\\Annya (POV)\\

I slowly walked through the forest, to the sounds of ship sailing. Today was the 7th day - final day of the Exam. Today the 5th phase is over.

As I walked to the hill, where the ship was I saw the same woman from before. She was smiling, which was a little heartwarming.

"Phase 4 of the Hunter Exam is now officially over!" She said into a microphone. "All remaining applicants please return to the starting point, at once! You are given 1 additional hour to make your way back!"

Looks like I'm early, I thought as I sat on the ground.

"If you return by the time that hour is up, you will fail the Exam."

I sight. "Well good luck Gon, Killua."

I closed my eyes resting for the little time I had. A flashback went through my eyes.

Yesterday after I found Gon and his buds, we sorta parted ways because I wanted to check out that cave. When I walked in, the first thing I found was a dead man. The one that Gon took away it's badge. And when I wanted to carry that body out, venomous snakes attacked me. So I needed to basically freeze the whole thing.

I grumbled. In the past few days I used a lot of nen. And that is tiring me, in a way. Since I need to be crucial to use my ice, it's pretty hard to keep up with my happy personality.

I could have chosen fire or water, but no! I choose the fricking ice! And only because my father uses ice, since he's transmuter like me!

I again sighted, finally hearing footsteps. I glanced back to see Hisoka.

Then other people began walking in, as my saw Killua standing still with his skateboard. A smile grew on my face.

"Killua!" I shouted running up to him. He looked back at me as I was about to hug him. He stopped me while holding me back, by my forehead.

"Good to see your alive too, Annya," he said letting me go as I smiled at him.

"Mhm! I'm glad that your also okay," I said clapping my hands. Killua looked around raising a brow.

"Hm? Is it just me or someone is missing?"

I also looked around, but before I could make a speech, the orange haired woman started taking again.

"Now, we will check all the badges of everyone here!" She said bringing out a paper and a pen.

———

"Number 44 - mister Hisoka!"
384 (3P)
80 (1P)
281 (1P)
118 (1P)

"Number 53 - mister Pokkle!"
53 (3P)
105 (3P)

"Number 99 - mister Killua!"
99 (3P)
199 (3P)

"Number 31 - miss Annya!"
31 (3P)
313 (3P)

"Number 301 - mister Gittarackur!"
301 (3P)
371 (3P)

"Number 191 - mister Bodoro!"
191 (3P)
34 (3P)

"Number 294 - mister Hanzo!"
294 (3P)
198 (1P)
362 (1P)
89 (1P)

———

"So... only 7 applicants have passed?.." Cana said in a fully confused voice. "Oh wait!" She said turning to the hill, before us. I glanced along as my eyes cached green-raven hair walking out of the forest.

"Gon!" Me and Killua both cheered.

"3 more!" The woman smiled. "Your seriously cutting it close aren't you?" She said writing down their names in the book, while Killua gave Gon thumbs up and waved for him to join us.

Gon smiled at us and gave us also thumbs up. But then his gaze fell into Hisoka, as his face coloured with worry.

"Now! The last three are!-"

"Number 404 - mister Kurapika!"
404 (3P)
16 (3P)

"Number 403 - mister Leorio!"
403 (3P)
246 (3P)

"And number 405 - mister Gon!"
405 (3P)
44 (3P)

I smiled. Those 3 really made it. And for a moment I was scared that they wouldn't.

"So," Cana continued. "These 10 applicants have passed the 4th phase of Exam!" She shouted, a big smile on her face. Her hand shot to the air as I recognised the familiar blue (shark-like) airship.

...

I stood next to Killua watching the beautiful view from the airship's window.

"I love being highly in the air..." I smiled lazily as I rested my head, on the windowsill. Killua smiled and sat on the broach close to me.

"The Hunter Exam is really something, isn't it?" I laughed, leaning back and pressing my hands to my stomach.

"I guess, I have to agree," Killua sight.

"Attention all applicants," we suddenly heard Bean's (the chairman's assistant) voice. "The Chairman wishes to interview you!"

"Inter-what?" I blinked.

"To ask some questions," Killua pointed his finger in the air.

"When you hear your number, come to the reception room, on the second floor!" Bean's added. "We'll start with number 31, miss Annya!"

I stumbled as I heard my name. "Eh? Me?"

Killua pushed me towards the door as I glared at him. "Come on, go. I'll wait for you here," he said waving his hand at me.

...

I entered a room with a short desk. The chairman sitting on the other side. "Make yourself confutable," he said as I sat before him.

"Mister... Netero, is this the final phase?" I said my eyes big.

"Oh, no, it's just something to satisfy my curiosity," he said.

"Alright, then," I mumbled sitting properly.

"My first question is. Why do you want to become a Hunter?" He asked.

"Hm... well my both parents are Hunters. So it's like a family thing I guess. But I also want to become a Hunter to explore the world and travel!" I said trying not to enlarge this.

"Alright, next one is. Out of the other 9 applicants, which one are you keeping a close eye on?"

"Well I guess it would be Gon, or 405. He often goes and does some very reckless things. Someone needs to watch over him." I said smiling.

"Hm... on to the last question! Which of the remaining 8 applicants would you least want to fight?" He asked as I brought my hand to my chin.

"Well that would be 405, 99, 404 and 403. They all are my friends, and if we're fair I think I would win if I fought them," I slightly chuckled.

"Ok. That will be all. Thank you," he said as I stood up.

When I reached the door I stopped. "Mister Netero."

"Hm?" He hummed.

I opened the door. "Your really powerful, to be so open around us, aren't you?"

