"The Hunter Exam will now begin! I'm Satotz, the Phase One examiner. You must follow me to Phase Two. This is the exam's first phase"

Two hours have passed since the start of the exam. The applicants have travelled over thirty kilometers from the start. Nine of them know how far sould they go. They're forced to follow the leader's pace, with no goal specified. It's a monotonous course with no end in sight. And many applicants have already dropped out.

"Explorating from historical data, this exam type usually involves a forty kilometer course. My calculations suggests that we are nearing the goal" Nicolas said while running confidently.

"I underestimated the Hunter Exam. Every person here is a monster. It's a gathering of monsters" Leorio said to himself. A boy and a girl pass Leorio by. And they're using a skateboard and roller skates.

"HEY! WAIT UP, BRATS!"

"Hm?"

"Huh?"

"YOU TWO SHOULD SHOW THE HUNTER EXAM SOME RESPECT!"

"What do you mean?" the boy asked.

"Why are you two using skates? THAT'S CHEATING!!" Leorio said.

"Why would it be cheating? The examiner only said that we only follow him. He never told us that we're suppose to run"

"WHAT? THIS IS AN ENDURANCE TEST!"

"No it isn't!" Gon said catching up.

"Huh?"

"Gon, what're you saying?"

"The examiner only told us to follow him" Gon said.

"Told you" the girl said and the girl and boy slows down a bit to match with Gon.

"WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ONE, EH?!" Leorio asked pissed.

"Hey, how old are you?" the boy asked Gon.

"I'm twelve years old" Gon answered and the boy flips his board and the two are amaze.

"Guess I'll run too"

"Amazing... How did you do that? Can I try it later?"

"Wow! That's cool!" Gon said amazed.

"Aren't you going to run?" the boy asked the girl.

"I'll run later"

"Anyway, I'm Killua" the boy looks to Gon.

"I'm Chika" the girl said looking to Gon.

"I'm Gon!" they introduce themselves and Leorio is at their back.

"Damn it... Making fool out of me..." Leorio said in his brain.

Later, they've already ran sixty kilometers and Nicolas is already drooling and sweating.

"Impossible... It's impossible! My calculations are never wrong! So why... Am I... going to fail? For me to fail. That's absurd. Unthinkable!" he said to himself and he's already tired.

"I won't accept that!" he shouted and the three brothers heard it. Nicolas drops his laptop.

"Hey rookie!" Amori called.

"You're a mess!" Umori said.

"It's rare to see someone out of steam so early. You must be a hell of an incompetent. People like you are doomed to fail the Hunter Exam" Imori said.

"Don't come back, snotrag!" Nicolas falls down to his knees.

"Here. Thanks. Great work" Tonpa said giving the three brothers some money. Then Imori gets the money.

"He won't recover from the abuse we just dished out" Amori said.

"I doubt he'll ever take the Hunter Exam again" Umori said.

"Anyway, Tonpa. You really do love crushing rookies" Imori said.

"Heh. I live for it"

4 hours later, they've still haven't reached the goal. Some have dropped out.

"It's been about four hours since the exam began. We must've traveled at least sixty kilometers. How much farther do we need to go?" Kurapika thinks.

Leorio is out of breath. His vision is blurry and he's sweaty.

"Only one rookie, every three years passes the exam. So for a normal human like me, it isn't worth dreaming about... Damn it.." he drops his briefcase and stops for a while to catch his breath. Gon, Killua and Chika stops too. Gon is looking at Leorio.

"Hey, forget him. Let's get going" Killua said.

"Gon... Why did he stopped? I think he's his friend" Chika said to herself. Leorio is still cstching his breath.

"Screw that..." then he runs again but more faster.

"I'M GONNA BECOME A HUNTER!" he said in the top of his lungs.

"DAMN IT ALL!!!" Leorio pass them by and Gon's smiling. He gets his fishing rod and he use it to get Leorio's briefcase.

"Wow!" Chika said in amazement.

"Cool! Let me try that later"

"If you let me try your skateboard, okay?"

Later, they've reached eighty kilometers and they saw stairs that leads the next phase. Others have dropped out. Satotz jumps a little higher and runs a little faster.

"Wait, are you serious?"

"That guy's insane. He's prancing up the stairs, as if they're not even there" Hanzo said.

"If he keeps up this pace, tons of people will fail" Gerreta said.

"Oh? Stairs? I think I'm going to run for now" Chika jumps and pushes a buton on his boots and the wheels are gone.

"Wow... Where did you bought that?" Gon asked.

"It's a gift from my aunt"

"Gon, Chika, wanna race to see who finishes first?" Killua asked.

"I'm in! Are there any rules?" Chika said.

"Nope"

"Sure. The loser has to buy dinner" Gon said,

"Ok!"

"You're on!"

"Ready... GO!" they said simultaneously and runs a bit faster.

"I think you two will buy me some dinner"

"Huh?" the two are confused.

"What do you mean?" Gon asked.

"You said no rules. So don't complain" Chika jumps far from them.

"EHHH?!" The two are shocked. Leorio runs with his necktie on without any shirt.

"Leorio, are you ok?" Kurapika asked.

