The Third Phase of the exam lasted seventy-two hours, and Allen and Hisoka sat quietly at the entrance of the Trick Tower for the entire seventy-two hours. They exchanged no words, nor did any fierce battle erupt between them.
This bizarre situation persisted until the drawing of lots for the Fourth Phase concluded. Only then did Hisoka finally break the silence, asking with an intrigued tone, "Did you know the contents of this Hunter Exam beforehand?"
"Why would you entertain such an absurd idea? You know the Hunter Exam is strictly confidential every year, and the contents vary wildly depending on the Examiner's personality. Do you honestly think I possess the ability to foresee the future?" Allen lied without batting an eye, while inwardly growing wary of the pervert before him.
The reason was simple: this guy's sixth sense was incredibly sharp. He could deduce that Allen knew the contents of this year's exam with so little information.
"Oh, you don't? I thought the Fourth Phase was a venue you specially preset for our duel," Hisoka probed, narrowing his eyes. After three full days of observation and thought, he felt increasingly that Allen's Nen was unusual, and the boy inadvertently displayed intense confidence, as if he had already predetermined the outcome.
"No, that is simply your illusion and a coincidence," Allen denied without hesitation.
Admitting he knew future events? Unless his brain had been crushed in a doorway, he would never make such a foolish move. Predicting the future, regardless of the time, place, or world, is an extremely dangerous ability that easily attracts unwanted attention.
Look at Neon Nostrade, who possessed the Lovely Ghostwriter ability, what was her fate? She was first exploited by her own father as a tool for advancement, deprived of her most basic personal freedom, then her ability was stolen by Phantom Troupe leader Chrollo Lucilfer, and finally, she was believed by the Troupe to have died during the Chimera Ant Arc of the Dark Continent storyline.
Furthermore, Allen didn't actually possess the ability to predict the future; he only knew a fraction of the plot demonstrated in the anime. With him, this "butterfly," flapping its wings, who knows if future events will suddenly change, or even take a complete 180-degree turn.
Besides, given Togashi's notorious habit of setting up plot points only to abandon them and his world-record (slowest) update speed, who knows how many hidden dangers still lurked.
"Hehe, alright, I'll take it as a coincidence for now."
For some reason, Hisoka didn't push the issue any further. After saying this, he waved his hand and directly turned to leave, presumably to find his "old flame," Illumi, who was disguised as Gittarackur.
Once he had thoroughly walked away, Killua, who had been hiding on the side, dared to leave the cover of the shadows and asked curiously, "What were you two talking about?"
"Nothing much, just stuff unrelated to the exam. Did you specifically come to see me?"
Allen looked over the boy, who was supposedly the most talented child in the entire Zoldyck family. Perhaps due to an over-sensitivity or fear of Nen, or for some other reason, the boy had been subconsciously avoiding him since the start of the exam. This was their first face-to-face conversation.
"It's not too important. Can you tell me the number on your target's badge?" Killua shrugged, feigning casualness. However, anyone who looked closely at the muscles hidden beneath his clothes would notice that he was actually quite tense, his entire body in a state of high readiness.
"Don't worry, my target isn't you, nor is it Gon, or Kurapika, or Leorio." Allen immediately gave him the answer he most wanted to hear.
"Really?" Killua's voice held a trace of suspicion.
Seeing his childlike demeanor, Allen couldn't help but smile and ask back, "Of course it's true. Do you think I have any reason to lie to you?"
"Alright, you really don't have a reason to lie to me."
Killua visibly relaxed, his gaze drifting towards Gon, who sat in a corner nearby, solemn and silent. It was clear he was worried about the friend he had finally managed to make.
Since the Fourth Phase of the exam involved hunting for a target's number plate on a deserted island while protecting one's own, most candidates on the ship had, without exception, hidden the badge they originally wore on their chests. Only a tiny minority who were absolutely confident in their strength still proceeded as usual.
Allen was one of them. He had already locked onto his target: Pokkle, the candidate who also used a bow as his main weapon and was dressed like a Hunter.
Once the ship reached its destination, Allen, as the fastest to pass the Third Phase, received the right to be the first to disembark. But unlike the majority of candidates who were expected to immediately enter the woods and hide, he and Lupos sat down in the most conspicuous spot.
"Damn it! What is that guy trying to do?"
"I don't know!"
"Is he trying to snatch his target's badge right here?"
"My God! He's truly insane! Doesn't he fear being surrounded?"
For a time, many people began to whisper, some even sweating nervously, terrified that they might be the unlucky soul.
Soon, two minutes later, Hisoka also boarded the island. As he passed Allen, he whispered, "I'll head in first and wait for you inside. Hurry up, don't keep me waiting too long."
"Got it. I'll find you once I've secured my target's badge," Allen replied without turning his head.
Next came the third, fourth, fifth candidate… As more and more candidates safely entered the forest without attack or obstruction from the man and the wolf, the remaining people collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
This meant that Allen wasn't planning to randomly snatch three badges to accumulate six points; he was only targeting the prey he had decided to hunt. In other words, there would only be one victim, and the innocent would be spared. As for who this unlucky soul was, they didn't care, as long as it wasn't them.
When it was Pokkle's turn, he immediately stood up with a nervous heart. The moment his foot touched the ground, he felt an intensely terrifying Aura envelop him from head to toe.
"Give me your number plate."
Allen cut straight to the chase, directly unleashing his powerful malice.
Thud!
Poor Pokkle didn't even have a chance to react; his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground on the spot.
Fear!
Despair!
Suffocation!
He felt his mind go blank and his body tremble uncontrollably, like a creature in the wild encountering its natural predator. He couldn't muster an ounce of will or courage to resist.
Finally, with a trembling hand, he took out the number plate from his pocket and offered it to Allen.
"Thank you."
Allen unceremoniously took the badge and stuffed it into his pouch, then turned and vanished into the depths of the jungle without another word.
Having acquired his six points, he had only one final task left: finding Hisoka and fighting him without restraint. As for whether Pokkle would pass this exam and become a Hunter, as in the original storyline, that was no longer Allen's concern.
Perhaps for Pokkle, being eliminated here might not be a bad thing. At least it would prevent him from having his skull ripped open by Neferpitou during the Chimera Ant Arc, turning Pokkle into Bokkle (Brainkle)...
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You can read the ahead chapter on Patr if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]