"Thank you, Chairman Netero," Ryker said politely, bowing slightly.
"Before you go," Netero scratched his beard thoughtfully. "That technique you used... you learned it from Killua-kun in one glance, didn't you? And you copied my footwork as well."
Killua's ears perked up. Gon leaned in, eyes wide.
"Pretty much," Ryker shrugged. "Just observation and mimicry."
[Super Copy] (Gold).
It let him become a human Xerox machine. Though Nen abilities, like bloodline limits, couldn't be copied without a direct trait drop.
"Fascinating," Netero chuckled. "You're the most talented genius this old man has ever seen. Now then, you two boys—want to keep playing?"
He spun the volleyball on one finger.
"Yes!" Gon cheered.
"Hmph. Fine," Killua muttered, refusing to back down after seeing Ryker succeed.
Ryker sat on the bench, watching them get absolutely destroyed by the old man.
[Dawn]
Gon and Killua had passed out around 3 AM, exhausted. Netero didn't even look tired.
"What an entertaining night," Netero said, looking at the sleeping boys. "Ryker-kun, I look forward to seeing you at the Association. You have a bright future."
"Thank you, Chairman."
Ding.
"Attention all candidates. We have arrived at the destination."
The airship descended onto the peak of a solitary tower that pierced the clouds like a needle.
The candidates filed out, groggy and confused.
Beans, the little green secretary, announced the rules.
"This is the Trick Tower. Your objective is simple: reach the ground within 72 hours. That is all. Good luck."
Then the airship left.
"Wait... how are we supposed to get down?" someone asked.
"Look! That guy's climbing!"
A muscular man with climbing gear was already rappelling down the sheer cliff face.
"Hah! Suckers! For a professional rock climber like me, this is easy! First place is mine!" he shouted.
But before anyone could follow his lead—
"AHHHHH! HELP!!"
A horrific scream echoed from below.
Flying creatures with human faces and leathery wings swarmed the climber. They tore into him mid-air, shredding flesh and scattering blood like confetti.
Thunk! Thunk!
Two kitchen knives flew from the platform, embedding themselves in the skulls of two creatures. They shrieked and plummeted.
[You have killed a [Human-Faced Nighthawk].]
[Acquired: [Omnivore] (Blue)... REJECTED.]
[You have killed a [Human-Faced Nighthawk].]
[Acquired: [Sharp Teeth] (Blue)... REJECTED.]
Ryker glanced at the fleeing monsters.
Name: Human-Faced Nighthawk
Traits: [Omnivore] (Blue), [Sharp Teeth] (Blue), [Aggressive] (Green)...
Trash mobs.
Not worth the effort. The XP conversion rate for unrelated traits was abysmal.
The candidates stared at Ryker in terror.
"He killed those things from fifty meters away..."
"If that hit a person..."
"Stay away from him."
Even Hisoka narrowed his eyes.
Long-range projectile mastery? Interesting.
"Found it!" Gon called out, pressing a hidden mechanism on the floor.
A stone tile flipped open, revealing a passage below.
"Oh! There are trap doors!" Leorio cheered.
More candidates found similar panels. Each only allowed one person through.
"Looks like we're splitting up," Kurapika said grimly. "But if we choose panels close to each other, maybe we'll end up in the same area."
"Let's do it!" Gon pumped his fist.
"See you down there!" Leorio grinned.
"Stay safe, everyone!"
The five of them chose adjacent panels and jumped.
This should be the world's shortest goodbye, Ryker thought, recalling the canon. In the original story, the four of them landed in the same room. He should end up with them.
Clunk.
The trapdoor flipped.
Ryker fell.
Darkness swallowed him.
[Inside the Tower]
Ryker landed softly. His eyes adjusted to the dim light.
But there were no familiar voices.
No Gon. No Killua. No Kurapika or Leorio.
Instead, several pairs of eyes stared at him from the shadows.
Ryker's vision sharpened.
Hisoka.
Illumi (disguised as Gittarackur).
Hanzo.
Ponzu.
And himself.
Ryker blinked.
Oh.
Oh no.
These are my dear cellmates.
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