The moment was tense, filled with the sound of clashing auras and the crackling of energy as the Greed Island veterans charged forward, clearly underestimating the group. The leader, with his cocky smirk, barked an order to his team.
"Take them down quickly. Don't give them a chance to breathe."
Gon's nen-infused punch had knocked one of the attackers to the ground, but the remaining players quickly surrounded the group, their own nen auras flaring brightly, creating a suffocating pressure. Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Yūka braced themselves, while Killua and Biscuit calmly assessed the situation.
The leader of the enemy group eyed Tanjiro and his sword with a sneer. "A swordsman, huh? What do you think that blade's going to do against nen?"
Tanjiro stood firm, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. His nen aura, fueled by his fiery hatsu, began to burn around him, a blend of red and orange flames flickering like a wildfire. "Let's find out."
Before the leader could reply, one of his subordinates lunged at Tanjiro, their fists glowing with energy. Tanjiro's breath slowed as he activated his Hinokami Kagura, letting his breathing sync with the flow of nen within his body.
"Hinokami Kagura, Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance!"
Tanjiro moved with blinding speed, his sword flashing through the air in a deadly arc. The combination of his nen aura and the power of his breathing technique created a devastating blow, knocking the attacker's aura out of balance. The man staggered back, eyes wide with shock.
"How is that possible?" he gasped, clutching his side as his nen barrier faltered.
Gon, seeing Tanjiro's attack, grinned. "Told you Tanjiro's strong!"
Killua, ever the tactician, zipped through the battlefield using Godspeed, his lightning-fast reflexes allowing him to dodge incoming attacks and strike back with deadly precision. His aura crackled with electricity as he landed blow after blow, his expression calm and focused.
"Stay sharp!" Killua called out. "These guys are tougher than they look."
Nezuko, her demonic aura blending with her nen, moved in sync with Tanjiro, their bond as siblings showing in the way they fought together. She dodged another attacker's blow with ease, her movements fluid and graceful, before countering with a powerful strike enhanced by her hatsu. Her opponent's nen flared briefly in defense, but the force of Nezuko's blow sent him flying backward.
But it was Yūka who caught the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
Standing at the edge of the fray, Yūka watched the battle unfold, her eyes narrowing as she observed the enemy players' techniques. She had been hesitant to use her full power—afraid of what it might reveal about her past and her connection to the cursed bloodline of her kingdom.
But now, seeing her new friends in danger, she knew she had no choice.
Closing her eyes, Yūka took a deep breath and activated her hatsu. Her aura, which had been flickering faintly, suddenly expanded, dark and shadow-like tendrils wrapping around her body. The temperature seemed to drop as her presence filled the battlefield, and for a moment, everything seemed to slow.
The leader of the enemy group froze, his cocky grin fading as he sensed the sudden shift in power. "What… what is that?"
Yūka opened her eyes, her gaze cold and focused. Her hatsu was unlike anything the others had seen before—an eerie, shadowy aura that seemed to distort the space around her. With a wave of her hand, the shadows twisted and surged forward, wrapping around one of the attackers and pinning him to the ground.
Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it carried across the battlefield. "Shin'en no Seirei… the spirits of the abyss."
The shadows around Yūka pulsed with power, responding to her emotions. They coiled around her enemies, binding them in place, and as they struggled, their nen auras seemed to weaken, drained by the oppressive force of Yūka's ability.
"She's nullifying their nen!" Biscuit muttered, her eyes widening in surprise.
Tanjiro glanced at Yūka, admiration flickering in his gaze. He had always known that Yūka was strong, but seeing her hatsu in action confirmed just how powerful she truly was. The shadows that surrounded her seemed to be a part of her—a manifestation of the centuries-old pain and sorrow she carried.
Yūka, her expression calm but resolute, kept her focus on the leader of the enemy group. He was struggling against the tendrils of shadow that had wrapped around his legs, his once-confident smirk replaced by fear.
"This… isn't possible," he growled, trying to break free. "What kind of power is this?"
