Capítulo 10: No more Games
The boat bumped against the shore with a soft thud, signalling that they had reached the other side of the lake. The group disembarked, stepping onto the rocky ground. The air was colder here, darker here, almost unnaturally even considering it was nighttime, as if the warmth from the lake had been swallowed by the oppressive darkness that blanketed the steep mountain path ahead. The sky was hidden behind thick clouds, leaving only a sliver of pale light to guide their way.
The climb was steep, the narrow path winding upward with jagged rocks jutting out like jagged teeth. The forest around them was dense, the trees gnarled and twisted, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, a musty odour that seemed to cling to their clothes and fill their lungs with every breath.
As they made their way up, the group stumbled upon an ancient stone slab embedded into the side of the mountain. The stone was weathered, its surface cracked and worn, yet the symbols carved into it were still visible, glowing faintly in the dim light.
Kurapika approached the slab, his eyes narrowing as he studied the cryptic symbols etched into the stone. His voice, when he spoke, was low and grave. "This is an old tribal script… It's a warning."
Leorio let out a frustrated sigh, his breath visible in the cold air. "Another warning? What does it say this time? 'Turn back or face certain doom'? I've heard it all before."
Gon, undiminished by the foreboding atmosphere, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we've made it this far. We can handle whatever comes next."
Gojo, who had been quietly observing, let a shadow of a smirk curl on his lips. "I wouldn't be so sure, kid. We're not alone."
Kurapika turned to Gojo, his curiosity piqued by the sombre tone. "I don't sense anything. What do you mean?"
Gojo tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes scanning the darkened treeline. "There's something out there, watching us. More than just the usual beasts… There's an intent behind it, an almost tangible malice."
Gon and Kurapika strained their senses, trying to pick up on what Gojo was perceiving, but the forest remained silent as if holding its breath. Kurapika frowned, unsettled. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Gojo replied, his voice carrying a cold certainty. "They've been tracking us since we got off the boat. Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean they're not there."
Leorio, despite his earlier bravado, felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced around nervously, the shadows seeming to move in the corners of his vision. "That's… comforting."
The group continued onward, their footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. The darkness seemed to close in around them, the shadows growing longer and more menacing. Every rustle of leaves, every creak of the trees, felt like it could be something lurking, waiting to strike. Yet, despite the eerie atmosphere, there was a resolve in their steps, an unspoken understanding that whatever lay ahead, they would face it together, even if the path was one of darkness and danger.
The group finally reached the top of the steep climb, panting slightly as they emerged from the oppressive darkness of the forest into a small, eerie clearing. The ground was uneven, the air thick with an unsettling stillness. In the center of the clearing stood a lone cedar tree, its ancient bark twisted and gnarled, as if it had borne witness to countless horrors over the centuries. Next to it was an old, weather-beaten cabin, its wooden walls creaking with every gust of the cold wind that blew through the clearing.
"Is this it?" Leorio asked, his voice low as he eyed the cabin warily.
Before anyone could answer, the cabin's door suddenly burst open with a loud crash, the wood splintering as a monstrous figure charged out, moving at an inhuman speed. The creature was tall and hunched, its form a grotesque blend of fur and scales. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow in the dim light, and it held a terrified, screaming woman tightly in its massive claws.
"That's a Kiriko!" Kurapika shouted, his eyes widening in recognition. "It's a magical beast
known for its shape-shifting abilities"
His hands reached for the weapons, nudging the others to do the same.
Gojo's eyes narrowed behind his eyemask 'I read about these magical creatures, didn't think I'd encounter one this early.'
The Kiriko let out a guttural snarl, its elongated snout twisting into a cruel, beastly grin as it bounded off into the dark forest, the woman's screams fading as it disappeared among the trees. Without hesitation, Gon and Kurapika bolted after the creature, their determination to save the woman overriding any fear they might have felt.
"Wait!" Leorio shouted after them, but they were already gone, their figures swallowed by the thick forest.
Inside the cabin, the faint sound of pained groaning caught Gojo and Leorio's attention. They exchanged a quick glance before rushing inside, only to find a man sprawled out on the floor, clutching his side in agony. His clothes were torn and bloodied, and his face was twisted in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Please… help me… my wife…" the man gasped, his voice weak and desperate as he tried to lift himself up, only to collapse back onto the floor with a groan.
Leorio immediately knelt beside the man, his medical training kicking in. He quickly assessed the man's injuries, noting a deep gash along his ribs. "You're badly injured, but I'll do what I can to stabilize you. Just try to stay calm."
