I know you already know this but then again, Hunter X Hunter is not mine. This wonderful anime story is owned by Yoshihiro Togashi
CHAPTER 10: Morning before the 3rd Phase Exam
The blimp soared through the boundless sky, en route to the next location, where the third phase of the Hunter Exam awaited.
Sam woke up in the blimp's cafeteria, the gentle hum of the airship's engines serving as her morning alarm. She stretched her arms and listened to the ambient sounds around her.
Kurapika, who had been seated at a nearby table, noticed Sam's awakening. He grabbed his meal and approached her. "Good morning, Sam," he greeted her with a warm smile, aware that she couldn't see it. "How did you end up sleeping here?" he inquired.
Sam returned the smile, her acute senses allowing her to perceive Kurapika's presence. "Good morning, Kurapika," she replied. "I couldn't fall back asleep, so I decided to explore a bit and eventually, I ended up here."
The girl happened to pass by and caught the scent of food.
Earlier, midnight snacks were served at the buffet table. If candidates happen to get hungry in the middle of the night, then they can just help themselves.
Sam entered the room and decided to make the seats her bed. The cushion was comfortable enough that she fell asleep right away.
breakfast was already served at the buffet tables. Most of the applicants were there- grabbing the chance to eat a good meal before the exam started.
Sam was supposed to wake up before someone came in, but her body desired a nice sleep. "So, what's on the menu today?"
Kurapika handed her a plate filled with fresh fruits and a muffin. "Here you go. We've got a variety of fruits, and Leorio saved this for you."
Sam appreciated their kindness and hospitality. "Thank you both," she said genuinely. "You've been so considerate."
More than half of the candidates are present inside-eating as much as breakfast they needed or just plain coffee. Some must be hogging all the rest they need.
It wasn't the usual atmosphere in an ordinary cafeteria. She could only hear the slight clatter of spoon and plate. The majority were too alert to talk. They're not exactly here to become friends with one another.
The only one making noise in the place was that bald ninja Hanzo who talked rather loudly with the three brothers even though they looked like they wanted him to stop blabbering.
She dug in mindlessly and swallowed the food to the point her cheeks bulged. Kurapika watched her in awe but then he went on with his breakfast.
She never realized how hungry she was right after eating real food. Especially since she only ate a boiled spider eagle's egg last night.
"Oh, you're awake." Leorio approached, carrying a cup of coffee. "Morning." He greeted them as he took a seat in front of Kurapika.
Sam just saluted. "Morning." Then resumed eating.
"That's your third cup already." The blonde stated.
"I need cups of coffee to start my day. My body badly needs it for the exam."
"You sound like an old man. Well, it's not like you looked in your teens, though." The blonde teen said with a straight face.
"Why don't you just focus on your food than pissing me off first thing in the morning?" Leorio said grumpily.
Ah, that's right. During the marathon, Leoiro blurted out his real age. He looked older but he's in his teens.
19 years old.
Still a shocker to all. Imagine that.
Kurapika is 17. Gon and Killua are both 12 years old. While Sam's 13 years old.
Speaking of-
"The boys? Where are they?"
"Gon could still be at the ship's empty function hall with the old chairman."
When he heard that voice, the panic quickly rose to her throat, causing her to choke. She clapped her chest hard while having a series of coughs.
The blonde was quick to extend his glass of water. Sam took it and downed it whole. "Can you stop popping out of nowhere?" Especially now that she's being extra cautious near Killua.
He's showing off his amused face once again as he sat down at their table. Sam flinched uncomfortably in her seat. The food tastes like sandpaper now.
Leorio continued sipping the remaining half-filled. "Hey brat, you should've brought Gon with you to eat breakfast." He started.
He's calling him a brat… Would Killua lash him out for calling him that?
Sam wasn't even sure what sort of things ran through his head. Why did he kill those guys? Did they do something that provoked him?
'I easily snapped at him and made rude remarks. Does that mean he'll kill me?' She shuddered at the thought.
Or he's playing examiner like Hisoka?
