But as he scans the area, something catches his eye—a shadow in the center of the island. His gaze locks onto it, and he realizes he had missed it because of its overwhelming size: a massive, gaping maw leading deep into the ground, as if the entire island is being devoured by some enormous demon.
Alex gulps, the sight intimidating him more than he’d expected. Whatever our task is… it’s down there, he thinks, feeling a chill crawl up his spine.
The remaining candidates begin to trickle out of the airship, and at exactly 6 AM, the vessel lifts off, leaving them stranded. A sudden scream from within the ship draws his attention—a panicked candidate tries to leap from the airship mid-ascent, falling down with a crash and landing hard. “What the…?” Alex mutters, cringing as he hears the sickening sound of impact.
“Disqualified,” Gel says curtly, stepping forward with an unyielding expression. “The airship will return in a day. You’d better sit tight, or that broken leg will get worse.”
Addressing the remaining candidates, Gel continues, “Now then, examinees. It seems a few of you have already failed by oversleeping.” She gestures toward the gaping maw. “As you’ve probably noticed, this island’s center leads to a descent underground.”
A few examinees who hadn’t yet seen the opening turn to look, and some immediately scream in terror. “What the hell is that? Is this hell?” one man blurts out, his voice shaking.
“...Interrupt me one more time, and I will fail you on the spot,” Gel says coldly, her gaze cutting sharply toward the offending examinee. The crowd falls into a tense silence.
“Now, listen carefully. I’ve prepared antidotes for each of you.” She gestures toward a small table, lined with vials of a murky, faintly green liquid. “These antidotes will cure most poisons and toxins, or at the very least, keep you stable long enough to return here. Each of you may take one. Drinking more than one within a week will kill you, so don’t get greedy.”
She lets her words sink in, her eyes scanning the crowd with a predatory gleam. “Your task is simple: collect as many poison samples as you can from the creatures you find below. Be warned—these creatures are venomous, and many of them are deadly. I’m not interested in any common species; I expect rare, potent poisons. I’ve provided empty vials for your samples, but if the poison enters your bloodstream instead, you’ll likely be dead within minutes.”
Alex watches her closely, feeling the weight of her words. One shot at survival, and that’s this antidote, he thinks, gripping the reality of their task.
“You may present up to five vials,” Gel continues. “I’ll decide who passes based on the overall quality and rarity of the samples you bring back. Don’t think you can just hand me a single vial of poison from some common creature and get away with it. That would be… unwise.”
She glances at her watch, then looks back up. “You have exactly 24 hours—until 6 AM tomorrow—to return.”
She pauses, then adds, “I’ll allow a single question. Make it count.”
The examinees shift nervously, some exchanging glances, others simply staring into the dark maw below. Alex feels the tension in the air, knowing that whatever happens down there, it won’t be easy.
Alex mutters under his breath, glancing at Shalnark, who’s sidled up next to him. “Any prize for the participant with the best results?”
To his surprise, Gel whips around, her sharp gaze locking onto him. “You want a special prize? Passing the exam isn’t good enough for you?” she asks, her tone laced with mockery.
Alex clears his throat, trying to play it off. “I just thought… since you’re using this exam to gather some rare poisons for your research, a little extra motivation might help us bring in better samples. I’ve heard of your achievements as a Poison Hunter. Giving us a reason to push ourselves might bring you better results, don’t you think?”
Gel eyes him, and for a tense moment, Alex wonders if she’ll call him out. How the hell did she hear me whisper that? This snake lady has insane hearing! he thinks, feeling a bead of sweat on his brow.
“Hmmm, candidate No. 777… Your logic actually makes sense. I assumed it was the ramblings of a buffoon, but you’ve managed to make a reasonable point. Very well. The candidate who brings me the best results will receive… a special surprise,” she adds, her tone teasing.
Not bad, Alex thinks, cheering inwardly. That item from Tsezguerra turned out to be way more valuable than I expected! With my poison resistance, this task could actually be easy. If I have a shot at the top, I should go for it. My LUK is coming through!
“Now!” Gel’s voice rises. “Each of you may take one antidote—only one! Also, grab five empty vials. That’s the maximum number I’ll allow for submissions. After that, you’re free to begin. There are no rules, but I’d strongly advise against pulling anything reckless with your fellow candidates. We’re observing your actions carefully, even below. You’ll get a chance to face your rivals later. For now, I’m interested in poison, not a bloodbath. Disregard my warning, and you’ll be disqualified.”
The candidates approach the large bag of antidotes. Alex examines one, surprised when the system not only recognizes it but also values it highly.
[Diluted Gel’s Panacure]
World: Hunter x Hunter
Quality: Light Blue
Effect: Reduces the effects of most known poisons and outright cures common poisons. The effect isn’t potent enough to completely neutralize strong toxins but will stabilize bodily functions and allow movement.
Note: A diluted version of Gel’s specialized Panacure. The undiluted form would cost as much as a thousand doses of this weaker version.
This stuff is gold, Alex realizes, barely containing his excitement. Some candidates dropped out, so there must be extras here… Imagine what the undiluted version would do! Maybe that’s the “special prize” she mentioned? Anyway, it’s worth the risk!
He sees a group of Hunters in black suits stationed nearby, closely watching to ensure that candidates only take a single vial each. Alex waits for an opportune moment and then joins a small crowd of clumsy-looking candidates reaching for the antidotes. He “accidentally” trips one of them, making a small, chubby man stumble forward. As the guards’ attention shifts, Alex quickly snatches two additional vials with his left hand, tucking them swiftly into his inventory. He then openly grabs one with his right hand, acting nonchalant as he steps back, grinning to himself. No cameras out here, so I’m in the clear!
He walks away from the table with the other candidates. Shalnark joins him, chuckling. “Not bad. I barely noticed it myself. In fact, I didn’t even see it—I just noticed there were two doses missing from the left side… right where you were standing.” He smirks. “You’ve got the instincts of a natural thief, seizing the first good opportunity to grab something valuable. Honestly… I’m almost disappointed in myself.” He laughs, giving Alex a knowing look. “But maybe I’ll tell you about that some other time.”
Alex, scared that he got caught after all, wipes a few beads of sweat from his brow but flashes a confident grin. “Thanks, I guess! So, are you aiming for the No. 1 spot too?”
Shalnark chuckles, shaking his head. “No, Alex, I’m good. I’ll just grab something quickly and get the hell out of there. I’m not a fan of caves or creepy creatures. I’m more of a city guy.” He laughs lightly, his easygoing tone almost masking the tension of the situation.
As they reach the entrance, the ominous mouth of the cave looms before them like the gaping jaws of a beast. It looks like an entrance to the underworld itself, a forbidding gateway into a dark unknown. Alex steels himself, stepping forward without hesitation, determined to seize this chance.
I’ll beat everyone else and earn that prize, he thinks with a devious smile, his mind already racing with plans. And maybe… I’ll get something else as well.