章 18: Chapter 18: The Hunt Begins

I take a deep breath, scanning the dense forest around me as I walk. The foliage is thick, making it hard to see too far ahead. I know I need to stay alert; the island is crawling with other participants, all eager to secure their own targets and points.

I know that before I start chasing other applicants, I need to find my target, number #362. Thanks to Nicholas, data, I know he has a calm and disciplined demeanor, which means he won't be easy to catch off guard. I need to approach this with caution and strategy.

I move silently through the forest. My senses may not be as keen to see several miles away as Gon, but they are more trained to notice tracks from my experience in hunting. Every rustle of leaves, every trail of bent grass, every distant bird call, can be a clue—or a distraction. I make sure to keep my own badge well hidden in my pants, not wanting to give any potential pursuers an easy target.

After walking and searching all day, I haven't found any other applicants, and seeing that the sun is setting and the sky is starting to turn red, I decide to look for a secluded part of the forest where I can hide. After all, it's much less safe to wander around at night, and I need more rest.

After searching for about 10 minutes running around, I find a large rock sticking out from the vegetation. There is enough space under it for me to settle down, so I put up some green shrubbery around to hide from people and animals, and I lay down ready to sleep and continue searching the next day.

Date: January 12th, 2011

After satisfying my stomach with a good breakfast, I leave the rock and get going again. I walk around the island for several hours without any event happening again, so I start to worry that I'm running out of time to change the original development of phase four.

However, when I step over a large log fallen on the way and covered in moss, I suddenly feel a sense of danger wash over me. I quickly turn around to see a spear towards me, so I narrowly dodge it and then quickly steps back, creating some distance between me and the attacker.

"My name is Bodoro. I do warn you that I have studied and practiced in martial arts for many years, so I suggest you hand over your badge so I don't have to hurt you." He says holding his spear and shield.

'Too bad he's not one of my targets. Well, at least he'll serve as combat practice.' I think as I raise my fists.

"If you are really an expert in combat, come here and take it from me by fighting." I reply him.

"You're quite confident, kid. Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson." Bodoro says charging at me.

He starts launching several stabs using his spear, which I dodge with swift movements. In one of them, I duck under the spear and launch a punch, that Bodoro blocks with his shield trying to counterattack with a side spear slash, but I jump back, avoiding it and getting some distance.

'Without using Nen that shield is going to be a problem.' I think as I shake my wounded hand.

Bodoro once again begins his onslaught. This time he's not just throwing stabs, but also wide swings when I dodge and kicks when I get close.

'It seems that now he has become serious.' I think approaching and giving him a side kick.

Although he manages to block it with his shield, it causes him to slide a little to the side. 'His physical capabilities are inferior to Dith's, but I notice that his agility and combat experience are superior. I guess I'll have to use the environment to my advantage.'

Bodoro then runs after me, launching his spear attacks again and slowly increasing his speed and range. When he does a wide sideways swing and I step back to dodge it, Bodoro charges at me with his shield, sloping me against a tree. Bodoro then pulls his spear back, preparing to stab my head. However, I jump over the attack, causing Bodoro's spear to pierce the tree while I remain held above it with my fingers nailed onto the trunk.

As I remain pinned above Bodoro, I use both legs to kick him. Although Bodoro manages to block me again, the blow sends him flying backwards several meters, forcing him to let go his spear stuck in the tree and leaving a good dent in his shield as he falls in the ground.

I lunge to try and finish him off with a kick, but he twists into a handstand and backflips to avoid it. Having lost his spear and his shield in a jagged state, Bodoro decides to drop his shield and take a martial arts fighting stance.

Having lost his spear and his shield being dented, Bodoro decides to drop his shield and takes a martial arts stance. This unflinching attitude spur me on, so I approach him and we begin to exchange blows one more time.

Bodoro proves to be a good example to learn from, flowing with agile and precise movements to dodge attacks. However, he is still inferior to me in combat power, and when he throws a direct jab, I grab his fist to pull him forward and deliver a right punch to his face, sending him blasting off and crashing into tree. Despite remaining conscious, I give him one last kick to the stomach that finally manages to turn off his lights.

Having finished the fight, I make sure to check that Bodoro still has his badge and that he hasn't gotten another one. 'All clear. I must have been the first challenger he's encountered.' I think aloud.

Leaving him leaning against a tree, I stand in front of the defeated elderly martial artist, respectfully applauding my opponent's exemplary performance and mental strength. "Thank you very much for this experience Bodoro. I hope you can survive and become a Hunter." After paying my respects, I set off again to find targets.

At another time and place on the island.

Point of View Switch: Killua

Since yesterday, this guy Nicholas and I have been traversing the forest, crossing the terrain full of plants and tree roots to search for the Amori brothers.

Our first day was spent getting away from the disembarkation site. Nicholas was worried that we were going too deep into the vegetation, but I quickly reassured him by telling him that my trained ears could pick out any unusual noise: a snapped twig, a rustle that didn't match the wind, anything that denotes that something is wrong.

'It's clear that he's a coward. I don't know why Kai is interested in helping a guy like him.' These are the kind of thoughts that were running through my mind as I watched Nicholas walk around while looking at his laptop.

We both had one of the Amori brothers as our targets, and they are known for their teamwork, so they tend to stick together. If we find one, the other two won't be far behind. That's why I had agreed to take him with me, but I don't see what kind of benefit he can provide me.

"Killua, can you stop for a moment?" Nicholas asks me today after a short walk after waking up.

"What happens?" I ask him stopping.

"Since yesterday, I have been analyzing the Amori brothers' performance and strategies in the previous exams, and based on the topography and characteristics my data brokers have gathered, I have been able to generate an algorithm to figure out which route they most likely followed. If you let me lead the way, I think I can take us to them." Nicholas explains, making me look stunned that he did all that while we were walking.

