On the yacht, Leorio leaned closer to Kurapika, his expression tense as he whispered.
"The exam has already begun…"
"Indeed! Looking around, almost everyone has hidden their number tags, which can somewhat reduce the risk of being hunted." Kurapika spoke calmly, his eyes scanning the surroundings. After a moment, he hesitated slightly and added.
"Though some people don't need to bother with such tricks…"
Following Kurapika gaze, Leorio saw Akira sitting by the edge of the boat. He didn't hide his number tag. Instead, he displayed it openly and without hesitation for everyone to see.
But this didn't make his hunter particularly happy…
Tonpa sat cross-legged in a corner of the yacht, his pupils seemingly about to pop out of their sockets as he stared intently at the number tag in his hand.
The number on it was exactly the same as Akira! This meant that Tonpa target was Akira.
As a result, Tonpa face was dark and gloomy, looking as miserable as a bitter gourd.
However, it didn't take long for him to relax. After all, he had already planned to withdraw from this exam. Whether his target was Akira or not didn't matter to him.
Meanwhile, Akira was gazing with interest at a small island in the distance, one adjacent to Zevil Island.
"Yeah, if it's Akira, he definitely wouldn't be afraid of this kind of exam." Leorio swallowed nervously, his tone tinged with envy.
Some time later, the yacht slowly docked as the tension among the examinees grew.
The Trick Tower provided a 72-hour window for completion, meaning those who arrived earlier could enjoy more rest time before the next exam.
For those who barely made it to the bottom within the 72-hour limit, their rest time was limited to just the short period on the yacht!
The order of boarding the island was determined by a draw, with a two-minute interval between each candidate.
Thus, Akira once again took the lead, stepping onto the island, and under the terrified gazes of the other candidates...
Akira simply stood there, arms crossed, calmly observing everyone with a composed expression. He chose not to venture deeper into the island.
In an instant, many candidates realized Akira intention—he planned to seize their tokens right then and there!
The expressions of the candidates changed abruptly, like dark clouds before a storm, their faces instantly falling, filled with gloom!
For a moment, everyone began to "politely" defer to one another, reluctant to board the island, fearing that Akira target might be them.
Kurapika and the others were worried because Akira had previously revealed his Tyranitar in front of them.
The other candidates were more afraid due to the Arcanine he had shown earlier, his first-place finish in the Trick Tower and the mysterious connection he seemed to have with the examiners.
Though unwilling, the rules were the rules. Once the time came, the candidates had to board the island, or else they would be considered as forfeiting.
One by one, the candidates stepped onto the island with uneasy hearts. Seeing that Akira paid them no attention, they quickly sped off toward the interior of the island.
Until—Bodoro boarded the island!
Seeing his target finally appear, Akira walked straight toward him.
"Will you hand it over, or shall I take it?"
Bodoro froze for a moment, then attempted to assume a fighting stance.
After all, he had fought through countless challenges to get here. His spirit as a martial artist wouldn't allow him to back down without a fight.
But before he could even execute a move from his style, his body went limp, collapsing to the ground.
"Never mind, I'll just take it myself." Akira casually reached into Bodoro pocket, pulled out the number tag, and placed it in his own pocket. Number 191.
Bodoro had barely set foot on the island before falling unconscious.
At least this time, he wouldn't have to face the fate of being killed by Killua as in the original story.
With his task completed, Akira could finally focus on what he truly wanted to do.
With a swift movement, Akira vanished from the spot, leaving only a faint breeze in his wake. This sudden disappearance startled the remaining candidates who hadn't yet boarded the island, making them think they had seen a ghost.
When Akira reappeared, he was already on the small island next to Zevil Island. It was a seemingly ordinary island, with almost no signs of life—except for one old man waiting for Akira!
"Finally here, are you?"
"Hohohoho, let's begin!"
The one who spoke was none other than Chairman Netero!
Seeing the long-awaited Akira appear before him, Netero smiled, a glint of excitement in his eyes as he stroked his beard.
It turned out that Akira had already arranged with Chairman Netero to have a match during this exam!
As for the question of what would happen to the fourth exam if Akira came to fight, Chairman Netero didn't even bother to ask. Both of them were well aware that the Hunter Exam was merely a formality for Akira.
Passing it would be a piece of cake!
Even Chairman Netero had mentioned handing the Hunter License directly to Akira.
However, considering that the Pokémon in his mind hadn't fully matured yet, Akira decided not to save time and chose to continue participating in the Hunter Exam.
Seeing that Chairman Netero was wearing just an ordinary sports T-shirt, not the legendary "Heart" T-shirt, Akira felt much more at ease.
It made sense—in the original story, the Chairman had spent several days adjusting his state. Even if Chairman Netero wanted to face him in his best condition, time wouldn't allow it.
Who knew how much experience an S- rank powerhouse could bring?!
A smile hung on Akira face, and his eyes, like the Chairman, were filled with fighting spirit!
With a wave of his hands, a bright white light flashed in front of Akira.
At the same time, countless grains of sand began to materialize out of thin air, both on the ground and in the air. The sand piled up more and more, forming continuous dunes, turning the surroundings into a barren wasteland.
In just a few breaths, the forest environment was transformed into a desert!
This was the power of "Sandstorm"!
As the white light faded, Akira strongest trump card made its appearance!
Tyranitar!
"ROAAAAR!!!"
The dark green steel beast roared ferociously in front of Chairman Netero, its voice carrying an intent to destroy everything!
An immense, earthy yellow aura surrounded Tyranitar, bursting outward along with its roar. The powerful momentum created a wind pressure, stirring up strong gusts that sent countless grains of sand flying, generating sandstorms of varying sizes!
Against this apocalyptic backdrop, Tyranitar crimson eyes flickered ominously through the sandstorms, sending chills down the spine. With every breath, it exhaled thick columns of white smoke, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
The S- rank aura was unleashed without restraint!
Instantly, Chairman Netero pupils contracted sharply, his expression changing drastically. He had been standing in a relaxed posture, but upon sensing Tyranitar aura, he quickly shifted into a battle-ready stance.
Every muscle in his body tensed up, preparing for the potential attacks to come. The playful demeanor that usually adorned Chairman Netero face was gone, replaced by a serious expression and an endless fighting spirit!
'Such a terrifying aura!!!'
'Has he really reached this level of strength?!'
'And he's still so young!'
Chairman Netero was shocked.
It had been a long time since he had felt such an intense presence!
If before he had only jokingly said that Akira was stronger than him, now he genuinely believed that Akira might indeed surpass him!
The soul-devouring beast before him was a clear testament to that. Even against just this one aura beast, Chairman Netero wasn't confident he could win!
Meanwhile, Akira was also contemplating whether to release Gardevoir. He didn't plan for her to participate much in the battle, as an A-rank trying to intervene in an S-rank fight would be too difficult.
Her healing and other support abilities would still be useful, but that wasn't Akira main goal right now.
If necessary, to gain the Chairman experience, Akira would have Gardevoir use Teleport on Tyranitar. With its already terrifying combat power, Tyranitar is now paired with the elusive ability to teleport!
This will undoubtedly become a nightmare for countless people!
And if Akira really wants to push it, he could even release Gengar without needing it to deal much damage.
All Gengar would have to do is relentlessly unleash negative status moves like Will-O-Wisp, Curse, and Hypnosis on the Chairman. This would surely annoy the Chairman to no end.
At this moment, Netero has no idea that Akira has concocted numerous "ruthless" schemes in his mind just to gain his experience points.
The unsuspecting old man is still preparing himself, planning to let the younger generation make the first move.
Just as Tyranitar was wildly unleashing its S-level aura, countless examinees on the nearby "Zevil Island" also sensed something unusual.
Hisoka casually flicked a playing card, taking out an oblivious examinee, when suddenly a familiar yet terrifying aura enveloped him.
Narrowing his elongated eyes, Hisoka carefully sensed this aura, then turned his gaze toward the direction of the island where the fight happen.
"Is it over there...? Then who is he fighting against?"
Feeling this aura, Hisoka seemed to be transported back to the first day of the exam, when he had been paralyzed by Tyranitar overwhelming presence.
Licking the corner of his mouth, his face adorned with makeup, Hisoka revealed a twisted smile. He was fantasizing about the day he could face Akira in direct combat!
Even someone like Hisoka felt a trace of fear (though his sick excitement was far more pronounced).
Needless to say, the other examinees, mostly ordinary people, were even more affected.
The moment the aura was sensed, a certain bald ninja expression drastically changed. No longer thinking about finding his target, he quickly leaped onto a nearby tree. He concealed his entire body within the dense canopy, the safest method he could think of at the moment.
"This aura! What kind of existence could produce such terrifying killing intent!!" Hanzo had a relatively proud personality.
In his view, even if he wasn't the strongest among the examinees, he was definitely in the top three. This confidence stemmed from his rigorous ninja training since childhood! Yet, he had never felt such a horrifying aura before!
This killing intent was mixed with an unmistakable sense of brutality, making one feel as if they had fallen into an icy abyss. Just sensing a fraction of this killing intent was enough to nearly freeze one's blood, making it hard to move!
Wait!
Perhaps this wasn't the first time he had felt it!
Hanzo suddenly recalled the earthquake at the Trick Tower, along with the inexplicable beastly roar and the sense of dread he had felt then! Maybe this aura was from the same source as that one!
Within the canopy, his shiny bald head was still visible, now dotted with beads of cold sweat.
On a lush grassy field, a bulky figure was trembling as it hid in the bushes. His head buried in the ground, his buttocks sticking up, his entire obese body shaking uncontrollably, presenting a rather comical sight.
Tonpa clutched his head, his eyes wide open, filled with terror and unease!
This aura was identical to the one he had encountered from the giant beast at the Trick Tower!
It was clear that Akira had unleashed that beast!
"Damn it! Why did I have to come to the fourth exam this year! I should've just quit during the third exam!"
"Now I might lose my life, and I'll never get the chance to crush the dreams of those newcomers again!"
Even in the face of death, Tonpa thoughts were still fixated on his inability to continue his unique hobby.
Unaware that Akira had already left the island, Tonpa thought Akira was about to go on a killing spree, even mentally drafting his will.
.....
As time passed, Tyranitar aura reached its peak, its Nen so intense that it resembled the blazing sun in the sky!
Seeing Chairman Netero assume a combat stance without moving, Akira understood his intention.
"You want me to make the first move, huh..."
"Tyranitar! Stone Edge!"
As soon as the words were spoken, countless earthy-yellow aura particles separated from Tyranitar's body, erupting like a volcano and pouring out in a torrent.
In front of it, sharp stone blades formed in an instant!
The entire process was completed in a single breath!
The tips of the stone blades were razor-sharp, and even a mere glance from an ordinary person would evoke a piercing pain between their brows.
Seeing Akira take action, Netero lips curled slightly, ready to savor this hard-earned battle!
"ROAAAR!"
Tyranitar let out a fierce roar, and countless stone blades shot toward the composed Netero at breakneck speed, effortlessly creating loud sonic booms.
The massive stone blades completely engulfed Netero "frail" figure.
Chairman Netero mouth twitched slightly, and with a forceful stomp of his feet, his body swiftly retreated backward. He could have withstood this Stone Edge attack, but doing so would have been far from pleasant!
"Boom! Boom! Boom…"
Explosions rang out one after another, accompanied by clouds of dust from shattered rocks rising into the sky, their echoes resounding far and wide.
The ground and sand were pulverized, mixing together into an endless haze of dust, turning the air gray in an instant. The explosions on the surface continued, with fragments of stone and dust being swept upward by the sandstorm in a swirling vortex.
Unsurprisingly, the deafening noise, as if tearing the sky apart, also startled the bewildered examinees.
After unleashing Stone Edge, Akira and Tyranitar stood quietly in place, waiting for the chairman response.
In the midst of the dust, a hand suddenly swept through the air. Though it was just one hand, it seemed as if countless hands were stirring.
Moments later, the thick dust drifted to the other side, as if pushed aside by an invisible giant hand.
As the dust cleared, Chairman Netero solemn posture was revealed. Pure white aura enveloped his body, its sheer volume no less formidable than Tyranitar!
Standing firmly on his right foot, with his left foot drawn in and his palms pressed together in front of his chest, a pure and powerful aura expanded outward from Netero, radiating in all directions.
Akira expression shifted slightly, his heart somewhat shaken. In Akira eyes, a faint image of a Thousand-Armed Guanyin appeared behind Netero!
This was not formed by Nen ability!
It was the culmination of Chairman Netero lifetime of martial arts experience!
The posture Netero now assumed was the opening stance of the Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. The image of the "Thousand-Armed Guanyin" was the core of Netero entire martial arts system!
The essence of compassion perfectly aligned with Netero gratitude and prayer-like martial intent, making it natural for him to integrate it into his own martial arts.
The image of Guanyin existed only in Netero mind, and others could not directly see it. They could only sense its "presence" from the aura emanating from his body and spirit.
In the face of the experienced Chairman Netero, the Stone Edge attack left only a few scratches on his clothes. His once pristine beard was now smudged with dust, as if a deep yellow stain had been left on a clean sheet of white paper.
"Such astonishing destructive power! The younger generation is truly formidable!" Netero spoke slowly, while his right hand began to move, leaving afterimages in Akira vision.
Netero movements seemed oddly contradictory. Though his hand appeared to move slowly, countless afterimages appeared.
This was the result of Chairman Netero arm moving at an incredibly high speed!
The entire process flowed seamlessly, appearing extremely pleasing to the eye, but behind these visually stunning movements lay endless killing intent!
Faintly, a blinding golden light suddenly burst forth, instantly filling the entire sky!
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