Rebirth in HxH World With Gardevoir

The Pokémon's thick, fluffy fur felt like sinking into a huge, heated cushion. It was insanely comfortable. He patted Arcanine's side. "Alright, buddy—let's go! Head for the opposite hillside! Use Extreme Speed!" With a deep growl, Arcanine crouched low—then burst forward like a fiery missile.

Larry pressed his body against Arcanine's back, gripping its thick fur with one hand while stretching the other out, pointing forward. He was going to let Arcanine take him straight there. With Arcanine's arrival, he finally had a proper mount. Sure, Gardevoir could teleport him anywhere, but teleportation wasn't always the best solution. A reliable ride saved a lot of aura, and besides, sometimes it was nice to just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

"Woof! Woof!" Arcanine barked twice, excited by its master's trust. Lowering its front body slightly and tensing its hind legs, it prepared to launch forward.

Larry barely had time to register what was happening before he and Arcanine had already arrived at their destination. There wasn't even a hint of wind resistance—it was as if they had just appeared there. This wasn't just speed. This was godspeed. It was practically teleportation at short distances. And unlike teleportation, Extreme Speed had a powerful offensive edge. If an opponent had even a moment of hesitation, they'd get blown away before they even realized what hit them. A strong enough impact could even knock someone unconscious instantly.

A short while later, Larry held a small crystal bottle in his hand, staring at it with twitching eyelids and a helpless expression. Inside was the Red Volcanic Salt. He had scoured every inch of this hillside—just short of digging down to the bedrock—and this was all he managed to collect. He had only filled half the bottle, leaving plenty of empty space inside.

With a sigh, he accepted the outcome. Maybe there was more salt somewhere in Mount Kira'Zan, hidden in places he hadn't searched. But spending any more time here wasn't worth it. Because up next was something far more important—the Hunter Exam. This was the 287th Hunter Exam, the same one Gon and the others took in the original story.

Standing on the towering hillside, Larry gazed into the distance. A gentle breeze brushed against his face, bringing a sense of peace. It had been a few months since he arrived in the world of Hunter x Hunter. Though it wasn't long, the strength he had gained in this short time was something no one could ignore. Right now, he had three A-rank Pokémon and one S-rank. And that was just the beginning. With time, he would obtain even more powerful Pokémon—maybe even a legendary one someday. Larry's lips curled into a grin. "Now, let's see those so-called protagonists with my own eyes."

With that thought, he and Arcanine disappeared, leaving the hillside in silence once more.

The Kingdom of Kakin – Saba City Larry stood in front of a towering office building, chewing on a local delicacy—a Turtle-Centipede Yakitori. "Damn, this is exactly like in the anime." He casually tossed the empty bamboo stick into a nearby trash can and turned his attention to the rundown fast-food restaurant beside the massive office building.

Compared to the sleek, imposing skyscraper, the fast-food joint looked like a complete joke—like a king standing next to a beggar. The roof was covered in tangled vines, and the whole place seemed abandoned. Yet, this tiny, run-down fast-food restaurant… was actually the entrance to the Hunter Exam.

Most people would never guess it. But Larry knew—the real exam venue was underground. As he stepped inside, the restaurant was completely empty, save for a single middle-aged man in a chef's uniform standing behind the counter. "Welcome." The chef looked ordinary, but Larry knew he was actually a staff member assigned by the Hunter Association.

The entrance to the exam required a special passcode. If a candidate gave the correct phrase, the chef would direct them to a hidden elevator leading underground. But Larry wasn't about to bother remembering some secret phrase from an old anime. Instead, he had a much simpler method. The room's atmosphere changed in an instant. A sinister aura erupted from Larry's shadow, dark and oppressive. 

The chef froze. Every hair on his body stood on end. His breathing turned shallow. It felt like thousands of invisible needles were piercing into his skin. Gengar. The aura disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. The small room returned to normal—except for one thing. The fear in the chef's eyes. His hands trembled slightly as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He took a deep breath, forcibly calming himself.

Then, without another word, he walked over to the hidden elevator and bowed slightly. "P-please… just step inside and wait. The elevator will take you to the exam venue."

Larry smiled harmlessly, as if nothing had happened, and stepped into the elevator. The chef let out a long breath as the elevator doors closed. "This year's Hunter Exam is insane. First that guy in the clown costume, and now this one…" A chill ran down his spine as he recalled another candidate who had passed through earlier.

Ding! The elevator stopped. As the doors slid open, dozens of Hunter Exam candidates turned to look. In this exam, everyone was a competitor. Naturally, people paid close attention to any new arrivals—especially strong ones.

The crowd expected a rough-looking warrior or a battle-hardened fighter. Instead, they saw a calm, handsome young man step out. Dressed in casual clothing, he didn't exactly look prepared for a high-stakes survival test. But despite his relaxed posture, there was an effortless confidence in the way he carried himself. 

As the candidates gathered, most of them were secretly pleased. To them, Larry didn't seem like much competition. Some of the female candidates, their cheeks slightly flushed, even entertained the idea of asking for his contact information. 

However, a select few knew better. They could see that there was no aura radiating from Larry—an unmistakable sign that he was using Zetsu. A trained Nen user could suppress their presence completely, making them appear deceptively ordinary to those who didn't know what to look for. He wasn't as simple as he looked. 

The moment Larry stepped into the venue, he felt something shift in his mind—a new progress bar appeared. So it's true! The Hunter Exam is a major event, so it makes sense that it would trigger the birth of a Pokémon. But what kind of Pokémon would it be this time?

Before, he could usually predict what kind of Pokémon would appear based on the local environment. But this time, since the setting was the Hunter Exam, that method wouldn't work. "Here you go. Please take your number badge. Be sure to wear it on your chest and take care not to lose it." A short staff member with a soft voice and a large, pea-shaped head handed Larry his badge.

This was Beans, the direct secretary of the Hunter Association's president. Despite his unusual appearance, he was an exceptionally competent administrator, managing the Association's affairs with precision. President Netero often referred to him affectionately by name, a sign of the trust he placed in his loyal secretary.