[Warning: This chapter contains gore and discomfort for certain viewers. Viewer discretion is advised!]

"Hello, Everyone! The exam's Third Phase will begin here at the top of Trick Tower. To pass this phase, you must reach the tower's base alive. You have seventy-two hours to complete this phase. With that, we will now begin. I wish you all good luck!"

~.:[Hisoka]:.~

"Gittarackur, applicant #301, is the second to pass. Total time, Twelve Hours and two minutes. Follow by Vividus, Applicant #100 is third to pass. Total time, twelve hours and three minutes."

After looking up, he saw his companion and his favourite toy pass through the door. Illumi (disguised as Gittarackur) looked over at Hisoka and tilted his head to the side. "I figured you'd already crossed the finish line."

Smirking, he looked over at Illumi and gave him a simple nod. However, looking past the oldest Zoldyck, he raised an eyebrow to see that his lovely toy wasn't her usual self. She looked miserable. Her shoulders were slumped forward, her hands were in her jacket pocket, and she just didn't have a pleasant expression on her face. It intrigued him a bit; it's been a long time since Hisoka felt terrible vibes coming off of the woman.

So bad that he can feel the aftermath of her blood lust seeping out of her.

Watching her every move, she didn't even bother looking over at Hisoka. Vividus walked away from the two men and walked on the opposite side of the room. Sitting down with her legs cross and her eyes closed. Before anyone else entered the room, he senses that she covered her aura up with zetsu. No longer feeling the bloodlust radiating off of Vividus.

He looked up at Illumi, raising an eyebrow with a curious expression. "What happened?"

"More like what didn't happen," Illumi said, sitting beside Hisoka. "Vividus and I ended up becoming a two-person team during Phase three. When we reached a certain point when we had to battle two prisoners...Vividus lost it."

Hisoka's eyes sparkled, "Oh~?"

He nodded his head, looking out towards the Kurta survivor. "After witnessing what I saw... I'm starting to understand a bit better now on why you're obsessed with her."

"And why is that?" Hisoka queried, slightly surprised by Illumi's comment.

"For a Kurta survivor," Illumi started, "She's dangerous."

Once he said those words, Illumi started to explain what happened to Vividus during the Third Phase.

~.:[Illumi]:.~

After the tower swallowed me up, I finally managed to escape the tunnel and land on the ground. Looking around, I saw a large frame placed in front with two wristwatches placed on the pedestal. Walking towards it, I picked up the watch and held it in my hand: seeing that only Seventy-hours left remaining. Glancing up towards the frame, I started to read what was placed in front of me.

In this Trick Tower, there are two types of tests: team base and individual front. Lucky for you: you work in pairs of two. But be careful, with every choice you make...it might be your last.

Rolling my eyes, I put on the watch. Seeing there is an extra watch left: I speculated that I needed to wait for a new teammate. Deep down, I was somewhat hoping I would end up with Hisoka because it would make this Phase Three bearable.

My hopes was crushed when I saw a familiar Platinum-blonde hair appear in my view. Watching her land on her feet and started to look around. Her eyes scanning the room to see where she's at. As soon as the woman caught a glimpse of me, her smile widens. "Hey, Gittarackur!"

I felt my eye twitched, 'Of course I'm stuck with her.'

Letting out a massive sigh, I would point at the watch. "Take a look at the board and wear the watch. Once you're done, we're heading out."

Surprisingly enough, she followed orders and did what she was told. As much as Vividus was a chatterbox and annoying at times: she knows when to listen. After doing what she was told, she would follow me from behind. The moment she put on her watch, the door opened up before them. Peeking through the door, they only saw a dark tunnel that goes forward.

"Ready?" I asked.

"More than ever." She replied with a toothy grin. "What can go wrong right?"

With that, Vividus and I advanced forward. Considering we have seventy hours to complete Phase Three, I somewhat faith in the Kurta woman that she'll be able to keep up with me. Only because Hisoka spoke so highly of her.

'Let's see if she can keep up.' I thought to myself.

~.:x_X_x:.~

Throughout the eleven hours spent with Vividus, I was somewhat impressed that Vividus wasn't falling behind. Every obstacle we had to go through was easy: despite the majority of the courses involving mazes and puzzle-solving. To be frank, I was pleased with how well we work together.

Even though Vividus was the one who was initiating the conversation, I found it amusing. As much as I hate to admit to myself: I can understand why Killua was so fond of the Kurta survivor.

"I don't get it," Vividus said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You're so...clam around Hisoka."

"Oh?" I queried,

Vividus hummed in response, "Despite the clown being annoying and such, your personalities are so different."

"It's a give and take relationship," I responded, catching the woman off guard. "Besides, I should say the same thing regarding your relationship with the mad man."

