With the two zones marked, Netero smiles before his expression turns serious, and the candidates notice immediately.
"Now, you two!" Netero says, pointing toward Neffi and Shalnark. "You stand at the very front, I won't hear any complaints! The others, make sure you have enough space to your left and right and stand within the zone I've marked. Your task is not to faint or leave the zone. As I said, I will only require you to hold out for twenty seconds."
Shalnark and Neffi briefly look at each other, realizing why they are being treated differently.
It's Nen... what is he going to do? Don't tell me he's testing their... willpower that way. Is he trying to intimidate them with his Aura? No way, Netero is crazy strong. If he doesn't hold back, these examinees might faint within a second or two; they could even get injured....
Also, didn't he just argue with me that an exam needs to be equal? Why is he now treating Nen users and non-Nen users differently? This old man makes up the rules however he wants to.
I bet he just wants to test them to satisfy his own curiosity.
It's quite a distance away from where Netero is standing now, but still.
"The chairman... is he serious?!" Biscuit asks.
"He will probably hold back, because if the chairman goes all out, even those two at the front will probably unconsciously back off," Knov says, appearing proud.
"That is not cute at all!" Cutie cries out. "Maybe I should leave before he starts."
Morel just smiles, looking genuinely excited.
"Hoho, however, I'll make it even easier for you. You don't even have to use your willpower to withstand my will. I'll leave it to my cute student," Netero announces, surprising everyone.
Hopefully he means Biscuit, Morel, or Knov...
"Auren," Netero says, grinning toward him. "Get over here already, you lazy brat."
"Damn old man," Auren complains as he slowly walks over to him.
Auren then stands next to Netero. "What are you doing? You should do it yourself."
"Shut up! Did you ever try out this exercise?" Netero asks, unable to hide his good mood.
Why does he want me to do it? This is just silly. He'll end up doing nothing for the entire exam. Just having a fun week.
"No... only small bursts of my... 'willpower' to intimidate people, also, are you sure I can even do it? As I said, I haven't even really tried it out on people," Auren replies honestly.
"Hoho, not everyone is worthy of seeing my full Aura, so of course I can't do it to mere examinees. I think your level would be enough of a challenge," Netero replies. "Don't tell me you'll hold back because you like those two?"
"No, I don't believe I even need to," Auren replies honestly.
"Then do it!" Netero says, twisting his face into an annoyed look, though clearly in a humorous way.
"Fine..." Auren replies.
The candidates look confused. Some whisper among themselves.
"Using willpower to force us to retreat? That's silly."
"I respect the examiners, but that's just impossible."
"If that is the exam, it's a free pass!"
"I'll give you a minute to prepare..." Netero continues. "What you're about to be confronted with may be your future, but it may also be what leads to your ultimate demise. Focus yourselves, steel your wills, show me your potential... your willpower!"
While the confused examinees focus hard, Netero whispers to Auren, "I believe you realize that you should not attack them with Aura. Merely pressure them with it."
"Yes, I do," Auren replies. "Though I won't promise anything..."
"The Hunter exam is always risky," Netero muses, stroking his beard. "That's just fine. Give it your best!"
As the minute passes, Netero suddenly yells, "Begin!"
Auren does not hesitate to reveal his Ren. He takes a few seconds to push his Aura to its upper limit, still holding back just a little, before directing his will forward, making sure not to change the basic form of his Aura into an actual attack.
This is... not quite En... it's different. But this much... should suffice!
Immediately, the examinees turn pale, and their bodies begin to tremble violently.
Neffi and Shalnark also look affected, as Auren is quite serious. Still, both of them use Ren and more or less withstand his Aura without even showing a reaction.
With just over 10 seconds remaining, the examinees all clutch their throats, seemingly unable to breathe.
My Aura... it's as if they're on the bottom of the ocean. I can see it on their faces. They can't breathe. Mere seconds are enough to make them feel like they're drowning. This is an interesting discovery.
Of the 9 examinees in the back, two step back one after another, desperately fleeing to the edge of the roof, where a few Hunters are standing and blocking Auren's Aura, protecting them.
Two more faint outright.
With five examinees remaining, Auren does not adjust or change his approach. He simply continues, not caring too much about eliminating more, just interested in making the exam fair.
In the end, one more faints, allowing four to withstand his pressure.
Seeing Netero signal to him, Auren immediately stops releasing his Aura and turns around, shrugging.
"The sixth exam of the 285th Hunter exam! Six people pass!" Netero yells, while everyone else claps loudly.
The now successful examinees stare at Auren in shock, who looks calm and quite relaxed.
Auren simply walks back to the other examiners, who all stare at him in surprise, seemingly not expecting such a performance from him.
"Little brat, you even held back," Biscuit mutters, looking annoyed.
The others, excluding Morel, who already knows about Auren's prowess, remain utterly silent, especially Knov.
Auren listens to Netero praising the remaining examinees and declaring their success.
"..."
Somehow... this feels empty. I don't know why, but was what I did really that impressive? Even the arrogant and prideful Knov seems to think so.
"..."
Later that evening, Netero, in place of Beans, who didn't attend this exam so he could continue doing what would normally be Netero's job, hands out the new licenses to the new Hunters.
