Taking Flight

The path to the mountaintop was longer than they had expected.

Narrow and winding through the dim woods, it seemed to have no end.

"That was close... We almost fell for it."

Leorio was still shaken, constantly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"That question was just a trap waiting for us to jump in."

"It's a classic logical trap."

Kurapika walked ahead, his voice calm.

"It provides no additional information. Its purpose is to pressure you into making an emotional choice."

"Once you answer, no matter whom you choose, you expose your most emotional side to the examiner-and with it, your weakness."

"A Hunter must never reveal his weaknesses lightly."

Leorio listened in bewilderment, then finally nodded in admiration.

"So that's how it works... You've really got a good head on your shoulders."

Gon followed behind. He didn't quite understand all the twists and turns, but he thought it sounded impressive.

Only Luo Ye strolled along with his hands behind his head, as leisurely as if he were out on a picnic.

Tch.

The appetizer's over. Time for the main course, right?

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than a dilapidated wooden cabin appeared ahead.

A man lay sprawled in the doorway, covered in blood, reaching toward them with a pained expression.

A woman's scream came from inside.

"Help... Help me!"

The man struggled to force out a few words.

"There's a monster! My wife... The monster took her!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure shot out through the cabin's window.

The creature looked strange, like a giant fox, but with a mask on its face that closely resembled a human face.

It carried an unconscious woman in its mouth and vanished deep into the woods in just a few bounds.

"Damn it!"

Leorio was the first to react, rushing forward.

"How are you feeling? Where are you hurt?"

He crouched down, took medical tools from his diamond-shaped bag, and began examining the man's injuries.

"Quick! Go save my wife!"

The man grabbed Leorio's arm and used the last of his strength to point in the direction the monster had disappeared.

"I'll take care of him!"

Leorio shouted without looking up.

"You guys go save her!"

"Right!"

Gon answered and shot after it like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Kurapika followed close behind.

Luo Ye stood where he was, watching the chaotic scene, and nearly laughed aloud.

Tch, this acting is awful.

The classic opening to a B-grade horror movie: an injured husband, an abducted wife, and a monster that crawled out of who knows where.

This is definitely part of the exam. No question.

He glanced at Leorio, who had already switched into "doctor mode," then toward where Gon and Kurapika had disappeared.

Oh well. Watching the show is more fun anyway.

"Hey, wait for me!"

Luo Ye called out and followed at an unhurried pace.

In the woods, Gon's speed was astonishing.

He darted through the tangled forest like an agile cheetah, constantly sniffing the air.

"This way!"

He always managed to pick out the scent the monster had left behind.

Kurapika followed him with a serious expression, his golden hair streaming in the wind.

As he ran, he studied the tracks on the ground.

"Something's wrong."

Kurapika suddenly spoke.

"This monster's footprints are strange. It seems to be... deliberately leading us somewhere."

"And it's carrying someone, but it hasn't slowed down at all."

Bringing up the rear, Luo Ye lazily added a comment.

"Maybe the woman doesn't actually weigh much?"

Kurapika whipped his head around to look at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Following Luo Ye's line of reasoning, a theory gradually took shape.

"So that's it..."

Just then, Gon stopped up ahead.

They had reached the edge of a cliff.

The monster stood on the opposite side and set the woman down on the ground.

It turned its head, its eerie human face revealing no expression.

"You finally made it."

A voice rang out.

It came not from the monster's mouth, but from every direction.

Then another identical monster emerged from the nearby woods, accompanied by the husband who was supposed to be gravely injured.

The "husband" didn't have a scratch on him and was smiling at them.

The "wife" on the ground also stood up and brushed the dirt off herself.

Leorio caught up from behind, panting. At the sight before him, he was completely dumbfounded.

"Wh... What's going on?"

The monster that had spoken first began to change, slowly transforming into a man who resembled the "couple."

"We're examiners, as well as navigators-the Kiriko."

The man in charge began to explain.

"Congratulations. You've all passed."

"Gon, your instincts and tracking abilities surpass those of wild beasts."

He turned to Kurapika.

"And you maintained a cool, analytical mind during the chase and saw through our disguise."

Then he looked at Leorio.

"You chose to stay behind and help the injured. That kindness, along with your judgment as a doctor, is just as essential to a Hunter. You realized the blood on him was fake, yet you didn't immediately attack. That composure deserves praise as well."

Finally, his gaze settled on Luo Ye, his expression a little odd.

"As for you..."

"You knew this was a test from the start, didn't you?"

"You did nothing, as though you were merely a spectator."

Luo Ye shrugged, looking utterly unconcerned.

"What can I say? Your acting was so bad, I just couldn't get into it."

"I was just tagging along for the entertainment."

The Kiriko family exchanged looks and laughed.

"What an interesting candidate."

The Kiriko in charge waved a hand.

"Climb aboard. We'll take you to the real exam site."

Their bodies transformed again, becoming enormous flying foxes large enough to carry people.

The four climbed onto them.

The flying foxes beat their wings and soared high, carrying them up into the clouds.

The wind roared past their ears, and the forest raced backward beneath them.

Soon, a brightly lit city appeared on the horizon.

"That's Saba City, the site of the first phase."

"Good luck, candidates."

Luo Ye looked down at the sea of lights below and grinned.

The real show is finally about to begin.