CHAPTER 14

An Elevator to the Real Exam Venue

"What's going on?"

Feeling an intense sense of overweight, Lan Fei's expression remained calm. His eyes drifted toward a small indicator panel above the door, displaying rapidly changing numbers.

"Could it be… this small room is an elevator?" Kurapika frowned slightly, crossing his arms.

"Where exactly is this taking us?" Leorio adjusted his glasses, his brow furrowing as he stared at the continuously increasing numbers on the panel. "Is this leading us to the actual Hunter Exam venue?"

"It all makes sense now." Gon tapped his chin in thought. "That explains why we haven't encountered any other examinees on our way here. They must have all been transported using similar methods."

Arrival at the Hidden Underground Exam Hall

Ding!

After what felt like an eternity, the elevator came to an abrupt halt. The display flashed "100", and suddenly, the sensation of overweight disappeared, replaced by a brief moment of weightlessness.

"A hundred floors underground?" Lan Fei raised an eyebrow, surprised by how deep they had gone.

"This should be it." Kurapika inhaled sharply, steadying himself.

Keng!

The elevator doors slid open automatically, revealing a massive hall—nearly the size of two football fields—bathed in dim artificial lighting. The moment they stepped out, they saw a dense crowd of candidates, their forms barely distinguishable in the low light.

"So many people…" Gon gasped, his excitement bubbling over.

"But their auras feel different." Lan Fei narrowed his eyes as he scanned the room. Unlike the aspiring Hunters they had previously met, the people here radiated a distinct presence—one that spoke of deadly skill and experience.

"This atmosphere…" Leorio muttered, crossing his arms. He could feel the unspoken hostility in the air as countless eyes turned toward them.

"No doubt about it," Kurapika confirmed. "Everyone here is a serious competitor. These aren't just hopefuls—they all possess some form of specialized strength."

Receiving the Number Plates

The air remained tense as the four newcomers hesitated at the entrance. Just as Gon was about to speak, a man in a suit, with a face resembling a cartoon frog, approached them.

"You're all welcome here." His voice was neutral as he handed each of them a small metal plate. "Please accept your exam number."

• Leorio - 403

• Kurapika - 404

• Gon - 405

• Lan Fei - 406

Lan Fei examined the number in his hand and murmured, "Only 406? But I heard that over a million people apply for the Hunter Exam each year… Did they all get eliminated already? Or is this just one of many testing locations?"

"Make sure to wear your number plate at all times," the staff member instructed. "It's your official Hunter Exam ID."

As quickly as he arrived, the frog-faced official turned and disappeared into the crowd.

A Mysterious Veteran Appears

"Are you guys newcomers?"

A voice interrupted their thoughts. A slightly overweight man, wearing a number 16 on his chest, casually strolled up to them with a friendly smile.

"How did you know?" Gon asked, tilting his head.

"It's easy to tell." The man chuckled, rubbing his chin. "After all, I've taken the Hunter Exam 35 times. I can spot first-timers a mile away."

"Thirty-five times?!" Kurapika's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Wait… You've failed the exam 35 times?" Lan Fei blinked. "That's… impressive in its own way."

"35 times?" Gon and Leorio exchanged shocked glances.

But the plump man didn't seem the least bit embarrassed. Instead, he puffed up his chest, looking rather proud of his record.

"Yep! I'm what you'd call a Hunter Exam veteran." He grinned. "The name's Tonpa. If you've got any questions, I'd be happy to help!"

"Well, I'm Gon, and these are my friends—Lan Fei, Kurapika, and Leorio." Gon beamed, immediately warming up to him.

"Gon, you shouldn't trust people so easily." Lan Fei gave him a pointed look. "This is a competition. Everyone here is a potential rival."

"Yeah, yeah." Gon waved off the warning, making a playful face at Lan Fei.

Lan Fei sighed in defeat.

"So, Mr. Tonpa…" Gon continued, "Among the people here, are there other returning participants like yourself?"

"Of course, but none as experienced as me." Tonpa smirked. "However, there are a few notable repeat contenders."

He gestured towards a large man eating a mountain of cake.

"That guy, No. 225, Takuto, is a wrestler. He's got brute strength and some smarts."

Tonpa then pointed to a tall, lean man holding a snake staff.

"No. 103, Scar Peng. He's a snake charmer. He's been in the exam almost as long as I have, and he's not an easy opponent."

Finally, his gaze landed on an elderly martial artist.

"And that's No. 191, Baldlow. He may look old, but his martial arts skills are unmatched."

A Sudden and Terrifying Scene

Before Gon could ask another question—

"AAAHHH!!!"

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the hall.

Everyone turned toward the source of the noise and saw a horrifying sight—a young candidate kneeling on the ground, his eyes wide with agony. His hands—no, his entire body—was rapidly disintegrating, transforming into delicate petals that fluttered to the ground.

The surrounding candidates stiffened, fear flickering in their eyes.

Standing before the unfortunate victim was a tall, red-haired man with a five-pointed star tattoo on his right cheek. His Hunter Exam number plate—44— gleamed under the dim lights.

With an unsettlingly calm expression, the man spread his arms.

"Amazing, isn't it?" His voice was smooth and eerie. "He just turned into petals… and I didn't even do anything."

He smirked, tilting his head playfully. "Next time, be more careful. And remember to apologize properly when you bump into someone… Oh, but you won't get a 'next time.'"

The hall fell into absolute silence.

Lan Fei's heart skipped a beat. He had read about this man before—

"That guy is… the magician Hisoka?!"

His hands instinctively clenched into fists. This was no ordinary Hunter candidate—this was a monster.