Chapter One- Introduction to The Newfound Hunters
I was standing in a small outcrop of trees, a small forest with a newfound friend I have been with for over a month and a half and our joint teacher who we have known for a month since leaving my home city to begin a journey to travel and train around the continent. My name is Jake Nicholls, and I am a new hunter along with my new friend, Luke Lawton.
A hunter is someone who in order to get their licence has to pass an exam known as the Hunter Exam which occurs once every year, the exam can have up to five or stages and can take up to one month to complete. The exam can be quite dangerous and rigorous and a lot of people either die or fail the exam every year, Luke and I took the 287th Hunter Exam alongside my nephew Michael Nicholls and our other newly found friend Lewis Pollard.
The 287th Hunter Exam took roughly two weeks to fully complete and for us all as well as others to pass, after passing the exam we returned to my home city known as York New City where we spent three days with my family, I caught up with my family and introduced them to my new friend, after three days we met our teacher while roaming to the city who spoke with us and brought us to a small forest outside York New City and begun to teach us, after a full month of training I left York New City with my friend and my new teacher called Ugata Yotsuki to begin our journey together.
Jake's POV
While standing in the middle of the forest while Luke is standing across from me while our teacher is sitting on top of a stump of a chopped down tree a lone bird cries out as it flies above us. Luke is wearing a black short sleeved shirt beneath a grey hoodie, black jeans with black trainers.
"What are we going to learn about Nen today master Ugata?" I ask my mentor sitting on the tree stump. I have blue eyes, short and spiky hair. I am wearing a white t-shirt with a yellow coloured star pattern, black joggers, and white and blue trainers.
Ugata smiles as he stands up and walks towards us, he puts his hand on head and rubs it gently across my head while I grunt from annoyance. Master Ugata is wearing a short sleeved black shirt with a white diamond pattern all over the front and back, he wears a brown leather biker style jacket covering that shirt, dark blue jeans and brown boots.
"Master Ugata…!" I groan in annoyance at having my teacher rub his hand across my head.
Ugata chuckles cheerfully "I'm sorry Jake, but in answer your question we are not learning or training today".
Luke and I look at our mentor in surprise at what our mentor said.
"What do you mean master?" Luke questions in his same bland, monotone voice while he raises his eyebrow.
"We're going to go to somewhere you two can train in Nen, fight and also earn money at the same time" Ugata replies with a hearty chuckle.
"So we are basically going to be training today huh master? You didn't have to give us such a run-around for a simple question you know" Luke scowls slightly with a slight smile on his face.
Ugata sighs and puts his hands on his hips while chuckling smile "You're not entirely correct Luke, because we won't be able to get to our destination today, it'll take at least a few hours to get there".
We both look at Master Ugata with looks of surprise and uncertainty on our faces.
"So where are we going too master?" I ask curiously.
"We're going to be going to a place called Heavens Arena which is in Republic of Padokea" Ugata smiles warmly and happily.
My ears prick up at the mention of Heavens Arena.
"We're going to be going to Heavens Arena? The worlds most popular and biggest combat sight?" I reply in a slight state of shock and surprise.
Luke looks at me and Master Ugata with a look of confusion on his face.
"What are you guys talking about? What's this Heavens Arena place you guys keep mentioning?"
Both Master Ugata and I turn to Luke with an apologetic look on our faces.
"I guess we forgot your originally from the Republican of Rokario that borders the NGL so you probably haven't heard of Heavens Arena before" Ugata smiles with an apologetic smile on my face while he rubs his head on the back of head.
Luke scowls in annoyance and irritation.
"What are you implying Master Ugata? I still had access to technology you know." Luke barks in annoyance.
"Oh…I know that of course that's not what I was implying Luke I promise" Ugata laughs jokingly while rubbing his hand against the back of his head in a show of apology.
Luke sighs and taps his foot on the ground before he picks his bag up off the ground and hoists it up over his back before heading in the direction of the nearest train station, turning to us, and saying:
"Come one then, slow pokes."
With that both Master Ugata and I laugh out loud to each other before we each pick up our own bags full of our own belongings and walk after Luke to head for the nearest train station to go to our destination-Heavens Arena.
