Third Person POV: Illumi
A minute after Gon’s last attack,
“...” Illumi was looking at the damage done.
The forest was dense, and the pine trees clustered. The young man was staring at the area blasted with an emotionless face, but he was thinking fast.
Having been raised by professional killers, Illumi was always told one thing:
“If the reward isn’t worth the risk, never fight an opponent that you don’t completely understand.”
However, Illumi was his person. He took this advice even further, and his motto now was:
“Don’t fight an opponent you’re not 99% sure to beat.”
The current situation made it even more complicated for him, and his new employers made sure to remind it:
“Illumi, how is it?” A voice at the other end of the phone asked. “I hope you haven’t hurt the kid.”
“The kid’s escaped.” The bachelor replied with a tone more bored than exasperated.
“Oh? How did he escape?” The voice asked, somewhat excited.
“Let me send you a picture,” The dark-haired young man replied, before making shutter sounds with the machine.
“You guys ask someone else. I’m a killer, not a babysitter.”
Illumi answered with a calm but unmotivated tone. He didn’t care for the man’s response nor the consequences of his action.
After the pictures were shown, the man on the phone didn’t seem to mind the attitude. Instead of blaming Illumi, he asked for even more details concerning the fight. They rambled on for several more minutes before Illumi grew tired and asked:
“What about my enrollment?”
“Don’t worry; you’ve passed. We were already missing a few members. Consider this as a little hazing.”
“Hurray...” Illumi faked happiness. However, his lack of motivation and sincerity was too apparent.
“...” The voice stayed silent.
He then asked, “When do we meet next?”
“We will call you.” The man replied bluntly before he hung up the phone.
The meaningless yet meaningful response didn’t leave Illumi perplexed. He simply put the phone away.
The next thing he did was dissecting, burning the wolves carcasses before muttering in a mellow tone:
“Big brother is coming back home, Kill.
I'm sure you missed me.”
“Oh, right.” He proceeded to take a different phone from his opposite pocket and compose a number.
“Old friend…what’s the honor?” As the call connected, an offbeat yet amicable voice asked with delight. The pitch was eccentric, to say the least.
“I met this strange kid during my undercover mission for Dad.
I’m going back home, but you always make a huge fuss when I don’t tell you about those, so I called this time.”
“Hm...how strong?” The person asked curiously.
“Monster.” Illumi simply said.
“Aaaah…
Tell me more!”
Third Person POV: Neutral
Meteor City, Back at the church hideout
“So, how is it?” Someone asked after a blonde man hung up his phone and started to put away equipment and devices.
“Have a look.” The latter answered with a smug grin before giving his phone.
As he took the item from his hands, several people gathered around the previous speaker—the man dressed in black and purple and had a bandana on his head.
“That damage is no joke. But isn’t that kid an enhancer? How the hell did he flatten the ground and the trees in such a linear path?” A man in tracksuits said, confused.
“Enhancers have an eighty percent affinity both with transmutation and emission skills, but given his age and how strong the kid is with enhancement…” He continued to think out loud.
“Yes, he couldn’t have practiced those other categories to such a level. Not at his age.” A robust-looking man dressed in white helped him finish.
“What kind of monster is that kid?” Another big and hairy man exclaimed after looking at the photos.
“Boss, what do we do now?” The blonde from before asked. As he did so, he started to explain something.
“I guess we misjudged the situation....” The man called “boss” said after he was done listening to the information.
“Since we don’t have another track on the kid, then let’s just give up. Our objectives don’t oppose at the moment, so whoever wants to is free to capture him upon meeting.
“...”
Everyone stayed silent or nodded.
However, if you can’t catch him without risking your lives, just eliminate him. I never thought I’d say this, but this kid might be a potential danger even for us.”
He continued solemnly, then followed again:
“How are our finances, Machi?”
“Everyone is doing their own thing at the moment, but we have enough to cover the orphanages until next year.” A pink, curly-haired girl replied.
“Is that so?
Let’s disband for now. Shalnark will call you if something crops up.” The man said, lost in thought.
