The Airship landed smoothly at the venue of the final test — an Advanced hotel managed by the Hunter Association.
The Examinees walked off the Airship, their faces showing varying degrees of exhaustion and tension.
The days of continuous testing had drained their stamina, and the upcoming final test would decide whether they could become official Hunters.
"Rest here for three days."
Satotz stood at the cabin door and announced gently.
"Three days later, the final test will officially begin. Please adjust your condition well."
The Examinees were guided into the hotel and assigned rooms.
Leo also walked into the hotel with the crowd, but he didn't join the bustle, instead heading straight to his own room.
Closing the door to shut out the noise of the outside world, he walked to the window and looked at the distant sea.
The ten days of sparring with Chairman Netero had elevated his strength to a new level.
He sat down cross-legged and began to Cultivate.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The day of the final test.
Inside a spacious venue in the hotel.
The center of the venue was paved with smooth flooring. The Examinees had arrived one after another, eleven people standing in a row, with different expressions.
Gon was still looking around with curiosity, Killua had his hands in his pockets with an indifferent look, Kurapika looked solemn, Leorio was rubbing his hands nervously, Hanzo was closing his eyes to rest, Bodoro had a deep frown...
Niko and Buhara stood in the crowd, their eyes sweeping over the surrounding examiners, finally landing on Leo.
Leo nodded slightly at them, and both felt reassured.
The examiners stood on one side — Menchi, Satz, Buhara, Lippo, and Leo.
Chairman Netero stood in the center of the venue, with a board covered by a huge white cloth standing beside him.
"The final test."
Netero's voice was loud and clear, reaching every corner of the venue.
"It will be conducted in the form of one-on-one duels! And the grouping arrangement —"
He waved his hand sharply and pulled off the white cloth covering the board.
The white cloth slipped away, revealing a clear tree-like battle chart on the board.
The quiet venue exploded, and the Examinees immediately began to discuss.
Some frowned, some looked dissatisfied, some were secretly pleased.
"The condition to pass the final test... is very simple."
Netero ignored everyone's reaction and held up a finger.
"You only need one win to pass! In other words —"
He pointed to the battle chart.
"The winners of this duel don't need to fight again! And the losing side needs to 'advance'! Continue to challenge upwards! Finally, the person who ascends to the top..."
He paused.
"Is the one who fails! Do you understand?"
A sound of gasping echoed in the venue.
Bodoro stared at the battle chart, his brow furrowed, and he couldn't help but step forward to question.
"Chairman! Why is the grouping so... unfair?"
Netero stroked his beard, looking as if it were a matter of course.
"Hmm... good question?"
He explained slowly.
"This grouping is determined by your comprehensive performance in all the tests conducted so far. Simply put, those with good grades will get relatively more opportunities."
This explanation was vague and clearly couldn't quell all the doubts.
Bodoro wanted to continue questioning, opening his mouth to speak —
"Quiet."
A deep and powerful voice rang out in the venue.
At the same time, a burst of Nen pressure like an invisible mountain instantly covered the entire venue!
Everyone froze at the same time.
Leo stood where he was, his eyes calmly sweeping over those Examinees.
His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"It's not your turn to question the final test. Those who want to become Hunters, stay; those who don't, can quit."
He paused, his tone becoming even colder.
"Wanting to become a Hunter, there is no such thing as fairness to begin with. When you encounter multiple enemies surrounding you, do you still naively want to ask the enemy to fight you fairly?"
The venue was silent.
Bodoro's face flushed, but he couldn't say a word.
The Examinees who originally wanted to speak lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet Leo's eyes.
Netero glanced at Leo, a flash of approval in his eyes, and then continued to announce the rules.
"The way of fighting is simple and clear. Weapons are allowed, no special rules are restricted! Making the opponent admit defeat is the winner!"
His voice suddenly turned sharp, with unquestionable majesty.
"But — if you kill your opponent, the perpetrator will immediately lose their qualifications! Out on the spot!"
"At the same time, all remaining Examinees will automatically pass, and the test will end! Is that clear?"
The Examinees replied in unison.
"Clear!"
The referee standing on the side stepped forward and said loudly.
"Then, the final test — officially begins! Round one, Hanzo against Gon! Please enter the arena!"
The battles went on one after another.
Hanzo vs. Gon — Gon refused to yield even to death, and would not admit defeat even if his arm was broken.
Hanzo was helpless in the end, had to knock Gon out, and announced his own defeat.
Kurapika vs. Hisoka — Hisoka walked onto the stage with a smile, and then... directly admitted defeat.
Kurapika was stunned on the spot, never expecting this result.
Pokkle vs. Niko — After the two went on stage, Niko only threw one punch.
Pokkle tried to block, but found that he couldn't block that power at all, and his whole body was blown away, smashing heavily against the wall.
He struggled to get up, felt the severe pain in his arm, and could only helplessly admit defeat.
It was Killua's turn against Gittarackur.
The two walked onto the field. Gittarackur stood opposite Killua, and there was no expression on that face covered with needles.
Just as the referee was about to announce the start, Gittarackur suddenly raised his hand and slowly pulled the needles off his face.
A pale and handsome face was revealed.
Killua was struck by a thunderbolt, his eyes instantly widened in extreme shock and fear!
"Killua..."
Illumi spoke softly, his tone as gentle as if coaxing a child.
"Long time no see."
Killua's body began to tremble.
Illumi took a step forward and continued to speak in that terrifyingly gentle tone.
"Do you know? Mom is very worried about you. You've been away from home for so long, and everyone at home misses you."
"I, I..."
"And that boy named Gon."
Illumi's gaze swept to the green-clothed boy on the sidelines.
"You like being with him, right? But, he is too weak. Being with you will only drag you down."
He raised his hand, holding a thin Nen Needle between his fingers.
"Let brother help you remove those useless things, okay?"
Killua's face was pale, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
He wanted to retreat, but found his legs as heavy as lead.
The referee frowned and was about to step forward to stop it.
He had just taken a step — Illumi didn't look back, and swung his right hand casually!
Several Nen Needles shot towards the referee like a rainstorm!
Too fast! Too close!
The referee couldn't react at all, and could only watch those deadly needle tips enlarge in his field of vision — the next moment, a figure appeared in front of the referee like a ghost!
Leo raised his right hand, his five fingers splayed, and just as the Nen Needles were about to pierce the referee's body, he caught them all in his hand!
"Ding!"
A slight sound of metal collision.
Leo clenched his fist, and those Nen Needles turned into powder in his palm.
The venue was dead silent.
Leo raised his head and looked directly at Illumi.
A burst of suffocating Nen pressure surged from his body like a tsunami, instantly covering the entire venue!
Everyone felt difficulty breathing at the same time, as if an invisible hand was gripping their throats.
"Illumi."
Leo's voice was calm, but incomparably cold.
"Attacking the referee for no reason, do you not want to be a Hunter?"
Illumi's black hole-like eyes stared at Leo.
His expression was still indifferent, but a trace of fluctuation flashed in the depths of his pupils.
"It's you."
He said softly, his tone still understated.
"I remember you. You broke my bones."
He paused, seemingly weighing something.
"Although I really want to attack you... but I don't want to give up the Hunter qualification."
After speaking, he put away the Nen Needles and returned to his original position, as if nothing had happened.
Leo withdrew his Nen pressure and stepped back to the side.
Menchi came over and whispered.
"I didn't expect him to attack, we didn't react."
Leo nodded.
"Yeah. Illumi attacking was also within my expectations."
Menchi looked at him, then at Illumi in the distance, thoughtful.
Illumi continued to manipulate Killua, Killua was under huge psychological pressure, and finally lowered his head and spit out three words with difficulty.
"I admit defeat."
The following battles continued.
Kastro vs. Hanzo — Hanzo still refused to admit defeat and fought desperately.
But Kastro, after Leo's guidance, his strength was no longer what it used to be.
He only used three moves to subdue Hanzo, and after some lessons, Hanzo finally admitted defeat.
The subsequent development was the same as the original plot, and Leo did not intend to intervene again.
Killua hovered on the verge of collapse and eventually killed Bodoro with his own hands.
According to the regulations, the perpetrator was immediately disqualified, and the remaining nine people automatically passed.
The final test ended there.
Those who successfully passed were: Gon, Leorio, Kurapika, Niko, Kastro, Hisoka, Illumi, Hanzo, Pokkle.
Nine new Hunters.
The certification ceremony was held in a small conference room.
Satotz stood on the stage, holding a stack of brand-new hunter licenses in his hand, patiently explaining the various uses and precautions of the licenses to the nine new Hunters below — how to use them, as well as the rights and obligations that Hunters enjoy.