Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Phoenix and Thorne
The Staff of Judgement, Doyen's Growth Pills, Fledgling CEO, were just a few of the cards the four were able to find and collect in the past few days. Phoenix really enjoyed collecting the Doyen's Growth Pills card since it involved books and research, two things that she enjoyed doing.
"Yes! We're halfway there!" Gon celebrated when they finally found Fledgling CEO at the bottom of a lake.
"We got our 50th card!" Killua exclaimed, just as happy as Gon.
Phoenix giggled to herself as she jumped on the spot and clapped, Thorne flapping his wings in excitement on her head.
After a quick lunch the group of four continued on their way to finding all the card they needed to beat the game and were walking in a forest.
"Hey, Killua," said Gon, walking next to Killua who was holding hands with Phoenix. "Something's been bugging me."
"Yeah?" said Killua, letting Gon know he was listening.
"Aren't there hundreds of players? Isn't it weird that we've been able to turn all out items into cards?" Gon said curiously.
"What do you mean?" Bisky asked from behind the three.
"Even B-rank specified slot types have a thirty-card limit." Gon explained, looking at the blonde over his shoulder. "The players here before us should have already collected them."
"You have a good point, Gon," Phoenix admitted.
"Look at it this way," said Killua. "Fewer than thirty teams in this game are capable of making real progress."
"Oh, I see," said Gon
"Most players aren't worried about getting specified slot cards," Killua further explained. "They're just struggling to find a way out of the game."
"It would suck if you got to Masadora and there weren't any Leave cards." Gon said with a wobbled smiled.
"Yeah, that's why," Killua suddenly cut himself off, making Phoenix tense from beside him, worried that he had sensed someone. All Killua did was stop and whisper, "I get it…" The white-haired boy turned around, letting go of Phoenix's hand to see his friends. "If you guys got to Masadora, but there weren't any Leave cards, what would you do?"
"Well," Bisky said. "I'd steadily save money until a Leave showed up."
"Yeah," Gon agreed.
"Go beat up the Boat dude," Phoenix said with a shrug.
"Most people in the game aren't strong enough to beat him, not like us," said Killua, smirking at his girlfriend, he knew she'd say that. "But what if you acquired a super rare spell card while waiting?" he said pointing to Gon.
"Sell it and buy more spell cards until a Leave came in," said Gon.
"Really?" Bisky asked, surprised. by Gon's answer. "I would save it… Wouldn't it suck if all the cards you bought ended up being worthless? If you saved it, you might be able to trade for a Leave- Oh!" She suddenly gasped with Phoenix and Gon clicking onto what Killua was saying.
"Get it?" Killua asked with a smug smile.
The four quickly went to the Masadora and made their way to the closest shop that sold spell cards. They were quick to find someone who looked very discouraged as they came out of the spell card shop.
"Need a Leave?" Phoenix asked the man, she was the most innocent looking one among them, apart from Gon but people are more likely to help a little girl then a little boy. "Want to go back to the real world?"
Between the four of them they were able to get few rare cards by going around town, trading Leave cards.
"We've gotten four specified slot cards for four Leaves," said Gon when they four all meet up again an hour later.
"Okay, that makes a total of fifty-four types." Said Killua.
"Score!" all four yelled out, with Thorne letting out a little roar as well.
The four exited the city and found a spot to rest in the forest near by and sorted out their books. They had an assortment of things in front of them, ranging from stuff toys, to nail polish.
"So, the cards that wouldn't fit in our binders reverted to items." Bisky observed.
"It's useless junk that we really don't need so it's not a big lose, at least," Phoenix pointed out, playing with a stuffed cat with Thorne.
"We're running out of free slots," said Killed. "Then we should organize them now. We four have a total of 180 free slots. We should each leave around 5 slots free."
"You keep the spell cards, Killua," said Gon.
"Bisky should also have a few defensive ones," Killua suggested.
"Wait! I have to use spell cards?" Bisky whined. "No way! They're too confusing!"
"The hell? Then learn how they work!" Killua snapped.
Phoenix laughed before giving Bisky a quick explanation about spell cards but she could tell that the blonde didn't really understand what she was saying so she just left it.
"Okay…" Killua started closing his book. "We've been deliberately avoiding other players, but we'll have to take risks to obtain the rarer cards."
