Leorio the Shadow Monarch - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Trick Tower Arrival & Majority Rules
The airship journey to the third phase site was blessedly short and uneventful, a stark contrast to the harrowing experiences of the swamp and the ravine. Leorio found himself wedged between a jittery applicant who smelled faintly of burnt hair and Gon, who was chattering excitedly about the updraft ride.
Leorio mostly tuned it out, using the brief transit time to run a thorough diagnostic on himself via the system. He needed a clear picture of his current capabilities before facing the next unknown. Focusing inward, he called up his detailed status panel.
—
Name: Leorio Paradinight
Level: 38 (43%)
Affinity: Emission
Job: Shadow Monarch
Title: None
…
HP: 2300/2300 [Recovery: 96.6 HP/min (4.2%)]
AP: 41000/41000 [Recovery: 1599 AP/min (3.9%)]
Fatigue: 0%
…
Strength (STR): 38 [Est. Lifting: 19 Tons]
Agility (AGI): 38
Vitality (VIT): 42
Intelligence (INT): 39
Sense (SEN): 38
…
Passive Skill: Detoxification
Active Skill: Spirit Lv1 (3%), Observe Lv1 (0%)
Job Skill: Shadow Extraction Lv1 (11%), Shadow Preservation Lv1 (12%), Shadow Exchange Lv1 (0%), Monarch’s Domain Lv1 (0%)
…
[Stat Points: 0]
[Shadow Dimension: Shadow Pig Lv8 (x20)]
[Currency: 0 Jenny]
[Quest: Path to Strength (Incomplete), The Third Trial (Main Scenario, New)]
[Inventory: Hunter License Applicant Badge (#403), Wallet (Empty), Basic First Aid Kit (Leorio’s Original?), Spider Eagle Egg (Boiled)]
[Mall]
—
He scanned the numbers, a grim satisfaction settling in. Level 38. Stats hovering near the 40 mark across the board. His Strength, at 38 points, translated to roughly 19 tons of lifting force based on the system’s subtle calibration (1 STR ≈ 500kg) – utterly monstrous by any normal standard.
His HP pool felt robust, nearly 2300 points, backed by decent regeneration thanks to his high Vitality. And the AP… over 41,000 points. It felt like an ocean of energy, barely touched by his current skills, regenerating at a brisk pace. His core Shadow Monarch skills had gained a tiny bit of EXP, likely from the mass extraction of the pigs, but were still firmly at Level 1. The twenty Shadow Pigs resided silently in his storage, a comforting weight in his metaphorical back pocket.
Okay, statistically impressive, he acknowledged. But how does it stack up?
….
Next Day!
As the airship landed atop the colossal structure known as the Trick Tower and the applicants began disembarking onto the wind-swept roof, Leorio subtly activated `[Observe Lv1]`. Cost: 10 AP.
He focused first on Killua, who was stretching lazily, looking unimpressed by the towering edifice. `[-10 AP]`
—
Target: Killua Zoldyck
Level: 32 (Aura Nodes not opened)
Condition: Bored, Analytical, Suppressed Power Signature Detected
Threat Assessment: Very High (Potential Extreme)
—
Level 32? Lower than his own 38, but the ‘Suppressed Power’ and ‘Very High/Potential Extreme’ threat flags told a different story. Killua wasn’t just stats; he was technique, speed, Zoldyck training, and likely holding back considerably. Statistically stronger now, maybe, but in a real fight? Leorio wasn’t placing bets.
Next, Hanzo. The bald ninja stood calmly, observing the surroundings. `[-10 AP]`
—
Target: Hanzo
Level: 28
Condition: Calm, Focused, Prepared
Threat Assessment: High
Thoughts: [Analyze structure… potential escape routes… time limit…]
—
Level 28. Again, lower than Leorio, but the ‘High’ threat felt accurate given Hanzo’s known skills and experience. Leorio felt he could likely take him in a straightforward confrontation now, relying on his superior stats and shadow backup, but Hanzo was slippery.
He scanned a few other tough-looking applicants. Most registered in the Level 5-15 range, with threat levels varying from ‘Moderate’ to ‘Low’.
Then, he spotted the lanky figure covered in pins. Gittarackur. Illumi Zoldyck in disguise. Leorio braced himself mentally and activated Observe. `[-10 AP]`
—
Target: Gittarackur/Illumi Zoldyck
Level: ???
Condition: ??? [Obscured]
Threat Assessment: !!! SYSTEM ERROR: DANGER LEVEL EXCEEDS PARAMETERS !!!
—
Leorio felt a jolt, quickly averting his gaze. System Error? Danger level exceeding parameters? That confirmed Illumi was leagues above him, operating on a scale Observe Lv1 couldn’t even quantify properly.
