DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter X Hunter
Chapter 4: A Jog in a Swamp
At the far end of the exit, a voice rang out, declaring, "I'm the true examiner!'" Everyone turned their heads towards the sound.
Morgan, still trying to catch her breath, thought, 'They haven't even had enough rest, and now this?'
They had just arrived, with Gon and Killua already present along with other applicants. Ahead of them sprawled a dense forest enveloped in thick fog.
Before the interruption, Satotz had mentioned that it was the Swindler's Wetland, a place teeming with various creatures that deceive and prey on humans. To complete the second half of the first phase, they needed to traverse the swamp once again.
Then came the interruption from the battered, bloody, and dirty man.
"He's a man-faced ape, one of the creatures inhabiting this wetland!" he shouted once more, drawing Morgan's attention to his appearance.
"How can we trust you? You could be one of them, or perhaps both of you," Morgan responded, capturing the attention of the others, who mostly agreed with her assessment.
The man abruptly tossed a white sack in front of the examinees, revealing the exposed body of a monkey of a different species, uncannily resembling the examiner.
Wide-eyed, Morgan couldn't deny the resemblance, albeit the bloody and lifeless state of the creature.
"He's one of them! He intends to betray you all by masquerading as the examiner!" the man exclaimed, using the evidence to sway the majority, even causing Morgan to question.
'If this place is infested with such creatures, why is he still alive here? He should have been devoured by now.'
Before Morgan could make sense of it, chaos erupted as objects were hurled seemingly from nowhere. In a blur of movement, the man who claimed to be the examiner collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, courtesy of Satotz wielding four deck cards.
"I see, I see," a voice interjected, drawing their attention. As the man shuffled his cards, they realized it was the magician.
Morgan's unease deepened as she recalled the magician's unsettling actions towards the first drop-out before the exam commenced.
As the Man-Faced Ape attempted to flee, Morgan realized it had only been feigning death. With a swift motion, the magician dispatched it with a single throw of his cards, ending its ruse for good.
"Well, that settles everything," the magician grinned, his expression sending shivers down Morgan's spine. He motioned towards Satotz. "You're the genuine one. A mere attack like that could easily be thwarted by a Hunter."
A Hunter? The realization dawned on Morgan as she scrutinized Satotz more closely. So, he is one of them? All this time, she had assumed Hunters were ostentatious individuals, boasting either muscular builds or extravagant appearances. Yet, it seemed appearances could be deceiving, or perhaps Satotz simply preferred to maintain a low profile.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Satotz responded calmly. "However, should you attempt such interference against me again, you will face disqualification. Is that clear?"
Hisoka turned around, his smile still unnervingly intact. "Yes, yes."
Large, vulture-like birds descended from above, greedily pecking at the flesh of the two corpses.
"This is the consequence of falling for their deception. This place is a haven for wicked creatures who employ any means of trickery to ensnare their prey," he cautioned, his words carrying a weight of solemnity. "Remain vigilant and exercise caution. Now, do your utmost to keep pace with me."
With that, he surged forward once more, darting into the forest shrouded in dense fog, the others trailing behind.
Dread hung heavy in the air as they ventured beyond the first line of trees, a sense of impending doom lurking at every turn.
The trees loomed large and twisted, their branches gnarled, and their foliage a deep, ominous shade of green. Vines snaked their way around some trunks, while others sprawled across the forest floor.
It was an environment tailor-made for deceitful and cunning creatures to thrive.
As the participants raced to keep pace with the examiner, the girl found herself separated from the four boys. Instead, she was accompanied by different companions in this marathon through the forest, delving deeper and deeper into its depths. As the fog thickened, she lost sight of the others ahead.
The landscape became a swirling blur of light gray and dirty white, presenting a significant challenge.
A mix of urgency and fear gripped her emotions, despite her previous experience navigating forests back in her home. Returning wasn't an option, so she pressed on, running alongside the others.
'Where are the others?' she wondered.
"There they are!" a nearby man exclaimed, pointing ahead. Through the dense fog, a silhouette emerged.
A piercing scream shattered the eerie silence, echoing through the mist-laden air. Suddenly, grotesque, mobile plants resembling giant pitchers emerged from the surroundings, their hideous forms snatching some of the runners with their grasping vines and launching large yellow, sticky projectiles like cannonballs.
"Ew… That's disgusting. I hope it's not toxic," she grimaced, her expression contorting in disgust.
Unfortunately, it proved harmful in a different way. Anything touched by the sticky substance adhered to it like super glue, solidifying rapidly.
