Numelle Swamp.
Amid the shrubs and fog, a blond boy sprinted, carrying another young man on his back—bare-chested, face battered. It was Kurapika, hauling a badly beaten Leorio, courtesy of Hisoka. His pace defied normal limits, darting through the paths like an arrow. They'd fallen behind the main pack and had to catch up. Kurapika's biggest worry was Gon fretting over them and backtracking to search, as he did in the original story.
'If Gon runs into Hisoka now, there's no guarantee he'll be spared.'
Knowing Hisoka's nature, Kurapika was certain that once the magician broke free from the illusion he'd been trapped in, anyone crossing his path would meet a swift death. Gon would be no exception. Regardless of any latent talent he might show, Hisoka's only focus in that state would be confronting Kurapika again.
It was all speculation, but Kurapika wasn't taking chances. Though he had no deep bond with Gon, as a transmigrator, he knew the immense potential locked within the 12-year-old. Given Kurapika's plans, losing such an asset would be a colossal waste. The same applied to many of this world's protagonists.
A shiver ran down Kurapika's spine, slowing his run. 'He's free, huh? Five minutes—not bad. It's Hisoka, after all.'
Kurapika's illusory ability hinged on simple eye contact with the target. There was a condition—contact had to last at least five seconds—but that was minor compared to the effect. The target was plunged into an illusory world fully controlled by Kurapika, where he was akin to a god.
With Hisoka, Kurapika had exploited the magician's playful nature to trap him, casting his mind into this world. He'd then set rules to keep Hisoka perpetually thwarted. No complex laws were needed—just simple directives. Unlike most similar abilities, the goal wasn't to hide the illusion. Whether the target realized it or not, the only escape was pinpointing the exact moment they were ensnared. Self-harm or suicide attempts were useless.
Such a powerful ability had clear weaknesses. The target's real body retained a slight connection to their mind in the illusory world. Strong external stimuli to the body's senses—excluding sight—could break the illusion. A slap, a loud shout in the ears, a pungent smell, or an odd taste could do it. For someone with heightened abilities like Hisoka, an attack on their real body could trigger their superhuman instincts, severing the illusion via that faint mind-body link. This was one reason Kurapika hadn't seized the chance to kill Hisoka.
Truthfully, if Kurapika had wanted Hisoka dead, he had better methods. He used his illusion ability more for deterrence or diversion than combat. His words to Hisoka weren't entirely honest—there was no personal grudge pushing him to kill, but the real reason was that Kurapika needed Hisoka.
Their encounter wasn't chance but Kurapika's deliberate orchestration. From the moment they exited the tunnel, Kurapika had covertly tracked Hisoka. Subtly keeping his distance, he waited for the right moment to reveal himself. Leorio's role was to lower Hisoka's guard. The rest unfolded as planned—Leorio played his part brilliantly, letting Kurapika trap Hisoka spectacularly.
Of course, Kurapika had accounted for things going off-script. He banked on Hisoka's playful personality, his tendency to feel superior and toy with young talents. Had Hisoka ignored them or attacked seriously, Kurapika was ready to fight for real. It might sound arrogant, but Kurapika was confident he could match Hisoka evenly, if not overpower him.
Whatever Hisoka's reaction, Kurapika ensured he left a strong impression for his future plans. 'The seed is planted. Let's see how it grows.'
Drawing Hisoka's attention carried the risk of becoming a constant target, but the reward was worth it. If Hisoka proved more trouble than anticipated, Kurapika wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him, even if it meant losing a valuable piece.
A simple plan: plant a seed in fertile soil. If it grows into a vine, nurture it; if it's poison ivy, uproot and burn it.
"Kurapika! Over here!"
A voice called out. In the distance, two boys stood, partially obscured by fog. The one with spiky black hair waved both arms enthusiastically. Seeing them, Kurapika quickened his pace and joined them.
"Gon, good to see you," Kurapika greeted.
"I was getting worried about you and Leorio," Gon replied, relieved.
"What happened to him?" the white-haired boy asked, pointing at the unconscious Leorio on Kurapika's back.
It was Killua, beating Gon to the question. "We hit a snag along the way. He's just out cold—should be up soon," Kurapika said calmly.
"Good to hear," Gon said, visibly reassured.
"Looks like you two ran into trouble too," Kurapika noted, eyeing the dirt on their clothes.
"We got attacked by a weird creature, but we made it out okay," Gon said, recounting it like an adventure.
"Not to rush you, but we might lose the pack again," Killua interjected, nodding toward the distant shadows of the candidates.