"SURE! Just look at me. I realize that I can keep going if I don't worry how stupid I look! WOOO!!" Leorio runs more faster.

"I should probably follow his example" Kurapika removes his tabard and puts it inside his bag. Then he keeps up with Leorio.

"Leorio... I have a question"

"What? Is this too easy for you, Kurapika? Talking just wastes energy!"

"Are you really trying to become a hunter for money? You aren't, right? We've been only together for few days, but I know you're better than that" Leorio looks at his right.

"Sure, you have a nasty attitude, you aren't very bright" Leorio is angry like he's going to shout.

"But you're not a shallow person" after Kurapika said that Leorio calms down.

"I've seen many who live with money. You're nothing like them"

"Tsk. You and your logic..."

"Scarlet eyes. That's why the Kurta clan was targeted. We Kurta are known for our unique scarlet eyes. When our emotions are heightened, our eyes turns scaret, as though on fire. The eyes in that scarlet state are considered one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world. They command high pruces on the black market"

"That's why the Phantom Troupe attacked you?"

"They took every single eye from my brethren's corpses. I can still hear their darkened eyes crying out in anguish...I swear I'll capture the Phantom Troupe and reclaim the eyes of my clan"

"That's why you want to become a Hunter?"

"Yeah, if I become a hunter with rich clients, I'll gain access to black market information"

"But you'll have to swallow your pride and become the hunter you despire!"

"The blow to my pride is nothing, measured against the suffering my clan's endured" Gon and Killua are keeping up and they still have the same speed.

"Sorry, but I have no noble cause"

"Huh?"

"I'm just after money"

"Don't lie!"

"I'm not lying!"

"You really believe you can buy everything with money?"

"You bet! For the right price, you can only buy not only treasures, but fpdreams, hearts, AND EVEN PEOPLE'S LIVES!"

"TAKE THAT BACK, LEORIO! IF YOU'RE INSULTING THE KURTA AGAIN, I WON'T FORGIVE YOU"

"Why? I'm telling the truth. If I'd had money, MY FRIEND WOULD'N'T HAVE DIED!" then there's a silence in 5 seconds.

"An illness?"

"It was a treatable disease... The problem is the operation costs a fortune. I was naive! I thouht I could become a doctor... I wanted to cure kids who have the same disease and be able to tell them it was free of charge. Then, I could have told his parents, too. That was my dream..." Leorio has a tear on his eye.

"What a joke. Turns out that to become a doctor, you need even more money! Got it? The world runs on money. So I want money!"

"Hello. I heard your story. I was going to Satotz-san then I overheard you two" Chika shows up infront of them and she's jumping backwards.

"Hey! You're that brat!"

"Oh, hello again, old man" then Leorio has a cross-popping vein.

"What're talking about?" Kurapika asked Chika.

"See you at the goal, Kurapika" Gon shows up from behind.

"Catch you later, old timer" Killua said.

"FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I'M NOT OLD! I'M JUST A TEENAGER JUST LIKE YOU GUYS!"

"HUH?"

"EH?"

"NO WAY" they said with shock.

Later, many had dropped out......

"Can't take another step..."

"Th-this is it..." then Gon, Killua and Chika runs pass by.

"I'm impressed that you can keep up with me. Especailly you" Killua said looking to Chika.

"Really? Thanks" Chika smiles.

"Or maybe it's just that everyone else is too slow. Man... The Hunter Exam is gonna be a breeze. That's no fun"

"I know right" Chika said.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Hey, why did you want to become a Hunter?" Gon asked.

"Me? I'm not really interested in becoming a Hunter"

"Huh?"

"I heard the exam was supposed to be really hard, so I thouht it'd be fun. But this is disappointing"

"How about you, Chika?"

"Oh. To be honest, I'm already a hunter" then there's a silence.

"EEHHH???!!!"

"If you're a hunter, why will you join the exam?" Gon asked.

"And since when you become a hunter?" Killua added.

"I've become a hunter since 9 years old. Well, someone stole my Hunter's License. So to get a new one, I'll have to pass the exam"

"So that's why this is all a piece of cake to you" Killua murmurs.

"Gon, why do you wanna be a Hunter?" Chika asked.

"Well, my dad's a hunter. So I want to become a hunter, like my dad"

"Hmm... What kind of hunter is he?" Killua asked.

"I don't know"

"What?"

"Haha.. That's kinda weird"

"Really?"

"And also you. You're jumping backwards" Killua looks to Chika.

"Are you a rabbit?" Gon asked.

"Of course not. You're funny" Chika laughs.

"I see... So you can't see it"

"Anyway, why did you want to become your dad but you don't know anything about him?" Chika asked.

"I was raised by Mito-san, so I've only seen my dad in pictures" Gon said.

"Who's Mito-san?" Killua asked.

"Aunt Mito"

"Oh"

"When he was twelve, my dad took the Hunter Exam. He passed and became a hunter. Then he left the island. I want to find out why he chose to be a hunter over being with me" then later they saw the light.

"The exit!"

"Whew..."

"Finally, I can get out of this dark tunnel"

"There's the exit. See ya..." Chika said and jumps farther.

