Hunter X Hunter : The Boundary

Chapter 32: Runner's High

The running continued. The fog grew thicker, swallowing the horizon. Every footfall felt like stepping onto non-existent ground, a nerve-shredding sea of mud and mist.

Hisoka had vanished, but Ryan knew the danger had not passed. The magician would not abandon his hunt. I must suppress my presence.

A familiar, saccharine voice cut through the fog. "Don't run around wildly! I heard this is the safe route!"

It was Tonpa. He was at it again, gathering a group of disoriented newcomers with the practiced demeanor of a kind veteran. "This fog is too thick. Come with me, everyone. Keep your breathing steady, and you won't panic."

A few of the younger examinees, lost and desperate, began to follow him.

Ryan glanced at the path Tonpa was indicating. The ground surface was rising, a sign of backflow from an undercurrent. He's leading them into quicksand!

Tonpa wasn't just trying to eliminate one person; he was orchestrating a mass casualty event!

However, before he could do anything— another voice, sharp and urgent, called out from the front. "This way! I'm an Association Assistant Examiner! Follow my lead!"

A man in a hat and scarf stood there, his posture stiff. A fake examiner, Ryan noted instantly.

Almost simultaneously, a red-haired figure materialized from the mist. It was Hisoka. He stood silently, a playing card twirling between his fingers. "Are you really?" He purred, his voice a light, airy whisper that somehow cut through the fog.

The fake examiner froze. Hisoka's finger flicked.

Swish.

The playing card embedded itself in the man's throat. He fell backward without a sound, a splash of red swallowed by the gray.

"He killed him!" someone screamed. "It's Hisoka! Stay away!"

The crowd erupted, but Hisoka didn't pursue. He smiled and simply stood there.

Ryan watched, committing the scene to memory. I truly have no idea what's going on in this guy's head. The need to remain unnoticed deepened in his mind.

Then, his gaze shifted back to Tonpa. He couldn't rush out and expose himself. He had to be smarter. He stomped hard on a patch of loose mud, creating a small current that sent a branch sliding into a floating rock near Tonpa's feet.

Clack.

The sharp, sudden sound startled the group. One of the boys following Tonpa slipped on the rock. "Hey! Why did you push me—?!" "It's a trap!" "Don't move! The more you move, the deeper you sink!"

The trap sprung, but this time, Tonpa was caught in it, his face a mask of shock and fury. Ryan didn't wait to see the outcome. He was already moving, pace steady.

But others were not so lucky— a low, hoarse breathing sound came from his left. It was Ponzu. Her face was ashen, lips trembling, and eyes unfocused. She was on the verge of collapse. If she stopped, she would be eliminated. Or worse.

Ryan's role was not that of a savior— but he could change the outcome in the smallest way possible. He moved one step closer, narrowing the distance between them.

In a very low voice, as if mumbling to himself, he said, "Look at at your feet. Don't look into the distance. Don't stop."

Ponzu didn't respond, but her body trembled. Her wandering gaze returned to the ground. She took a deep breath and clenched her fists, her steps gradually becoming steady again as Ryan's figure flickered away, melting back into the mist.

In the distance, an examinee burst into mad laughter, then jumped into a pond and sank like a stone. Another ran blindly into a tree and was mercilessly trampled by the tide of runners behind her— Ryan ignored it all.

The most dangerous part of the journey was nearing its end. He knew that didn't mean he was safe. It just meant the real test was about to begin.