Dawn breaks as the airship carrying Kirahki, Gon, and their friends approaches its destination. The Third Phase of the Hunter Exam is about to begin.
Mr. Beans gathers the remaining candidates to make an announcement. "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. The time limit is 72 hours. With that, we will now begin the Third Phase. Best of luck to everyone." After the briefing, the airship takes off leaving all the applicants stranded on top of Trick Tower.
The four guys are looking out over the tower's edge. It's a looooooonnnnngg way down. "Are we supposed to climb down?" Leorio asks.
Kurapika is the first to point out, "There are no windows on the side, descending along the wall, it's surly suicide."
A man wearing the number 86 interrupts the conversation, "Maybe for a normal person." I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever really noticed him. "But a top‑class rock climber, like me, can handle this, no problem," he says confidently as he starts to descend down the side of the tower.
"Wow," Killua says plainly as he watches 86 decline lower. He's actually getting quite far.
"He's going pretty fast," Gon states slightly astonished.
"Looks like I'll be the first one to pass the Third Phase," number 86 says aloud with certainty.
Sounds can be heard off in the distance. Is that the flapping of wings? It's hard to make out because it's unlike any bird I've ever heard before. I survey the skies searching for the source of the noise. Flying pink and red figures are making their way towards trick tower. They begin to attack the man who had climbed down the wall. "Stop! Stay away!" he screams below. One of them grabs number 86 and flies off with him in its mouth. "Help!" is all that can be heard as his screams fade away. Poor 86.
"G-Guess we can't climb down the side," Leorio says nervously, clutching his briefcase tightly to his chest.
"Yeah," Killua agrees coolly.
Kurapika appears to be contemplating something, "There must be some hidden doors that lead below."
While my friends are talking, I notice a spider crawling towards me on the ground. Ewe I shudder and without hesitating I stomp on it to squish it. As I do this, the tile I'm standing on flips and I fall down into the hole it opens.
"Kirahki!" I hear my brother and friends shout, then I hit the ground HARD.
"Ow," I groan. I feel a stabbing pain shooting through my arm. It's hard to move but still manageable. I push myself up with my good arm and look around to try to figure out where I landed. "Well there's no going back up," I say looking up to where I had just fallen from. The ceiling had sealed itself where my tile had been. If only I hadn't stomped so hard. My bad luck strikes again. Stupid spiders.
I look around the room seeing only a small table and an inscription on the wall. I can hear the sound of footsteps above and voices counting, "One...two...three..." The ceiling opens above and four people come crashing down, one of them face planting on the floor.
"Gon?" I ask as I realize the four people in front of me were the friends I had just left up above. Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio (who had landed on his face) were there too.
"Kira!" my brother cries and runs over to me scooping me up in a bear hug. "I thought maybe you'd beat me to the end," he says pursing his lips pretending to pout.
"That was quite a brief farewell," Kurapika says.
Leorio's thinking out loud, "Oh, so all the doors led to the same room..."
Gon was hugging me so tightly he was crushing my already injured arm. "Ow, Gon!" I push him away.
"What's wrong sis?" he asks eyes full of concern.
"Nothing," I reply but he just continues to stare at me.
He brings his face closer to mine. "Are you sure you're alright?" he questions inspecting me for any lies.
"Yeah," I sigh. "I just hurt my arm when I fell. I'm okay."
Leorio walks over to where I'm standing. "Let me have a look at it." He takes my sore arm and starts to examine it. I roll my eyes annoyed by everyone's concern.
"So where are we?" Killua asks me.
"I haven't figured that out yet."
Gon starts reading the inscription on the wall, "The five of you must follow the will of the majority to reach the goal... Look, there are five stop watches." There was a small circular table beneath the writing on the wall, and sitting on top of it were five wrist watches.
"There's an O and an X button," Killua says inspecting the watch. He hands one to me. As he's watching me struggle to put it on with one arm, he snickers.
"Something funny?" I ask him.
"Baka, this is how it's done," he says quietly. He takes the watch from me and puts it on my wrist. The clock on it is counting down. It shows how much time is left to get to the bottom of trick tower.
"Your arm..." Leorio begins. "It's slightly fractured and it's probably going to take at least a couple weeks to heal."
"Damn it..." I mumble under my breath. Good thing I'm a quick healer.
"Kira," my brother is looking at me with worrisome eyes.
"Don't worry," I assure him. "It hardly even hurts."
"I'm going to put it in a sling to prevent it from any further injury" Leorio wraps my arm in a cloth and ties it around my neck.
"Thanks..." I mutter.
