3 Chapter 3: First test (1/2)

'Who said it would have been easy? For God's sake! That moustache guy is a cardio's monster!'.

2 Hours had passed. The contestants had already run for about 30 km from the starting line.

As it was easy to guess, many applicants had started to drop out.

"Hey! Wait up kid! You should show the Hunter exam some respect!" A tall man wearing an elegant suit said to a white haired kid.

"What do you mean?".

"Why are you using a skateboard? That's cheating!".

"how?".

"'How?' This is an endurance test!".

"No it's not!" Said another small kid with dark green hair.

"Gon! You should be on my side!".

'Wow! Are that Gon, Leorio, and Killua? Oh! I remember this scene, this is where Gon and Killua start their friendship'.

"Hey, how old are you?" Killua asked Gon.

"12!".

'Knew it! This is a chance to befriend the squad'.

"The old man is right! That's unfair!" Enma said nodding to Leorio.

"Yeah! See Gon? Wait..Old man? I'm 19 you piece of shit!".

"Mhm, well I'll run too than".

Killua announced and, with a flick of his foot, the skateboard flew in his hand.

He wasn't obviously concerned with what either Enma or Leorio said. He decided to do that because he didn't want to be any less than Gon, a kid his age.

"I'm Killua".

"And I'm Gon!".

The 2 boys soon started talking between themselves, ignoring the others.

"Leorio! How are faring?".

"Kurapika? This is nothing!".

Despite saying that, it was obvious from the sweat stained shirt and the heavy panting that he was already pretty tired.

"That guy with the computer behind us think that this will be over soon".

Enma said, pointing to a little guy.

"Puh! Who cares about that piglet, I can run all day long".

"Well, good luck than, old man!".

"I'm a teenager! Just like you!".

"No way!" Retorted Kurapika incredulous.

"Not you too, Kurapika."

After taunting the guy, Enma retreated at the side, leaving the 2 to their antics.

'I need to save my breath, we are not even at the half mark. If I keep a steady rhythm it shouldn't be a problem to make it to the end. Not easy, that's for sure.

Once this is over, I'll need to improve my physique… There's also Nen. I'll require a calm environment to learn that, it's impossible at the moment'.

-2 hours later-

"Huff haa huff haa"

At the 60km mark, Leorio was wheezing. His posture wasn't as straight as before, and in fact it looked like he could fall over at any moment.

'An ordinary guy like me…' Leorio thought.

He wasn't the only one thou.

A certain raven haired teen was completely drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

They were side by side and happened to exchange a look.

"Old man! Haaa. Is that all you amount to? huuff".

"Fu..haa..ck huff you! You are the same haaa".

'He is right! Fuuuck! 60km is too much for a normal human! I thought I could do it. Why didn't that bastard King threw some physical abilities over as well? Maybe I should simply stop now, with this body I will definitely grow stronger in a couple of months'.

Looking at his side, Enma was able to sympathize with Leorio very well. It was probably because, in a way, they were in a similar situation: both were average guys trying to break the cycle and change their lives for the better once and for all.

This was a pivotal moment for both of them. The easy choice would have been to give up, succumb the tiredness and try again next year. However, that would mean to lose at life, again.

'What was the point of reincarnation if I took the easy choice now? Am I going to waste this chance and live a life full of regrets once again?'.

Enma knew that if he gave up, than he would never be able to really be free from the shackles of his past life, that is, the fear of not being good enough.

Suddenly Enma stopped, eyes pointed down and a shadow casted over his face.

Hissss!

He took the deepest breath he could.

"NO! I'll never give up now! I will become an hunter!".

He leapt forward and sprinted so fast that in seconds he had only Satotz in front of him.

"Wh..at??".

Leorio, who also was about to stop, couldn't help but scream. "Huuuaaa! Screw you pretty boy!! I'm not any less than you!".

He threw his handbag away and burst forward with newfound energies.

Gon and Killua, who were waiting at the sides, were both stunned, albeit for different reasons.

"Jeez, I was sure they were going to drop out. To think that for a moment I believed that the raven guy was a big shot.. Tsk! He fooled me with that serious face and the flashy outfit!".

"I think they were cool!".

Gon smiled and, throwing his fishing pole forward, picked Leorio's bag up.

...

Another hour passed, and stairs started to appear.

'We are near the 80km mark, I should pick up the pace a little'.

And so he did, the merciless examiner.

"Do you really want to became an hunter for the money? Despite your questionable character, you are not that shallow!" Kurapika asked a shirtless Leorio.

"Bah! What do you know! Yes! Its only for the money!".

"I don't believe it either Leorio! You would have gave up right there and than if it really were the case!".

Enma said. The 2 hit it off pretty well after what happened, and thanks to that, Enma also got to know the rest of the crew.

They were talking about what lead them to choose the hunter path and, after Kurapika, it was Leorio turn.

"Humpf! Yes it is! Money can buy anything, from treasure, to people…. even lives!!"

"Take that back Leorio! Are you trying to insult the memory of the Kurta clan?"

"Why? That's the truth. If I had money, my friend wouldn't have died!".

The other 2 fliched at that revelation.

"Mhm….An illness?".

"Yes! It was curable..but the operation costed a fortune! I was naïve, I even though of becoming a doctor myself..Do you know?? To become a doctor you also need money! Do you get it now?? The world run on money! That's why I'm going to become the richest hunter!".

Said Leorio, while a tear threatened to roll down his eyes.

'Well, I didn't remember that! So Leorio also has a sad past'.

"I'm sorry Leorio…".

"Ahh! Don't worry, I will definitely succeed this time".

"What about you Enma? Why would you choose to become an hunter?" Kurapika looked at Enma this time.

"Me? Well, all my life, up to this point, it's been completely meaningless. I've always lived in a loop, a prison with no escape. I was dead even before I started living. To me the hunter exam is a chance to change my destiny and break free of that oppression. Sorry guys, I don't have a goal as concrete as yours, I just want to enjoy my life to the fullest!".

'What I forgot to mention, however, is that, to have freedom, one also need strength…'

"Despite your dumb look, you are pretty deep!".

"Who are you calling dumb, shitty old man!".

"That is a good dream Enma!".

Said the ever so kind Kurapika, at which Enma grinned a little.

"I can't believe you had a normal life with that face! What a bastard!".

"Shut up! It's not my fault that you look like a 45 years old conman!".

"Bastard..!I'm a teen!".

…

"The exit…finally!!!" Someone shouted.