Jack's arrival in HxH world - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: The Path Less Traveled
The ship finally docked at Dolle Harbor after the stormy night, and the examinees disembarked, their spirits dampened but their determination intact.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio followed the captain’s advice and headed toward the forest, their path clear and their resolve unwavering. Jack, however, chose a different route. He had no desire to retrace the steps of the original story.
Besides, Gon was now a Nen user, and Kurapika and Leorio, while not yet awakened to Nen, were resourceful and strong-willed. They would make it to Zaban City without him.
Jack’s decision led him to the bus stand, a place he knew would present its own set of challenges. As he approached, he noticed a peculiar figure standing near the bus stop. The man—or rather, the *thing*—was covered in needles, his face expressionless and his aura radiating malice. Jack’s system immediately identified him.
—
Name: Illumi Zoldyck (Disguised as Gittarackur)
Level: 70
Affinity: Manipulation
—
Jack’s heart skipped a beat.
Level 70.
This was Illumi Zoldyck, one of the most dangerous assassins in the world. His malicious aura alone was enough to terrify the other examinees, who kept their distance, their faces pale with fear.
Jack, however, forced himself to remain calm. He couldn’t afford to show weakness, not here, not now.
The bus arrived, and the scene that unfolded was nothing short of horrifying. The vehicle was covered in blood, its windows smeared with crimson streaks. When the doors opened, a blood-soaked man stumbled out, his eyes wide with terror.
“Don’t go… or you will die,” he gasped before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
The examinees recoiled in horror, some vomiting at the sight. The atmosphere grew tense, and no one dared to step forward. Then, a humanoid turtle emerged from the bus, its voice calm but eerie.
“Does no one want to go?” it asked.
Illumi was the first to move. Without a word, he stepped onto the bus, his needle-covered face betraying no emotion. Jack gritted his teeth. He knew this bus was a death trap, but he also knew it was a test. The Hunter Exam was designed to weed out the weak, and this was just another hurdle.
Taking a deep breath, Jack followed Illumi onto the bus. Five others joined them—two girls and three men. One of the girls, Jack noticed, was carrying a large sniper rifle. Her name, according to his system, was Siper, an assassin with a sharp gaze and a calm demeanor.
—
The interior of the bus was just as gruesome as the exterior. Blood covered the seats and floors, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of iron. There were no clean spots to sit, so Jack stood near the back, his eyes scanning the other passengers.
Illumi sat near the front, his presence dominating the space. The other examinees kept their distance, their fear palpable. Siper leaned against a pole, her sniper rifle slung over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. The remaining passengers—a burly man with scars, a nervous-looking girl, and two men who seemed to be partners—huddled together, their eyes darting around nervously.
The humanoid turtle took the driver’s seat and started the engine. The bus lurched forward, its wheels crunching against the gravel road. The journey to Zaban City had begun.
—
As the bus rolled on, the tension inside grew thicker. Jack kept his guard up, his Ten skill active to protect himself from any sudden attacks. He knew this wasn’t just a simple ride; it was a test of nerves and survival.
The burly man with scars was the first to break the silence. “What the hell is this? Some kind of sick joke?”
The humanoid turtle glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “This is the Hunter Exam. If you can’t handle a little blood, you might as well quit now.”
The man scowled but said nothing. The nervous girl whimpered, clutching her bag tightly. Siper remained silent, her eyes focused on the road ahead.
Jack’s system pinged, and a new notification appeared.
—
Quest Alert: Survive the Bus Ride
Objective: Reach Main Exam site alive.
Reward: 5,000 EXP
—
Jack clenched his fists. This was going to be a long ride.
—
About an hour into the journey, the bus came to a sudden halt. The humanoid turtle turned to the passengers, its expression grim. “We have a problem. There’s a pack of wild beasts blocking the road. You’ll have to deal with them if you want to continue.”
Before anyone could respond, the doors opened, and a group of monstrous creatures charged toward the bus. They were unlike anything Jack had ever seen—hulking, wolf-like beasts with razor-sharp claws and glowing red eyes.
The burly man with scars was the first to react. He leaped out of the bus, his fists clenched, and charged at the beasts. The nervous girl screamed, while Siper calmly raised her sniper rifle and took aim.
Jack saw the beast with disdain. These are all just level 0 beast, and didn’t have much strength. Jack didn’t even need to use Nen.
His body moving with incredible speed as he joined the fight. He directly used his brute strength, and punched. With a single punch, he sent one of the beasts flying, its body crumpling against a tree.
Illumi, however, remained seated, his expression bored. “This is beneath me,” he muttered.
The battle was intense but short-lived. Between Jack’s strength, Siper’s precision, and the burly man’s brute force, the beasts were quickly defeated. The nervous girl and the two partners stayed inside the bus, too frightened to join the fight.
—
After the battle, the passengers returned to the bus, their bodies bruised but alive. The humanoid turtle nodded in approval. “Not bad. But don’t get too comfortable. The road to Zaban City is full of surprises.”
Jack sat down. He glanced at Siper, who was cleaning her rifle, and the burly man, who was nursing a cut on his arm. The nervous girl was still trembling, while the two partners exchanged uneasy glances.
Illumi remained silent, his needle-covered face as expressionless as ever.