Chapter Thirty Five
A.N. Y'all it's been a while! Sorry for the wait, things have been pretty crazy. I'm not gonna lie, I've really lost a lot of my inspiration for this story. We're so close to the end so I want to finish, but it's hard to make yourself write when you're not really enjoying yourself anymore. I'm not giving up though, I'm gonna finish this story and go back and edit the rest of it. There were a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes throughout and for me that's a really fast way to get me to stop reading a story. Plus I feel like I've lost a few things I had towards the beginning of our story, namely the relationship between Ayami, Killua, and Gon. I'm a picky reader and I want to be proud of the things I write, so as soon as I figure out how I will start editing. This was my first real story, and I want to see the end of it. Please leave a review if there is something you want to see in the epilogue, I could really use some inspiration! Stay safe my friends~
"What do we do?" Gon asked quietly.
"Sounds suspicious." Ayami said, eyeing the stranger warily.
"We're already off to a bad start." Killua agreed.
"If I remember correctly, on your way here, another player used an attack Spell on you." The man said suddenly, making the kids tense.
"Have you been watching us?" Ayami demanded.
"Yeah. I'm not the only one. Lots of people keep an eye on the starting point. If you come with me I can explain why. I can also tell you about the spell that was cast on you."
"You're being rather generous, there must be a catch." Killua said with a smirk.
"We have no choice. Once you realize how hard and frightening this game is, you'll be more willing to accept our offer. Also, since it's your first time playing, you could use the information."
"What makes you think it's our first time?" Ayami asked. "We could be returning players." The man eyed them for a moment before smirking.
"Book." He said. Killua, Ayami, and Gon jumped a good distance backwards as his book appeared, eyeing him warily. "This proves your beginners. An experienced player would react by summoning their own binder. In this game you use spell cards to defend yourself."
"Then the spell that was cast on Killua…" Gon began.
"Could only be stopped by another card." Killua finished.
"That's right. Even if you don't have any cards, you should still summon in your binder. You can bluff your way out. Book." He explained, sending his book away, making the kids relax.
"How do we obtain spell cards?" Ayami asked.
"The easiest method would be to go to Masadora, the city of magic." The man explained.
"Masadora?" Ayami asked. "That's where that guy went."
"We should go. I'm worried about that spell he put on you." Gon said.
"I wanna find that guy, I'm gonna punch him in the face!" Ayami said eagerly.
"Okay." Killua agreed, hiding a smile. They followed the man back to his group of friends to get more information and noticed several of the people they'd arrived with waiting there.
"Is this everyone?" The man asked.
"Yeah, everyone else turned me down." One of his friends said.
"Let's get started." The other agreed.
"Another player just died. He had arrived with the rest of you." Their guide explained. "His stomach had exploded, it was the work of The Bomber."
"The Bomber?" Gon asked.
"That's a stupid name." Ayami muttered. Killua and Gon elbowed her, and she scowled, flicking them both in the back of the head.
"Ow!" Gon whined. Killua turned to glare at her, and Ayami stuck her tongue out at him. Sensing that they were about to start another fight, Gon shoved Killua over, quickly sliding between them while his silver haired friend recovered his balance.
"His victims aren't killed by spells. No spell here is capable of hurting people. Which means you can't be harmed or killed by any spell cast on you." The tall blond explained.
"There are forty spells total. The one cast on you was an inspection spell, either Trace or Adhesion. In short, it tells the castor everything about the person they cast it on. Some players wait by the entrance to cast these spells on new players. As soon as that player obtains a valuable card, they show up to steal it."
"In some cases, they just kill their target." The blond continued.
"Like the guy that just died? I won't be so easy to kill." The man that Gon and Killua had talked to during the screening- the one with the purple suit- said cockily.
"No, he was killed by a radical type of player, who targets other players. The Bomber killed him."
"The Bomber?" Gon asked again.
"There are three ways to get cards in this game. Do you know what they are?" Another man asked.
"Find them yourself." Gon said.
"Trade with other players." A man in a blue suit added.
"Steal them from other players." Killua finished.
"Thats right. However, the amount of players stealing from others has increased, due to the increasing difficulty of getting cards and the card conversion limit system. People who can't get the cards themselves choose to take them from others. The players that resist are killed. When they die, the ring disappears and their cards are lost." The short one explained.
"That rule is supposed to keep players from killing each other, but it's backfiring. This game has been out for ten years. If no one can find a way to beat it, the killing will continue. That's why we're recruiting allies, to end this mess! We need your help." Their guide said passionately.
