Fearsome monsters… Exotic creatures…

Vast riches… Hidden treasures…

Evil enclaves… Unexplored lands…

The word "unknown" holds magic.

And some incredible people are drawn to that magic.

They are known…

…as Hunters!

Whiirrrr…

The elevator finally slowed and came to a final rest. The lone girl who was seated at the circular table in the middle of the room stood from her seat to stand by the metallic doors, her small fists tightly clenched as she stood waiting for them to open. She tugged on the hood that covered her face, violet orbs barely peeking out from underneath the material as she fretfully chewed on her lower lip.

Bing!

The breath she held released with the sound of the elevator announcing the last level.

This was it…

She had made it.

There was no turning back now.

The doors slid open, and without hesitation, she stepped into the large hall.

The applicants closest to the entrance turned to stare at the newcomer who entered. Priya felt a chill down her spine at the menacing glares of those who had passed the Hunter screening; it was evident, everyone who had made it this far was strong. Strong, and most likely dangerous. She shrunk back, attempting to nullify the energy that pulsed strong and steady from her being, quite unlike her heartbeat at the moment.

When most were satisfied they had glared down the newest arrival, they turned away from her. Others, on the other hand, continued to observe their new opponent slyly from the corner of their vision.

'Geez…what a creepy atmosphere,' she thought, steeling her nerves before walking further into what reminded her of a large subway tunnel. The air was chilly, and tasted stale, but she assumed that it differed if one was in the middle of the large crowd that hung about, waiting for what was to come.

'I wonder how many people are down here…their auras are completely fused together that I can't even guess…'

"That makes four hundred and six."

Priya glanced around in alarm, wondering if the person who spoke out to her had read her mind, or if her posture had simply proven very easy to read. The one who had spoken to her was a short, stocky man with cropped brown hair and thick eyebrows. He approached her with a smile, cocking his head slightly to the left to look under her hood. Priya lowered her head after making quick eye-contact with the stranger, tugging nervously on the hood around her face.

"The name's Tonpa! Pleased t' meet cha," the man greeted cheerfully, sticking out his hand. The energy that emanated from him didn't seem dangerous, and Priya hesitantly stuck her hand out to shake his own.

"Priya…"

"You must be new here!"

"You can tell?"

"Of course; I should be able to by now, considering this is my thirty-fifth go at the exam. I guess you can say I'm an expert examinee," he said with a wink and a hearty laugh.

Priya didn't think that was something to brag about, but maybe he just enjoyed the examination itself. She had heard that it did change every year.

"Excuse me!" A new voice pitched in, and Priya turned to see an odd bean-like being dressed in a suit and tie, carrying a small basket on his arm. "Your number badge, miss! Please keep this on you at all times," the Bean said, handing her a badge that had the number 406 on it.

"Ah, thank you," she answered, giving a small bow of her head as she took the pin. She stared down at the badge that was about the size of her palm, and new determination began to swell inside her. Those in the enclosure capable of using Nen, and even some that were oblivious to it could no doubt feel the new energy that suddenly burst forth from the girl's aura, as her entire being lit up with it.

Taking a calming breath, Priya attached the pin securely to her dress just underneath her cloak, right above her heart. Completely oblivious to those whose attention she had drawn, she placed her hand over the badge, a silent prayer for good fortune leaving her lips without a sound. Once again being as energized as she was when she first started her journey, she confidently drew back her hood.

Her long scarlet tresses that framed her small face were an assured eye-catcher, as were her violet eyes that held an unusual spark of energy in them. Those around her judged that she was about sixteen at most, and some wondered how such a girl made it this far when she, at first glance, seemed to have no extraordinary talent. She did not carry any weapon but a simple bow and a quiver full of arrows, nor did she wear any armor. Her frame was small and delicate, and her small hands showed no evidence of any labor. She looked to be a noble girl, or at least a girl accustomed to wealth and easy living.

She turned back to the man named Tonpa, a soft smile on her face. "I suppose you know nearly everyone here then, if they're not newcomers like me. Would you mind sharing a bit of information about this year's examination?"