As Leorio worked to take care of the man's wound, Gojo walked over to the window, peering out into the shadowed forest. His eyes narrowed as he pulled down his eyemask, catching the faintest of movements among the trees. "They're still out there," he murmured, his voice low. "The Kiriko isn't alone."
Leorio glanced up at Gojo, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean? More of them?"
"Possibly," Gojo replied, his tone calm but with an edge of anticipation.
The man on the floor let out a pained whimper, his hand reaching out toward the door as if trying to go after his wife. "Please… you have to save her… that monster…"
Leorio placed a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. "Don't worry, our friends are on it. You just focus on staying alive."
Gojo's eyes flicked back to the man, his gaze sharp. "What happened here? Why was the Kiriko after you and your wife?"
The man shook his head weakly, his voice trembling. "I don't know… we were just passing through… then that thing appeared out of nowhere… it attacked us… took her…"
Gojo's expression darkened slightly, his mind already racing with possibilities. Kiriko didn't just attack at random; there was usually a reason. But what?
Leorio tightened the bandage and gave the man a stern look. "Stay here and rest. We'll get your wife back."
Gojo suddenly moved, and knocked the man out cold with a swift, precise strike, his usual playful demeanour replaced by a chilling calm. Leorio's head snapped up, his eyes wide with shock.
"What the hell are you doing, Gojo?!"
"He's not human," Gojo replied bluntly, stepping over the unconscious body. "I could see oddities in his skin, similar to the Kiriko we just saw. Take care of him—I've got to go after the others."
Before Leorio could protest, Gojo was already out the door, sprinting into the thick forest. The darkness seemed to swallow him as he dashed through the underbrush, his mind racing, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Gon and Kurapika were ahead, chasing after the creature that had kidnapped the woman—or so they thought.
As Gojo moved deeper into the forest, he shouted out to them, his voice cutting through the eerie silence, "Hey! The man in the cabin was a Kiriko! I killed him!"
Gon and Kurapika, hearing Gojo's warning, stopped dead in their tracks. Gon looked over his shoulder, wide-eyed. "What? But the woman — Oh, she smells like a Kiriko."
Kurapika's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "That means the woman might be a Kiriko too or...."
Just as the realization hit, the Kiriko that had taken the form of the woman stopped running, its form shifting back into its true, monstrous shape. It let out a guttural growl, and before they could react, it lunged at them with ferocious speed.
Gon and Kurapika barely had time to brace themselves as the Kiriko attacked. Kurapika swiftly drew his weapons, blocking the creature's claws as they slashed toward him. Gon, agile and quick, dodged to the side, but the Kiriko was relentless, turning on him with a snarl.
Suddenly, a blur shot past them—Gojo, who had caught up to the group, intercepted the Kiriko mid-attack, landing a powerful kick that sent the creature crashing into the trees.
"Don't worry, I got this," Gojo said, his tone almost nonchalant, though his eyes were filled with fierce excitement.
Before they could respond, another Kiriko emerged from the shadows, followed by a third. They circled the group, their eyes glowing menacingly in the dim light.
"There's three of them?" Gon muttered, his fists clenched, ready to fight. "Two males and a lady."
Kurapika kept his eyes on the creatures, his mind racing. "They're magical beasts, highly intelligent and dangerous. We can't underestimate them."
But Gojo seemed completely unbothered by the odds, a grin spreading across his face. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
The first Kiriko, having recovered from Gojo's kick, charged at him again, snarling. But Gojo was already moving, dodging its attack with ease and countering with a powerful punch that sent it flying back once more.
Kurapika and Gon moved to help, but Gojo was a whirlwind of motion, engaging all three Kiriko at once. He dodged and weaved through their attacks, countering with precise, devastating strikes that left the beasts reeling.
Gon watched in awe as Gojo fought. "He's amazing…"
"Focus, Gon!" Kurapika snapped, keeping his guard up. "We need to be ready in case he needs us."
But it quickly became clear that Gojo was more than capable of handling the Kiriko on his own. His aura flared around him, and with a final series of blows, he brought the three beasts to their knees, their monstrous forms battered and defeated.
Gojo stood over them, his breathing steady, his expression calm but with a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Looks like you picked the wrong guy to mess with," he said, his voice cold.
The Kiriko, beaten and broken, let out low, pained growls. They knew they were defeated. Gojo turned away, his excitement fading as the fight came to an end. He looked over at Gon and Kurapika, who were both staring at him with a mix of awe and concern.
"Let's go," Gojo said, his voice returning to its usual, carefree tone. "This exam might finally be getting interesting."
