Chapter 6: The Final Pursuit on Zevil Island
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: USER ADAM RICHTER. NEW OBJECTIVE: ACQUIRE 20 UNIQUE DEATHS FOR SYSTEM UPGRADE LVL 1. CURRENT PROGRESS: 5/20. ** ]
Adam, having just respawned from his "Trap Disarmament" acquisition, found himself back on Zevil Island, the humid air heavy with the scent of damp earth and his own burgeoning chaotic energy. His new ability, while undeniably useful, also felt a bit… passive. He couldn't wait to actually do something with it, like disarm a really elaborate, needlessly dramatic booby trap just to watch someone's face. But first, he needed more deaths. More skills. And maybe, just maybe, prevent Gon from getting himself permanently rearranged by Hisoka. Again.
" Right, Zevil Island, part two: The Electric Boogaloo. This place is a veritable buffet of death-by-wildlife and death-by-idiot-applicant. I need a skill. A good one. Something that screams 'I am vaguely competent in a crisis.' Not 'I can smell your fear from three miles away.' Although, to be fair, I can do that now. And Leorio? Buddy, you reek. "
He set off, 'Enhanced Sense of Smell' working overtime, which was both a blessing and a curse. He could tell which patches of jungle were inhabited by particularly smelly, dangerous beasts, but he could also tell exactly how many people hadn't showered in days. Hunter Exam hygiene was, apparently, optional.
He followed the faint scent of Gon's earnestness and Killua's faintly metallic, lightning-tinged aura. Along the way, he kept an eye out for potential skill donors. He heard a rustling in the undergrowth, followed by a startled yelp. A massive, venomous jungle snake, its scales a vibrant, unnatural green, coiled around a terrified, scrawny applicant. The applicant was clearly not long for this world.
" Aha! Bingo! A snake! And a venomous one at that! This is it! 'Poison Resistance,' here I come! Though, if it's 'Minor Snake Charm,' I swear to god, I'm going to find the system's customer service number and complain. "
Adam sauntered into the clearing, adopting his most unhelpful, annoyingly cheerful tone. "Oh, my! What a predicament! Looks like you're having a bad day, buddy. Is that snake being particularly rude? Because I find a stern talking-to usually works. Or, failing that, a dramatic monologue about the futility of human existence."
The snake, disturbed by the new arrival, turned its beady eyes on Adam, its tongue flicking. The applicant, meanwhile, was too terrified to even respond.
"Now, now, Mr. Snake," Adam continued, stepping closer, ignoring his instincts screaming at him to run. "Let's be reasonable. Do you really want to eat him? He looks a bit stringy. All bones and anxiety. I, on the other hand," he puffed out his chest dramatically, "am much more… flavorful. Full of sass and questionable life choices. And probably taste like chicken."
The snake, perhaps offended by Adam's culinary self-assessment, struck. Its fangs plunged into his arm, the venom immediately coursing through his veins. A burning sensation, cold sweat, dizziness. It was unpleasant. Very.
" Well, that escalated quickly. No philosophical detours this time. Just straight to the bite. Efficient, I'll give it that. "
Adam stumbled back, clutching his arm, a theatrical gasp escaping him. "Oh, dear! A bit nippy, aren't we? And here I thought we were having a lovely conversation about… you know… not being eaten." He managed a weak, self-deprecating chuckle before his legs gave out. The world swam, then dissolved into black.
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: UNIQUE DEATH DETECTED. SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATED. ** ]
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: ACQUIRED SKILL: [C-RANK SKILL] POISON RESISTANCE (LOW). ** ]
" Ha! Called it! Poison Resistance! Finally, something that might actually save my butt! Though 'Low' isn't exactly confidence-inspiring. Does that mean I can only survive, like, a really weak venom? Or just feel slightly less awful when I'm dying from a strong one? Details, System, details! "
Adam reappeared in his trusty inn room. He checked his arm. Not a mark. But he felt a subtle, almost imperceptible shift in his body, like his immune system had just gotten a minor software update. He took a deep breath. He still needed more unique deaths. He was only at 6/20.
