"This…"
Seeing the basketball fall cleanly into Lan Fei's hands, Chairman Netero gave a helpless chuckle.
"You little brat… that's obscene. Even I can't do anything in the face of the speed of light."
"Lan Fei… he actually got the basketball."
Killua's fists tightened at his sides.
Killua, born into the Zoldyck assassin family, had never once doubted his own overwhelming talent. It was why he came to take the Hunter Exam—to taste challenge and excitement, things he'd rarely encountered before. In his mind, there was no rival among his peers.
But Lan Fei kept shattering that belief.
Each layer of strength he revealed was more mysterious than the last—his speed, his Taijutsu, and now, light itself? The gap between them felt unbridgeable.
"I have to admit it…" Killua's gaze sharpened. "I can't compare to him right now."
"Lan Fei! That was amazing!"
At that moment, Gon dashed forward, face beaming with excitement. He threw his arms around Lan Fei, full of admiration.
"Gon—hey, hey—too tight!"
"I'm not your girlfriend!"
Lan Fei struggled helplessly, face red with embarrassment.
"Hee hee! But you're my brother!"
Gon grinned innocently.
"Chairman Netero, what now?"
"You don't have to say anything," Lan Fei said coolly, spinning the basketball on one finger. His smile was easy, but behind it was the sharpness of someone fully aware of his victory.
"Ugh…"
"…Alright. I admit defeat!"
Netero spread his hands in surrender, chuckling with genuine admiration.
Originally, this little game had just been a warm-up—something light to test the kids. He hadn't expected to lose. Not at all.
But Lan Fei… this kid broke all expectations.
The speed of light? Even with Ken, Shu, and the battle-hardened instincts that had allowed him to trade blows with the Chimera Ant King Meruem, Netero couldn't keep up. Unless he used his Hyakushiki Kannon and his full Ren, there was no way to react in time.
And beyond that speed, Lan Fei's close combat skills were terrifying on their own—flames igniting with air pressure alone. How could this not be absurd?
"Lan Fei, I declare you qualified to become a Hunter."
"You're exempt from the rest of the exam."
"Once this year's exam concludes, you'll head to the final venue to receive your license."
Netero's voice was calm, but in his eyes burned a deeper appreciation.
A thirteen-year-old with this level of speed and physical prowess—if he properly awakened his Nen in the future…
That might be terrifying.
"As expected of the Chairman of the Exam Committee…" Killua mused. "One word from him, and Lan Fei skips the rest of the tests and qualifies directly."
"Lan Fei, congratulations!"
"You passed before the exam is even over!"
"If Aunt Mito hears, she'll be thrilled!"
Gon's eyes sparkled as he looked up at Lan Fei, overflowing with admiration.
"Gon, you better work hard for the rest of the tests too!"
"You will be a Hunter."
Lan Fei ruffled Gon's hair with a smile.
"Little devil…"
Netero's voice cut in again, and he stepped forward.
"Chairman Netero."
Lan Fei nodded, his gaze steady.
"Earlier, you said your physical technique is called Hachimon Tonkō… what about your speed?"
"I've lived a long time, but I've never seen anyone actually move at the speed of light."
Netero squinted. His curiosity was real.
"That's because…"
"I ate a Devil Fruit."
Lan Fei grinned, choosing not to conceal anything. His abilities had already been laid bare, and with the Glint-Glint Fruit's power, there was hardly anyone in the known world who could threaten his life—barring perhaps a Nen user capable of stopping time or freezing space entirely.
And, of course, the monsters of the Dark Continent… someone like Killua's younger sibling Alluka, for instance, was a whole different level of threat.
"Devil Fruit?"
Netero blinked. "What in the world is that? I've never heard of it."
"Lan Fei, what's a Devil Fruit?" Gon asked curiously.
"Devil…?"
Killua's eyes narrowed. A chill ran down his spine.
He thought of Alluka—no, of Nanika.
"Could it be a curse?"
"A relic from the Dark Continent, perhaps…"
Netero frowned, unease blooming in his chest. This "fruit"… it sounded too extraordinary. Too dangerous.
"Well, now that the game's done, the three of you can take a break."
Netero waved a hand casually.
"Chairman Netero," Lan Fei spoke up again, "since I don't have to take the next exam, could you drop me off at the Sky Arena after escorting Gon and Killua to the third test site tomorrow?"
"The Sky Arena?"
Netero raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Gon and I have been broke since leaving Whale Island."
"And… I figured it's a good place to train."
Lan Fei nodded calmly.
"Fine. That can be arranged."
Netero smiled knowingly.
"Sky Arena? What's that?" Gon tilted his head, confused.
"You can ask Killua."
Lan Fei patted him on the shoulder, then shot Killua a smile before turning to leave.
"You guy…" Killua rolled his eyes helplessly.
Ding!
Just as Lan Fei turned to rest, the system's mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Congratulations to the host for passing the evaluation and earning the Hunter License."
"Because you were granted early qualification by Chairman Netero after passing only the second phase, you have been fast-tracked and approved."
"As a result, the system is issuing your final reward opportunity."
Lan Fei's eyes lit up.
"Final reward?"
He took a deep breath. This was an opportunity he couldn't waste.
"Host, do you choose 'Random' or 'Special' for your final reward?"
"…Special."
Lan Fei nodded without hesitation.
"Then—please specify the Nen ability you wish to create."
The system's prompt came again.
"Which one's better…"
"Contract? Like Kurapika's 'Judgment Chain'… A specialized Nen."
"Time? Space?"
Lan Fei frowned. Those types were common among transmigrator fanfics—he'd read too many over the years. They'd lost their novelty.
Then it hit him.
"…A curse!"
Lan Fei's eyes sharpened.