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074 HxH: Tombbound Power
🕑 Added 2024-10-06 11:01:53 +0000 UTCKurapika glanced at Ronnel. "So, Ronnel, what did the brothers you mentioned do in the second half of the test?"
"What else could they do?" Ronnel shrugged. "They fought. The winning brother moved on to the next stage."
As Ronnel finished, Kurapika fell silent, but Leorio suddenly shouted, "I get it!"
"If you can't avoid the fight, then you just have to go all out!"
Leorio said with a serious tone. "If both of you agree to team up, you've made your choice. And you'll have to face the consequences together."
"Leorio's right," Kurapika added, a small smile on his lips. "If that's the situation, you have to give it your all. That's the only way you can honor yourself and your opponent."
"I still wish we could all pass together, though," Gon murmured, still conflicted.
"Don't dwell on it too much," Ronnel advised. "The Hunter exam changes every year. Talking about last year's test won't give you much more than a reference."
His words eased some of the tension, and the group seemed a little more at ease. Leorio and Kurapika, who had been more guarded around Ronnel, now saw him with less suspicion.
After all, explaining last year's test to future competitors was more generous than most would be.
"Alright then, let's focus on what's next," Gon said, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Ronnel. "By the way, Ronnel, why do you want to become a Hunter?"
The earnestness on Gon's face was unmistakable.
"I want to become a Hunter because my dad is one. I want to find him and understand why this job means so much to him," Gon shared.
Leorio's interest piqued at the mention of Hunters.
"I'm in it for the money," he said, unabashedly proud.
"Leorio, being a Hunter is about more than just money!" Gon protested.
"You don't understand the allure of wealth at all!" Leorio shot back, crossing his arms.
As the two began their usual bickering, Gon gave a sheepish laugh and turned back to Ronnel.
"So, what about you, Ronnel? Why do you want to become a Hunter? That is… if you don't mind sharing."
Ronnel chuckled. "It's no secret. I'm here because my master asked me to."
"Master?" Gon blinked.
"Yeah, she said if I didn't get a Hunter's license, I wouldn't be welcome back."
Leorio and Kurapika stopped their squabble and turned to Ronnel, surprised. But it wasn't their place to pry into someone's personal matters.
Leorio sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I'm just here for the money, like I said."
Kurapika's expression darkened. "I'm here for… revenge. To—"
Rumble.
Before Kurapika could finish, the ground beneath them began to tremble, and the walls started to rise.
Everyone jumped to their feet, knowing the real test was about to begin.
"We're close now," Gon said, struggling to stay balanced as the platform they stood on began to descend.
Ronnel glanced around. "It'll probably lead us to the main exam site soon."
"It's always something dramatic with these tests…" Leorio grumbled, clinging to the nearest solid object.
Kurapika leaned against the wall, his previous tension from discussing revenge momentarily forgotten as they prepared for the next phase.
The tremors eventually subsided, and with a loud clang, the platform came to a stop.
"Let's go," Gon said with determination, stepping forward as the doors slid open. Kurapika and Leorio followed, a little on edge, while Ronnel strolled out casually behind them, completely unfazed.
The room they entered was vast, packed with candidates. The atmosphere felt much heavier than before.
"Looks like we're not dealing with amateurs anymore," Kurapika muttered, scanning the crowd. The tension in the air was palpable.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the tension from the side. "Hey, Number 405, looks like you're the last ones to arrive."
(T/N: Gon's number during the 287th Hunter Exam is #405, Leorio is #403, and Kurapika is #404. These are canonical numbers)
A stocky man with two bottles in hand jumped down from a nearby pipe, grinning widely.
"By the look on your faces, I'd say you're newbies. Hello, I'm Number 16, Tonpa!"
He flashed a friendly smile, but that quickly faded as his eyes landed on Ronnel. His voice hitched up an octave in recognition.
"Long time no see, Rookie Crusher Tonpa," Ronnel greeted with a sly grin.
"Rookie Crusher?!"
Leorio and Kurapika exchanged a glance, immediately understanding that this guy had less-than-noble intentions.
Tonpa's smile wavered under their scrutiny. He let out a nervous laugh and quickly turned tail, dashing away as fast as he could.
"Rookie Crusher?" Gon asked, watching Tonpa flee. "You must have been a rookie during your last exam, right, Ronnel?"
"Yeah. Tonpa's notorious for targeting rookies. He's failed the Hunter exam 35 times and gets his kicks from sabotaging newbies. Last time, he tried to pull something on me and ended up losing his number plate."
Leorio shook his head. "Thirty-five times? The Hunter exam sure draws all kinds of people."
Kurapika and Gon kept their eyes peeled, continuing to scan their surroundings, knowing they couldn't let their guard down.
And with that, the next stage of the Hunter Exam was about to begin.