Finally, Hisoka, who was leaning against a railing, shuffling his cards, an unnerving smile playing on his lips. Leorio hesitated, remembering the overwhelming pressure in the swamp, but curiosity won. `[-10 AP]`
—
Target: Hisoka Morrow
Level: ???
Condition: Amused, Anticipating, Bloodlust (Latent)
Threat Assessment: !!! FATAL ERROR: EVADE IMMEDIATELLY !!!
—
Fatal Error?! Evade Immediately?! Leorio felt genuine fear prickle his skin.
Okay.
Message received loud and clear. Hisoka wasn’t just dangerous; the system itself was screaming at him to run away.
He took a deep breath, recalibrating his confidence. His observations confirmed his suspicions.
By raw level and stats, he was likely the third most powerful examinee present, statistically surpassing even Killua and Hanzo at this specific moment. He could probably handle almost anyone here in a direct fight, assuming they didn’t have some esoteric Nen ability he couldn’t counter (which was a big assumption).
However, Hisoka and Illumi weren’t just examinees; they were monsters playing among children. His path to passing the exam was clear: leverage his strength against the rank-and-file, use his knowledge strategically, and avoid Hisoka and Illumi like they were carriers of an instant-death plague.
“Welcome, candidates, to the Third Phase!” A new voice cut through the wind. A man in a formal suit with oddly styled hair and glasses stood before them – Lippo, the Trick Tower warden and examiner. “Your goal is simple: reach the bottom of this tower alive within 72 hours.” He gestured around the bleak rooftop. “This tower is filled with traps and challenges. You may find many paths down, but be warned, not all lead to success. Teamwork and sound decision-making will be paramount.” He grinned slyly. “Choose your path wisely. The clock starts… now!”
With that, Lippo vanished through a hidden panel, leaving the applicants to scramble. Chaos erupted as everyone searched for an entrance. Leorio, remembering the general location from the anime, subtly steered Gon towards a specific section of the rooftop flooring. “Hey, Gon, doesn’t this panel look a little loose compared to the others?”
Gon, ever curious, immediately went to investigate. “Whoa, you’re right!” As expected, Kurapika and Killua drifted over. And just as predictably, Tonpa, the Rookie Crusher himself, sidled up with a fake friendly grin. “Mind if I tag along, fellas? Safety in numbers in a place like this, right?”
Leorio resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Just what we needed.
The panel revealed a hidden trapdoor. One by one, they dropped down, landing with practiced ease (thanks, Agility!) in a small, sterile room. A heavy door slammed shut above them, plunging them into artificial light. Before them was a locked door, and on the wall, a simple interface: two buttons, labeled ‘O’ and ‘X’, and a digital timer already counting down from sixty seconds.
“Looks like our first challenge,” Kurapika observed, examining the setup. “A choice, and likely time-sensitive.”
A screen flickered to life above the buttons, displaying a simple question: `Does the path of Majority lead to salvation, or ruin? (Select O for Salvation, X for Ruin)`
“Majority rules?” Killua guessed, looking bored already. “We vote, and the door opens based on what most people pick?”
“Seems plausible,” Kurapika agreed. “But the question itself is a bit meta. Is it asking about this specific path, or making a general statement?”
Tonpa immediately chimed in, “Sounds like a trick question! Maybe we should pick ‘Ruin’ to be safe?”
Leorio mentally face-palmed. Classic Tonpa. He knew from canon that these initial questions were usually straightforward tests of cooperation. “Nah,” Leorio said, projecting confidence. “It’s probably just asking if we want to proceed. Let’s assume ‘Salvation’ means ‘forward’. Everyone vote O?” He looked around, making eye contact. Gon readily agreed. Kurapika considered, then nodded. Killua shrugged. Tonpa, seeing the consensus, quickly agreed too. Five hands hit ‘O’. The timer stopped, and the locked door slid open with a satisfying hiss.
They proceeded into a corridor leading to another room, almost identical. New question, new timer. `Is Examiner Lippo secretly a Gourmet Hunter? (O for Yes, X for No)`
“Definitely no,” Kurapika stated firmly. “He introduced himself as the warden and examiner for this phase.”
“Seems obvious,” Leorio agreed quickly, hitting ‘X’. The others followed suit (Tonpa agreeing last, as always). The next door opened.
Leorio relaxed slightly. The initial stages seemed straightforward enough. His foreknowledge helped confirm the obvious choices, allowing him to gently guide the group without revealing his hand. His main concern now was Tonpa. The man was biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to sow discord or sabotage them. Leorio made a mental note to watch him like a hawk, especially if any food or drink were offered. His `[Detoxification]` passive might be getting a workout sooner rather than later.
They moved forward, the timer clicking down in the next room, ready for the tower’s next puzzle. The 72-hour clock was ticking.