Jack's arrival in HxH world - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: The Trick Tower

The airship descended through the early morning mist, its engines humming softly as it approached the imposing structure known as the Trick Tower. The 40 remaining examinees—two had tragically perished during the journey—gathered on the deck, their eyes fixed on the massive tower that loomed before them. Its dark, jagged silhouette pierced the sky, a foreboding symbol of the challenges that lay ahead.

Isaac Netero’s voice crackled over the airship’s intercom, calm yet commanding. “Welcome to the third phase of the Hunter Exam. Your task is simple: reach the bottom of the Trick Tower within 72 hours. How you do so is up to you. But be warned—the tower is filled with traps, puzzles, and inmates who will stop at nothing to delay you. Good luck.”

The airship hovered above the tower’s roof, and the examinees were instructed to disembark. Jack, Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio stepped onto the roof, their eyes scanning the area for any clues or advantages. The roof was littered with one-use trapdoors, each leading into the tower’s labyrinthine interior. The examinees quickly realized that they would have to choose their paths carefully.

—

Jack approached one of the trapdoors, his mind racing. He knew the tower was designed to test their intelligence, resourcefulness, and teamwork. He also knew that the inmates inside would be incentivized to stall them, as every hour they delayed the examinees would shorten their sentences by one year.

“We should stick together,” Jack said, turning to his friends. “This place is designed to break us, but if we work as a team, we can get through it.”

Gon nodded, his usual optimism shining through. “Let’s do it! We’ve come this far—we’re not stopping now.”

Killua smirked, his hands in his pockets. “I’ll take the lead. My instincts are sharp, and I can spot traps before they trigger.”

Kurapika adjusted his twin swords, his expression serious. “I’ll cover our backs. If anyone tries to ambush us, they’ll regret it.”

Leorio, though less confident in his combat skills, squared his shoulders. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. Let’s get through this together.”

With their plan in place, the group activated a trapdoor and descended into the tower. The air inside was damp and cold, the walls lined with moss and faintly glowing runes. The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the corridors, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

—

The first challenge they encountered was a massive chamber filled with a swirling hurricane. The wind howled like a beast, its force strong enough to lift a person off their feet. The only way across was a narrow, crumbling bridge that spanned the chamber.

“This is insane,” Leorio muttered, his voice barely audible over the wind. “How are we supposed to cross that?”

Jack activated his Ten skill, his aura flaring to life as he stabilized himself against the wind. “We’ll have to take it one step at a time. Stay close to the walls—they’ll provide some cover.”

Gon and Killua moved first, their agility allowing them to navigate the bridge with ease. Kurapika followed, his swords drawn in case of an ambush. Leorio and Jack brought up the rear, their movements slow but steady.

As they reached the halfway point, the wind intensified, threatening to blow them off the bridge. Jack grabbed Leorio’s arm, his enhanced strength keeping them both grounded. “Don’t look down!” he shouted. “Just keep moving!”

The group made it to the other side, their bodies battered but intact. Jack glanced back at the chamber, his respect for the tower’s designers growing. This was no ordinary test—it was a gauntlet designed to push them to their limits.

—

The next challenge was a series of interconnected rooms, each marked with a number. The examinees quickly realized that the numbers corresponded to the order in which they had to navigate the rooms. However, the rooms were filled with traps, and the inmates were waiting to ambush them.

Jack’s group entered the first room, their senses on high alert. The walls were lined with pressure plates, and the floor was a mosaic of shifting tiles. Killua took the lead, his sharp eyes spotting the safe path. “Follow me,” he said, his voice calm. “Step only where I step.”

The group moved cautiously, their movements precise. As they reached the center of the room, a group of inmates emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malice.

“Well, well,” one of them sneered. “Looks like we’ve got some fresh meat.”

Kurapika stepped forward, his swords gleaming in the dim light. “Stand aside,” he said, his voice cold. “We don’t have time for this.”

The inmates laughed, but their amusement was short-lived. Kurapika moved with blinding speed, his swords disarming the inmates with surgical precision. Jack and Gon provided support, their combined efforts overwhelming the attackers. Within minutes, the inmates were subdued, and the group continued on their way.

—

As they progressed through the tower, the group encountered more inmates, each more desperate than the last. One particularly cunning inmate challenged Jack to a game of wits, offering to reveal a shortcut if Jack could solve his riddle.

“I’ll give you a hint,” the inmate said, his voice dripping with mockery. “The answer lies in the numbers.”

Jack frowned, his mind racing. He glanced at the numbers on the walls, his enhanced intelligence allowing him to spot the pattern. “The numbers correspond to the Fibonacci sequence,” he said, his voice confident. “The next number is 21.”

The inmate’s eyes widened in surprise. “Impressive. You’re smarter than you look.” He stepped aside, revealing a hidden passage that led deeper into the tower.

—

After hours of navigating traps, solving puzzles, and battling inmates, the group finally reached the bottom of the tower. The final challenge was a massive door, its surface covered in intricate runes. The only way to open it was to solve one last puzzle.

Jack stepped forward, his mind focused. The runes were a code, each symbol representing a letter. He quickly deciphered the message, his fingers tracing the symbols as he worked. “The password is ‘Hanzo,’” he said, his voice steady.

The door creaked open, revealing the exit. The group stepped through, their bodies weary but their spirits unbroken. They had made it through the Trick Tower, their bond stronger than ever.

—

As they emerged from the tower, the examinees were greeted by the examiners. Lippo, the prison warden, nodded in approval. “Congratulations,” he said. “You have passed the third phase of the Hunter Exam. Your resourcefulness and determination have proven your worth as Hunters.”

The examinees cheered, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Jack felt a surge of pride, not just for himself but for his friends. They had faced impossible odds and emerged victorious.