Leorio the Shadow Monarch - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Encounter with the Joker & Shadow Scouting

Moving felt different now. Effortless. Leorio strode through the muddy paths of the Numere Wetlands, his previous exhaustion completely erased, replaced by a vibrant energy that hummed beneath his skin. His Level 7 stats, while still rudimentary in the grand scheme of this world, felt like godhood compared to his state just an hour ago. His senses were sharper; the oppressive fog seemed slightly less dense, the muffled sounds a little clearer. His increased Strength made his steps more powerful, his enhanced Agility lent a newfound balance, preventing slips on the treacherous ground. The 400 HP felt like a comforting buffer, and the 7000 AP pool was a deep well of potential he’d only just begun to tap.

He glanced at Gon and Kurapika moving alongside him. They seemed to notice the change, Kurapika casting a brief, analytical look, while Gon just grinned. “Wow, Leorio, you’re moving way better now! Did beating that frog wake you up?”

Leorio chuckled, a sound more genuinely confident than anything he’d managed before. “Something like that, kid. Guess knocking some sense into that oversized amphibian shook off the fatigue.” He decided to test his new skill, just for a moment. Focusing inward, he activated `[Spirit Lv1]`.

Instantly, the world seemed to slow down slightly as his own body accelerated. A 30% speed boost was noticeable, allowing him to surge ahead a few paces with ease before the `[-1 AP]` per second cost registered in his mind. He deactivated it quickly. The drain was minor now with his 7000 AP pool, but it was good to feel the effect. Useful for bursts, not sustained travel unless necessary.

Despite the power boost, the swamp remained unnerving. The screams had faded, but the silence that followed was almost worse. Who knew what lurked just beyond the veil of mist? Complacency was a luxury he couldn’t afford. He needed information. His Sense stat was better (SEN 7), sharpening his natural intuition, but he had a tool designed for exactly this.

“Hang back a sec,” he said, stopping briefly. “Thought I heard something.”

As Gon and Kurapika paused, Leorio focused, subtly drawing on his AP. `[Arise]`. The faint, smoky silhouette of the `[Shadow Frog Lv5]` materialized beside him for a split second before he immediately commanded, `[Preserve]`. It vanished into his system’s storage. Now came the tricky part. He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating, pushing his intent through the connection fostered by `[Shadow Preservation]`. He wanted the frog shadow to ‘move’ ahead, virtually, extending its senses maybe fifty meters down the path, acting as an incorporeal scout.

The world shifted. Layered over his own senses was a bizarre, alien input. Murky, green-tinged vision, limited in scope, the world viewed from about knee-height. He could ‘feel’ the vibrations in the muddy ground through the shadow’s non-existent feet, ‘hear’ the amplified squelching sounds and insectile buzzing. It was disorienting, like trying to process two different realities at once. He pushed the shadow’s perspective further, scanning the path ahead through its borrowed senses. Mist, gnarled roots, murky puddles… then, a pocket of unnatural stillness. A section of the path where the usual swamp noises seemed… muted. And overlaid on that, through his own heightened SEN 7 intuition, a prickling sensation on the back of his neck. Danger. Potent danger.

“Hold up,” Leorio said, his voice tight, dropping the goofy persona for a moment. “Something’s not right up ahead. Let’s be careful.”

Kurapika’s eyes sharpened, trusting Leorio’s suddenly serious tone. Gon tilted his head but nodded, his own wild instincts likely sensing the shift in atmosphere. They proceeded more cautiously, Leorio maintaining the sensory link with his forward scout shadow, his heart beginning to pound a nervous rhythm against his ribs.

They rounded a large, moss-covered cypress knee and the path widened slightly. The source of the unnatural quiet became chillingly clear. Several applicants lay sprawled on the ground, unmoving. Some looked merely unconscious, others… decidedly worse. Standing amongst them, casually wiping a playing card clean on a fallen candidate’s jacket, was Hisoka Morrow.

He looked up as they approached, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his painted face. His golden eyes, sharp and intelligent, seemed to pierce right through the fog, locking onto them. The air grew heavy, thick with an invisible pressure that made Leorio’s lungs constrict. It felt like drowning on dry land.

This was it. The encounter. His foreknowledge screamed warnings, memories of Hisoka’s casual brutality, his overwhelming power, his fickle, deadly whims. Leorio’s newfound Level 7 confidence felt laughably inadequate, a paper shield against a hurricane. He had maybe, maybe, surpassed the average applicant, but Hisoka? He was a different species altogether.

Act normal. Act like Leorio. The thought was a desperate mantra. He forced himself to puff out his chest, channeling the original Leorio’s often misplaced bravado.

“Hey! You!” Leorio shouted, his voice cracking slightly despite his best efforts. “What do you think you’re doing, blocking the path like this?! And what happened to these guys?” He gestured vaguely at the bodies, trying to inject indignant anger into his tone while raw terror clawed at his insides. His system wasn’t giving explicit danger levels, but his SEN stat was translating the sheer killing intent in the air into a full-body alarm.