"Yeah," Gon nodded.
"I think we should get what ever cards ourselves, and then we can start negotiation with other players that we meet along the way," Phoenix suggested.
"I agree with Phoenix, we're capable of getting most card on out own but there will be a few we'd have a trade for," Bisky agreed. "Sound good?"
Gon and Killua quickly agreed with the two girls, happy the have a solid plan.
It was a really good thing that Gon had won Paladin's necklace at the rock paper scissors competition because the first guy they traded with tried to give Gon a common card with a transformed Fake card disguised as the rarer card they wanted. The necklace quickly chanced the card. When they called the man out, he was quick to give them the right card with a nervous chuckle, probably because Phoenix was glaring at him darkly.
That evening the four were walking and talking as the sun was starting to set, giving everything a calm and bright look. Phoenix and Killua were walking in front of Gon and Bisky talking quietly to each other, they weren't talking about anything specific just placed they'd want to visit after Greed Island they had the chance. Thorne was sitting on Gon's shoulder who was feeding the baby dragon.
"I would love to go to the beach, I haven't been to one before," Phoenix admitted.
"Really?" Killua asked surprised.
The green-eyed girl shook her head, "Before the Hunter exam, me and Kurapika mostly travelled in forests or cities, we never actually went near the beach, I dunno know why though, maybe he just didn't like the beach? Who knows? But I've always wanted to go." She said shyly.
Killua grinned at her, "Once we get beat the game, we'll go to the beach, just me and you, it could be our first date, if you want?" He asked with a bit of pinkness rising on his cheeks.
"Really?" Phoenix asked excited. She giggled when Killua nodded with a content smile, quickly giving him a kiss on the cheek, not noticed Gon and Bisky smiling softly at the young couple.
"Hey, this necklace can remove curses, right?" Gon spoke up, feeling a little guilty for ruining his friend's moment but needed to say what he'd been thinking about for a while now.
"Only from spell card," Killua said, curious to where Gon was going with his train of thought.
"Oh, so it won't work," Gon said a little disappointed.
"What were you thinking, Gon?" Phoenix asked with her head tilted slightly.
"I was wondering if a curse was behind the disease that all those villagers were suffering from." Gon said with a sheepish smile.
"Villagers?" Killua asked.
"Oh, those people…" Said Bisky, remembering the villagers from the mountain. "The ones who took all your money. But it won't work since they aren't cards."
"No, they might be," said Phoenix thinking back to the villages.
"It's worth a shot" Killua agreed.
Together the four started to run toward the mountain that they ascended the very first day they arrived in the game and found the little village quickly.
"Will you trust us with your lives?" Gon asked the villages once they arrived in the village and had everyone gather in the house they were in when they took all their money and clothes, all the villages coughing nonstop in front of them.
"You freely gave us everything you had," The village elder said tearfully. "We will trust you!"
As he had said that all the villages, including the kid in the end poofed into cards.
Everyone watched with bated breaths as Gon caught on of the cards and it started steaming, changing from sick villagers to healthy villages before their eyes, everyone smiling at their achievement.
Once all the villages turned back into themselves, they presented them with a beautiful gold ring with a red gem as a gift.
"Thank you so much!" The elder said gratefully. "This treasure has been passed down for generations. Please accept this token of our gratitude."
"It worked!" Gon exclaimed happily as he accepted the gift. "We scored a Wild Luck Alexandrite!"
Just as they were about to leave the village and Gon was putting the new card away, his book binged, with a notification.
"Another player has cast Contact on you." The automated voice said from Gon's book.
"Hey, this is Kazsule!" Said the person from the book. Phoenix thought back and remembered that it was the guy that stole their first card. "I'd like to talk to you. Could we meet in person?"
"About what?" Gon asked him.
"Some people are close to clearing the game." He said making the four of them gasp. "It's a three-man team, led by someone name Genthru."
"Genthru." Gon repeated with a frown.
The four exchanged a look before nodding at Gon who told Kazsule that they'd meet up with him. Phoenix gave Gon one of her Accompany cards and they used it to meet up with Kazsule who then explained that they were meeting somewhere else with a group of players. This time Kazsule was the one to use an Accompany card and they arrived at a large rocky area, like the one they used for their training.
