132 NextXStage

<3 days later>

"Ahhhhhhhhh" Shout came in as Gon and Killua jumped into the open door. "We made it!"

"Can't feel my hands." Says Kurapika while looking at them.

"But all five us passed thanks to that. Thanks Gon!" Leorio admitted.

"Gotta admit, entering the long and difficult road and using the remaining hours to destroy the wall then enter the short and easy way was a great idea." Kurapika nodded.

"Hey, you four! I thought I was going to continue without the rest of you." Silver called out as he approached the group. He then looked at Tompa with a creepy smile and shoed him with his hands.

'Tsk.. tactical retreat!' Tompa though to himself as he backed away from the group slowly.

"What was that for?" Asked Gon.

"He has wronged me twice already, and I don't thing he want's to do it the third time." Silver answered while looking at Tompa.

Tompa shook his head fast. 'I don't want to end up like those birds. I may not value na life of others, but I do value mine.' He thought as he showed a forced smile.

Silver then get back to the group and said, "You should start eating. There is 10 minutes left for the exam and you don't want to start the next phase with an empty stomach." Silver gestured for them to follow him to the food trays.

~~~~~

*booom* <>

The main gate opened and sunlight entered the tower. The participants covered their eyes from the sunlight after 72 hours of artificial lights.

"It is here." Gon excitedly said as they follow the rest of the group outside.

Outside two men waited for them outside. One is bald and is wearing what looked very similar to a police uniform. The other was the warden with his black and spiky hair was waiting for them. On the middle of them is a make-shift podium.

"Congratulation to all of you exiting the tower. You only have two more exams ahead of you." Says the warden.

'Two more. Finally.' Everyone thought.

"The fourth round will take place on the Zebru's island. So without further ado, let's have the first passer move ahead and take a number." He added.

"A lottery? What for?" Asked #294.

"Why of course, to determine who's the hunter and the prey." He smiled. "#406 if you would."

"Woaaah! Yoy were the first one?" Shouted Gon and Leorio while Kurapika and Killua looked at him with amazement.

"Told you, I'm going the short way." He winked as he picked a number inside the box. He picked #301 and raised his brow as he looked around and finally at the warden.

The warden nodded and said. "Inside are 24 numbers. Each number correspond to your examinee numbers. You all will pick a card according to the order you arrived at the bottom."

~~~~

"Now that everyone picked a number, your numbers along with what you picked are now recorded. The participants you have picked his number are now your individual prey. What you need to grab are the participants number of your target. If you succeed in taking your target's number, it counts for three points. While keeping your own number stands for another three." The warden explained while showing his three fingers. "While the other tags you get only counts as 1 point."

"To pass the fourth round you'll need to gather 6 points by the end of the week. No one is allowed to attack anyone at this point until everyone is on the island, anyone who does is automatically deemed a failure for this task. Now that is out of the way, let us ride the ship below to the island."

~~~~~

On the ship, Killua, Gon and Silver are looking at the Island over the edge of the ship. "So, who did you get?" Started Killua.

"Secret!" Said Gon.

"..." Silver.

"Hey, don't worry I didn't get any of you two." Reassured Killua.

"Me either." Answered Silver and Gon respectively.

"How about we show our sheets in the count of 3? 1... 2... 3!" Killua counted.

<44> Gon

<199> Killua

<301> Silver

"Wow, you're not very lucky Gon!" Called Silver and Killua at the same time.

"Yeah, I think so too." Gon answered as he scratched his head. "Who are yours?"

"I don't know, how could I know everyone's number? When the examineer finished his announcement, I looked around only to find most of the participants already hid their numbers." Killua honestly answered. Gon and Killua then looked at Silver if he knew his target.

"Mine is the man with all the piercing on his head. And he seems strong as well." Answered Silver.

"Yeah, you are right about that." Nodded Killua. "There are two types of participants. 1 who is confident and is openly showing his number, like #44, #301, me and -." Killua pointed to himself and was about to point to Silver only to find his number hidden. "And those who are not confident and hid theirs." Killua finished while raising his brow.

"Hey, I might be strong and confident but I don't want others to get an easy time finding mine." Silver answered with a grin on his face.

"How about you G-" Killua stopped midway when he saw Gon shaking with excitement. "Are you happy? Or afraid?"

"Both, maybe." Answered Gon while clenching his fist. "If it is just fighting, I cannot envision myself winning. But since it's about stealing the sheet, there must be a way." Gon added with hope. "I have to take revenge on what he did in the 1st exam."

"Don't die Gon." Silver/Killua. "We'll see this exam to the end."

"Yes!" Gon affirmed them.

~~~~~

"Same as earlier, the first one to get off the ship is the first who reached the bottom of the tower." Instructed the captain of the ship.

Silver slowly walked off the ship and went to the woods. Along the way, Silver activated his batears. After 500 meters, Silver stopped and looked around. "This should be far enough, and if my suspicion is correct, #301 should be a Nen user as well. He didn't even sweat when running during the first exam, and those needles on his face and brain outright yells 'I am not ordinary!'" Silver licked his lips in expectations. "I wonder, what ability I can gain from him. Aragog! Aquila! Spread wide and observe the partipants. Aquila, fly far away first before soaring, we can't let others suspect you right off the bat."

Twenty mini-Aquila spread through out the forests. Some going back to the direction of the ship, while most of them spread further into the island.

Aquila spread his wings and flew further in the island before soaring high into the sky.

"Well then, I guess it's time for me to hide." Silver started walking and suddenly vanished and appeared right in front of a man wearing all black business attire. "Hih hoh!" Silver greeted the surprised man. "Who might you be?" Silver smiled with a dangerous glint on his eyes.

"I- I am Mars." Says the man while looking around for an escape route. However before he could do anything else.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Says the smiling Silver. "Mars, what a weird name. What are yoh doing spying on me? An inspector maybe?" He guessed.

However the man didn't answer his question and just watched the child with an all-white contact lense and long brown straight hair circled him. However even if this just a child, he didn't dare to relax. He just saw this kid conjured a lot of nen beast, an eagle and twenty or so spiders a feet long each. He looked around and he could see around 10 of those spiders creeping ever so sneakily around him. Then he heard the kid say with excitement and sparkling eyes. "Hey Since you are a Hunter Associate, you must be a Nen user. What kind of ability do you have?" However Mars stood his ground and didn't say a word. "This isn't fair, you get to see mine yet I didn't get to see yours?" The kid further probe. However Mars didn't relent.

"Hmmmm... you know, I don't think you are an examineer, and on this secluded island. No one can really tell what happens, does it?" Silver then extended his nails and used ren on it without notice. He then dashed forward with his flash step towards Mars.

'An assassin and his fast! Bulwark!' Reacted Mars as he conjured two large wolves to his front to defend him as he crossed his arms to defend. A gust of wind crossed his side but the expected attack didn't arrive. "Huh?" Mars looked around in confusion only to find Silver back to where he last saw him watching his conjured wolves with a creepy grin.

"Thank you for your cooperation! Hope I didn't left a bad mark, I really just want to see your ability. Keep up!" He heard the kid saying before leaving without a trace. "Sigh. What's with this year's pariticipants." He said before shaking his head.