DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter X Hunter
Chapter 15: Hunt (Part 2)
Morgan continued walking until she heard gunshots echoing through the forest. She stopped abruptly, looking around in alarm.
"Who could be shooting?" she wondered.
The gunshots ended as suddenly as they had begun. Driven by curiosity, she decided to investigate and headed toward the direction of the sounds.
The forest was thick with bushes around the tree trunks. She spotted a figure in the distance and quickly hid in the underbrush. The metallic scent of blood reached her nose, and she glanced to her left, spotting a body on the ground, blood seeping from a wound in the skull.
The body had familiar long red hair tied into a ponytail with a yellow ribbon at the back. It was dressed in an orange jacket vest, a long-sleeved black shirt, grey trousers, and brown boots. Beside it lay a long weapon, likely the one that had been fired.
Morgan backed away slightly, covering her mouth in shock as her eyes widened.
It was the sniper woman, named Siper.
Just days ago, she had been alive. Morgan remembered her presence as they worked together to survive the storm. And now... she's dead.
Despite her disgust with the exam committee, Morgan examined the body. It was fresh, indicating that the killer was still nearby!
In a split second, something hit her arm. The sudden pain made her clench her teeth and press her hands over her mouth to stifle a scream.
Morgan looked at her arm and saw a pin sticking out. It hurt far more than she would have expected.
'I can only see the pinhead. It completely burrowed into my flesh.'
"Guess it was nothing…" she heard someone say.
Although he said that, Morgan was almost certain he knew she was there. Either he pitied her and let her live, or he genuinely didn't know.
Morgan turned her eyes and finally came face to face with the man. It was the pinheaded man. Seeing him nearly stopped her breath.
She quickly moved back, trying to distance herself from him, and managed to grab a dagger for defense. 'When did he get so close?'
"Get away from me," she hissed.
"I won't kill you. You're one of Hisoka's toys now," he said in a robotic-sounding voice.
This man knew Hisoka? Were they friends? Then that meant he was the same breed as Hisoka.
And what did he mean by 'Hisoka's toy?'
'Me? When did I become someone else's toy?'
Gittarackur continued to smile at her creepily before finally deciding to stand up and walk away. The clicking noise of his steps grew quieter.
When Morgan could no longer hear the clicking, she placed her fingers over the pin, gritting her teeth and shutting her eyes tightly against the pain.
There was something unusual about that man, even more so up close. Despite having helped steer the wheel back at the battleship, she had only noticed the pinheaded man once or twice before, but that was it.
Taking a deep breath, Morgan grasped the pinhead in her arm tightly and began pulling it out. The pain was excruciating; she couldn't imagine anything more painful.
When it finally came out, she exhaled a large breath. 'Thank heavens.'
The needle was long and thick, and it was hard to believe these things were embedded in that strange man's skull without shattering.
Morgan stared at the needle, now covered in her blood.
She sighed slightly and turned her head towards the body next to her. The blood had stopped flowing from Siper's skull.
Morgan crawled over and gently rolled the body over. With the needle lodged in her eye, it was no wonder she was dead.
Morgan furrowed her brows, staring at the body. She wasn't sure how long she had been staring, but she knew it had been a while. There was no way she could get used to this sight, or could she?
Morgan was familiar with such scenes during exams, yet they still frightened her. "I'm sorry, Miss Siper. At least it was quick," she said, withdrawing the needle from the woman's eye, her hand now coated in blood.
Leaving her like that, even though she was dead, didn't sit right with Morgan. Despite the woman's fate, she felt compelled to help.
Morgan sighed, noticing her blood-covered hand. She'd have to wash it off later, along with her arm and shoulder, where her clothes now clung uncomfortably. Glancing back at the woman, a thought clicked in Morgan's mind—maybe Gittarackur was Siper's target. Perhaps he sensed he was being hunted and attacked the woman.
"Maybe..." Morgan muttered under her breath as she glanced back at the body, her brows furrowing deeply and her frown intensifying.
"I apologize, but... I need to search you." she whispered, though knowing the woman couldn't hear her.
