Leorio the Shadow Monarch - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Whispers in the Wetlands & First Opportunity

The tunnel finally ended, not with a triumphant opening, but with the base of a colossal flight of stairs that seemed to ascend into infinity. A collective groan rose from the remaining applicants. Leorio felt it deep in his bones, a weariness that went beyond muscle fatigue. He quickly pulled up his system panel, needing the hard data.

HP: 50/50

AP: 958/1000 (Slowly ticking up)

Fatigue: 65%

[Daily Quest: Path to Strength – Running: 80/10 KM (Completed)]

Sixty-five percent fatigue. He’d run… 80 kilometers? He rechecked the Daily Quest log. Yes, 80km total logged under the running objective, even though the quest only required 10km. Interesting. It meant his 5 points in Vitality weren’t just boosting his HP pool and providing minuscule regeneration; they must have also been passively mitigating fatigue accumulation over the long haul. If it accumulated at a strict 1% per km, he should have been at 80% fatigue already. That slight edge might have been the only reason he was still standing. Still, 65% was dangerously high, and staring up at the Everest of staircases before him, he knew it was about to get much worse.

“Well, isn’t this just great,” he muttered under his breath, channeling a bit of the original Leorio’s exasperation. “First a marathon, now the world’s tallest step aerobics class.”

Gon, naturally, seemed unfazed. “Wow! Look how high it goes!”

Kurapika adjusted his grip on his own bag, his expression calm but calculating. “This will test a different kind of endurance. Explosive power and recovery, rather than steady stamina.”

Easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect Stats, Leorio thought wryly. He took a deep breath and placed his foot on the first step. It felt like lifting lead. He mentally checked the Daily Quest again, hoping against hope.

[Daily Quest: Path to Strength]

Objectives:

– Push-ups: [0/100]
– Sit-ups: [0/100]
– Squats: [0/100] (Updating…)
– Running: [80/10 KM (Completed)]

A small, almost imperceptible change – the `(Updating…)` appeared next to Squats as he took the step. Holy crap, it counts! A surge of grim motivation shot through him. Every agonizing step upwards was progress towards that elusive Daily Quest reward. It was a lifeline, something to focus on beyond the searing pain in his thighs and calves.

He began the climb, falling into a rhythm dictated more by desperation than fitness. Push up, step, breathe. Push up, step, breathe. Around him, the sounds changed from the shuffle of running shoes to the heavy tread of climbing boots, punctuated by gasps and pained grunts. The air grew slightly cooler, thinner, but no less oppressive. The walls of the stairwell were featureless grey stone, offering no distraction, no sense of progress other than the burning protest of his muscles.

He kept his eyes fixed on the steps immediately ahead, occasionally glancing at his Fatigue percentage. 68%… 72%… 75%… It climbed alarmingly fast, much faster than during the run. Each step demanded more explosive effort, taxing his meager Strength and Agility reserves far more than the steady-state running had. He pushed on, fueled by the knowledge that Leorio had made it, and the tiny, ticking counter for his Squat objective. [625/100]… [748/100]… [871/100]…

It felt like hours. His vision tunnelled, his breathing ragged. Just when he thought his legs would buckle, that the 80% fatigue mark would cripple him entirely, he saw it – a square of brighter light high above. The exit.

With a final, desperate surge fueled by sheer willpower and the mental image of completing at least one objective properly, he hauled himself over the top step and collapsed onto a patch of blessedly flat ground, chest heaving. The world swam slightly.

HP: 50/50

AP: 975/1000

Fatigue: 85%

[Daily Quest: Path to Strength – Squats: 1000/100 (Completed)]

He’d made it. 85% fatigue. He felt utterly drained, like an old dishrag, but a tiny spark of triumph ignited within him. Squats objective: Complete.

He slowly pushed himself up, joining the ragged group of survivors gathered in a wide, open space under a surprisingly bright, albeit artificial-looking, sky. Before them stretched a vast expanse of wetland, shrouded in thick, swirling mist. Strange, twisted trees rose from murky water, and the air hung heavy with the smell of damp earth and decay.