He made his way back to the main group, finding them arguing about their strategy for the final day on Zevil Island. Gon was determined to get Hisoka's badge. Adam, knowing the sheer danger, decided to try a subtle nudge.
"Alright, guys, listen up!" Adam announced, bursting into their conversation. "I've had a revelation! The best way to get a badge on this island is not through direct confrontation. It's through… psychological warfare!"
Leorio scoffed. "What are you talking about now, kid?"
"Simple!" Adam declared, pulling a handful of small, smooth stones from his pocket. "We use my newest invention: the 'Invisible Badge of Shame'!" He held up a stone, focusing his 'Minor Illusion' on it. The stone shimmered, then, for a brief moment, seemed to transform into a crudely drawn, oversized Hisoka badge with "KICK ME" written on it in glittery letters. It flickered and vanished. "See? Imagine if your target's badge suddenly looked like that! They'd be so disoriented, so emotionally compromised, they'd just hand over their real badge out of sheer embarrassment!"
Gon, surprisingly, looked intrigued. "Wow! Can you really make something like that?"
"With practice, my friend, with practice!" Adam beamed. "It's all about focus and a healthy dose of pure, unadulterated chaos." He then leaned into Killua. "Besides, I heard Hisoka's allergic to glitter. Just a little tip from yours truly."
Killua snickered, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "You're seriously weird."
"It's a gift," Adam deadpanned.
As the final hours of Zevil Island dwindled, Adam kept his eye out for more targets. He spotted another applicant, a swift, agile man who seemed to rely on sheer speed to outmaneuver his opponents. Perfect. Adam needed a speed-related skill.
" Okay, Adam, this guy looks like he could outrun a startled squirrel. If I can get him to kill me, maybe I'll get 'Enhanced Agility' or 'Quick Steps.' Anything but 'Super Speedy Toenail Growth,' please and thank you. "
Adam approached the agile applicant with a swagger. "Hey there, Flash! Looking a little winded? You know, running is all about form. Have you tried doing it backwards? Or perhaps on your hands?"
The applicant ignored him, focused on a distant target.
"Come on, don't be shy!" Adam insisted, then decided to go for the jugular. He used his 'Minor Illusion' to make the agile man's own badge seem to float away, just out of reach, shimmering tantalizingly. "Oh no! Your precious badge! It's escaping! It's probably going to join a circus!"
The agile man stopped, his eyes wide. He frantically grabbed at the empty air where his badge should have been. He looked at Adam, then back at the phantom badge. His face contorted in rage. "You little demon! You did this!" He lunged, a blur of motion, his fist aimed at Adam's head. He wasn't using a weapon, but his speed and precision were dangerous.
" Perfect! A good, clean, fast punch. No messy weapons this time. Just pure, unadulterated speed! "
Adam didn't even try to dodge. The punch landed squarely, shattering his nose and sending him sprawling. The pain was sharp, intense, and over quickly. He felt his consciousness fading.
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: UNIQUE DEATH DETECTED. SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATED. ** ]
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: ACQUIRED SKILL: [D-RANK SKILL] ENHANCED BALANCE. ** ]
" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Enhanced Balance?! I just took a lightning-fast punch to the face, and I can now walk a tightrope better?! What in the actual hell, System?! I wanted speed! Not 'less likely to trip over my own feet' ability! This is just… infuriatingly random! "
Adam jolted awake in his inn room, a phantom ache in his nose. He sat up, shaking his head. Enhanced Balance. What good was that? He tried standing on one leg. Surprisingly easy. He could probably stand on his head with minimal effort now. Excellent. He was going to be the most balanced corpse on Zevil Island.
He returned to the island, feeling a familiar mix of annoyance and morbid amusement. He now had 7/20 unique deaths. Not bad. The exam was nearing its end. He still needed more. He knew the next phase would offer plenty of opportunities.
As the sun began to set on Zevil Island, signaling the end of the third phase, Adam couldn't help but feel a strange sense of accomplishment. He'd died, he'd gained skills, he'd annoyed several people, and he hadn't yet accidentally gotten Gon killed. A productive day, all things considered. He caught up with his group, the tension in the air palpable. The final phase awaited. And Adam was ready to die again. Metaphorically, and literally, of course.