Jack's arrival in HxH world - Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The Path to Strength
The walk to Gon’s house was short but filled with an awkward silence. Gon chatted excitedly about the Swamp King and his plans for the Hunter Exam, but Jack’s mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in his chest.
The system notifications still floated in the corner of his vision, a constant reminder that this world was not his own. And now, he was about to meet Mito Freecss, Gon’s aunt and guardian.
From what he remembered of the series, Mito was fiercely protective of Gon, and she hadn’t been thrilled about him taking the Hunter Exam. Jack wondered how she would react to a stranger showing up out of nowhere, asking to join her nephew on what she likely saw as a dangerous journey.
When they arrived at the house, Gon bounded up the steps and called out, “Aunt Mito! I’m back! And I brought a friend!”
Jack followed more slowly, his heart pounding. The door opened, and a woman with short brown hair and a stern expression stepped out. Her eyes immediately locked onto Jack, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
Mito’s gaze was sharp, almost piercing, and there was a sadness in her eyes that made Jack feel like he was intruding on something deeply personal.
“Gon,” Mito said, her voice calm but firm, “who is this?”
“This is Jack!” Gon said, grinning. “He just arrived on the island, and he wants to take the Hunter Exam too! Can he come with me?”
Mito’s expression didn’t change, but Jack could see the tension in her shoulders. She looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. “Come inside,” she said, stepping aside to let them in.
The interior of the house was cozy and warm, with wooden furniture and the smell of freshly baked bread. Jack felt even more out of place as he sat down at the table, Mito’s eyes never leaving him. Gon, oblivious to the tension, grabbed a plate of cookies and offered one to Jack.
“So,” Mito said, her voice measured, “you want to take the Hunter Exam?”
Jack nodded, trying to keep his voice steady. “Yes. I… I’ve always wanted to become a Hunter. And when I heard Gon was going, I thought… maybe I could join him.”
Mito’s expression softened slightly, but the sadness in her eyes remained. “The Hunter Exam is dangerous,” she said. “People die every year. Are you prepared for that?”
Jack hesitated. He wanted to say yes, to sound confident, but the truth was, he had no idea what he was getting into. He had the system, sure, but he was still just a normal person in a world full of monsters and superhumans.
“I… I know it’s dangerous,” he said finally. “But I want to try. I want to get stronger.”
Mito studied him for a long moment, then sighed again. “Gon has made up his mind,” she said. “I can’t stop him. And I can’t stop you either. But know this: if anything happens to him, I’ll hold you responsible.”
Jack swallowed hard. “I understand.”
Mito nodded, then stood up. “Gon, help me with dinner. Jack, you can stay for the night if you need to.”
Jack shook his head quickly. “No, that’s okay. I… I think I’ll camp out by the beach. I don’t want to intrude.”
Mito didn’t argue, and Jack felt a pang of guilt as he left the house. He could tell she was worried about Gon, and he couldn’t blame her.
But he also couldn’t shake the feeling that he was making the right decision. If he was going to survive in this world, he needed to get stronger. And the Hunter Exam was his best chance.
—
Camping by the Beach
—
Jack found a secluded spot near the beach, where the sound of the waves would drown out his thoughts. He set up a makeshift camp using some branches and leaves, then sat down and opened his system interface. The notifications were still there, waiting for him to make a decision.
—
HP: 50/50
AP: 1000/1000
Level: 1 (0/3)
Aura Control: 10%
Affinity: Specialization
Strength: 0
Agility: 0
Vitality: 0
Intelligence: 2
Senses: 0
Free Stat Points: 5
EXP: 10
—
Jack took a deep breath and focused on the attributes. He needed to understand how they worked before he started distributing points. The system provided a brief description of each:
– Strength: Increases physical power, allowing him to hit harder and run faster. Each point increases his strength by 500 kg.
– Agility: Enhances reflexes, balance and speed, making him perceive time slower, similar to the game *Superhot*.
– Vitality: Boosts HP, stamina, and recovery speed. Every 10 points increases HP by 50 and recovery speed by 1% per minute.
– Intelligence: Increases AP, AP recovery, and Aura Control. Essential for using Nen abilities. Every 10 points increases AP by 1000, recovery speed by 1% per minute and increases Aura control by 1%.
– Senses: Sharpens physical senses and aura perception, making it easier to detect others’ power levels.
Jack hesitated for a moment, then decided to distribute his points. He put 1 point into Strength and immediately felt a surge of power. His muscles tightened, and he felt stronger than he ever had before. He picked up a nearby rock and crushed it effortlessly in his hand.
“500 kg of strength,” he muttered, amazed. “This is insane.”
Next, he put 1 point into Agility. The world around him seemed to slow down slightly, and his reflexes felt sharper. He could almost predict the movement of the waves as they crashed onto the shore.
Most importantly he can control when to perceive the world in slow motion.
He then added 1 point to Vitality, feeling a surge of warm felling as his cells cheers up.
Finally, he put 1 point into Senses, and his awareness of the world around him heightened. He could hear the distant cries of seagulls and feel the faint aura of the island’s wildlife.
He put 1 point into Intelligence, and suddenly felt a cold feeling in his brain, and he felt as if he can thing everything at really fast speed.
With 10 point left, he decided to save it for later. He needed to see how exercise and training would affect his stats before making any more decisions.
—
As if in response to his thoughts, a new notification appeared.
—
Training Quest: Complete 100 Pushups, 100 Situps, 100 Squats, and a 10km Run.
Reward: 4 EXP
Note: This quest can be repeated indefinitely.
—
Jack grinned. This was exactly what he needed. He got to his feet and started with the pushups.
It was easy, thanks to his increased Strength and Vitality.
He felt that he can do around 1000 pushups with almost no problem in his stamina.
After finishing the pushups, situps, and squats, he set off on his run. The 10km distance was grueling, but his enhanced stamina kept him going. By the time he finished, he only consumed around 30% of his stamina.
—
Quest Complete!
+4 EXP
Total EXP: 5
—
Jack looked at his panel, and found that it was still not enough to level up.
So he decided to continue the training.
Before sleeping, he completed quest for 3x times, and earned total 12 EXP. He used 10 EXP, and level up once again.
He once again gained 5 stat points, which he put directly on Intelligence.
Strength: 1
Agility: 1
Vitality: 11
Intelligence: 8
Senses: 1
Jack has 1 month time, so before starting his journey to Hunter exam, he want all the attributes reached atleast 10 stat value.