In the Republic of Batokia, within the dense forests of the Dentora region, lies an extinct volcano called Kukuroo Mountain. Known for its scenic beauty, this place is famous not just for its geography, but because it is home to the legendary assassin family—the Zoldycks.

At the base of Kukuroo Mountain is an enormous gate known as the Door of Trials.

This towering gate is composed of seven smaller doors, stacked from smallest to largest. Each door bears a numerical symbol, representing the weight one must push to open it. The first door, for example, weighs a combined 4 tons (2 tons per side). Each door's weight doubles, making the seventh door a daunting 256 tons.

No keys are required. Anyone strong enough to push open the doors may pass.

Behind the Door of Trials lies the stronghold of the Zoldycks.

At precisely 8:00 p.m. on September 1, 1980, four black cars arrived at Kukuroo Mountain. In the back seat of the third car, a teenager of about fifteen or sixteen stared through the window at the imposing gate.

The boy wore a dark blue T-shirt, his sky-blue eyes visible beneath messy black bangs. His gaze held both surprise and a touch of resignation.

It wasn't a dream. He was truly in the world of Hunter x Hunter.

Lin Nuo had sighed countless times since waking up an hour ago, disoriented and unsure of his surroundings. But after seeing his younger self in the rearview mirror and catching sight of the familiar gate, he finally accepted it. He was no longer Lin Nuo but a boy named Noah, a fifteen-year-old from Meteor City, now about to undergo the Zoldyck family's butler trainee evaluation.

Butler trainee? Noah wondered if he had somehow missed mention of this in the original story, as he couldn't recall any character like himself. Maybe, he thought, he was destined to fail and had faded into obscurity.

The cars stopped, and Noah got out with the other candidates, staring at the 256-ton gate. He felt an overwhelming weight—not just from the gate itself but from the task before him.

He was one of eight, all from Meteor City, gathered to take the Zoldyck family's butler exam. As soon as they disembarked, the drivers of the four cars turned back, leaving them at the gate.

"Those of you here for the butler evaluation, step forward."

An elderly man emerged from the nearby guard station. Dressed in a guard's uniform, he had a Mediterranean hairstyle and a distinctive mole beside his nose. He beckoned them forward with a smile.

Noah recognized the man—he was one of the guards from the series who had once helped the protagonist enter through the gate. His name was Zebro, if Noah recalled correctly.

Following the other candidates, Noah approached the guard station.

Zebro looked them over and smiled. "Welcome. Now, please approach the front gate." He raised two fingers. "Your first test is to push open the second door."

The second door? Noah's gaze darted to the Door of Trials.

Was this a joke? That door weighed eight tons!

Before Noah could process it, one of the candidates strode confidently to the gate. With both hands pressed against the doors, the candidate let out a determined shout, veins bulging as he exerted all his strength.

With a deep rumble, the massive door marked with "Ⅱ" slowly parted, inching open as the candidate pushed through and vanished inside.

Noah's heart pounded. The strength required to push an eight-ton door was extraordinary. The other candidates, unfazed, took turns stepping up to the gate, each one managing to push open the heavy doors.

The final candidate's departure left Noah alone with Zebro.

"Alright, your turn, young man," Zebro said with a nod.

Noah took a steadying breath, stepping up to the door and placing his hands against its warm surface, heated by the touch of the previous candidates.

With a determined push, he felt his entire body engage, channeling his strength into the task. To his surprise, the door began to yield, opening with unexpected ease.

Noah stared at his hands, astonished. Did I really just push open an eight-ton door?

As he moved through the gate, Zebro's voice followed him. "Good luck, kid."

Noah gave him a small, determined smile before stepping into the darkness beyond, anticipation stirring within him.

Watching the door close, Zebro chuckled to himself and returned to the guard station.

Follow My Patreon For More Chapters (5) Ahead Of The Platform: https://www.patreon.com/Demonice_Gu?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator