunter world, while not as massive as the Sea Kings in the pirate world, had unique abilities. For example, the hypnotic butterflies and landmine mushrooms could be formidable weapons if properly harnessed.
Following Satotz, they soon reached the wetlands. Hisoka disrupted the trickster monkeys' antics, quickly dealing with them.
The hypnotic butterflies released a powerful sleep-inducing powder, ideal for creating sleep grenades. Daniel mentally noted these creatures for future collection.
"The fog is perfect for Hisoka's games," Daniel thought as he heard the screams in the mist, shaking his head but continuing to follow Satotz.
By now, only a few people remained close to Satotz, most of them fearful and clinging to the examiner for safety. The calmest among them was a man covered in golden needles, likely Killua's brother, Illumi, in disguise.
Unlike Hisoka, Illumi rarely killed without reason, and his services came at a high price.
"Hisoka brought Leorio along. Raising enemies only to crush them later—such a twisted mindset," Daniel thought, watching Hisoka set Leorio down. Hisoka had helped Kurapika remove Chrollo's Nen seal, an act of twisted kindness.
Despite the author's penchant for lengthy hiatuses, Daniel had missed the resolution of Hisoka's fight with Chrollo but expected it to be epic.
Battles in the Hunter world, unlike the straightforward fights in the pirate world, were often battles of wits and strength. Knowing an opponent's Nen ability was crucial unless one had overwhelming power.
As in the fight between Netero and Meruem, Netero's strength couldn't match Meruem's overwhelming Nen. Without the Poor Man's Rose, Meruem would have survived unscathed.
"Over a hundred missing. In the Numere Wetlands, that means they're likely dead," Daniel concluded, reaching the first exam's endpoint.
Stragglers arrived, many injured. Hisoka, carrying Leorio, was unscathed.
"Prepare for the second phase," Satotz announced as the time ended. A mansion appeared nearby, previously hidden by Nen.
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"This is unacceptable! It doesn't count at all!" The structure of the second half of the Hunter Exam left all participants enraged. This time, no one passed. The examiners were Menchi and Buhara, both Gourmet Hunters, and their tests were centered around culinary challenges.
Buhara's test involved hunting the Great Stamp Pig in Bisca Forest, a fierce wild boar known for its delicious meat, which Buhara adored. The ferocity of the boar left many participants injured or dead under its massive, tough snout. It wasn't until Gon revealed the boar's weakness that the situation improved. The examinees realized solo hunting was ineffective and began cooperating to capture the pigs.
The pass criterion was to present a Great Stamp Pig before Buhara was full. In the end, only seventy people succeeded, meaning Buhara consumed seventy pigs. This feat reminded Daniel of Luffy's immense appetite. The Great Stamp Pig was much larger than a normal pig; even one would suffice for many people. Despite eating so many, Buhara's stomach only slightly bulged, which Daniel attributed to Buhara's Nen.
After Buhara, Menchi introduced the next test: making sushi, a dish from a small, distant island in the East. No one knew how to prepare it, not even Hanzo, a self-proclaimed ninja from that island who kept talking incessantly. Unfortunately, despite his origins, Hanzo was no chef.
Hunters came in many forms, with Gourmet Hunters being rare. It wasn't that Gourmet Hunters lacked skill, but most aspiring Hunters never considered this path. Failing a test due to ignorance of an unfamiliar dish was especially frustrating. Even Hisoka and Illumi, Killua's brother, frowned and prepared their weapons—a deck of cards and needles, respectively.
The Hunter License could change one's destiny. For example, Leorio aimed to study medicine but lacked funds. With a Hunter License, he could attend any university for free. However, to Illumi and Hisoka, the license was less significant. If Hisoka truly wanted a license, he wouldn't have assaulted the examiner last year. He participated in the exam to find worthy opponents. Last year, he didn't find anyone interesting, so he beat the examiner. This year, Gon caught Hisoka's interest.
Illumi needed the license for his latest assassination mission, which required it. If the exam ended this way, he would have to wait until next year or rely on family members, which was unacceptable due to the Zoldyck family's strict rules on transactions among themselves.
"Do you want to fight? Bring it on!" Menchi's stubbornness flared as she gripped her twin blades, ready to charge at the crowd demanding an explanation. Though she recognized the issue with her decision, her pride prevented her from retracting her judgment.
Buhara quickly intervened. Though he agreed Menchi's ruling was harsh, he stood by her as a fellow examiner. Daniel didn't intervene in the exam outcome. Despite his surgical skill and decent cooking ability, he chose to observe. Gon's group's sushi attempts were laughable, with whole fish embedded in rice balls.
