Leorio the Shadow Monarch - Chapter 15
Chapter 15: The Hunt Begins
The first few days on Zevil Island settled into a rhythm dictated by caution, training, and the ever-present humidity. Leorio maintained his hidden base near the stream, venturing out only when necessary. Most of his daylight hours were dedicated to a focused, relentless grind. He pushed through the `[Path to Strength]` daily quest, the familiar burn of push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and relentless pacing within his clearing becoming a meditative constant. More importantly, he devoted significant time to his nascent Nen abilities.
Maintaining `[Ten]` became second nature, the subtle feeling of contained aura a constant companion, the passive AP drain barely noticeable against his regeneration. He practiced flicking `[Zetsu]` on and off, feeling his presence dim and flare, imagining it as an invisibility cloak for Nen senses. `[Ren]` practice was more draining; he worked on controlling the outflow, trying short, focused bursts, feeling the surge of power, the slight pressure radiating outwards. His `[Spirit]` skill also saw use during his pacing ‘runs’, getting smoother, faster. The system rewarded his diligence.
Slowly but surely, notifications popped up: `[Ten Lv2 Reached!]`, `[Zetsu Lv2 Reached!]`, `[Ren Lv2 Reached!]`, `[Spirit Lv2 Reached!]`. The improvements were subtle but tangible: Ten’s cover around his body became more compressed; Zetsu felt easier to activate and hold; Ren felt stronger, more focused, its AP cost is still the same, but output is greater; Spirit Lv2 offered a slightly higher speed boost for a similar AP cost. He was still a rank amateur, but he was learning, bridging the gap between his system stats and the world’s energy system.
With his basic Nen feeling slightly less theoretical and his physical stats honed, Leorio decided it was time to actively hunt. General reconnaissance had pointed him towards a cluster of caves nestled in a rocky outcrop several kilometers from his base – a prime hiding spot for someone like Ponzu.
He recalled most of his `[Shadow Pig Lv8]` guards, leaving only two patrolling his base camp, and set out. Moving through the jungle now felt different than his initial arrival. His heightened Senses (SEN 43) picked up nuances he’d missed before – the direction of faint scents on the breeze, the specific cadence of different animal movements in the undergrowth, the subtle changes in humidity indicating shifts in terrain. He used `Observe Lv1` constantly, scanning his path, checking footprints (`[Unknown Applicant | Lv ?? | Trail Cold]`), examining broken foliage.
His command range limit of 43 meters (tied to his level) meant his Shadow Pigs weren’t useful for sweeping large areas, but they excelled at short-range tactical scouting. Before entering dense thickets or rounding blind corners, he’d `[Arise]` a pig, send it 30 meters ahead, get a murky, ground-level view via `[Shadow Preservation]`, then recall it and proceed. It was slow, methodical, but safe. “My own disposable, spectral point man,” he thought with dark amusement. “Hope they get phantom hazard pay.”
As he neared the rocky area he’d scouted earlier, the signs became more concrete. He found a small, discarded glass vial, almost invisible amongst the leaf litter. `Observe`: `[Empty Vial – Trace Chemical Residue (Paralytic Agent?)]`. Definitely Ponzu. Then, he noticed fewer insects buzzing in the air, finding small patches where dead ants and flies littered the ground. Finally, the clincher: the distinct, low hum of bees. Not just one or two, but dozens, then hundreds, orbiting the entrance to a specific cave fissure like fuzzy, angry guards.
Bingo. He’d found her hive.
Leorio approached the cave mouth, a dark split in the rock face partially obscured by vines. The buzzing intensified, the air thick with agitated bees. He knew these weren’t ordinary insects; they carried Ponzu’s chemical concoctions. Time for a field test of his Nen training.
He focused, activating `[Ten Lv2]`. The feeling was more defined now, a solid, tangible shield of aura enveloping his body, humming with contained energy. The passive AP drain felt negligible. He took a steadying breath and walked directly towards the cave entrance.
Instantly, the bees swarmed him. It was like walking into a living cloud, a deafening, vibrating mass of black and yellow. He could feel the tiny impacts as hundreds of bees collided with his aura shield, could see them bouncing off inches from his skin, unable to penetrate. Their tiny stingers, presumably coated in knockout drugs or worse, were rendered completely ineffective.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Leorio thought, a grin spreading across his face as he continued walking, unperturbed, through the buzzing maelstrom. “Who needs bug spray when you’ve got life energy armor? Note to self: Ten is officially more useful than half the camping gear I used to own.” He stepped past the threshold into the cool darkness of the cave.
The buzzing faded slightly behind him. The cave interior was damp, smelling strongly of minerals, bat guano, and the faint, sharp tang of Ponzu’s chemicals. His eyes adjusted quickly thanks to his high SEN. He saw her almost immediately – Ponzu, huddled against the far wall, looking pale and utterly terrified.
But she wasn’t alone.
Sprawled awkwardly near the center of the cave floor lay a body. Leorio recognized the distinctive snakeskin patterns on the man’s clothing. Bourbon, Examinee #103, the snake charmer. A quick `Observe` confirmed the obvious: `[Bourbon | Lv 9 | Condition: Deceased (Cause: Multiple Envenomations – Neurotoxin)]`. Killed by Ponzu’s bees, it seemed.
