"I will now take the opportunity to introduce myself to the remaining 43 applicants. I am Netero, the chairman to the committee to the hunter exam. It is a pleasure to meet all of you." He said with a smile.
The green man from before smiled, "I'm his secretary, beans."
"I was not going to appear until the final exam however seeing how I am here." Netero shrugged with a smile. "I love the tension in the air so I think I will stick around for the remainder of the trip."
Beans moved forward. "We are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. Please feel free to eat and relax in the rooms provided. You are free to do as you please until we contact you."
Rosabella smiled watching the younger boys run off.
Leorio sighed. "So much energy. I just want to crash."
Rosabella smiled. "I'm going to get food. I will see you both later."
"Later." Leorio said with a wave.
"Good bye, Rosabella." Kurapika said with a smile.
The girl turned and walked out the door. Walking down the hall, she found the kitchen. She picked up some fried chicken, fried potatoes and sautéed vegetables. It was amazing.
She noticed some of the contestants watching her. She better find her friends just to be safe.
Rosabella walked down the hall to find Kurapika and Leorio. She smiled as she walked in. They were both fast asleep. The girl walked over and laid down with her head in Kurapika's lap. She curled up under a blanket and fell asleep.
No one noticed the door open up and a figure look in. the clicking of the spy made Kurapika shift in his sleep. The door was closed as the boy opened his eyes and looked around before he glanced down.
Kurapika smiled at seeing Rosabella curled up sleeping. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
The door opened again and Topia looked in with a smirk. He frowned when he realized Leorio and Kurapika were sound asleep.
- Time Skip -
Rosabella snuggled into her pillow as someone shook her shoulder.
"Rosabella, wake up." Kurapika said.
The girl moaned and curled up further. Nothing would wake her up before suddenly she jerked away as fingers poked and prodded her ribs.
Rosabella squealed and moved away from the hands. "St…oo…pp."
Kurapika smirked. "Wake up then."
"I…. I'm…. awake." Rosabella said with a smile.
Kurapika smirked and moved his hands away. Rosabella stood and stretched. Kurapika stood and popped his knuckles. It was a long trip.
She glanced at Kurapika with a pout. "That wasn't nice."
Kurapika smirked and hugged the girl. "Sorry, Rosabella."
Rosabella huffed. He didn't mean it.
Leorio shook his head in amusement.
The three moved from the room and into the cafeteria on the airship to get breakfast.
Killua appeared with breakfast. "Any idea where Gon is?"
The others shook their head.
"Wasn't he with you?" Rosabella asked.
Killua shook his head. "I left him with the old man to get some sleep."
"Guys." Gon called walking in.
He took a seat after grabbing some food. Gon spent the remaining time at breakfast talking about his game with chairman Netero.
"Contestants, please report to the lobby." A voice said.
The group of 43 contestants walked out of the airship and onto the tower looking around. The view was amazing.
Mr. Bean smiled before speaking. "This is the third phase. You will be competing here on Trick tower. You must reach the bottom in 72 hours. Good luck."
Gon and the others walked to the edge while Rosabella looked around the tower. She turned to follow the others when the ground below her suddenly gave away.
She fell through the hole and disappeared into the dark.
Above her, Gon turned only to frown. "Rosabella?"
The others looked around. Their friend was gone.
Below them, Rosabella walked over to the screen.
"Greetings, please place the wristband on and wait for your partner to appear."
Rosabella placed the bracelet on and leaned against the wall.
The dark room suddenly brightened as someone fell through the hole. The girl's eyes widened in shock as a clicking noise was heard. The man with the pins appeared.
Rosabella licked her lips and pointed to the other bracelet. "You will need to put that on."
The man moved forward clicking and put the bracelet on.
The screen changed. "Two at the beginning and two at the end. Both must make it to the end to pass."
The door behind them opened.
The clicking man started and Rosabella followed him. The track they followed consisted of going over fiery walkways, dodging blades and spikes. Rosabella was glad she had her gift to heal. She was able to discreetly heal herself without the man noticing. Or so she thought.
Several hours later, Rosabella and the pen man walked into the room.
Two people were waiting.
"This is the last room of the maze. If you defeat us than you will have passed the exam." A male said stepping forward. "Who will go first?"
Rosabella stepped forward. "I will."
