Hey Guys! Crescent Rider here and I am back with another chapter. But before you all begin, please know that this chapter merges with two Episodes of Hunter x Hunter.
And in case no one hasn't noticed, I'm using the dub of Hunter x Hunter. Try not to start a rant, this a fanfic, not a comment section.
That is all I have to say and enjoy the chapter!
Hunter's Exam: Phase 1
It had been two hours since the exam started and many have struggled to keep up pace with the Examiner. However, during this time, several appliances have dropped out due to physical and mental exhaustion.
As for Ebony, she wasn't breaking a sweat even after running for two hours straight. But she mostly maintains an average distance of ten feet between herself and Hisoka while keeping herself hidden in the middle of a crowd.
But that didn't mean Hisoka wasn't aware of her vague presence as a smirk still remained on his face.
Moments later, she'd hear Leorio shout at someone and turn to them, "Hey! Wait up, kid! How about you show a little respect for the Exam!"
"What do you mean?" The white-haired boy inquired,
"I mean quit using a damn skateboard. That's cheating!" Leorio pointed out,
"How's that?" The white-haired boy asked
"How? This is an endurance test, that's how," Leorio stated,
"No, it's not!" Gon clarified,
"What are you babbling about now, Gon?" Leorio questioned,
"The examiner guy only said we had to follow him. That's all," Gon explained,
"Hey, whose side are you on, anyway?" Leorio angrily questioned,
Ebony saw the white-haired boy skating towards Gon and asked how old is he. When Gon answers his question, the white-haired boy performs a skate trick to flip the board in the air and carry it on his arm.
"I think I'll run for a little while," Killua decided,
"Whoa! Cool!" Gon expressed in awe,
"My name's Killua," Killua greeted,
"Hi, I'm Gon!" Gon greeted back,
'Killua... One of the Zoldycks,' Ebony mentally remarked, then kept in mind as the marathon continued though she maintained the distance between herself and Hisoka,
A Few Hours Later...
Ebony estimated that they've run through a total of sixty kilometers, but doesn't ponder how far they must run to reach the second phase. Better to focus on finishing the first phase than wonder about what awaits them in the end.
But then she hears a shout from behind, "DAMN IT ALL!"
Leorio dashed his way toward the crowd, and Ebony just him pass. She just shook her head and kept on running. But that didn't mean she was expecting someone to go near her, "What do you want from him?"
A distorted voice caused Ebony to turn and she saw one of the applicants, a tall and thin man with a green attire, yellow pin heads accurately positioned on his face, ears, and scalp, and dons a crooked expression as he looked down on her.
"And who might you be?" Ebony questioned,
"Gittarackur," Gittarackur replied,
"I'm Ebony," Ebony said back and turned forward,
"Why are you after Hisoka?" Gittarackur questioned,
"I know him, that's all," Ebony then dons a frown as she gazes upon Hisoka's back, "And I hate him,"
Gittarackur's head crackled a few times as he turned forward, and then he decided to part from Ebony's side as he focused on the Exam. Though Ebony wasn't a fool when it came to his presence, she could tell that he was dangerous just like Hisoka...
The remaining applicants soon reached the eighty-kilometer mark, but they had to scale several stairs along the way. Ebony soon heard that Satotz was prancing up the stairs like they weren't there, which meant that the examiner was picking up the pace.
Ebony still showed no signs of fatigue while a few applicants around her were dropping on the steps after tiring themselves out. Without a crowd near Hisoka, she decided to do the same as Satotz and pranced her way up the stairs until she reached between the group of applicants and the examiner.
"No freaking way!"
"That little girl just pranced through the stairs like that examiner,"
"She's a real monster,"
Satotz would glance at Ebony as well, 'It would seem that this year's Hunter Exam has brought an explementary applicant. I might as well pick up the pace once more,'
Without a moment's hesitation, Satotz pranced further up the stairs and Ebony heard the complaints of people behind her. But she wasn't bothered by them one bit.
It did, however, catch the attention of two familiar boys...
"Hey, Ebony!" Gon called out and ran beside her with Killua following, "That was really cool you did back there!"
"It's nothing," Ebony replied as she ran at a normal pace while keeping her eyes forward, "Compared to where I live,"
"Where's that?" Gon asked,
"I won't tell you, for I don't hold any obligations to answer personal questions," Ebony responded, "Unless you're able to offer something of equal value to my information, I may disclose it to you freely,"
"Equal value?" Gon remarked,
"It means that she wants something from you just as you want something from her," Killua explained, "A fair trade between yourself and her,"
"Oh, I see. Then what I can tell you?" Gon inquired,
"That's entirely up to you," Ebony said, "But know that I'm aware that you reside in Whale Island. So that information is of little value compared to my origins, the same goes for everything that revolves around your motives into becoming a hunter,"
"Aw..." Gon moaned in disappointment, but then noticed a light at the end of the stairs, "The exit! Later, Ebony!"
