In the dim, endless tunnel of the first phase of the Hunter Exam, a young boy with unnervingly quiet eyes joins the crowd. His name is Kuro, age fourteen. He possesses a natural talent for observation and a hidden Nen ability he keeps locked away in his heart.
When he teams up with Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, his deadpan humor clashes with Leorio while his precise advice impresses Kurapika. On Zevil Island, a split-second metallic gleam on his hands catches Killua's eye—a secret the youn
Hunter x Hunter: Liquid Steel - Foreign Object in the Underground Tunnel
The entrance to the underground tunnel gaped open in the basement of an abandoned building in Zaban City. Dim fluorescent lights barely illuminated the passageway. The air was damp, mingled with the faint scent of rusted iron.
The 404 examinees gathered, buzzing with restless energy.
Examiner Satotz turned around, hands still in his pockets. A lean man, his purple hair slicked back tightly. Behind his glasses, his eyes surveyed the examinees as if appraising them.
" I will now explain the contents of the First Phase."
His voice carried well. The murmuring among the examinees ceased instantly.
" You will run through this underground passage. The total distance is approximately 80 kilometers. Keep up with my pace without falling behind. Those who drop out will be disqualified on the spot."
With that, Satotz turned on his heel.
" Begin. Follow me."
Satotz started running. It was a relaxed pace, something you could call jogging. However, the examinees understood in the next moment. This was no mere jog.
Within ten minutes, dropouts began to appear.
Before even twenty minutes had passed, people were collapsing one after another, gasping for breath. The rule to keep up without falling behind was brutally clear. Those who stopped, those whose pace slowed, were silently led away by staff members blocking the path.
Amidst the crowd, Kuro ran with an efficient, flawless form.
His black hair was slicked back neatly and tied into a short tail behind him. His deep black eyes, which seemed to absorb light, were fixed solely on what lay ahead. No emotion could be read from them. He hadn't even unbuttoned his high-necked, military-style coat, wearing it with dark navy trousers and black leather shoes. His running was so composed, it looked as if he had come for a stroll.
His lean, toned body was more mature than his age suggested. From his left wrist to his elbow, faint silver lines occasionally surfaced and vanished. The silver pendant, a memento of his master, swayed gently beneath his coat.
His posture was straight, his stance flawless, and it didn't break even while running. The surrounding commotion, the screams of those dropping out—none of it seemed to reach his ears.
(*So they've gathered again this year. I figured there wouldn't be anyone decent, but...*)
Killua, who had been running with a bored expression among the crowd, narrowed his blue eyes.
His spiky silver hair shimmered faintly under the fluorescent lights. His large eyes, reminiscent of a feline, had locked onto Kuro's back.
(*Is that guy... around my age? And his running form is strange.*)
Killua's observational skills were those honed as an assassin.
Kuro wasn't using any wasted energy at all. As if he were a machine, only the necessary muscles moved, while the rest were completely relaxed. There was no sign of fatigue or desperation.
(*Well, looks like there's an interesting one here.*)
That was when it happened.
While running, Satotz released a faint aura. To an ordinary person unaware of Nen, it was something they'd only feel as a slight pressure or unease. A subtle intimidation meant for screening.
Kuro's shoulders stiffened for just a moment.
A minuscule reaction. But Killua didn't miss it.
(*Ah... He reacted just now.*)
A dangerous smile played on Killua's face.
Meanwhile, a bit further back, Leorio was gasping for air.
" D-Dammit... Why the hell is the First Phase a marathon...!"
A tall man in a suit. His sunglass-clad face was drenched in sweat, flushed red from heat and exhaustion. The large bag on his back was throwing off his running balance.
" Leorio, don't waste your breath. You'll drain your stamina."
The beautiful blond boy running beside him said in a calm voice. Kurapika's running was also efficient and refined. His indigo clothes, resembling a traditional ethnic costume, swayed quietly in the pale light.
" Sh-Shut up! I'm...!"
That's when it happened.
Leorio's feet tangled. His knees buckled from fatigue. He pitched forward, and the bag on his back slipped from his shoulder.
" Leorio!"
Kurapika shouted. But if they stopped, they'd be disqualified.
In the next instant, a single hand casually lifted the slipping bag.
It was Kuro.
