[ Location: Hawkins - Frostwell Home Gym ][ Date: December 15th, 1984 - Saturday Morning ]
Thwack. Thwack. CRACK.
My shin slammed into the heavy bag. The leather didn't just ripple; it indented, groaning under the impact of enhanced bone density and a month of frustration.
"Taekwondo form... improving," I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow with a towel that smelled like lavender detergent. "Though I still kick like a donkey with a limp."
It had been a month since the Gate closed. A month of "normal."
Murray Bauman's report had dropped like a nuclear bomb on the media.
Chemical Leak. Barb Holland. Justice. Hawkins Lab was shut down faster than a Blockbuster on a Tuesday morning. The military had packed up their trucks, their guns, and their secrets. Dr. Owens had given us the nod and left, presumably to go find a job where twelve-year-olds didn't lecture him on structural engineering and basic ethics.
And I had been busy.
I walked to the mirror wall to check the damage. My look was evolving. My shoulders were wider, my stance grounded. Boxing and Taekwondo classes at the local dojo (paid for with my parents' "hush money" to keep me from 'wandering off') had sharpened my reflexes. I wasn't just a glass cannon anymore. I could take a hit without crumbling like a wet biscuit.
I flexed my arm. It wasn't Schwarzenegger, but it was definitely not "Average 13 year old" anymore.
'System. Status. Don't disappoint me.'
[ User: Vivan Frostwell ][ Points: 3,732 ][ Telekinesis: Level 10 (Mastery: MAX). ][ Magic: Level 2 . ][ Metamorphmagus: Mastered. ]
I focused on the dumbbell rack in the corner. 'Lift.'
The entire rack—300 pounds of iron, steel, and rubber—floated into the air. It was effortless. No strain. No nosebleed. Just a thought, light as a feather. I spun the rack in mid-air like a top.
'Upgrade Telekinesis. Come on, System. Give me Level 11. Give me "City Crusher" mode.'
[ Error: Evolution Requirement Not Met. ][ Requirement: ??? (Must absorb external Psionic Source or High-Grade Energy Source). ]
"Of course," I sighed, dropping the rack with a heavy CLANG that probably woke up the neighbors. "There's always a paywall. What do I need? An Infinity Stone? A Tailed Beast? The heart of a star? You're a greedy algorithm, you know that?"
Ding!Ding!Ding!
The Chat Group interface exploded with notifications, hovering in the air like a neon billboard, interrupting my rant.
[ Mission Alert: World 19 (Hunter x Hunter) - "The Hunter Exam". ][ Participants: Lelouch vi Britannia, Lloyd Frontera. ][ Objective: Dominate Phase 1 & Secure 90% of Available Loot. ]
'Secure loot? In a marathon? Oh, this is going to be a disaster. The Tactician and the Scam Artist. In a world where people eat hearts for breakfast.'[ SYSTEM ANALYSIS: WORLD OVERVIEW ][ Downloading World Data... ]
World Name: Earth-287 (Hunter World) Power System: Nen (Life Energy/Aura Manipulation). Power Levels:
Rank E (Civilian): Non-Nen users. Zero threat.
Rank D (Amateur Hunter): Basic physical enhancement. Low threat.
Rank C (Pro Hunter): Nen unlocked. Versatile abilities. Medium threat.
Rank B (Phantom Troupe/Zoldyck): Elite assassins. High lethal potential.
Rank A (Zodiac/Royal Guard): Calamity class. City destruction capability.
Rank S (Meruem/Netero): God-tier. Run.
Society & Locations:
Hunter Association: An elite organization that governs exploration and hunting. Highly influential.
Key Cities: Zaban City (Exam Site), Yorknew City (Mafia Hub), Meteor City (Lawless Zone).
Major Dangers:
Magical Beasts: Kirikos, shapeshifters, and giant fauna.
Nen Users: Individuals with unique, rule-bending powers (e.g., bungee gum, conjured chains).
The Clown: A specific individual (Hisoka) who enjoys fighting strong opponents. Avoid eye contact.
I grabbed a water bottle, sat on the bench press, and tuned in. 'Avoid the Clown. Solid advice.'
[ Video Mode: Active ]
The holographic screen flickered to life. It showed a dark, damp tunnel. The air was thick with tension and the smell of unwashed bodies. The First Phase of the Hunter Exam.
Lelouch stood near the back of the pack. He looked sleek in his Zero outfit (minus the helmet, thank god—he was wearing a high-collared black coat instead). He was scanning the crowd with calculating violet eyes, his Geass surely active under a contact lens.
"Fascinating," Lelouch muttered to himself (and the stream). "The atmospheric pressure here... it's heavy. Is this Nen? It feels like intent made manifest. I wonder if I can Geass the examiner into giving us a pass..."
And then there was Lloyd.
Lloyd Frontera was wearing his shovel on his back. He was vibrating. Literally vibrating. He was looking at the other applicants—deadly assassins, martial artists, weirdos in clown suits—not with fear, but with hunger.
Lloyd Frontera (Admin): Look at them! Look at the muscle density! Look at the rare weapons! If I sell that guy's sword, I can buy a small island! If I sell that guy's kidneys, I can buy a medium island!
Vivan Frostwell: @Lloyd Frontera Lloyd, please don't try to harvest organs during the exam. It's frowned upon.
