Leorio the Shadow Monarch - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Final Phase & Shifting Goals

The return journey from Zevil Island was a subdued affair. The hunter had become the hunted, alliances had been forged and broken in the jungle’s depths, and the raw thrill of survival was tempered by exhaustion. Only 9 applicants remained, their faces etched with weariness and the lingering tension of the hunt. Leorio found himself gravitating towards Gon, Killua, and Kurapika, their familiar presence a small anchor in the strange sea his life had become.

He leaned against the ship’s railing, watching the waves, subtly using `Observe Lv2` on the other survivors. Hanzo was there, looking remarkably unscathed. Pokkle, the bow user. Bodoro, the old martial artist. Gittarackur stood like a strange, pin-cushion statue at the stern. And Hisoka… Hisoka was leaning casually against the main mast, shuffling his cards, looking for all the world like he’d just had a relaxing week at a tropical resort.

Leorio deliberately avoided looking directly at the magician, the phantom pain from their encounter still a fresh, chilling memory. He focused on the horizon, trying to project an air of calm indifference he absolutely did not feel. It was, therefore, deeply unwelcome when a familiar, silken voice purred beside him.

“Leorio~! ♦ Fancy meeting you here! You made it back in one piece after all!”

Leorio froze, every muscle tensing. He turned slowly. Hisoka stood there, leaning nonchalantly on the railing beside him, that unnerving smile firmly in place. There was no trace of the battle-frenzied killer from the jungle, no hint of the lethal intent that had nearly ended Leorio’s second life. Instead, Hisoka radiated an unsettling, almost brotherly bonhomie.

“You look remarkably well, considering our little… tumble in the jungle! ♣” Hisoka continued, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. “You vanished so suddenly! A fascinating trick. Did you perhaps learn a new magic act?”

Leorio’s mind raced. Act dumb. Act confused. Do NOT let him know the escape wasn’t just luck. “Trick?” Leorio forced a confused frown, rubbing the back of his neck. “What are you talking about, Hisoka? Tumble? I think you’ve got me mixed up with someone else. Spent most of my time hiding in a hole trying not to get eaten by giant lizards.” He tried for a nervous chuckle. It probably sounded forced.

Hisoka simply chuckled lightly, a sound devoid of genuine warmth. “Oh? Is that so? Perhaps my memory is playing tricks on me then… ♦ Though I recall a rather spirited, if brief, dance.” He tapped a finger against his chin thoughtfully. “No matter. The important thing is you survived. Resilience is such an attractive quality, don’t you think? ♥” He gave Leorio a look that felt like spiders crawling down his spine before casually sauntering away, leaving Leorio feeling exposed and deeply unnerved.

“Sociopath doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Leorio thought, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “He remembers. He knows I know he remembers. This friendly act is just… creepy. Did he enjoy the near-kill? Is he intrigued by the escape? Gods, I need to stay so far away from him.” The encounter solidified Leorio’s resolve: avoid Hisoka at all costs.

The rest of the journey passed in tense silence. They arrived not at another rugged exam site, but at a surprisingly luxurious hotel, clearly commandeered by the Hunter Association. Clean rooms, soft beds, actual edible food served on plates – the contrast to Zevil Island was jarring. The finalists gathered in a large conference room, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.

Chairman Netero stood at the front, flanked by Secretary Beans. The old man beamed at them, his energy belying his age. “Well done, candidates! Truly well done! You few who remain have overcome tremendous challenges. You have proven your strength, your cunning, your spirit, and your sheer refusal to quit! Hearty congratulations on reaching the Fifth and Final Phase!”

He paused, letting the applause die down. “Now, traditionally, the Final Phase involves determining a single winner. But we do things… differently.” His eyes twinkled. “This year, the final test will be a one-on-one tournament!”

A murmur went through the room. A tournament? After everything?

“However,” Netero continued, raising a hand, “this is not a simple contest of strength. Winning your matches does not guarantee you will pass. And conversely,” his gaze swept across them, “losing your matches does not necessarily mean you will fail.”

Confusion rippled through the finalists. Leorio frowned, accessing his memory banks. Right, the infamous final phase twist.

“Only one applicant among you will fail this final phase,” Netero explained calmly. “My judgment, based on your performance throughout the exam and specifically within this tournament, will determine who that unfortunate soul is. What am I looking for? Potential. Tenacity. Adaptability. The qualities that make a true Hunter. Fighting ability is only one part of that equation. Show me you have what it takes, whether in victory or defeat. Understand?”

He didn’t wait for answers. “Excellent! Let’s reveal the bracket!” A large screen behind Netero flickered to life, displaying the tournament pairings.