Gon would run ahead of those stairs while Killua stared at her for a time before catching up with him. Eventually, those two were the first out of the tunnel and Ebony followed suit as she stood next to Satotz.
"Yeah, I did it! I finished first," Gon cheered,
"What are you talking about? I totally won," Killua denied,
"No, I won," Gon countered,
"I won," Killua countered back,
"I was faster than you, so you have to buy me dinner," Gon argued,
"No way. I was faster so you're buying me dinner," Killua argued back,
'Children...' Ebony remarked,
Eventually, Gon turned to Satotz and Ebony for the verdict, "Hey, which one of us was fastest?"
"You crossed the finished line simultaneously," Satotz answered and Ebony nodded,
"Fine, I guess I'll have to buy your dinner," Gon declared, "But then you have to buy me my dinner, okay?"
"I don't get it," Killua expressed in confusion,
"Hey, Mr. Satotz, is this where the Second Phase begins?" Gon inquired,
"No, isn't. We have quite a way to go," Satotz revealed,
"Aw, man..." Gon remarked,
It didn't take long for the other applicants to reach the exit and Ebony just glanced around the fog. As it lifted, everyone was met with a vast ecosystem and Satotz provided an explanation of the location, "The Milsy Wetlands, also known as Swindler's Swamp. We must cross it to reach Phase Two of the Exam. This place is home to a variety of truly bizarre animals, many of which are crafty, voracious creatures who deceive and feast on human prey. So please, be very careful,"
Satotz turns to the group of remaining applicants and raises one finger, "If you are deceived, you'll surely die,"
The applicants clamor about the possibility and they hear a shutter closing down the tunnel. One unfortunate applicant makes his way up the stairs, but falls short as he reaches his hand out, "Wait for me!"
"These wetland creatures are not to be underestimated, for they will use every trick in the book to fool their prey," Satotz continued and most of the applicants gasped at this, "This is an ecosystem in which all creatures hunt by the art of deception. And that is why it's also known as Swindler's Swamp. Now then, please follow me closely so you won't be deceived,"
"Is he messing with us? If we know they'll try to deceive us, who's gonna fall for it?" Leorio doubted,
"Don't fall for it!" A man yelled,
"Listen, didn't I just say that we won't?" Leorio questioned as he and the other applicants turned to the source,
The one who shouted as a bruised man with ragged clothes, "Don't let them fool you! He's lying. That man is lying to you!"
Satotz doesn't look threatened by this man, rather he just stares as this man continues, "He's an impostor! A total fraud! I'm the real Examiner, you got it?!"
"Impostor? What's going on here?" Leorio questioned while gazing at Satotz,
"But then, who is he, really?" The bald ninja asked while turning back and forth between Satotz and the man who appeared just now,
"I'll prove it, look at this!" The man said, and pulled what appeared to be some sort of animal that possessed the same face as Satotz much to the applicants' surprise,
The man then began to explain that this was a Man-Faced Ape from the Milsy Wetlands. They carve for the taste of human flesh, but their limbs being long and thin makes them weak. Therefore, they disguise themselves as humans and trick their victims into following them into the wetlands, where they work with other creatures to kill their prey.
"That's what he wants. To deceive the entire Hunter applicant pool and feast on every one of you!" The man finished while pointing his finger at Satotz,
Ebony just sighed at this scene, but setting her sights on a certain applicant. She'd make a simple whistle to get his attention and gestured her head towards the man holding the man-faced ape.
That applicant was Hisoka, and he would throw three cards towards the man and Satotz. The latter catches these cards easily while the former catches them through the chest and head. Once the man falls to the ground, everyone turns to Satotz holding three cards in his hands and then they all turn to the Magician as he shuffles his cards.
"I see, I see. That settles it, then," Hisoka declared, "So you are the real one,"
Satotz then flicks the cards out of his hands while Hisoka provides the most obvious answer to the former problem, "The Examiners are Hunters. Each is hand-picked by the Exam Committee to do this job without pay. Anyone who holds the title we're vying for ourselves could have deflected that attack. And quite easily, I might add,"
"I shall take that as a compliment, thank you," Satotz thanked, "Still, should you choose to attack me again, for any reason, I will have no choice but to report you for attacking an Examiner, and have you immediately disqualified. Is that clear?"
"Of course?" Hisoka agreed,
The applicants then turned back to the dead man and noticed various vultures feasting gluttonously on his corpse. Nature is truly brutal to watch up close.
"He was trying to confuse the applicants and lure some of you away," Satotz clarified, "These attempts are to be expected. Please be aware that you will encounter such deceptions on a regular basis. I must assume that a number of you were fooled into suspecting my true identity,"
Ebony would take note of two applicants, Leorio and the bald ninja as they appeared all embarrassed from falling to such tricks.
"Understand, I want to make it abundantly clear that if any of you are to lose sight of me once we enter the fog of the Milsy Wetlands, you have no hope whatsoever of reaching the Second Phase of the Exam," Satotz reminded, "You've been warned. Now let's begin. Please follow me,"
Once again, everyone goes through another marathon through the fog of the Milsy Wetlands. But unlike the dark and narrow tunnel, these lands hold unparalleled dangers.
