The sudden stillness of solid ground beneath my worn leather boots felt strange after days of the Southern Cross's relentless pitching and rolling. The air in the harbor was thick with the smell of brine, fish, and the faint, acrid scent of industrial activity, a stark contrast to the clean, salt-laced air of Ryujinshima. Looking around at the bustling docks, the ships bobbing in the water, and the buildings clustered around the waterfront, the name surfaced in my mind with quiet certainty. This was it. The starting point for so many hopefuls in Anon's memories.
Dolle Harbor of Kukan'yu Kingdom.
It wasn't a sprawling metropolis like the port city where I'd initially boarded the ferry, but a significant port town, busy and full of movement. People hurried along the docks, carts rattled, and the cries of gulls mixed with human shouts. My perception of leaking aura registered the same chaotic sea of untrained energy I'd felt on the ship, but here, spread out and mixed with the mundane activity of a working port, it felt less overwhelming.
I adjusted my backpack, the familiar weight a comforting presence, and merged with the flow of disembarking passengers. Most of the survivors of the Southern Cross scattered quickly, swallowed by the crowds, their faces still etched with the recent ordeal but a renewed, desperate purpose in their stride. The winnowing process was already complete for many who had embarked with me.
I wandered through the streets bordering the harbor, letting my feet carry me deeper into the town. The buildings were a mix of weathered wood and sturdy stone, shops and taverns lining the narrower lanes. As I moved away from the immediate bustle of the docks, however, I began to sense a subtle undercurrent of tension in the air, a prickling unease that wasn't simply the stress of Exam hopefuls. People spoke in slightly hushed tones, glances were exchanged, and the general aura around the residents felt tighter, more guarded.
I passed a small group gathered near a bulletin board, their heads together, voices low. As I drew closer, their words drifted to me, carried on the breeze.
"...another one last night, they say."
"Still no trace of who's doing it? In Zaban City?"
A woman wrung her hands, her aura flaring with anxiety. "It's terrifying. Just... dissected. Like an animal."
"And the police haven't caught him? What are the authorities even doing?"
My pace didn't break, but my attention sharpened. Serial murders. Zaban City. Dissected. The words registered, immediately drawing connections in my mind. A slight, almost imperceptible raising of an eyebrow was my only outward reaction. This pattern of crime... it sounded familiar. Could it be? I found myself wondering if Johness the Dissector, the notorious murderer from Anon's remembered timeline, was already active in Zaban City. The tension I felt in Dolle Harbor, then, wasn't just local unease; it was likely the ripple effect of fear spreading from a major city where a brutal killer was at large.
My priority shifted instantly. The Navigator. I needed to find the Navigator, the official guide to the actual Exam site. And Anon's memories provided a crucial landmark associated with the Navigator's location near Dolle Harbor. The Lone Pine Tree. I needed to know if it existed in this reality, if it was a known point, a potential confirmation that the timeline was indeed unfolding as remembered.
Spotting a public map displayed on a corner, likely for tourists or new arrivals, I made my way towards it. My eyes scanned the illustrated layout of the port town and its immediate surroundings. And there it was, clearly marked near the edge of the map, outside the main cluster of buildings, a distinctive, solitary tree symbol. The Lone Pine Tree.
A jolt of confirmation, sharp and satisfying, went through me. I didn't waste another second. My previous casual wandering turned into focused, purposeful movement.
I adjusted my pack once more, securing the straps, and broke into a steady run, leaving the murmuring crowds of the harbor town behind. My boots pounded against the packed earth of the road leading away from Dolle Harbor, the sound steady and strong. My years of relentless physical training on Ryujinshima asserted themselves. Running wasn't a strain; it was effortless, a natural state of being. My body was a finely tuned machine, capable of sustained speed and agility.
The road quickly became less maintained, eventually narrowing into a dirt path winding through low hills. As I ran, the terrain began to change, becoming rougher. I saw movement ahead, figures blocking the path – townspeople, perhaps, gathered in a way that felt deliberate. The area they occupied looked... deserted, almost like an abandoned set. I recognized it instantly from Anon's memories – the location of the infamous two-choice quiz.