Vividus rolls her eyes, snickering towards my comment. "I suppose you got me there."

I felt a small smirk tug on my lips. But due to the needles to help keep my disguised up, my body just twitched in response. "I know."

Once our conversation ended, we reached the end of the tunnel and entered a new room. Vividus and I saw a square arena floating in the middle of the air. Looking across to the other side, two figures were standing there.

"Hello Applicants," A voice spoke through the speaker of the mini arena. "Congratulations on making this far. You are one step closer to completing the end of Phase Three."

I noticed that both figures had a brown cloak covering their whole bodies. Observing the two prisoners infront of me, I noticed that one had a tall muscular built while the other seemed to be averaged height. By the looks of things, both seem to be male. "To pass: you must either kill the prisoners or make them forfeit their match."

"So, any method will work?" I queried.

"Yes."

Behind me, I heard a loud sigh. Raising an eyebrow, I looked back to see the Kurta woman showing signs of discomfort. "Do we have a problem?"

"Yes." She replied, "I...don't want to kill anyone."

I rolled my eyes, "Are you deaf, woman? He said we can either kill them or make them forfeit. You have options."

Vividus looked up at me with worried eyes. "Well, what option are you going to choose?"

"Death, obviously."

Staring down at the woman, I was a tad curious about what she was going to do, knowing it was the option. I was expecting her to protest against me. Instead, all she did was nod her head in understanding."It's wrong." She replied, leaning against the wall with her arms cross. "But I won't stop you."

"You're not going to stop me?"

Vividus shook her head, "As much as I think it's wrong. I can't stop you, this is your battle...not mine."

I must admit, I wasn't expecting that as her response. I expected this woman to be against me killing someone due to what happened to her Clan. After hearing those simple words, I guess she's reasonable to a certain degree.

"Anyway," Vividus said, looking at the two figures. "You go first since you're not planning on sparring this guy. Let's just get this over with."

Nodding my head, I took a step forward. I look down to see a platform started to move forward that connected to the arena. Stepping on it, I would feel my twitchy body walk and make my way over: along with my opponent.

The moment the first prisoner and I stepped into the Arena. The Prisoner took off his cloak and revealed himself. As my speculations were correct: he was a muscular male, looked like he had decent military experience. Unfortunately, he wasted no time and started to brag about himself. Went on, and on how he was a scary man in prison, his life story, what kind of fellow he was.

However, I got bored with the Prisoner quite quickly. In the middle of the man talking: I took out one of the needles that was embedded into my chest and threw it towards the prisoner. In shock, my prey would lift his head up and felt the needle that was stabbed through his skull. Looking at me was a horrific expression, his eyes suddenly faded and fell to the ground: lifeless.

Walking towards his body, I kicked his body off the Arena and his body falling over the arena. Watching the dead corpse joining the abyss of the tower.

Feeling my body twitch: I walked back over towards Vividus, who stared at me in disbelief. "Your turn."

Vividus stopped leaning against the wall and started to make her way towards the arena. She didn't say much, to my speculation I assume she just wants to get this part of the test done and over with. I don't blame her one bit, this test was starting to become a drag.

Waiting on the other side, Vividus would stand on her end of the arena, while the Prisoner stood on the other. Watching the Prisoner pull off his cloak, it was revealed to be a man who looked like he was in his early thirties. By his facial features, he looked like an attractive individual, the only thing that was odd about him was him wearing a blindfold to cover his eyes.

"My, I must be blessed to be fighting a beautiful woman such as yourself." The Prisoner said smirking. "It's going to be a shame that I have to kill you."

I heard the Kurta woman scoff, "Oh?"

"Yes!" The man exclaimed, "My name is Altair! I am known to be one of the most fearsome prisoners here at Trick tower. People fear me because of my 'demon eyes.' Because of how fearsome my eyes are: people tremble in fear. I propose we fight each other either to death or until one of us surrenders."

"I accept."

"No weapons either. Even though I am fighting for the examiner: I'm still a prisoner and can't use weapons." Altair added.

Vividus nodded her head, unbuckling her waterskin around her waist. She would soon toss it to the side. Looking back at the Prisoner. "Alright, anything else?"

Seeing the look on Altair's face, he looked extremely flustered. "How dare you mock me!"

"I'm not trying too," She said honestly, "You are the last obstacle on passing the Third Phase. If you don't want to get hurt: I suggest you surrender now."

After Vividus made her proposal to Altair, the Prisoner let out an obnoxious howl of laughter. "You? Asking me to surrounder! How foolish of you to think so low of me, now I definitely won't be able to hold myself back from killing you."

"That's fine," She said, "Didn't say I warned you."

