Jack's arrival in HxH world - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Hunt Continues

The dense forest of Zevil Island was a labyrinth of shadows and silence, its towering trees and thick undergrowth providing both cover and danger. Jack moved through the forest like a ghost, his En skill constantly active, extending his aura in a 10-meter radius to detect any threats.

For three days, he had been on the run, constantly changing his position to avoid Illumi Zoldyck. The assassin’s presence loomed over him like a dark cloud, but Jack’s determination to survive was unwavering.

—

Jack’s strategy was simple: never stay in one place for too long. Every hour, he would move to a new location, his Dash skill allowing him to cover vast distances in a matter of seconds.

He avoided open areas, sticking to the densest parts of the forest where the trees and foliage provided natural cover. His En skill kept him aware of his surroundings, alerting him to any approaching danger.

The first day was the hardest. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, made Jack’s heart race. He could feel Illumi’s presence, a cold and calculating force that seemed to be everywhere at once.

But as the hours turned into days, Jack grew more confident in his ability to evade the assassin. He used the environment to his advantage, setting up false trails and distractions to throw Illumi off his scent.

—

On the third day, Jack found a secluded spot to rest. He was exhausted, his body aching from the constant movement and the strain of using his En skill.

He leaned against a tree, his eyes scanning the forest for any signs of danger.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, his En skill picked up a faint disturbance—a slight shift in the air, a barely audible click.

Jack’s instincts screamed at him to move. He activated his Dash skill, his body blurring as he leaped to the side. A split second later, a sniper bullet tore through the space where his head had been, embedding itself into the tree with a loud *thunk*.

Jack’s heart pounded as he hit the ground, his eyes scanning the forest for the shooter. His En skill picked up the faintest trace of aura—a sniper, hidden among the trees. Without hesitation, Jack activated his Dash skill again, his body moving like a blur as he rushed toward the source of the attack.

—

Jack found the sniper perched on a high branch, her sniper rifle aimed in his direction. It was Siper, the assassin he had encountered during the bus ride to the island. Her eyes widened in surprise as Jack appeared before her, his speed far beyond what she had anticipated.

Siper quickly dropped her sniper rifle and drew a smaller handgun, firing off a series of shots in rapid succession. But Jack was faster. His Dash skill allowed him to dodge the bullets with ease, his movements a blur as he closed the distance between them.

Siper’s eyes filled with panic as Jack reached her. She tried to react, but she was no match for his speed and strength. Before she could pull the trigger again, Jack delivered a precise karate chop to her neck, knocking her out cold.

—

Jack quickly searched Siper’s pockets, his hands moving with practiced efficiency. He found two tags: #80 and #303. Jack’s eyes narrowed as he examined the tags. #80 was his target, but #303 was his own tag. Siper must have hunted down another examinee and taken their tag, but she hadn’t realized that #303 belonged to Jack.

Jack took both tags, his mind racing. He had what he needed to pass the fourth phase, but he couldn’t afford to let his guard down. Illumi was still out there, and Jack knew that the assassin wouldn’t stop until he had his target.

—

As Jack moved through the forest, he encountered Kurapika and Leorio. The two were huddled together, their expressions tense as they discussed their next move. Jack approached cautiously, his En skill alerting him to their presence before they noticed him.

“Jack!” Kurapika said, his voice filled with relief. “We’ve been looking for you. Are you okay?”

Jack nodded, his eyes scanning the forest for any signs of danger. “I’m fine. But we don’t have much time. The needle guy is still out there, and he’s not going to stop until he finds me.”

Leorio frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. “We’ll stick together. There’s safety in numbers.”

Jack shook his head. “No. It’s too dangerous. If that guy finds us, he’ll take us all out. I can’t risk putting you two in danger.”

Kurapika’s eyes narrowed. “We’re not leaving you, Jack. We’re in this together.”

Jack hesitated, then handed Leorio the #303 tag. “Here. This is yours. I found it on Siper. She’s out cold, but I don’t know how long she’ll stay that way.”

Leorio’s eyes widened as he took the tag. “Thanks, Jack. But what about you? Do you have your target’s tag?”

Jack nodded, holding up the #80 tag. “I’ve got what I need. But I can’t stay with you. Needle Guy is still after me, and I don’t want to drag you into this.”

Kurapika placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Be careful, Jack. We’ll see you at the finish line.”

Jack nodded, his expression grim. “Stay safe, both of you.”

—

As Jack disappeared into the forest, his mind was focused on one thing: survival. He had the tags he needed to pass the fourth phase, but he couldn’t afford to let his guard down. Illumi was still out there, and Jack knew that the assassin wouldn’t stop until he had his target.

For the next two days, Jack continued to move through the forest, his En skill constantly active. He avoided open areas, sticking to the densest parts of the forest where the trees and foliage provided natural cover. He set up false trails and distractions to throw Illumi off his scent, his movements calculated and precise.

—

On the final day, Jack emerged from the forest, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. He had survived the fourth phase of the Hunter Exam, his determination and resourcefulness proving his worth as a Hunter.

As he approached the exam site, he saw the other examinees gathered together, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion. Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio were among them, their faces lighting up as they saw Jack.

“You made it!” Gon said, his voice filled with excitement.

Jack nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Yeah. I made it.”