They spread out, attempting to form a human barrier. Their faces were stern, unwelcoming. Their collective leaking aura was a mix of determination and underlying nervousness. A stout woman, seemingly their leader, stepped forward, opening her mouth to speak, likely to deliver the bizarre, life-or-death question I knew was coming.
But I didn't stop. I didn't slow down. My eyes scanned their formation, calculating distances and trajectories in an instant. Their attempts to block me felt slow, clumsy, like watching dolls move. As the woman's voice rose, shouting something I deliberately didn't register, I didn't engage. I didn't need their test.
With a fluid, explosive burst of movement powered by pure physical strength and trained reflexes, I launched myself upwards and forwards. My hands found purchase on a low wall, then the branch of a gnarled tree beside the path. I vaulted, twisted, and flowed over their heads, my body moving with a practiced economy of motion, a blur of grey tunic and dark cloak against the sky. I landed lightly on the other side, already putting distance between myself and the stunned figures behind me. Their shouts faded quickly as I resumed my effortless run.
The path continued to wind upwards, the environment growing wilder. Dangerous-looking plants with thorns like daggers and thick, grasping vines encroached upon the trail. Strange, low-slung beasts with multiple eyes and snapping jaws scuttled out from the undergrowth, their leaking aura radiating simple, predatory hunger. They attempted to block my way, hissing and lunging.
They were no match. My speed allowed me to bypass most of them before they could react. For those few that were too close, a precisely placed kick or a swift, chopping strike with the edge of my hand was more than sufficient. Their bodies crumpled, their aura fading. It felt less like fighting and more like clearing particularly stubborn brush. My physical training had prepared me for much worse.
After what felt like a significant time running and navigating the increasingly difficult terrain, I emerged from the dense, dangerous part of the hills onto a more open, sloping area. The air felt cooler here, cleaner. The path, though still dirt, was wider and less obstructed. I slowed my pace to a steady walk, conserving energy now that the immediate challenges were past.
Ahead, silhouetted against the late afternoon sky, stood a single, unmistakable tree – the Lone Pine. Its branches were sparse and windswept, but its solitary presence on the landscape made it stand out like a beacon. I was close. Very close.
Following the path as it curved around the base of the hill, my eyes scanned the area near the tree. And there it was, tucked into a small, sheltered hollow, almost invisible until you were close: a small, unassuming cabin. Smoke curled lazily from its chimney, painting a thin grey line against the blue sky.
This was it. The home of the Navigators.
I approached the cabin, my footsteps quiet on the soft earth. I stopped before the wooden door, took a single, steadying breath, and raised my hand.
Rap. Rap. Rap.
The sound was loud in the sudden quiet. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a man and a woman standing side-by-side in the doorway. They looked like a simple, rural couple, their faces kind but wary. I noticed, just behind them, two figures peeking out from inside – kids, roughly my age, their faces curious.
"Hello," I said, keeping my voice polite and calm, my mind sharp, assessing their aura, looking for any sign that these were the right people. Their aura felt calm, steady, like Kenji's, but without the intense, controlled power of a high-level Nen user. They felt... capable, but not overtly powerful. This fit. "My name is Kess." I paused, then asked the crucial question, looking from the man to the woman. "Are you the navigators for the Hunter Exam?"
A moment of silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant cry of a bird. The couple exchanged a quick, bewildered glance. Their wary expressions deepened, but not with suspicion, more with genuine confusion.
The woman spoke first, her brow furrowed. "The Hunter Exam, you say? We are navigators, yes, but... we weren't informed. We haven't received word yet that anyone was coming here."
The man nodded, equally puzzled. "That's right. No message from that woman."
Their confusion wasn't faked; their auras were open in their bewilderment. This was unexpected. Had I missed a step? No, the location, the landmarks... this was where the Kirikos should be. Unless...
