Atop the peak of Biscayne Forest Park.
A biting mountain wind blew past, fluttering the sweat-soaked hair of the Examinees.
Inside that massive iron pot, the strange aroma of boiled eggs had not yet fully dissipated; mixed with the joy of surviving a disaster, it lingered atop the mountain peak.
Menchi stood at the front of the crowd and announced clearly.
"The second phase, second half—officially ends here!"
"A total of fifty-five people who successfully retrieved the Spider Eagle Eggs and returned have passed!"
Because Leo had hunted down most of the creatures in the Shimeile Wetland, the number of successful candidates was far higher than in the original story.
As her voice fell, an irrepressible cheer erupted from the crowd.
Some sat slumped on the ground, panting heavily; some patted each other on the shoulders; others looked up at the sky with relieved smiles.
They had experienced the thrill of jumping off a cliff, the hardship of climbing, and the taste bud shock brought by that boiled egg—at this moment, they could finally breathe a small sigh of relief.
But everyone knew that this was just the beginning.
The real trial was still ahead.
Night fell.
The Hunter Association's massive airship sailed steadily through the deepening twilight.
The engine emitted a low, rhythmic hum, like the steady breathing of a giant beast.
Inside the cabin, the Examinees who had passed the second phase were already fast asleep—two consecutive days of extreme trials had exhausted all their physical strength.
Nico lay in a corner, eyes closed, breathing steadily.
Uvogin was beside him, also with his eyes closed.
His breathing was light and his body relaxed, but even in sleep, he maintained a posture ready for battle—a habit formed in the Thousand Needle Forest Valley.
In another room of the airship, Gon was curled up on the floor with a smile on his face; he had just finished the Ball-snatching game with Chairman Netero.
Killua looked displeased, his hands tucked behind his head. He appeared to be asleep, but those cat-like eyes shimmered slightly in the darkness. Being toyed with by Netero throughout the Ball-snatching game had left him in a foul mood.
Leorio and Kurapika were asleep, leaning against each other.
In another corner of the cabin, Hisoka sat leaning against the wall, building a pyramid of playing cards.
He wasn't sleeping, nor did he need to.
His golden pupils flickered slightly in the darkness, his face wearing that signature half-smile.
Five months ago, when he woke up in the ruins on the outskirts of Niujiala City, his body was covered in wounds and blood pooled around him.
Lying there, gazing at the sky, every detail of that battle flashed through his mind—Leo's punch, Chrollo's "Sun and Moon," and the sense of powerlessness when he finally lost consciousness.
He had lost, completely and utterly.
The Genei Ryodan was wiped out, and he had nearly died there as well.
And Leo, the man who had left him in the ruins without a second thought, had grown stronger once again.
Hisoka lay there, silent for a long time.
Then he laughed. The laughter was low at first, then gradually grew louder, finally turning into a near-maniacal cackle.
He stood up, staggered away from the ruins, and vanished into the night.
Five months later, he had come here, to the Hunter Exam.
Not for a license, but just to find some fun; the smile on Hisoka's lips deepened.
Meanwhile, at the top of the World Tree.
Leo lay in a massive bird's nest, cushioned by soft hay and down feathers.
Five chubby chicks huddled beside him, sleeping soundly, occasionally letting out "chirp-chirp" sounds in their sleep.
The night sky was dotted with stars, and the Milky Way stretched across the heavens.
The crisp air unique to high altitudes was refreshing, and the distant sea shimmered under the moonlight.
Leo's eyes were closed, his breathing steady.
This night, he slept very peacefully and soundly.
Dawn broke.
The first rays of morning sunlight spilled onto the World Tree, golden light creeping down the trunk and awakening the sleeping forest.
Leo opened his eyes.
The five chicks were still sleeping, huddled together in a fluffy, adorable mass.
He gently moved aside the wings pressing against him, stood up, and walked to the edge of the nest.
In the distance, a massive airship was slowly approaching.
Sunlight hit the side of the airship, making the Hunter Association's emblem printed there particularly striking.
Leo smiled.
"Hmm, it looks like they've arrived."
With his hands in his pockets, he stood at the top of the world, quietly watching the airship draw closer and closer.
Inside the airship cabin.
An announcement pierced the silence of the morning.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting. We... have arrived at our destination. Examinees, please look out the window."
The Examinees woke from their slumber, rubbing their eyes groggily and instinctively looking out the window.
Then—everyone's eyes widened instantly.
"Whoa—!!!"
"What a tall tree!!!"
Gasps of amazement rose one after another, echoing throughout the cabin.
Outside, a tree so massive it was hard to describe stood tall.
Its trunk was as thick as a mountain peak, extending upward and further upward until it reached the edge of vision, shimmering with golden light in the morning sun.
The announcement continued.
"The one before you is the tallest tree in the world—the World Tree. It stands 1,784 meters above the ground; no building constructed by mankind can surpass its height."
The cabin fell silent as everyone held their breath, listening to the voice over the broadcast.
"Every year, about three thousand people attempt the tree-climbing challenge. However, ninety-four percent of them give up before reaching the one-thousand-meter mark. Another four percent request rescue, paying expensive rescue fees. And the remaining one percent..."
The broadcast paused.
"...fall to their deaths from the tree."
A deathly silence filled the cabin.
"Those strong enough to reach the top safely and descend securely—there are only thirty such people a year."
Someone swallowed hard.
Cold sweat broke out on someone's forehead.
Someone clenched their fists, Battle Intent burning in their eyes.
One Examinee said with a trembling voice.
"W-we... our next test... it won't be held here, will it?"
No one answered him.
Because everyone already had the answer in their hearts.
Gon, who had returned to the cabin from another room, was leaning against the window, his eyes shining brilliantly.
"Amazing! This tree is so tall!"
Leorio stood by the window, cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Tall... it's a bit excessively tall, isn't it..."
Killua stood with his hands in his pockets, squinting out the window.
His expression was calm, even carrying a hint of disdain—but deep within those cat-like eyes, a serious light flickered.
It was only 1,784 meters; he could climb it too.
Kurapika analyzed calmly.
"If the next phase is indeed held on this tree, it should test physical strength, endurance, and psychological fortitude. Especially for those afraid of heights, it might be very disadvantageous..."
Suddenly, Gon shouted excitedly.
"Look! There's someone at the top of the tree!"
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing.
At the top of that giant tree, in the morning sun, a figure stood quietly at the edge of the bird's nest, hands in pockets, looking down.
Leorio's eyes widened.
"There... there really is someone!"
Killua narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the figure.
The distance was too great to see the face clearly, but that indifferent and composed posture made his heart skip a beat.
Kurapika whispered.
"Our next test... might be to climb to the top of the tree."
In the crowd, Nico and Uvogin also saw that familiar figure.
The two looked at each other, surprise flashing in their eyes.
"It's Master!"
Both whispered at the same time.
Nico smiled.
"I didn't expect Master to be an examiner."
Uvogin also nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his lips.
In the corner of the cabin, Hisoka remained seated against the wall, building his playing card pyramid.
He didn't look out the window, seemingly uninterested in the tree.
But the corners of his mouth curled up in an eerie arc.