NenMaster
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Chapter 63
🕑 Added 2024-11-28 16:06:02 +0000 UTCDongba managed to rush back just moments before the entrance deadline.
Judging by his pale face, it was clear he hadn’t had a pleasant experience.
Once the entry time ended, faint noises of commotion could still be heard from outside the hall.
“What?! The entry time is over?!”
“Are you kidding me?! We went through so much to get here, and now you’re telling us we can’t enter?!”
“We haven’t even started, and we’re already eliminated? I’m not okay with this!”
“Let us in!”
When those outside realized they had lost their chance, the commotion outside grew louder and louder.
Inside the hall, however, the candidates paid no attention to the noise. They were patiently waiting for the first-round examiner to appear.
“Thud! Thud!”
A few muffled thuds sounded from outside, and the ruckus abruptly stopped.
Based on Morin’s hearing, it seemed the black-suited exam supervisors had resorted to some “physical persuasion” to calm the crowd.
Suddenly, a soothing contralto voice echoed from above, unexpectedly relaxing everyone in the hall.
“Welcome, candidates.”
“Thank you for waiting. As of now, the entrance period for this year’s Hunter Examination has officially ended.”
“First of all, welcome to this year’s Hunter Exam!”
A woman dressed in feathered clothing, complete with a pair of pristine white wings on her back, gracefully descended from the air. She landed precisely in the middle of the stage at the front of the hall.
“Although you all have the determination to become Hunters, let me remind you one more time…”
Her stern expression and no-nonsense demeanor immediately gave off the impression that she wasn’t an easy person to deal with.
As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere in the hall shifted dramatically. Every candidate took on a serious and focused look.
Meanwhile, Morin had quietly put away the novel and comic book he had been reading and was now observing the woman with a peculiar expression.
“The future member of the Zodiacs, Rooster Kuruk?”
Morin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “She’s a hot-tempered woman, known as a Plant Hunter, musician, and dancer. Her personality is prideful and critical. In the Chairman Election arc, she was responsible for distributing voting papers to all Hunters, and in the Dark Continent expedition, she joined the biology group.”
“After Netero’s death, she became part of the reformist faction pushing for changes within the Hunter Association.”
Silently recalling Kuruk’s background, Morin realized that her presence as the first-round examiner indicated just how short-staffed the Hunter Association was this year.
On stage, Kuruk surveyed the room with a raised chin and extended her index finger.
“Let me make this clear: the Hunter Exam is extremely brutal. Those with bad luck or insufficient strength could suffer severe injuries or even die.”
“It’s not uncommon for candidates to be eliminated prematurely due to clashes with each other. If anyone wants to back out, feel free to leave through the door behind you.”
Her formal yet stern announcement didn’t deter a single candidate.
“No way,” they thought. “After all the effort it took to find the first exam site, how could we back out now?”
With no one leaving, Kuruk scanned the room again and said calmly:
“This year, there are 555 participants. The test officially begins now.”
“I am your first-round examiner. Due to the high number of candidates, this round of testing will have two parts.”
She raised one finger.
“The first part: After I finish explaining the rules, approximately 150 feathers will begin floating down from above.”
“In five minutes, those still holding a feather in their hands will proceed to the second part of this round. Those without a feather will be eliminated.”
Then, with a faintly cruel smile, she added:
“Oh, and one more thing: there are no rules during the scramble for the feathers. Just get your hands on one however you can.”
Kuruk’s declaration caused the temperature in the room to drop further. The candidates all glared at one another, their faces filled with caution and hostility.
“No rules at all… That means…”
Morin muttered softly to himself: “Any method can be used, even if it means eliminating other candidates.”
Just as his words fell, dozens of pristine white feathers began drifting down from the ceiling.
“Go! Go! Go!”
Every candidate’s eyes sharpened, watching the feathers intently as they descended.
“Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to mention…”
Kuruk’s voice rang out again. “The feathers are just ordinary feathers. If they get damaged in the process, they won’t be considered valid.”
This additional rule made the candidates’ expressions grow even more tense.
The situation was already challenging enough with 555 candidates scrambling for only 150 feathers. Now, they had to worry about keeping the fragile feathers intact during the chaos.
Just as the crowd was mulling over this, a sudden noise interrupted their thoughts.
“Toot! Toot! Toot!”
Everyone turned toward the sound, only to see Morin holding a bizarre-looking horn with seven holes, playing it with a mischievous expression.
The moment Morin blew into the horn…
“Screeeech!”
The descending feathers came to an abrupt halt mid-air, as if someone had pressed the pause button.
