"Who was responsible for this?"
Killua's eyes flickered as he processed the situation.
"There was no way Gon and I could even touch the ball in the old man's hands."
"We got played with—completely toyed with."
"And he wasn't even serious."
"Who could possibly match him?"
"How strong would someone have to be?"
Then, a thought struck him.
When he and Gon had passed by earlier, they had seen Kaizen and Netero leaving the training room together.
"Could it have been Kaizen?"
"Did he compete with Netero before this?"
"Is this his fault?"
"Just how much stronger is Kaizen compared to me?"
Gon's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Killua, what are you doing?"
Killua snapped back to reality and glanced around.
Netero was long gone.
"...Nothing," he muttered. "Let's get some rest."
"Yeah, good idea."
The two returned to the lounge.
...
Outside, the airship sailed through the night sky, with starlight spilling down in scattered specks.
Morning arrived quietly.
A vast forest stretched below, winding rivers threading through the landscape.
At its center stood an enormous tower, stretching high into the sky.
At first glance, it looked like a pillar with another, smaller pillar built atop it.
But the upper structure wasn't just a column—it was a building.
A prison.
The criminals housed inside weren't just minor offenders. Every one of them had blood on their hands, lives taken through their actions. They were threats to society, individuals who had caused devastation to countless people.
This was the Trick Tower.
Kaizen gazed up at the towering structure.
No matter what world you were in, prisons tended to share certain characteristics.
First, they were never built in the middle of a city—prime real estate was too valuable to waste on criminals.
Second, maximum-security prisons were usually constructed in isolated, difficult-to-escape locations.
Above the sea.
Deep in the desert.
Hidden in the heart of a rainforest.
And this tower followed the same logic. Even if prisoners managed to escape, they would still be trapped in an unforgiving environment, with no clear route to safety.
Unless they could fly.
Or they were elite rock climbers.
But even then, without a defined path, proper equipment, and in less-than-perfect physical condition?
Escape was highly unlikely.
...
The airship descended, coming to a stop at the top of the Trick Tower.
A small, suited man with an unusual, round-headed appearance stepped forward to address the examinees.
"Welcome, everyone," he announced.
"This is the starting point of the third phase of the Hunter Exam.
"The place you see before you is officially known as the Tower of Depression.
"Your goal is simple: reach the bottom of the tower alive.
"You have 72 hours.
"The test begins now.
"Good luck!"
Without another word, the small man turned and boarded the airship again. The engines hummed to life, and within moments, the aircraft disappeared into the sky, leaving the candidates behind.
Kaizen watched the airship depart.
"That guy doesn't look human."
"But he's definitely some kind of intelligent creature."
"Maybe something like a Kiriko?"
His mind wandered back to the Kiriko he had encountered before—a beast that had earned human recognition and was allowed to coexist in society. Perhaps these beings, whatever they were, had a similar status.
Then—
A loud noise.
Kaizen turned toward the source of the commotion.
Several red, winged creatures were flying toward them.
They were hideous.
Their flesh was a sickly shade of red, almost pink.
They had the body shape of naked human infants, but grotesquely exaggerated.
Tiny, beady eyes.
Oversized mouths.
Rows of shark-like teeth.
And in the mouth of one of those creatures—
A screaming examinee.
The unfortunate candidate struggled uselessly as the monster's jagged teeth sank deeper. In a few moments, it would be devoured alive.
Kaizen's gaze flickered toward Gon, who had been watching as well.
"The guy said he was an expert rock climber," Gon explained. "He thought he could just climb down to the ground."
"But then those things showed up and attacked him."
"No one else got targeted."
"So, I guess climbing down isn't an option."
Kaizen nodded.
"Thanks."
Of course, he already knew.
He didn't remember every single detail from the original Hunter Exam, but this part had left an impression.
Reaching the ground from the top of the Trick Tower...
The main method was through the tower's interior.
But external escape wasn't impossible.
Those creatures were strong, sure. But not invincible.
The climber who got snatched up had been weak.
But others?
Hisoka. Illumi.
Even Hanzo—
They all had a real shot at dealing with those monsters.
A viable strategy would be to defeat one of the creatures and use it as a ride to the ground.
Or, for those confident enough—
They could just jump.
Netero had done something similar during the Second Hunter Phase, after all.
Kaizen stepped closer to the tower's edge and glanced downward.
"This height should be manageable."
But he didn't move.
Because passing the exam wasn't his priority.
He wasn't here just to get a license.
He was here to study the Hunter Exam itself.
"The third phase is a team-based battle, if I remember correctly..."
"So, who should I team up with?"
His gaze swept across the candidates.
Hisoka. Illumi. Gon. Killua...
"The more people involved, the better the experience."
"Five per team is the limit."
"Based on what I know—"
Hisoka and Illumi were obviously powerhouses.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio had potential.
Killua and Hanzo were also strong, but...
"They've already reached a solid level before this exam."
"This phase won't push them to their limits."
"Meanwhile, Gon and Kurapika still have room to grow here."
"Leorio is the weakest among them, but he compensates with sheer determination."
"So, the best option... is to replace Tonpa."
Just then—
"Kaizen!" Gon waved. "Over here!"
Kaizen exhaled slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Alright then..."
He started walking toward Gon.
The real test was about to begin.
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