"Curse?"
"Host, this Nen type is available," the system responded, voice as flat as ever. "Since you've ingested the Glint-Glint Fruit, which can manifest the 'Ama no Murakumo' sword—a light-forged blade akin to a Manipulator's Nen—you now qualify to combine it with your unique Trait-type Nen. Your designated ability: Curse. If Ama no Murakumo draws blood, a curse condition can be initiated and Nen can be injected into the target."
"But after the curse takes effect?" the system asked again.
"After that?" Lan Fei chuckled darkly. "Then they're my puppet to play with."
"Just like Hidan from that ninja world I read about—immortal, self-mutilating, a walking voodoo doll. Only difference? I'm a light-speed elemental. With the Glint-Glint Fruit, even if my limbs get blown off, I'll be fine. My body reforms—like Enel from Skypiea."
The trait-type Curse Nen was grotesque and overpowered. Once Ama no Murakumo broke the skin and blood was drawn, he could link the victim's aura to his own curse parameters. From there, the possibilities were endless—severing arms, decapitation, even heart-piercing strikes—just like Feitan's Judgement Chain or Kurapika's Emperor Time, but more versatile.
Ding!!
"Based on the host's design, Curse Nen has been successfully awakened. Activating the Training Accelerator…"
As Lan Fei walked back toward his room, the system chimed again.
"Host, would you like to begin training?"
"How do I train it?" Lan Fei asked.
"Enter the meditation space. With the Training Accelerator activated, you should master foundational Nen—Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu—in two hours."
"Meditation space, huh…" Lan Fei nodded. With his mastery of the Eight Inner Gates, his physical control was already elite. Nen fundamentals wouldn't be a stretch.
"Begin cultivation now?"
"Yeah—start it."
With that, Lan Fei sat down, closed his eyes, and entered meditation. Inside the mental realm, time flowed faster, and his aura was already circulating like a seasoned practitioner. He progressed through Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and finally, shaped his Hatsu with clarity.
—
Ding-dong~~~
"Apologies for the delay. The airship is nearing its next destination."
The next morning, soft sunlight filtered through the viewing port of the airship. The intercom broadcast startled the remaining examinees awake.
"Hmm?" Gon blinked his sleepy eyes open. He stretched, sat up from the wooden floor, and hurried over to the window. There, through the sun-streaked sky, a massive stone tower pierced the clouds like a needle.
"That's… the next exam venue?"
"Killua, Lan Fei! Wake up!"
"Tch… what's the rush…" Killua groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Unlike Gon, Killua wasn't impressed by architecture—he only cared about the thrill of the test.
But when he looked around, his expression changed slightly.
"Where's Lan Fei?"
"Gon, Killua!"
Kurapika's voice came from the hallway as he and Leorio approached.
"Good morning, Kurapika," Gon greeted him cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?"
"I did. The last two phases were exhausting," Kurapika replied calmly.
"Yeah, I passed out as soon as I hit the floor," Leorio added.
"Wait, where's Lan Fei?" Kurapika asked, noticing the absence.
Killua, already tying his shoes, replied flatly, "That guy doesn't need to take the exam anymore. Chairman Netero gave him early qualification."
"What? He became a Hunter?" Kurapika's eyes widened.
"Huh?? What do you mean by that?" Leorio asked in confusion.
At that moment, Lan Fei emerged from the hallway, looking freshly awake with a calm smile.
"Miss me?"
In truth, he'd awakened earlier from meditation, successfully grasping the fundamentals of Nen. He'd only been in the bathroom when the others woke up.
"You don't need the exam?" Kurapika asked seriously.
Lan Fei grinned and shrugged. "We had a match against Chairman Netero last night—me, Gon, and Killua. I beat him."
"Beat… Netero?" Kurapika's voice cracked slightly.
"That's insane…" Leorio muttered. "Even as a game, how could anyone win against him?"
"I'm just lucky," Lan Fei smirked. "Anyway, you guys have the third phase ahead. I'll be heading off on my own."
"What? Where?" Gon asked.
"To the Sky Arena. Need money. Also… good place to sharpen new techniques."
Lan Fei placed a hand on Gon's shoulder.
"After your exams, bring my Hunter License to Yorknew City. I'll be waiting."
"Yorknew City?" Gon's eyes lit up. "Got it! I'll train hard, pass the exams, and catch up to you, no matter what!"
"Sky Arena… I've heard about that place," Kurapika muttered. "A fighting coliseum with hundreds of floors…"
"A money machine, that's what it is," Leorio sighed. "Lan Fei, man, I'm jealous. Becoming a Hunter without finishing the test… damn."
Just then, the broadcast blared again:
"All candidates, prepare to disembark. We have arrived at the next venue."
"Let's go," Lan Fei said. "One last send-off."
He walked with them to the airship's ramp.
Ten minutes later, the airship landed atop a massive spire—the Trick Tower, looming like a needle through the clouds. Candidates filed out in groups.
"Welcome to the third phase of the Hunter Exam," the staff member Beans announced, stepping off the ship. "This is the base-level spire known as Trick Tower."
"Trick Tower?" several examinees murmured.
The structure was ominous—wind howled around its jagged spires, and its base was hidden in cloud cover.
"To pass, you must descend from the top to the bottom. Survive, and you qualify," Beans explained.
"Gon, Killua, Kurapika, Leorio—good luck," Lan Fei called out.
He turned to reboard the ship, exchanging one last glance with Gon.
"Lan Fei! I'll pass the exam and meet you in Yorknew!"
Boom!!
The airship's engines roared as it ascended, slowly lifting off from the summit of Trick Tower, leaving the rest of the candidates staring into the descent of their next trial.