《Second phase of the Hunter's exam [18 days remain]》

A sharp thump of an old man falling interrupted Valais's rest, the old man, no less than sixty, must have fallen his age worth of feet and never broke a sweat.

"The hell!" He said, hurting his voice.

"Chairman Netero, Head of the exam commission," Menchi said. When did she get here? Did he sleep again?

"And as such, I stick to my knitting unless something needs to be untangled." The old man's voice was calm, grandfatherly even, like a disappointed parent talking to their child. "Menchi…"

"Yes!" And that child was ashamed of themselves.

"Did you fail them because, after testing their will to challenge the unknown, you found they lacked the desire?"

"...no…" Really ashamed."...I got steamed when an examinee belittled the task, and then when they all inadvertently found out how to make the dish, I got really upset and lost my appetite."

"Did this inhibit your ability to make a sober evaluation?"

"I admit, I get very emotional about food, and so I've failed as an examiner."

'I think I'm still asleep'

"To continue the present test would compromise the results of the exam. Instead, I'd like you to stay as an examiner. However, you will participate in the new test yourself to prove that it is possible. How does that sound?"

"All right. How about we try boiled eggs? "

"?"

"Chairman, may we get a lift to Split Mountain?"

—

"Here we go,"

Menchi jumped out of the blimp, pointing to the split in "Split" Mountain.

It was huge, and he could see webs deep within, which puzzled him.

"Why are there webs in the ravine?" He asked

"These are the webs of the Eagle-spiders" It was the chairman that answered, funnily enough, and Menchi didn't object, rather she continued by saying "That's the nest you will be taking the eggs from" before addressing the rest of the group.

Those eggs? Deep down in a ravine that he didn't know the end of, where God knows what could be lying, and even if he did get down there through some miracle, he had no easy way to get up, that was the easy option?...

"Fuck it" and he jumped into the ravine, never once thinking how he could get back.

He snapped his fingers on the string, most likely tested his legs, and much more. But in the end, he did land on the string. Nothing stopped him, and he certainly didn't have trouble getting the egg. Now he just had to get up.

"WHAT THE HELL YOU BASTARD" came a distant voice from above "I DIDN'T EVEN TELL YOU WHAT TO DO! I SHOULD BE GOING FIRST"

He couldn't tell who was talking from their voice, but it was probably Menchi.

"THEN WHAT'S TAKING YOU SO LONG?"

He isn't sure that she heard him, but she probably did judging by that shadow jumping over him.

Menchi landed like an acrobat, her eyes glued on the kid like he just insulted her.

"What with you and being first?" She asked.

"Just get your egg,"

That she did, and they soon both were going up the side of the ravine, Valais falling a bit behind.

They finally boiled the eggs, and Valais was the first in that blimp.

Netero watched him.

—

Hunter exam blimp :||42 contestants left|| 00:00 ||17 days remaining||

"17 days remain" Valais was eating food at his room, far too focused on the clock than his food.

"Remain for what young boy?"

Valais fell comically from his chair, too startled to speak.

"You're that chairman guy?"

'He's slow to react.' "Yes I am, is someone birthday coming up?"

"...no, what are you doing here?"

"Just wondering what got you so worked up, too boring for you?"

'He's trying to challenge me somehow, isn't he?'

"Not really," He replied. "Just a bit slow for my taste,"

"Oh really?"

"Just spill it"

'Stupid kid' "would you like to play a game?"

"And when I win?"

'When?'

"IF you win,I'll issue your Hunter's license on the spot"

—

《5 minutes later|| the gymnasium》

Two boys enter the gymnasium, one clad in green, the other wearing white.

"Oh it's the one who healed leorio!"

"What's he doing here?" The white haired kid said.

Valais didn't bother answering him. He had long been focused on the task ahead, and this time, whatever game he would play, might be his last chance at completing the task he set out here for in the first place.

Netero walked in, a calm and cheeky presence that was both proof proof of his strength, and his confidence in it.

A ball game he said, or at least that what Valais remembered, just get the ball and you win, he'll only defend.

He let the other two go first, the two prodigies going back and forth between each other, their abilities far beyond him, and far below Netero.

'...'

