"Big brother…" Killua's voice wavered, a lump forming in his throat. "What are you doing here?"
Illumi stared at him. His piercing, predatory eyes seemed to peer into Killua's soul, brushing against his innermost thoughts. "Little brother, I'm delighted you haven't forgotten your big brother," Illumi said, as if oblivious to the tension he'd just created. He asked casually, "How are you, brother? Your departure was quite a shock, especially for Mother. Why did you run away from home?"
Killua's heart tightened. His brother's words hit hard. Under Illumi's overwhelming presence, he felt frozen, cut off from the world. "I… I'm fine," he managed to stammer, his gaze darting away. "I… I ran because I wanted… I wanted to be free."
Illumi's expression remained neutral, but a faint amusement flickered at Killua's awkwardness. His icy voice echoed again, slithering into the corners of Killua's mind. "Free?" he repeated, openly mocking. "Do you think leaving home will bring you freedom, Killua? Has this little escapade made you forget who you are? You were born to be an assassin. You can't escape your destiny, and you know it, don't you?"
Illumi's tone was soft yet unyielding, devoid of remorse. His piercing gaze seemed to bore into Killua's soul, reminding him of the brutal truth of their legacy. "I'm here at Mother's request, worried about your absence," Illumi continued. "She told me she was deeply moved when you defied her during your escape, seeing in you the spark of a brilliant future assassin. My goal is to bring you back home."
Killua's heart sank at these words. He'd hoped his choice to flee would be respected, that he could carve his own path. "Illumi…" he whispered, his voice laced with confusion and helplessness.
A storm of anger and turmoil surged within Killua, but he couldn't voice it. Illumi's intimidating aura rendered him powerless, silenced by invisible chains. His thoughts raced, desperately seeking an escape. He wanted to break free from the assassin label, to prove he was more than a Zoldyck heir. But Illumi's words weighed heavily, threatening to crush his budding dreams.
The air crackled with tension as Killua mustered the strength to respond, but his trembling voice betrayed him. "Illumi, I…" he began, only for the words to die on his lips as he clenched his fists in frustration.
Then Illumi approached slowly, his imposing presence intensifying as he gently stroked Killua's head. The familiar gesture, blending affection and manipulation, seeped into Killua's core. "I've noticed you've grown close to some exam participants," Illumi said calmly, his voice laced with sinister intent. "Who are they to you, Killua?"
Killua's breath hitched. His mind raced to find an answer that would protect those he'd met. An image haunted him: Gon, his new friend, carefree and earnest with a sincere heart. Fear gripped Killua as he imagined Gon's innocent face confronted by Illumi's cold, murderous nature. A shiver ran down his spine, knowing Illumi would show no mercy if he answered truthfully.
"Gon… I mean, they… they're no one to me," Killua murmured, his voice shaking, eyes clouded with sadness and distress. It was a lie, but necessary to protect his friend's life.
Illumi studied him, his piercing gaze seeming to dissect Killua's tormented thoughts, though he appeared satisfied. "For a moment, I thought I heard a name, but it must be my imagination," he said coldly. "Good. You don't need to bond with anyone—your family is enough."
He withdrew his hand from Killua's head and placed it on his chin, as if pondering. "How troublesome. I'd planned to reveal myself at the end of this exam, letting you enjoy your little runaway adventure, as the loving big brother I am. But here we are, meeting sooner. Hmm…" He paused, then continued, "Fine, I'll let you finish this test before we leave. Sound fair? We shouldn't keep Mother waiting too long."
Though Killua wanted to refuse, his head nodded against his will. "Alright, that's settled. Enjoy these days, little brother. We'll meet again at the end. See you soon." Without another word, Illumi left, leaving Killua with a gaping void in his heart.
Alone now, Illumi's words echoed in his mind, reminding him of his dark destiny. Could he ever escape this grim reality? How could he break free from his brother's grip, from the nightmare that had haunted him for so long? What path could he take to defy this fate?