Satotz stood waiting, perfectly composed as always. “Congratulations on completing the first leg,” he announced, his voice echoing slightly in the open space. “However, do not celebrate prematurely. Ahead lies the Numere Wetlands, also known as Swindlers’ Swamp.” He gestured towards the fog-choked landscape. “You must cross these wetlands to reach the site of the Second Phase. Be warned. The creatures here use every trick imaginable to deceive and prey upon travellers. It is imperative you stay close and do not lose sight of me in the fog.”

As Satotz spoke, Leorio’s fanboy brain helpfully supplied the upcoming scene. He braced himself, pushing himself up into a sitting position, watching the crowd near the stairwell entrance. Right on cue, a figure stumbled out, looking horribly injured, clutching his side.

“Don’t… don’t listen to him!” the man gasped, pointing a trembling finger at Satotz. “He’s an imposter! A fake examiner!”

A wave of murmurs spread through the exhausted applicants. Confusion, doubt – exactly what the trickster wanted.

“Look at him!” the injured man cried, gesturing towards Satotz’s smooth, featureless face. “That’s just a mask! He’s one of the Man-Faced Apes from the swamp! Trying to lure you all to your doom! I’m the real examiner!”

From the shadows behind the injured man, a large, hunched figure emerged – a creature that looked disturbingly like Satotz, but rougher, more bestial, holding the ‘injured’ man’s severed arm as if it were proof. The Man-Faced Ape. Classic HxH deception.

Leorio watched, a strange sense of detachment settling over him. He knew how this played out. It was like watching a rerun, except the actors were real, and the tension was thick enough to taste. He saw Gon look confused, Kurapika narrow his eyes in suspicion, and most of the other applicants waver.

Then, movement. Too fast to track clearly. Three standard playing cards zipped through the air with lethal precision. Thwip-thwip-thwip. One embedded itself squarely in the ‘injured’ man’s forehead. The other two struck the Man-Faced Ape, one in the throat, one in the chest. Both figures collapsed instantly, undeniably dead.

Hisoka lowered his hand, a bored, almost disappointed look on his face. He held up one of the cards he’d thrown, now dripping slightly. “Hmm. Examiners are Hunters, selected specifically for this task,” he stated coolly, his voice carrying easily. “They must be capable of handling any challenge the exam throws at them. An attack like that,” he gestured dismissively at the cards embedded in the corpses, “would hardly suffice to defeat any real examiner.” He glanced at Satotz. “There. Verified. You pass.”

A collective shiver went through the crowd. Hisoka hadn’t just exposed the deception; he’d done it with casual, terrifying lethality. It was a stark reminder that the other applicants were often more dangerous than the exam itself. Leorio felt a prickle of fear. He was so far out of his depth it wasn’t even funny.

Satotz simply nodded, unfazed. “Thank you for the assistance. Though unnecessary, your point is valid.” He turned back towards the fog-shrouded entrance. “Now then, shall we continue? The wetlands await.”

The crowd, chastened and perhaps a little more trusting of Satotz now, began to move towards the swamp. Leorio hesitated. His eyes darted to the two fresh corpses lying near the stairwell entrance. Hisoka’s cards were still embedded in them.

Corpses.

The thought hit him like a physical blow. His system. [Shadow Extraction]. This was his first real chance. Not some random swamp creature, but sentient beings – well, one human, one intelligent beast. Morbid curiosity warred with revulsion and a desperate craving for power. He needed an edge. His stats were garbage, his combat skills nonexistent beyond swinging a briefcase like a madman. Shadows… shadows could be his equalizer.

He deliberately slowed his pace, letting the bulk of the applicants shuffle past him towards the swirling fog. Gon and Kurapika were already near the front with Satotz. Good. He needed a moment, unseen. The cavern was large, filled with shadows cast by the strange grey light. Most eyes were fixed on the intimidating swamp entrance or nervously glancing at Hisoka, who was walking nonchalantly near the middle of the pack.

Leorio darted quickly towards the body of the fake examiner. Kneeling beside it, trying to ignore the still-warm blood pooling slightly on the stone, he focused his intent. System. Shadow Extraction.

The command echoed in his mind. He felt a distinct pull on his AP pool – 50 points vanished instantly. A strange, cold energy flowed from his palm towards the corpse. It felt…invasive. Like reaching into something that shouldn’t be touched. For a terrifying second, nothing happened. Then, he felt a subtle give, a yielding. A dark, wispy silhouette, vaguely human-shaped but indistinct and flickering, seemed to detach itself from the body and flow towards him, absorbed into his being.

