The air, finally free of the electric tension that had lingered after Illumi's departure, slowly eased. The last rescued candidates, sedated, slept in a corner. At the center of the cargo hold, the four friends formed a tight knot of solidarity.
Gon, Leorio, and Killua hadn't wasted time. The adrenaline from the confrontation, the fear that had chilled Killua, found release in physical effort. Kurapika's training stones had reappeared in their hands.
Leorio groaned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Damn it, this is ridiculous! I really need to get stronger with monsters like that out there."
Gon, focused, fixed his brown eyes on his stone. He took a deep breath, trying to recreate the flow sensation Kurapika had described. The stone trembled, seeming to stick to his skin… then fell heavily. "Aah! Almost!" he exclaimed, disappointed but undeterred.
Killua, cross-legged, eyes half-closed, held his stone between clasped palms. His face was a mask of intense focus. The lingering shivers from his clash with Illumi still lurked in his muscles, but he channeled them, turning them into focused energy. A faint, cold breeze radiated from him. The stone didn't move, but a thin layer of frost began forming on its surface, crystallizing the air's moisture.
Kurapika watched them, leaning against a cold wall. He occasionally corrected a posture or adjusted a breath with a simple gesture or pointed look.
"Don't force it," he said finally, his calm voice cutting through the labored silence. "Seek the feeling of warmth, of presence inside. Imagine it flowing to your hands, enveloping the stone without constraining it. Like holding a bird without crushing it."
Leorio sighed. "A stone bird, then. With lead wings." But he tried again, closing his eyes, visualizing the image.
The hours of flight passed like this. Physical and emotional exhaustion eventually took over. Gon fell asleep first, slumped against Leorio, his stone still clutched in a relaxed hand. Leorio followed soon after, snoring lightly, his head resting on Gon's. Killua stayed awake longer, eyes lost in the void, the cold stone still in his hands, the frost melted but leaving a damp trace.
---
The Hunter Association building loomed before them like a modern, austere fortress. Tall glass and steel towers reflected a slightly overcast sky, with clean lines and an almost total lack of ornamentation.
No crowd awaited them; their arrival, in a discreet airship landing on a private platform, had been arranged with utmost confidentiality.
They were guided by assistants with neutral gazes and silent efficiency through pristine corridors lit by soft light.
Gon looked around with eager curiosity. Leorio tried to maintain a professional air but betrayed his awe with small, impressed nods. Killua kept his shoulders slightly hunched, senses on alert, eyes fixed on his brother's back as he walked ahead as if nothing were amiss.
They ended up in a vast conference room. A wall-screen at one end, long tables arranged in a U-shape, dark leather chairs.
The successful candidates took their seats.
At the front, behind an imposing podium, stood a man who clashed violently with the room's austerity. Mr. Beans. Dressed in a garish three-piece suit (fuchsia pink and lime green), with an enormous orange tropical flower pinned to his lapel, he wore a wide, fixed smile that seemed carved from plastic.
"Welcome, welcome!" he exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. "We can now begin!"
Mr. Beans tapped the podium lightly with his palm. "New Hunters! Allow me first to offer my most sincere… congratulations!" His tone was emphatic, almost theatrical. "You've triumphed in the Hunter Exam, one of the most grueling and prestigious trials there is! A feat that now opens… the doors to the impossible!"
He raised a white-gloved finger. "But what exactly is a Hunter?" He paused dramatically, his piercing gaze sweeping the audience. "It's not just a title, a shiny plastic card! No! To be a Hunter is to be a seeker! An explorer of limits! A hunter… of dreams, knowledge, the unknown, and sometimes…" His smile froze for a moment, "…of very real prey."
He launched into a well-rehearsed speech, explaining the exorbitant rights and privileges granted by the Hunter License: near-unlimited access to 95% of the world's restricted areas, free consultation of the Association's most secret archives, the right to recruit private teams, exceptional banking privileges, judicial immunity in most countries for acts committed in their professional duties… The list was dizzying.
Leorio's eyes gleamed at the mention of banking privileges and property rights over unexplored lands. Gon drank in the words, captivated by the idea of exploring forbidden ruins and cataloging unknown species. Killua listened with half an ear, more interested in the practical implications of immunity and access, while staying vigilant. Kurapika mentally noted the archive access.