...

\\3rd person (POV)\\

"Who am I keeping a close eye on? That would 404. He's the most well rounded applicant!" Said Pokkle. "But I don't wanna fight... with 44. Because... I don't think I can beat him!"

———

"Well Annya and Gon! We three are the same age," said Killua. "Who I don't want to fight is number 53. I don't think it be any fun at all!"

———

"I'm keeping a watchful eye on 44. You can't help but notice him," said Bodoro. "Numbers 404, 99 and 31 are out however. I simply will not fight children."

———

"Number 99," cracked Gittarackur. "And number 44."

———

"Who am I keeping an eye on?" Gon said with a worried expression. "Hisoka, number 44. He's on my mind on the most either way. But there's no way I could pick number 31, 99, 404 or 403!"

———

"It has to be 44. He's obviously the most dangerous applicant," simply answered Hanzo. "The least I want to meet in combat is also 44."

———

"I'm watching 405 and maybe 31, purely for positive reasons. 44 for negative reasons," Kurapika said. "I will fight anyone if there's a reason. Otherwise, I will not fight at all.

———

"Number 405. I owe him, and I sure hope he passes," Leorio smiled. "That's also why I don't want to fight him."

...

Netero sat with his results quite surprised.

"Hm, I see! This is more love sided than I expected."

...

\\Annya (POV)\\

We arrived at the final phase, which was held in a Hunter Exam's owned hotel. We all stood in front of Netero and a few of his guards in a big hall. Probably where this 'tournament' will take place. I myself stood in between of

"Well lady and gentleman. Everyone rested up?" He asked as always in a good mood. "Good. Now then, the Hunter Exam committee runs this hotel, so I want all of you to make yourselfs at home until the battles have concluded."

I glanced at the examiners, all standing in line, not as far away. I saw Menchi as we exchanged smiles.

Then one of the men with dark suits and glasses came next to Netero, bringing a covered board. It was covered with some blanket.

"For the final phase of the Hunter Exam, you will be competing on one on one tournament!" He said taking off the white blanket. My mouth opened as I stared at the white board, surprised.

It was a bunch of lines, some of them combined explaining how the battles will go.

"Hold on a second..." Leorio frowned. "So only the last person standing passes?"

"No," The Chairman cut him off. "You only need 1 win to pass this phase."

"Just one?" Gon exclaimed as surprised as all of us.

"Wait... so in this tournament..." Leorio mumbled.

"See, it's the winners who will drop away," Netero continued. "And the losers who will advance to the second round. Which means that the person who finishes at the top, will not pass."

"So it's basically the reverse version of the normal tournament," I stated as Netero nodded.

"Yes. That's a better way to tell it. And does it make sense to everyone?" Netero questioned.

"What your saying is that only one person will fail the exam," the ninja guy - Hanzo said.

Of the tension in the air, I could assume that the answer was too obvious to be pointed out.

"Here is the bracket we put together," Netero said as he took off a sticker that was covering our battles opponents.

I shot my brows as I saw myself right next to Gon and Hanzo. Their fight will guarantee mine. If Gon wins I'll fight Hanzo, but if he looses I'll need to fight Gon. Which was the least thing I wanted.

"You see, under this format of competitor, every applicant has at least 2 chances of passing," Netero said as I noticed Killua. further than me.

I felt bad as I glanced at my friend to see him nervous and lost.

"Yeah, but some people get 5 chances to win like 294 or 405," said Pokkle.

"You couldn't have used more balanced bracket?" Asked Bodoro.

"Hm. Well that's a fair question," Netero proposed. "This bracket was carefully assembled based on each of your individual performances, through out the Hunter Exam. To put it simply, those who's performances were rated highly, will have the most chances to win."

"I'm not convinced," Killua stated as I looked worried at him. "Could you explain exactly, how you scored our performances?"

"Hm..." Netero thought for a second. "noOoOooO!" Netero leaned over and cringed.

"Why not?!" Killua exclaimed.

Netero let out a laugh as he went back to his straight stance. "I can't say, because your scores are classified. I can't reveal your actual scores. However, I can explain the methods we used." Netero said as Killua tensed. I could feel it. "We start at the basics. There are three categories which are physical strength, mental acuity and lastly - overall impression. When judging physical strength, we relied on veniality, flexibility, indolence and perception. For mental acuity it's resilience, adapt ability, judgment and of course creativity. But these are only reference points, after all, every last one of you were strong enough for mind and body to reach the final phase," Netero said as I narrowed my head. "We are most concerned for your overall impression. This refers to anything compared as basics facts."

He laughed as I gulped. Killua felt as uneasy as me. Since he was placed under her and Gon.

"Think it as our way of assessing your potential of becoming a Hunter."

I tapped Killua's shoulder and gave him a quick smile before we both concentrated to Netero again.

"The rules of the tournament are really quite simple," he smiled. "Weapons are allowed, cheating is forbidden. If your opponent admits defeat, you win. However, if you kill your opponent you will be disqualified without hesitation. And if that happens, the Exam ends and the remaining applicants pass. Understand?"

It was silence for a moment but everyone knew the answer to this unquestioned question.

"Let the final phase of the Hunter Exam begin!"

...

Thank you for reading my dears! I hope you liked the new chapter! Next one is probably gonna suck since I'm still bad at writing fighting scenes ;(

But also thank you so much for the reads! It helps me a lot, and gives me energy to write more!^^

Remember to stay healthy and cool! Also eat and drink! And don't be stupid just-
• b r e a t h •

Bye!