"Okay. We don't have any better options at the moment, so give it a try if you feel confident." I reply.

"Thanks. I'll be constantly updating you with any new information I'm able to recollect." As he says this, Nicholas steps ahead with me following him.

'Has he been investigating the whole time since we left the shore? Did Kai know about this and that's why he helped him get here? Or did he just do it out of compassion? I can't understand his way of thinking.' I think as I look at Nicholas's back.

"Nicholas, can I ask you something?" At my question Nicholas turns his head to look at me. Can you tell me what kind of person Kai is?"

Like Gon, Kai had also formed a kind of bond with me. But unlike Gon's pure and transparent personality, Kai seems very mysterious to me. I know he doesn't have any bad intentions towards me or almost anyone, but he always seems to be worried, mulling over something in his head that the rest of us are unable to see.

Also, he always seems to make decisions that don't seem logical at the time, like helping someone he's never met before, like Nicholas. However, now it seems like his decision was rational and correct, as if he had foreseen what was going to happen.

Perhaps Nicholas's perception of Kai can shed some light on all this uncertainty.

"The boss is an amazing person! He is someone who always gives his all in everything he does, and always tries to improve, whether it is in his skills or knowledge, no matter the category! He knows how to act in every situation, adapting even if the situation gets complicated! He has an unbreakable will and mentality, but he also has a compassionate and comprensive heart that tries to help those around him! The boss is the ideal Hunter that I want to become someday!" Nicholas begins to rant uncontrollably, starting to idolize Kai with immense emotion in his voice.

At his words, I let out a laugh in surprise. "Seriously? Kai sure seems like he's someone pretty awesome." I say to him after laughing.

While Nicholas's words clear some things up for me, I'm now more intrigued by the man named Kai. He certainly seems like someone very particular and interesting.

"Yet, when it comes to women, the boss seems to not know how to deal with them and gets very nervous." Nicholas adds, making me burst out laughing louder and more uncontrollably than before.

"HA HA HA!!! Seriously, women are HIS weak point?! It's hilarious! HA HA HA!!!" I respond, unable to control myself.

My laughter fills the air a we venture deeper into the dense forest.

Point of View Switch: Kai

After my training with Bodoro, I continued walking through the forest for several hours, encountering a few unrecognized canon applicants. Although none of them were available targets, they gave me some information about their sightings, giving me a better mental picture of the island's topography and where the applicants to avoid were located.

As night falls, I settle down in a secluded, sunken part of the forest, setting up a temporary camp. After dinner, I sit down against a tree and go to sleep, ready to be rested for the next day.

Unbeknownst to me, something is slowly approaching around me, watching me closely. After an hour, a hissing sound disturbs my sleep, and when I open my eyes I am shocked by what I see: snakes. Snakes everywhere. Rising above the grass, slithering along the ground and the branches of the trees. Dozens, no, hundreds of snakes surrounding me.

As they stare at me, their protruding fangs bared, a figure approaches from the shadows. As the snakes begin to move out of its way, its face becomes visible to me.

"Bourbon, the snake charmer. I gather you used your snakes to help you find me in such a remote place." I say.

"I must admit that it hasn't been easy. You've been very careful not to leave a trace behind you, but with the amount of snakes I had looking for prey, it was only a matter of time." Bourbon says with a superior tone.

"Prey? Does that mean I'm not your target?" I ask, trying to collect as much information as possible.

"Whether you are or not is irrelevant to your situation, right? The snakes around you are trained to attack you at the slightest sign of threat. Even if you try to attack me, they will pounce on you and end up suffocating you if their venom doesn't kill you first. Your only option is to hand me your badge and live another day." Bourbon says with a smile of superiority.

"Even if I give you my badge, there's no guarantee you'll let me go afterwards," I counterargue.

"Maybe, but you still have no choice." At his words, the snakes begin to hiss more intensely, opening their mouths wide in a threat. "Well, what are you going to do about it?"

Keeping my gaze fixed on Bourbon, I stand up. "Sorry, but I wonn't give you my badge." I respond.

At my response, Bourbon pulls a flute from his pocket, and with a note the snakes lunge at me. "That's a real shame. You should have chosen to give me your badge."Bourbon says with a pleased look as the snakes surround my body. "Although it wouldn't have made a difference, since I was planning on killing you anyway."

"I see... Then I had no reason to worry." I say, leaving Bourbon surprised that he hadn't fallen to the ground from poison or strangulation.

Using the Ten wasn't going to be enough to stop the fangs from piercing my skin, and the Ren would draw unwanted attention even from a great distance. That's why, through my practice and knowledge of aura, I had just used the Ken for the first time.

"I see that I can kill you without remorse." I say with a sadistic smile on my face.

"What?" Bourbon asks in confusion, it being the last thing he says before I close the distance and snap his neck in the blink of an eye.

As Bourbon's lifeless body falls to the ground, I grab my short sword and cut down the snakes coiled around my body. The rest of the snakes start to slither in my direction, still following the order Bourbon gave them, so I get into position ready to fight.

After a few minutes, after having dismembered all the snakes in the area, I go to Bourbon's corpse. From among his clothes I manage to extract his badge and his bottle of anti-venom.

"He doesn't have a card, so I don't know if I was his target or not. I was hoping to pass the exam without using Nen unless I ran into Hisoka or Illumi, but I had no choice this time. It would have been impossible to get through this situation without Nen and without attracting attention." I think out loud as I gather my things.

"Anyway, it's not safe here anymore. Bourbon and the snake blood will surely attract wild animals and the occasional examiner. I think I'll skip the night and continue exploring the island." With that said, I put my bag back on my back and begin walking through the forest my senses heightened.