Feeling uneasy about the act of searching a deceased person, Morgan felt she could never apologize enough. She meticulously checked the vest pockets first, finding nothing. Then, she moved on to the trouser pockets with the same result. With a grimace, she slipped her hand into the vest jacket and felt something round and smooth.
She unzipped the woman's jacket fully and saw the ID tag inside. Unclipping it she removed the tag.
"Number 80." She muttered. "Only 9 points away from my target."
Quickly stashing the tag in her bag, Morgan turned back to the deceased woman. Normally hesitant to touch a dead body, she justified it as part of the exam's demands.
Gently placing the woman's hands on her stomach and closing her eyes, Morgan also positioned the weapon beside her. "I tried to show you respect. May you find peace," she murmured softly, offering a sad smile before swiftly leaving the area.
Now in possession of an ID tag worth one point, Morgan pondered her remaining time, less than four days. The task of finding her prey seemed daunting.
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It was nearing afternoon when Morgan abruptly halted her walk through the forest. A peculiar sensation enveloped her surroundings—silence, unnaturally complete. Even the usual forest sounds had vanished. Instinctively, she gripped the dagger secured at her waist, her senses on high alert.
Taking a cautious step back, Morgan's eyes fixed on a man emerging from behind a tree. He approached calmly, his demeanor unsettling in the midst of the eerie quiet.
He had no weapon ready and said nothing as he walked closer. His face was expressionless, and he showed no intention of rushing. Unlike Kurapika's hunter, who had immediately tried to stab her with a knife, this man remained calm.
He finally stopped a few meters away from her. He had shoulder-length black hair, a long face, and a cleft chin. He wore a green long-sleeved shirt under a brown vest, along with grey pants and brown shoes.
Morgan didn't like his calm demeanor; she would have preferred if he had attacked right away.
But he didn't seem like the type to rush an attack. He was studying her, she could see it in his eyes, which alarmed her.
In this exam, the brain was the deadliest weapon.
"Hey," the man greeted.
Morgan masked her emotions with a sharp stare. "Sup," she replied indifferently. She took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay focused and not rush.
"I've been hunting you down since yesterday," he said bluntly.
Ah, so she was his target.
"Is that so? Well, I've been evading you since yesterday."
"I didn't know who candidate No. 397 was until I found some sources," he continued. "Too bad, I found you."
Suddenly, he advanced toward her. Morgan braced herself, gripping her dagger and adopting a defensive stance.
In an instant, smoke billowed from the bushes, and he leaped back, creating a few meters' distance between them once again. Morgan quickly covered her nose and mouth with her hand, glancing around warily.
Is it poisonous? If it is, that's bad—she'd already inhaled some.
Morgan steadied herself as the man moved again. Suddenly, her vision blurred, colors swirling around her. Despite the disorientation, she focused on her opponent. His figure wavered like jelly, but she could see he was now wearing a mask.
Knockout gas?
Morgan tightened her grip on the dagger as her opponent approached, but her weakening knees made her doubt she could use it effectively.
"Unlike the others, I don't attack head-on. I pretend to strike so you focus on me, not the gas I hid," he said, drawing closer.
In an instant, he reached for her neck, gripping it tightly. He shoved her violently against the nearest tree. Morgan nearly lost her breath as her back slammed into the rough trunk.
In her current state, he was stronger, his grip around her neck tightening.
"You see, I'm average in combat," he said softly, as if he wasn't currently trying to kill her. He tried to lift her off the ground, nearly causing her to vomit. "Call this cheating, but it's part of my strategy to pass the exam."
He lifted her higher, her vision growing blurrier, and she was on the verge of losing consciousness.
But she needed to survive, no matter what.
Before her breath ran out, she managed to aim her dagger at his face.
In her weakened position, he quickly deflected her attack by grabbing her hand. With one hand, he twisted the knife back toward her, and she couldn't muster the strength to fight back.
He pressed the tip of the knife against her clothes, the cold metal piercing her skin on the upper part of her right chest.