The moment she said those words, Altair suddenly jumped towards Vividus's. Every time the Prisoner tried to land a blow against Vividus, she gracefully dodges all of his attacks. This man was giving it his all, trying his best to defeat the woman with his bare hands, but it was useless. He was panting, breaths are heaving, even though he was the one that is attacking her with all his might: he was already growing tired.

Then there's Vividus, not breaking a single sweat.

When Altair threw his punch towards Vividus, she simply raised her hand up and deflected his attack. Lowering her body, I could see that she swung her feet forward: hitting him right in the stomach and sent him flying backwards. Hearing the prisoner grunt, he tried to keep his composer and landed back on the arena's floor. But just barely.

"Y-You wench!" Altair screamed.

"Just give up." Vividus warned, "If you surrender now, then you can walk out of here alive."

"As if I'll ever surrender to a weakling like you!"

Altair stood up tall from his spot, taking a few steps back into the arena. Reaching his hands up, he started to untie his blindfold that covered his eyes. "I will truly make you tremble in fear! Once you take a look at my demon eyes, you'd run away like a weakling you are!"

I stared at the Prisoner, dumbfounded. 'I should've killed this guy instead. He's literally all talk-'

The moment he revealed his eyes, I was surprised to see a pair of crimson eyes. However it's not just any pair, but the eyes of a Kurta. Seeing his eyes, I felt the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew dark and sinister. Looking at Vividus, I felt her zetsu broke free from containment. Her ren became suffocating for both myself and the Prisoner. She was no longer composed nor calm.

"Where did you get those eyes." I heard Vividus hiss. Due to her back facing me, I couldn't see her expression.

The man didn't say anything, after feeling Vividus's intent to spill blood. He was a loss of words. Taking a step forward, her aura spiked up even more. "Answer me!"

At this point, Altair was shaking; he simply glared at Vividus and pointed at her. "Don't tell me what to do!"

When the Prisoner screamed at her, she disappeared from my view and was now standing in front of Altair. Grabbing ahold of his neck, she would lift the man up into the air. Watching him dangle from her grip and clawing at her hands for air. Watching this event unfold, I would watch her spin him around and slammed his body straight into the round. Causing a crater to form beneath him. Seeing her spin her body around, I finally a good look at Vividus's face.

Scarlet eyes.

Just like Altair's, however, the only difference is between the two: is her eyes are more fearsome. More deadly.

"Y-You have the scarlet eyes?!" The man choked, "That means you're a member of the Kurta Clan! B-But I thought everyone was killed!"

"Think again." She said in a deadly tone. Using her knee to pin his body down, she would lift his arms up, positioning it uncomfortably. "Now tell me, where did you get those eyes."

"Fuck you!"

Snap

I was taken by surprise. Looking at what Vividus just did to the prisoner, she broke his arm. His bone was sticking out of his skin, and his arm was now turning purple. The worthless prisoner started to cry his eyes out from how agonizing the pain was.

'Oh my.' I thought to myself, letting out a small whistle.

Looking down, her scarlet eyes would glare down at the man. Taking his other arm, she now positioned it into another uncomfortable position. Ready to snap it. "Are you going to tell me now?"

The prisoner pathetically nodded his head, tears starting to spill out of his eyes.

"O-Ok, I'll tell you!" The man cried out, staring up at Vividus in horror. "T-The real reason I got arrested was that I was part of the black market. My position was to perform surgeries on the living and the dead! W-When I finally saw the eyes of the Kurta...I fell in love with it."Vividus stayed quiet, the Prisoner continued. "I-I didn't want to part ways with the pair I was assigned with...so arranged surgery for someone to replaces my old pair with the Kurta's eyes. It was so beautiful. I wanted them as my own!"

He was breathing heavily, by the looks of it the pain was too much to bear. But he kept going. "A-After I saw the eyes, I did everything in my power to own a pair. P-Please spare me!"

At first, he was relieved to see a small smile appear on her lips. It gave Altair a moment of hope that he was able to live after this encounter. However, that was stolen from him after hearing another snapping sound. Looking over at his other arm in horror, he could see Vividus broke his other arm. Eyes widen in horror to see his bone popping out of his skin again. His blood-curdling screams once again filled my ears.

"Y-You fucking bitch! How could you! I told you everything you wanted!"

Hearing a dark chuckle escape her lips, Vividus stood up and hovered over the prisoner. Vividus would raise her leg and pressed her feet against his broken arm. Hearing him cry out in pain and agony.

Vividus lost it.

"You have no right to beg for mercy. How dare you use the eyes of my fallen brethren for selfish reasons. How fucking dare you for tainting our beautiful eyes and call them your own." Her eyes shine brighter than before. "Never in my life have I ever been so disgusted towards someone in my life!"

