[Scene: The airship approaches the next exam site.]
A voice echoed from the speaker system, snapping everyone awake.
Bean (Speaker):"I apologize for the long wait. The airship will soon arrive at its destination."
Gon and the others began to stir. Max was already awake, silently watching the world outside the window. Gon leaned over and gasped in awe.
Gon:"Whoa... Look at that!"
Outside, a colossal tower pierced the sky, its top lost in the clouds. The airship descended slowly, eventually landing on its flat, featureless summit. The candidates disembarked, murmuring in confusion. The rooftop was barren—no doors, no signs, no instructions.
Bean (clearing his throat):"Ahem. Everyone, the Third Phase of the Hunter Exam will begin here—at the top of Trick Tower."
Max:"Trick Tower? Ugh. I already hate the name."
Bean:"To pass this phase, you must reach the base of the tower alive. The time limit is seventy-two hours. That is all. Best of luck."
Without another word, Bean boarded the airship again, which promptly took off, leaving the examinees stranded on the roof.
Leorio (panicking):"No way! Are we supposed to climb down from here?!"
Max:"There's gotta be a trick. I mean, come on... it's literally called Trick Tower."
Leorio:"Maybe... you're right."
As the airship disappeared into the clouds, Bean's voice echoed one last time:
Bean (Speaker):"Best of luck to everyone!"
Gon leaned over the edge, eyes wide at the dizzying height. Leorio followed, turning pale.
Leorio:"Climbing down would be suicide..."
Max (thinking):I could probably survive the fall if I used Nen. Or maybe wedge my hand into the wall to slow the descent at the last second... but that's reckless. There are too many flying monster-birds circling the tower. I could fight them—but why waste the effort? There's definitely a hidden route. Trick Tower's name ain't just for show.
Just then, a cocky voice broke through the murmurs.
Random Applicant (grinning):"Maybe for a normal person."
The man walked confidently to the edge.
Top-Class Rock Climber:"But a top-class rock climber like me? No problem."
He started descending the side with practiced ease.
Killua:"Whoa…"
Gon:"He's going down fast!"
Max (thinking):Yeah... he's dead.
Top-Class Rock Climber (thinking):I'll be the first one to pass this phase. What a joke of a challenge.
Suddenly, a piercing screech echoed from below. The climber froze and looked around, confused.
From beneath the mist, a flock of massive, bird-like creatures burst into view.
Top-Class Rock Climber (panicking):"Wait—no! Stay away! Stop! STOP!!"
One of the birds snatched him mid-climb, his screams fading into the distance.
Top-Class Rock Climber:"HEEEEEELP!!"
Then... silence.
Everyone stared in stunned horror—except Killua and Max.
Leorio (trembling):"G-Guess we're not going down that way..."
Killua:"Yeah."
Max (thinking):I could do it. I'm just choosing not to.
[Some time later, the group searches for a way down.]
The examinees tapped the floor, knocked on walls—desperately looking for any kind of hidden passage. Eventually, Kurapika narrowed his eyes.
Leorio:"What is it?"
Kurapika:"There are fewer people around... I counted twenty-five. That means almost half already found a way in."
Leorio:"What?! When did that happen?!"
Kurapika:"There must be hidden doors leading downward."
Gon (calling out):"Kurapika! Leorio! Max!"
Leorio:"What is it?"
Max:"You found something?"
Gon:"Yeah, look—I found a hidden door!"
He touched a specific stone. A section of the floor slid open like a trapdoor—but once he lifted his hand, it closed again.
Kurapika:"I see... So we can descend by flipping the stones."
Leorio:"Awesome! Great job, Gon. Let's get going!"
Gon:"But look—there's more. One over there, and another one... and another."
Leorio:"That many?"
Kurapika:"Five doors in close proximity... suspicious. Some of them might be traps."
Killua:"Yeah. And each one only works once. We tried reopening one that someone already used—it wouldn't budge."
Kurapika:"And they're just wide enough for one person. We'll have to split up."
Killua:"Gon and I already picked ours."
Gon:"No hard feelings if one of us ends up in a trap! What about you guys?"
Leorio:"Fine by me. Luck's part of the exam, I guess..."
Kurapika:"I have no objections."
Max:"Wait—I've got a real objection. Can my bag even fit in there?"
