Nearly two hundred and fifty applicants advanced into Hell Way.

  No one wanted to appear weak to the other applicants, as they know that they may have to fight with them or work together with them.

  The name of the exam, "Hell Way," is pretty intimidating for many, including one of them.

  One could not expect great things from a stage, an exam named "Hell Way," that was easy to tell.

  Still, applicants made sure that their faces were neutral.

  Gradually, the pace increased.

  Conrad just observed as if he were observing some sort of a human experiment.

  Which would not be that wrong to think it like that.

  “Compared to the phase overseen by Satotz during Gon’s year."

  "This structure removes the pacing anchor."

  "Because there is no examiner for applicants to follow, many of them are believed to have different kinds of speeds and thoughts within their minds."

  "Some of them believed they should pick up their pace and jog."

  "Some of them believed they let other people go in front to trigger any kind of trap if there was."

  There was no examiner ahead of them.

  “That means one thing,” Conrad analyzed.

  “Control shifts entirely to the group dynamic.”

  He grinned faintly.

  “But the name Hell Way suggests traps. If so, nobody wants to lead. That is to be expected.”

  He watched how the mass behaved.

  "Collective hesitation."

  A different psychological test.

  “Without leadership,” Conrad thought, "fear decides their speed and behavior.”

  Then a heavy metallic boom echoed behind them.

  The sound echoed across the corridor walls.

  Many turned their heads instinctively.

  A massive steel gate at least ten meters tall and spanning the entire width of the hallway had smmed down where they entered.

  Ten seconds ter.

  It started to move towards the applicants, and then five to ten seconds ter again,

  From narrow vents embedded across its surface, fmes erupted.

  A roaring inferno burst outward, forming a wall of fire advancing behind the steel barrier.

  When people looked behind, they did not see just a wall of fire, but they felt like they were looking at their executioner.

  It was like death following them behind, and they would not be wrong to think it like that.

  If the wall of fire gets to them, they are dead.

  Heat surged down the corridor instantly.

  Applicants shouted.

  “What the hell is this?!”

  “They’re trying to burn us alive!”

  “Is this endurance or execution?!”

  The wall moved faster.

  Conrad felt the temperature rising even from his position.

  “The real traps must be ahead.”

  He increased his pace slightly.

  Tonpa jogged nearby, eyes scanning constantly.

  He watched the rookies carefully, searching for a prize for himself.

  Hisoka, meanwhile, ran lightly several meters apart from others.

  A faint smirk curved his lips.

  Even with a literal wall of fire advancing behind them, his posture remained casual.

  "I would not expect less from him." Conrad thought as he side-eyed Hisoka as much as he could to have any second to react if he decided to do something weird.

  “Meaning he is confident in reaction speed or aura control sufficient to handle sudden threats.”

  The firewall accelerated again.

  Now forcing a real run.

  Heat scorched the backs of slower participants.

  "The heat is not only making people uncomfortable, but it is also making it hard to run."

  "The heat makes people sweat more and makes it hard to breathe."

  "The more hot air one breathes, the hotter it gets and the easier it gets tired."

  Conrad thought as he looked at the people running.

  He noticed a guy and then shook his head.

  The man screamed as his clothing ignited briefly before he stumbled forward, patting the fmes out.

  As the exam went on.

  A sharp metallic click echoed somewhere ahead, which gathered the attention of the applicants.

  “Here it begins.” Conrad whispered as he smirked.