Boring

The group continued their journey through the seemingly endless tunnel, the monotony of the darkness and the sound of their footsteps began to wear on them. Leorio, never one to hide his feelings, let out an exasperated sigh.

"Are we even getting anywhere? We've been walking for ages! This tunnel just goes on and on…"

Gon, however, seemed unbothered, a smile on his face as he took in the surrounding darkness. "I actually like it. I've never been in a tunnel like this before, back on Whale Island. It's like an adventure."

He even enjoyed the echo effect that the tunnel made.

Kurapika, always composed, turned his head slightly toward Leorio. "Patience, Leorio. The Hunter Exam is known for its trials. This is just another test—of endurance, perhaps. Complaining won't make the tunnel any shorter."

Leorio muttered something under his breath, clearly still annoyed but unable to argue with Kurapika's logic. He knew Kurapika was right, but that didn't make the walk any less tedious.

Gojo walked alongside the group, silently calculating in his mind as they trudged through the dark tunnel.

He estimated that their pace had been steady at about 1.2 meters per second, covering roughly 72 meters per minute. Over two hours, this would amount to 8,640 metres of travel.

However, the path hadn't been a straightforward ascent; instead, it had involved multiple turns with inclines and declines. Gojo recalled the three most significant vertical displacements. The first ascent was steep, rising about 200 meters over 2,000 meters of horizontal distance. The second section was a slight descent of 100 meters over 3,000 meters. The final stretch was a gradual ascent of 150.

Estimating the vertical displacement, Gojo considered that they had been ascending gradually but steadily for most of the journey, rising about 300 meters in elevation throughout the walk. Next, he calculated the average slope angle for each section and the overall journey with a simple formula of θ=tan−1(Horizontal Displacement/Vertical Displacement​).

The first Section of the tunnel was 5.71∘, the Second Section −1.91∘, and the Third Section 2.36∘

The calculations indicated that while there had been significant elevation changes, the overall gradient of their journey remained shallow, with the tunnel primarily traversing the mountain rather than ascending it directly.

This meant that the vertical displacement was minimal compared to the horizontal distance they had travelled. Gojo deduced that they might be heading through the mountain rather than up to its peak.

As they continued, he noticed a subtle change in the tunnel's gradient. The last few minutes of walking suggested they were now descending slightly, meaning they had likely passed a peak point. The vertical displacement was now slightly negative, confirming his suspicion that the tunnel was leading them to the other side of the mountain.

'The temperature is changing. This shouldn't be much longer now,' Gojo mused internally, maintaining his usual calm as the group continued through the dark tunnel. He kept his findings to himself, letting the others focus on their immediate surroundings and the challenges ahead.

As they trudged through the dark tunnel, the repetitive pattern of walking in silence began to wear on Gojo. He let out a quiet sigh of frustration, his thoughts spiralling as he continued the mental math.

'This is so boring...' he thought, his irritation growing. 'Why are we even doing this? I could have climbed the mountain directly, fought off some beasts, and had way more fun than this dull walk through a tunnel.'

The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became. The thrill of facing dangerous creatures and challenging terrain was exactly what he had hoped for. Instead, they were stuck in this boring tunnel. 'Next time, I'm not entertaining these stupid pre-examiner tests,' he vowed to himself, his determination hardening. 'I'll take my own path.'

Just as his frustration reached its peak, he noticed a faint light ahead. The end of the tunnel was finally in sight.

"Hey, look! The exit!" Leorio shouted, his voice echoing off the tunnel walls. Without waiting for a response, he broke into a sprint, charging toward the light at the end.

"Leorio, wait!" Kurapika called after him, but the excitement of finally escaping the tunnel was too much for Leorio to contain.

Gon, always full of energy, laughed and dashed after him. "Come on, let's go!"

Kurapika sighed but couldn't help a small smile as he quickened his pace. Gojo, still annoyed but relieved to see the end, followed more slowly, his usual calm facade slipping back into place.

They all emerged from the tunnel into the cool, fresh air of a mountain forest. The dense canopy above allowed only a few rays of sunlight to filter through, giving the place an eerie, almost mystical feel. The trees were thick and ancient, their gnarled roots twisting across the ground.

