Waiting for Gon and the others to finish the trial, the second Hunter Exam concludes with 43 successful candidates, including Loki. The number of candidates has been drastically reduced, and this is only the second exam. The Hunter Exam’s difficulty is well-deserved.
The forty-plus successful candidates board Netero’s ship, heading to the third exam location. The journey will be long. Gon, Killua, and Loki, full of energy, start their own adventure on the ship. The examiners are resting in a room on the ship.
"How many do you think will pass this year?" Menchi asks.
"Past Hunter Exams had zero successful candidates. This year probably won’t be much different," Buhara replies, looking at Satotz. "Satotz, what do you think?"
"I don’t know how many will pass, but I’m optimistic about those kids."
"Kids?" Buhara is surprised. "The only one who passed Menchi’s exam was a kid. He had excellent observation skills. He’s promising."
"Besides him, there’s examinee number 99 and 405."
Satotz takes a sip of coffee.
"This year’s recruits seem pretty good. But examinee 133, Loki, is strange."
Menchi looks at the others. "Do you feel that too?"
"Strange?" Satotz thinks back. Loki’s performance was excellent, his potential huge, but he felt something odd. Though Loki wasn’t a threat, Satotz felt a subtle sense of danger from him.
"That kid should pass without problems," Satotz says, his expression serious. "But I wonder if making someone like him a Hunter is right or wrong."
"What do you mean?" Menchi and Buhara ask.
Meanwhile, on the ship, Killua tells Gon about his family, and Gon introduces Whale Island. It’s Loki’s turn.
Loki shrugs. "Nothing to say. I’m from a poor, ordinary country."
"Your family?" Gon asks.
Loki shakes his head. "It’s in the past. Their deaths were probably a release."
Killua’s attitude toward Loki softens, knowing his family is dead. He’s not entirely cold-blooded.
Suddenly, a killing intent appears. They look around but see no one.
Netero appears behind them. He seems to have found interesting toys. He starts testing them.
Loki watches Netero silently. ’The ball game is about to begin! My chance to finish the mission early.’
"Let’s play a game! Win, and you get your Hunter licenses without further trials."
"Okay!" Loki agrees, even before Gon.
Gon nods. Killua agrees, his face cold.
They go to a gym. Netero produces a ball, takes off his shirt, and stands barefoot.
"The game is simple. Take the ball from me, and you win. You become Hunters without further trials."
Gon and Killua listen. Loki removes his cloak, revealing his muscular physique. Even at twelve, his body surpasses normal standards due to Yō’s power.
"Okay," Netero says, eyes narrowed. ’Examinee 133, Loki, the only one who passed Menchi’s test. His observation and analysis skills are excellent. He’s talented.’
’But...’ Netero senses something dangerous about Loki.
"Then, Chairman Netero, I’ll begin."
Loki stretches. Gon gives a thumbs-up. "Go, Loki! Get the ball!"
"Don’t underestimate him," Killua warns.
Loki nods. He knows Netero’s terrifying strength. Netero’s mastery of his movements is almost perfect.
’Netero is probably S-rank in the system, or at least A-rank. To get the ball, I need to catch him off guard.’
He needs to use normal strength to lull Netero into a false sense of security, then unleash unexpected power.
Loki charges. His speed far surpasses the norm.
Netero raises an eyebrow. ’That burst of speed is impressive.’
He easily dodges. Loki changes direction and charges again, appearing as a blur.
"Amazing! Loki’s speed is incredible," Gon says.
Killua is also surprised. ’His speed rivals mine. Did he undergo special training?’ He thinks Loki is strong but says, "Good speed, but it won’t work on that old man."
Netero dodges effortlessly, his feet barely moving. Loki’s attacks are ineffective.
The gym echoes with the sounds of their movements. The two figures constantly clash. For tens of minutes, Loki attacks, all dodged by Netero, who hasn’t moved his feet.
After ten minutes, Loki stops. "Your turn," he says to Gon and Killua.
"Tired, kid?" Netero smiles.
"It’s just a change of players. I can’t play forever. I don’t want to keep Gon and Killua waiting too long."
Loki sits down. Gon thinks Loki is upset about not getting the ball.
"Don’t worry, keep trying, you’ll get it," Gon says.
Loki is surprised and smiles. "Your turn."
Killua stands. "My turn!"
"Go, Killua! Ten minutes each. Then it’s my turn," Gon says.
Killua takes this as an insult. ’That brat dares to underestimate me! I’ll get the ball and end this game.’
Unlike Loki, Killua moves slowly around Netero, creating multiple afterimages.
"What’s that? Amazing! It looks like many Killuas," Gon says.
Loki is also amazed. This assassination technique rivals Rokushiki.
Netero is surprised that Killua, at his age, masters such a difficult technique. His talent is terrifying.
Killua attacks from Netero’s blind spot, charging toward the ball. His speed rivals Loki’s.
But as his hands reach the ball, Netero lifts it slightly. Killua misses. He looks at Netero with a deadpan expression.
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