She applied more pressure against his broken arm, hearing the prisoner pleading over and over again. Begging her to stop and let him go. After lifting her feet off against his arm. I eyed Vividus's movements and saw her picking up her waterskin, she would use her nen to control the water out. I was in awe as I watched the water flow around her.

Walking back to the severely wounded man, I watched the water solidify around her hands. Seeing the water clung onto her nails and turned them into sharp talons.

"W-What are you doing?" The man stuttered, starring at Vividus's ice claws in Horrible.

"It's simple," She said, tilting her head to the side and gave him a fake innocent smile. "I'm taking those eyes back."

Before the man could question, Vividus cut him off.

"You said I was evil, right?" She said with a sadistic grin on her face. "I'll show you what true evil looks like."

Reaching her hand down, she would soon use hand made claws and start to gauge his eyes. Hearing a sickening sound of flesh being torn apart and blood squirting mixed in with the man's screams. After a few moments passing, Vividus would stand up with the scarlet eyes in her hands. Using her water ability, she would control the water to cover the eyes in an ice-jar. Keeping the eyes contained and preserved.

I was lost. I wasn't phased because I kill people for a living. But this was a whole nother level of cruelty.

Yet, at the same time...I was rather impressed.

"M-Monster..." The man breathed out, the eyeless man looking up in Vividus's direction.

"You're right." Vividus side shoving her ice-jar into her pocket. "I am."

Before the man could utter another word, she kicked his body so hard: he flew off the floating arena. The injured Prisoner now joining the abyss of Tricks Tower.

Turning her attention towards me. I finally got a good look at what her scarlet eyes look like. Seeing them, this close was just...unreal. Some of Altair's blood was splattered on her face. Using her water, she would use it to clean off the blood of her hands and face. Trying her best to clean herself up as if nothing happened. On cue, a new platform connected to the arena is now opening a new door leading them to where they need to go.

"Vividus," I said, walking over towards her side.

Looking down, I noticed her eyes reverted back to normal. Blinking a few times and tilted her head to the side. "Yes?"

"That was impressive," I said bluntly, starting to walk towards the exit. "You have my respect."

The Kurta survivor didn't reply. Instead, all she did was nod her head and started to follow from behind—both us beginning to make our way towards the end of Phase Three.

~.:[Hisoka]:.~

Hisoka simply stared at Illumi, surprised by the story the assassin just explained to him that occurred. Taking in every word that the oldest Zoldyck said was a bizarre story, there was no way that Vividus was capable of performing such an act. The woman was undoubtedly a kindred spirit, a positive light, and not to be taken lightly. She's a graceful warrior: a survivor. However, hearing she is capable of torture...let alone killing someone due to losing her cool?

Hisoka groaned in pleasure by the mere thought of it.

"I'm envious of you," The Jester said, looking up at Illumi. "It must have been quite a performance to see her go overboard like that~."

"I wouldn't say that," Illumi said, sitting down on the ground. "However, I must say it was interesting to finally see her abilities in action. If she wasn't an emotional creature, she would've been an excellent assassin."

Hisoka grinned, "That truly would be an interesting twist."

After that, the conversation between Hisoka and Illumi died out. At this point: it was just a waiting game to see who would make it through those doors with the time left remaining to complete Phase Three.

He noticed that his new prey, Gon, and the others he passed judgement on hasn't arrived yet. But regardless, he has faith in them that they'll make it. They have to grow and become strong, so he can kill them one day.

Looking around the room, he noticed that Vividus hasn't moved from her spot since she entered the gathering hub. The most he's seen was Vividus getting her food and water. Other applicants tried to talk to her, but she would just give them the cold shoulder.

When more applicants started to arrive, Illumi stayed quiet for the remainder of the time. Not wanting to talk as often anymore. The only thing that kept Hisoka remotely entertained was making a card tower with his deck of cards. While taking a card out of his deck, he could see his favourite one appear: the queen of hearts. Lifting the card into the air, he would look at the card: and then back to Vividus.

Hisoka couldn't stop thinking about her. At first, he felt unsettled knowing that he wasn't able to read her. Just as he thought he had her figured out: she does something else to surprise him. He's loving the new Vividus, how she's slowly becoming more merciless. The fact that Vividus was capable of killing someone in such a way was so...intriguing. He wished that he was there to witness her first kill instead of fighting the previous examiner last year.

'How did it feel?' Hisoka asked himself, 'Anger? Sadness? Pleasure? What emotions were going through your mind when you gauged his eyes out?'

He quietly chuckled, 'I wonder what your next steps are now, my crimson flower~.'