Hisoka chuckled, a low, dangerous sound. “Oh? Blocking the path?” He took a step towards them, his movements fluid, almost serpentine. “I was merely… assessing the qualifications of some fellow candidates. They were found wanting.” His gaze lingered on Gon, then Kurapika, and finally settled on Leorio. “And you three? Are you qualified?”

The pressure intensified. Leorio felt like insects were crawling under his skin. Through the `[Shadow Frog]`’s senses, still active fifty meters ahead (he hadn’t dared move it closer or recall it), he saw nothing but empty path – no immediate escape route. He kept the sensory link open, a tiny thread of awareness separate from the crushing presence before him, using it to monitor their flank, just in case. It was a pitiful defense, information only, but it was something.

“Of course, we are!” Leorio blustered, stepping slightly in front of Gon protectively, an instinct he hadn’t expected. “We made it this far, didn’t we? Unlike some people!” He jabbed a thumb back towards the fallen applicants, hoping bravado would be mistaken for strength.

Hisoka’s smile widened, showing a hint of teeth. “Indeed. You possess… a certain tenacity.” His eyes swept over Leorio again, lingering for a moment. It felt like being physically dissected. “Especially you, Mr. Suit. You seem… surprisingly resilient after that long run and climb.”

Leorio froze. Had Hisoka noticed his rapid recovery? Or was it just a casual observation? He forced a scoff. “Hah! Takes more than a little jog to wear me out!” Inside, he was screaming. He knows! He senses something! Or maybe I’m just paranoid!

Gon, oblivious or perhaps just fearless, spoke up. “Are you an examiner too? You’re really strong!”

Hisoka’s attention shifted entirely to Gon, the predatory pressure lessening slightly, replaced by a palpable wave of… interest. It wasn’t necessarily less dangerous, just different. “An examiner? No, no. I’m just like you, taking the test.” He looked Gon up and down. “You seem promising, little apple. Yes… very promising indeed.”

Kurapika shifted uneasily, his hand subtly moving towards the wooden swords hidden beneath his tabard.

Hisoka then turned back to Leorio and Kurapika. “But you two…” His gaze was dismissive. “You pass. You may go.” He seemed to have lost interest, his focus entirely on Gon.

Relief washed over Leorio so intensely his knees almost buckled. They were being let go? Just like that? He didn’t question it. “Right! Come on, Gon, Kurapika, let’s move! We’re burning daylight!” He grabbed Gon’s arm, ready to bolt.

But Hisoka raised a hand. “Ah, but the little green apple stays. We need to talk.”

Leorio’s blood ran cold. No. He couldn’t leave Gon alone with Hisoka. Not now. Not after remembering what happened next in the canon – the punch, the badge. But interfering… suicide.

Before he could spiral further, a scene played out almost exactly as he remembered. Gon, stubbornly refusing to leave his friends. Hisoka, amused by the boy’s spirit, delivering a swift punch that sent Gon flying. But just as Hisoka moved to follow up, Leorio found himself acting on pure, unadulterated Leorio-instinct, amplified by Rohan’s HxH knowledge.

“HEY! Leave him alone, you creep!” Leorio yelled, swinging his trusty briefcase wildly, more as a distraction than a real attack.

Hisoka sidestepped the clumsy swing with contemptuous ease. But it created the opening. Gon, recovering instantly, launched himself forward and managed to land a solid punch on Hisoka’s jaw – a blow fueled by determination rather than raw power. Hisoka looked momentarily stunned, then intrigued. Simultaneously, Leorio felt a sharp pain in his own face as Hisoka backhanded him dismissively, sending him stumbling back.

Then, Hisoka did something unexpected, something slightly different from Leorio’s memory. He didn’t just let them go. He looked at Leorio, sprawled on the ground, then at Gon, defiant, and Kurapika, tense and ready. A thoughtful expression crossed his face.

“Hmm. Perhaps I misjudged you, Mr. Suit,” Hisoka mused. “You have spirit, however foolish.” He suddenly stooped, effortlessly scooping Leorio up and slinging him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Wha-?! Hey! Put me down, you damn clown!” Leorio yelled, struggling futilely against the iron grip. Being this close to Hisoka was terrifying. The scent of blood and something sharp, electric – maybe Nen aura itself – filled his nostrils. He could feel the power radiating off the magician in waves, a calm sea hiding unfathomable depths of lethality. His system wasn’t providing hard numbers, but the sense of wrongness, of overwhelming power difference, was absolute.

“Be still,” Hisoka said calmly, starting to walk at a brisk pace, easily keeping up with Satotz’s group ahead, which they were now catching up to. Gon and Kurapika hurried alongside, looking worried but unsure how to intervene. “Consider this… assistance. You seemed rather fatigued earlier.”