Sosuke Aizen: Let him. I am curious to see how the 'Nen' system reacts to pure, unadulterated greed. It might manifest as a Specialist ability.
Esdeath: The Admin looks weak. He has no stance. No aura. He will be eaten by the first beast they encounter.
Lloyd Frontera (Admin): Eaten?! I am the apex predator of commerce! Watch this!
Lloyd approached a nervous-looking applicant (Number 404).
"Hey, buddy," Lloyd grinned. "Nice badge. Want to buy some insurance? It covers accidental death, dismemberment, and being turned into a chimera ant. Only 500 Jenny!"
The applicant backed away. "Get away from me, creep!"
Lelouch stepped in, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Lloyd. Please. We are trying to blend in. You are acting like a street vendor in a war zone."
"Blending in doesn't pay the bills, Lulu!" Lloyd turned to Lelouch. "You think this revolution of yours is free? Pizza costs money! Mechs cost money! I am funding your dreams!"
Lelouch sighed. "I have Geass. I don't need money. I need you to stop looking at people's pockets."
Suddenly, the examiner, Satotz, blew the whistle. "The exam begins."
The running started.
Two hours later. They were still running.
Lelouch was panting, sweating buckets. His physical stats were... well, he was a noodle.
"This... is... inefficient," Lelouch wheezed. "Why... are we... running? I have... a knightmare frame... in my inventory..."
Lloyd Frontera (Admin): Run faster! Time is money! Also, if you pass out, I'm looting your coat. It looks expensive.
Lelouch glared at him. "You are... a demon."
That triggered it.
Lloyd stopped running. He turned to the camera. He turned to Lelouch.
He made The Face.
It wasn't just a grin. It was a facial contortion that defied physics. His eyes bulged out of his skull like a pug in a pressure chamber. His mouth twisted up past his ears, revealing too many teeth. Veins popped on his forehead in the shape of dollar signs (I swear). Snot might have been involved.
He looked like a goblin that had eaten a lemon, a soul, and a winning lottery ticket all at once.
Lloyd Frontera (Admin): DEMON?! I AM AN ANGEL OF PROFIT! LOOK AT ME! AM I NOT RADIANT?!
Lelouch recoiled, tripping over his own feet. "WHAT IS THAT?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR FACE?!"
Ryomen Sukuna: ...That is the most cursed thing I have ever seen. And I am the King of Curses.
Sosuke Aizen: Are you a Hollow??
Esdeath: Disgusting. Kill it.
Ding!Ding!Ding!
The System interface turned bright red. Sirens blared in my head.
[ SYSTEM ERROR: ANOMALY DETECTED IN PARTY COMPOSITION ][ Scanning... ]
[ Subject: Lloyd Frontera. ][ Analysis: Facial Geometry exceeds parameters for "Human" or "Humanoid". ][ Re-Classifying Subject... ][ Entity Identified: HELL DEMON / CHAOS SPAWN / ELDRITCH HORROR. ][ Threat Level: EXISTENTIAL. ]
"Wait, what?" I choked on my water. "The System thinks he's a monster because he's too ugly? That's hilarious."
[ Protocol 666 Initiated: Admin Privilege Revoked. ]
[ Deploying "The Knight" for Containment. (Temporary) ]
A beam of holy, golden light struck the tunnel in the Hunter x Hunter world, blinding the other runners.
When the light faded, a figure stood there.
Javier Asrahan. The Legendary Knight. The Dragon Slayer.
He was wearing his full armor. He held his sword, ready for battle.
But he was also wearing fuzzy pink slippers. And holding a mug of coffee that said "#1 Mom".
He looked around the tunnel. He saw the running applicants. He saw Lelouch on the floor.
And he saw Lloyd's face.
Javier's shoulders slumped. The aura of a legendary hero vanished, replaced by the aura of an underpaid, overworked babysitter.
He sighed. It was a long, deep sigh that carried the weight of a thousand lifetimes of dealing with Lloyd's bullshit.
"Master," Javier said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "Please stop making that face. Otherwise everyone will thinks you are a monster again. "
Lelouch vi Britannia: Wait. Who is this? Why is he wearing slippers?
Lloyd Frontera (Admin): JAVIER! YOU'RE HERE! EXCELLENT! ATTACK HIM! ATTACK THE EXAMINER! STEAL HIS MUSTACHE! IT LOOKS VALUABLE!
Javier Asrahan: No.
Lloyd Frontera (Admin): I COMMAND YOU! I AM YOUR LORD!
Javier Asrahan: You are a menace. And you are scaring everybody.
Javier turned to Lelouch. "I apologize. He gets like this when he smells opportunity. Just... don't look him in the eye. And don't sign anything."
Lelouch vi Britannia: ...Noted.
Vivan Frostwell: @Javier Asrahan Javier! Big fan! While you're there, can you teach Lloyd how to smile like a human being? He looks like a constipated gargoyle.
Lloyd Frontera (Admin): SHUT UP, VIVAN! I AM BEAUTIFUL! MY MOTHER SAID SO!
Javier Asrahan: Your mother also drinks heavily, Master.
I burst out laughing, falling off the bench press. I was laughing so hard my ribs hurt.
'This group. This group is going to kill me before the Mind Flayer does.'
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