Yūka's eyes narrowed. "You underestimated us."
Without another word, she raised her hand, and the shadows surged forward, overwhelming the leader and his remaining subordinates. Their nen auras flickered weakly before being snuffed out entirely, leaving them powerless and at the mercy of Yūka's hatsu.
For a moment, the battlefield was silent, the only sound being the soft rustling of the wind through the grass. The enemy players lay defeated, their auras completely drained, and Yūka slowly lowered her hand, her shadowy aura receding as she regained control.
Gon let out a breath of relief, his eyes wide with awe. "Yūka… that was amazing!"
Killua, though impressed, was more analytical. "You've got some serious power. But that ability… it's dangerous."
Yūka's expression softened slightly, the tension in her body easing as she nodded. "I know. But it's necessary."
Tanjiro, sheathing his sword, stepped forward, his gaze meeting Yūka's. "Thank you. You saved us."
Yūka gave him a small, almost hesitant smile. "I'm just glad I could help."
A New Enemy Observes
As the group regrouped after the battle, Biscuit crossed her arms and gave Yūka a long, thoughtful look. "You've got a lot of potential, Yūka. But like Killua said, your power is dangerous. You'll need to learn to control it better if you're going to survive here."
Yūka nodded, her expression serious. "I will."
Tanjiro, sensing the emotional weight Yūka carried, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll face this together. You're not alone."
Yūka's heart swelled at his words, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope. She had always carried the burden of her kingdom's downfall alone, but now, with Tanjiro and the others by her side, she felt that she could finally begin to heal.
Nezuko, ever silent but always supportive, gave Yūka a gentle nod, her eyes filled with quiet understanding.
As the group prepared to move on, Biscuit glanced at the fallen players and sighed. "That was just the first challenge. This game is full of traps and enemies, and they won't all be this easy to deal with."
Killua smirked. "Easy? Speak for yourself."
But even as they prepared to continue deeper into Greed Island, a figure watched them from the shadows—a player who had been observing the battle from a distance, hidden in the trees.
He was tall and imposing, his eyes cold and calculating as he watched the group with interest. His nen aura was powerful, controlled with the precision of a master. The smile on his face was small, but there was something predatory about it.
"So they're stronger than I thought," the man muttered to himself, his gaze lingering on Yūka in particular. "Interesting…"
Without making a sound, the figure turned and disappeared into the trees, his presence fading as quickly as it had appeared.
The Journey Continues
As the sun began to set over the landscape of Greed Island, the group continued their journey, their senses heightened after the battle. Though they had won, they knew that this was just the beginning of the challenges they would face in the game.
Gon, ever optimistic, turned to Biscuit with a grin. "What's next, Bisky? Where do we go from here?"
Biscuit, though impressed by their performance, remained cautious. "We need to find more cards—useful ones that can help us survive. There are plenty of dangerous players out here, and if you're not careful, you'll end up like the guys we just fought."
Killua glanced at the horizon, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of danger. "Let's move quickly. We don't want to get caught off guard again."
Tanjiro, walking beside Yūka and Nezuko, felt a growing sense of responsibility. They had entered this game not just to find clues about Ging, but also to uncover the secrets of the ancient curse that plagued Yūka's people. The power they had seen so far in Greed Island was formidable, but Tanjiro couldn't shake the feeling that something even more dangerous was waiting for them.
Yūka, still processing the battle and her use of hatsu, walked quietly beside Tanjiro. She felt the weight of her power—its danger, its potential—but also the support of her new friends. For the first time in centuries, she wasn't facing this burden alone.
"We'll get stronger together," Tanjiro said softly, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We'll survive this game, and we'll find the answers we're looking for."
Yūka looked at him, her heart warming at his words. "Thank you, Tanjiro. I believe we will."
As they continued their journey into the heart of Greed Island, the shadows lengthened, and the dangers grew more real with every step.
And though they had won their first battle, they knew that the true challenge was only just beginning.