As people exited the building one by one, the man stopped daydreaming and ordered:
Pakunoda, stay for a moment…”
Third Person POV: Gon
Whale Island,
Two months after the Yorknew incident,
Gon was seated on the table as he looked at the carefree girl drawing pictures of flowers in front of him. In the two months, they hadn’t seen each other; the girl had grown somewhat tall. Maybe it was due to nen?
She looked like a ten-year-old now; the only way to recognize her age was through her sweet face. It was still the same naive, rosy, and full-cheeked smile.
“Big brother Gon, how long are you staying?” The girl asked cheerfully. Before he could even answer, she thought of something else and questioned worriedly:
“What about the hunter exam?”
“It’s still in two years for me.” Gon replied with a grateful smile. “But thank you, Noko.”
“Hehe!” The girl giggled. Her eyes wandered to the boy’s side. She looked at the two people seated beside him in puzzlement. Gon smiled. This lass wanted to ask but tried to be polite.
Gon didn’t let her be embarrassed further and introduced both strangers.
“Nice to meet you, big brother, big sister!” As the three of them became familiar with each other, A woman climbed down the stairs, a bag of clothes in her hands. She looked at Gon and said:
“It’s high time you changed those clothes, young man.” Then she noticed the little girl.
“Oh, you’ve come, Noko.” She remarked with an elated timbre of voice.
“Yes, Auntie,” Noko replied. She was trying to act like a lady.
“This lass…” Mito smirked. “She cried herself to sleep when you left months ago. She came here everyday…”
“Auntie!” The girl blushed and yelled.
“Haha.” Everyone laughed for a while as the girl pouted. However, thanks to Gon, she would forget to mope from time to time, especially when he would offer the cookies inside the basket.
“Gon.” His aunt whispered suddenly. No one beside him seemed to notice as she approached his ear.
“Yes, aunt Mito.”
“I know you have a lot to say. But let’s enjoy this moment and talk later. Okay?” She added as she caressed his hair.
“Sure.” The boy whose brain was already fuming from recollection, worry, and his recent experiences, relaxed and nodded with a small smile.
…………………………………..
“You...what?” Mito looked at her little boy in shock and asked. The content that came out from the lad’s mouth was a bit too much for her to process.
“I killed them. I couldn’t save her any other way.” He repeated.
“Oh, my God.” Mito grabbed Gon’s hand and started poking his body from top to bottom. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Did what I had to do.” The boy said with a somewhat sad smile.
“You know what I meant.” The woman cried.
“Auntie, we have to leave here.” The boy took a handkerchief nearby and wiped her eyes.
“Why?” Mito asked in confusion and worry.
“Those people are dangerous, I also…” Gon stopped as he remembered that some things were better left unsaid.
“Is that so?” The woman asked, not convinced but a bit resigned.
Gon nodded.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“But, where do we go now?” She said as she also thought of something else. “What about the villagers...and poor Noko?”
“Well...I haven’t thought of that.” Gon realized a bit ashamed.
The two of them sighed and sat on the boy’s bed. They held each other’s hand and stayed like this for a few minutes. Below, the small girl was playing with Gon’s new friends noisily.
“Actually…” Gon paused mid-sentence. He was seemingly thinking of something, but a trace of uncertainty surfaced in his mind. Doing this would put him, his family, and friends in security. But the villagers...Was there any other choice?
“I didn’t think all this through when I saved Saegusa. But I would still do it again.” Gon thought.
“Actually?” Mito asked, confounded.
“I can only do so much, auntie.” Gon shrugged a bit defeated.
“...” She remained silent for a while, then hugged him.
“I wouldn’t be at peace if I left without that girl,” Gon continued. “But I can only do so much for the villagers. I’m not strong or rich enough to take care of everyone, for now.”
“I’ll talk to grandmother and her parents tomorrow. But please don’t be so reckless in the future.”
Gon nodded in embarrassment.
“Also…” The woman added as she got up from his bed.
“What?” The boy asked.