A slow understanding dawned, accompanied by a faint sense of amusement. The unofficial examiners. The two-choice quiz town. They weren't official hurdles set by the committee. They were local, self-appointed tests, designed to deter people who they think are unworthy before they reached the actual navigators. And by running past them, by ignoring their test entirely, perhaps they thought that I would not survive that dangerous path.
I couldn't help but let a small smile touch my lips. "I... may have taken a shortcut," I admitted. "There were some people on the path... they seemed to be trying to stop those heading this way. They tried to ask me a question, but I just kept going."
The couple's confusion slowly melted away, replaced by dawning comprehension, and then, to my surprise, genuine amusement. The man chuckled, a warm, rumbling sound. "Tried to ask you a question, did they? Ah, the folks down the road."
The woman covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "And you just... ran past them?"
"Yes," I confirmed, my smile widening slightly. "It seemed faster."
The two kids behind them, who had been watching with wide eyes, giggled.
The man leaned against the doorframe, shaking his head with a grin. "Well, I'll be. Nobody's done that before. Most get tangled up in their little game." He looked at me with new interest, his gaze sharper now. "So, you bypassed them, did you? Interesting."
The woman's initial worry seemed to have vanished entirely, replaced by curiosity. "Come in, child. You must be tired and hungry. We can talk inside."
They stepped aside, opening the door wider, inviting me into a cozy, warm living space filled with the scent of woodsmoke and something baking. It was simple, comfortable, a true home. The two kids, introduced as Sasha and Ivan, both with intelligent eyes that seemed a little too wise for their apparent age, watched me with open curiosity as I stepped inside.
"Thank you," I said, stepping over the threshold.
We settled around a large, worn wooden table. The woman, who introduced herself as Anya, and the man, Boris, began preparing tea and simple food. The kids, introduced as Sasha and Ivan, eventually lost some of their shyness and started asking me questions about my journey, about the ship, about Ryujinshima.
I carefully curated the story of my life and journey. I spoke of growing up on a small, peaceful island, of learning carpentry from my father and reading from my mother. I described the decision to take the Hunter Exam as a desire to see the world and test my limits, a natural progression from my training. I spoke of the difficult sea voyage, emphasizing the captain's skill (without mentioning my observation of his deliberate course) and the challenge it presented, which I managed to overcome through physical conditioning. I mentioned passing the "quiz town" people but simply stated they were an obstacle I navigated, omitting the detail of knowing their game from another life.
I watched the Kiriko family as I spoke, observing their reactions. Anya and Boris listened with attentive kindness, occasionally exchanging subtle glances that spoke of a deeper understanding passing between them. Sasha and Ivan were more direct in their curiosity, asking practical questions about travel and danger. There was an underlying current of intelligence and capability in all of them, a quiet strength that resonated with the aura of truly skilled individuals, despite Boris and Anya's seemingly normal emissions. Their character wasn't just in their words, but in the warmth of their home, the ease with which they interacted, and the subtle way they observed me in return. They were kind, welcoming, but also clearly discerning.
As evening drew in, casting long shadows outside the cabin windows, the conversation turned more directly to the Exam.
"So, you're quite determined, aren't you, Kess?" Boris said, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes," I replied firmly. "I am."
Anya smiled gently. "It seems you've already passed the first requirement for a Hunter – the ability to think for yourself and find your own path."
"And his physical abilities are quite impressive," Boris noted, looking at me thoughtfully. "And his control... very subtle for someone so young." He paused, then looked at Anya. "I think he's ready."
Anya nodded. "It seems he is. The committee will be... surprised." She looked at me. "The Exam site isn't far from here, but getting there isn't something you can do on foot tonight. It's in Grune City."
Grune City. An unknown and unfamiliar place but feels like a fitting name for a location in the Kukan'yu Kingdom.
"I can take you," Boris offered, standing up. He moved with a silent grace that belied his seemingly ordinary build. Sasha and Ivan looked excited, clearly familiar with this process.