Sitting on a flat boulder, Phoenix leaned against Killua's chest since she was sitting in front of him, his arms around her waist and his head on her shoulder. Phoenix stroked Thorne who was fast asleep on her stomach, full from his dinner.
"Thanks for coming, everyone. You have my gratitude." Kazsule addressed everyone who had gathered. There was a total of 16 including Kazsule at his two friends. "As mentioned via Contact, Team Genthru is close to completing the game. I just checked the ranking, and they're currently at ninety-six types. We have to figure out a way to stop them."
"Can I asked something?" Killua called out, lifting one of his hands up.
"What is it?" Kazsule asked curiously.
"How do you check the ranking?" He asked.
"Well…" Kazsule started but was but of by a chick with orange hair.
"You don't know how to do that?" She asked in a snobby tone that made Phoenix sit up and glare at the women. Gon reached over and grabbed Thorne, who had just woken up from being jostled so suddenly, he could sense that Phoenix didn't like the woman and would probably say something. "If we answer all their questions, we'll be here till dawn! Just cut to the chase."
The ginger's comment caused not only Killua and Phoenix to glare at her but Gon and Bisky too.
"Hey, don't be so mean…" Kazsule said, feeling the tension rising from Team Gon. "We're all here to exchange information."
"They could have information you don't, Asta." Kazsule's white-haired friend called out.
"That's impossible." Asta scoffed aggregately. "Those kids are amateurs who don't even know how to use the Trade shop."
"In the Trade Shop, there's a ranking that lists players and their total specified slot cards," Kazsule explained before one of the four could snap at the ginger cretin. "If you pay a fee, you can even learn the numbers of their cards."
"But getting a player's name from the ranking still won't let you use Contact or Fluoroscopy on them. Not until you actually meet them. Do you feel a little smarter now, little boy?" The ginger bitch sneered at Killua, increasing all of their annoyance with her.
"In other words, if we know the members of a team, we can determine how many cards they have." Kazsule's friend said.
"And team Genthru is only missing #0, #2, #9, and #75." Said Kazsule.
"#75…" Gon muttered.
"There's a solid theory that #0 appears in an event after the other ninety-nine are collected, so they only need three. We propose to find one of those three types before they do and monopolize it, to prevent them from clearing the game."
"There's gotta be something else. We could deluge them with spell cards." Ginger dog said.
"They already have a Paladin's Necklace," Kazsule informed everyone. "So, Levy is the only spell that will work. And they can block Levy if certain conditions are met."
"It's safe to assume that Genthru is willing to reveal that they have ninety-six types because their pages are protected by Prison." White hair said.
"That's possible…" Gon agreed.
"Genthru was collecting a bunch of spell cards with the others who tried to recruit us. It's a reasonable assumption." Killua added.
"We could always take their cards by force." Ginger mutt suggested.
"Would you be wiling to lead the attack?" Someone from a different team ask, making Phoenix snort at the possibility of the mutt leading an attack, she seemed to be all bark and not bite. "We don't know what kind of abilities they have in their four-man team…"
"Finding a card type to monopolize is the most practical option," Kazsule continued. "I assume no one had objections." Everyone was silent, they all knew he was right. "Then let's get to business. We'll need everyone here to cooperate."
"I'm fine with the proposed plan," Ginger mutt said. "But I have a problem with these members." This make Phoenix roll her eyes, knowing that the Ginger Mutt was talking about her and her friends.
"Hold on, Asta," Kazsule said exasperated. "All six teams here satisfy the prerequisite. That they hold more than 50 cards… just as you insisted at the outset."
"I also said that they had to be people who could contribute. I don't see how these kids can contribute anything." She sneered.
Phoenix finally had enough. "You're the one who's acting like a spoiled princess, mutt," she sneered at the Ginger.
Phoenix's friends all looked at her surprised. She never insults someone unless she really doesn't like them, they didn't like Asta either but wouldn't insult her like that. Killua though was a little proud of his girlfriend, he knew she really didn't like Asta because of the way she was talking to him before and their friends.
"You're a big talker at least…" The Ginger mutt growled. "Then show me some proof that you can be useful."
"We know team Genthru's abilities," Gon quickly said before Phoenix could snap at the woman or set on fire, much to the surprise of everyone gathered.