The other problem became apparent as Leorio took another step inside. Snakes. Everywhere. Coiled in crevices, draped over ledges, slithering silently across the floor. Dozens, maybe hundreds, of vipers of varying sizes, their scales glinting in the dim light filtering from the entrance, their eyes reflecting pinpricks of cold awareness. They were particularly dense near the entrance he’d just passed through.
Ponzu scrambled backwards as Leorio approached, whimpering slightly. “Stay back! Don’t try to leave!”
“Relax,” Leorio said, keeping his voice calm, holding his hands up slightly. “Not here to hurt you.” He gestured towards the body. “Friend of yours?”
“He attacked me!” Ponzu cried, her voice trembling. “He wanted my badge! My bees… they got him. But then… his snakes… they wouldn’t let me leave! They attack anything that tries to get out!” She hugged her knees, looking utterly trapped. She’d likely been stuck here for a day or more, surrounded by her victim’s vengeful pets.
Leorio assessed the situation. Snakes, lots of them. Probably venomous. His `[Detoxification]` passive offered some protection, but getting bitten hundreds of times was likely still a bad idea, even with `[Will To Recover]`. And Ponzu definitely wouldn’t survive it.
He got straight to business. “Look, Ponzu, right? Badge 246?” She nodded numbly. “I’m Examinee 403. You’re my target.” He showed her his own badge briefly. “I need your badge to pass this phase.”
Ponzu stared at him, then glanced fearfully at the sea of snakes blocking the exit. She saw the badge in his hand, saw him standing there unharmed by her bees. Desperation warred with fear. Finally, she seemed to make a decision.
“Take it!” she said, fumbling to unclip her badge from her belt. “Badge 246. Just… just get me past them! Get me out of here! Please!” She held the badge out with a trembling hand.
Leorio considered. He could probably fight his way out, using his strength and maybe his Shadow Pigs as snake fodder. But it would be messy. Although he can’t be poisoned because of Detoxification skill, but it still doesn’t feel good.
Helping her was cleaner, faster, and honestly, leaving her trapped felt unnecessarily cruel. Plus, this was a perfect opportunity to test his `[Ren Lv2]` under pressure.
“Deal,” Leorio said firmly. “Stay right behind me. Don’t make any sudden moves towards the snakes. When I tell you to run, you run straight out, don’t stop, don’t look back. Got it?”
Ponzu nodded vigorously, her eyes wide.
Leorio took the offered badge, pocketing it securely. Six points acquired. Now for the extraction. He walked towards the cave entrance, stopping about ten meters from the thickest concentration of vipers. They hissed, tasting the air, coiling defensively as he approached. He took a deep breath, centering himself, recalling the feeling of pushing his aura outwards during practice, but this time, he consciously imbued it with something else. He channeled the cold, predatory dominance inherent in the Shadow Monarch title, focused on the feeling of overwhelming power, of absolute killing intent directed solely at the serpents before him.
`[Ren Lv2]` activated.
It wasn’t just a gentle pressure wave this time. It felt like a physical force slamming outwards from Leorio, distorting the air in the dim cave light. A heavy, suffocating presence filled the space, thick with malice. The AP drain was significant, 100 points per minute, but sustainable for the short duration needed.
The snakes’ reaction was instantaneous and visceral. Their aggressive hissing turned into panicked, high-pitched whistles. Coiled bodies flattened against the stone floor as if crushed by an invisible weight. They didn’t just recoil; they scrambled backwards, slithering over each other in a desperate attempt to get away from the source of the terrifying pressure. A clear path, several feet wide, opened up through the previously impassable carpet of reptiles.
“NOW!” Leorio roared, his voice amplified by the Ren.
He strode forward into the cleared path, maintaining the outward flare of intimidating aura. Ponzu, jolted into action, scrambled after him, her eyes wide with a terror now directed as much at Leorio as the snakes. They burst out of the cave mouth into the relatively safe jungle air.
Leorio kept the Ren active for a few more seconds, ensuring no snakes immediately followed, then let it drop, the heavy pressure dissipating, leaving him feeling the AP drain cease but also strangely exhilarated by the controlled display of power.
He turned to Ponzu, who was panting, leaning against a tree, staring at him with unconcealed shock and awe.
“Th-thank… thank you,” she stammered. “That… that pressure… what are you?”
Leorio just pocketed his hands, the weight of Badge #246 feeling solid and satisfying. Mission accomplished. “Just someone trying to pass the exam,” he repeated gruffly. He gave her a curt nod. “Snakes probably won’t stay scared forever. Find somewhere safer.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away, melting back into the dense Zevil Island jungle, leaving a bewildered Ponzu to contemplate her rescue by the terrifying man who walked through bees and commanded snakes through sheer force of will. He had his six points. Now, all he had to do was survive for the next few days, avoid the real monsters, and maybe deal with some annoying triplets. Phase Four was looking surprisingly manageable.