Morgan hissed in pain but seized the moment. With her remaining free hand, she swiftly drew her last dagger. The blade sliced across his face.
The man screamed, losing his grip on her neck, and stumbled back, clutching his bloody face in agony.
Morgan almost face-planted on the ground, gasping for air as if she had just surfaced from a long swim. She felt the pain from her wound as blood trickled down her stomach.
Seizing the opportunity, she charged at him, swinging her dagger. He dodged, preparing to punch, but Morgan blocked it with her fist and yanked him closer with a violent pull.
He struggled, but Morgan held firm. With all her remaining strength and a desperate will to survive, she grabbed his neck and slammed his head into the ground.
The man lost consciousness.
Morgan gasped for breath. Although he might have been planning to kill her, she wouldn't waste time delivering a finishing blow. Knocking him out was enough for now. However, if he got up again, she knew she might have to kill him before he could kill her.
Morgan approached the man's body, searching his pockets and then his bag. She was surprised by what she found.
Candidate number 89.
Her target.
"Lucky me~," she sang. "Who would've thought our numbers were just exchanged? Such a coincidence."
Slowly, Morgan stood up and examined the man's unconscious body once more. "Sorry, but I don't intend to lose," she said, walking away.
Morgan no longer knew how long she had been walking through the woods. The surroundings blurred in her vision, pain radiating through her body.
Stopping at a river, she scooped cool water into her hand and brought it to her upper chest, where the wound continued to bleed. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she cleaned the wound as best as she could with water.
She then pinched the lower part of her tights and used it to bandage her bleeding wound, applying pressure to stem the flow of blood.
Biting her lip to endure the pain, Morgan knew she needed to find a place to rest. With that, she ventured further into the forest.
As Morgan struggled through the woods, she found herself longing for Leorio's medical skills, knowing how slim the chances were of encountering him. The island was vast, leaving all remaining candidates scattered. Leorio could be hunting, hiding, or even worse, facing dangers of his own.
Hours passed, and exhaustion weighed heavily on Morgan. Her feet could no longer carry her, and she leaned against a tree for support. Darkness began to encroach on her vision, her head pounding relentlessly—perhaps the effects of the gas she had inhaled earlier.
Her surroundings blurred and swirled, and eventually, she collapsed onto soft grass, overcome by dizziness. As she lay there, she wished fervently that no one would find her in this vulnerable state.
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Two days had passed. It had taken almost that entire time for Morgan to rest and hide from anyone she might encounter. Her body still wasn't fully recovered, but the rest had at least allowed her to move from one place to another.
Morgan was awakened from her nap by the sound of footsteps. She looked around in shock, realizing it night time.
'Damn, slept too long. Who was it?' she thought anxiously, scanning her surroundings for the source of the footsteps.
As the footsteps grew louder, Morgan realized whatever or whoever was approaching was getting closer. She sprang to her feet, smoothing out the grass that bore the imprint of her body, hastily gathering her few belongings, and darting towards the nearest thick, full tree.
Despite her wound, she urged herself to climb high enough to conceal herself from anyone below, yet still able to observe them. Morgan remained hidden in the tree, breath held, heart pounding, until she spotted two figures below. They stopped near the spot where she had been resting just moments ago, converging around it briefly.
"I could tell someone's been here," said Man number 1.
"Should we look? That person could be your target," his partner suggested.
Did they team up? Morgan wondered. Unlike the Amori brothers, who were siblings and naturally formed a team, teaming up with another person was less common.
"Not yet. But if we catch up to that person, let's take his number as well. We can still get one point," Man number 1 concluded.
They turned and headed west, disappearing from Morgan's view. She waited until their footsteps had faded completely before gathering her belongings from the branches and descending from the tree.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, she heard a chuckle. Startled, Morgan looked towards the source of the sound and saw the person she had encountered on her first day on the island.
The person who had picked Kurapika's number stood a few meters away, flipping a dagger up and down in the air. His face bore a small look of disbelief, majorly swollen from bee stings.