Killua looked up at the sky. "Looks like the vacation's over," he murmured, his heart heavy and his gaze cold.
---
Meanwhile, a blond-haired boy moved calmly through a forested landscape. Majestic trees formed a dense canopy overhead, filtering sunlight that lent the area a mysterious air. As astute readers may have guessed, this was Kurapika.
Three hours had passed since the third test officially began. For Kurapika, it wasn't surprising—he'd expected as much. Truth be told, he'd slept through the night, waking only that morning. Not that he'd slept soundly atop a hill, vulnerable to attacks, but he had enough leeway not to worry about interruptions.
Surprisingly, he hadn't been disturbed at all. Maybe mosquitoes, but with Nen mastery, they were no issue. Since waking, he hadn't encountered a single criminal or candidate. If he hadn't witnessed everyone's drop onto the island, he might've thought he was on the wrong one.
He'd considered using a Nen ability to scout, but the risk of attracting a clone or a psychopathic assassin made him reconsider. One might say it wasn't a big deal—they had seven days on the island, plenty of time to collect the points needed to pass. But that would only hold if gathering points was his sole goal.
Kurapika had a packed agenda, and not finding a single badge in three hours wasn't helping. He ventured deeper into the forest's labyrinth, then stopped, slightly annoyed. "Fine, I'll use En," he decided.
To avoid drawing the wrong attention, he'd use a specific method. As he crouched to place his hand on the ground, he heard branches snap behind him. Without seeming tense, Kurapika turned to face a man standing there, eyes burning with determination.
"You're a candidate, right?" the man asked.
Kurapika nodded calmly, sizing him up. It was clear he was a candidate too, though Kurapika needed to be sure. "Yes, and you are as well," he confirmed after slipping behind the man to check his nape, which bore no tattoo.
Startled, the man swung a fist backward, but Kurapika dodged effortlessly, putting distance between them. After the last test, about a hundred candidates remained. Kurapika hadn't bothered memorizing every face—why would he? Only seven key figures mattered, eight if he counted his prey.
"You're strong, no doubt about it, kid," the man said suddenly, his gaze locking onto the badge proudly displayed on Kurapika's chest—yes, the brazen boy hadn't even hidden it. "But I need you to let me scan your badge. I really need it."
A smile crept onto Kurapika's face. "If you want my badge, you'll have to fight for it," he said, his voice calm but brimming with unshakable confidence.
The other candidate paused to assess the situation, but Kurapika knew a fight was inevitable. Not that it worried him—it thrilled him. He wasn't a battle maniac, far from it, but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy a good scrap.
Without further delay, the two squared off, ready to clash. The man felt his heart pound, blood surging through his veins. Every fiber of his being was taut, primed to unleash a torrent of power and fury.
As the fight began, he vowed to keep going until he claimed his revenge. His opponent didn't remember him, but he remembered him. Their encounter dated back about a year. Back then, he was a cocky martial artist, eager to test his skills and flaunt his craft in the renowned Heavens Arena. Things went well—he'd reached the 150th floor, aiming for the top.
But that never happened. That's when he met the boy now standing before him. At first, he'd seen it as an insult, dismissing the kid and even suggesting he quit. He quickly learned his mistake.
One blow.
A single blow from the boy had knocked him out. That day, his arrogance took a hit, and he swore to improve, to one day exact his revenge. He threw himself into grueling training, pushing past his art's limits to achieve what experts called an awakening. He then entered the Hunter Exam to test his progress, only to be stunned when he saw the boy he burned to defeat.
Throughout the exam, he'd watched him closely. In the first phase, the boy's performance seemed modest, but the man knew it was an act. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw him fight a giant swamp beast in the second phase of the first test.
'He's grown too,' the man thought, elated.
When the third test was announced, his only goal was to seize the chance to confront his rival. Against all odds, their paths had crossed. It stung that the boy didn't recognize him, but it only fueled his resolve.