A Few Hours Later
We arrive at the train station, the outside is full of rows of people talking to each other, on the phone to other people, eating food or getting in and out of taxi's.
We walk casually through the crowds of people until we enter inside which is full of people sat down waiting for trains, checking the timetable boards, walking towards or away from the gates or talking with staff members.
We approach a room full of small cubicles no bigger than a box big enough for four people, Luke and I stand beside Master Ugata as he sits down in the chair and logs into the computer on the small wooden desk using his hunter license which he swipes into a card swipe machine next to it and using the mouse and keyboard heads straight to a train booking website where he books three tickets for Republic of Padokea for us all, once the orders for the tickets gone through the website checkout we print them out and head towards the counter to book our train.
Once we approach the counter to hand over our tickets so they can each get a stamp so the train staff can take it once we get on the train, Master Ugata hands over the three tickets to the woman staff member at the other end:
"Three tickets for the Republic of Padokea please madam" Ugata says with a kind smile.
The woman blushes slightly and takes the tickets, stamps them, and hands them back to master Ugata smiling before saying:
"T-there you go, erm mister, h-have a s-safe journey." The woman stammers while blushing slightly.
Ugata takes the tickets and puts them back into his wallet before smiling warmly and leaving the counter and heading towards the timetable board to check what stand and time our train is.
While we walk behind Master Ugata, Luke and I look at each other with a slight grin appearing on the corners of our lips at the exchange between our master and the staff member. Our master is known by most woman for being cool and attractive and quite a few woman in York New City and on the way to the train station were reacting the same way that staff member just did so it's something that has been quite the common occurrence, so safe to say we're used to it by now.
At the timetable board we search for our train information, after a few moments Luke finds our train information on the board. Our train is at half past three in the evening and it departs from stand number five. I check my cell phone and the time is currently three o'clock so we have thirty minutes to wait around, I put my cell phone back into my pocket before raising my head to look at Luke and master Ugata.
"How about we go grab something to eat while we wait for our train master?" I ask my master and Luke.
"Sure, let's go you two" Ugata says as he leads us to a nearby food stand, once Ugata, Luke and I eat the food we order we hear an announcement over a speaker that rings throughout the entire station:
"The train departing for the Republic of Padokea leaves from stand five in five minutes, all passengers for that train service be at the stand within the next five minutes".
Without saying another word all three of us head for stand five, we arrive there a two minutes later and wait patiently for our train to arrive, three minutes later on the dot our train arrives, we take the nearest seats making sure our backpacks are secure and the train departs for the Republic of Padokea.
A Few Hours Later
Our train arrives in the station at the Republic of Padokea, we grab our bags and exit the train, we walk through the station until we exit it and walk out into a bustling town full of people walking about their daily lives. We walk through the bustling town until we can see a tall white building approximately three thousand, two hundred and fifty meters tall in the distance of our eyesight.
"Is that tall building Heavens Arena?" Luke asks Master Ugata.
"Mhmm it is Luke, nicely observed" Master Ugata replies.
Luke's lips turn up into an annoyingly confident smirk before turning his head downward while continuing to walk.
"It wasn't that easy to spot you know." I say to Luke in an annoying tone of voice at Luke's confident expression at stating something quite obvious and yet receiving praise from Master Ugata.
We continue walking through the town until we reach the tall, white building and enter through the front door. When we enter we see a huge line of roughly one thousand people before us.
"I guess that's the registration line you were talking about right Master Ugata?" Luke asks our master while turning his head back to him.
"It is, you need to get into line and fill out a form in order to participate in the Heavens Arena" Ugata replies.
"I guess we should get into line then huh?" I question Luke.
"Suppose so. Let's go then" Luke replies nonchalantly before he joins in the queue, becoming the one thousand four hundred and forty-four to do so, I join a moment later becoming number one thousand four hundred and forty-five.
Around an hour later the number of people in the queue has gotten down to half the original number before we got into it. We stand and watch as it slowly goes down one person at a time, I turn my head to the left and spot Master Ugata standing nearby reading his usual brown cover book.
