Starting X Second X Exam

'hmm, I thought the second exam took place at some sort of outdoor pavilion with cooking stations everywhere… So why is there a giant warehouse here? Well, it looks like everyone is standing around the building and not in it so my only guess is that the building will open up after the deadline ends.' walking over to the small little group of acquaintances I made so far during the test we began to talk to pass the time.

"What do you reckon the next test will be like? The first phase was geared to eliminate contestants based on physical requirements, so the next phase could be something skill-based…" reasoned Kurapika with whom I had to agree, If this second phase was anything like the one in the anime then it would remove a smaller number of contestants based on some sort of skill-based test.

"It probably is related to some sort of skill or craft that we either need to already have or pick up on the fly. Though one thing to note is that the test may be in the form of a two-phase test…" I reply to his question as we all deliberate on the next phase of the exam with exception of Leorio whose passed out body is leaning against the trunk of a tree

"Two-phase test?" asked surprisingly Killua of all people.

" Yeah, did you not notice? The first exam started with a test of physical fitness, starting slow and speeding up the whole time. Then the test heightened the difficulty further by throwing in the trek up the stairs. That would be considered the first part of exam one, the second would be the Swindler's Marsh where the overall speed was lowered as the difficulty lowered a bit in regards to physical fitness but threw in a new variable." I conjecture using both my own experience and foreknowledge from the anime that was beginning to look shaky.

"You mean the survival aspect where we had to deal with the wildlife residing in the marsh?" Quickly answered Killua in realization.

"Bingo! So I would not be surprised if we had to do something relatively easy to start with so people can adapt to the situation then have a level of progression in the difficulty where we make it or break it." after our short discussion about the exam we began to trail off into other topics as we waited for the next exam to begin. Though wait long we did not, as after a short twenty minutes the large doors to the warehouse swung open. Soon after, contestants began to trickle into the warehouse.

'Oh, it's the fat guy and chick with the weird hair… So is this the same exam as in the anime? Now that I think about it could be some sort of difference from the manga as I never really read it before. Thinking about it… I'm probably going to fail if they don't do the spider eagle nest thing…'

"Yo! Welcome to the second exam, I am Menchi and this is Buhara we are both Gourmet Hunters. So for that reason, the second exam will be cooking! Cook up a dish that can satisfy us two gourmet hunters." Interrupting my thought train was a young woman with what could be described as an odd hairstyle paired with an equally odd choice of clothes. Behind her sat a giant of a man with features reminiscent of a pig, it seemed these were to be the new examiners for the Hunter Exam.

" " " " COOKING !!? " " " " was the general response of the remaining one hundred and fifty contestants, not having to expect to be made to cook as part of the well-revered Hunter Exam.

"First you must cook the dish that I designate-" was the only response the confused or disappointed contestants were given from Buhara

"And only the ones who pass that will be allowed to cook the dish I designate. So basically, only by getting us both to say that your respective dishes are 'delicious' will you pass this second exam." as Menchi finished off Buhara's thought the exam site returned to silence before once again being filled with noise due to the various responses of the contestants.

"Shit I never cooked before." was Leorio's reaction to the whole situation.

"I never would have imagined cooking would have been what we were doing for an exam. Though I am curious as to what kind of dishes we are supposed to prepare…" Meanwhile, Kurapika's reaction to the whole ordeal was much more level-headed assessing the future actions he may need to take.

"..." though in the group was a collective trio who were exceedingly nervous due to them most likely never cooking a meal in their lives. Much ashamed they were, having never really worked inside of a kitchen due to various reasons.

'Aunty Mito used to cook all the meals for us now that I think about it…' (Gon)

'Cooking was always the butler's job back at the mansion…' (Killua)

'The advent of the Microwave has turned cooking into a vestigial skill, hasn't it?' (Magenta)

"My menu is… Whole roasted pig! It's my favorite dish! As long as the pig resides in this forest any variety of swine will do. Now… Let the second phase of the exam begin!" Being pulled out of their reverie by the announcement the group of five start shuffling towards the exit alongside the rest of the contestants in a rush to procure ingredients.

{P.o.V Change}

"Any type of pig will do? How cruel of you to say that to them Buhara! If I am correct there is only one type of pig here in the Biska Forests, right?" teasingly asked Menchi to her fellow gourmet hunter.

"Mm, The world's most ferocious pig, 'The Great Stamp' with its large and deceptively hard nose, it crushes all of its enemies in an instant! If contestants can't run away quickly enough, they'll become the pig's food instead!" having said his peace a sadistic smile spread across Buhara's face as they waited for the contestants to return to the exam hall.

AN: So after both getting a few comments from readers but also a reflection on the past chapter I have to agree that it really wasn't up to scratch. I think I forced too much "comedy" into chapter four when it really did not need it. I think the banter would have been better suited for the start of this chapter during the recess between exams. (Having recently looked at the manga for a quick refresher I even noticed they put similar jokes in said spots…) This is most likely to me not previously having too much of a vision of how the story will develop, leading me to force ideas where they don't belong or elements that just should not exist. To alleviate this issue I have started to write up a general storyboard for this fic. On another note, while no one said anything I know a lot of people dislike stories that are just cannon with a MC tacked on to the side. This will not happen as the MC will diverge from the main cast after the exams, they will probably meet back up at the york new auction, and following that the arcs shown in the anime and manga will "occur" but will be different and my own spin on them.