I stood as well. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
Under the cloak of the deepening twilight, Boris led me outside. The air was cool and still. He looked at me, a hint of that earlier amusement in his eyes. "Hold on tight, Kess. It's a bit of a ride."
Before I could fully process his words, his form shifted. It wasn't a dramatic transformation, but a fluid, almost seamless change. His human shape elongated, his features blurring, replaced by sleek, dark feathers, powerful wings, and sharp talons. Within moments, where Boris had stood, there was now a magnificent, large bird-like creature, a Kiriko, its aura now a clear, powerful presence that spoke of true mastery. Sasha and Ivan watched with quiet familiarity, clearly used to their parents' true forms.
The Kiriko, which was Boris, lowered his head slightly. "Climb on, Kess. We need to be discreet."
I climbed onto his back, gripping the feathers firmly, settling myself securely. His feathers felt surprisingly smooth and strong. The perspective from his back was high, already above the treetops surrounding the cabin.
With a silent, powerful beat of his wings, Boris launched into the air. The ground fell away beneath us in an instant. The wind rushed past, cold and exhilarating. We flew through the night sky, the stars beginning to emerge above us, leaving the quiet hollow of the Lone Pine Tree and Dolle Harbor far behind. Below, the world was a patchwork of dark shapes and faint lights. The flight was swift and silent, a breathtaking demonstration of a Transmuter's skill.
After what felt like a significant distance covered at incredible speed, the lights below began to coalesce, growing brighter and more numerous. We were approaching a large settlement. As we drew closer, the scale became apparent – a city, its grid of lights sprawling across the landscape. This was Grune City.
Boris began a slow, controlled descent, circling the city's outskirts before gliding silently over the rooftops, keeping low and out of sight. He navigated with practiced ease, weaving between taller buildings. He finally landed with barely a whisper of feathers in a quiet side street, away from the main thoroughfares.
Boris shimmered, his form shifting back to that of the quiet, rural man. "Follow me," he murmured, his voice now human again.
We walked down the quiet street, the sounds of the city muffled here. He led me around a corner, onto a slightly busier avenue. My eyes scanned the facades of the buildings. Shops, restaurants, offices.
"Here we are," Boris said softly, gesturing towards the shop. "The entrance is through there." He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small, velvet pouch. "Take this. You'll need to buy something simple inside. A pendant, featuring a star sapphire. Tell the proprietor that's what you're looking for." He pressed the pouch into my hand. "Good luck, Kess. The real test begins now."
I looked at the jewelry store, its ordinary appearance masking its true purpose. I looked back at Boris, the man who was also a magical beast, a navigator to the hidden world of Hunters.
"Thank you, Boris. For everything."
He gave a small, genuine smile. "Just pay attention, Kess. Always." He nodded once, a gesture that mirrored his human self and the powerful creature beneath, then turned and walked back the way we came, disappearing into the shadows of the street.
I stood alone on the sidewalk, the weight of my backpack and the knowledge of the task ahead settling upon me. Ahead of me was a jewelry store, behind it, the 276th Hunter Exam. The journey from Ryujinshima, the sea voyage, the bypassed obstacles, the flight through the night – it had all led to this. I clutched the small, velvet pouch in my hand, feeling the weight of the coins inside.
My eyes fixed on the sign above the entrance:
Sterling Gemstones
I took a deep breath of the city air, the scent of exhaust and something vaguely metallic sharp in my lungs. I adjusted my cloak and walked towards the door of Sterling Gemstones.
Inside, the air was cool and hushed, smelling faintly of polish and expensive metal. Display cases lined the walls, filled with glittering necklaces, rings, and earrings. The selection was vast, far more elaborate than anything I'd ever seen on Ryujinshima. I casually browsed, letting my eyes drift over the intricate designs, pretending interest, giving myself a moment to adjust to the change in atmosphere and locate the proprietor.