"Why don't you try going at me all at once?" Netero was confident, that was obvious, but he had a plan.

"That includes me, you know," He said.

He smiled at this, "Go ahead, the more the merrier."

He didn't move with them, he just stayed near the door, closed his eyes and just as the ball was in the air…

He turned off the light.

"The hell?"

He opened his eyes and ran like his life depended on it. He didn't know how much he got, but he didn't wanna waste it.

Just near the ball, midair with his hand outstretched and near the ball…

He touched it.

*crack*

Pain hit his abdomen like no other, a sharp and painful sensation it knocked all the air out of him.

He fell to the ground, limp and in pain, and didn't move until the light was turned back on.

"WHAT THE HELL? YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T FIGHT BACK" He was livid.

"Did I say that?"

"YES!"

"Well I must be getting old, my bad" He laughed in an infuriating manner, he knew what he has done.

Valais held his tongue, he touched the ball and that's all that mattered.

"Well then, I touched the ball, so just give me my licence"

"Nope, didn't see anything"

That put him over the edge, he just ran towards the ball, mouth foaming and no plan in sight.

And then he punched him in the face, no mercy, and got the ball before he even processed what was happening.

"This is unfair,"

"Heh, I guess it is."

"So you'll play by your rules?"

"Nope."

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Leave," killua said those words, not netero."You're useless"

He seemed to be done with the game, walking out of the room and calling for gon, who denied him.

Valais was not, hell he was now more focused than ever.

Gon went in while Valais was tending to himself, unlike with Valais, netero didn't even lay a finger on Gon, contempt with just avoiding the boy and playing with him.

When Valais got his turn, a different story played, one of cracks, punches, and moans of pain, he was hyperfocused on wining the game, not a care in the world to his own survival, his teeth were clenched and his eyes were fiery, but he was not wining, even though he could now see what the old man would do, sometimes, he couldn't do anything close to getting the ball.

Hours passed like this, and he had no victory in sight, just pain and bleeding, even gon fell asleep.

"Tell you what…" Netero said

"Going to surrender old man? "

"Times almost up, what say you get some rest and finish the exam like a normal person"

"Tch."

"I'll even call in a delay, just for you, how does that sound?"

' I wouldn't win anyway. A delay would give him a chance. Hurting himself more wouldn't.

It isn't even a loss. He lasted the longest, and giving up now would be a silver medal, good enough.

'A silver victory…'

"I…"

"Giving up at last?"

"I WANT A GOLDEN VICTORY GOD DAMMIT "

he rushed at the the old man, pushed his arm right to the ball before he moved it away to kick him, nevertheless he moved his body to attack him, so netero moved the ball away and pushed it slightly to the air, ready to block.

Then Valais kicked the ball, and netero almost moved to look at it.

"Eyes on me old man!" He kicked to the old man's side, and he caught his legs, he kicked with the other and it was caught too.

He smirked.

Putting his weight on his foot, he shifted his body so that his legs were at the bottom again, his face less than a meter away from the ball.

"What!"

"GON, WAKE UP!"

'He is throwing the ball to gon, that cheeky brat!'

He dropped valais, but it was too late. He pushed the ball with the palm of his hand as fast as he could.

Netero began moving, Valais stepped on his face to move forward, but he didn't care. He rushed to gon even blind and was ready to stop the ball.

*BOUNCE*

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

Valais wasn't aiming for gon. He pushed the ball to the wall, and just like it came, it jumped back to him, midair.

Netero wanted to jump, but it would only push valais closer.

The ball, the heart of this game, and key to his mother, jumped back to his chest, and he caught it like a lifeline, both of them falling to the ground with a loud thump.

Everyone was silent, Netero was in shock, Valais was crying his eyes out, his nose bleeding from the game, and Gon was just waking up.

"HE GOT THE BALL." He was late, but gon did finally see it, Valais victory.

"Interseting, " He stroked his chin," Very interesting."

—

[Chapter end]

AN: Sorry, this chapter was a bit short. I wanted to release this one early so I can get the hunter exam over with and get a bit of characterization on Valais, I hope you can forgive me.

BTW: What do you think Valais's Nen type is, and what nen ability do you think he will have.

Thanks for reading.