“That girl is not normal.
She always talked about how she’s going to be a hunter.”
As she said this, Mito looked at Gon with a strange face. As Gon tried to avoid her gaze, she followed:
“Did you teach her the things Ging’s disciple passed on to you?”
…………………………………
“So this is overall gist of the situation,” Mito said as she was done explaining.
“Hm.”
“Berik, what do you think?” Mito looked at the woman, and the man seated and asked.
“I can’t leave the island. I’ve lived here all my life.”
“As I thought. What about you, Vera.” The woman sighed and asked the other person.
“I’m scared, but I can’t leave if my husband stays.” The woman called Vera replied with a bitter smile.
“But, honey…”The man said guiltily.
“Don’t try and change my mind. You know I can be more stubborn than you.” She cut him at that.
“...I’m sorry. Auntie, Uncle.” Gon kneeled and apologized.
“Get up!” The man snarled. “You better take good care of our baby. A man has to own up to his mistakes. Don’t act like a wimp after what you did.”
“Berik!! Stop this now!” His wife yelled.
“...” The place was silent once more.
“Well, anyway, we’ve also seen what that girl is capable of.
I don’t know what you’ve taught her before you left, but she is the same as you and Ging now. That hunter thing is all she can think about all day long.” The man said as he crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
“You mean when she doesn’t think of her big brother…”
“Hmph!” Before she could end her sentence, the man got up and left the house with angry steps.
His wife, who was left alone with Gon and Mito, sighed. “Well, you know him, don’t take it personally.”
The child and adoptive mother nodded with sorry faces.
“But, seriously, take care of my baby girl. I’m sure she can have a better life over there.” The woman broke down in cries, but Mito reassured her how they would come back once the storm passed.
Gon wanted to tell the whole situation to the little girl, but her parents forbid him against doing so. In her mind, her big brother was one of the good guys, so they didn’t want her to know about the dark side of things too early.
Gon agreed, even though he knew that protecting her innocence would be hazardous considering the girl’s personality. If she had changed because of him, then she was bound to enter the same circles.
Her parents had to coax Noko for two days before she agreed to leave reluctantly. She didn’t want to separate from them, but they insisted harshly. She was also conflicted because she wanted to follow Gon and see the outside world.
The next day, Gon, his friends, and his family left the island. After arriving by Dolle Harbor, they headed to Killua’s continent, where Heaven’s Arena was.
Gon’s objective was to find a friendly and peaceful place for everyone to settle in. But he also needed money. His goal right now was to gain the two hundred million Jenny prizes from the 190th to the 199th floor of the arena.
When he talked about this plan to Zepile, the man guaranteed that he would be able to turn this significant sum of cash into profitable investments. Gon and his family would need regular and sure sources of income in the future.
But before all that, he would need masks and costumes.
…………………………………………………
One year and six months later,
11:34 AM
Silvertina, Ten thousand km away from the Republic of Padokea
Coconguaca mountain, 50 km west from Frescaliento Metropolis.
Summer, Under a blazing sun,
“Chirp!”
A group of several shadows descended the mountain peaks at breakneck speed. Their direction seemed to be similar. As the number of trees surrounding them increased, the three shadows moved slower and slower.
When their pace slowed down, the bigger one took the lead and placed itself in front. The furtive form previously became distinguishable. It was the form of a man wholly clothed in black from head to toe.
The two forms behind him wore similar clothes, albeit looking a bit smaller and feminine. They mimicked his steps and reduced the noise caused by their slide to a minimum. Slowly but surely, the three forms began to move at the same rhythm, to the point that it was near impossible to spot the sound of six legs.
In a clearing, one mile away, a teenage boy was sitting eyes closed. He wore a sleeveless night blue top, short black pants, and a white bandana.
The brown boots he was wearing looked a bit ragged, yet fashionable for some reason.