"Oh, just fantastic," she muttered sarcastically as the sticky goo flew in her direction, striking her hair and pinning her to the ground. The substance emitted a peculiar odor, adding to her discomfort.
"Stupid hair," she grumbled, regretting not tying it back sooner. Attempting to free herself only resulted in searing pain shooting through her scalp, as if her hair was on the verge of being torn out.
"Aargh! Damn it!" she exclaimed in frustration, realizing she had no other option. With determination, she unsheathed her sword and began to saw through her entangled hair.
After freeing herself, Morgan examined the strands lying on the muddy ground, uncertain of what her new hairstyle would entail. She reached out to touch it, finding it now shoulder-length.
Her gaze hardened as she glared at the monstrous plant, but she knew better than to engage it directly. While the creature was preoccupied with capturing other participants, she stealthily slipped away, unwilling to waste any more time. Her priority remained following the examiner and the main group.
Circling the area, Morgan then retraced her steps in the direction she believed the others had headed—a decision she hoped was correct.
The key, she reminded herself, was to keep moving and avoid staying in one place, even if it seemed futile.
As Morgan ran, the chorus of screams intensified, amplifying her fear. Each cry served as a stark reminder that she could be the next victim. Yet, all she could do was push forward, driven by the sole objective of finding Satotz.
Her foot caught on something, sending her tumbling to the ground. Knees and hands met the unforgiving soil. When she glanced back, her eyes fell upon the lifeless form of another candidate. Blood pooled around the body, its vacant eyes frozen in a silent scream of agony.
Swallowing hard, Morgan forced herself to stand.
The surroundings fell into an eerie silence, as if someone—or something—was watching her every move.
Suddenly, a hand seized her arm, causing her heart to race. Reacting on pure instinct, she drew her sword, ready to strike at her assailant.
Her blade clashed against a wooden bokken, halting her attack.
"You have a habit of attacking first, don't you?" the familiar voice remarked.
Relief flooded through her as she recognized the voice. "Blondie?" she called out. "Don't scare me like that! You could have just called out to me!"
Paranoia gripped Morgan as the forest seemed to toy with her mind, amplifying her sense of dread.
"And what then? Draw attention to ourselves?" Kurapika retorted sharply. "Why did you stop? Planning to sacrifice yourself? Luckily, we spotted you first."
"Enough chatter! Let's find the examiner!" Leorio interjected urgently, his unease palpable as he avoided attracting further attention from the forest's enigmatic inhabitants.
Morgan snapped out of her trance, realizing the urgency of their situation. "Apologies. I got distracted," she admitted, turning around only to find that the figure she stumbled upon was nothing more than a log—or had it been a log all along?
Curious, Kurapika and Leorio inspected the object of her fixation.
"Where did the—" Morgan began, then cursed under her breath as she nearly fell victim to an illusion. What kind of creature could manipulate reality in such a way? The only encounter she could recall was—
Her jaw clenched as the memory flooded back: the viscous yellow substance from the monstrous plant, the peculiar odor it emitted... Gas components capable of inducing illusions.
Wonderful. It seemed as though these creatures were working in concert, each possessing its own unique abilities. Even if one managed to evade the deceptive plants, others lurked nearby, ready to strike while illusions danced in their minds.
"Let's keep moving," Leorio urged, interrupting Morgan's contemplation.
Despite the thick fog, Morgan scrutinized their faces. "I'd rather not follow someone with a girly face and an elderly appearance."
She knew her comment was petty and below the belt, but the recent lesson in the swamp had left its mark, compelling her to act on her instincts.
"Nineteen! What does my age have to do with our current situation? If you don't want to follow, then don't!" Leorio shot back, his frustration evident.
Morgan exhaled in relief. "My apologies. I know it's you now."
Leorio's confusion was evident, while Kurapika arched an eyebrow. "You thought we were those monkeys?" he asked incredulously.
Morgan offered a sheepish smile. "Just being cautious. The last thing I want is to end up on your chopping block."
Leorio shook his head, clearly unamused. "How could you compare this face to that of a monkey?"
"Well, scientifically speaking, humans did evolve from monkeys," Morgan replied with a hint of mischief.
"Enough! We've lost sight of the front-runners. We need to find them!" Kurapika interjected sharply, redirecting their focus.
Leorio's urgent hiss cut through the tension, signaling for silence. "Over there..." He pointed towards a distant figure. Initially a mere silhouette, as the fog began to thin, they recognized the familiar figure with fiery red hair.
"Number 44 again," Morgan muttered under her breath.
"Hisoka," Kurapika whispered, a sense of foreboding evident in his voice.
Hisoka? Was that his name?
