21 Final phase
"Is this really needed." An old looking man smashed the desk while looking angry towards the one who was seated behind it. "It is indeed needed the time we have is limited," The big man behind the desk told the old man who stood in front of it.
"But isn't this too cruel?" the old man asked with regret as if what he just heard was something he never wished to hear.
Almost instant the look of the one behind the desk changed, "cruel you say? The life of a hunter is a cruel path. You need to be able to survive. And I told you didn't I what happened in that place? And you say that what I do is cruel" the man put pressure onto the old man. Slight sweat drops could be seen on his face while he spoke, "sorry for my insolence chairmaster."
After the footsteps of the old man were no longer heard that indicated he was gone the facade of the strong chair master crumbled. The boy who was ones innocent had changed to such a degree he had to be someone he didn't always wish to be.
A race that threatened the civilization he was part off was coming. The ones that were behind almost every incident that happened in his world. The chimera ants were just playing things for them and back then the strongest fighter Netero lost his life. Alas, that was just the beginning of it all. Many times after that was this world threatened by other life forces. But the one behind it all didn't come out yet. A race equal or maybe even better than the human race so similar yet so different.
Time was short the movements they made were more frequent. Like this, Gon had decided to change the exam from 5 to 6 rounds to only 3. Only a few hunters would pass this year, and they would gain all the best resources. The ability to learn Nen would be taught to them by the best masters Gon could gain access to.
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Rest was an essential part of one's capability to perform. Something that Jiyu learned from a young age when one slept a reasonable amount he would be sharper in the day. But that all changed for him when the little cub decided it wanted to play in the middle of the night. At some moment, the boy honestly wondered why he ever took that cute little bear with him. But his laughter betrayed what he was really thinking. It was a stress reliever of some sort it was relaxing to see the casual and happy attitude Kori had.
After the previous phase had ended, Jiyu went into his room with a somber mood. After all, he didn't expect that to happen when facing Gon. He thought he could at least spar with him. But just the sheer amount of force he released was enough to make him kneel. Resting is all that he could think about at this moment, so he closed his eyes. The cub, however, could notice the mood and decided to change it.
So like that it started to lick Jiyu's face and started playing. Without Jiyu, even realizing Kori had begun to play with him to make him feel better. The human and cub knew each other better than they both would admit. After that, a beautiful sight of human and cub playing could be seen. Laughter of the human boy and smiles from the bear cub.
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The white ceiling greeted his eyes once more while he heard the familiar voice of the announcer sound through his ears once more. "Will all participants, please gather in the dining hall" it was something he had heard before. Grabbing Kori and putting him on his head, he walked. The previous dining hall that was filled with 50 participants was no longer filled like that. Only a mere 16 people stood there, including Jiyu.
Some were in better states than others some looked like they barely survived while one, in particular, seemed to not even be hurt. He was a young adult with black hair that was gracefully pulled back. With the little round glasses on his nose and his body fully suited in a well-tailored suit, he looked impressive. Jiyu made a mental note to watch out for that guy something about him gave a feeling of danger.
Gon was standing on the stage while he scanned over the participants who were still alive. Only a mere 16, 484 participants have died this year. An amount that was never seen before. His heart ached a little while knowing this, but he decided to speak. His voice entered into the ears of the participants, "as some of you may know normally there are 5 to 6 stages of the hunter exam before you would be able to pass and become a hunter."
A couple of people nodded their heads most likely some of them had already taken a hunter exam before. "But this time its different the next phase of the exam will be the last. If you pass this, you will become a hunter gain that which you all desire." Gasps were heard all around the room it was rather shocking to hear something like this.
'Just what is going on' is all that Jiyu could think. He wished for freedom to explore this world, but why was it that something much deeper seemed to be going on? Could he even explore this world like he wished? Only time could tell.