"We have one of the three cards they're missing," Killua added smirking smugly.
"Oh, and let's not forget this…" Phoenix sang as she set her hand a blaze with her blue flames and smirked wickedly at the Ginger mutt. "Still dissatisfied, mutt?"
"No, that's good enough," she said a little nervous about Phoenix's nen. "So, tell us what their abilities are."
"What about you?" Phoenix asked putting the flame on her hand out and crossing her legs out in front of her. Her smirk widened when the Ginger mutt looked surprised. "Show us some proof you can be useful to us."
"We have seventy-one types of specified slot cards… Significantly more than you. I'll give you an A-rank card in return for the information. You shouldn't have a problem with that. And call me Mutt one more time, little girl, and I'll wipe that stupid smirk off your face."
"I have a problem. We can obtain A-rank cards ourselves. So, give us two S-rank cards or equally valuable information. Otherwise, we won't tell you a thing, Mutt." Smirked Phoenix knowing that she could do anything to her, unless she wanted to become a pile of ash.
"Don't press your luck, brat!" Ginger mutt stood up. "Did you hear that, everyone? These kids won't be any help. They want two S-rank cards from each team. That's ten cards they want to take from us."
"Those who involve everyone in their arguments are the one who can't fight for themselves, they need everyone around them to do their fighting," Phoenix mocked making the Ginger mutt growl. "Now, sit down and don't be a fool. I'm only taking cards from your team. I'm find giving information to the other four. They can decide what they want to give us in return. But I won't give it to you for anything less than what I said! After all Mutt, you're the only one who's been a problem and disrespectful since the start."
"You are a stupid brat…" She growled, grinding her teeth together as she glared at Phoenix with hate. "You're dwelling on that argument, huh?"
"Stop this, both of you…" Kazsule intervened before an actual fight broke out. "We don't have time to fight amongst ourselves!"
"I haven't agreed to team up with them yet!" Phoenix and the Ginger mutt shouted, pointing at each other.
"It's fine, Asta…" the man of the Ginger mutt's team finally piped up. "Give them two cards."
"We need to move on," said the girl on the Ginger mutt's team.
"What?" The Ginger mutt snapped at her teammates. "I have no problem with giving them cards! But that kid's trying to pick a fight!"
"Maybe if you hadn't belittled my friends and insulted my boyfriend, I wouldn't be picking a fight, you stupid mutt!" Phoenix shouted standing up and glaring before turning to her friends. "Hey, let's leave. I would rather pull out my own eyes then team with that Mutt." This made her friends sweat drop and Killua to chuckle, it was cute that she was sticking up for him.
'Now, now… I know how you feel… it's frustrating." Bisky said in a soothing tone.
"But given the circumstances…" Gon said in the same tone.
"If we team up with her, it'll give you a chance to mess with her," Killua bribed.
Phoenix narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend before sighing and sitting back down in front of Killua with a pout. Killua just chuckled and pulled you closer and wrapped his arms around her waist again, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Once the ginger mutt finally agreed to give them two cards everyone gathering in a bit closer to listen to Gon.
"Genthru's abilities are Countdown and Little Flower," he explained. "So, it's best to keep your distance from him."
"Serious? He got me…" Ginger mutt mutter, even Phoenix couldn't feel smug about that, being exploded is a horrible way to die.
"Same here," Someone else said. "He touched me when we were making a deal."
"Me too."
"seems like a bunch of them might be victims," Bisky comment to Phoenix and Killua, the latter having a smug smirk.
"This is our chance!" Killua sniggered.
"Isn't here any way to disable his technique?" Ginger mutt asked desperately.
"Yep, there is…" Gon said cheerfully. "You have to touch Genthru and said 'I caught the bomber.'"
"Stupid! Why did you tell them?" Killua asked annoyed. "We couldn't gotten more cards out of them!"
"But that would have started another fight, and Phoenix is scary when she's angry." Gon admitted sheepishly as Phoenix giggled. "The bombs can't be armed until Genthru explained how his ability works, and as long as you keep away from him, you should be safe."
Ginger mutt stared at the four for a moment before sighing, "Did you know there are two ways to cast spells?" She said reluctantly.
"Yep, I did," said Gon.