"How do you plan to obtain cards? 1.) Find them yourself. 2.) Trade for them. 3.) Steal them. Which method will you use?" The man in the purple suit asked.
"Three."
"I assume you mean you'll use all three methods, but primarily the third." The man in blue guessed.
"So you plan to use force?"
"No. We will not use violence to reach our goal."
"Spells. You'll use spells, right?" The man in blue asked.
"Correct." The leader agreed. "There are many spells used for taking cards, and spells used in defense. We plan to use those spells. It's the only way to clear the game. I've met many other players, and they agree. Even if you spend years searching for cards, they'll be taken from you eventually."
"This game is based on taking cards from other players. We will ensure that we can do so without risking our own cards."
"How do you plan to split the reward when you clear the game?" The man in the purple suit asked.
"Mr. Battera hired you, correct? He hired us as well." The short man said.
"The reward will be fifty billion. We will split it with everyone who helps." The leader explained.
"We have fifty three players involved, and we plan to clear this game within three months." The one in the pink shirt said.
"Of course, if you join us, we'll remove any spells cast on you." The blonde one said. Ayami glanced at Killua, biting her lip.
"I'm in. I don't like the idea of splitting the fifty billion, but I like the three month schedule for clearing the game." The man in the purple suit said. The man in blue also agreed to join, and the adults turned to the three kids.
"What about you three?" The leader asked. Gon bowed his head.
"Killua, sorry." Gon apologised.
"For what?" Killua asked.
"I'm out. 'm playing this game on my own." Gon announced, turning to walk away. Ayami and Killua shared a grin and followed him.
"You heard the boss." Killua said, waving at them.
"Thanks for the offer." Ayami shrugged. "We'll pass." She said as they took off after Gon. They followed him through town, having a silent conversation while watching him stalk ahead, clearly agitated. Killua raised an eyebrow at her. (What's up with him?) and she shrugged, nodding towards Gon. (I dunno, go ask him.) Killua scowled at her and shook his head. (Why do I have to do it, you do it!) Ayami glared back and pointed at him, then shoved him forward. (You're the one who asked, Go!)
"Oi, Gon. Wanna explain what that was about?" Killua asked,sticking out his foot and trying to trip Ayami for shoving him. Ayami jumped over his foot, but tossed a strawberry sucker from her backpack at his head as a peace offering. Gon paused, taking a breath before turning to face them sheepishly.
"Sorry guys, I just couldn't take it anymore."
"Why are you apologizing?" Killua asked.
"Because you'll probably be stuck with that spell for a while."
"Oh, that's why. It's not a big deal." Killua shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"But you guys are just playing this game to help me find my dad." Gon sighed. Ayami stared at him with a small smile. 'That's not really why.'
"Why were you so mad?" Ayami asked curiously.
"They had nothing but bad things to say about the game Ging made, like how it's based on killing and stealing. I want to do what Ging said, and enjoy the game. When I started, I knew it wouldn't be easy. I thought it was because all the players enjoyed the game. People have actually died because players are willing to hurt each other just to get cards." Gon explained.
"That part actually makes sense to me." Killua shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. "That's why this game is meant only for Hunters. Killing is wrong, I'll agree to that. But what if two players put forth a card and the one who wins gets to keep them both?"
"That seems fair." Gon agreed.
"See? When that guy cast a spell on me, and when those guys finish the game, they're just following the rules." Killua explained.
"Yeah." Gon agreed.
"Even though it kinda feels like they're chickening out." Ayami huffed. Killua grinned brightly.
"Let's forget about them. Lets enjoy the game by ourselves." Killua suggested. Walking forwards. Ayami grinned and followed.
"Killua. Ayami. Thank you." Gon said suddenly, making them whip around to face him, shocked. "I'm glad I can be here with you. I'm glad I met you." Gon declared, smiling brightly at his shocked friends. Ayami beamed at him but Killua huffed, hiding behind his hair.
"We wouldn't miss it. We made a promise, remember?" Ayami grinned, remembering their time on Whale Island.
"Cut it out you idiots. That's embarrassing!" Killua huffed, marching forward.
"Why? I really mean it!" Gon insisted, chasing after him. Killua glanced up past his bangs and watched Gon and Ayami smile and laugh together. 'You have it backwards, Gon. I'm the one who's glad that I got to meet you two. I hope we stay together, like we promised.' Killua thought to himself. They continued to explore the town, unaware of the eyes that watched them.