"Aren't you going to join the queue and participate in the Heaves Arena?" I ask Master Ugata out of curiosity as to why someone strong like our teacher wouldn't participate.
Ugata chuckles, closes his book and turns his smiling face towards us.
"Regarding that, I have already been here before but this time is your time to train and get stronger"
A few hour later we finally reach the front of the queue, Luke approaches the counter when a woman from behind it hands him a piece of paper and pen, smiling and says:
"Luke Lawton you are number one thousand five hundred and forty four, please fill out this form to participate in Heavens Arena".
Luke quickly and silently fills out the form, after he's done he moves aside and I step up to the registration desk and hands the same piece of paper and says the same statement to me along with my registration number one thousand five hundred and forty five. I fill out the form and step aside and the registration woman tells Luke and I to go to the floor one arena.
We walk down a corridor until we enter a huge arena with sixteen square shape arena tight together with induvial fights happening across all of them and people standing around the ring with arenas cheering on the fighters and stands either side with people waiting for their turn to fight. We both take a nearby seat and watch the fights and wait for the speaker to call our numbers.
Luke's POV
After an hour a voice calls out over a speaker from above us
"Number one thousand, five hundred and forty four and number two thousand and sixty to arena D please"
I stand up and turn to my new friend and rival sitting next to me and raise my fist to him with a smirk on my face.
"Guess I'm up. I'll be done soon so you won't have to wait around long." I say as I turn my back on Jake and begin to walk down the stairs towards the arena.
"Good luck!" Jake calls out from behind me in encouragement. In response I raise my hand in the air in a friendly reply gesture and continue down the stairs.
I arrive at arena D and walk up the stairs to enter the square box size fighting ring, already at his corner of the ring I see my opponent.
My opponent is a big, burly muscular man in his thirties with muscular arms and legs. Short brown hair and an arrogant smirk on his face.
"So my opponent is a kid huh? Fine. I'll take it easy on you".
Tch. I click my tongue in annoyance at my opponent's arrogant comment.
"I'll be the one making it quickly old man." I reply.
Once our trash talking is over the referee walks over and stands in between us holding a small grey machine in his hands and says:
"This is a floor one fight. We are going to use this fight to assess your fighting capabilities, you have three minutes to show us what you can do. Fight!"
Once he says that the referee says that he steps back to be out of the way of the battle. My opponent and I stand still for a silent moment glaring at each other.
"So kid, what brought you here?" My opponent asks with a snicker present in his tone.
Tch. I click my tongue in annoyance again while glaring at my opponent.
"I came here with my friend and teacher to train and become stronger and also make money" I reply edgily with a sharp and annoyed tone.
"Oh yeah? Well sorry to hear that little guy because you won't be making it very far" My opponent replies.
"Talk is cheap old man. Fight me and put your supposed words into action." I reply calmy and nonchalantly.
My opponent gets angry and charges towards me, swinging punches towards me rapidly while causing me to move backwards, aware of the small size of the fighting area I summon my life aura flowing (also known Nen) and manipulate it around my body into my arms and hands specifically and strengthen it using a principle known as Ren which focuses on outputting a larger amount of aura then another principle known as Ten, projecting it outwards explosively and use another technique known as Gyo to concentrate most of my aura to my arms and hands to block my enemies punches, when he realises punches are not going to work he backs up slightly and kicks forward at me with full force which I use my hands enhanced hands to block the fierce kick.
My opponent stops and looks at me in disbelief at his strongest kick caught in my hands, quicker than my opponent can react I dash forward until I am in front of him with his leg still hanging in the air and punch him in the chest and face in rapid succession which knocks my opponent backwards and onto the floor at the edge of the ring.
The referee walks between us and taps a few buttons on his machine and hands me a small white piece of paper before saying:
"The match is over well done. You can advance to the 40th floor whenever you are ready".
I nod my head before turning away and heading in the direction of the stairs and my friend to watch his fight and wait for him so we could both go to the 40th floor together.
Jake's POV
I watch Luke with happiness and excitement in my eyes as he walks up the stairs and sits back down without saying a word.