"Now everyone. Please make sure to follow close behind me," Satotz reminded,
Every applicant takes note of this especially when the fog gets thicker as they go. However, Ebony and a few other applicants would think of such a thing especially when she could feel the tension vibing around Hisoka.
"Hey, Leorio! Kurapika!" Ebony looked ahead when she heard Gon's voice, "Killua says we should all move up to the front of the pack,"
"You idiot! If I could reach the front I'd already be there!" Leorio yelled,
"Go ahead, we'll meet you there!" Kurapika insisted,
With that, Ebony could tell that Gon and Killua split off with Leorio and Kurapika. But she wouldn't move to the front as she focuses on Hisoka more than the examiner.
Ebony hears the screams of applicants around her. She assumed that the wildlife of the Milsy Wetlands are successful in taking down various applicants that they caught or come across but that mattered little for Ebony as such occurrences are expected.
As time passed, she somehow noticed Hisoka diverging from the front runners with a group of applicants after him. She decides to follow him but refrains from intervening in the applicants' futile attempts to kill the Magician.
Moments later
With Ebony hidden within the trees, she watched the confrontation between Hisoka and ten hunter applicants. Apparently, they didn't care whether or not they failed this year's Hunter Exam.
What matters is that Hisoka is stopped from taking the Hunter's Exam as he's not Hunter Material. Though Hisoka has every intention of passing this year's hunter exam, the ten applicants didn't take that answer rather kindly and went in for the kill.
However, Hisoka wasn't threatened at the very least as he pulled out the four of spades and swiftly disposed of nine applicants with one stroke. After he flipped the card to clean the blood, the nine applicants lifelessly fell to the ground while the last applicant dreads upon death of his comrades.
What followed was him crawling away from Hisoka as the latter casually walked towards him. Eventually, the Magician kills him by throwing the same card through the back of the applicant's head.
After Hisoka pulls the card out of the applicant's head, he soon turns around, and Ebony spots Leorio and Kurapika not too far from the magician's position. Even though she's known them when they first boarded the ship, Ebony refuses to intervene and prefers to watch how their encounter will go down.
Based on the duo's expressions, Ebony could tell that they didn't stand a chance against Hisoka. After a short period of silence, Kurapika tells Leorio to run and they ran off to separate directions rather than stay together.
This earned the magician's interest as he laughed, and Ebony could feel his aura even from a distance. But just as Hisoka was about to go after Kurapika first, he stopped and turned to see Leorio emerging from the fog with a large branch in hand as he refused to run even when this wasn't his fight.
With a battle cry, Leorio charges head-on against Hisoka. But when the former took a swing against the latter, it only split a puff of smoke and the magician appeared right behind him. Before he laid a hand on Leorio, someone came along and hit Hisoka on the temple and Ebony quickly turned to see Gon.
Hisoka soon fixates his gaze on Gon and walks toward the young boy. But while his back was turned, Leorio tried to attack him from behind. In response, the magician strikes a blow against Leorio's cheek and knocks him out cold while Gon goes on the offensive.
This wasn't a fight for the Magician. Rather he went and decided to toy with this boy through smoke illusions, parlor tricks, and casual evasions. No matter how fast and hard Gon swings his fishing rod, he can't land a single hit against the magician.
Gon's last effort for an opening was to maneuver his fishing line to hit the ground to create a diversion and appear behind Hisoka with his fishing rod at the ready. But before he could swing his rod, Hisoka caught him by the throat and eerily smiled at him.
Ebony still continued to watch from the trees even as Gon's life hung in Hisoka's hand. A few moments later, the latter released him and the former started coughing for his breath. Hisoka then bends his knees down and converses with him for a while.
After that, Hisoka smiled at Gon and then he pulled out some sort of device from his pocket. Ebony assumed that someone was here helping Hisoka pass the exam as well, but that mattered little to her as she readied to depart for the Second Phase of the exam.
All she needed to do was follow Hisoka as she carried Leorio on his shoulder and ran off with him.
A Few Moments Later...
With Hisoka running through the wetlands with Leorio on his shoulder. But he still maintained that smirk on his face especially when Ebony appeared beside him, "Taken interest in your prey, I presume?"
"Well, if it isn't the little spider. Can't afford to say hello to a fellow spider?" Hisoka inquired,
"First of all, I am not a member. Second, I still hate you, remember," Ebony reminded,
"As you always have," Hisoka remarked with glee,
Ebony doesn't say more, nor does she even look at him as they keep running. Still, she remains cautious of Hisoka and the bloodlust that still lingers within him...
That's the end of this chapter, everyone. And in case people didn't notice, Ebony is NOT a member of the Phantom Troupe. Rather she has connections to them, and you'll find out soon as I go by with the story.
As for the next chapter, I might merge two episodes again...
That is all and I'll see you in the next chapter!