"Damn it, what a mess."
In a dense forest, a young man grumbled and cursed as he hacked through branches and vines blocking his path. Several hours had passed since the third test of the Hunter Exam began. Leorio had done nothing but walk, all while keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings. It was clear their countdowns wouldn't start tonight—he'd checked his watch countless times to no avail.
"So basically, they're making us play prey. Those dirty bastards."
After another curse, Leorio paused. He'd covered a good distance. Along the way, he'd spotted a group of prisoners but managed to slip by unnoticed. After ensuring he wasn't being followed or watched, he resumed walking.
During his hours of wandering, he'd noticed a cave not far off while climbing a hill. To him, staying out in the open, so defenseless, was reckless. Relying on his memory, he navigated trails and clambered over bushes. After nearly half an hour, he reached his destination: a small clearing with a dark cave entrance at its edge.
One last scan of his surroundings, and Leorio stepped inside. The darkness didn't faze him. He pulled a flashlight from his survival kit, part of the gear he'd brought. Alongside it, he drew a knife. He wasn't naive—someone or something could already be here, maybe a prisoner or a wild beast.
If it was a prisoner, Leorio would have no choice but to flee. If it was another candidate, the unspoken non-aggression rule might allow them to share the space, though he'd sleep with one eye open. And if it was a beast? No question. He was competing in the world's most dangerous exam—a mere animal wouldn't stop him from resting. One of them would have to yield, and it wouldn't be him.
With this resolve, Leorio ventured deeper, his flashlight sweeping every corner. "Hmm, seems empty." Reaching the back of the cave, he sighed in relief. He was alone.
"Perfect. I'll stay here tonight, hoping the countdown doesn't start before tomorrow." Finding a suitable spot, he switched off his flashlight and sat, leaning against the rocky wall. He checked his watch again. The countdown was still frozen.
"Come to think of it… what if my watch is the problem?" A thought struck him. He'd assumed everyone's countdown was stalled, but maybe his watch was faulty. "No, they guaranteed these things are tough…" He dismissed the idea, recalling how a commission member had reassured a candidate who questioned the watches' durability and waterproofing. Unless it took a severe hit, the watch's integrity was assured.
"But… what if I'm the exception?" No sooner had he brushed off the doubt than another crept in. "Ugh, now's not the time for this." Leorio covered his face with both hands. "I'll deal with it tomorrow if the countdown's still stuck."
Reaching this conclusion, he eased his mind and leaned back more comfortably. "Wonder what the others are up to. Hope the kids haven't been attacked by prisoners. Though, knowing them, I'm probably worrying too much. As for that smug Kurapika, I kinda hope he's in deep trouble right now. That know-it-all attitude of his drives me nuts… Still, it's unlikely that punk would get caught."
As he tried to rest, Leorio's thoughts drifted to the comrades he'd made during the exam. When Kurapika came to mind, a strange image flashed: a misty landscape, a rigid back, and a head of blond hair. Shrugging it off, he buried the thought deep. "Anyway, they'd better make it. Time to sleep."
He closed his eyes. Minutes after Leorio dozed off, a figure emerged from the cave's shadows, standing before the defenseless young man. Its eyes glinted with malice, thin lips curling into a perverse smile.
---
A gentle breeze stirred on a tropical island lost in the middle of nowhere. As its daytime wildlife and flora awoke, the tranquility was shattered by the sound of numerous footsteps. Through the dense forest, two men ran tirelessly, their heavy steps pounding the earth beneath bare feet.
The first man was tall and imposing, with a thick beard and eyes blazing with intensity. His ragged breaths mingled with the forest's silence. Beside him ran a pale-faced man with disheveled hair, struggling to keep pace. Both wore worn, dark orange jumpsuits, the rough fabric stained with mud and dust.
The first man glanced back. "We can't let him escape! He's easy prey!"
"Easy?" the second man panted. "This kid's had us running for over an hour, and you call him easy prey?"
"I'll give him credit for stamina, but trust me, we'll get him!" the first man shot back with determination.
After two minutes that felt like hours, the second man slowed and stopped. "I'm done. Sorry, but I'm out. There are plenty of other candidates—chasing this one's a waste of time."
The first man paused, their eyes meeting briefly before he looked away. "Fine, suit yourself. No way I'm losing to a kid!" He resumed the chase, leaving his partner behind. The second man shook his head, turned, and took another path.
Meanwhile, the target of their pursuit—now down to one pursuer—was a silver-haired boy in casual clothes, hopping nonchalantly from branch to branch, hands in pockets, whistling. It was Killua.
While strolling along, he'd encountered the two prisoners. As mentioned, they'd been locked in this chase for a good hour. For Killua, it was more a leisurely hike than a real race.
"Huh, only one prisoner left? Did the other give up?" Glancing back, he noticed just one pursuer remained. While most would feel relieved, Killua was disappointed. He'd expected more from these criminals.
"This test was kinda exciting at first, but I'm getting bored. And the worst part? All I can do is run. Playing prey is so lame."
Grumbling, Killua kept hopping between trees, letting out occasional sighs. After another ten minutes, he stopped abruptly. It startled his pursuer, who grinned a moment later. With his prey halted, catching up was easy.
He looked up at Killua, perched motionless on a branch. "What's that, kid? Already tired?" he taunted, his heavy breaths audible.
Ignoring him, Killua dropped from the branch like a stone, landing softly on the ground. Hands still in pockets, he gave the man a blank stare. Taking Killua's demeanor as surrender, the man's grin widened as he approached.
"Gotta say, you've got crazy stamina for a kid your age. No wonder you're in this exam. But you're still just a kid, and you've hit your limit. Let me scan your badge quietly, and maybe I'll let you live."
As he spoke, a smirk crept onto Killua's lips, catching the criminal's eye. "Find something funny, kid?" The man's brows furrowed, irked by the boy's casual attitude. He decided to teach the kid a lesson about life's harsh realities.
"Dunno if I should say your buddy was lucky or you're the unlucky one," Killua said, his smirk unchanged.
"What're you babbling about?" the man asked, confused.
"Just when I was getting bored. Pretty perfect timing, don't you think?" Killua continued, ignoring the question.
Annoyed, the man reached Killua, grabbed him by the collar, and hoisted him up. "You know what? I think I'll enjoy ripping your limbs off. Let's see if you're still smirking then."
"I doubt it," Killua replied calmly, unfazed by being lifted.
"Huh?" The man was baffled by the boy's confidence.
"Wanna know why?"
To back his words, Killua pulled his left hand from his pocket and raised it to the man's face, showing his watch's screen. A countdown was ticking.
Killua's grin widened. "Because now you're the prey."
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