He was calmly breathing and appreciating the mountainous air when he received a notification:
< Skill Level Up! Breath Control: Level 9 FIT+10/COMP+9 “Nice! This place is the best to train this kind of skill.” “Hm?” As he closed the notification board, he sensed three people. They were trying their best to hide their presence, but the boy’s senses had already been enhanced to an unbelievable degree. “Well, I guess I helped those three in creating Hatsus ever since I found out that thing about titles.” The boy said to himself. “But with the money I made and the new tricks I learned thanks to that observation function, their ridiculous progress still pales in comparison with mine.” “Let’s see.” The boy thought and opened windows: STATUS BASE STATS EXP % NAME GON FREECS STRENGTH 17 11 FITNESS 40 53 WISDOM 11 2 SEX MALE DEXTERITY 14 7 PERCEPTION 19 89 VERSATILITY 34 2 AGE 11 COMPOSURE 49 77 CHARISMA 5 36 STATS+BUFFS STRENGTH 64 FITNESS 64 WISDOM 53 DEXTERITY 41 PERCEPTION 45 VERSATILITY 59 COMPOSURE 90 CHARISMA 59 PHYSICAL POTENTIAL 214 MENTAL POTENTIAL 261 TOTAL BATTLE POTENTIAL 475 CLASSES MAIN TYPE LEVEL BUFFS EXP % GAMBLER ODDS 1 CHA+1/PERC+1/DEX+1/COMP+1 30 DARK PRIEST RELIGION 4 PERC+4/WIS+4/COMP+4 5 DIVER WATER 3 DEX+3/FIT+3/COMP+3 97 ACTIVE TITLES MAIN TYPE BUFFS N/A N/A N/A PASSIVE SKILLS MAIN SKILLS MAIN TYPE LEVEL BUFFS EXP % BREATH CONTROL RESPIRATION 9 FIT +10/COMP+9 0 WATER RESISTANCE WATER 3 DEX+5/FIT+3 39 BLOODLUST SLAUGHTER 3 EXP+300 74 ACTIVE SKILLS MAIN SKILLS MAIN TYPE LEVEL BUFFS EXP % NEN AURA 7 STR+7/FIT+7/WIS+7/DEX+7/PERC+7/CHA+7/VERS+7/COMP+7 58 ENHANCEMENT NEN NEN 7 STR+11/FIT+11/DEX+7/PERC+7 58 TRANSMUTATION NEN NEN 7 DEX+11/STR+11/PERC+7/WIS+7 58 EMISSION NEN NEN 7 PERC+11/STR+11/DEX+7/CHA+7 58 MANIPULATION NEN NEN 7 COMP+11/CHA+11/WIS+7/PERC+7 58 CONJURATION NEN NEN 7 WIS+11/CHA+11/VERS+7/DEX+7 58 SPECIALIZATION NEN NEN 7 CHA+11/VERS+11/COMP+7/WIS+7 58 ACTIVE BRANCH SKILLS MAIN TYPE LEVEL EXP % HATSU NEN 7 58 BLUSTER DARTS ENHANCEMENT NEN 7 58 SCISSORS TRANSMUTATION NEN 7 58 ROCK ENHANCEMENT NEN 7 58 PAPER EMISSION NEN 7 58 STONE BEAM ENHANCEMENT+EMISSION NEN 7 58 SHADOW LIMBS ENHANCEMENT+MANIPULATION+EMISSION+TRANSMUTATION NEN 7 58 “Not bad.” Gon said as he recalled how smoothly things proceeded after they became billionaires thanks to the Heaven’s Arena. Zepile had been able to invest the money in several places, talking about concepts Gon found unfamiliar. To be honest, if Gon hadn’t been so ridiculously talented in combat, the man would have taken the cash and searched for ways to learn more about nen on his own. But the kid was not only gifted, but he also found out ways to make things take an unpredictable direction for the siblings after he bought an observation parameter. After he looked at Zepile with it, Gon realized that there was a strange description. The guy was compatible with one of his classes. X Close Name: Zepile Sagishi Strength: 2 Fitness: 2 Wisdom: 7 Dexterity: 4 Perception: 2 Versatility: 5 Composure: 1 Charisma: 3 Physical Potential: 10 Mental Potential: 16 Total Battle Potential: 26 Classes and Aptitudes: Swindler Compatibilities: Gambler Gon was able to make him learn the gambler class, and it helped him in forming a release skill. After using the observation setting, Gon found out that titles could be fused to obtain new classes. The class’s power and experience curve depended on the grade and number of titles used during the fusion. He also understood why Zepile’s swindler class was only level three despite having practiced the discipline all his life. However, classes offered an advantage over skills and titles. People adorned with classes could develop new talents and nen abilities related to a specific domain easier. Gon, who had been able to obtain all nen natures with ease due to the ridiculous amount of money at their disposition after his trip to Heaven’s Arena, was already a remarkable teacher. He completed new challenges over time in addition to practicing his nen. That was when he fused his meditation and fishers titles to create two new classes: the Dark priest and the diver. He wanted