Without a word, Kuro took Leorio's bag and continued running without slowing down. His hand supported the heavy luggage as easily as if grasping air, only his regular footsteps echoing. He glanced over his shoulder just once, not even raising an eyebrow. His indifference was as if he had picked up a piece of dust.
" Ah... H-Hey!"
" I'm sorry, thank you! You saved us!"
Kurapika expressed his gratitude, but Kuro didn't even look back. His black eyes were fixed on Satotz ahead, as always.
" What's with that guy...?"
" I don't know. But I'll make sure to thank him."
"Hey!"
A bright voice called out.
Before he knew it, a boy was running alongside Kuro.
Spiky, deep green hair. Large brown eyes that looked sleepy yet gleamed with curiosity.
A small body, about 154cm tall, with a fishing rod on his back. He barely reached Kuro's chest.
Gon Freecss peered into Kuro's face.
" You're really strong! That bag looks super heavy!"
Kuro didn't answer.
" I'm Gon! What's your name? How old are you? Why did you take the Hunter Exam?"
A rapid-fire series of questions. It was pure, innocent curiosity.
Normally, it would be annoying.
But Kuro's mouth moved just a little. A subtle expression that could be seen as a wry smile.
(*This guy is...*)
There was absolutely no malice in Gon's gaze. He simply said what he found interesting. That purity, paradoxically, pricked a small thorn into Kuro's heart.
(*A light like this is more dazzling than anything.*)
The dark flame locked deep within his heart crackled faintly.
" Hey, tell me!"
"Oi, let me in on this too."
This time, Killua cut in.
The silver-haired boy lined up next to Gon, eyeing Kuro appraisingly. His blue eyes held a dangerous glint.
" You saw the examiner's 'that' earlier, didn't you?"
A direct question.
Kuro's black eyes squarely caught Killua's for the first time.
As they ran, their gazes clashed.
A moment of silence.
" ...You did too."
Kuro's voice was low and flat.
But that was enough for Killua. It was the moment they silently confirmed that they were both Nen users.
" Heh... I knew it."
The dangerous smile returned to Killua's face.
" Huh? What? What are you two talking about?"
Gon tilted his head.
But his expression was serious. Even if he didn't understand the words, he clearly sensed the tension that had passed between the two. He leaned forward, looking back and forth between their faces.
" What's your name?"
Killua asked.
" Kuro."
Just one word.
" Kuro, huh. I'll remember it."
Killua grinned and said nothing more.
But his eyes spoke volumes.
*—I'll have you show me exactly what kind of ability you have later.*
The light of the exit began to stream into the long underground tunnel.
At first, it was a tiny speck of white, like the point of a needle. Then it gradually grew larger, dyeing the entire tunnel white.
Sighs of relief leaked from the examinees.
" Haa... Finally, it's over..."
Leorio wiped the sweat from his forehead.
However, even as Kuro looked at the light of the exit, his eyes were seeing something else entirely.
At that moment, Kuro opened his mouth for the first time while running.
" Examiner, will the next phase be more interesting?"
Satotz didn't look back.
But it was clear he smiled, just with his mouth.
" Whether it's interesting or not depends on the person."
Deep within Kuro's black eyes, a dark flame blazed for an instant. His gaze seemed to burn right through the examiner's back, but it was quickly veiled by a curtain of emotion.
It wasn't that he wanted a Hunter License.
It was something beyond that—
What he sought wasn't a qualification, nor fame. It was just one clue.
A mere means to pursue the enemy who killed his master.
" Kuro!"
Gon's voice rang out, as if to drown out that dark flame.
" Let's talk more after the exam is over! I want to get to know you better!"
Kuro didn't answer.
But for just a fleeting moment, it felt like the corners of his mouth relaxed.
(*This guy is... really...*)
A blinding light overflowed from the tunnel.
The 404 examinees, each with their own thoughts in their hearts, continued running towards the light of the exit.
The number of dropouts had already exceeded half.
The 287th Hunter Exam had only just begun.
And as Kuro stepped into that light, he thought to himself.
(*The Hunter Exam, huh. Just as my master told me, it's absurd, but an interesting stage. That silver-haired one—Killua, was it?—he likely stands in the same realm as me. Those eyes are the eyes of someone playing a game. And that boy, Gon. He closes the distance immediately, without any wariness. It's annoying, but strangely, it didn't feel bad.*)
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