A loud annoying buzzer sounds from the speaker in the room as someone starts talking. "Hello, my name is Lippo. I am the prison warden here as well as the Third Phase examiner. Multiple routes through this tower have been prepared. You have chosen the path of majority rule. Cooperation will be key if you wish to clear this phase of the exam. One person's selfish behavior can derail an entire group. Best of luck, lady and gentlemen." The voice finishes speaking and the buzzing sound seized as a door appears.
Gon reads the words on the door aloud, "At this door, select O to open, X not to open."
"Forcing us to use majority rule already?" Leorio asks no one in particular. "The answer should be obvious..." Everyone presses a button on their watches. The results appear on the door:
O 5 X 0
The door opens. "Well this is going to be easy." All of us walk out the door and are immediately greeted by another choice. "Seriously, another question so soon," the wannabe doctor complains.
Gon reads it aloud again, "Which way do you want to go? O for right. X for left." We all press our buttons again and the results are posted to the screen:
O 3 X 2
"Huh?" Leorio yells surprised. "Wh-why would you choose to go right? Normally, you should go left..."
"That's true," Kurapika says nonchalantly. "Studies have indicated that people who are lost or suck at forks unconsciously tend to go left."
"I've heard that before too," Killua confirms.
"Wait! The numbers don't add up! Which button did you press?" Leorio points to them.
"Right," they both answer coolly and start heading down the right path, making Leorio's eye twitch.
"I chose right as well," I say.
"If the examiner knows that people tend to go left," Kurapika continues. "The left path will be more difficult."
Leorio looks at Gon. "So we're just simple-minded," he spat angrily and follows the other two guys.
I look over to my brother who seems to be a little depressed about something. "Gon, what's wrong?"
"I'm thinking like Leorio," he sulks.
I can't help but to giggle as I catch up to the other guys. Trying to make Gon feel a little better I toss out a suggestion, "Even though I chose right I can't help thinking... a real Hunter would probably know that... but as per say a normal person... most likely wouldn't."
"What are you getting at?" Killua asks.
"I'm saying that maybe... the left path was made hard for an ordinary person, whereas the right path was made harder for the Hunter... plus... the O button is on the left side..."
"So I was right?" Leorio butts in.
"Oh no, I was just thinking out loud. Knowing you picked the left path definitely makes me feel a lot better about my decision," I tease as Killua and Kurapika try to hold back their laughter. "For all we know it's only made to appear as if we had to make a choice. Maybe both directions lead to the same place."
"She makes a valid point," Kurapika agrees. "Plus the more discussion there is amongst ourselves within making a decision, the more time we waste." The conversation quickly comes to an end as the path in front of us is cut off. A large room comes into view with a square fighting ring in the center. It's lit by torches in all four corners, with no way to reach the other side.
"What is this place?" Leorio asks.
"Look over there," Killua tells everyone pointing up ahead. There are several people in worn hooded cloaks standing with their hands bound in front of them. They seem to be waiting for something...
"The applicants have arrived," one of them says. "Remove the shackles." His shackles come undone and fall to the ground with a clang.
"I'm finally free," The cloaked man pulls off his hood. He is bald and has a tattoo on the top of his head that sort of looks like veins. He is staring us down and sizing us up. It appears as if he doesn't see much because a smile crosses over his face.
The buzzing noise sounds as the voice from the loudspeaker begins talking yet again, "Allow me to explain, gentlemen and lady. Before you are some of Trick Tower's prisoners."
"Prisoners?" asks Kurapika.
"The Hunter exam committee has also officially hired them as examiners. You will be fighting against the five of them. The fights will be one-on-one. Each person may only fight once. You are free to use any method you like. There will be no draws. A winner is declared when an opponent admits defeat."
"You may pick your order," The prisoner who had unmasked himself explains. "Everything is allowed. There's no limit. The defeat of one means the victory of his opponent. It's majority rule so secure three wins, and you may pass. The rules are simple."
"Shoot, majority rule again?" Leorio complains.
"However," Lippo, the man on the loudspeaker continues, "The actual fights will not be quite so simple. The prisoner's sentences will be reduced by one year for every hour they delay the applicants here. In other words their goal is to also by time."
"I understand," Kurapika confirms. "And we must reach the goal in 72 hours. So time will be critical during these fights."
Bendotto, 199-year sentence, robbery and murder. "I am the first in line. Who is up?" the first prisoner calls out to us.
"What should we do?" Killua asks as he looks toward Gon. "He said we could fight with any method so that means anything goes."
"We don't know what they'll try and pull," Leorio utters nervously.