"Do you know him?" Morgan inquired.
"I only know about the news of him killing an examiner last year," Kurapika replied grimly.
"What?" Morgan's confusion mirrored her thoughts. 'Why would they allow him to retake the exam?'
As they observed, a man clad in blue attire, flanked by companions dressed similarly, stepped forward. He seemed to be their group's leader, and they had cornered Hisoka.
"When I saw you last year..." the blue-clad man began, his tone filled with disdain. "I knew you weren't Hunter material."
A companion with chocolate-brown skin and a shaved head brandished a simple wooden staff. "We'll spare you if you swear not to attempt the Hunter exam again."
"Of course," Hisoka replied calmly. " I'm passing the exam this year, so I won't need a retake."
The leader scoffed. "Pass? Fool, with this fog, it's impossible to discern the main group's direction! It means we've all failed the exam!"
Hisoka let out a low chuckle. "Ah, I see now. Having already failed, you sought to play the role of examiner. But remember, hunters require prey," he remarked with a sinister smile. "So, why don't I play the examiner... and judge whether you're truly hunter material?" With a flourish, he revealed a four of spades.
Their teeth gritted and their grip on weapons tightened—whether spears, daggers, or swords. With a collective roar, they charged towards the lone figure.
In a blur of motion, Hisoka's hand moved, and it was over. With just one swift move, they all fell to the ground.
Though she was certain they were dead, not a single drop of blood stained their bodies.
What was he? What kind of power did he possess?
The leader collapsed to his knees, resembling a frightened rabbit fleeing from its predator, his limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Desperation drove him to plead for help, but with another deft throw, a card buried itself in his skull like a sharp knife. Morgan realized she had been holding her breath as she watched the scene unfold.
The leader lay lifeless, his eyes devoid of any trace of vitality. The most unsettling part was the final expression etched on his face—pure terror and the grim realization of imminent death.
Her gaze returned to the killer before them. 'He has already claimed so many lives, and they'll be added to his tally if they don't act quickly.'
As the fog began to dissipate, Hisoka's attention shifted to them. "Well... care to join in my little game of examiner?"
None dared to respond.
He advanced towards them, his footsteps stirring the grass beneath his feet. Despite the chill in the air, sweat trickled down their faces as Hisoka closed the distance between them.
'What should I do? Can I even escape if I run?' Panic gripped Morgan.
"Leorio, Morgan," Kurapika whispered urgently. "On my signal, we split up and run in opposite directions."
"What?" Leorio questioned.
"He's far more skilled in real combat. The three of us won't stand a chance against him. We can't waste time in a futile fight!"
Morgan couldn't agree more. She glanced at the lifeless bodies strewn on the ground, the recent grisly scene replaying in her mind. There was no doubt, they would meet the same fate if they didn't act wisely.
Hisoka continued to walk impassively. With a quick flick of his wrist, a card appeared between his pointer and middle finger.
He came to a stop and raised his hand.
"Now!" Kurapika yelled.
The three applicants scattered in different directions, their running footsteps gradually fading. Yet, something felt off to Morgan as they ran straight—or so she thought.
The sound of Leorio's scream pierced the air, indicating that he had likely foolishly turned back to confront Hisoka.
'Idiot!' Morgan scolded inwardly. His pride wouldn't help him if he was already dead.
Determined to prioritize her own safety, Morgan pressed forward, refusing to glance back towards the lurking danger of Hisoka.
"Morgan!"
At first, she thought it might be some creature mimicking Gon's voice, but then she spotted him running towards her. A briefcase was strapped to his back, along with his own bag. She halted in surprise. "Gon?"
"I'm relieved you're safe. There were so many screams..." Gon's voice trailed off, concern evident in his tone. "Where are Kurapika and Leorio?"
He came back for them? Is he oblivious to the danger? It's too risky!
"We got separated. We should—" Morgan began, but Gon cut her off.
"Is that so? I'll go find them. Thanks!" Without waiting for a response, he dashed off in the direction Morgan had come from—towards Hisoka's vicinity.
"Wait! It's too dangerous!" Morgan called out desperately, but Gon was already too far ahead, disappearing into the distance.
"Damn it!" she cursed under her breath.
She should have stopped him the moment she laid eyes on him. Morgan sighed in frustration, feeling a sense of helplessness settle over her.
"Aargh! That kid's making me feel guilty!" Morgan grumbled to herself as she turned around, hastening to follow Gon in a desperate attempt to catch up with him and pull him away from danger.
But by the time she reached the spot where she came from, it was too late.
She regretted her decision to come back. The sinking feeling in her gut intensified as she realized the gravity of the situation.