"I bet he's still asleep at this time. He played with the old geezer til morning." He said. "I left them around 2 a.m. to blow off some steam."
The girl gulped. He's definitely talking about the two dead men.
So, he wasn't playing examiner but to blow off some steam? He was just blood-lusting? Remembering the corpses completely lost her appetite.
The blood on the floor. The blood in his hand. She doesn't even have a blood phobia to begin with but she might develop on such.
Of all the people, it had to be someone very close to death.
"How could you brats waste your energies like that?" Leorio said as he shook his head before taking another sip. He made a satisfying grumble at the back of his throat.
"You doing that, makes you look like an old man," Killua commented.
The eldest placed his cup on the table. He clicked his tongue. "Listen brat, you'll understand the wonders of hot coffee in the early morning when you're older."
"Even though you're just two years older than me. You speak like you're in 30's." Kurapika said. He was finally done with his food.
"Being repetitive Kurapika?" Leorio mocked.
The blonde and the kid could only smirk.
Kurapika decided to change the topic. "What do you think the next phase will be?"
Leorio nodded, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "We've come this far; we can handle it! I suggest we prepare ourselves mentally and physically."
Sam, sipping her water, listened attentively but remained cautious. The events of the previous night still weighed heavily on her mind.
Killua, for his part, maintained his usual air of nonchalance. "As long as it's not as boring as the second phase, I'm up for anything," he remarked, cracking a smile.
It was rather odd observing these three having a normal conversation at the table. Their personalities are so distinct and yet they somehow clicked. One is an easily hot–tempered guy who wants to become a doctor to help sick people, one is overly serious and wants to avenge his family and the last one is an annoying little brat from an elite family of assassins.
Oh, and also Gon. A good-natured kid with a good sense of smell.
'I wonder how these two will react about Killua.'
The sound of a cackling loudspeaker grabbed their attention.
"I apologize for the long wait. The airship is ready to land." The voice said.
They're late for an hour and a half. What could be the reason? Time needed for the preparation of the next phase?
If so… then she needs to expect the worst.
Not far, was an enormous earth spire erected from the plain's surface, surrounded by forest ground. A giant cylinder-shaped tower sits atop the spire's plateau.
The structure tells that; it was built to isolate outsiders. Or isolate what's inside.
They all landed on top of the flat surface of the tower, and examinees were led out.
"Attention everyone, the third phase exam will be held here in Trick Tower." Beans started as soon as all applicants stepped afoot on the tower. "Reach the base of the tower to pass the exam. Make sure to reach the bottom alive in 72 hours. And with that, the third exam now officially begins. Good luck to everyone." He went back inside and they watched the blimp as it began to fly away.
The five of them finally regrouped once again.
Four boys walked over the edge and peered over cautiously. It was incredibly high.
They could only see the same thing. It was just a plain roof of the tower. Even if there's a rope or a ladder… well they're going to need tons of it.
"He said that but, how are we supposed to reach the bottom? If there's no stairs, no doors, and no windows." Sam asked.
"Are we supposed to climb down?" Leorio asked, clutching his briefcase over his right shoulder.
"That would be a suicide," Kurapika informed as his arms crossed.
"For normal people like you, maybe…" A voice from behind said. They looked back and saw a well-built man crossing his arms, number 86 pinned in his chest. He grinned as he slowly reached the side of the tower and started to climb down.
The man looked like a professional rock climber. He easily descended the walls even without a proper handhold and footholds.
"Wow." Said by an amazed Killua.
Gon peered down even further to see the professional rock climber already far from the top. "He's going down pretty fast."
"Really?" Sam asked.
Suddenly, they heard some sort of big flapping wings. It sounded not one but more of them. They looked around as a loud screeching noise filled the air.
There were four ugly fat flying big creatures. They looked like flying babies- except that they looked mutated- with shark teeth and skin with an ugly shade of dark pink.
"Stop! Stop it!" He tried to shoo them away like they were just chickens he could easily get rid of.
The teens just watched or listened in horror.
The mutated creatures surrounded him, grabbed him, and… 'A few minutes from now, he's going to be part of their belly any time soon.'