Kurapika suggests, "There's too much at stake without knowing what they've got up their sleeves. Given that I'll --"
"I'll go first," I interrupt removing the makeshift sling from around my neck. Everyone stares back at me with a look of disbelief on their face.
Gon seems a little nervous. Leorio's practically laughing, "You really think you're stronger then that guy?"
"I may not be stronger but I'm definitely faster," I say proudly.
"But Kira, you're hurt!" Gon steps in front of me.
"I'm fine. Stop worrying so much," I try to reassure him.
"He'll use that against you." Killua points out.
"I figured as much. But with my arm, I doubt you'll want me as a tie breaker if it has to come to that."
Killua reaches out and genitally grabs hold of my good arm. "If their goal is to buy time..." He continues, "That bald guy is probably a former soldier or mercenary. If you fight him he'd most likely start by crushing your throat, so you couldn't give up. Then he would probably torture you, without killing you, for the rest of the remaining time..."
"I wouldn't surrender anyway," I say casually pulling away from his grasp. The color drains from Gon's face.
"You should go," Leorio says. "Just surrender before he gets the chance to crush your throat. You can leave the wins to the three of us," he motions to himself, Kurapika, and Gon. Killua scowls at him.
I glare at Leorio. "Did you not just hear me? That's not happening. And I'd rather take my chances with Killua than you," I stick my tongue out at him.
"Kurapika tell her," Leorio wines.
I cross my arms over my chest. His words are barely audible, "It would save time..."
"Ugh," I groan in frustration. "Gon! What about you?"
"I-I don't wanna see you get hurt..." he mutters.
"Whatever," I roll my eyes. "Killua, please, not you too..." I plead with him.
He shrugs his shoulders, "Do what you want. I doubt what I say will change your mind anyway... I'm assuming you have some kind of plan?"
I smile at him. "I do. And I'll win! But only for Killua, since the rest of you are being jerks." His face turns slightly red and he looks away from me trying to avoid eye contact.
A pathway starts to move to the center ring. I clench my fists as I consider all the ways this could play out. I turn around and add "Oh and Gon, do you mind if I borrow your fishing pole later?" I wink at him but he looks completely confused. I hope he understands that by the time I need it.
"Will Kira be okay?" Gon asks everyone else. He gets no reply back. Does anybody have any faith in me?
When I reach the free center Bendotto speaks, "Now let us determine the method of combat. I propose a death match." This isn't any surprise to me, in fact, I was counting on this.
Gon seems astonished. "A death match?" His tone was full of worry.
"They have to fight till one of them dies?" Leorio exasperates.
"Don't let him provoke you." Kurapika tries to calm Gon down.
I bet Killua was expecting this much as well, based on his little speech. "I accept your challenge."
"Seriously?" Leorio is so loud it echoes across the room.
"I commend you for your courage," Bendotto pronounces preparing for the fight. "Don't expect me to take it easy on you because you're a kid, or a girl."
"I wouldn't dream of it. And I don't need your praise," I reply readying my fighting stance. My eyes turn to their scarlet hue. Bendotto looks uneasy at my sudden change.
A moment passes by without anyone making a move.
"Let the fight begin!" He calls out as he's heading straight for me.
Bendotto reaches out for my neck, just as Killua predicted, but I dodge his first attempt. Now, I have to time this perfectly. He catches me with his other hand and takes hold of my already damaged arm. Good, Killua was right. He went for my injured arm. Bendotto twists it and I wince from the pain. I punch him hard in the gut with my free hand, taking him by surprise. But he easily tosses me across the ring. I catch myself before I hit the ground.
"You should know your limits little girl."
Stupid, this is what I want. But I'm not quite close enough to the edge of the ring. Just a little further. As he advances towards me, I signal Gon. I hope he understands what I mean. I back up pretending to be scared of his next hit, until I'm close enough to the edge. Come on! Just get a little closer. The next instant he's in front of me and throws a hard blow, aiming for my throat. I side step, dodging it before he's able to land a hit. I punch him as hard as I can right in the square of his back. "Gon now!" I shout as my blow was enough to send Bendotto plummeting over the edge. I feel my eyes return back to their normal shade.
In seconds Gon has his fishing pole out and the line wrapped around Bendotto. Killua and Kurapika have hold of the pole too to help support the man's weight. Leorio's still clueless as to what's going on. "I win," I say with satisfaction. "Or my brother could just as easily let you fall..." I bend down and reach out my hand to help him back up into the ring. Gon let the line go loose...
"Gon no!" Killua shouts.
"He didn't surrender yet," yells Kurapika.