Everyone turned to glance at Max's overstuffed bag.
Leorio:"...Maybe?"
Max:"Gaaah... Guess I'll just pray to the bag gods."
[Everyone stands at their chosen door.]
Leorio:"Alright. On the count of three."
Gon:"Guess this is goodbye for now."
Kurapika:"We'll meet again at the base."
Max didn't say a word—he just silently prayed that it would fit.
Killua:"Let's do this..."
Killua:"One!"
Gon:"Two!"
All:"Three!"
[Scene Continuation – Trick Tower Majority Rule Test]
They all start falling when entering and land one by one, sticking the landing—except for Leorio.
Leorio: Huh?
The others also look around, momentarily confused.
Leorio: What? Where are we...?
Kurapika: That was quite a brief farewell.
Leorio: Oh... So all the doors led to the same room?
Gon: By the way... where's Max?
Max (offscreen): I'm here!
They all look up toward the voice. Max is hanging above, stuck in the chute with his oversized bag. Killua and Leorio burst into laughter. Kurapika facepalms, and Gon looks genuinely concerned.
Max (struggling): Damn bag...!
With one hard push, Max forces his way through and lands with a heavy thud, cracking the floor beneath him.
Max: Somehow... I succeeded.
Gon: Thank goodness!
Killua (grinning): I thought you were gonna be stuck up there 'til the end of the exam.
Max: You know that'll never happen, right?
Leorio: Man, you're lucky... Also—did you just crack the floor? What are you made of?
Kurapika just nods in acknowledgment. Max looks a little embarrassed, but brushes it off.
Then Gon notices a sign and a set of stopwatches.
Gon (reading): "The five of you must follow the will of the majority to reach the goal."
Leorio: Five of us?
Gon: Look… There are five stopwatches.
Killua: And there's an O and an X button on each one...
They each pick up a stopwatch. Everyone puts it on—except Max, who's still examining his.
Kurapika: Could it be that we won't be able to proceed if even one person chooses a different door?
A voice echoes from a hidden speaker.
??? (speaker): That is correct!
Leorio: Who's that?!
Lippo (speaker): My name is Lippo. I'm the warden of this prison and your Phase Three examiner.
Kurapika: Prison warden?
Max (dryly): Really? A hippo is the prison warden?
Killua snorts with laughter. The others remain silent. Leorio glares.
Leorio: Hey, don't mock the examiner! What if he decides to fail us just like that?
Max: Come on, there's no way they'd fail someone over a dumb joke.
Leorio: What if he's like the last examiner and makes the test harder because of it?
Max: Nah, different guy. Besides, the last one was a woman—she had every reason to get pissed. This one seems way more chill, right?
Lippo ignores the banter and continues his explanation.
Lippo (speaker): Multiple routes through this tower have been prepared. You chose the path of majority rule. Cooperation is key. One person's selfish actions could jeopardize the entire group. Also, five members are required to proceed, so you're lucky. You may now begin. Best of luck, gentlemen.
Max: See? Told you he's not mad.
Everyone stares silently.
Leorio: Just put on the stopwatch already.
Max: Oh, right. I got fascinated examining it for traps or something. Guess it's clean.
Max straps it on. A hidden door slides open.
Kurapika: So the door appears once all five stopwatches are equipped...
Leorio (reading): "Press O to open, X not to open." They're forcing us to use majority rule already?
The vote appears: O - 5, X - 0. The door opens, and they proceed into the next room.
Leorio: Seriously? Another question already?
Gon (reading): "Which way do you want to go? O for right, X for left."
Leorio: Right... or left...? Ugh.
Everyone votes—except Max. The vote result doesn't show.
Leorio: Who didn't vote?!
Max: Oh—me. Still thinking. Kurapika, which way did you vote?
Kurapika: Right.
Leorio: Huh?! What?
Max: Well, that settles it.
Max quickly presses O.
Leorio: Whaa?! Why'd you pick right?! Everyone usually goes left!
Kurapika: True. Studies show lost people tend to choose left by instinct.
Killua: I've heard that too.
Leorio: So why'd you press O, Max?
Max: Kurapika she's just smarter than us. That's a fact.
Killua: You mean he.
Max: Ah, right—my bad.