Not wanting to irritate him I stay sitting down and we both watch the remaining fights and wait for the voice to call out my number over the speaker.
Twenty minutes later a voice from a speaker above us calls out:
"Number one thousand, five hundred and forty five and number one thousand nine hundred and eighty to arena C please"
I stand up and look at Luke sitting right next to me, nervously I look down at the stands and all the people watching.
"Don't let that bother you. Ignore all the onlookers and just fight with all you have." Luke suddenly said from beside me with confidence and reassurance to snap me out of my nervous feeling.
My nerves calm themselves as I turn to face Luke who is sitting next to me with his eyes not open as if he couldn't care less…and yet he still spoke those words to calm me down.
"…Thank you, Luke I appreciate those words." I reply after a slight moment of hesitation.
"Hm, don't thank me with words. Just go down there, win and advance." Luke replies curtly.
With no more exchange other than a quick nod of the head I walk down the stairs to the arena where I am to fight my opponent.
When I climb the stairs and enter the fighting ring my opponent is already standing in position. My opponent is a slender man of middle age with long slender arms and legs and messy black hair.
"So your my opponent huh? I am not like that muscle bound brute with the foul mouth from earlier let me assure you. Let us fight fair and square" My opponent says before bowing respectfully before me.
Unsure of how to respond I smile shakily and unsurely but warmly.
"Thank you. Likewise" I reply.
As my opponent raises his head the referee walks over to us and steps between us.
"This is first floor fight so we will be using this fight to assess your capabilities, you have three minutes to show us what you can do. Fight!" The referee says before moving away from us both.
Without wasting energy on meaningless trash talk, my opponent charges towards me using his slender build to quickly get up close to me and attack me with rapid fast punches.
I block and knock aside all of my enemies punches while he stands still. I knock his fists aside and slightly enhance my fists with aura using Ren offensively to punch him several times in the chest which knocks my opponent off his feet and sends him flying until he ends up flat on his back on the other side of the arena unconscious.
The referee walks in between us holding his grey machine which he presses some buttons on and hands me a small white piece of paper.
"The match is over well done. You can advance to the 40th floor" The referee says.
I bow my head respectfully before walking away in the direction of the stairs to re-join Luke.
Once I walk back to be beside Luke he smiles slightly, stands up and walks from the stands to the main entrance.
"Come on lets go get our prize money and head up to the 40th floor. I'm sure Master Ugata knows how" Luke says with his back to me as he continues walking to the arena entrance.
We exit the arena through the corridor and end up in the main lobby where we find Master Ugata sitting down reading his usual book.
"We won our fights and both get to go to the 40th floor Master Ugata" I say when we get close enough.
"I believe I heard enough but well done, you both did well." Master Ugata replies.
"So what do we do now Master Ugata?" I question.
"You both need to get your reward money and go speak to the person who gives you the reward money so they can have it put in place to get up to the 40th floor by the elevator."
We follow Master Ugata's words and go to the reward money desk and receive our envelop with our reward money, noticing it is only enough for a drink from the floor one vending machine we decide to keep it and go with Master Ugata to the elevator that leads to the higher floors.
"So how does this work Master?" Luke asks nonchalantly and expressionlessly.
"There's a woman inside the elevator that you need to show your slips of paper too then she'll take you to your floor" Ugata explains cheerfully.
"So what does that mean for you Master? I mean you didn't participate in the fighting" Luke replies curiously.
"Well your right. That's why I'll have to stay in a rented apartment building outside the arena" Master Ugata replies.
"You mean where the food and clothes shops are right?" I question.
"That's right Jake, the arena has several small apartments available to rent outside of the Arena itself and I always have one available so I'll stay there and you two can come to my apartment in the morning for training and other things" Master Ugata replies.
"Sounds good master, we will let you know when we are ready each morning" I reply.
With that Master Ugata, Luke and I leave the main lobby and elevator to go rest in Master Ugata's rented apartment building for the remainder of the day until tomorrow. Where we will ascend to the 40th floor using the elevator and see what awaits us on that floor.