"A spell card is used up the moment you speak the spell," Ginger mutt continued, much to the surprised of her teammates. "But it's possible to keep reusing a spell. For example, you know how a list of players you've met appears if you put Peek in your binder? If you remove the card without pressing the ender button, the spell card isn't used up, so you can keep reusing it."
"I never tried that," Killua admitted with Phoenix nodding her agreement, more surprised the Ginger mutt gave them that information for free then the actual information.
"You can but all B-ranked specified slot cards at Trade Shops. You simply need to buy from the same Trade Shop over fifty times." She continued, Phoenix silently thought that, that bit of information made a lot of sense. "If you become a frequent customer, they will start bringing it up. Do you have a duplicate X-Ray Goggles card? Or Beauty Magnet Emerald and Wonder Pond?"
Ginger mutt continued to give them information and eventually the other teams joined it. It took about half an hour until everyone was finished sharing their information with them.
"Is that enough information to satisfy you?" Ginger mutt Phoenix once everyone was finished. "I'll give you another card if you're not happy."
"No, that's enough," Phoenix said, cutting her off. "And I apologise for calling your mutt. I get very protective of the people I love."
Asta seemed generally surprised at Phoenix's apology but was quick to accept and apologize for her own behaviour, saying she was just as protective as the people she loved too.
"I'm up next, then." The man with no team said, standing up. "I'm Goreinu. Nice to meet you." He was the only one who had yet to share any information so everyone listened closely when he started to share.
"Thanks everyone," Gon said smiling at everyone. "That was very educational."
"The question now is which card we should try to monopolize." Kazsule said curiously.
"It's probably impossible to monopolize the #75 we have," Killua said. "Each team can only obtain one, and the limit is twenty, which is too high."
"You obtained #75?" Someone asked.
"That's impressive." Someone else said, it was like they all forgot that Killua had said that earlier but then Phoenix remember that she and Asta got into a big fight straight after.
"List on! #75" Kazsule cast. "So, five other teams each have one. Monopolizing this one will be impossible."
"What about the other two?" Asta asked.
"List on! #9" Someone cast.
"List on. #2" A blonde man cast.
"No good," the first man said. "there are three teams with #9.
"#2, Strip of Beach…" The blonde man said. "No one has it. We can make it work!"
The girl from Asta's team pulled out a card and summoned it, "Guidepost on, #2. I know where to find it… Soufrabi."
"I've been there before!" Someone said with excitement.
"I have an Accompany card here." Someone else said, just as excited.
"Okay, let's go." Kazsule said. "Accompany on! To Soufrabi!"
With that they all zoomed off it a massive yellow beam of light and landed on a beach, much to Phoenix's amazement.
She looked over at Killua and gave him a wide grin, Killua was quick to return it as he grabbed her hand.
"It's a pretty big city…" Kazsule said as they all started at the town in the close distance. "Let's head in and snoop around.
"Race ya!" Killua said to Gon and Phoenix.
Gon and Killua were quick to race ahead but Phoenix stopped and took off her shoes and then her shoes, giving them to Bisky who offered to hold them before taking off and chasing after the boys, she was quick to catch up to them.
The three shared a laugh before Killua gave Phoenix a little nudge, pushing her to run in the water. Phoenix couldn't stop the laughter that bubble out of her throat as she ran in the salty water next to her friends. She could hear all the adults laughing at them as they played. She knew that it wasn't the date that Killua had promised but it was still amazing, she also knew that now that she's been to the beach that Killua would take her on a different date, one that would surprise her and she was happy about that. She was just happy to be mucking around with her friends before things got serious again, they hadn't had a chance to just act their age since they got into the game and this moment was like a breath of fresh air.
A/N: Two chapters in one day, this is my apology for taking forever to upload again, some of you have been wondering where I've been and I've just been dealing with life, work, personal things, health things and family, so I took a break and didn't tell anyone, sorry about that.
FFAP: Phoenix is terrible at fixing things; she ends up making it worse. (Talking about objects, not people or relationships)
Answer from the last chapter: My ideal holiday would be to go somewhere that snows, like Japan, or Canada, or even New Zealand.
The question of the chapter: What's everyone's favourite hobby?
Thank you for reading my fanfiction, I love you guys.
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