With that, the trio—no, quartet—set off to rejoin the group trailing examiner Satotsu. The next few hours were uneventful. Somehow, Satotsu knew the safest routes, ensuring those close to him faced no threats.
After three grueling hours, the pack emerged from the foggy forest into a clearing bordered by the misty woods to the south and a towering mountain to the north. The area was serene, bathed in soft sunlight.
Satotsu stopped for the second time since the test began and faced the candidates. "Our little hike ends here. In one hour, the first test will conclude. Those already here can rest until then," he announced.
At his words, many candidates collapsed onto the clearing's fresh grass, exhausted but triumphant. "My head's killing me," groaned Leorio, stirring on Kurapika's back.
"Leorio!" Gon cheered.
Kurapika carried him to a corner and propped him against a rock. "What happened? I don't remember anything," Leorio said, rubbing his head.
"You hit your head while we were escaping monsters in the forest," Kurapika replied, glad his friend had forgotten the ordeal.
"Must've been a hell of a hit to wipe my memory," Leorio said, scanning the area. "Test over?"
"Yeah, but we're waiting an hour for stragglers," Gon answered.
"Got it," Leorio said, settling more comfortably against the rock. "Wake me when it's time to move. Damn, my head." He closed his eyes and dozed off.
"What do we do while we wait, Gon?" Killua asked, hating boredom.
Gon pondered but came up blank, also disliking idle time. "I've got more sodas. Want one?" Kurapika offered.
"Hell yeah!" Killua exclaimed.
"Me too!" Gon chimed in.
Time passed. Only a handful of stragglers joined the group—clearly the last to complete the test. The rest were likely dead or lost, with death being the safer bet. Among the latecomers was Hisoka, lounging on the grass. His head tilted slightly upward, a sly smile on his face, stirring unease in nearby candidates. His piercing yellow eyes clashed with the verdant surroundings, and a faint murderous aura radiated toward Kurapika across the clearing.
*Better this than the alternative,* Kurapika thought. He preferred this subtle provocation to Hisoka attacking recklessly, heedless of the exam. That would've been a mess.
Kurapika endured Hisoka's taunting calmly. An hour later, a chime rang—the same one that had signaled the first test's start. Satotsu stood before the candidates again.
"Well, one hour's up. This officially marks the end of the first test," he declared solemnly, scanning the group. *Impressive. More made it than I expected. This year's batch is something else,* he thought.
"You all did well. It's been a pleasure as your examiner. I now pass the torch to my colleagues. Good luck—you'll need it," he said.
A dirigible appeared in the sky above the clearing. A figure dropped from it, landing at the mountain's base, kicking up a cloud of dust. As it cleared, a hulking man stood in a shallow crater, his simple attire belying his intimidating bulk.
"Well, that's a big crowd!" he boomed, eyeing the candidates. Turning to Satotsu nearby, he added, "Looks like we've got some real talent this year."
"Indeed, I thought the same," Satotsu replied. "Your arrival means it's time for me to go." A long ladder descended from the dirigible near Satotsu. He grabbed it and departed with the craft.
Now alone with the candidates, the giant introduced himself: "I'm Buhara, one of the examiners for the second test." Meanwhile, Gon had woken Leorio as promised.
"The second test has two phases," Buhara continued. "The first, under my watch, is climbing the mountain behind me. At the top, my colleague awaits for the second phase."
Murmurs of unrest spread. "You serious? We just ran over a hundred kilometers, and now we've got to climb that monster?" one candidate complained.
"This isn't an exam—it's torture," another grumbled.
"If you don't like it, go home," a stern voice cut in. "This is the Hunter Exam, meant to find the best of the best. Quit whining like mama's boys." It was a grizzled, muscular old man with gray hair and mustache, dressed like a martial artist. His words silenced the complainers, reducing them to muttering.
"At my signal, the test begins. You'll have one hour to reach the summit. I advise anyone who feels unequal to the task to stay behind—climbing risks death. A dirigible will pick up dropouts at the end," Buhara said.
"An hour? That's gonna be rough," Leorio said, seemingly recovered.
"You should sit this one out, old man," Killua teased.
"What'd you say?!" Leorio snapped, offended. "For your information, I'm not even 20, you brat!"
His revelation stunned Killua and Gon. "No way! Damn!" they exclaimed in unison.
Buhara surveyed the candidates, then bellowed, "Begin!"
The first test of the Hunter Exam was over, and the second had officially started. Of the 780 candidates at the outset, 287 remained.
Follow me on P@treon for more chapters! +30 chaps available with more other fics
[email protected]/Hemlet (Remplace @ to a)