Today, he'd have his revenge. Today, he'd end a rivalry over a year in the making. Without hesitation, he charged. His muscles tensed as he faced Kurapika in a brutal yet graceful dance. Each strike was precise, every movement calculated.
Kurapika, meanwhile, felt an odd sense of déjà vu. His counters were exact, measured to prolong the fight rather than end it. "So, what do you think? You couldn't knock me out in one hit this time!" the man taunted coldly.
Kurapika raised an eyebrow and stepped back. "Have we met before?" he asked, intrigued.
The man took Kurapika's retreat as proof his efforts had paid off. Though he sensed his opponent wasn't going all out, he knew he was no longer an easy foe, relishing the tough fight ahead. A fierce glint sparked in his eyes. "Doesn't matter. The fact is, I'm going to beat you, Kurapika!" he roared, veins bulging on his sweating forehead.
'He knows my name, but I don't know his. We've definitely met… Hmm, judging by the hostility, it wasn't a friendly encounter… Wait, the only time I might've ticked off guys like this was… Oh!' Kurapika's smile turned almost cruel. He'd pieced it together.
Instead of sympathizing, a darker impulse stirred within him. It was like a man running into a high school punching bag and feeling an irresistible urge to torment them again. "Beat me, you say? Looks like I need to jog your memory," Kurapika replied, his voice cold and cutting.
In a swift motion, he lunged. The man's confidence morphed into sheer terror. He knew all too well what a frontal assault from this opponent meant. 'Calm down, stay calm. You trained like hell for this. Time to prove you've got this!'
Unfortunately…
'Huh?!'
That was the man's last thought as he found himself airborne, soaring high above the trees. As the ground rushed closer, one thought consumed him—not shame at another defeat, not frustration at his efforts crumbling, not even rage at the boy's smug face.
'This is gonna hurt.'
A searing pain erupted through his body on impact. Bones snapped under the force, and agony overwhelmed his senses. He crashed into the ground, kicking up a massive dust cloud. He lay still, staring blankly at the sky.
As the dust settled, Kurapika approached the motionless figure. Leaning down, he felt a twisted satisfaction at the sight of his defeat. Yet, despite his resentment, he couldn't help but wonder why this man was so obsessed with beating him. He recalled the terrified faces of those he'd humiliated long ago, trying to place this man's.
Curious, Kurapika leaned closer and asked calmly but coldly, "Why so much hatred? What did I do to spark such a grudge?"
Struggling to breathe, the man slowly met Kurapika's gaze. Pain etched his face, but a flicker of determination burned in his eyes. "You don't remember me, do you?" he rasped, his voice weak but heavy with emotion. "Why should I explain anything? You stole my pride, my dignity! You made me suffer!"
Kurapika frowned, digging through his memories for a clue to the man's identity. Nothing clicked. "Sorry, but I still can't place your face," he said, tired of racking his brain.
He searched the man's pockets, the latter too weak to resist. It didn't take long to find a circular plate. The badge. 328.
"Too bad, you're not my hunter," Kurapika said, slightly disappointed, as he scanned it. He slipped the badge back into the man's pocket and stood. Before resuming his hunt, he paused. "I don't know who you are, but it's clear you worked hard. For what it's worth, I'd fight you again. Become a Hunter and challenge me."
With that, Kurapika walked away. The man, staring at the sky through the forest's foliage, was lost in thought. He'd failed to exact his revenge, suffering another crushing defeat. Clenching his fists, hot tears streamed down his face. "I swear I'll beat you. I swear it!"
---
The third test of the Hunter Exam had officially begun, plunging the forested island into a whirlwind of excitement. The sky blazed with vibrant colors, birdsong mingling with the rustle of trees. Candidates, criminals, and local wildlife pulsed with thrilling energy. All were ready to risk their lives to prove their worth as Hunters. Amid the chaos, a single flame drove them all: the will to become a Hunter.
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