Leorio lay on the ground, his condition uncertain, as Gon desperately attacked Hisoka with his rod. However, the clown-like figure effortlessly dodged each strike, seemingly toying with him.
Morgan swiftly hid behind a tree trunk, taking a deep breath as she assessed the situation. What could she possibly do?
As she peeked out again, she did the stupidest thing in her entire life. Stepping out from her hiding place, her brave side took over, and she hurled a ball of mud at Hisoka, who was currently gripping Gon's neck.
Instantly, regret flooded her being. 'Shit. Shit. Shit!' She couldn't believe she had exposed herself like that. What was she thinking? It was as if she was offering herself up to the grim reaper!
"Oh? You've returned as well," Hisoka remarked, his tone almost amused.
Ignoring his words, Morgan spoke firmly. "Let the kid go."
"Run, Morgan!" Gon's raspy voice managed to shout amidst Hisoka's grip.
"That's what I was supposed to do!" she shot back, regret gnawing at her. She should have never looked back; she should have left when she had the chance.
Drawing her sword, determination surged through her. 'I won't let myself be killed.'
Hisoka released Gon, who landed on all fours, coughing. "You looked like a scared bunny minutes ago. But now..." Hisoka's gaze shifted to Morgan, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling hunger. "Your expression looks wonderful."
'What the hell.' Morgan couldn't help but wonder if this guy had some loose screws in his brain.
"Don't worry. I won't kill you and your friends," Hisoka assured them. "The tall man passed. The boy passed. And you as well... Grow up and become fine Hunters."
Answering his beeping communicator, Hisoka rose to his feet. "It's always good to have friends." He approached Leorio, lifting him effortlessly like a sack of potatoes. "You can find your own way back, yes?" His gaze then turned to Gon, who simply nodded. "That's a good boy." With a final parting comment, Hisoka addressed Morgan. "Hope to see you in the next round, little bunny," he sang before departing, leaving them behind.
Morgan could only relax her tensed muscles once Hisoka disappeared from their sight, her fingers worn out from gripping her sword so tightly.
"Gon!" Kurapika's voice snapped them both back to reality.
Morgan rushed to Gon's side, finding him still gazing in the direction Hisoka had vanished.
Kurapika approached them, concern etched on his features. "Gon, Morgan, are you okay? Where's Leorio?"
"I'm fine. Thanks to Morgan," Gon replied. "Hisoka carried him. He said he won't kill him because he's qualified. Same as us."
Kurapika turned to Morgan. "I thought you would have been far away by now. Why did you come back?"
There was only one reason.
"Stupidity," she stated flatly. It was her only explanation.
The blonde's gaze bore into her, but he said nothing in response.
"It seems he'll be carrying Leorio to the second site," Gon remarked.
Their focus shifted to Gon when he spoke up. "Morgan, you didn't get any wounds, right?"
She should be the one asking him that. After all, she hadn't done much except throw some mud balls.
"I'm fine, Gon. Nothing happened to me," she reassured him. "But our concern should be whether Hisoka will actually bring Leorio to the second site." For all they knew, Hisoka might have other plans for Leorio—none of them pleasant.
"We don't have a choice. We need to get there," Kurapika insisted.
The question remained: how?
"I bet we're already far from the main group. We can't catch up with them," Morgan pointed out. They might have reached the second site already.
"They're not far," Gon stated confidently, rising to his feet. "Follow me."
Without hesitation, Gon set off, leading the way. Morgan and Kurapika exchanged a glance before quickly following after him, trusting in Gon's intuition to guide them.
"This way!" Gon exclaimed, his nose twitching as if he were following a scent trail.
Morgan couldn't help but question his certainty. "Are you even sure?"
He didn't seem to be checking for tracks or footprints. Instead, he was simply running ahead with confidence.
"I'm sure! Leorio uses a unique cologne, so it's easy for me to track him even from kilometers away," Gon explained confidently.
Bzzt, bzzt.
She had guessed wrong. It wasn't footprints; it was the scent all along.
'Is he a dog?'
After a moment of silence, Gon spoke again as they ran. "Say... What did Hisoka mean when he said we passed?"
Did that even mean anything? From what she understood, he was just toying with their lives out of boredom.
"Hisoka was acting as a judge," Kurapika clarified.
"A judge?" Gon repeated, puzzled.
"Yes. He must have his own criteria for evaluating the candidates' strength. Apparently, you, Morgan, and Leorio met his standards," Kurapika explained.
His standards?
He seemed to be a seasoned fighter and a skilled killer. How on earth did she pass his standards? It felt cheap.
