Jack's arrival in HxH world - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: The Calm Before the Storm

The underground tunnel was alive with the murmurs of hundreds of examinees, their voices echoing off the stone walls. Jack sat in a quiet corner, his back against the cold surface, observing the crowd.

The tension in the air was palpable, a mix of excitement, fear, and determination.

The first phase of the Hunter Exam hadn’t started yet, and Jack was waiting for Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio to arrive. They were late, but Jack knew they would make it. They always did.

He glanced at the clock on the wall. There was still time, but the minutes were ticking away. To pass the time, Jack decided to focus on his system. He had earned a significant amount of EXP from the bus ride and his registration, but he hadn’t used it yet.

Hisoka and Illumi were both present, and Jack didn’t want to draw their attention by suddenly increasing his raw power. Instead, he decided to invest his EXP into refining his aura control.

—

Jack opened his system interface and allocated 1,500 EXP to each of his Nen skills: Gyo, Ken, and Ryu. These skills were essential for aura control, and improving them wouldn’t drastically alter his raw power, making it less likely for Hisoka or Illumi to sense any significant changes.

—

Gyo (Level 3 – Active Skill):

– Effect: Allows Jack to focus his aura into specific parts of his body, enhancing perception or physical strength in that area. At Level 3, the precision and efficiency of this skill have greatly improved.

Ken (Level 3 – Active Skill):

– Effect: An advanced form of combination of Ten, Ren, enveloping Jack’s entire body in a dense layer of aura for maximum defense. At Level 3, the skill consumes less AP and provides stronger protection.

Ryu (Level 3 – Active Skill):

– Effect: Enables Jack to dynamically shift his aura between offense and defense during combat. At Level 3, the transitions are seamless and require minimal concentration.

—

With these upgrades, Jack felt more confident in his ability to handle whatever challenges the Hunter Exam would throw at him. He still had 530 EXP left, which he decided to save for later.

—

As Jack sat in the corner, a boy with silver hair and piercing blue eyes approached him. He looked around Jack’s age, but his demeanor was calm and confident, a stark contrast to the nervous examinees around them.

“Mind if I sit here?” the boy asked, his voice casual.

Jack looked up and immediately recognized him. It was Killua Zoldyck, the youngest son of the infamous Zoldyck family. Jack nodded, gesturing to the spot beside him. “Sure, go ahead.”

Killua sat down, leaning back against the wall. “You look like the only approachable guy here. Everyone else is acting so tense, like they’re about to explode.”

Jack chuckled. “Yeah, the Hunter Exam tends to do that to people. I’m Jack, by the way.”

“Killua,” the boy replied, extending a hand. Jack shook it, noting the strength in Killua’s grip. Despite his young age, Killua was a force to be reckoned with.

—

Jack knew Killua had been raised in isolation, trained by the Zoldyck family to be an assassin. His interactions with the outside world were limited, and Jack decided to use this opportunity to connect with him.

“So, Killua,” Jack began, “have you ever met someone who just… makes you feel alive? Like, no matter what you’re doing, it’s more fun when they’re around?”

Killua raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Not really. Why?”

Jack smiled. “I have a friend like that. His name’s Gon. He’s this crazy, energetic kid who’s always smiling, no matter how tough things get. He is almost same age as yours. We trained together on Whale Island, and even though he’s younger, he’s got this way of making everything feel like an adventure.”

Killua’s eyes softened, a hint of envy in his expression. “Sounds nice. I’ve never had a friend like that.”

Jack nodded. “You’ll meet him soon. He’s running late, but he’ll be here. And when he is, I think you two will hit it off.”

Killua smirked. “We’ll see. But if he’s as fun as you say, maybe this exam won’t be so boring.”

—

As they talked, Jack couldn’t help but marvel at Killua’s natural abilities. Even without Nen, Killua was incredibly strong. His base strength alone was 16 tons, and his speed and precision were unmatched. Jack’s system provided a brief overview of Killua’s stats:

—

Name: Killua Zoldyck

Level: 0 (Not awakened to Nen)

Strength: 16 tons

Agility: Exceptional

Skills: Assassination techniques, lightning-fast reflexes

—

Jack knew Killua would awaken to Nen eventually, and when he did, his potential would be limitless. For now, though, Killua was content to sit and chat, his sharp wit and dry humor making the time pass quickly.

—

As the clock ticked closer to the deadline, Killua glanced at Jack. “Looks like your friend might not make it.”

Jack shook his head, a knowing smile on his face. “He’ll be here. Gon’s not the type to give up.”

Just as the words left his mouth, the doors to the tunnel lift open, and three figures rushed in. Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio stumbled inside, their faces flushed and their breaths ragged. The crowd turned to look at them, but Jack’s eyes lit up with relief.

“Told you,” Jack said, standing up.

Gon spotted Jack immediately and waved, his signature grin lighting up his face. “Jack! We made it!”

Jack walked over to them, Killua following behind. “Cutting it close, huh?”

Kurapika sighed, adjusting his scarf. “We ran into some… complications.”

Leorio groaned, leaning on his knees. “Complications? We almost got eaten by a giant bear!”

Jack laughed, clapping Leorio on the back. “Well, you’re here now. That’s what matters.”

—

Jack turned to Killua, who was standing a few steps behind, his hands in his pockets. “Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, this is Killua. He’s been keeping me company while we waited for you.”

Gon’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Hi, Killua! I’m Gon!”

Killua smirked, his blue eyes meeting Gon’s. “Hey. Jack’s been talking about you. Said you’re the kind of guy who makes everything fun.”

Gon grinned. “That’s me! Nice to meet you!”

Kurapika and Leorio introduced themselves, and the group quickly fell into an easy rhythm. Killua, who had been so reserved earlier, seemed to relax in Gon’s presence. The two boys hit it off immediately, their personalities complementing each other perfectly.

—

As the clock struck the deadline, the doors to the tunnel slammed shut, and the room fell silent. A figure stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. It was Satotz, the guide for the first phase of the Hunter Exam.

“Welcome, examinees,” Satotz said, his voice calm but authoritative. “The first phase of the Hunter Exam is about to begin. Follow me, and do not fall behind.”

The crowd surged forward, and Jack fell into step with Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio. The first phase was a marathon, a test of endurance and determination. Jack knew it would be grueling, but with his friends by his side, he felt ready for anything.