"Here he comes," Daniel muttered as both Hisoka and Illumi withdrew their weapons. A figure descended from above, landing with a loud crash, stirring up dust.
As the dust settled, an elderly man in a white gi with a ponytail and bushy beard stood in a crater. This was Isaac Netero, chairman of the Hunter Association, founder of the Shingen-Ryu martial art, one of the world's top five Nen users, and over a hundred years old.
Netero's vitality belied his age, thanks to Nen's life-extending properties. In the Hunter world, Nen could significantly prolong life, contrasting with the life-extension methods in other worlds. In comparison, even powerful figures like Garp and Sengoku from the pirate world couldn't match the life extension of Hunters.
"Netero," Buhara sighed in relief. Few could convince Menchi to change her decision, but Netero was one of them.
"Menchi, according to Association rules, we shouldn't interfere with examiners' authority, but you've been a bit hasty this time," Netero said gently.
"Sorry, Chairman," Menchi apologized, withdrawing her weapons.
"No worries," Netero said, smiling. He suggested Menchi offer a new challenge, as she was still the primary examiner for this phase.
"Chairman, I'll need your airship for this," Menchi explained her next test. Being a Gourmet Hunter, her tests naturally involved food.
"No problem," Netero agreed. The airship began its descent to the next location, which would take over ten hours, arriving by morning.
"The technology here is intriguing. Airships as the main aerial transportation would be suitable for the pirate world," Daniel mused. In the four seas, planes were viable, but in the Grand Line, unpredictable magnetic fields rendered them ineffective. Airships, however, were different.
The Marvel world had airships, but those in the Hunter world were faster, as airships were the primary mode of travel there, unlike Marvel where they were more of a novelty.
"Vegapunk probably hasn't been working as diligently for the World Government," Daniel thought, shaking his head at the technological disparity.
"Rhythmic gymnastics, huh?" Daniel watched Killua's display in the airship's playroom. This pure physical technique, once understood, was easy to replicate.
Due to Netero's presence, Daniel could only observe, avoiding the use of his surgical fruit abilities. After a while, he left, leaving Netero to enjoy playing with Gon and Killua.
Netero likely knew Gon was Ging's son. Ging had taken the Hunter Exam at Gon's age and quickly rose to become a Two-Star Hunter and one of the top five Nen users. If not for Ging's disinterest in higher recognition, he could have easily been a Three-Star Hunter.
As for Killua, Netero knew the Zoldyck family well due to his connection with Zeno.
"These two sleep soundly. Understandable after such a tiring day. Not everyone has endless energy like those two," Daniel thought, observing the sleeping Kurapika and Leorio. Most participants rested in their rooms, exhausted from the day.
The next morning, the airship arrived at Mount Split, the next exam site. The task was to retrieve Grapple Spiders' eggs, a rare delicacy found on cliff faces.
Menchi demonstrated by effortlessly leaping down, using the spiders' webs to reach and retrieve the eggs, then climbing back up. The challenge lay in safely obtaining and returning with the eggs.
"Alright, you can start now," Menchi announced. Buhara began setting up a large pot to boil the eggs. Normally, such a delicacy would be wasted in a five-star hotel, but here it was the best they could do.
"How can we do this?" Some examinees hesitated, staring down the cliff.
"Gon, let's see who gets one first."
"Sure thing."
While many debated their approach, Gon and Killua leapt without hesitation.
"Great elasticity. These spider webs are valuable," Daniel thought, retrieving an egg and climbing back up. With his mystic portal, he could return later for more.
"Delicious. Maybe being a Gourmet Hunter isn't so bad. After the Thanos event, perhaps I'll become a traveling Gourmet Hunter," Daniel mused, enjoying the boiled egg.
Out of seventy participants, only forty passed, as some fell and the rest were too scared to attempt the challenge. The group then traveled to the next exam site: Trick Tower.
If earlier tests measured physical endurance and environmental knowledge, this one tested combat and puzzle-solving skills. Trick Tower, a prison housing dangerous criminals, offered inmates a chance to reduce their sentences by participating in the exam.
"I'll wait at the finish line," Daniel told Gon and the others, jumping off the tower. The goal was to reach the bottom within seventy-two hours by any means necessary. Climbing down the exterior was an option, though the dangerous bird-like creatures deterred most.
For Daniel, the height wasn't an issue. He jumped to save time, catching the bird creatures off guard.
Effortlessly navigating the descent, Daniel thought, "These heights are nothing. Let's see who reaches the bottom first."
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