The sprawling forest beyond Mount Split-In-Half rose like a living wall of green and shadow. As the examinees descended from the cliffside exit route, the world shifted from stone and wind to the thick breath of moss, tree bark, and humid undergrowth. Ethan stayed near the middle of the group—close enough to monitor the main cast, far enough to avoid being memorable.
His Panel rested under his sleeve, dormant except for a faint pulse of system activity. He had completed the cliff mission without altering canon. Now the Hunter Exam moved onward to its next stage—the test of gourmet skill under the watch of the Gourmet Hunters.
Ahead, two distinct figures waited in a clearing:
Buhara, enormous, cheerful, and actively consuming what looked like half an animal.
Menchi, sharp-eyed, intense, and radiating culinary judgment like an unsheathed blade.
Her teal hair blowed slightly in the wind as she crossed her arms, scanning the examinees with keen disdain. Ethan felt the weight of her presence—a specialist to the core.
Gon and Killua whispered excitedly.
Kurapika analyzed the area.
Leorio complained about hunger.
Everything was canon-aligned. Perfect.
Ethan kept his breathing steady.
He belonged here. But only as a shadow.
---
THE PANEL'S NEW MISSION
A subtle shimmer spread across Ethan's inner vision.
[PANEL MISSION — PHASE TWO (GOURMET TRIAL)]
Objective: Create a dish acceptable to Menchi
Canon Constraint: Do not interfere with Gon's lesson or the outcome of the exam
Suggested Path: Prepare an unobtrusive gourmet dish; pass without drawing notice
Optional Extractables Available in Area:
• Razorback Boar Sensory Node (Minor Tracking Boost)
• Honeydew Resin (Temporary focus boost)
• Cliffmaster Trait Upgrade (Available due to synergy with prior extraction)
Reward on Passing:
• ×10 PP Reward
• 1 Skill Extraction Ticket
• Cooking Skill Calibration (Minor)
Time Limit: None
Ethan lowered the Panel interface. His heart steadied.
He had a clear lane.
No major ripples.
Just precision.
---
MENCHI'S ANNOUNCEMENT
Menchi stepped forward, voice sharp.
"For Phase Two, you will demonstrate your knowledge of gourmet hunting and cooking. Your task: hunt, collect, and prepare a gourmet dish that meets my standards. Ordinary food will not pass."
Half the examinees deflated instantly.
The other half panicked.
Tonpa began pretending to give advice while quietly sabotaging rookies.
Gon's curiosity burned like a small sun.
Killua smirked.
Kurapika observed the terrain with patient logic.
Leorio muttered: "I only know how to boil water…"
Everything—the pace, the mood, the reactions—matched the events Ethan knew must occur.
He nodded to himself.
Time to work.
---
THE FOREST HUNT
The examinees surged forward into the trees, some with overconfidence, some with desperation. Ethan moved with controlled pace, letting the forest envelop him in its damp, earthy breath.
Within seconds, the Panel provided a scan.
---
[AREA SCAN — GOURMET ZONE]
Primary Ingredients Identified:
• Razorback Boars — Rich meat, high-tier gourmet potential
• Honeydew Resin Plants — Aromatic glaze component
• Shimmerleaf Herbs — Balanced bitterness, enhances flavor
• Snapclaw Hares — Quick but fragile, low-tier meat
Recommended Dish:
Honey-Glazed Boar Cutlets (Pass Probability: 87%)
---
Ethan sliced a path through foliage quietly. Razorback Boars were territorial, fast, and heavy, but not beyond his augmented strength.
The moment he stepped into a small clearing, a boar charged—muscle packed beneath bristled hide, tusks gleaming with natural oil.
Ethan angled his left foot, shifted weight, and redirected the charge by tapping the boar's flank with controlled force. The beast toppled onto its side, stunned but living.
Perfect.
He harvested only what he needed, whispering:
"No drastic injuries. No visible kills. No attention."
The forest answered with rustling leaves.
---
COOKING, QUIETLY
By a stream, Ethan built a compact fire. He trimmed the meat with disciplined movements—the result of his extracted cooking enhancements from earlier worlds.
Honeydew resin melted into a vivid amber glaze. The aroma drifted upward, sweet and warm, mixing with forest air.
He worked efficiently.
Quietly.
Unremarkably.
He tasted a small piece.
Good. Enough to pass. Not enough to impress. Exactly right.
Ethan packed the prepared dish and headed back to the clearing where judgment awaited.
---
THE EXAMINERS' TABLE
Dozens failed immediately.
"Too raw."
"Too bland."
"This isn't cooking—it's survival food!"
"This is burnt."
"This is an insult."
The pile of rejected dishes grew higher than some applicants.
When Ethan stepped forward, Menchi narrowed her eyes.
"…Applicant #410. Present your dish."
He set the honey-glazed meat before her without fanfare.
She pierced a slice with her fork, tasted it, chewed slowly.
"…Balanced. Respectable. You pass."
Buhara leaned in, "Menchi, let me try—"
"No. This one's mine."
Ethan resisted the urge to smile.
---
PANEL UPDATE
The mission window flashed softly.
---
[MISSION COMPLETE]
Reward:
• +120 PP
• 1 Skill Extraction Ticket
• Cooking (Basic Rank) → (Enhanced Rank)
Canon Status: Preserved
Deviation Level: 0%
Hidden Reward Unlocked:
Minor Trait: Forest Sense (+1 Perception, +1 Environmental Awareness)
---
Ethan stepped aside as Gon and the others presented their failures—exactly as canon intended.
Menchi's frustration grew.
Her critique sharpened.
The crowd's resentment swelled.
Then the moment came.
Gon, earnest and direct, stepped forward and gave the speech that shifted the arc:
"We all tried our best. Isn't that worth something?"
Netero's eyes glimmered.
Menchi froze, then listened.
Canon clicked back into place—unaltered.
Moments later, Netero announced the reset and the secondary trial.
Everything flowed in perfect harmony.
Ethan stood still, arms crossed, Panel humming beneath the skin of his wrist.
He had passed.
And the story had remained intact.