As they stepped out further, they found themselves at the edge of a large, fog-covered lake. The water was still and dark, reflecting the mist that hung low over its surface. It looked almost otherworldly, as if something ancient and unknown lurked beneath its depths.

Leorio, still catching his breath, pointed excitedly. "Look! A boat!"

Sure enough, a small wooden rowboat was tied to a rickety dock jutting out into the lake. It looked old but sturdy enough to carry them across the foggy waters.

Kurapika, ever cautious, observed the lake carefully. 'It seems this is our next challenge.'

Gon, already making his way toward the boat, turned back with a grin. 'Let's see what's on the other side!'

Gojo lingered at the edge of the forest, looking back at the tunnel they had just exited. Despite his annoyance, a part of him remained curious about what challenges lay ahead. The foggy lake and the ominous atmosphere stirred something in him—maybe this would be interesting after all.

With a final glance at the dark tunnel behind them, he followed the others to the boat, his earlier vow still firm in his mind. 'No more boring tests,' he reminded himself. 'From now on, I make my own path.'

The group gathered around the small wooden rowboat, each taking up a role for their journey across the foggy lake. Gojo, still simmering with frustration over the tests they had been subjected to, toyed with the idea of abandoning the boat altogether. He could just run across the surface of the lake, using his immense speed and precise control over his aura to avoid sinking.

His mind calculated the exact speed he would need to maintain to keep from drowning—about 108 kilometres per hour, with a precise distribution of energy to avoid breaking the water's surface tension. This while taking the physics of complex water dynamics, gravity and motion into consideration.

But before he could entertain the thought further, Kurapika interrupted his musings. "Gojo, since your sight is so good, why don't you help us navigate? We'll need someone who can see through this fog."

Gojo blinked, momentarily pulled out of his thoughts. He glanced at the thick mist hanging over the lake, then back at Kurapika, who was already taking up one of the oars. Gon grabbed the other, his enthusiasm undeterred by the task ahead. Leorio, meanwhile, was preoccupied with formulating some sort of plan.

Gojo sighed, resigning himself to the task. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll navigate."

As the boat pushed off from the dock, Kurapika and Gon began rowing, their movements synchronized and steady. Gojo stood at the bow, his keen senses slicing through the fog, guiding them along the safest path. Leorio, sitting near the back, was lost in thought, clearly scheming something.

"We should think about how to impress the navigators when we meet them," Leorio announced, breaking the silence. "We need to make sure they know we're serious contenders for the exam."

Kurapika nodded thoughtfully, focusing on his rowing. "That's true. The navigators are the ones who decide if we're worthy of continuing. Making a good impression could be crucial."

Leorio continued, warming up to his idea. "Look at me—I've got the height and the presence. That'll definitely make them take notice. But Gon, you're just a kid, so you'll have to—"

Gon looked back at him with a smile, clearly unbothered by the comment. "I'll just show them what I can do!"

Kurapika, not missing a beat, asked, "And what about me?"

Leorio hesitated, realizing too late that he'd backed himself into a corner. "Well, Kurapika... you're kind of on the shorter side, so you might—"

Before he could finish, Gojo, who had been listening with increasing irritation, cut him off sharply. "If you say anything bad about me, I'll kick you into the lake."

Leorio immediately snapped his mouth shut, knowing better than to provoke Gojo. The threat was half-serious, but with Gojo, you could never be sure. He had a calm demeanour most of the time, but everyone knew from the incident at the ship he was not someone to mess with.

After a moment of tense silence, Gojo added, almost as an afterthought, "Or I could just beat the location of the exam out of the navigators."

The rest of the group chuckled, thinking he was joking. But the glint in Gojo's eyes as he surveyed the foggy surroundings suggested otherwise. He wasn't above using force if it came down to it, and he had no patience left for these pre-exam games.

Gon, still rowing, laughed. "You're funny, Gojo! But I think we'll manage without that."

Kurapika, ever the diplomat, added, "Let's focus on making it across the lake first. We can worry about impressing the navigators once we find them."

Gojo shrugged, returning his attention to navigating the boat through the dense fog. Despite his earlier frustration, he found himself settling into a rhythm with the others. As much as he hated the tediousness of these tests, he couldn't help but be intrigued by the challenges that lay ahead. After all, the real fun would begin once they reached the exam site.

The boat continued to glide smoothly across the water, the fog swirling around them like a living entity. Each stroke of the oars brought them closer to their destination, but also deeper into the unknown.

As the boat continued its steady journey through the thick fog, a sense of unease began to settle over the group. The silence was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic splashing of the oars and the occasional creak of the wooden boat. Leorio was deep in thought, Kurapika focused on maintaining the boat's direction, and Gon was happily enjoying the adventure despite the eeriness of the surroundings.

But then, the stillness was shattered by a sudden, massive ripple in the water. The surface of the lake began to churn violently, waves lapping against the sides of the boat with increasing intensity. Gon and Kurapika paused their rowing, their eyes widening as the disturbance grew larger and larger.

From the depths of the fog-covered water, a monstrous shape began to emerge. At first, it was just a shadow beneath the surface, but it quickly took on a more terrifying form. A gigantic, serpentine creature, with a long neck and a body covered in scales that glistened with moisture, broke through the water's surface. Its head, resembling that of a dragon or a sea serpent, loomed high above them, its eyes glowing with an eerie light.

Leorio let out a panicked shout, nearly dropping his oar. "What the hell is that?!"

Kurapika's grip tightened on his oar as he quickly assessed the situation. "Stay calm, everyone. We need to figure out a way to get past it."

Gon, for all his courage, was momentarily stunned by the sheer size of the creature. "Wow... it's huge!"

The monster let out a deafening roar that echoed across the lake, its massive body creating waves that rocked the boat dangerously. The group braced themselves, the fear palpable in the air. All except for one.

Gojo, instead of reacting with fear or concern, felt a thrill of excitement course through him. A wide grin spread across his face as he watched the creature rise out of the water. This was exactly the kind of challenge he'd been craving—a chance to let loose and test his strength and ever-growing mastery of nen against something truly formidable.

"Finally, something interesting!" Gojo said, practically vibrating with excitement. Without a moment's hesitation, he charged his body with aura, the energy crackling around him like electricity.

"Gojo, wait!" Kurapika shouted, but it was too late.

With a burst of speed, Gojo leapt off the boat, soaring through the air with a grace that belied his raw power. He landed on the water's surface, his aura so dense and controlled that it allowed him to stand atop the churning waves without sinking. The monster turned its gaze towards him, recognizing the threat that Gojo posed.

Gojo didn't give it a chance to react. He launched himself forward, dashing across the water with blinding speed. As he closed the distance, his aura flared even brighter, and he threw a powerful punch straight at the creature's massive head. The impact was explosive, sending a shockwave through the water that caused the boat to rock even more violently.

The monster reeled back, stunned by the force of the blow. But Gojo wasn't done. He darted around it, his movements a blur as he delivered a series of rapid, precise strikes to its vulnerable spots. Each hit sent ripples through the creature's body, the water around them boiling from the sheer energy being unleashed.

The others watched in a mix of awe and disbelief as Gojo took on the gigantic beast with a smile on his face, completely unfazed by its size or power. It was clear that he was in his element, revelling in the challenge and the adrenaline that came with it.

"This is insane..." Leorio muttered, gripping the sides of the boat tightly as he tried to process what he was seeing.

"Gojo..." Kurapika added, his eyes narrowing as he observed the fight. 'Is this some kind of illusion? When did he get so strong?"

Gon, however, was grinning ear to ear, clearly enjoying the spectacle as though it was normal. "Kite! He is just like Kite!"

Gojo, meanwhile, continued to dominate the fight. With one final, devastating kick, he sent the creature crashing back into the water with a massive splash. The lake quieted once more, the monster's defeated form sinking back into the depths, and Gojo just jumped back into the boat sending it shaking and travelling a bit further back. Gojo looked down at the fading ripples with a satisfied expression. He then turned back to the boat, his grin still in place. "Now that was fun."