There was always next year. There were always other opportunities. But if he hesitated any longer, he was sure that beast would smash him into oblivion. One test a year, but only one life. He wasn't going to risk it.
The referee standing to the side wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his hands trembling slightly as he struggled to maintain his composure. He didn't dare to look directly at Larry, who was standing just a few feet away. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to speak, though his voice wavered slightly. "No. 53, Pokkle, has forfeited. The winner is No. 403, Larry!"
A round of hushed murmurs rippled through the remaining candidates, but Larry paid them no mind. At that exact moment, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! The Pokémon has been bred!]
A pleased expression crossed Larry's face as he stepped to the side, immersing his consciousness into his mind. The referee had just finished announcing his victory, but for Larry, the real reward had already arrived. As soon as he saw the newly bred Pokémon, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes. This one was just as exceptional as the others he had created before. The Pokémon looked like a large egg, its upper half covered in soft pink fur while the lower half was pure white. Its tiny arms were short, and around its waist, delicate feather-like frills gave it the appearance of a small nurse. A curl of hair sat atop its head, and a small pouch rested on its belly, cradling a tiny white egg inside. Legends claimed that eating this egg could bring happiness even to those in the deepest despair. It was none other than Happiny, a member of the notorious pink demon family!
Larry's eyes narrowed as he examined its stats.
***
Species: Happiny
Type: [Data Unavailable]
Ability: [Data Unavailable]
Strength Rank: B
Known Moves: Slap (Additional data unavailable)
Description: Data insufficient. Further observation required to unlock full entry.
***
At first glance, Happiny didn't seem particularly remarkable, but Larry knew better. His mind immediately began spinning with potential strategies. The conventional approach was to use it as a support unit, focusing on healing and setting up hazards like Soft-Boiled, Wish, and Stealth Rock. But with the right setup, Happiny could be downright infuriating to fight against. Did opponents enjoy facing Minimize + Toxic + Seismic Toss + Soft-Boiled?
If Happiny had the Natural Cure ability, it would be annoying enough. But if it had Serene Grace, in this real world… the possibilities were endless.
Larry ignored the ongoing matches and focused on finalizing Happiny's details in his mind. He invoked constraints and oaths, strengthening his new pokemon. Within a minute, everything was updated.
***
Species: Happiny
Type: Normal
Ability: Slap
Strength Rank: A-
Known Moves: Soft-Boiled, Minimize, Serene Grace.…...
Description: Happiny may appear fragile, but beneath its innocent exterior lies an uncanny ability to manipulate emotions, subtly influencing those around it. Though it lacks direct offensive power, its Nen-like abilities allow it to enhance its nurturing aura, reinforcing the resolve of allies while subtly sapping the willpower of foes. By exuding an aura of overwhelming positivity, Happiny can lull opponents into a false sense of security, disrupting their rhythm in battle.
***
A slow grin spread across Larry's face. 'Serene Grace.' Now it was officially a nightmare to deal with. With Minimize stacking evasiveness, Toxic draining the opponent's health, and Stealth Rock punishing every switch, the enemy would be left floundering. Even if someone managed to land a hit through the Minimize stacks, Happiny could just pull out an egg, eat it, and restore its health instantly.
In the world of Pokémon battles, this was one of the most frustrating playstyles, often sending opponents into fits of rage. But in real life? It would be even more devastating. Larry could already imagine the scene. His opponent, poisoned and steadily losing health, struggling to land a hit on a Happiny that had shrunk down to a near-invisible size. Every missed attack would push them closer to defeat, while Happiny would remain untouched, casually pelting them with attacks and healing whenever necessary.
And if, by some miracle, they managed to land a clean hit?
Well… congratulations. They'd get to watch Happiny pull out the egg from its pouch, eat it, and return to perfect health—ready to repeat the whole cycle all over again.
Just imagining the rage this strategy would cause made Larry's fingers twitch with excitement. He had to find someone to test this on immediately. And this was just one Pokémon in a potential stall team. If he paired Happiny with Pokémon like Swampert or Skarmory, he could replicate the dreaded "Bird-Egg-Flower-Swamp-Steel" strategy that had dominated high-level play.
Though the "egg" in that lineup typically referred to Blissey, which needed an Eviolite to boost its defenses, Happiny's natural bulk without held items made it even more useful in real-world combat. As for why the Hunter Exam had produced a Normal-type Pokémon instead of something more combat-oriented? Larry could guess.
The Hunter Exam took place in various environments—underground tunnels, swamps, even high-security prisons. A Pokémon with a specialized typing might not be as adaptable across all scenarios. Normal-types, however, were universally versatile. 'Of course, the Fighting-type Pokémon would be saved for Sky Arena 3.' As Larry came out of his thoughts, the exam was already nearing its final stages.
After his match had ended, the next round featured the original series' first fight—Gon vs. Hanzo. As expected, it played out exactly as in the original story. Hanzo, despite being the superior fighter, was eventually forced to admit defeat.
Hanzo had spent years training in a secret organization, mastering top-tier skills, yet despite all that, he was powerless against Gon's sheer stubbornness. No matter how much he pressured him, Gon simply refused to give up. It was frustrating, almost absurd, but in the end, Hanzo had no choice but to admit defeat.
From there, the rest of the Hunter Exam played out as expected. In front of Killua, Illumi finally dropped his disguise. As the nails fell from his face one by one, his true features emerged, along with the unsettling malice lurking in his expression. He moved toward Killua with an oppressive presence, and Killua's face twisted in shock, realizing the weight of the situation. In the end, Killua made his decision. He surrendered.
Since Bodoro had already been eliminated, Killua's next opponent was supposed to be Leorio. When the match was called, Killua hesitated for a moment before stepping into the ring. His gaze locked onto Leorio, unreadable, before he spoke in a low voice and declared his own forfeit. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving the exam behind and heading home alone. And just like that, the 287th Hunter Exam ended in a dramatic and unexpected fashion. One person gave up, and eight people passed.
Afterward, Gon woke up from his injuries and, together with Kurapika and Leorio, set off for Kukuroo Mountain to bring Killua back. Coincidentally, Larry's next destination was also the Zoldyck estate—but unlike Gon and the others, he wasn't interested in chasing after a friend. His goal was something far more important. Within the Zoldyck family resided an individual who might very well be an S-class combatant. That person was Maha Zoldyck, the great-grandfather of the current head of the family and Killua's great-great-grandfather.