During that time, Auren had sneakily handed out around fifteen more cards to the failed examinees of the last exams, nearly all of whom were still close by.
Finally, after a few hours, a smiling Neffi arrives and hugs him.
"See! I did it," she says proudly, showing off her license.
"Well, congratulations," Auren replies. "Though I didn't really have any doubts. Anyone with a good head on their shoulders should pass if they can use Nen."
"Hehe," she says, grinning. "I didn't think things would turn out like this... you know I almost gave up everything two years ago...."
"You don't need to remember that time..." Auren tries to say, but Neffi stops him.
"No," she says resolutely. "By now, I can look quite fondly at that time... after you bailed me out of that damn tower. It all turned out okay... not just okay, but great!"
Auren, intending to reply, stops as he senses someone nearby.
"If you want to say goodbye, come out now," Auren says.
"Hehe," Shalnark says, looking innocent. "I didn't want to ruin this precious moment."
"Anyway," he says, grabbing his new Hunter license and spinning it with two fingers. "I got what I wanted. With this license, I can buy any information in the entire world... as long as I pay. After seeing your Aura earlier, I think the boss regrets not forcing you to join the Troupe at that time...."
"It's good he didn't," Neffi says forcefully.
"Then how about you, girl?" Shalnark asks. "You qualify as well."
"Not interested!" Neffi says without needing to think.
I think Shalnark is actually serious... so Neffi is at that level already? Probably among the weakest... nevertheless, considering that she is very young, just 16 years old... give it 2 more years and her ranking would change. I guess she really made some real progress.
"Auren... I'll see you soon. If you need anything, give me a call, okay?" Shalnark asks with a grin.
"I'll return those words," Auren replies.
In a good mood, Shalnark leaves, his license obtained exactly as he planned.
Competent guy... I guess he is a know-it-all.
"Shall we leave?" Neffi asks Auren.
"I have a dinner with the other examiners. Please wait a little. After that, I'll leave with you," Auren informs her.
Auren, along with the other examiners, visits a high-class restaurant in Yorknew. Under the name of the Hunter Association, they have rented a large back room, and within minutes, they are served their drinks and food, with a small army of servers focused solely on them.
After fulfilling their duties, they quickly leave, granting the examiners some privacy.
"So, how was your first exam, Auren?" Netero asks, seemingly in a good mood.
"Interesting. I guess I learned a lot. However, I don't really see how the current exam can be improved at all. It's extremely subjective... even random. Though I think anyone with a decent head on their shoulders, along with a strong body, could have passed the exam quite easily," Auren replies.
"I agree with you for once," Biscuit says, nodding. "This exam was one of the fairest I've seen in a while. I can't even point out a single unfair phase."
Auren continues talking with the others, enjoying the company of Morel and even Biscuit, who now behaves a little softer toward him, her outright hostility long gone.
Starting with Knov, Morel, Cutie, and finally Biscuit, the examiners split up, all leaving on a fairly positive note.
"Well, old man... I guess I should thank you for the training before I leave," Auren says, standing up as well.
"Auren, what are your plans now?" Netero asks.
"I'll probably do what you suggested..." Auren admits. "I still have a lot to learn, which may sound like a bad thing, but that means I also have a lot of room to grow. I remember the made-up silly story you told me about training in the mountains for years. Clearly, you've been exaggerating, but I want to try something similar to that. I'd love to be an examiner again, but I realize everyone needs to rotate, so I obviously won't participate next year... but I'd be grateful if you could slot me in for the year after that."
"That would be... the 287th Hunter Exam," Netero says, smiling. "I'll agree. You can participate. To be perfectly honest, I'd prefer if you would just focus on martial arts, Nen, and being a Hunter. Participating in the exam as an examiner obviously counts. Much more preferable than whatever you are doing for that strange organization of yours."
!!! What?
He... he knows?! No, it might be a bluff, act calm.
"Not sure what you are talking about, but I'll always focus on myself," Auren replies calmly.
"Ho, that organization that Pariston is getting interested in himself. You know he's a rat, and I know he's a rat. Obviously, I'm paying close attention to what he does. Ever since you cooperated with him, that extended to you as well," Netero explains. "Anyone Pariston is interested in such a way is worth paying attention to as well. Obviously, you proved me right... a year ago and even more now. Though there is no need to worry about you. I don't believe you or your friends are up to no good, or else Morel would have never let you be. Also... after spending these weeks with you, I got a pretty good feeling about you and your character."
He knows that, too?! Was I blind?! He was testing me! It was not about training... he... what did he find out?
"If you'd indulge this old man... with someone like you in charge, I'd have nothing to worry about whatever you and your people are doing. However, the same can't be said about your mysterious leader. That person greatly worries me, and I haven't been able to find out a lot about... her. So I'd urge you to become stronger and stronger. Should the time come, I'll expect you to do the right thing, not only for yourself, but for the majority."
"..."
"I'll do what I think is right," Auren simply replies as he turns around and walks away. However, before he leaves the private room of the restaurant, he briefly whispers, "Thank you."
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A/N: Always thankful for Power Stones, Comments, and Reviews. Thank you for reading!
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