Level up in HxH - Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Killua and Illumi
On the ground of Trick Tower, at the seventy-second hour, the small loudspeaker hanging in the venue on the first floor said: “Time’s up——”
“Twenty-two people passed the third experiment.”
Rocky looked around and saw that no one including Gon and his party had been eliminated.
Everyone walked out of the Trick Tower. Standing at the door was a short examiner wearing round glasses and a mohawk: “Congratulations to everyone for safely stepping out of Trick Tower! You only have the fourth and final strength test left.”
“There are two levels left.” Everyone’s faces showed excitement.
“The location of the fourth test is scheduled to be Zevil Island.”
“Without further ado, all candidates are invited to start drawing lots to decide the hunter and the prey.” The examiner snapped his fingers, and a square box with an opening in the middle was brought in front of everyone.
“There are twenty-two chapter number plates in this lottery tube. The numbers you will draw later will be the number plates of everyone who passes. Please draw one each.”
Rocky looked at the number on his hand: “No. 111.”
“Next, please draw lots in order.” The examiner said to everyone.
Once again, everyone came to the lottery tube to draw lots.
Examiner patted the lottery tube: “The numbers you just drew have been memorized in this machine, so you can destroy the cards in your hands now.”
“Now, the candidate number shown on the card represents your prey.” Examiner pointed to everyone.
Upon hearing the word prey, many candidates realized something and took off the number tags they originally carried.
“No. 246, Ponzu.” Rocky tore up the card in his hand and looked at the girl not far away who was about to hide the number plate.
“The thing you want to plunder is the number plate on the prey. You can get three points for taking the number plate from the prey. You can get three point of the number plate on your own body at the end. In addition, you can get one for any number plate.”
“And final promotion requires a minimum score of six points.”
“You must get a number plate with a score of six or more before the end of the exam.” The examiner advised.
…
On the boat leading to Zevil Island, Rocky stood alone at the stern of the boat.
His right hand is resting on the edge of the boat, as if he is admiring the scenery of the sea.
“Everyone, we have reached our destination.”
“Are we here? Then I’m going to get off the boat.” Rocky’s eyes recovered, he walked towards the bow of the ship. Where Rocky had just put his hand, there were traces of charred wood, and traces of smoke could still be seen…
“Please disembark in the order of passing the third test. Two minutes after the first person disembarks, the next person will disembark next.”
“Everyone will stay here for one week.” The blond examiner explained to everyone while walking up the connecting ladder leading to the island.
“Please collect the six-point number plates during this period and then return here.”
“Candidate No. 44 began to disembark.” Hisoka was the first to disembark and walked into the forest of the island.
“No. 111.” When Rocky heard the number, he didn’t start immediately. Instead, he took in everyone’s expressions through his eyes.
“No. 53, Pokkle.” Among the crowd, only Pokkle’s face showed obvious fluctuations after hearing this number.
“The further you go out, the more likely you are to know who your prey is. The earlier you go out, the better you can occupy the terrain. Each has its own advantages.” No longer thinking about it, Rocky walked off the boat.
…
“It always feels so weird…” Rocky was currently monitoring Ponzu from behind a tree not far away while using ‘Zetsu’, but he felt very awkward in his heart.
Rocky has been following Ponzu since she got off the boat, hoping to secretly take away her number plate when she goes to bed at night.
…
Elsewhere on the island, Killua began to look for his prey. Because Gon and his group were the last to pass through Trick Tower, all four of them knew who their prey was.
On the tree, Killua held on to the branches and looked at Candidate No. 301 in the distance: “I have been following him for so long and not even a single flaw has been exposed. This hunter exam is still interesting.”
Not far away, Gon saw Killua standing on a tree: “Did Killua find the prey so quickly? I have to work hard too.”
“It’s time to come out after following me for so long.” Candidate No. 301 turned around and looked.
Killua met his eyes directly.
“Perception is not bad, No. 301.” Killua jumped down and walked towards candidate No. 301 with a relaxed expression.
“Rhythm Echo.” Killua’s body appeared as phantoms that looked like entities. “Let me try your strength.”
Killua surrounded examinee No. 301 and was about to take action.
Shadows also appeared on Candidate No. 301’s body, grabbing Killua’s hand respectively.
“This skill and movement… brother?” Killua looked at No. 301 who caught him in shock.
“Ah – I feel much more comfortable.” Candidate No. 301, also known as Illumi, took off the needles on his face. His original weird face became more handsome, and his mohawk turned into smooth waist-length hair.
“Why are you here?” Killua broke away from Illumi’s hand and stepped back.
“For the next assassination mission, it will be much more convenient to have a hunter’s license.” Illumi replied.
“Why did you come to take the hunter exam?” Illumi asked.
“I want to be a hunter…” Killua hesitated.
“You can’t be a hunter. Killer is your profession.” Suddenly, Illumi stared at Killua’s face, without any emotion in his eyes.
“You are a dark puppet without emotions, a killing machine with no desires or desires. Death stained with blood is your only happiness.”
“No… I have something I want. I want to be friends with Gon.” Killua lowered his head and did not dare to look directly at Illumi.
“You must not make friends. You have no emotions. What you want is to kill. If you stay by his side, you will kill him sooner or later.” Illumi held Killua’s face.
“I know…” Before Illumi finished speaking, a line tied with a fishhook hit Illumi hard on the head.
“Killua, what nonsense are you listening to? We have been friends for a long time, haven’t we?” Gon walked out of the grass and shouted to Killua.
“Scared? Is that so? Killua.” Illumi, who was hit by Gon, ignored Gon and stared at Killua.
“I…” Killua bit his lip, not knowing what to say.
“Killua!” Gon grabbed Killua’s shoulders: “Is it just that I thought we were friends?”
“No, it’s not. Being friends with you is the best thing that has happened to me since I left the clan.” Killua also looked directly at Gon.
“Did you hear that?” Gon asked Illumi.
“That’s it, then I’ll kill Gon, because killers have no friends.” Illumi took out a long round-headed needle from his body and held it in his hand.
This sentence made Killua’s face turn pale instantly: “No, absolutely not.”
Gon grabbed Killua’s hand and backed away from Illumi.
“You can’t disobey me.” Illumi threw the long needle at Gon.
“So fast.” Gon watched as the long-headed needle came to his chest in an instant, and he had no time to dodge.
At the critical moment, the long-headed needle suddenly flew towards the woods.
“I can’t pretend not to see this~” Hisoka walked out of the woods, holding Illumi’s long needle in his left hand.