She placed her bag down. "What are the rules?"
The man smiled. "Kill or incapacitate the opponent. They can also declare that they give up."
Rosabella nodded her head. She moved forward and took position.
The man launched forward with a smirk. Rosabella ducked his hands and tapped his arm.
"What did you do to my arm?" He screamed in horror as it flopped down useless.
Rosabella ignored him and launched forward jabbing her index finger in his leg. He dropped down in pain.
"I can't feel my leg. I can't feel my leg." He screamed.
Rosabella launched forward and struck him in the face with her foot.
He went flying and crashed into the wall.
Rosabella stood with a tilted head. "I think he is down."
She walked over and checked. "He's out."
A voice came over the communications. "That's one point for the applicants."
Rosabella walked back over to her partner while the prisoner was taken out of the room.
"It's your turn." She said looking at the spiked man.
The spiked man moved forward as the other prisoner stepped forward.
"My turn." He said removing his robe.
Rosabella was glad she was not being faced with that guy. He looked creepy.
"Begin" said the prisoner.
Rosabella watched and stared in shock as suddenly the man's eyes widened and he dropped dead.
A door to the left opened.
The pin man moved forward.
"how did you do that so fast?" Rosabella asked in shock.
The pin man turned to look at her before moving toward the door.
"He is so scary." Rosabella whispered before following the man.
"Second applicant to pass, Grittarackur. Time elapsed, 12 hours and two minutes. Third Applicant to pass, applicant 406 Rosabella. Time elapsed 12 hours and 3 minutes." A voice said over the speaker.
Grittarackur laughed. "something told me you'd already passed the finish line."
Rosabella looked confused before she saw him.
Hisoka smirked at the man before looking toward her.
"yes and I see you brought little flower with you. How precious." Hisoka said with a smirk.
'Please let someone show up soon. Any one. I don't care who. Just don't leave me alone with them.' Rosabella thought in fear.
A door opened and the ninja guy ran in.
"All right. I'm the first one to finish" he said with a smirk.
Hanzo, Applicant 294, is the fourth to finish. 12 hours and four minutes." The voice said above.
The ninja was devastated at not being the first.
Rosabella turned and walked as far away from Grittarackur and Hisoka as she could be. Hanzo walked over and plopped beside her.
"So what rank did you come in?" he asked.
Rosabella sighed. "Third. I was with Grittarackur who was second."
Hanso frowned "So Hisoka was first."
The girl nodded.
Over the next few hours the applicants waited and waited as more joined. Rosabella sighed as Gon and the others were still not here.
She took a bite of her granola bar in sadness. She had hoped they would be here.
"One minute remains."
Everyone's eye widened as a door opened. Rosabella's eyes lit up in joy at who came through.
"Kurapika, number 404, is the twenty-second to pass. Killua, Number 99, is the twenty third to pass. Gon, number 405, is the twenty fourth to pass. Time elapsed, 71 hours and 59 minutes."
Rosabella ran over with a smile. "You guys are here. I was so worried about you all."
Gon scratched his head. "Sorry, Rosabella."
Killua sighed, "My butt hurts. I didn't think the short and easy pass would be a slide."
Rosabella frowned as the announcer said only 30 seconds remained.
"Even with that slide, it was really close." Gon said.
Kurapika looked at his hands. "My hands are covered in blisters."
Rosabella sighed. "I have stuff I can give you but where's Leorio?"
"Same here." Said Leorio who was pushing and shoving with another man.
"Leorio, number 403 is the twenty fifth to pass. Tonpa, Number 16, is the twenty sixth to pass. Time elapsed 71 hours and 59 minutes." The announcer said.
The four boys explained how they broke into the easy path by going through the long path.
Rosabella stared in shock. "Wow. I can't believe they let you do that."
"So Rosabella, when did you get here?" Kurapika said.
Rosabella frowned. "I'm the third to pass. I was partnered with Grittarackur and we both had to get down here together or we both failed."
The others frowned before Leorio asked, "Who?"
Rosabella moved forward and whispered, "the man with all the pins in his face. He is scary."
The four boys looked and nodded their head.
A buzzing noise sounded. "The third phase of the hunter exam is over. 27 applicants have passed the hunter exam including one deceased."
A door opened and the group walked out the door into the sunlight. Rosabella took a deep breath breathing in the fresh ocean air after having to breath in the stuffy air of the tower.
Outside a man was waiting for them. "Congratulations on escaping trick tower, everyone. All that is left is the fourth phase and the final phase. The fourth phase will take place right over there on Zevil island."
A snap of his fingers and a man pushed a box forward.
"I will need each of you to draw lots starting with the person who passed first down the line to the person who passed last." The man said with a smirk.
"What will that decide?" said a kid with a bow.
Rosabella's eyes widened. She had a bad feeling on what was going to happen. She quickly reached up and removed her badge number.
"Who you hunt and who hunts you." The man's eyes went to Rosabella and smirked. "The young miss here figured it out first. Smart girl."
Others glanced at Rosabella looking confused.
The man motioned to the box, "In this box are exactly 26 numbered cards. Which means, one of the numbered cards will correspond with your badge. Each of you will draw a card in the order you exited so number one step forward."
Hisoka walked forward and reached in pulling out a card.
Grittarackur moved forward and took the next card.
Rosabella walked forward licking her lips and praying it was not one of her friends. She grabbed a card and placed it in her pocket.
Moving back one by one walked forward collecting cards.
The man glanced around, "Has everyone drawn? Good. Please go ahead and remove the sticker to see who you are hunting."
Arabella removed her card and frowned before glancing around. It was number 15. Her eyes went over spying him. He would not be too hard to get a badge from.
"The objective is to steal the targets badge. You are free to get it however you wish." The man said with a smile. "Listen carefully. Your badge is three points and your target's badge are three points. Every other badge is one point. You need six points to pass."
The group were ushered to a boat where a woman named Khara spoke. Rosabella ignored the girl. She had to plan on how to get the badge of her target and hide out until the fourth phase was over.
Rosabella closed her eyes and planned. It was going to be a long week.
Getting to the island, Khara stepped out.
"All right, it's time. We are going to let you off with two minutes in between each contestant. You will be on the island for one weed so you have seven days to collect your six points and return to this location. First Applicant, get ready." Khara said
Hisoka rose and walked off with a smile.
Grittarackur went next.
The boys gathered around Rosabella. She turned to glance at them. "Be careful out there. I hope to see you all for the final phase."
Rosabella walked off and disappeared into the woods.
She rushed away and into the trees to find a hiding place for her bag. Her target was number 17 in the wait list. She had some time before she needed to find him. After stashing her stuff, she quickly hunted the man. He was still on the boat.
Number 15 was finally off and walking through the trees. He was very arrogant. Two days she followed him and watched him collect his target's badge. The man let his guard down and Rosabella launched herself at him. He jumped and tried to move but Rosabella was faster.
One hit and the man was out. She quickly searched his bag and found the tag. She slipped the badge into her shirt between her breast and bra with the other badge. She rose and left the man behind.
ELSEWHERE
"Have you seen the girl, number 406?" Illumi asked Hisaka.
Hisaka frowned. "No. I have not. Why?"
Illumi tilted his head. "She has an interesting gift. I heard her and Satazo speaking about it."
Hisoka glanced at him. "Really? How interesting. Feel like sharing the information?"
Illumi shook his head. "No. I think I will keep it to myself. If she makes it to the last phase, I may take a closer look at her."
"For what reason?" Hisaka asked.
Illumi smiled. "Mother and father have been wanting me to settle down and have children. Her gift would be a use to the family with the right training.
Hiding in the bushes, Gon resisted shuddering. 'I should probably warn Rosabella.'
"And if she refuses?" Hisoka said with a tilt of his head.
A dark aura surrounded the man, before he spoke. "I have ways of encouraging others to do what I want. She will cave eventually and submit. They all cave eventually."
Illumi dug into the ground and looked at Hisaka. "I'm going to sleep until the deadline. Best of luck."
Hisoka rose and walked away. Gon followed behind.
Hidden in a tree trunk waiting for the end of phase four, Rosabella shuddered. It honestly felt like something evil walked over her grave. She opened the granola bar and took a bite. 4 more days and she would have passed the exam.
A few hours later a sudden strong wave of bloodlust filled the air.
"Hisoka." She whispered with her eyes widened in fear.
Rosabella didn't know what set him off but it was not good. She quickly activated her Zetsu praying it hid her from the man. Whoever he met next would surly die.