Kurapika sighs, tired of Max's antics. Max, Killua, and Kurapika continue down the corridor. Leorio turns to Gon.
Leorio: So... we're just simple-minded?
Gon (thinking): "We?"
They follow behind. After a short walk, they reach a strange arena-like chamber.
Leorio: Wh-What is this place?
Killua: Look over there...
Five hooded individuals stand on a platform. One speaks up.
Hooded Man: The applicants have arrived. Remove the shackles.
The shackles fall off. The speaker steps forward—a bald man with a scar.
Bendot: Jeez… I'm finally free.
Leorio gulps. The others stay cautious. Lippo's voice returns through the speaker.
Lippo (speaker): These are Trick Tower prisoners, hired as official examiners. You will fight them—five battles, one-on-one. Each person may only fight once. Victory comes when one admits defeat. No draws allowed.
Bendot: You may pick your order. It's majority rule. Win three, and you pass. Easy, right?
Leorio: Tch… Majority rule again?
Killua: Well, at least the rules are simple.
Lippo (speaker): However, for every hour they delay you, their sentence is reduced by one year. So stalling you is their goal.
Kurapika: I see. We have only 72 hours, so time is critical...
Bendot: I'll go first. Choose your fighter.
Killua: Anything goes, huh? Could get ugly...
Leorio: We don't even know their tricks...
Kurapika: Too much risk without intel. In that case, I shall—
Max: I'll go.
Gon: Max?
Max: I'm confident. He doesn't look like the mind-game type.
Leorio: Are you serious?
Max: Do I look weak to you?
Gon and Killua nod. Kurapika and Leorio hesitate, then nod in agreement.
Bendot: Then cross the bridge when ready.
"The bridge extended, allowing Max and Bendot to step onto the arena. Once they were both inside, the bridge retracted behind them, sealing the stage."
Bendot: Let's decide our method. I propose... a death match.
Shock ripples through the group. Killua remains unfazed. Max stays calm.
Gon: A death match?!
Leorio: They fight until someone dies?!
Kurapika: No! Don't let him provoke you!
Bendot: Well?
Max: I accept.
Everyone freezes—except Killua.
Leorio: Are you insane?!
Gon (thinking): He's really going to kill him?
Max: But just to clarify—if someone gives up or gets knocked out?
Bendot: If you give up, it's counted as a loss. But if you're knocked out, your opponent gets to decide your fate—whether to spare you, torture you, or kill you.
Gon (thinking): Thank god... I don't think he plans to kill him.
Max: Fair enough. I accept.
Bendot: I commend your courage!
Max: Thanks.
Both prepare stances. The bell rings.
Bendot: Let the fight begin!
Bendot lunged forward—but Max suddenly spat in his face, blinding him.
Bendot:"Gah! Gross, you bastard! Do you have any pride?!"
Wiping the spit away with a furious glare, Bendot frantically searched for Max—only to look down and see him below, doing a full split.
CRACK.
Max drove an uppercut straight into Bendot's groin.
Bendot froze. His eyes bulged. He collapsed, foaming at the mouth and clutching himself.
The group collectively winced. Even the other prisoners recoiled.
Max:"Does pride matter in a life-or-death battle? My real pride is never losing to guys like you."
Bendot didn't answer. He was out cold—still clutching himself.
Leorio: Did... Did he really just...break them?
Kurapika: Yeah. I think I heard the crack.
Gon: Uh... he's bleeding... down there. Is he okay?
Killua: Honestly, it might've been better if he just died.
Max (casually): So I win, right? Don't worry I won't do anything else to him.
Leorio (thinking): If you did, I'd call you a psychopath.
A point lit up on the group's side. Then, a bridge slowly extended, creating a path back.
Max grabbed the barely conscious Bendot—still clutching his shattered pride—and walked him over to the cloaked prisoners.
Max:"Here. Take him back."
He turned around casually.
Max:"Alright, I'm heading back now."
Max returned with ease, but the others stared at him in stunned silence—like they'd just watched a monster walk among them.
Max: What? Every guy has a weak point in there. It's efficient. And he's a prisoner—I don't feel that bad.
Silence.
The next opponent stepped forward, still horrified by what had happened to the previous fighter. But he quickly composed himself—this fight would be different.
TO BE CONTINUED...