Fatigued? I was at Lv 7 with zero fatigue! Leorio fumed internally, though fear quickly smothered the indignation. Was this a test? A whim? Or was Hisoka genuinely just… weird? Stuck in this undignified position, Leorio focused on his `[Shadow Frog]`’s senses, still active somewhere behind them now. It saw nothing but receding fog. Useless. He tried to analyze Hisoka up close, feeling the shift of muscle, the calm breathing, searching for any weakness, any clue. There was none. Only terrifying perfection.

Finally, mercifully, as the fog began to thin, revealing glimpses of greener, less menacing foliage ahead, Hisoka seemed to grow bored. He unceremoniously dumped Leorio onto the muddy ground.

“You may rejoin your friends,” Hisoka said, his attention already drifting. “Do try not to get lost again.” He then sauntered off, disappearing into the crowd of applicants heading towards a large structure visible in the distance.

Leorio scrambled to his feet, brushing himself off, heart pounding like a drum machine. Gon and Kurapika rushed over. “Are you okay, Leorio?” Gon asked, concern etched on his face.

“Fine! Just fine! Bastard nearly broke my back!” Leorio grumbled, forcing bravado back into place. But underneath, relief warred with lingering terror. He had survived Hisoka. Barely.

They pushed through the final stretch of the swamp, the ground becoming firmer, the air clearer. Ahead, a massive clearing opened up, revealing the Visca Forest Preserve and the site designated for the Second Phase. Satotz stood near the entrance, waiting patiently. As they stepped out of the wetlands, joining the throng of survivors, Satotz raised his hand.

“Phase One of the 287th Hunter Exam is now complete,” his voice declared. “Congratulations to all who have made it this far.”

As the words registered, Leorio’s internal system exploded for the second time that day, but with far greater intensity.

`[Main Scenario Quest: The First Hurdle – Complete!]`

`[Calculating Rewards…]`

`[+5000 EXP Acquired!]`

The EXP bar filled instantly and kept going, a blinding cascade of light within his mindscape.

`[LEVEL UP!] x 23`

`[You have reached Level 30!]`

`[All Stats increased by 23!]`

`[HP Increased! Current HP: 1650/1650]`

`[HP Recovery Increased! Current Rate: 3.4% per minute]`

`[AP Increased! Current AP: 33000/33000]`

`[AP Recovery Increased! Current Rate: 3.1% per minute]`

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

`[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Detoxification!]`

The surge of power this time was staggering. It wasn’t just invigorating; it felt like a fundamental upgrade to his entire being. He felt denser, stronger, faster. His mind raced, processing the environment with incredible clarity. The lingering aches from Hisoka’s backhand vanished instantly. He could feel energy coursing through him, a vast reservoir of AP (33,000!) that felt practically limitless compared to before. His HP (1650) felt robust, reassuring, and the regen rates meant he could recover from significant exertion or minor injuries relatively quickly – full HP recovery in about 31 minutes, full AP in about 33 minutes, assuming passive regeneration.

He quickly checked his stats: STR 30, AGI 30, VIT 34, INT 31, SEN 30. A world away from the pathetic Level 1 stats he’d started with. He felt… powerful. Genuinely powerful.

Then he examined the new skill. `[Detoxification (Passive) Lv1 (0%)]: Host body automatically identifies and neutralizes most poisons upon entering the bloodstream.`

“Huh. Useful,” he murmured, thinking of potential poison attacks. A small, dark chuckle escaped him. “Well, isn’t that just fantastic. Shadow powers, super stats, and now powerful ability.”

He took a deep breath, centering himself amidst the buzz of the surrounding applicants celebrating their survival. Level 30. It sounded impressive. He thought about the sheer scale of his AP pool – 33,000. In terms of raw aura capacity, was that comparable to… Killua? Maybe even Gon by the end of the series? The thought was staggering.

But then, the memory of Hisoka’s suffocating presence crashed back in. The casual way he’d handled him, the sheer pressure. User estimate: Level 65+. Leorio might have a massive gas tank now, but Hisoka has even higher gas tank, plus had a precision-engineered fusion reactor with decades of combat experience and mastery over Nen – something Leorio didn’t even possess yet.

No. Level 30 was strong, freakishly strong for someone pre-Nen, but it wasn’t invincible. It was potential, raw and untamed. He was a statistical anomaly, a resource pool waiting to be exploited, but without the skill, the training, the Nen, he was still just fancy prey for the likes of Hisoka or Illumi.

The realization didn’t diminish the thrill, but it grounded it in cold reality. He needed to learn Nen. He needed to master his Shadow Monarch skills, learn to command his shadows effectively, not just use them as disposable decoys. He needed experience.

Phase One was over. But the real challenge, the path to becoming truly strong in this dangerous world, was just beginning. He looked towards the imposing gates of the Visca Forest Preserve, a determined glint in his eyes. He had the power. Now, he needed to learn how to wield it.