"HEY!" Gon and Killua run faster to catch up with Chika.

"Now, let's see how many made it this far" Satotz stops when he reaches the exit and then Chika shows up. Satotz is suprised.

"GOAL!" Chika said and Gon and Killua enters the exit at the same time.

"I win! Haha"

"It's no fair" Gon said.

"You said no rules, right?"

"Chika-san, long time no see..." Satotz said.

"Hi, Satotz-san"

"You two know each other?" Killua asked.

"Yeah. He's the Phase Two Examiner when I took the Hunter Exam"

"Why're you here, Chika-san?" Satotz asked.

"Someone stole my Hunter License. Hehe..."

"I see... Goodluck. The Phase One of the exam isn't finish yet. Lwt's wajt for the others"

"Ok!"

"Ehhh..."

"Now, later you two have to buy me some dinner"

"That's no fair... I know Killua will buy us some dinner" Gon said.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Since Chika is really faster then one loser should buy the 2 some dinner"

"I agree" Chika said.

"Hey! You said the two losers will buy the winner some dinner. That's not even fair!" later Leorio and Kurapika arrives.

"Hey, Kurapika" Gon called.

"Is this our destination?" Kurapika asked.

"No, it isn't"

"I see. The fog is fading"

"Really?" Gon smiles when the fog fades. They saw a forest and plants everywhere.

"The Numere Wetlands, also known as Swindlers Swamp. We must cross these wetlands to reach Phase Two of the exam. This place isnhome to many bizarre animals, many of them being cunning, insatiable creatures  who deceive humans and prey upon them" Satotz explained the place.

"Be very careful. If you let them fool you" he warned them and the way to the tunnel has closed.

"Wait for me! AHHH!!"

"These wetland creatures will use every trick on the book to fool their prey. An ecosystem in which creatures obtain food through deceit. Hence, the name Swindlers Swamp. Stay very close to me so you won't be deceived"

"What a joke. How can they fool us, when we're expecting it?" Leorio asked a little tired.

"DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU! " a man shouted and everybody looks to him.

"I just said that they can't"

"D-don't fall for it. He's lying to you!" he shows up and everyone is shocked.

"He's an imposter. He isn't an examiner. I'm the real examiner"

"An impostor? What's going on?"

"Then who is he?"

"Look at this..." he shows a monkey looks alike Satotz.

"He looks just like Satotz-san" Gon said.

"It's a Man-Faced Ape, one of the creatures dwells in the Numere Wetlands!" the man said.

"A man-faced ape?" Leorio asked.

"Man-Faed Apes love the taste of fresh human flesh. However, their limbs are long and thin, so they're quite weak. That's why they disguise themselves as humans where they team up with other animals to kill and devour them. He tends every single applicant!" the man points Satotz.

"Bastard...."

"He certainly doesn't walk like human..." Hanzo said.

"LIAR!!" Chika said pointing the man. Everybody looks at her.

"How can you tell.? Don't believe her she's just a kid!" the man said.

"I may be a kid. But I can tell that you're lying. You were smirking. Plus, Satotz-san is really slim"

"Huh?" then someone throws a card to the man and Satotz. The man is hit while Satotz catches the cards. The man falls down and the monkey goes away.

"I see, I see...." Hisoka said playing with his cards.

"That settles it... The girl's right. He's the real examiner" everyone is shocked and Satotz throws the cards.

"What? He's the real examiner?" Hanzo said to himself shocked.

"Examiners are hunters selected by the committee to perform their duty without pay. Any Hunter, bearing the title we seek, would've been able to block that attack" Hisoka explained.

"I see that he also use it..." Chika said to herself.

"I can take that as a compliment. However, should you attack me again, for any reason, I will report you turning on an examiner. And you will be immediately disqualified... Are we clear?"

"Sure" then the birds makes a sound and then they eat the dead man.

"Nature really  can be brutal to watch" Leorio said.

"He was the Man-Faced Ape, as well" Kurapika said.

"He was attempting to confuse the applicants, to lure some of them away" Satotz said.

"We can't relax our guard" Killua said.

"Yeah" Gon agrees.

"You'll be encountering such deception on a regular basis. I believe that a number of you were fooled suspecting into my real identity?" the others faked a laugh and scratching their heads.

"Do you understand? If you lose sight of me in the Numere Wetlands fog, you will never reach the exam's Second Phase. Do that better in mind. Then let us be in our way. Please follow me" Satotz said and they start to run.

"Tsk. Another marathon..." Leorio complains.

"And we're running through marsh this time. Running on wet ground requires more energy" Kurapika said.

The applicants have finally escaped the long and dark tunnel. Thus far, 36 candidates have withdrawn the exam leaving 369 remaining applicants. Their next challenge is the Numere Wetlands, also known as Swindlers Swamp. The brutal Hunter Exam begins.

Hey guys. I hope you enjoy the chapter. It may be boring but you should wait for the few chapters. Hehehe. Sorry 😣😣. I'l make my OC really in the anime. Hehe. Don't just read. Press the star and the speech bubble to comment. See ya~nya 😸😸😸