`[Shadow Extraction Successful!]`

`[Shadow Imposter Lv1 Acquired.]`

`Strength: 1 | Agility: 1 | Vitality: 1`

`Skills: None`

He scrambled back, his heart pounding. It worked. He had a human shadow soldier now. ‘Grade: Normal’. Sounded weak, but it was something. He immediately focused on the [Shadow Preservation] menu in his mind. There it was, a dark silhouette listed alongside ‘Empty Slot’. He could vaguely sense its dormant presence. Storage: 1/20.

No time to linger. He moved quickly to the Man-Faced Ape. The creature’s primate features were twisted in a death grimace. Repeating the process, he activated [Shadow Extraction] again. Another 150 AP drained. Another success.

`[Shadow Extraction Successful!]`

`[Shadow Ape Lv1 Acquired.]`

`Strength: 2 | Agility: 3 | Vitality: 2`

`Skills: Basic Claws`

This show atleast have claw skill.

But still pathetically weaker.

But it was a second body, another soldier for his nascent army. He stored it away. Two shadows. His first steps as a Shadow Monarch. He grinned, a fierce, slightly feral expression that felt both foreign and natural on Leorio’s face. Wasting no more time, he hurried towards the swamp, plunging into the thick, disorienting fog after the others.

The world transformed. Visibility dropped to mere feet. The air was thick, humid, smelling strongly of mud, stagnant water, and things rotting. Every sound was muffled, distorted – the drip of water, the croak of unseen things, the rustle of reeds, the squelch of boots ahead. He strained his senses (base SEN 1, not great but better than nothing), trying to keep track of Satotz’s silhouette moving steadily ahead. He could faintly perceive through his stored shadows via [Shadow Preservation], but they were just formless voids in the system space, offering no useful visual input yet.

He focused on staying close to Gon and Kurapika, their familiar forms a small comfort in the oppressive gloom. Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from somewhere to their right, followed by a sickening crunch. Someone had strayed. Leorio felt a jolt of fear, gripping Leorio’s briefcase tighter. This place was no joke.

He was so focused on the path ahead and the sounds around him that he almost missed the slight ripple in the murky water beside the narrow path they trod. His newly enhanced system-linked intuition (that SEN 1 working overtime?) flared dimly. He instinctively took a half-step back just as a massive, warty creature erupted from the water. It looked like a grotesque cross between a bullfrog and a piranha, easily six feet tall at the shoulder, with rows of needle-sharp teeth in a gaping maw. It lunged, aiming right where he’d been standing.

“Leorio!” Gon yelled.

Panic seized him for a split second, then the system, the potential, asserted itself. No time to be scared. Time to fight. Or rather, time to make them fight.

“[Arise]!” he subvocalized, the command sharp in his mind. He poured AP into the command – another 100 points total? – pulling his two stored shadows into reality.

The [Shadow Ape] and [Shadow Imposter] materialized beside him, wisps of black smoke solidifying into their shadowy forms. They were faint, almost translucent in the gloom, but undeniably present. The giant frog-thing paused, its tiny eyes swiveling towards the unexpected newcomers.

“Attack!” Leorio commanded mentally, pointing a shaking finger at the frog beast. He didn’t know complex tactics yet, just overwhelming instinct.

The [Shadow Ape], possessing slightly better Agility, darted to the side, letting out a silent, smoky roar and swiping with intangible claws that seemed to annoy the beast more than hurt it. The [Shadow Imposter], slow and weak, simply shambled forward, becoming an immediate target. The giant frog snapped, catching the Imposter in its massive jaws. The shadow offered no resistance, dissolving into smoke upon ‘death’ without a sound.

`[Shadow Imposter has been destroyed.]`

`[Cooldown before re-extraction/summoning possible.]`

One down already! But it had bought a crucial second. While the frog was occupied tearing apart the hapless Imposter shadow, the [Shadow Ape] scrabbled onto its back, clawing and distracting it. Leorio saw his chance. He gripped his heavy briefcase – surprisingly sturdy – and swung it with all his might (STR 1, feel the power!), connecting solidly with the side of the frog’s head.

THWACK!

The creature staggered, roaring in pain and surprise. It shook violently, dislodging the [Shadow Ape], which dissipated as it hit the ground hard.