Leorio scanned the names, finding his own. `Match 3: Leorio (#403) vs. Bodoro (#199)`. Bodoro. The old, muscular martial artist. Leorio felt a flicker of relief – not an easy fight, perhaps, but certainly manageable compared to others. He then scanned the rest of the bracket, his eyes widening slightly. `Match 1: Gon (#405) vs. Hanzo (#294)`. `Match 4: Kurapika (#404) vs. Hisoka (#44)`. `Match 6: Killua (#99) vs. Gittarackur (#301)`.

Oh, crap. Gon versus the skilled ninja? Kurapika against Hisoka?! And Killua facing his own disguised, terrifying older brother? His friends had drawn the absolute worst matchups imaginable. Worry warred with his own relief.

He quickly used `Observe Lv2` on his opponent, Bodoro, who stood stoically across the room.

—

Target: Bodoro

Level: 12 (Nen Not Awakened)

Affinity: Enhancement

Condition: Calm, Experienced, Fatigued

Threat Assessment: Moderate (Physical Combat Specialist)

Thoughts: [Must conserve energy… focus on defense… assess opponent…]

—

Level 12, likely Enhancement. Experienced, but to weak.

No wonder he will be killed by Killua.

Leorio felt confident he could win, likely without even needing his Nen, relying on his superior stat (STR 75!). He just needed to show competence, not necessarily dominance, to satisfy Netero.

Later that evening, alone in the surprisingly comfortable hotel room assigned to him, Leorio found himself reflecting. He sat by the window, looking out at the city lights – a sight he hadn’t seen since… well, since his old life.

The journey from that life to this moment felt utterly surreal. Waking up as Leorio Paradinight in that damp Zaban tunnel. Discovering the impossible reality of the Shadow Monarch system. Surviving the deadly marathon, the treacherous swamp, the manipulative psychologist, the near-fatal encounter with Hisoka. He traced his progress mentally – Level 1 to 48. From stats barely registering to monstrous Strength, enhanced senses, vast energy reserves. He’d unlocked regeneration that bordered on immortality for non-fatal wounds, learned the basics of Nen, commanded (and lost) an army of shadow pigs. He was no longer just Rohan Mehra, the weary office worker and escapist fanboy. He was… something else. Something powerful, something potentially terrifying.

And that led to the uncomfortable question: What now?

He remembered the original Leorio’s driving passion – become a doctor, earn money with the Hunter License, treat the poor for free, honor Pietro’s memory. It was a noble goal, one he still respected intellectually. The desire to help people hadn’t vanished. But was it his primary drive anymore?

He thought about the sheer power thrumming within him, the 52,000 points of AP, the potential waiting in his Job Skills – `Shadow Extraction`, `Shadow Preservation`, `Shadow Exchange`, `Monarch’s Domain`. He thought about the thrill, terrifying as it was, of facing danger and overcoming it, of leveling up, of feeling himself grow stronger with each trial. He thought about Hisoka, the embodiment of terrifying power, and the visceral, burning desire that encounter had ignited – the desire to never be that helpless again, to become strong enough to stand against such monsters, maybe even surpass them.

Was becoming a doctor compatible with becoming the Shadow Monarch? Could he spend years in medical school while also exploring Dark Continent, extracting shadows, potentially leading armies of the dead? The paths felt divergent. The original Leorio’s goal felt… smaller now, compared to the vast, dangerous, power-filled world that had opened up to him, compared to the unique, potentially world-altering power the system represented.

And then there were Gon, Killua, Kurapika. He’d fallen into their orbit, just like in the story, but now they felt… real. Gon’s unwavering light, Kurapika’s burning resolve, Killua’s complex mix of assassin and friend. He felt a genuine, protective bond forming. Did becoming a neighborhood doctor best equip him to help them navigate the insane dangers their own paths would inevitably lead them down? Or did becoming a powerful Shadow Monarch, someone capable of facing down threats far beyond illness or injury, serve that purpose better?

He didn’t have a definitive answer. The desire to heal still flickered, a remnant of the man whose body he inhabited, perhaps. But the allure of power, the potential of his unique system, the pragmatic need to survive and protect in this ridiculously dangerous world… it was pulling him strongly in a different direction. The Hunter License wasn’t just a tool to fund medical school anymore. It felt like the key to unlocking the next stage of his real journey – the journey of the Shadow Monarch.

He sighed, leaning his head against the cool glass. Decisions for later. First, the Final Phase. Secure the license. Show Netero enough competence without revealing the full extent of his system’s absurdity. His match against Bodoro awaited. Time to focus. The future, with all its conflicting goals and shadowed potential, would have to wait just a little longer.