Kurapika nodded, sheathing his weapons. "Right. We need to stay alert. There could be more of them."
With that, the group began to move again, still tense from the recent battle, and moved swiftly to drag the unconscious Kiriko into the cabin. The once dark and foreboding space was now illuminated by the flickering light of a small lantern that Leorio had managed to light. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and the metallic tang of blood.
Leorio panted slightly as they laid the Kiriko beside the unconscious man—who was actually another Kiriko. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand and looked at Gojo, frustration clear on his face. "Alright, Gojo. What the hell is going on? First, you knock out a guy, then you say he's a Kiriko, and now... this?"
Gon, looking between the Kiriko and Gojo, asked earnestly, "Are they really Kiriko? And why did they attack us?"
Gojo, leaning casually against the wall, crossed his arms and sighed. "Just relax. We'll get answers soon enough. We wait for them to wake up, and they'll explain everything themselves."
The group settled into a tense silence, their eyes flicking between the unconscious Kiriko and Gojo, who seemed unbothered by the chaos that had just unfolded.
It wasn't long before the first Kiriko stirred, its large eyes blinking open, quickly followed by the others. They groaned as they sat up, disoriented but not aggressive. They looked around and, upon seeing the man still lying unconscious, their eyes widened in shock.
One of the Kiriko turned to Gojo, its voice filled with disbelief. "You didn't… kill him?"
Gojo grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Nah, just knocked him out. I thought it'd be more fun to have you all wake up to find out you got outplayed. Jokesters like you aren't used to being on the receiving end, huh?"
The Kiriko exchanged glances, clearly thrown off by Gojo's unexpected approach. One of them, the one who had taken the form of the woman, sighed deeply. "We are navigators of this year's Hunger Exams and we were conducting a test… a test of trust and decision-making for the Hunter Exam. But you—"
"—Ruined it?" Gojo finished for them, still smirking. "Yeah, I figured as much. But honestly, I'm done with all these tests and mind games. If you wanted to mess with us, you should've known better than to try it on me."
Leorio looked between Gojo and the Kiriko, confused. "Wait, so this was all just some elaborate test? And Gojo just… ruined it?"
Kurapika frowned, but there was a hint of understanding in his expression. "They wanted to see how we'd react in a high-pressure situation, to see if we could discern the truth."
The Kiriko nodded, still visibly shaken. "Yes, but your friend here figured it out and... let's just say he didn't play along."
Gojo shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not here to play your games on your terms."
The Kiriko looked at each other, clearly uncertain about how to proceed. Finally, the one who had spoken earlier sighed again. "Well, I suppose there's nothing left to do now. You've passed, I guess, in your own way. You showed you can see through deception and act decisively."
Gon, who had been quietly absorbing the conversation, finally spoke up, a bit of awe in his voice. "So we passed because Gojo didn't fall for the trick?"
The Kiriko nodded reluctantly. "Yes, but I suggest the rest of you be more cautious in the future. Not everyone is as perceptive as your friend here."
Gojo, finally serious, stood up straight and walked toward the door. "Let's just move on. I'm done with this place."
After the Kirikos finished explaining the situation, they transformed into their true forms, their bodies elongating as massive wings sprouted from their backs. The group watched in awe as the Kirikos revealed their full, majestic forms—large, bird-like creatures with feathers that shimmered faintly even in the dim light.
"We will take you to the location of the Hunter Exam now unless you want to quit," the lead Kiriko said, his voice more solemn after the earlier events. "Hold on tightly; it will be a swift journey."
Gojo, still irritated from the earlier tests, rolled his eyes but didn't argue. He and the others climbed onto the Kirikos' backs, gripping tightly as the creatures prepared to take flight.
The Kirikos launched into the air with powerful beats of their wings, lifting the group high above the dark, misty forest. The wind rushed past them as they ascended rapidly, leaving the cabin and the lone cedar tree far below. The night sky above was a deep black, with only a few stars visible through the thick clouds. The vastness of the mountains stretched out beneath them, cloaked in shadows and fog, giving the landscape an eerie, almost otherworldly feel.
Leorio, who had been sceptical at first, now clung to the Kiriko with wide eyes, trying to keep his nerves under control. "This is insane! We're flying!"
Gon, on the other hand, looked exhilarated by the experience. "This is amazing! Look at how far we can see!"
Kurapika, ever calm, surveyed the landscape below, his sharp eyes searching for any sign of their destination.
Gojo, though still visibly annoyed, found some satisfaction in the sensation of flight. The cool wind against his face, the view of the mountains and forests below—it was a much-needed change from the monotonous tunnel they had been in earlier.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
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