'Tell him that when you see him next time,' she thought to herself, shaking her head. But she knew she wouldn't dare.
"I felt completely powerless against him," Gon murmured.
"None of us can really fight him," Morgan pointed out.
"You managed to land a hit on him, though," Kurapika tried to lift Gon's spirits.
"Only because I caught him off guard. Besides, he passed Leorio and Morgan," Gon replied, his tone tinged with frustration.
"That was just a momentary display of bravery. I didn't even do anything to earn his approval," Morgan admitted. But she couldn't deny her gratitude. Whatever Hisoka saw in her, it spared her life.
"Hmm," Kurapika hummed in thought. "Most likely, Hisoka's instincts and experience told him that you had the skill and potential to become Hunters. Killing you now would have been a waste..."
Gon remained silent.
"Are you implying that we're like domestic pigs, only to be butchered when we reach the right age?" Morgan's tone was laced with displeasure. The notion of her death having a predetermined expiration date didn't sit well with her.
Her distaste was evident in the hiss that escaped her lips.
"I apologize... I realize how insensitive that sounded," Kurapika quickly backtracked, recognizing the insensitivity of his words.
Morgan sighed in response.
"Of course not, Kurapika," Gon interjected before Morgan could respond. "I was actually pretty excited. I mean, I was scared, sure. I wanted to run away. But I couldn't. At the same time, I felt excited." He looked back at them, his smile radiating a positive aura. "Isn't that strange?"
'Yes, it's strange. There's nothing to be excited about. Maybe I'll have to sign up for a pre-need death care company to offer me an affordable traditional memorial life plan.'
Morgan tended to think ahead, just in case.
Out from the grassy fields, they followed a dirt path between the trees, leading to the top of a hill. There, they saw a tall and imposing wall standing like something out of a fairy tale, every stone meticulously placed to fortify it against the outside world.
As they approached, they saw candidates scattered in front of the thick metal gates—some sitting, some standing, and some lying on the ground catching their breath. Despite their exhaustion, Morgan, Gon, and Kurapika had to push on to find Leorio.
A chill ran down Morgan's spine, and she quickly scanned the area. Gon seemed to sense it too. Their eyes landed on Hisoka, not far away, grinning mischievously and pointing towards a tree where Leorio sat.
They jogged towards him, calling out his name. Gon placed Leorio's briefcase beside him, and Morgan couldn't help but smile, relieved that Hisoka had done nothing more to harm him. Though his left cheek was swollen, distorting his face, he was otherwise intact.
"Man, that stings…" Leorio winced, his voice strained.
"Besides your arm, everything seems fine," Kurapika remarked as he examined Leorio's injuries.
Leorio scowled. "Are you mocking me? What about my face?"
Kurapika looked him straight in the eye. "I don't see any difference."
Morgan had to stifle a laugh.
"When did you wake up?" Gon asked.
"After we got here, I guess. But I still don't understand what happened. I don't remember anything after entering the swamp," Leorio replied.
Morgan exchanged a glance with Kurapika. Maybe it was best not to tell him. If Leorio remembered what had happened, he might charge at Hisoka again out of pride.
"What happened to your hair?" Leorio suddenly asked, noticing Morgan's new hairstyle.
Gon and Kurapika followed Leorio's gaze, finally noticing Morgan's altered appearance.
"Now that you mention it…" Gon trailed off. "What happened?"
"I wondered the same thing," Kurapika admitted. "I noticed it, but I didn't think to ask."
Morgan touched her hair self-consciously. "I had to cut it, or I would've been eaten."
"Well, at least you still have all your limbs," Leorio remarked.
Not yet, Morgan thought, uncertain about the challenges that lay ahead.
"When are we going to leave here?" Morgan asked, surveying their surroundings.
"It's been like this since the first group arrived," Killua replied.
"Killua!" Gon greeted him cheerfully.
Morgan couldn't help but wonder why these two were so casual. "Why are they acting like this?"
"Maybe because they're not afraid of the exam. It's just a game to them," Kurapika suggested.
Leorio laughed. "They're still young!"
Morgan nodded. "Maybe."
Killua finally noticed them. "Oh, what happened to your hair? Did you decide to get a new haircut after going to that swamp?"
Morgan rolled her eyes.
Satotz's voice interrupted their conversation. "Excellent work, everyone!" he announced from in front of the gate. "Phase two of the exam will take place here, in the Biska Forest Park. Best of luck to all of you." With that, he swiftly departed, disappearing into the forest.
As Satotz vanished, the grinding noise of the gates opening caught everyone's attention, signaling the beginning of the next phase of the exam.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY!