Chapter 34 NO.1
Trick Tower, First Floor.
With nothing better to do, Mord began his daily training.
For any Nen ability to unleash its full power, the user's aura capacity was the most crucial factor.
Even with the existence of a cheat-like character panel, he couldn't afford to slack off.
Boom—
With a loud rumble, another stone door slid open.
"Examinee No. 44 Hisoka, second place to pass the third test. Time taken: six hours and seventeen minutes."
The system announcement echoed through the broadcast system.
Mord looked up and indeed saw that familiar figure. Among all the examinees, Hisoka's route was the most difficult because he had to face a licensed Hunter head-on.
"It seems you've run into some trouble," Mord said, pointing and smiling.
Hisoka glanced sideways, a clear blade mark visible on his left shoulder, crimson blood staining the surrounding clothing.
After all, it was an officially registered Hunter. Although they ultimately died, they still left some wounds on Hisoka, making his year of rigorous training not entirely wasted.
Such minor injuries meant nothing to Hisoka, of course.
He looked at Mord, eyes slightly narrowed, his face breaking into that trademark smile.
"You've grown stronger again. If your offer on the airship wasn't so tempting, I'd really want to devour you right now."
Although Mord's Nen ability level remained at C-, after unlocking new Zanpakutō attributes, his aura capacity had also increased, just not enough to break through to the next level.
Compared to last night, he had grown significantly stronger.
"I can tell this isn't your limit yet. I'm really looking forward to that day."
After speaking, Hisoka's terrifying killing intent suddenly vanished. He sat cross-legged on the spot and began playing his card stacking game again.
It was clear he genuinely loved this game.
Another six hours passed like this before the empty first-floor hall of the Trick Tower finally welcomed its third examinee.
"Third place, Examinee 301, Gittarackur, time: 12 hours 2 minutes."
Illumi, disguised as the pin-faced man, emerged from the stone gate. His first notice was Hisoka not far away.
"I knew you'd have reached the finish line already..."
He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Mord doing one-finger push-ups in the distance, then turned back to look at Hisoka.
Clearly, Mord appearing here before him was unexpected, even though he hadn't used his true strength throughout the journey.
Noticing Illumi's gaze, Hisoka spread his hands.
"He was already here when I arrived."
Earlier than Hisoka?!
Illumi's gaze toward Mord changed again.
Almost immediately after Illumi emerged, another stone gate opened.
"Yes!"
"I'm first!"
The voice came from the stone gate before the person appeared.
"Fourth place, Examinee 294, Hanzo, time: 12 hours 3 minutes."
"Ah." The bald Hanzo who emerged from the stone gate listened to the broadcast announcement, clutching his head with both hands, his face full of disappointment. "So I'm fourth place after all."
Mord glanced at Hanzo. Aside from the monsters Hisoka and Illumi, Hanzo was the strongest combatant in this Hunter Exam.
Even Killua wasn't his match.
Of course, Mord had to exclude himself from that calculation.
"Fifth place, Examinee 384, Geretta, time: 12 hours 27 minutes."
A short while later, a black man with an afro, Mexican-style clothing, wearing a small bowler hat and sunglasses, carrying a peculiar weapon emerged from the stone gate.
Knowing the original story, Mord understood that the strange weapon in Geretta's hands, which looked like a club, was actually a large blowgun.
It could shoot poison darts that paralyzed people's nerves.
Judging by this person's time to clear the Trick Tower and their ability to follow Gon undetected afterward...
This individual's skills are also quite remarkable.
In a normal examination year, they would likely have had a great chance of passing the Hunter Qualification Test.
What a pity.
Mord slowly withdrew his gaze.
After Gaireta, the stone door on the first floor of the Trick Tower remained unopened for a long time.
It wasn't until the next morning, while Mord was eating the breakfast provided by the Hunter Association and contemplating the fourth phase of the exam, that the long-silent stone door finally opened again.
And this time, it was a double arrival.
"Alright, you've reached the finish line!"
"Contestant No. 53, Pokkle, and Contestant No. 371, Goz, have arrived simultaneously."
One was Pokkle, who met a tragic death at the beginning of the Chimera Ant arc, and the other was a martial artist-looking uncle carrying a long spear.
"Uncle, in the case of simultaneous arrival, the contestant with the lower number takes precedence."
Thanks to the rules, Pokkle secured the sixth position.
Normal thinking would dictate that the earlier one reaches the finish line, the better.
Seeing Mord and the others casually eating breakfast in the first-floor hall, having already passed the exam, Pokkle's joy at clearing the test suddenly faded significantly.
"Those guys are real monsters. It seems they completed the exam on the very first day. Sooner or later, I'll have to face them in a showdown."
...
Even though the prisoners had been replaced due to Mord's influence, Gon and the main group still only managed to pass the exam on the afternoon of the third day. But thinking about it, that made sense—with the unpredictable factor of Tonpa around, successfully clearing the exam was already an achievement.
Only 5 minutes remained.
Currently, there were 28 candidates who had passed the exam in the main hall of the Trick Tower's first floor.
"One minute left."
The final announcement came over the broadcast.
Boom!
In the last minute before the exam ended, another stone door slowly opened.
A man covered in wounds emerged from behind the door.
"...Fi-finally, I made it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed forward.
A nearby examinee rushed over to check on him.
"He's dead."
"What a fool. Rather than dying after passing, it would've been better to save your life and challenge again next year."
Right then, the bell signaling the end of the exam rang—this man had fallen just before dawn.
Such is the cruelty of the Hunter Exam.
"Time's up!"
"28 candidates have passed the third phase of the Hunter Exam!"
Rumble!
On the first floor of the Trick Tower, the massive stone door swung open with a loud crash.
Clearly, it was time for the candidates to exit.
By the time Mord and the others stepped out, Examiner Lippo had been waiting outside for a while.
"Congratulations on making it out of the Trick Tower alive. I have good news for you all: only the fourth phase and the final test remain. Pass those, and you'll become official Hunters," Lippo announced with a smile.
Only two phases left...
Hearing this, many candidates wore determined expressions. Having come this far, there was no way they could give up now.
"The fourth phase will take place on Sablier Island behind me!" Lippo said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.
Everyone followed his gesture and indeed saw an island in the middle of the distant sea.
----------
For advance chapters join my Patreon.
[email protected]/Aarvan