The air changed the moment Satotz led the examinees out of the tunnel.
The sky was dull gray, the wind heavy with moisture, and the ground beneath their feet turned soft with thick moss. A chill crawled up Ethan's spine.
This place wasn't ordinary wilderness.
It was dangerous.
The Panel confirmed that a second later.
---
〈REGION DETECTED: NUMELE SWAMP〉
Nickname: Swindler's Forest
Hazard Rating: A–
Threats:
Man-faced Apes
Swamp Serpents
Mimic Leeches
Human-hunters / Flesh Eaters
Survival Tip: Trust your own judgment.
Major Plot Event: Hisoka Rampage (cannot be altered)
---
Ethan exhaled sharply.
So this was the famous swamp where the first batch of examinees died.
Satotz glanced backward.
"Stay close. Follow the trail. And above all—"
His mustache twitched.
"Do not listen to misleading voices."
The moment he finished speaking, distant screams echoed from the trees.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!!"
Leorio nearly jumped. "What the hell was that?!"
Satotz didn't turn around.
"A man-faced ape."
More screams followed. Some sounded like crying. Some sounded like laughter.
Then—
"EXAMINER!! WAIT!!"
A perfect copy of Satotz burst out of the bushes.
The real Satotz didn't even slow down.
"This will continue throughout the swamp."
The fake Satotz snarled, transforming into a monstrous ape, teeth snapping.
Dozens of examinees panicked.
Ethan stayed silent, staying close behind Gon and Killua as the group pushed forward.
---
RUNNING THROUGH THE SWAMP
The path narrowed, forcing them into a line.
The swamp stank of rot and dead vegetation. Branches dripped with oily water. Insects buzzed the size of Ethan's fingers.
The Panel flickered.
---
〈OPTIONAL ACTIONS〉
Use Extraction Tickets:
Targets nearby: Man-Faced Ape (Low Nen Instinct)
Reward Potential: Minor Physical Boost / Sensory Boost
Use Stat Capsule:
Stamina recovery recommended
Shop Suggestion:
Temporary "Cold Resistance Patch"
"Minor Pain Suppression Band"
---
"Not yet," Ethan muttered. "Use them when I need them."
He had to save his resources for the real threats.
Including—
A faint pressure tingled at his back.
He risked a glance.
Hisoka was smiling while running effortlessly, eyes fixed on the crowd like a predator choosing which prey to play with first.
Ethan immediately faced forward again.
Nope. Nope. Don't interact. Don't catch attention. Be invisible.
---
TONPA'S FAILURE
Ahead, Tonpa approached a tired examinee talking too loudly, convincing him the wrong direction was "safer."
Ten minutes later, a horrific shriek resounded as the man-faced apes devoured the poor guy.
Gon stopped running for a moment, troubled.
Tonpa laughed nervously, pretending he wasn't responsible.
Ethan watched quietly.
His Panel recorded everything automatically.
---
〈Character Scan: Tonpa〉
Intent: Malicious
Experience: 35-time examinee
Threat: Low
Recommendation: Do not accept any food/drinks
---
Ethan smirked.
"Thanks for the tip."
---
THE FIRST ATTACK
The swamp thickened.
Fog descended.
Ethan could barely see more than a few meters ahead.
"Killua," Gon said cheerfully, "this place is cool!"
Killua grinned. "More like a hazard."
Leorio panted heavily, barely keeping up.
Kurapika maintained perfect pace.
Then—
A branch above them shifted.
Ethan's instinct screamed.
He ducked.
KRRAAA!!!
A massive leech-like creature dropped exactly where his head had been.
Before Gon could react, Ethan kicked it away as it lunged, then stomped its skull into the mud as it hissed and dissolved.
Kurapika glanced at him, surprised.
"Good reaction."
"I got lucky."
Killua stared a second longer, but turned forward again without comment.
The Panel popped up.
---
〈COMBAT SUCCESS〉
You may extract ability from defeated creature.
Extract?
[YES] • [NO]
Possible Gains:
Minor Poison Resistance
Minor Reaction Speed Boost
---
"Not a bad idea."
Ethan mentally pressed YES.
A pulse of light sank into him.
His vision sharpened slightly; the world seemed half a beat slower.
This would help.
---
HISOKA'S AURA SPREADS
Five minutes later…
A thunderclap echoed across the swamp.
But there was no storm.
Ethan froze.
Killua froze.
Kurapika's eyes narrowed.
Even Gon stopped smiling.
Only Satotz continued forward.
The pressure was unmistakable.
Hisoka had begun.
Screams erupted behind them.
A horrific laugh echoed.
Ethan's Panel burst open violently.
---
〈DANGER ALERT: EXTREME〉
Nen Malice Detected: HISOKA
Area of Influence: Expanding rapidly
Survival Recommendation:
Do NOT turn back
Stay near main cast
Avoid eye contact
---
Ethan swallowed.
This was the first time he truly felt the terror of high-level Nen.
A suffocating bloodlust spread through the swamp like poisonous fog, pushing weaker examinees to collapse in panic.
Ethan forced his legs to keep moving.
"Don't slow down. Don't fall behind. Don't die."
Screams continued for nearly ten minutes.
Finally… quiet.
Hisoka emerged from the fog, walking calmly, a trail of corpses behind him.
He rejoined the group without a speck of blood on him.
Killua snorted.
"Too flashy."
Hisoka chuckled, "You think so?"
Ethan looked forward with a straight face and prayed Hisoka wouldn't notice him.
He didn't.
Relief washed over him like cool water.
---
SECOND SWAMP TRICK
A fake Satotz appeared again, claiming the path ahead was a trap.
Some applicants panicked and followed it.
Ethan kept moving.
Killua whispered, "That one's fake."
Ethan nodded silently.
Gon simply smiled and followed the real Satotz with unwavering trust.
Kurapika stayed close behind.
Leorio shouted profanities the entire run.
Ethan kept his eyes sharp. Whenever something rustled too close, he subtly shifted away.
But he didn't take action first.
He didn't influence plot.
He only survived.
---
FINALLY—THE EXIT
The swamp thinned.
Fog lifted.
Trees opened into a wide, grassy field.
Satotz slowed to a stop.
"You have all passed the First Phase."
Leorio faceplanted into the ground.
Gon celebrated.
Kurapika exhaled gently.
Killua smirked.
Hisoka licked his lips as he eyed Gon.
Ethan finally let himself breathe fully.
He survived Phase One.
And the Panel responded.
---
〈PHASE ONE COMPLETE〉
Reward Unlocked:
+1 Nen Sensitivity (Minor)
+3 Agility
+2 Stamina
New Options Available in Shop
World Integration: 5% → 11%
Next Phase:
Menchi & Buhara – Cooking and Gourmet Challenge
---
Ethan stretched his neck.
The Hunter Exam had only begun.
And the next test was infamous for being one of the strangest trials ever.
But at least…
He was still alive.
For now.