Approaching a door, it opens. We enter. An announcement sounds. But I ignore it. Looking around, not many applicants are here. Wow, how devastating was it? I can feel someone is looking at us, I turn and see Hisoka. He gives me a smile. I feel a shiver down my spine. Some time passes, and another door opens. An applicant walks out, but dies. Times up. Another announcement sounds.
"The 3rd phase of the hunter exam is over. 25 applicants have passed, including 1 deceased."
A door opens, I can see light peering through it. It's blinding. People start to exit Trick Tower. Outside, it's quite windy. A guy with a mohawk that's purple stands before us. He sounds like that announcer.
"Congratulations everyone for escaping Trick Tower. All that remains now are the 4th phase and the final phase. The 4th phase will take place right over there on Zevil Island. Now, let's proceed."
He snaps his fingers, a guy brings a huge box that is pushed on some sort of cart.
"To begin with, I will need each of you to draw lots now. This will decide who you hunt, and who hunts you. In this box, there are exactly 24 number cards. Which means, that one of the number cards will correspond with your badge. Now, each of you will draw a card in the order you exited the tower. Alright, which of you is first?"
Hisoka approaches. He takes a card. Dude with the sticks projecting from his face is next, he takes a card.
Gon: "Hey, Killua. He mentioned us hunting and being hunted, do you think that means we may fight each other?"
Killua: "Seems like it."
After everyone's drawn, mohawk talks.
"Has everyone drawn? Good, now if you would. Please go ahead and remove the sticker. The number you see is your target."
I check mine, I got number 80. Looking around, I spot a red head girl with sunglasses. Sunglasses in the middle of the day? She has the number 80. Mental note added.
"This box has recorded the number that each of you drew. Each card was tailed and then stored in memory. So if you like, you're free to dispose of the cards. It makes no difference in this point. The objective, is to steal your targets ID badge. The method of how you take them is up to you. Take the badge however you see fit. But if you kill your target, you can take their badge easily."
The shift is felt in the air, we have made up our minds.
"Listen carefully. Collecting the ID badge of your specified target will earn you 3 points. Your own badge is also worth 3 points. And all the other badges are worth 1 point. In order to move on to the final phase, you'll have to collect 6 points. So during your time there on Zevil Island, gather enough badges to earn 6 points or fail the exam. Only those who do, will clear the 4th phase of the hunter exam."
After saying his peace, a boat approaches us. Don't tell me…not again! Boarding the boat, a woman with red pants and pink shoes speaks as we travel.
"I will like to commend all of you on the exams 3rd phase. I'll be your guide. It's nice to meet you. You can call me Kara! It will take 2 hours for this boat to arrive on Zevil Island. All 24 applicants who made it this far, are granted an open invitation to participate again in next years exam no matter what. So even if you don't pass this time, we really hope you'll try again. Never say die, right? Everybody?"
Oh God, she's terrible. This is not how you lighten the mood. How did she even get this job? Looking around, everyone has taken off their badges.
"Alright everyone, for the next 2 hours you're all free to do whatever you like. Thank you, and I hope you all enjoy the rest of the voyage."
Good, she left. Gon stares at the birds, I keep knocking my head on the boat. Killua approaches. He sits down.
Killua: "Hey…so…who did you get?"
Gon: "What did you draw?"
Killua: "It's a secret. Don't worry about it, you're not my target."
Gon: "That's good, cause you're not mine neither."
Esther: "Same here."
Killua: "You wanna show our numbers at the same time?"
E and G: "Ok."
Ki, E, and G: "Ready and-!"
We show our cards. Gon has number 44, isn't that Hisoka? Killua has 199, who's that? And I have 80.
Esther: "Oh wow Gon, are you going to be alright? Hisoka is pretty dangerous, something about him is off."
Killua: "You have seriously bad luck."
Esther: "So who's number 199?"
Killua: "I'm not sure, I though you guys knew."
Gon: "Nope."
Killua: "Wait, Esther."
Esther: "Yeah?"
Killua: "You wrote everyone's numbers right? Can you check who's number 199?"
Esther: "Ah! I forgot! Sure."
I pull out my notebook, flipping and reading through pages, I spot them.
Esther: "Although I don't know their names, I did write their appearance. Ok. Number 199 has a stripped blue hat and a stripped yellow shirt. He also has a line underneath both of his eyes."
Killua: "That's not much to go on, but thanks anyways."
Esther: "No problem."
I can feel Gon shaking, we turn to look at him.
Killua: "Gon. Are you happy or scared right now, which is it?"
Gon: "…Kinda both, I guess. If I had to fight with Hisoka one-on-one, I wouldn't stand a chance against him. But, if all I have to do is just steal his badge, I think I might actually have a real shot. The way it is now, well, at least I got a chance. And to be honest, it does scare me a bit. But I think it's worth it."
Killua: "I got ya, well. Let's do our best. Don't die, k?"
Gon nods. Killua walks away. We're nearing the island.