In HxH with Doraemon Pocket

The sudden blast of a horn echoed through the air—

In the next second, all the feathers, previously scattered around, froze momentarily. Then, as if obeying some unseen command, they shot back into the sky in the direction they had come from.

555 Examinees: "???"

Kruk: "???"

The arena fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone stared at each other, utterly baffled. Faces filled with confusion, they exchanged bewildered glances.

Even Kruk herself stood frozen, her mouth slightly ajar, clearly caught off guard by this turn of events.

Where are my feathers?!

She mechanically turned her gaze toward Morin, who was just putting away a peculiar seven-holed horn.

Item: Seven-Holed Horn

Effect: When blown, this horn causes anything you want to "dispose of"—whether living or inanimate—to flee into the wilderness on its own.PS: Blowing the horn in reverse will negate the effect.

Originally designed as a quirky tool for waste disposal, this horn had unexpectedly become a game-changer in Morin's hands. And judging by the results, it worked exceptionally well.

"Why are you all staring at me?"

Seeing many of the examinees shooting suspicious glances his way, Morin feigned innocence and declared:

"I was just blowing a tune to add some atmosphere and hype to the start of our Hunter exam. That's all!"

"As for why the feathers flew away on their own? That has nothing to do with me!"

"You don't think I have the ability to control feathers, do you? If I could, I'd gather all the feathers myself and clear this round instantly!"

Morin's righteous tone and logical explanation left the examinees stunned and bewildered.

Examinees: ...That... actually makes sense.

Before the test began, no one knew the exact rules. It was reasonable to assume that the feathers had been specially prepared by the examiners, and only they would have the means to control them.

So…

Slowly, the group turned to look at Kruk.

Kruk: Why are you looking at me?! What does this have to do with me?! I'm just as confused as you are!!

But deep down, Kruk's gaze hardened as she glared at the serene, innocent-looking Morin.

It was definitely him!!

Her teeth clenched in frustration.

Blowing a tune, huh? I'm a professional musician! That wasn't music—it was random, aimless noise!!

While she didn't understand the horn's mechanics or Morin's motives, one thing was clear:

This guy was a Nen user, and he was here to mess things up!

"Fine. Whoever you are, you'd better watch yourself. Don't let me catch you slipping!"

Resolving to keep a close eye on him, Kruk cleared her throat and announced:

"Since the feathers were removed by… special circumstances, all examinees will proceed directly to the second phase."

The crowd visibly relaxed.

Some sighed in relief, grateful to skip the elimination.

But others—including veterans like Tonpa—knew this could only mean that the next phase would be even tougher.

Tonpa: That guy...

Glancing at Morin, Tonpa shuddered.

As someone who'd survived countless Hunter exams, he could tell that Morin was not to be trifled with. It was obvious that the feather incident was his doing.

Meanwhile, Kruk's eyes darkened as she cast a glance at Morin.

"I had a simple test in mind for the second phase, but since so many people are still here…"

She smirked coldly, gripping the microphone on the stage.

"Prepare yourselves for hell mode."

Her voice was sharp, and many examinees instinctively covered their ears.

But—

"AAAAHHHH!!"

Kruk's powerful soprano pierced the air like a blade, bypassing earplugs and infiltrating minds directly. The soundwaves vibrated through their skulls, making even the strongest-willed examinees feel their heads buzz with numbness.

One by one, people began collapsing like dominos.

The remaining examinees clutched their heads and ears, trembling as they tried to endure.

Amidst the chaos, Morin sat calmly.

"Interesting," he muttered, sensing the Nen-infused soundwaves. He started analyzing their interaction with the air.

But then—

"Hm?"

Morin's eyes narrowed. The intensity of the soundwaves targeting him was increasing.

Looking up, he met Kruk's provocative gaze.

Morin reached into his pocket and pulled out another item: a green, mountain-shaped object.

Item: Echo Mountain

Effect: Reflects any sound directed at it. The user can adjust the delay and volume of the reflection.

Morin adjusted the mountain, placed it in front of him, and leaned back, returning to his comic book.

Kruk: What now?

Recognizing that this "toy" was no ordinary object, Kruk grew wary. But her suspicion quickly turned to alarm.

"Not good!"

The soundwaves she directed at Morin had been amplified and rebounded at her!

"Pfft!"

Caught off guard, Kruk coughed up blood. She quickly halted her attack, but the damage was done.

The examinees, finally free from the sonic assault, collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.

Kruk wiped her mouth, glaring at Morin, who continued reading as if nothing had happened.

"That bastard…"

Her insides were shaken by the reflected soundwaves, leaving her organs slightly injured. The sight of Morin's relaxed demeanor only fueled her anger—and caution.

"This guy has all sorts of strange gadgets… I'll need to tread carefully."

Taking a deep breath, Kruk recomposed herself and announced:

"Seventy-seven examinees remain conscious."

"The first phase of the Hunter exam is officially over."

Though Kruk's attack hadn't been overly lethal, it still demonstrated the overwhelming power of a professional Hunter.

For some, the experience fueled a burning desire to pursue the Hunter path.

For others, it only reinforced how terrifying their opponents—and the examiners—could be.

"Those who passed, head through the stage to the next test site."

Her voice was calm, but her glance toward Morin carried unspoken frustration.

With that, she vanished from the stage.

The remaining examinees struggled to their feet, pale and shaky.

Trailing behind them, Morin sauntered along leisurely.

Somewhere Else in the Opera House

Sitting in a small room, Kruk coughed softly and adjusted her breathing.

Picking up her communicator, she spoke:

"This year's candidates include a tough nut. Keep an eye on him."

"Wait, even you were caught off guard?!"

The voice on the other end grew serious.

"You mean that guy actually made you eat dirt?"

"Be careful," Kruk warned. "He has strange tools—underestimate him, and you'll regret it."

Hearing this, the examiners exchanged looks.

Elsewhere, Biscuit Krueger smirked smugly.

"That's my student!"

Hands on her hips, she laughed.

"Even the examiners are no match for him!"

Meanwhile, the second phase began.

Standing before the examinees was the next proctor, a loud and brash man wearing a yellow-striped shirt: Kanzai.

Morin chuckled.

"Another familiar face."

Other examinees also cast peculiar glances at Morin.

They recalled the horn Morin had mysteriously pulled out earlier and couldn't help but feel as though he were performing magic tricks.

After explaining the rules for the second round, Konze waited. The examinees hesitated for only a moment or two before resolutely stepping forward and crossing over the starting line.

Once one person took the lead, the others quickly followed in small groups of twos or threes, passing Konze and running toward the tunnel ahead.

In no time, the seventy-plus participants had disappeared from sight.

Only three people remained at the starting point: Morin, Konze, and the square-nosed veteran of the first round—Tonpa, the infamous "Exam Destroyer."

Tonpa's legs trembled slightly, and cold sweat poured down his face.

"Uh…"

Swallowing hard, Tonpa forced a stiff smile that looked more painful than comforting.

"About earlier... when I handed out drinks with laxatives—that was my bad! If you're still upset, just let me know what I can do to make it up to you!"

He had every intention of leaving as quickly as possible to avoid Morin, but under the calm and seemingly indifferent gaze of the latter, he felt an oppressive atmosphere pinning him in place. It was as though an invisible force had completely immobilized him.

"Don't be so nervous. Do me a favor, and I'll leave you."

Morin waved his hand dismissively.

"Uh, what kind of favor?" Tonpa quickly asked, his voice trembling.

Morin didn't answer immediately but instead turned his gaze to Konze, who was approaching him.