Noko to get a new class as well, but only Saegusa was compatible with one of them beside Zepile. Gon had no clue why, but the girl had compatibility with the Dark priest class. The class description was a bit gloom, so Gon wondered where the girl was sacred. Maybe it was related to her life experience. < New class acquired! Dark Priest: Level 1 A class obtained after fusing ten meditation type titles. The user develops a natural affinity with controversial scholastic paths and dark magic. PERC+1/WIS+1/COMP+1 As the trio finally came out from the woods and launched attacks on him from separate directions, the oldest girl of the group yelled: “Hatsu! Zetsu Specters” Gon didn’t bother to dodge the group of ghosts that were each as big as the palm of his hands. The creatures made cute yet mocking noises as they passed through him. “Those things are faster the smaller they are. Not that I couldn’t have dodged, but considering our differences, it doesn’t matter that much.” He grinned as he thought. The girl’s attack had already taken effect, and the small energy cover that was on Gon was removed at that very moment. “Hatsu!Swift Sampler!” Zepile who was close by profited from that moment where the boy couldn’t attack to announce the rules of his ability. Gon used Observation to look at both their release skills once more in silence: < Skill Holder: Saegusa Sagishi Hatsu: Zetsu Specters: Level 1 Type: Manipulation, Emission Description: A skill that emits aura imbued ghosts, visible only to Nen practitioners. The opponent is rendered invulnerable to all attacks (not just from the user) if touched by the creatures, and his nen is sealed for the duration of the skill. Effect canceled once the opponent touches the user. Duration: 10 seconds Cooldown: 10 seconds < Skill Holder: Zepile Sagishi Hatsu: Swift Sampler: Level 1 Type: Specialization, Conjuration Description: The user conjures an item he is familiar with and asks the opponent(s) to identify it within 15 seconds. If one of them fails, the user has 15 seconds to launch attacks on any target of his choice. If the attacks are dodged instead of being blocked/countered, the user's speed is boosted by 2 times when the next object is conjured. The user can only gain one boost for every object conjured. (But boosts obtained during the previous turns stay active) The opponent can attack the user only two ways if he wants to prevent the enhancement: 1-During the user's attacks. (But he has to stay still) 2-Before the next question is asked. Rules: The user has to announce the instructions to the opponents. If the latter chooses to ignore, the skill's effects are automatically applied each turn the rules are broken. (The boost is only multiplied once, each turn the rules are broken) Note: 1-The user is not bound by the questions, so he can dodge. 2-If the user lands a hit on the opponents outside of his 15 seconds free turn, he loses all the buffs gained during the game. He had listened to the game rules too many times to pay attention. Gon just proceeded to wait for the girl’s skill to get canceled. “Do you recognized this stone?” Zepile asked with a malicious grin. “Sigh…let’s play nice.” Gon thought as he tried his best to let this session be a good learning experience for the trio. “No…” As Gon answered, Zepile conjured a small creature on his shoulder. He used his eyes once more to look at the new skill: < Skill Holder: Zepile Sagishi Hatsu: Underground Mime: Level 1 Type: Specialization, Conjuration Description: The user conjures a miniature underground dweller. The user gains the creature’s combat style for as long as the invocation stays alive. (Modifies the user outfit.) The user gains an additional nen category according to the creature’s talents. (Becomes inactive after the summon dies) At the same time he did so, he sensed someone attacking from his back. “Boom!” “Careful, big brother!” A cute voice said. “Idiot, what’s the use of being a sniper if you’re going to reveal your plans?!” A voice more womanly retorted angrily. Gon laughed as he dodged the attack and thanked Noko. “Dammit.” Saegusa