He was a thin, elderly man behind a counter towards the back, his eyes sharp and observant even from a distance. He didn't immediately approach, allowing me to look around undisturbed, another subtle test perhaps. After a few moments, I walked towards the counter.
"Excuse me," I said, keeping my voice clear and polite. "I'm looking for something specific." I pointed towards a display case featuring a selection of pendants. "Do you have any simple pendants featuring a star sapphire?"
The proprietor's eyes flickered over me, a quick, assessing gaze that seemed to take in everything about me in an instant – my clothes, my demeanor, the look in my eyes. Without a word, he nodded almost imperceptibly. He reached into the display case, selected a small, elegant pendant with a single, deep blue stone that seemed to hold a faint, four-rayed star within its depths, wrapped it in tissue paper, and placed it in a small box. He accepted the Jenny from the pouch Boris had given me, his movements precise and efficient. Then, with a barely perceptible nod, his sharp eyes met mine, and he subtly indicated a curtained doorway behind the counter.
Heart hammering, a sudden surge of adrenaline cutting through my calm, I pushed through the heavy velvet curtain. The air immediately grew cooler, damp, and heavy. I found myself at the top of a dark staircase that sloped downwards. After several minutes of descending into the earth, the narrow passage opened abruptly into a vast, brightly lit underground cavern.
The sheer scale of the space was breathtaking. Rows of fluorescent lights illuminated a rocky expanse, revealing roughly a hundred or more people milling about, a chaotic mix of appearances, ages, and apparent backgrounds. The air hummed with a palpable tension and raw anticipation, the collective energy of so many hopefuls gathered in one hidden place.
The atmosphere was distinct and immediately noticeable. I didn't need Gyo to perceive the faint, hazy aura leaking inefficiently from almost everyone here. It wasn't a powerful thrum, nothing like the controlled power I'd felt from dad or Boris in his true form, but a constant, low-level static – the uncontrolled life energy escaping untrained bodies. It was like being in a room filled with leaky faucets. A few individuals seemed completely blank, their aura entirely suppressed, perhaps indicating a skill in Zetsu or just a naturally low output, making them stand out in a different way. Others radiated a palpable, though mundane, physical confidence and energy. But controlled, refined Nen, the kind wielded by my father or the Kiriko? It was conspicuously absent among the applicant pool. This was a gathering of raw potential and ambition, not trained power.
As I stood taking it all in, a woman in a simple, dark suit approached me, clipboard in hand, her movements efficient and businesslike. "Name?" she asked, her voice brisk.
"Kess Kobayashi," I replied.
She scanned her list, then wrote my name down, checking something off on her board and nodding curtly. "Kobayashi, Kess. Your number is 143." She handed me a small, metal badge with the number clearly stamped on it. "Attach this prominently. The Examination will begin shortly. Find a spot."
I took the badge – 143 – and secured it to my shirt, clipping it neatly onto my tunic. I scanned the vast cavern again, taking in the sheer diversity of the crowd, now with my own number identifying me as one of them. Rough-looking brawlers with scars and heavily muscled limbs mingled with nervous scholars clutching books, lithe figures who moved with a predatory grace, and ordinary-looking individuals who gave off no obvious threat but whose eyes held a sharp intelligence. Finding a relatively clear space near a rough-hewn rock wall, away from the most crowded areas, I leaned back against the cool stone, letting the scene wash over me. The journey here – deciphering clues, avoiding perceived traps, crossing continents, braving a deliberate storm at sea, bypassing unofficial examiners, and following a guide to a hidden entrance – had been a grueling, multifaceted test in itself, designed to filter out the weak and the unprepared.
"So far," I thought, feeling an unexpected smile form on my face, genuine and filled with a quiet exhilaration, "this is actually pretty easy, but undeniably fun. Participating in a massively popular, infamous event that I only ever read about or watched..."
The 276th Hunter Exam was about to begin, and I felt a thrill course through me, a surge of anticipation mixed with readiness. I was here. I was number 143. I was ready.