The winds howled over the ocean that dark night. A large ship bearing the emblem of the Hunter Association cut through towering waves. On its deck stood Gon Freecss, gazing at the horizon where a massive cloud of pitch-black fog loomed, covering an entire island that had mysteriously appeared weeks earlier.
Gon narrowed his eyes and said:
– "Killua, do you see that? This isn't ordinary fog… it's alive."
Beside him, Killua Zoldyck stepped forward, silver hair whipping in the wind, his hands in his pockets:
– "Alive? You're exaggerating again. But… you're right. I can feel a distorted Nen aura leaking out from it."
They weren't alone. Five other Hunters stood on the deck, including Hanzo, the seasoned ninja, and a new Hunter named Leora, renowned for her Nen ability to heal wounds.
One of the Association officers raised his voice:
– "Your mission isn't to fight, but to investigate. The island is now called the Black Labyrinth. Everyone who has entered so far has vanished. Your task is to discover why, and return with any information you can."
Gon smiled, his boyish enthusiasm shining through:
– "Got it! Then we'll be the first ones to come back with answers."
Killua muttered, still staring at the fog:
– "Or the first to be swallowed…"
Entering the Labyrinth
As the ship reached the shore, the atmosphere thickened. The moment they stepped onto the sand, an immense pressure pressed down on them, as if gravity itself had multiplied tenfold.
Leora staggered back a step:
– "This place… it drains energy from our bodies. Even walking feels harder."
Gon clenched his fists, flaring his Nen around him:
– "We'll have to keep our Nen active at all times. Otherwise we might disappear like the others."
The group advanced into the forest. The trees were twisted and black, like charcoal sculptures. From deep within came an eerie sound: the faint notes of a violin, broken and sorrowful, yet terrifying.
Killua froze:
– "Wait… something's wrong."
Suddenly, without warning, Killua spun and attacked Gon, electricity crackling from his hands!
Gon barely leapt back in time, shouting:
– "Killua! What are you doing?!"
But Killua's eyes were empty, glassy. He lunged like a puppet, fingers sparking as they aimed for Gon's chest. Gon blocked with Jajanken, sparks exploding where their Nen clashed.
Leora screamed:
– "He's under some kind of control! Stop fighting!"
Through the chaos, a figure emerged from the fog: a tall man in a black coat, wide-brimmed hat shadowing his face. In his hand, a strange violin glowed with violet Nen.
The man smiled wickedly:
– "Ah… the new guests have arrived. I am Mirvia, the musician of chaos."
The Musician of Chaos
Every note he played bent reality. With one phrase, the ground beneath them softened like melting wax. With another, Hanzo nearly plunged his blade into his own chest before forcing himself to stop.
Gon cried out:
– "Killua! Wake up!"
But Killua was lost, his eyes shining purple, movements stiff as if bound by strings. He dashed at Gon with lightning speed.
Before the clash could happen, another figure emerged from the shadows. A gaunt man, skin pale as death, eyes black as voids. He clutched a small wooden doll.
The violin fell silent. Even Mirvia stopped playing, a flicker of unease in her eyes.
– "Seraph…" she whispered.
The Soul Hunter
Seraph spoke in a cold monotone:
– "Enough music, Mirvia. These Hunters are mine."
He raised the doll in his hand. At once, Hanzo was ripped from his place as if his very soul were being torn away, sucked into the doll which transformed into a shadowy puppet version of himself.
Hanzo's voice echoed from inside:
– "What… is this?! I can't return to my body!"
Gon gasped:
– "He trapped Hanzo's soul in that doll?!"
Seraph's lips curled faintly:
– "My ability… Tombs of Souls. Those who face me become soldiers in my army of puppets."
Killua collapsed unconscious as Mirvia ended her melody. But the danger had only grown. Seraph sent the puppet-Hanzo lunging at Gon.
The Battle Begins
Gon charged, fist blazing with Nen. He struck the puppet, but its body absorbed the blow like rubber.
– "It's useless," Seraph said coldly. "The dolls cannot be destroyed… unless you tear apart the soul inside."
Leora tried using her healing Nen to pull Hanzo free, but chains of black energy bound his essence inside.
– "I can't… this isn't a wound of the body!"
At that moment, yet another shadow emerged from the fog. A towering man wearing a steel mask, wielding a massive hammer. His voice rumbled like thunder:
– "Seraph, you found new prey?"
Seraph's eyes narrowed:
– "Back off, Grim. They're mine."
But Grim slammed his hammer into the ground, the earth shaking violently as cracks split beneath them.
Gon shouted:
– "Killua! We need you now!"
At last, Killua opened his eyes, breathing heavily. Slowly he stood, a sly grin crossing his face:
– "I got caught by a silly tune… but never again."
Electricity roared around him as he activated his aura, ready to fight.
Temporary End
As the fog thickened, the Hunters found themselves surrounded by three terrifying foes:
Mirvia, the deadly musician.Seraph, the soul-stealing puppeteer.Grim, the brute with his colossal hammer.
The Black Labyrinth had revealed its first horrors, and they were more nightmarish than anyone imagined.
Gon clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes:
– "I won't run… even if I have to fight the Labyrinth itself!"
To be continued in the next chapter…