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Chapter 3 - Blinked

"Well spotted. However, if you were to attack me for any reason, you would be disqualified on the spot," Satotz said evenly. "That said—congratulations to you two. The next phase of the exam will be to follow me through the wetlands. Stay close."

With a smooth turn, Satotz pivoted and began walking forward with mechanical precision, entering the shadowy forest path ahead. The examinees, now less shaken and more focused, quickly surged after him.

Naturally, JoJo and his new acquaintances, Kurapika and Leorio, gave chase. Not far behind them, a pair of young boys — no older than twelve — caught up and joined the group.

"Ey, didn't know you two had kids! Congrats, Mr. Leorio and Miss Kurapika—tehehe," JoJo quipped with a wide grin.

Both Kurapika and Leorio visibly twitched at the comment, their expressions contorting between anger and disbelief. They were barely holding themselves back from halting then and there to deliver a well-earned smack. But they couldn't afford to lose sight of Satotz — not now.

"Oh no, mister, we're not Leorio or Kurapika's kids," the green-haired boy said earnestly. He wore a snug green jacket and shorts to match, and his expression was wide-eyed and sincere. "In fact, we're not even related by blood."

Of course he didn't get the joke, JoJo thought, smirking.

"That's not what he meant, Gon," the silver-haired boy said with a sigh. "He wasn't being literal. And, actually, it's kinda insulting being compared to the fossil over here."

He glanced over at Leorio.

"Kurapika's alright, I guess. And if Gon were my brother, it wouldn't be that bad," he added nonchalantly. He wore a plain white shirt, blue shorts, and carried a strange yellow board under his arm — flat, with wheels. To JoJo, it looked like a weird miniature carriage… or some kind of small, self-propelled vehicle.

"Oi! What's that supposed to mean? I'll have you know I'm probably the best one here fit to be a father! Unlike you snot-nosed brats!" Leorio barked, jabbing a finger toward the boys.

"Snot-nosed brats? You're barely older than us, man. And let's be real—you? Fit to be a dad? Nah," JoJo replied with a grin, hands behind his head. "I'm clearly more qualified."

As he spoke, JoJo blinked. Once.

And in that single blink… the entire world changed.

A heavy fog had rolled in—sudden, choking, unnatural. It blanketed the trail like a curtain and swallowed the group whole. JoJo's surroundings faded into a soupy, gray void. The presence of others — their footsteps, voices, warmth — was gone.

He was alone.

"Quite strange," he muttered, slowing his pace just slightly. But not stopping.

JoJo didn't panic. He knew better than to change direction in a place like this. He was following a crowd before — and even if he couldn't see them now, the muddy footprints pressed into the ground still told the story. One path. One direction. One plan.

Follow the prints. Catch up. Find the way forward. Simple enough.

And with that, he kept running — through the mist, through the uncertainty — his instincts sharp, his footing sure, and his eyes locked on the only clue he had left.

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