"Just about; I'll point out some of the regulars. Let's see… 255! Strong as an ox, and a lot smarter than he looks, we have the wrestler, Todo. And then over there is 103, Bourbon, the snake charmer. A tenacious competitor; get on his bad side and you'll never get off. Number 191 is Bodoro, the Kung Fu master. He's getting old, but he's still the best of the best. 197 to 199 are the brothers Amori, Imori, and Umori. They specialize in teamwork and keep getting better at it. 384, Geretta, the Huntsman. He's quite handy with blow darts and clubs… There are many more, but they have taken the test the most times."

Priya's attention was guided in every direction as Tonpa pointed out those he knew, and all the while, her Nen was snaking out, feeling her competitor's auras. They all completely differed from the other hunter applicants she had met on her journey here. Those were all just wannabe's. Everyone here was a master in their right, and, therefore, a threat.

'So it seems that they are ones I should most definitely avoid - but who else…?'

"GAAH!"

A strangled scream interrupted Priya's thoughts, and she whirled around to see what the commotion was. The crowd had hastily parted, revealing a man who had fallen to his knees, his arms stretched out before him. The inexplicable thing was, both of his arms were eroding away, and from them, beautiful red flowers were blossoming and being blown about by an unseen wind. Unconsciously, Priya took steps forward, despite Tonpa's unheard protest, and leaned down, reaching out to scoop up some of the flowers that had drifted to the ground. They were the color of blood, and yet they sparkled so beautifully to the point where she became enraptured with them.

"Oh, how peculiar…"

From where she knelt, Priya's eyes widened at the man who moved to the center of the area cleared before them all.

His leaning, muscular frame was quite huge; his hair was bright red and was slicked back, almost giving the impression that he was walking against a constant wind. Bright, golden hues were narrowed at the man on his knees before him, but the look they held was one of pleasure, and insatiable bloodlust. The clothing he wore was similar to that of a magician or jester, adorned with various suit symbols on the front and back, and complimented his fairly toned stature. A maroon star was painted on his right cheek, just beneath his right eye, and a spring green teardrop aligned with it on the left.

The man spoke again, his voice cold, but laced with arrogance.

"His arms seem to have become flower petals. No smoke and mirrors here," he said to the crowd, stretching out his arms as a smile stretched across his face. Priya found she was once again enraptured, taken in by the dark energy this man himself gave off.

"Do take care. When you bump into someone, you really should apologize."

The sudden surrounding hostility of the other examinees brought her back to reality, and she heard Tonpa's next words loud and clear.

"That psychopath is back again."

She turned to stare at him, now seeing he was beside a boy with spiky black hair whose tips were hued green.

"Again?" the young boy questioned with curiosity.

"Does that mean he took last year's exam?" asked another boy, this one with blonde hair that was an obvious companion of the younger.

"Number 44. Hisoka, the magician," Tonpa started, his tone grave. "Last year, he was a virtual lock to pass the test, until he all but killed an examiner he didn't like."

"A-And they're still allowing him to retake the exam this year?!" an old man who sported a small pair of spectacles on his nose cried out, obviously aghast at the fact.

"Of course; every year, the examiners and test contents change, and the examiners are the ones who choose the new content. The devil himself could pass if that were the examiners determination. That's just how the Hunter Exam works. Anyway, no one likes him. You should stay away, too," Tonpa finished. His attention now completely diverted from her for the time being to the three other newcomers around him, Priya allowed her mind to drift.

'Hisoka…'

Violet orbs flickered quickly to catch another glance at the retreating magician, before he had the chance to disappear into the crowd.

'He obviously has no regard for human life…' Priya thought to herself, once again looking down at the blossoms cradled in her palms. Unconsciously, her nen stretched out towards him as she stared down at the flowers, inadvertently drawing his attention as her aura slowly enveloped him. "But still - the flowers… are pretty," she commented softly, the hint of a smile gracing her lips as she brought one closer to her face.