The First Phase 2

"I'm very sorry!!" Tompa bows his head slightly.

"It's okay. You don't have to apologize. It was a good thing that I got to taste it first. I've tasted all kinds of mountain grasses and plants. I can usually tell when something's off." Gon points, smiling.

"Whew... That's a relief."

Raiyo already knew from the beginning that it was going to happen; it's pretty common sense not to drink something from strangers.

Jin taught him that.

RIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI

A loud noise knocks Raiyo out of his thoughts.

RIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIIRI

Raiyo and the rest of the examinees look towards the noise

A man on top of a pipe, a bigger one than Tompa was on before.

He has blue hair, with a mustache, and is wearing a nice burgundy suit.

"As of now... The registrations have concluded." The man begins.

"The Hunter Exam will now begin." He tells the entire large group.

He jumps off the pipe and lands gracefully on the ground in front of all the hunter applicants.

"This way, please." He says as he walks down the tunnel.

"Let me remind you. The hunter exam is extremely difficult, and if you are unlucky or incapable, you might just end up getting injured or die. There have been numerous times where examinees have been sabotaged by others. Those who don't fear the risk... You're welcome to follow." He says loudly as he continues to walk.

As the group continues to walk, one person stops even though he came this far, he just wasn't ready yet.

"Alright. The number of applicants in phase one now is 405." The Examiner smiles.

"Apart from him, there's no one left. I was hoping others would drop out already." Leorio says.

"Oh..." Raiyo says slowly.

Leorio, Kurapika, and Gon look at him for a second before noticing why he said that.

The Examiner picked up his pace; even though it seemed like he was walking, he was too fast.

"What's going on? Is everyone starting to pick up the pace?" Leorio asks.

"The pace is accelerating! The people up front are even running!" Kurapika yells as he and Gon begin to run as well.

Raiyo doesn't move, standing still as the rest rushes past him. A few of the candidates glance back, confused by his lack of urgency. Raiyo yawns and stretches lazily, not at all concerned.

"Raiyo! Come on!" Gon yells.

"You're gonna get left behind," Kurapika says.

Raiyo rolls his eyes before catching up with the group. He doesn't feel like running at all. But he can't use his ability, not yet, at least.

"I am Satotz, your examiner for this first phase of the exam... You will all follow my lead to the second phase." The blue-haired man says.

"Second phase...? Then what's the first?" A bald guy who gives ninja vibes asks.

"It has already begun. You will follow me to the second phase site. That's the first phase." Satotz explains.

"I cannot disclose the destination nor the duration. All you have to do is follow me."

"What a weird exam," Raiyo says.

"This is a test of endurance." Kurapika nods.

"Then that's fine by me. I'll keep up with him all the way!" Leorio smiles.

As the four begin to run, a boy with white hair passes them with ease.

On a skateboard.

"Hey! Wait up, kid! You. Can't use a skateboard, that's cheating!" Leorio yells.

"How?" The boy asks.

"How so... Because this is an endurance test!"

"No, it isn't the Examiner only said to follow him," Gon says.

"Gon!! Whose side are you on?" Leorio yells.

"You should stop wasting your time yelling. You really should just stay quiet. As long as you don't cheat, this test allows anything we bring." Raiyo says.

The boy notices Raiyo and Gon.

"Hey," he says to the two who are running together at the same pace.

"How old are you two?" He asks.

"12 years old!"

Raiyo and Gon say, looking at each other surprised, they didn't know they were the same age.

"Oh! Me too!" The boy smiles.

"Guess I'll run too." The boy comments doing a trick on his skateboard, making it fly into the air, as he lands on the floor, catching his skateboard and running along with the two.

"Wow..." Gon voices.

"Cool!" Raiyo smiles as he's in the middle of the two.

"I'm Killua." The boy says.

"I'm Raiyo!"

"Gon!" All three of them introduce themselves.

"Hey, old man. How old are you?" Killua asks Leorio.

"Old man... I may not look it, but I'm still in my teens like you guys!" Leorio yells.

"Wait... For real?!!!" Raiya exclaims, the most surprised out of the four.

Kurapika, surprised, also decides not to say anything.

"Huh...!! You too Raiyo and Gon..?! That's cruel, our friendship is over!!"

__

It's been about three hours since the exam began. We must have traveled at least forty kilometers. Raiyo thinks as he continues to run side by side with Killua and Gon.

Some are falling behind, they'll probably be eliminated... How much farther do we need to fucking go?!  Raiyo groans loudly. 

He's not sweating or feeling any type of physically tired, but mentally, he just wants to sleep.

"Haa!! Haa!! Haa!"

Raiyo could hear behind him, making him turn his head a bit to see Leorio.

He's completely out of breath, struggling with every step he takes.

"You good?" Raiyo grins.

Leorio can only manage to put a thumbs up.

Raiyo just continues to run until he hears Gon yell Leorio's name. Making him look behind once again to see Leorio has stopped.

"Just leave him," Raiyo says.

"Yeah, let's just get going, Gon." Killua agrees.

Gon waits for a little while.

"Screw that... I came here to become a Hunter!! Damn it all!!" Leorio yells as he full force runs and gets in front of the whole group of friends.

"Leorio?" Kurapika asks.

"Hey! You're bag-" 

Raiya starts but is interrupted as he sees Gon pull out his fishing rod, throwing the hook and grasping Leorio's bag.

"Woah!" Raiyo smiles.

"That was cool. Let me try it." Killua points.

"If you let me try your skateboard."