`[Shadow Ape has been destroyed.]`

Two down! But the frog was injured, momentarily stunned. Leorio didn’t hesitate. He dropped the briefcase and lunged, grabbing a thick, gnarled piece of driftwood from the path’s edge. Adrenaline surged. He leaped onto the creature’s back as it tried to turn, raising the driftwood high and plunging it down with desperate force towards where he guessed its eye or brain might be.

There was a wet, tearing sound. The creature convulsed violently, then slumped, lifeless, into the murky water.

Silence descended, broken only by Leorio’s ragged breathing. He stared at the massive corpse, then at his trembling hands. He’d… killed it. With driftwood. And two incredibly weak shadow minions that acted as suicide distractions.

Then, the system lit up like a pachinko machine hitting the jackpot.

`[You have defeated Giant Swamp Frog (Lv 5)!]`

`[+500 EXP Acquired!]`

`[LEVEL UP!]`

`[LEVEL UP!]`

`[LEVEL UP!]`

`[LEVEL UP!]`

`[LEVEL UP!]`

`[LEVEL UP!]`

`[You have reached Level 7!]`

`[All Stats increased by 6!]`

`[HP Increased! Current HP: 400/400]`

`[AP Increased! Current AP: 7000/7000]`

`[Fatigue has been reset to 0%!]`

`[New Active Skill Unlocked: Sprint Lv1!]`

A wave of energy, pure and invigorating, washed through him, erasing the bone-deep weariness of the run and the climb in an instant. He felt… incredible. The aches vanished, replaced by a thrumming vitality. His muscles felt denser, stronger, coiled with latent power. He flexed his fingers – faster, more responsive. His vision seemed sharper, the fog less impenetrable. His thoughts raced, clearer and quicker than before.

He quickly checked his stats. STR: 7, AGI: 7, VIT: 11, INT: 8, SEN: 7. A massive jump across the board! 400 HP! 7000 AP! Zero fatigue! This was insane! The EXP scaling was clearly non-linear, or that frog was worth a fortune.

He examined the new skill: `[Sprint Lv1 (Active)]: Temporarily increases movement speed by 30%. Cost: 1 AP per second.`

A speed boost! Costly for sustained use at 1 AP/sec, but invaluable for bursts.

He looked down at himself. His body felt different. He pulled back the sleeve of his suit jacket. His forearm seemed thicker, veins more prominent, the muscle defined but lean, like a sprinter’s, not a bodybuilder’s – the result of balanced STR and AGI increases. This physical transformation was real.

Gon and Kurapika ran up, eyes wide. “Leorio, are you okay? That was amazing!” Gon exclaimed.

Kurapika looked from the dead frog to Leorio, a flicker of surprise in his usually calm eyes. “Your reaction speed was impressive. And… you seem unharmed, despite the exertion.”

Leorio grinned, feeling a surge of genuine confidence replace the earlier fear. “Yeah, well, adrenaline’s a hell of a thing! And this swamp critter wasn’t as tough as it looked.” He decided against mentioning his dearly departed shadow decoys. No need to reveal his trump cards this early.

He looked back at the frog corpse. He could feel the faint echo of its life force, a beacon for his system. He had more AP now. He focused. “[Shadow Extraction].”

The process felt smoother this time, the AP cost negligible. The black smoke rose thickly, swirling into the distinct shape of the giant frog, but shadowy, ethereal.

`[Shadow Extraction Successful!]`

`[Shadow Frog Lv5 Acquired.]`

`Strength: 6 | Agility: 5 | Vitality: 7`

`Skills: Bite, Leap`

Much better! A genuinely useful combat shadow, reflecting the creature’s original level and stats (albeit slightly lower). He immediately stored it using [Shadow Preservation]. Now he had one solid minion ready to summon, plus the two weaklings would be available again after a cooldown.

He stood up straight, dusting off his suit, which now felt less like a restriction and more like armour waiting to be tested. The fog swirled around him, still dangerous, still hiding threats. But now, Leorio Paradinight, Level 7 Shadow Monarch, felt ready for them. A dark, thrilled grin touched his lips again.

“Come on,” he said, his voice stronger, deeper. “Satotz is getting away. Let’s not fall behind.”

He started walking, his steps lighter, faster, eager to see what other opportunities this deadly swamp – and his incredible new power – might offer.