"You really are as dumb as you look, just waltzing into the open. And you want to be a Hunter? But damn, you're hard to track when you want to be," he remarked, raising an eyebrow as he eyed Morgan incredulously. She heard him click his tongue as he started walking towards her.
'What the hell is this dude's problem now? And boy, is he overly confident with himself,' Morgan thought, observing him with a furrowed brow while pressing her hand tighter against her shoulder to avoid reopening the wound.
"You really wasted days tracking me? Isn't Number 404 your target?" she retorted.
"Why? Because you tick me off. I won't accept knowing a girl like you did that to me," he replied angrily.
Morgan smirked. "So?"
"Girls should stay quiet and play house. You're all weak. Pathetic. And now you want to be a Hunter? You don't even deserve to breathe the same air as us," he sneered, causing Morgan to back away slowly, with him following at the same pace.
She desperately wanted to avoid another fight.
"Do you know why I want to be a Hunter?" he asked.
"Honestly, I didn't care to know the reason," she replied bluntly.
His face twisted into a sinister grin. "Being a Hunter means you can almost get away with murder. Only the strong survive; that's the way the world should be," he said, lifting his dagger above his shoulder, clutching the hilt tightly. "And you'll be the first to go."
Morgan realized he was deadly serious. Unable to risk another fight, her body responded instinctively to her mind's urgent command.
She ran.
Morgan fled from the pursuer, his footsteps echoing close behind. Morgan tried to lose him in the woods. What she did next, she did without thinking, and she wished she had given it a bit more thought. She jumped in the river.
The icy water enveloped her, sending a sharp shock through her body. She struggled to reach the surface, her wounded shoulder making it even more difficult.
As soon as her head broke the water's surface, Morgan began to flounder, sputtering and struggling to stay afloat. She grabbed onto a passing log and clung to it tightly, coughing loudly as she caught her breath. Glancing back toward the cliff where she had jumped, she saw the person still there, raging and waving his dagger in frustration.
Suddenly, he abruptly turned and ran away.
Morgan clung to the driftwood, floating downstream as the cold river water gradually numbed her lower body. Her senses dulled by the chill, she heard shouts from the riverbank but couldn't make out the words. Groaning softly, she struggled to maintain her grip on the driftwood.
Suddenly, a young voice shouted, "Hold on!"
The person dove into the water and swam towards her.
Morgan moaned again, her strength failing as her hands slipped from the driftwood, causing her to slip into the river completely. With barely open eyes, she could make out someone diving under the water to reach her, though their form was blurry.
The person quickly surfaced and pulled Morgan out of the water, securing her by throwing an arm around her neck.
On the shore, he knelt beside Morgan on the grassy riverbank. She lay there, coughing up water, her legs cold and unresponsive. With trembling hands, he vigorously rubbed her legs to stimulate circulation, knowing she didn't have the strength to do it herself.
He continued to tend to her, rubbing his small hands against Morgan's larger ones to generate warmth. Starting a fire nearby, he worked swiftly to help warm her up. Morgan turned to look up at him, shivering despite the efforts to warm her.
"Are you alright? You could have drowned if I hadn't passed by," said her savior with a slight smile. "You should be more careful..."
"Thank you for saving me... Gon," Morgan replied gratefully.
The boy beamed. "You saved me from drowning as well. I should be the one thankful," he said earnestly. "So, what happened?"
"Kurapika's hunter was chasing me, so I had no choice but to jump," Morgan explained, moving closer to the fire for warmth.
"Huh? Why?" Gon asked, curious.
"Maybe because he's an egoistic prat. I met him a few days ago. Things happened, and ever since then, he's been tracking me," Morgan replied with a sigh. "But anyway, he can still earn a point from me, so..."
Gon seemed to grasp Morgan's explanation, but his concern heightened when she suddenly hissed in pain.
"What's wrong?" Gon asked with worry, sniffing the air and immediately moving closer to her. "I smell blood."
Despite feeling a bit weirded out by Gon's actions, Morgan managed a chuckle. "Well, yeah... I faced the person who picked my number and got this wound from our fight."
She unwrapped the bandage, revealing the reopened wound. Blood began to flow down her arm once more.
