The old man just stares back, and as Alex turns to leave, he hears an exaggerated “AHHHEM.” Alex pauses, confused. Did I forget something? he wonders.
“YOUR TIP, YOUNG MAN!” The man rudely stretches out his hand, demanding compensation.
“I already gave the cleaning lady 2000 Jenny! I told her to split it with you—I’ve got nothing left.” With that, he walks off, wondering why he lied to the old man just to mess with him and the cleaning lady. I did it again… What is wrong with me? I wasn’t this petty even before all this Fantasy Realm stuff started, he reflects.
I’ve been kinda on edge lately, he admits to himself. After everything in the Final Fantasy 9 world, that whole purge nightmare, the twisted tasks from the Tribaio villagers… and now this Hunter exam, where failure actually means death. I feel like I could snap at the next person who even slightly annoys me. A sense of helplessness gnaws at him. Everyone gets unlucky sometimes, but this exam is brutal. Even the best hunters could slip up if they took it a hundred times. How can the system justify killing you on your first or second failure? Only after that can you fail a task and survive… though probably with some penalty from the system. It feels rigged, he ponders.
Deciding against a leisurely stroll, he heads straight to the address. This city’s too massive to explore anyway, and I don’t have any money or a phone. I’d rather get to the exam site early and avoid any screw-ups—I usually mess up the simplest things, he tells himself.
Within minutes, he finally spots the massive structure marking the site for the first Hunter exam.
As Alex heads toward the vast exam site, he spots several checkpoints along the way and arrives at a large gate guarded by armed personnel. Each guard is dressed in uniform and wields a hefty rifle. Tempted for a moment to ambush one of them and snag a rifle for himself, Alex quickly dismisses the idea. Let’s not be an idiot, he thinks, knowing full well that countless hunters are monitoring the exam. Acting out now would be incredibly reckless—and it would be beyond stupid to risk getting booted from the exam for something so petty.
Alright, Alex, mental checklist, he reminds himself. 1. AVOID anyone dangerous from the series, if they show up. 2. DO NOT draw attention to yourself. 3. IGNORE the other players and focus on your own path. These points had been drilled into him repeatedly by Rishi and Tereza, and he wasn’t about to forget them now.
He takes a moment to ready his equipment, knowing he can’t risk openly using his system or making it seem like he’s learned Nen. Anything unusual would attract unwanted attention. From his inventory, he retrieves his [Mr. 5’s .44 Caliber 6-Shot Revolver], securing it in a holster strapped to his leg. His [Sword of Pluto] and [Shield of Pluto] are both slung across his back—a style he copied from Link, believing it makes him look cooler and more intimidating. Four Annihilation Grenades
dangle visibly from his belt. With his weapons, newly modified armor, belt, and cloak, he resembles a cross between a seasoned adventurer and a soldier. His [Visor of Pluto] adds an extra touch to the look; now smaller and barely noticeable, it’s been modified so his hair passes through it, and he can raise the visor over his eyes, giving him a strangely mysterious, almost superhero-like vibe. Altogether, Alex looks imposing, projecting a clear “don’t mess with me” aura.He also shoulders a backpack he prepared for the exam, stocked with food and basic medical supplies. The pack has an added benefit—it lets him subtly access smaller items from his inventory. By putting his hand inside, he can access the system without anyone noticing, essentially using the backpack as cover.
At the checkpoint, Alex hands his card to the guards, who respond with a nod of approval. “You’re early, and you look well-prepared. I like that very much. I wish you luck during the exam. Follow me through the checkpoint, and if you hurry, you can join the next group,” one of the guards says.
Alex isn’t in any rush, though; he’d rather take his time gathering information about his surroundings. He follows the guard through the checkpoint, who simply points him toward the building at the center of the area before leaving him to continue on his own.
As he walks closer to the structure, he takes in the peculiar landscape—a vast, flat surface with steep cliffs encircling the entire zone. This place is strange… it’s like some colossal mountain range was hammered flat by a giant mallet a long time ago! The ground itself has a strange look, almost as if it’s made of concrete. Why would they go to all the trouble of laying concrete over such a huge area? Isn’t that a waste… wait a second… a bunker. Could this bunker have actually been attacked at some point? The idea begins to piece together in his mind. Maybe this artificial ground is the result of bombing damage. If that’s true, then this place must have endured quite the onslaught, Alex speculates, glancing around with newfound curiosity.
s Alex stands there, staring at the concrete and cliffs, he suddenly hears a voice beside him. “You figured it out too, huh? Interesting location indeed!”
Without turning around, Alex responds, “Yeah, it’s a crazy location! Makes you wonder how old this bunker is and what kind of impact it survived. Thank God weapons like that are banned now, huh?” He finally turns to face the speaker.
He sees a young man, about his own height, with blond hair, blue eyes, and an easygoing, approachable smile. He radiates a bright intelligence that most people would find instantly likeable. Handsome and sharp-looking, he’s dressed in a distinctive purple suit with a bag slung over his shoulder. But Alex isn’t like most people. The sight of this man makes him curse inwardly, a bead of sweat forming on his cheek. FUCK!
The young man seems to notice a slight shift in Alex’s demeanor, despite his best efforts to appear casual. “You can call me Shalnark. What’s your name, my friend?” he says, extending a hand.
FUCK FUCK, Alex thinks, struggling to stay calm. “Hi, I’m Alex. Just your run-of-the-mill knight! I’m aiming to be a weapon hunter, trying to collect as many rare weapons and pieces of equipment as I can. How about you?” he replies, shaking Shalnark’s hand.
Shalnark smiles and answers, “I’m just here for a license. I’ve got a group of friends, and I’m in charge of gathering information… you know how useful a license is for that, right? By the way… do you perhaps… know me? I sensed a slight shift in your behavior when you saw my face.”
Shit, what do I do? I… guess I’ll just tell him the truth! Alex decides.
“Shalnark, right? To be honest… yeah, I’m kind of intimidated by you. My master is an incredibly strong swordsman, and he’s told me to get my license. If I pass, he promised to teach me his secret techniques. You… well, you remind me of him. You give off the same vibe. Honestly, I don’t think I could beat you in a fight, even if you look normal.” Alex speaks honestly, though he sprinkles in a few minor lies. His real reason is 100% genuine—he truly does fear him.
Shalnark studies Alex with a knowing gaze, his eyes seeming to intensify. “No need to fear me, my friend. I just want to get my license quietly. Looks like you’re a rare talent yourself if you can sense that. Smart choice to become a hunter—I have a feeling you’ll not only pass but gain fame pretty quickly! You can trust me on that; I have a special eye for these things,” he says, still smiling innocently.
This guy reminds me a bit of Rishi… almost makes me feel nostalgic. But don’t forget, Shalnark might be one of the kindest and most easygoing members of the troupe, but he’s still deadly as fuck, Alex reminds himself.
“Let’s enter the bunker! Looks like the exam won’t be boring—let’s go in together.”
…shit, Alex thinks, unable to find a reason to refuse. Guess I’m stuck with this budget Super Saiyan for now, huh? He may be a knockoff, but he could kill me in an instant if he wanted to… just one needle or a few seconds in his powered-up state, and I’d be done for, he reasons.