The Tower's final corridor was a graveyard of echoes. Each footstep sounded too big, too loud, as if the Tower itself were relieved to be done with them. Ethan moved behind Gon's group, his arm still aching faintly from earlier contests, and his Panel humming quietly in standby beneath his sleeve.
The last door was circular—massive, brass-edged, carved with the same sigil that appeared on the monitor screens throughout the tower: the symbol of judgment.
Netero's voice, carried by the tower's speakers, rang out with deceptive cheer.
"Congratulations! You have all passed the prisoner's trials! Proceed upward to the final gate. Once through, the next phase awaits!"
The heavy locks clicked in sequence. The door split in two, releasing a gust of fresh air so sharp and clean that Gon gasped. They had been breathing recycled air for days; this was the scent of the surface, of sky.
Ethan blinked as daylight hit him—white, dazzling, full of motion. The group stepped out onto a plateau that looked down upon the sprawling forest below.
Gon grinned, stretching his arms wide.
"We did it!"
Killua smirked. "Not bad. Still too easy."
Leorio collapsed dramatically on the ground. "Easy? My legs feel like boiled noodles."
Kurapika smiled faintly, eyes scanning the distance. "The next phase will not be so forgiving."
Ethan stayed quiet, watching the sunlight gleam across their faces. The world here was almost painfully alive—colors sharper, sounds clearer. The Panel pulsed a faint notification.
---
PANEL — WORLD SYNC CONFIRMATION
Timeline: Hunter Exam – Canon Alignment: 99.9%
Deviation Risk: Minimal
Mission Chain: Phase Three (Pending)
Temporary Lock: Active until Netero announces next stage
---
He dismissed the screen immediately, heart steady. Perfect alignment—that was all he wanted. No interference, no disruption. Just a clean merge.
A pair of airships waited in the valley below. The exam staff ushered the remaining participants aboard. Ethan followed with the group, taking a seat near the window. The hum of the engines filled the air as the ship rose above the green ocean of trees.
Below, the Tower shrank until it looked like a thin spear stabbed into the earth. Gon leaned against the glass, eyes shining. "I wonder what's next."
Killua chuckled. "Something with blood, probably."
Leorio groaned. "Don't jinx it."
Kurapika murmured, "Whatever it is, it'll separate the prepared from the reckless."
Ethan smiled slightly, fingers drumming on his knee. The Panel chimed again—soft, private, like a whisper only he could hear.
---
PANEL — PRIVATE TASK UPDATE
Mission: Maintain Canon Integrity
Secondary Objective: Observe Nen manifestation events
Reward: Skill Slot Unlock ×1, Trait Stabilizer ×1
Warning: Host's interference in Nen awakening may alter continuity. Proceed with caution.
---
He closed it with a mental flick.
Outside, clouds rolled by like slow rivers of white. Gon laughed at something Killua said. Kurapika was lost in thought; Leorio snored lightly against his seatbelt.
For a moment, Ethan let himself just… rest.
He'd made it through the Tower.
No one had seen his Panel.
No timelines fractured.
And yet, beneath it all, the air vibrated faintly with what came next—Nen, that invisible current that powered this world. It was everywhere now, brushing against his senses like static.
Ethan smiled to himself. The exam wasn't over. The story was only tightening its weave.
Far ahead, the airship banked toward the sprawling test arena where destinies would clash and awaken.
The Hunter Exam's Final Phase was waiting.