"I can search for herbs to help with the swelling, but that won't be enough," Gon offered.
"Yeah, I'll just wait until this phase is over," Morgan replied.
"No. I plan to find Leorio and Kurapika. They can help with your wound," Gon declared as he stood up.
Morgan watched as Gon made the fire bigger. "Are you feeling a bit better?" he asked.
"Y-yes... But is it okay to use fire? Others may find us," Morgan expressed her concern, mindful of Kurapika's relentless pursuer who had now turned his attention to her.
Gon nodded reassuringly. "I don't sense anything around. We're safe. And you also need the fire to keep warm."
"Have you already earned six points?" Morgan asked, moving closer to the fire for warmth.
Gon didn't answer immediately. Silence settled between them as he tended to the fire.
Did she say something wrong?
"Yes, I already have six points," Gon finally replied.
Morgan smiled. "Oh, then that's good." But why doesn't he seem happy? She didn't pry further, respecting his mood.
"You?" Gon inquired.
"Yes, just the other day," Morgan answered.
"Really? I'm glad you've earned all your points as well. I hope the others do the same. I believe they can," Gon added optimistically.
'Wait... Something's off.'
There was something different about Gon. He wasn't his usual self. It wasn't that he was faking a smile, but there was an underlying unease that Morgan couldn't quite pinpoint.
"Gon... Did something happen?" Morgan asked, concerned.
She didn't expect him to answer, but Gon started speaking anyway.
"My target was Hisoka. I found the perfect moment and stole his tag, but someone else was tailing me. They hit me with a poisoned dart. Hisoka managed to retrieve his tag from them afterward and left it with me, saying I owed him now," Gon explained, his voice tinged with tension.
Morgan looked at him with furrowed brows, feeling uneasy at the thought of owing something to Hisoka. The idea terrified her, knowing she might need to constantly watch her back.
"He said that?" Morgan asked, wondering if it really was Hisoka. She trusted Gon, but the situation was unsettling. Gon's shoulders tensed slightly as he clenched his fists.
"I told him I didn't need his help, and he sent me flying. I was so mad that I couldn't do anything against him..." Gon's voice trembled as tears welled up in his eyes. It shocked Morgan more to see him cry than to hear his story.
Morgan felt a wave of sadness, unsure how to comfort him. Gon gritted his teeth, trying to regain composure, his shoulders hunched in distress.
The only gesture Morgan could think of was to gently rub his back. She placed her hand on Gon's back and rubbed it soothingly. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket, offering a sad smile as he furrowed his brows tightly, eyes still shut.
"After that, I felt pretty miserable and lonely. I felt so helpless, and I just wanted some company..." Gon's voice trailed off as he opened his eyes, looking down and nervously twiddling his thumbs with the same sad smile.
"Well, you have me right now. And I'm grateful you saved me from the river," Morgan said to Gon, smiling warmly at him. Gon returned her smile once she finished speaking.
Morgan couldn't bear seeing Gon sad; it just didn't seem right to her.
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On the sixth day, Gon and Morgan returned to the starting point. To their surprise, no one else was there.
In the distance, they spotted the boat patiently waiting for the day's end to pick them up. The teens remained hidden in the forest, peering through a small gap that offered them a view.
Deciding Morgan needed rest, Gon left her and climbed a nearby tree to gain a better vantage point. With his sharp eyes, he hoped to spot anyone approaching.
But Morgan wasn't in any condition to climb; her wound was finally beginning to heal, and Gon didn't want to risk reopening it. Understanding this, Morgan didn't argue further, knowing she would only slow him down. Gon carefully ensured she was hidden between large tree roots and surrounded by bushes.
The rustling leaves and peaceful surroundings soon lulled Morgan into sleep until a gentle tap on her arm stirred her awake. She moaned in pain as she slowly opened her eyes.
"Morgan, I found them," Gon's voice reached her ears.
"Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you," another voice apologized.
"Can't you be more careful?" a second person scolded the first.
Slowly, Morgan opened her eyes, feeling drowsy. Someone's hand was on her forehead.
