The train rattled through the darkening countryside, wheels clacking in a steady, hypnotic rhythm. Inside the passenger car, dim overhead lights flickered every time they passed under a tunnel.
Most seats were empty—few people traveled this route at night, and fewer still carried the faint, unmistakable scent of ambition that clung to those bound for the Hunter Exam.
Akira sat by the window, one leg stretched out, arms crossed. Gon was across the aisle, face pressed to the glass, watching the landscape blur past: rolling hills giving way to flat plains, distant lights of small towns winking like stars fallen to earth.
"Everything looks so big," Gon said quietly. "Bigger than the island."
Akira nodded. "It is."
He kept his aura on a low Ten—enough to maintain awareness without broadcasting his presence. The car smelled of old leather, cigarette smoke from a previous passenger, and the faint metallic tang of the tracks. His scanner pinged intermittently:
[Scan: Elderly passenger – No threat]
[Scan: Young man in back row – Elevated heart rate. Possible applicant. Low aura signature]
[Scan: Empty seat ahead – Residual trace. Faint killing intent residue.]
Hisoka had been here. Not on this train—yet—but close enough that the echo lingered.
Akira filed it away. The clown wouldn't strike openly before the exam. He liked to play.
Gon turned from the window. "You felt him back there, didn't you? The guy with the cards."
"Yeah."
"He looked… dangerous. Like he enjoys fighting."
Akira met Gon's eyes. "He does. More than most."
Gon frowned, thinking. "But why watch us? We're just kids."
"We're not just kids anymore," Akira said. "Not to someone like him."
Gon was quiet for a moment. Then: "We'll beat him if we have to."
Akira almost smiled. "We might have to."
The train slowed as it approached a small station. A sign flashed by: Midway Junction – Transfers Only. The lights dimmed further. An automated voice crackled over the speakers.
"Next stop: Midway Junction. All passengers for inland routes, prepare to disembark."
Gon sat up straight. "Is this where the exam is?"
Akira shook his head. "Not yet. This is just a transfer point. The real venue's deeper inland—probably a few more stops and some tricks along the way."
They stepped onto the platform into cool night air. The station was busier than Dolle Harbor: travelers milling about, vendors hawking hot noodles and cheap maps, a bulletin board plastered with notices about "secret paths" and "Hunter rumors.
" No obvious applicants yet, but Akira's aura sensitivity picked up faint flickers—people hiding their potential, just like him.
Gon pointed to a steaming cart. "Food! We haven't eaten since the boat."
Akira nodded. "Grab something quick. Train to the next hub leaves in fifteen minutes."
They bought bowls of spicy ramen, sitting on a bench to eat. Akira used the time to
practice discreetly: pulsing Zetsu to blend his presence into the crowd, then switching to Ren in tiny bursts to sharpen his senses.
[Ren Mastery: 38% → 40%]
[New Side Mission Progress: Conceal Aura in Public (25%) – Reward: Stealth Enhancement Unlock]
A group of rough-looking men passed by, one muttering about "easy marks for the exam path." Akira scanned them.
[Scan: Local Thugs – Minor Threat. Intent: Robbery.]
He kept eating, but his hand rested casually near his fishing rod—propped against the bench like a weapon in disguise.
Gon slurped his noodles. "These are good! Better than Mito's? Don't tell her I said that."
Akira chuckled. "Your secret's safe."
The thugs circled back, eyeing their packs.
"Kids shouldn't be out this late," the leader said, voice oily. "Hand over the bags. We'll 'protect' 'em for you."
Gon set his bowl down, eyes narrowing. "We don't need protection."
The leader laughed. "Cute. Grab 'em, boys."
Akira moved first.
He adapted the leader's lumbering stance in a flash—turning it against him with enhanced efficiency. A quick sidestep, a palm strike to the solar plexus enhanced by a flicker of Ren.
The man folded like wet paper, gasping.
The others charged.
Gon flipped over the bench, his fishing rod whipping out like a staff. He tripped one thug with a low sweep.
Akira handled the rest: a fused technique—Gon's agility + serpentine evasion from the sea beast. He danced through their grabs, strikes landing precise and non-lethal.
One thug drew a knife.
Akira pulsed Overload Mode—just a preview burst, ten seconds.
Time slowed in his perception. He disarmed the man with a twist, then knocked him cold with an elbow.
The fight ended in under a minute.
[Side Mission Complete: Defend Against Minor Threat – Reward: +2 Strength, +1 Agility]
[Level Up Pending: Aura Control +5]
The thugs groaned on the ground. Station guards whistled from afar, approaching.
Gon grinned. "Nice teamwork!"
Akira nodded. "Let's move. Don't want questions."
They slipped onto the next train just as it pulled in—a rickety inland express bound for "Central Crossroads," the rumored last hub before the exam's hidden venue.
As the cars chugged away, Akira settled into a seat. The car was more crowded now: travelers, merchants, and a few figures who screamed "applicant"—a tall guy in a suit arguing with a vendor (Leorio?), a stoic chain-wearer in the shadows (Kurapika?).
Gon whispered. "Some of these people… they feel strong."
Akira agreed. His scanner hummed with low-level pings.
The journey continued.
Hours blurred. The train stopped at two more junctions—each with its own flavor: one a dusty market town where Gon bartered for fresh fruit, another a foggy depot where Akira practiced Zetsu to eavesdrop on applicant whispers ("The exam's in a swamp this year… or is it a tower?").
Night deepened. Gon dozed off, head against the window.
Akira stayed awake, reviewing the system.
Pending Unlock: First Custom Hatsu Generation – Trigger: Reach Next Hub Safely
He closed his eyes, aura wrapping him like a shield.
The horizon whispered of what was coming.
But not yet.