Jack's arrival in HxH world - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: The Treacherous Milsy Wetland

The second phase of first Hunter Exam began with a chilling warning from Satotz. The examinees stood at the edge of the Milsy Wetland, a dense, mist-shrouded expanse filled with danger at every turn. Satotz’s voice cut through the eerie silence, his words sending a shiver down the spines of even the most confident candidates.

“This is the Milsy Wetland,” Satotz announced, his tone calm but grave. “It is home to countless magical beasts, each more cunning and deadly than the last. Many of these creatures possess the ability to mimic human voices or appearances, luring their prey into traps. If you are tricked, you will die. Stay vigilant, stay together, and do not let your guard down.”

The examinees exchanged uneasy glances. Some scoffed at the warning, dismissing it as an attempt to intimidate them. Others, however, felt a growing sense of dread. The mist that clung to the wetland seemed almost alive, its tendrils curling around the trees and obscuring the path ahead.

—

As the group prepared to enter the wetland, a commotion erupted from the back of the crowd. A man stumbled forward, his clothes torn and his face bloodied. He pointed a trembling finger at Satotz, his voice filled with panic.

“Don’t trust him!” the man shouted. “He’s not the real examiner! He’s a magical beast—a Human-Faced Monkey! He’s been leading us to our deaths!”

The crowd gasped, their eyes darting between the injured man and Satotz. To add weight to his claim, the man dragged forward a creature—a grotesque, monkey-like beast with a disturbingly human face. The examinees recoiled in horror, their doubts about Satotz growing.

“See? This is what he really is!” the man cried. “We have to stop him before it’s too late!”

The crowd began to murmur, their fear and confusion mounting. Some started to back away from Satotz, their hands reaching for weapons. Jack, however, remained calm. He knew something was off. Satotz had been nothing but professional and composed throughout the exam. This sudden accusation didn’t add up.

Before the situation could escalate further, a flurry of playing cards sliced through the air. The injured man collapsed, a card embedded in his throat. The Human-Faced Monkey let out a final, gurgling cry before it too fell lifeless to the ground.

The crowd turned to see Hisoka, the enigmatic magician, standing with a smirk on his face. “How foolish,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “The examiners of the Hunter Exam are Hunters themselves. Do you really think they’d be so easily replaced by magical beasts?”

Satotz, unfazed by the chaos, caught the remaining cards with ease. “Thank you, Hisoka,” he said, his tone as calm as ever. “As you can see, I am indeed the real examiner. Let this be a lesson to all of you: trust your instincts, but do not let fear cloud your judgment.”

The examinees let out a collective sigh of relief, their trust in Satotz restored. Leorio wiped the sweat from his forehead, grateful that Hisoka had intervened. The magician’s actions, though brutal, had saved them from a potentially disastrous mistake.

—

With the incident behind them, Satotz led the examinees into the Milsy Wetland. The mist grew thicker with every step, reducing visibility to a few meters. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying vegetation, and the sounds of unseen creatures echoed through the trees.

Jack stayed close to Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, his senses on high alert. The wetland was a place of deception and danger, and he knew that even a moment of carelessness could be fatal.

—

It didn’t take long for the wetland to claim its first victims. One by one, examinees began to vanish. Some were dragged into the undergrowth by unseen beasts, their screams cut short. Others fell into hidden traps, their bodies impaled on sharpened stakes. A few succumbed to poison, their faces turning pale as they collapsed to the ground.

Jack’s Senses stat allowed him to detect some of the dangers before they struck, but even he wasn’t immune to the wetland’s tricks. At one point, he heard a voice calling his name, the tone eerily familiar. He turned, only to see a shadowy figure beckoning him deeper into the mist. It was a trap, and Jack narrowly avoided it by activating his Zetsu skill, concealing his presence from the creature.

—

As the group pressed on, they encountered a new threat: giant Strawberry Turtles. These massive creatures, as large as dinosaurs, lumbered through the wetland, their shells covered in thorny vines. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and their jaws were lined with razor-sharp teeth.

One of the turtles lunged at Jack, its mouth snapping shut with enough force to crush bone. Jack dodged, his Dash skill allowing him to move with incredible speed. He countered with a powerful punch, his Gyo skill enhancing his strength. The turtle’s shell cracked under the force of the blow, and the creature let out a pained roar before collapsing.

Gon and Killua joined the fight, their combined strength and agility making short work of the remaining turtles. Kurapika and Leorio provided support, their teamwork ensuring that no one was left vulnerable.

—

After two grueling hours of navigating the wetland, the examinees finally emerged on the other side. The mist began to thin, revealing a clearing where Satotz stood waiting. His expression was as calm as ever, but there was a hint of approval in his eyes as he surveyed the survivors.

“Congratulations,” Satotz said. “You have passed the first exam of the Hunter Exam. Rest now, for the next phase will begin soon.”

Jack collapsed onto the ground, his body exhausted but his spirit unbroken. A notification appeared in his vision.

—

Quest Complete: Survive the Milsy Wetland

Reward: 5,000 EXP

—

Jack smiled, saving the EXP for later. He knew the challenges ahead would be even greater, but for now, he could savor his victory.