Chapter 16 : Trick X Tower X Cleared

–January 10, 1999, 6:00 pm.

A teenage boy is staring at the monitor screen on the wall, patiently waiting for the time to become zero. Standing beside him were two beautiful girls, their eyes fixed on the screen.

The teenage boy is Akira, having spent almost 50 hours in the isolation room, they're now can leave the room. By his side is Ponzu and Anita having prepared everything they can use in the room.

' Almost 50 hours have passed since entering this room, but it doesn't feel that long.' Akira thought to himself.

' Aside from controlling my leaking aura, I tried again to feel the aura inside my body, but the outcome was still the same. Something is blocking me from going further,' Akira pondered as he looked towards the now-opened door.

The three of them took a step forward, leaving the isolation room behind. Anita glanced back, a sense of tranquility washing over her as she reminisced about the hours spent in that small space.

"It was time well spent," Anita said with a small smile on her face, walking back to Ponzu's side.

As they continued walking, they arrived at the stage where they had fought the prisoners. Suddenly, a voice came through the speakers, reminding them of the person they had almost forgotten.

"Ahem! Congratulations on clearing " The Path of Luck."Lippo, the head examiner of the third phase exam, announced before the screen showed an arrow pointing towards a bridge that connected the stage to the opposite side of their passageway.

"That bridge is connected to the elevator that will lead you to the base of the tower," Lippo explained.

Then the three walked across the bridge, entering the elevator as directed by the examiner. Inside the elevator, Akira suddenly looks at Anita, studying her expression.

"Why didn't you ask the examiner?" He asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Anita met Akira's gaze, her brow furrowing in thought, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"

Akira's eyebrows furrowed as he realized Anita was avoiding the topic. "Didn't you say yesterday that you'll ask the examiner to know whether I am lying or not?"

Anita hesitated for a moment, then asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. " Are you a Zoldyck? Are you the one who killed my father?"

Akira quickly shook his head, his voice filled with urgency "No! I am not, I swear on—" 

"Then that's good enough. I'd decided to trust you." Anita said softly, her voice echoing in the small elevator. ' Once I calmed down, I realized that Akira's movement at that time was too crude for an Elite Assassin.'

Akira stunned by her remarks, couldn't believe she would trust him so soon. He felt a bit touched, having someone trust you meant you are trustable or they felt you are someone that can be trusted.

" O-okay," Akira said in a low voice. ' This kind of feeling is nice.'

The room was filled with silence. While Ponzu, who had been observing their interaction, narrowed her eyes. She felt a pang of annoyance, feeling like a third wheel in their strange dynamic.

' I'm not a nuisance, right? ' she thought to herself with a bitter sigh.

A few minutes later, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened. A notification rang out in the room.

"Pokkle, applicant #53, Ponzu, applicant #246, and Anita, applicant #111, have arrived simultaneously. Total time, fifty-seven hours and seven minutes," the announcement echoed.

Akira looked around and recognized many familiar faces. "Roughly eighteen including us. And here I thought we were late," he thought to himself. His gaze met Hisoka's for a moment, and he wondered if Hisoka had noticed something.

Thinking about it for a second, he cursed at himself. Since arriving at the isolation room, he decided to try controlling the excessive aura leaking outside his body, making it more stable. He spent all of his time on it.

' I'm feeling happy about my improvement but it looks like my effort bites me as I got Hisoka's attention,' Akira thought as he felt a shiver down his spine.

Ponzu tugged Akira's sleeve, pointing to an empty corner. They settled there, with Anita following them.

XXXXX

– January 11, 1999, 9:25 am.

The time passed and nothing eventful happened. Apart from several applicants arriving at the tower base, little activity occurred. All the applicants were either eating snacks or sleeping.

Akira spent his spare time meditating and snacking on the provisions they had taken from the fridge before leaving the isolation room.

' Meditating my ass, I can't fully concentrate because of the gaze of some pervert.' Akira thought as he tried his best to concentrate. But Hisoka's predator stare crept over his skin like a thousand ants. ' Agh, Such a disgusting feeling.' 

Meanwhile, Ponzu and Anita are playing a card. It was one of the things they brought from the isolation room. They also engaged in quiet conversation as they played.

" Five minutes until the third phase of the exam ends." A notification sounded through the speakers reminding the applicants of the remaining time left before this phase ended.

Just as the notification ended, another one followed.

" Gon, applicant #405, Killua, applicant #99, and Kurapika, applicant #404, have arrived simultaneously. Total time, Seventy-one hours and fifty-five minutes."

The three of them emerged from the passageway, and Gon's face lit up as he spotted Akira.

" Akira! " Gon yelled while raising his hand and waving.

Hisoka eyed the three of them as they emerged from the passageway. ' Only three?'

Akira opened his eyes, momentarily lost in boredom, looked around, as he heard a familiar voice. He saw Gon, Killua, and Kurapika. 

" Ponzu, Anita. I'll excuse myself now. Let's meet again in the next phase." Akira said as he smiled at the two.

The two nodded at Akira before looking at each other and shrugged. " Okay," Anita said as his eyes stayed on Akira's back a bit longer.

Ponzu on the other hand took out one card trying to cheat away but Anita noticed it, making her smile wryly. " Just kidding." 

In the distance, Akira was already near the three. Gon, Killua, and Kurapika.

" I'm glad you're alright, Akira!." Gon said.

" He looks much better than us," Kurapika said as he shook his head.

" Sorry for worrying you guys, I also couldn't believe I fell for those tiles," Akira said playfully as he ruffled Gon's hair.

" Oh, By the way, Where's Leorio?." Akira asked, looking at the three.

" On the way now, He got left behind because he keeps on bickering with Tonpa," Killua said as he eyed Akira.

" Tonpa?, Look like you got a tough teammate in this phase," Akira said with a chuckle. ' I won't forget what you did, Tonpa.' 

Meanwhile, on the passageway, Leorio and Tonpa are tackling each other, racing to see who is much faster to arrive at the exit. When Tonpa almost took over Leorio he felt a shiver down his spine making him stop for a moment.

Leorio didn't let the chance away and sprinted with all of his might leaving behind a confused Tonpa that kept on looking around.

" Bye~ Fatso!." Dust clogged Leorio's throat as he pushed his aching body through the cramped passageway.

Shortly after, the room erupted with the notification.

" Leorio, applicant #403, and Tonpa, applicant #16, both arrived simultaneously. Total time, seventy-one hours and fifty-nine minutes."

This time it was Leorio and Tonpa who walked into the tower base. Just like Gon, Killua, and Kurapika both of them are full of dust and their clothes look ragged because of it.

*TUUTT! *

" Time's up! The trick tower trials ended. The remaining applicant is Thirty-seven." A hidden door creaked open, unveiling an exit from the tower.

" Too closed," Leorio muttered as he almost got disqualified from having spent time bickering with Tonpa.

All the applicants slowly exited through that door. Akira takes a deep breath craving the fresh air after the grueling hours spent on the trick tower.

As all the applicants stepped out of the trick tower, they were greeted by the imposing figure of Lippo, the Third Phase Examiner. And a medium-sized airship with few armed mechanisms. It was black colored airship.

" I'd like to congratulate all of you for escaping the Trick Tower. As some of you already know, I am Lippo. A blacklist hunter and The Third Phase Head Examiner. Now, I hope you don't mind the surprise. This airship here behind me will transport you to the site of the next exam." Lippo said.

Leorio couldn't help but exclaim. " So there's not gonna be much of a break before we get to the next phase, huh?."

Akira hearing that is grateful for having an elevator already connected to the tower's base and having a lot of rest hours.

" Who cares?! We get to ride on the airship again." Gon said.

"What do you mean, " who cares?"." Leorio blurted out.

Akira ignored the antics of the two and walked to board the airship. Shortly after him, Leorio is running towards him.

" Wait for me! " Leorio shouted as he saw Akira leave them.

Akira looks back at Leorio before waiting for him at the entrance of the ship. Leorio rushed to the entrance before exchanging greetings with him.

Akira inhaled the sharp tang of machinery and fuel as he saw the airship. Its engine's roared to life beneath them.

The two made their way up to the gangplank, finding seats inside the cabin. Leorio catches up by telling his experiences in the Trick Tower. Akira told him about his encounter with the other third-phase examiner Andy, making Leorio laugh so loud that it echoed throughout the cabin.

The two keep on chattering until Gon, Killua, and Kurapika also join them after boarding the airship.

Akira also told the three about his encounter with Andy and he also inserted Ponzu and Anita making Leorio burst into jealousy.

On the other hand, Killua told Akira the story of Leorio's fight having to lose some bet just to grop the prisoner's opponent. Akira looks disgusted at Leorio which indicates. " Are you serious bro?."

The look pierced Leorio's heart, clutching it like he had a heart attack. " I just get carried away. Haven't I already apologized for it?" 

" There's nothing wrong with it, wasn't that the usual Leorio," Kurapika said making Leorio more frustrated at their teasing.

Seeing Gon not minding their conversation and looking at the airship with awe. Leorio couldn't help but scare him a bit. " Hey, did you guys hear? This Airship is a former airship for war, so the ride can be quite bumpy. Better hold on tight, or you might end up losing your lunch." He teased, chuckling at his joke.

Gon showed a surprised look before shaking Leorio. " Eh! Really! A former airship for war! Awesome!."

Akira, Killua, and Kurapika laughed at Leorio's expression seeing that he didn't see the reaction he wanted from Gon.

He kneeled looking defeated making their laughed much louder.

' I hope this kind of feeling will last long.' Akira thought with a smile on his face looking at the bickering between his friends.

At this moment coincidentally Killua has the same thought as him.

XXXXX

Sooyoung Here!

The poll about the Mc Nen Category will end on Sunday Night. The most voted one will be going to be his Primary Nen Type.

For those who had ideas for this fanfic please comment down. My knowledge of HXH manga was limited so I appreciate some help.