gritted her teeth and summoned another wave of ghosts. Except for this time, their color was the same as the little girl’s bullet: fire red, orangey. Gon quickly blocked Zepile’s attacks who had transformed into a bouncer. He wore a suit and sunglasses, but his muscles had become visibly more potent. “Still level 1 enhancement nen, however...nothing against me, hehe.” The trio kept fighting for a long time as Gon evaded ghosts, attacks, and assaults. At one moment, Zepile’s speed caught up with Gon’s, but his attacks were still like mosquito bites to him, so they stopped. "You’ve all made progress, especially you Saegusa, that Hatsu of yours in addition to not being energy-consuming, is ideally suited to your abilities."Gon said as he looked back at her skill description: < Skill Holder: Saegusa Sagishi KO Specters Type: Manipulation, Emission Description: Ghosts formed from Aura, visible only to nen practitioners. Detonate upon contact with the opponent. The ghosts can fuse to cause more damage but grow slower when they do so. The smaller the spirit, the easier the manipulation. This girl was devious and was hiding her third nen ability from her brother, but Gon, who could inquire her details, wasn’t duped—probably worried that her brother would grow jealous. Her third ability was her strongest one. She formed a psychic avatar from all the damage avoided by the opponent, thanks to her first skill. The avatar only possessed defensive and supportive powers such as barriers, blink, levitation, and jamming. The avatar’s psychic power depended on the quality and nen quantity that landed during the invulnerable state. Also, if the avatar was destroyed by herself, all nen expanded was returned to her. Taking things in perspective, she was very suited to this nen type. “Well, let’s go back. That’s enough for today.” He said after he looked at their exhausted states. “When are you leaving, big brother?” Noko asked between breaths. “That...it’s near, I guess.” He recalled the hunter exam. The four of them had already agreed on something tacitly. After Gon explained to them how he had friends he needed to meet and protect there, they were a bit confused. Where did that boy find the time to develop such deep bonds with people from different continents at his age? But they didn’t ask more. Gon was already mysterious. They only understood how much, after they learned nen themselves. Since they were able to judge and appreciate the difference in their strengths, a lot of things changed. This hunter exam, according to Gon, had a limited number of qualification spots. So if they participated, he wouldn’t be able to help his friends. They still had next year, so it wasn’t that much of a big deal. Besides Noko, the siblings didn’t care that much for the hunter exam at any rate. Zepile was already swimming in piles of cash, and his sister was happy being with him and learn nen. Noko seemed to care much more for Gon than the hunter exam itself, plus she was a small and naive girl. After Gon made enough money for Zepile to invest in different online software, diversify in retail and transportation, they were already making their way up the top in Silvertina. “I guess I’ll leave tomorrow; the exam is in two weeks. But we never know what may happen before I get to Zaban City.” He replied with a smile. “Too bad we don’t have a boat yet, haha,” He said as he looked at the adult man with a grin. “Give me a break…” The latter said as everyone laughed. ……………………………… A week and a half later, Zaban City, “Young man, are you also here for the hunter exam? Our inn is the best in the city.” “Don’t listen to the deceitful old lady, boy, our place offers a thirty percent reduction for whoever books a VIP room within the next two days.” “Famous Hunter, Battera has stayed in our Dobrea Inn! Stop pushing, I was here first!” Several locals were fighting over the hunter examinees and formulating doubtful yet enticing offers. “Here I come, Killua.” As Gon passed through the crowd of noisy peddlers and scammers, he inhaled the familiar sea breeze with pleasure and scanned through the market.