"This is a team, right? Is this okay?"
"Those two are clearly working together. Damn it, if we run into them, there's no way to escape!"
"The sooner I get to the island, the better my chances. I hope my number plate isn't their target!"
Some candidates were relieved that Ethan had left, while others were uneasy about Ethan and Lisa teaming up. Of course, there were also a few who complained to the Hunter Association staff.
Well... that guy was obviously Leorio.
However, the complaint was unlikely to succeed, because teaming up is also a skill, otherwise, Leorio wouldn't be the only one complaining.
...
Time passed, and before long, all the candidates successfully landed on the island, marking the official start of the fourth exam.
His body turned into a black shadow as he quickly navigated through the lush woods. Tangled roots and various snakes, insects, rats, and ants were everywhere.
Suddenly, a hand flashed by like a real blade, slicing through a colorful snake that lunged from the tree crown.
"The number plate I need belongs to the man named Bodero. While we were on the boat, I applied a secret tracking drug on him. It won't take long to find him!"
The sun shone through gaps in the tree canopy, casting beams of light. When it illuminated the face of the figure who had just killed the venomous snake, it was Killua.
Since he was one of the last to land on the island, Killua couldn't track his target by arriving early.
However, as a professional assassin, tracking is a basic skill, so Killua came prepared.
Using a secret family drug, Killua had discreetly marked his target, Bodero, during the boat ride, enabling him to track him easily.
Yes, Killua's target had changed from the original plot. It was no longer Imori among the three Mori brothers, but now Bodero, whom Killua killed at the end of the original plot.
The old man and young assassin seemed to have an unspeakable fate.
After a brief pause, Killua was ready to continue tracking, but as soon as he moved, he suddenly changed direction, leaping to the side with great agility.
Whoosh!
A leaf shot past Killua's original position like a bullet, continuing into the distance and embedding deeply into the trunk of a thick tree.
"Who! Come out!"
After landing and turning around, Killua's eyes focused sharply in one direction. At the same time, his hands transformed, veins popping out, and his nails turned into sharp claws resembling those of a feline.
This is one of the assassination techniques inherited from the Zoldyck family. With a type of physical control skill, one can change the structure of their hands to easily grasp an enemy's heart, even to the terrifying extent of not bleeding.
In the direction Killua was watching closely, two figures slowly emerged from the dense forest, causing Killua's heart to tighten as he recognized them, immediately feeling strong vigilance.
"Your number plate is my target. If you hand it over, you can avoid injury. With your strength, you can definitely find other number plates to replace it!"
The two figures were a man and a woman, none other than Ethan and Lisa.
Ethan looked at the wary Killua, his gaze lingering on Killua's hands for a moment before speaking calmly.
Arriving on the island first does have its advantages.
For example, knowing that Killua was his target, Ethan had appeared to leave with Lisa but had actually been hiding in the shadows.
Using the aura of 'Zetsu' to conceal themselves, even Killua, trained as an assassin since childhood, hadn't realized he was being followed until Ethan revealed himself.
"If you want my number plate, you'll have to earn it!"
Although Killua was extremely wary of Ethan, he wasn't about to back down without a fight. After hearing Ethan's words, he took the initiative.
"Rhythm Echo!!"
Using an assassination technique inherited from his family, Killua suddenly burst forth with astonishing speed, silent as he moved.
Uh-huh!
With a flash of speed, Killua appeared beside Ethan, stabbing out with his left hand like lightning, either aiming to take Ethan's number plate or dig out his heart.
Killua felt unconvinced about Ethan. This encounter wasn't only a contest for the number plate but also a personal challenge he eagerly anticipated.
Ethan sidestepped with a fluid motion. Killua's attack was fast and sharp, but Ethan's reaction speed was even faster.
In a split second, Ethan avoided Killua's stabbing hand and simultaneously struck out at Killua's neck with lightning speed.
Killua's pupils contracted as he stopped and leaned back, narrowly dodging Ethan's grasping palm. He then flipped backward, bracing his hands on the ground, and kicked at Ethan's abdomen with both feet.
Being small has its advantages; it makes one more agile.
Particularly, Killua's physique is very powerful, making him even more flexible than others with a similar build.
But fighting relies not only on physical fitness and agility but also on reaction speed, body coordination, and skill.
Watching Killua dodge and counterattack, Ethan's eyes remained calm and steady. With a single step, he avoided Killua's feet and then punched downward.
Boom! ! !
The ground shook violently, and Ethan's fierce punch left a pit several meters wide.
However, Killua didn't appear in the pit. Instead, when Ethan punched down, Killua exhibited incredible flexibility and spun to the side.
"The little guy is quite capable. Truly a descendant of the Zoldyck family!"
While Ethan and Killua fought, Lisa didn't join in. Instead, she watched from the side with her arms folded, observing with interest.
Seeing Killua dodge Ethan's attack, Lisa whistled, looking at Killua, who had started dodging nearby, with an expression of interest.