72-Hour Tower – Third Trial Floor
The staircase spiraled down into a cavernous hall that stretched wider than any previous room. The ceiling was domed, lined with rows of rusted lights that flickered unevenly like they were struggling to remember how illumination worked.
At the far end stood a massive rust-red door with a clock engraved into its metal surface.
Above it, a monitor hummed to life.
The mechanical voice echoed through the chamber:
"THIRD TRIAL: COLLECTIVE COMPLETION.
ACTIVATE THE DOOR BY SOLVING THE TIME RIDDLE.
TIME LIMIT: 40 MINUTES.
FAILURE: AUTOMATIC LOSS."
Leorio slapped his forehead.
"Great. A riddle. Perfect. That's what we needed."
Killua squinted at the massive clock-engraving.
"It doesn't even have numbers."
Kurapika stepped forward. His eyes narrowed with delicate focus.
"It's symbolic. Not numerical. See the patterns?"
Gon bounced on his heels.
"A puzzle! This looks fun!"
Ethan scanned the environment quietly.
The Panel shimmered at the edge of his perception like heat in the air.
---
PANEL — ENVIRONMENT SCAN
Structure: Orbit-Based Mechanical Lock
Mechanism: Time Alignment Puzzle
Failure Result: Room Reset, Time Penalty
Extractable: Low-Level Spatial Awareness Technique (Optional)
Puzzle Solution Method: Collaborative pattern alignment.
Recommendation: Allow group to progress naturally. Provide subtle stabilization only if deviation arises.
---
Ethan nodded to himself.
This puzzle wasn't meant to be brute-forced. It required synergy—the exact reason the examiners placed them together.
Gon suddenly pointed at a circular platform in the center of the room.
"Look! Something's written here!"
They gathered around.
On the stone floor was a single sentence:
"The hour that shines is never alone."
Leorio blinked.
"…What the hell does THAT mean?"
Killua crossed his arms.
"It's cryptic on purpose."
Kurapika traced the etched line with a fingertip.
"Likely referring to the clockwork symbols on the door. The hour hand may connect with another element."
Ethan's eyes drifted to the four rotating metal rings embedded in the wall around the giant clock.
Each ring had different carvings: waves, fire, wind, earth.
Gon looked between them.
"…Maybe the hour needs a friend?"
Leorio groaned. "That's not how clocks work, Gon!"
Killua shrugged.
"It's a symbolic puzzle, old man."
Ethan stepped to one of the rings, lightly brushing the cold metal.
"Try touching one," he said.
Gon, naturally the first to volunteer, placed his palm on the water symbol.
The ring glowed softly.
Kurapika hummed.
"So it reacts to contact."
Killua went to the fire symbol.
Kurapika placed his hand on wind.
Leorio reluctantly took earth.
Ethan approached the central clock.
Immediately the rings began to rotate around the giant clockface.
A subtle vibration passed through the floor.
Gon stared, wide-eyed.
"Whoa… it's like everything's moving together!"
Kurapika's voice sharpened.
"Careful. If we align them incorrectly, we'll lose time."
The monitor flashed:
[TIME REMAINING: 37:22]
Leorio panicked.
"IT'S ALREADY TICKING!? Why didn't anyone TELL ME—"
Killua snorted.
"It's not hiding the countdown, old man."
Ethan studied the rings' movement.
Each rotated at slightly different speeds.
But the Panel highlighted a pattern—four points where they would align if the timing was exact.
His HUD blinked.
---
PANEL TIP — Non-Invasive Support Available
Assist Type: Timing Synchronization Overlay
Visibility: Zero
Risk: None
Recommended: Yes
---
Ethan accepted.
A transparent framework overlaid the rings, showing the optimal alignment.
But he couldn't just shout instructions.
He had to make it look natural.
"Gon," Ethan said, "can you slow the water ring a little? Just put a bit of pressure on it."
"Okay!"
The ring slowed.
"Kurapika—push the wind one clockwise."
Kurapika nodded. "Understood."
"Killua—pull fire slightly counterclockwise."
Killua smirked. "Got it."
"Leorio—hold earth steady. Don't move it."
Leorio scowled. "I'm doing my best!"
The rings shifted into a rough alignment.
Gon called out, "Is that good?"
Ethan examined the glowing overlay.
"Almost. On three, everyone adjust slightly."
They counted together.
"One—two—three!"
The rings clicked into a perfect cross-shaped alignment.
The entire chamber rumbled.
Gon beamed.
"It worked!"
The clock-hand in the center spun rapidly before settling at the top.
The engraved door glowed gold and slid open with a thunderous groan that echoed across the chamber.
The monitor chimed.
"SUCCESS — TIME TRIAL COMPLETED."
Leorio collapsed onto his back.
"I think… I'm dying."
Killua stretched.
"You barely did anything."
Kurapika smiled faintly.
"That was well coordinated. Good eye, Ethan."
Gon nodded enthusiastically.
"You always know what to do!"
Ethan hid a tiny smile.
"I just watched the patterns. You all did the real work."
But the Panel whispered a quiet acknowledgment anyway.
---
PANEL — MISSION UPDATE
Trial 3 Clear
Deviation Risk: Zero
Team Synergy: Increased
Reward Accrued: +120 PP
Optional Extractable Detected for Later
---
The group walked toward the newly opened passageway.
A narrow corridor stretched deeper into the Tower, illuminated by lanterns suspended on long, rusted chains.
Killua cracked his knuckles.
"So what's next? A fight? A trap? A race?"
Kurapika glanced at the lanterns.
"Judging by the architecture… something spatial. Or psychological."
Leorio groaned.
"Can't we just get a normal staircase…?"
Gon's eyes sparkled.
"I hope it's something exciting!"
Ethan walked beside them, quiet but alert.
The Tower was escalating.
Fast.
And the Panel was already sensing something shifting ahead—something stronger than the simple contraptions so far.
The kind of trial that could define the next turning point in the Hunter Exam.
He pulled his sleeve down over his wrist reflexively.
Whatever waited next…
They would face it together.