The double doors at the end of the corridor slid open with a low hiss, revealing a vast underground chamber lit by cold fluorescent panels. The air was thick with the scent of concrete, sweat, and barely restrained tension.
Akira stepped through last, eyes sweeping the room in a single practiced pass.
Hundreds of applicants filled the space — some standing in loose groups, others pacing alone, a few sitting against the walls with closed eyes. The ceiling arched high overhead, pipes and ducts exposed like the ribs of some mechanical beast. Numbered tags hung around necks: 001 to over 400. Gon's was 405. Akira's 406.
No windows. No clocks. No visible exits except the doors they had entered through.
Satotz had already vanished — probably through a hidden passage. The test had begun the moment they stepped into the corridor. This room was Phase Zero: observation, endurance, patience.
Gon looked around, wide-eyed. "There are so many people…"
Akira placed a hand on his shoulder — light, steady. "Stay close. And keep your voice low."
Leorio let out a low whistle. "This place gives me the chills. Like a prison yard before lights out."
Akira's mind was already working.
He cataloged the room in layers:
Physical layout: 120 meters long, 40 meters wide, 15-meter ceiling. Four visible doors (three guarded, one concealed behind a ventilation grate). Emergency lighting strips along the floor — blackout contingency likely.
Crowd composition: 412 applicants remaining (estimated). 78% male, age range 18–45, outliers like Gon and himself. Aura signatures: 41 detectable, 9 strong, 2 extreme (Hisoka and Illumi still concealed but present).
Behavioral patterns: 62% nervous (pacing, fidgeting), 24% overconfident (loud talking, posturing), 14% calm (observing silently — the real threats).
His scanner pinged softly in his mind.
[Alert: Multiple high-threat signatures detected. Hisoka Moro – Location: Northwest corner. Illumi Zoldyck (disguised as Gittarackur) – Location: Southeast group.
Additional unknown strong auras: 3.]
Akira kept his expression neutral. He guided Gon toward an open space near the center wall — not too isolated, not too crowded.
Good visibility, multiple escape vectors.
Leorio followed, muttering. "I need to find a bathroom. This waiting is killing me."
"Hold it," Akira said quietly. "They might use facilities as elimination points."
Leorio stared. "You think of everything, huh?"
Akira shrugged. "Just being careful."
Gon sat cross-legged on the floor, fishing rod across his lap. "How long do you think we'll wait?"
"Hours," Akira replied. "Maybe all night. The first real test is patience."
He leaned against the wall, eyes half-closed, but every sense extended.
Minutes turned to hours.
The room slowly sorted itself. Weak applicants fidgeted, argued, formed temporary alliances that would shatter at the first pressure. Stronger ones stayed silent, watching.
Akira noted every detail:
Tonpa approached a cluster of nervous rookies, offering "helpful" water bottles laced with laxatives. Akira made a mental note — the Rookie Crusher would be useful later, either as bait or a distraction.
Pokkle practiced arrow draws in a corner, ignoring everyone.
Kurapika stood alone, hood up, arms folded — a statue of restrained fury.
And then there was Hisoka.
The clown lounged against the far wall, cards dancing between his fingers. Every so often his gaze drifted toward Gon… and Akira.
Akira met it once — brief, calm, unflinching.
Hisoka's smile widened. He formed a small heart with his fingers, then let it dissolve into glittering dust.
Akira looked away first — not out of fear, but to avoid giving the clown more entertainment.
Gon whispered, "He keeps looking at us."
"I know," Akira said. "Ignore him. He wants a reaction."
Leorio returned from a brief scout of the room. "There's a vending machine in the back. Free water. I grabbed some."
He handed bottles to Gon and Akira.
Akira accepted, but scanned it first.
[Scan: Purified water. No contaminants.]
Safe.
He drank slowly, conserving energy.
The lights dimmed slightly — not enough to cause panic, just enough to signal time passing.
Gon yawned. "This is boring."
Akira smiled faintly. "Boredom is the first enemy. Beat it, and you beat half the applicants."
Gon straightened. "You're right. I'll stay focused!"
Akira's scanner pinged again.
[Alert: Aura spike detected. Location: Center of room.]
A commotion started near the middle.
Tonpa had offered a "friendly" drink to a tall, muscular applicant. The man accepted — then suddenly clutched his stomach, doubling over.
Tonpa laughed. "Oops. Guess that batch was bad."
The muscular man roared, lunging at Tonpa.
Tonpa dodged with surprising agility.
The room tensed — fists clenched, auras flaring.
Akira watched impassively.
This was intentional chaos — a stress test.
He leaned toward Gon. "Don't move unless someone threatens us directly."
Gon nodded, gripping his rod tighter.
Leorio cracked his knuckles. "If this turns into a brawl, I'm not sitting it out."
Akira placed a hand on Leorio's arm — light but firm.
"Wait," he said. "Let it play out. We learn more by watching."
The muscular man swung wildly. Tonpa ducked, grinning.
Then — a flash of movement.
Hisoka appeared between them like a ghost.
He flicked a card — razor-sharp — slicing the muscular man's sleeve without breaking skin.
The man froze.
Hisoka's voice was soft, almost loving.
"Now, now… no fighting before the exam starts. It's bad manners."
The room went dead silent.
Hisoka turned, eyes finding Gon — then Akira.
He winked.
Then vanished back into the crowd as if he'd never moved.
Tonpa scurried away, laughing nervously.
The muscular man sat down, pale.
The tension eased — but the message was clear.
Hisoka was watching.
Akira exhaled slowly.
[Ren Mastery: 43% → 44%]
[Side Mission Progress: Conceal Aura in Public – 68%]
He looked at Gon.
"We're fine," he said. "Just stay sharp."
Gon nodded, determination in his eyes.
Hours more passed.
The lights brightened suddenly.
A voice echoed from hidden speakers.
"Applicants. Proceed to the examination hall. Phase One begins now."
Doors slid open along the far wall.
Satotz stepped through — calm, unruffled.
"Follow me."
The crowd surged forward.
Akira stood, helping Gon up.
Leorio cracked his neck. "Finally."
Akira's mind was already racing ahead.
The real test was beginning.
And he was ready.