Shit! They're right. I hurriedly try to back away from him but it's too late. Gon had already set him free. Bendotto pulls me to him and seizes hold of my throat. He lifts me up in the air by my neck and squeezes his hand just enough to make it hard for me to breathe. I try to kick him but his arm is too long and my legs don't quite reach.
"Kira!!!!!" Gon cries out hysterically.
I dig my nails into Bendotto's arm, twisting it, hoping it'll be enough for him to loosen his grip. He starts laughing. "You almost had me there girl. I was so confident I would win, I was careless." He looks back towards the rest of the group ignoring my attempts to break free. "Now since you saved me, I'll give you a chance to save her." He holds me out in their direction. "I'd hurry though, she might not have long." He tightens his grip on my neck. I try to pry his hand open but most of my energy is being used to focus on my breathing. "It's majority rule, but since only four of you are able to vote at the moment, it has to be unanimous. No ties. Press O if you surrender, press X if you're okay with watching her die. Either way, I win so the choice is up to you." I swing my legs up over his arm and wrap my body around it. This annoys him. "You stupid girl," he grumbles trying to shake me off. "Don't make me regret giving them a choice. I can still kill you." I cling to him as hard as I can and attempt to bend my body in a way that could break his arm, or at least get him to release me. Still choking me, he lifts his arm and bashes my body into the ground causing my hands lose their grip. He takes what was my uninjured arm and rips it right out its socket. I'd scream out in pain if I had the air to do so.
"Let go of her!" Gon yells angrily. "Don't touch her!" Kurapika and Leorio are holding him back. Killua grits his teeth. Both of his fists are clenched so hard his knuckles are turning white and blood is dripping from his palms.
The results from the voting show up on the screen:
O 4 X 0
"All right, I win this round." Bendotto says triumphantly, tossing me to the ground. I cough, grasping my throat trying to catch my breath.
Gon immediately runs to my side. "It's okay now I got you." He picks me up and carries me back to the group. I rub my neck with the only arm I can move to try to relieve some of its soreness.
Bendotto calls back him, "If we win two more rounds, you lose. You won't be able to advance or turn back. You'll be stuck here until the 72 hours are up. Should that come to pass, our sentences will be reduced by 72 years."
Gon hands me off to Killua. "I'm next," he says firmly with determination in his eyes. "Leorio take care of my sister."
"Are you sure you want to go next?" Leorio asks him.
"Yes," he responses without hesitation.
The next prisoner is making his way to the ring. Sedokan, 149 year sentence, serial bombings.
"The next opponent doesn't look too strong," Killua recognizes.
"But you can't let your guard down, he's still a criminal," Leorio reminds him.
"I know," Gon replies impatiently looking at me with concern before heading to the ring himself.
Killua looks down at me. "Baka-desu, you almost got yourself killed." He's serious but his voice is calm.
"I know," I tell him with guilt written all over my face. My voice is raspy and my arm still hurts like hell. "I didn't wait to hear him say 'I surrender'. It was stupid," I mumble to myself not looking him in the eye. "Sorry I didn't win Killua."
"What are yo-?"
"Let me take a look at her," Leorio butts in trying to take me away from Killua.
"I can walk," I blurt out. "My legs are fine. It's just my arm that hurts."
Killua puts me down and my arm just dangles at my side. "This might hurt a bit," the wannabe doctor warns me. "Kurapika hold her other hand while I do this." He nods and takes a hold of my hand. I glance at Killua but he's turned his attention to Gon. He has his hands in his pockets and seems indifferent to the situation. Why do I even care? "Alright on three, One... two... three!"
A shooting pain surges through my whole arm as Leorio pops it back into place. I can't help but to squeeze Kurapika's hand. I bite my lip to avoid making any noise.
"There done. You handled it much better than I thought you would," Leorio teases.
"Thanks," I grumble. "But you aren't allowed to help me anymore, got it?" I say still pissed about my loss. "I'm sick of people trying to help me and asking if I'm okay. I don't need you to save me."
"As you wish, your royal highness," he gives a little bow.
"Shut up old man," I reply bitterly.
"Would you stop calling me that! That goes for you too," he points at Killua who's standing next to me. He snickers.
"You're so fragile," Killua whispers so only I can hear it. He's still looking in Gon's direction.
"Oh, you wanna go?" I say playfully pushing him.
"Yeah anytime," he smirks gently shoving me back.
Left at a disadvantage, what is the next opponent Sedokan, planning to do this match? At the start of the Hunter Exam's third phase there were 41 applicants. With one eliminated, only 40 remain.