"She's running a fever," someone observed.
"She fell into the river yesterday," Gon explained, looking worried.
"And with an untreated wound like that..." Leorio added gravely.
"Leorio? Kurapika?" Morgan managed to say.
"Are you okay?" Kurapika asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Hey," she greeted them weakly.
Leorio quickly approached her and crouched down. "Gon told us you needed medication."
She nodded and showed him her wound. "Well, at least you managed to cover it up. But it still needs to be cleaned properly—it's swelling."
Morgan watched as Leorio examined her upper chest, cleaning and treating the wound. He also noticed the puncture wound on her arm from the encounter with Gittarackur. Leorio determined it was infected, explaining why it hadn't healed properly, though the infection hadn't yet caused significant pain. He administered antibiotics to clear the infection and carefully stitched up the wound on her chest where her pursuer had stabbed her with a knife.
Gon looked at Morgan with concern as she smiled at him, wincing slightly as Leorio applied gauze to protect the stitches.
"Why did you fall into the river, by the way?" Kurapika asked.
"The guy who picked your number has been chasing me like a crazed ex-boyfriend," Morgan began, still inspecting her treated wounds. "He spent days trying to track me down."
Kurapika looked puzzled. "But why? He'd only earn one point from you."
Morgan finally looked at Kurapika, smirking. "Well, he attacked me first, and I just gave him a taste of his own medicine. He didn't take it well. You know me; I can be good at pushing people's buttons."
"You certainly have a knack for that," Kurapika chuckled, reflecting on his own experiences with her.
Morgan playfully stuck her tongue out at him, and Kurapika shook his head, amused by her antics.
Leorio grinned. "Alright, it's all taken care of. I'm giving you some medication for the infection and the cold."
"I'm sorry you guys had to take care of me," Morgan sighed, running her hand through her damp hair.
The guys recounted their past few days on the island for her, except Gon, who remained silent, listening intently.
Kurapika informed Morgan that he had obtained his tag. "My target was Tonpa."
"Do you know how this guy got Tonpa?" Leorio interjected, pointing accusingly at Kurapika. "He watched Tonpa trick me, steal my tag, and then watched me chase Tonpa before he finally decided to help!"
"Seriously?" Morgan said, raising an eyebrow at Kurapika, who simply shrugged.
"I figured if he couldn't handle that, he wouldn't be reliable as a teammate," Kurapika explained calmly.
Morgan chuckled. "Wow, you're quite confident in your abilities."
"That's what I said!" Leorio chimed in.
"Leorio hasn't found his target yet." Kurapika explained.
"So, should we split up to search for Leorio's tag?" Morgan asked, turning to them as Gon smiled broadly.
"I've been keeping watch from above, and I've spotted several people nearby, including Leorio and Kurapika," Gon said with a grin, prompting a nervous laugh from Morgan. His observational skills were impressive, a mix of a hawk and a bloodhound.
"Really? That's handy. Maybe we should search from higher ground," Leorio mused, gazing thoughtfully down at the forest floor.
"That won't work unless you have eyes as sharp as Gon's," Kurapika remarked, causing Leorio to widen his eyes in mock annoyance. Morgan couldn't help but chuckle softly, shooting Leorio an apologetic glance.
"Gon, do you have all the tags you need?" Kurapika asked, noticing Gon furrowing his brows and looking away with a hint of disappointment, a familiar expression.
"Yeah, I guess..." Gon trailed off, then quickly glanced back at Morgan.
"Do you have your tags, Morgan?" Kurapika inquired, prompting Morgan to nod enthusiastically and smile broadly at him.
"Yup," Morgan affirmed, her brows furrowing slightly as she smiled. She noticed Gon also smiling a bit, which she figured might have cheered him up a bit.
Kurapika rummaged through his bag and offered her some rose apples.
"You can have it," Kurapika said.
Morgan narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the fruit. "I take it it's poisoned or it fell on the ground." Why was Kurapika suddenly being caring? They weren't close, and they'd been at odds since day one.