"…But these privileges," Mr. Beans continued, his tone suddenly grave despite the fixed smile, "come with immense responsibilities and… total freedom. The Association won't dictate your path. You're free to choose your specialty: Treasure Hunter, Blacklist Biologist, Criminal Tracker, Archaeologist… The list is vast! You're free to accept or reject the missions we offer. Free… to live or die by your own choices." His gaze intensified. "The Hunter License is a passport to the extraordinary, but also a magnet for danger. Beware of other Hunters, beware of the world… and above all, beware of yourselves. The power you might gain, the secrets you might uncover… can corrupt or destroy you. Always remember: the ultimate hunt is often the truth about yourself."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Even Leorio lost his eager expression. The speech, delivered by this man with a grotesque smile, struck a deep chord. Being a Hunter wasn't an end, but the start of a perilous, solitary path, even in company.
"Now," Mr. Beans resumed, his cheerful tone returning as if nothing had happened, "to the moment you've all been waiting for! The presentation… of your Hunter License!"
Assistants entered, carrying velvet-covered trays bearing dark, thick, durable plastic rectangles. One by one, Mr. Beans called names in random order. Each new Hunter stepped forward, received their license from his hands with a brief handshake and his fixed smile, then returned to their seat, gazing at the object with palpable emotion: pride, disbelief, determination.
"Gon Freecss!"
Gon practically leaped, a wide grin on his face. He received his license like a treasure, clutching it tightly before looking at it, awestruck. A simple black rectangle, engraved with his name, a license number, and the Association's symbol: a stylized star surrounded by leaves.
"Leorio Paladiknight!"
Leorio advanced with forced dignity, but his hands trembled slightly as he took the license. He stared at it long, as if already seeing the doors of prestigious banks opening before him. A broad smile split his face.
"Kurapika!"
Kurapika stepped forward with measured pace. His face was stone. He took the license, feeling its cold, heavy weight in his palm. He thanked Mr. Beans with a brief nod and returned to his seat. His fingers tightened slightly on the black plastic. A step completed. The real fight began.
"Killua Zoldyck!"
Killua stood. An involuntary shiver ran through him. He walked forward. Mr. Beans handed him the license, his smile as wide and expressionless as ever. "Congratulations, young Zoldyck."
As Killua reached for the black rectangle, he felt it. A presence. Cold, heavy, haunting. Like an ice needle in his neck. He didn't need to turn around.
He knew.
Illumi.
He was there, seated. Motionless. Silent. His large black eyes fixed solely on Killua.
Killua felt another, sharper shiver run down his spine. His hand, reaching for the license, hesitated for a fraction of a second. Past fear surged, threatening to paralyze him. But he clenched his teeth.
'No. Never again.' He snatched the license abruptly, almost tearing it from Mr. Beans' hand. The plastic was cold against his skin. He briefly met Mr. Beans' sharp eyes, which seemed to note his hesitation and its source, then turned away without a word.
He walked back to his seat, back straight, refusing to glance toward the oppressive presence. He stared at his license, the small black rectangle symbolizing his newfound freedom and the steep price he might pay to keep it. Gon nudged him lightly, a worried, questioning look. Killua nodded, forcing a reassuring smile that fooled no one.
---
Outside, on the vast, empty plaza of the Association building, the cool early evening air was a relief. The megalopolis's skyscrapers began to light up, forming a forest of lights against the purpling sky. The four friends stood together for a moment, each holding their license.
"We did it…" Leorio murmured, breaking the silence first. He held his license at arm's length, studying it under the streetlights. "Really. We're Hunters." His voice held disbelief, pride, and a hint of apprehension.
"Yeah!" Gon exclaimed, brandishing his like a trophy. His enthusiasm was infectious. "Now I can finally find my dad!"
Killua slipped his license into his pocket, as if to be rid of it. "Yeah…" he said simply.
Kurapika, who had been watching the darkening sky, turned to them. "This license is a powerful tool," he began. "But the true power, the one that will let us survive the dangers ahead, protect what matters to you, and achieve your goals…" He looked at each in turn. "…lies in mastering Nen. What you've touched is only a fraction of what's possible."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "We don't have the luxury of time. I suspect each of you has a quest to pursue." His voice hardened slightly. "But will you charge headlong or pace yourselves to grow strong enough to carry the weight of your ambitions?"
Gon clenched his fists. "I get that we need to be strong. Tell me what to do, Kurapika, please."
Leorio nodded. "I'm with Gon. After what we've seen… those guys are in a different league. We need a serious power-up."
Killua met Kurapika's gaze. He understood perfectly. "What do you suggest?" he asked, his voice steadier than he expected.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Kurapika's lips. "I know a place. A place where we can train, fight, and learn at an accelerated pace… while earning a tidy fortune."
He raised a hand, pointing east.
"To the Heavens Arena," Kurapika declared.
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