Kurapika looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "Can you not tarnish my good deeds with suspicion?"
Leorio spoke up, "Oh, we happened to find plenty of these fruits. They're delicious."
Gon perked up. "Can I have some too?"
Kurapika nodded before looking down at Morgan again. "Are you going to accept it or not?"
She clicked her tongue, feeling a bit guilty for always being wary of him. Morgan decided to accept it. "Thanks."
Leorio looked down at the ground, lost in thought once more.
"Damn, so I'm the only one without enough points," he said, clearly disappointed.
"Who's your target?" Gon asked, his expression curious.
"Number 246, Ponzu. I heard she uses chemical weapons," Leorio replied. That didn't sound pleasant.
"Gon, did you spot any women when you were up there?" Leorio asked Gon.
"Nope," Gon replied succinctly, causing Leorio to look away with a sigh.
"I see," Kurapika said.
"Well then, let's move. We only have one day left," Morgan urged.
"You're not out of the woods yet," Leorio frowned, as if he had read her mind. "You can expect some chills today, along with mild congestion."
"He's right, Morgan. We don't know what the next phase will be. You should focus on healing your wounds and get some rest," Gon added.
She didn't like hearing it, but deep down, she knew they were right.
"Yes, dad," she said playfully, smiling. "But before that..." She rummaged through her bag and retrieved the tag numbered 80. "I found this, but since I already have six points, I'm giving it to you, Leorio. Worst case scenario, you can use it to pass the exam."
Leorio looked uncertain. "I... I feel like I'm depending too much on you guys."
Morgan smiled warmly. "Hey, you treated my wounds. Consider this tag as my way of repaying you. It's not exactly a free gift, right?"
Gon grinned broadly. "Just accept it, Leorio."
"Fine... Thanks," he said appreciatively, taking the tag from Morgan.
"Though, I'd still like it if you could get your target's number," she added.
"Don't worry. I will," Leorio assured her.
Morgan nodded in acknowledgment.
Leorio, Gon, and Kurapika headed out to find Leorio's target. As they disappeared into the forest, she realized she was now somewhat exposed. Morgan retreated between large buttress roots and covered the area with bushes to conceal herself.
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"The Fourth Phase of the exam has just ended. Will the applicants please return to the starting point at once?" A loud voice of a female suddenly rang throughout the forest. Morgan's eyes blinked a couple of times before releasing a long tired yawn. "You will be given one hour of extra time. If you do not return during the given time, you will fail the exam. Furthermore, you are not allowed to exchange tags after reaching the starting point. Anyone caught swapping tags will be disqualified."
As the woman repeated the announcement, Morgan emerged from her hiding spot and slapped herself awake, feeling the effects of a full day's rest. She followed the sound of the woman's voice and made her way towards the area where the candidates were to gather.
She wondered about the others. Had Leorio managed to secure his six points?
Morgan listened as the announcer listed off the numbers, including hers. "Number 44 Hisoka-san, Number 53 Pokkle-san, Number 99 Killua-san, Number 301 Gittarackur-san, Number 397 Morgan-san, Number 191 Bodoro-san, Number 294 Hanzo-san."
'Where are they?' Morgan thought sadly.
'Wait… sadly?' Did she care about them just now?
"Oh?"
Morgan's contemplation was interrupted by the announcer's voice.
"Ah, three more arrive at the last second. And now for the last few members, Number 404 Kurapika-san, Number 403 Leorio-san, and Number 405 Gon-san. These 10 applicants have passed the 4th phase of the exam!"
With the fourth phase officially over, the candidates were directed to board the airship. They were granted time to recuperate before the final phase.
"Hey, I thought you'd never make it."
"Well, almost there. Anyway," Kurapika said, "How many of us are left here?"
"One, two, three…" Morgan counted, "Ten in total. Us four, Hisoka, Hanzo, Bodoro, that pin-man, Killua, and Pokkle…"
"Well, regardless," Leorio said, "We just need to stay vigilant from now on."
Morgan nodded. "It looks like the Hunter Organization has quite the games planned for us."
Hope you enjoy it! Please review.