The island trial had entered its final stretch. Less than forty-eight hours remained, and every participant felt the weight of the ticking clock. Alliances were fraying, strategies were shifting, and desperation loomed large. The air itself seemed to hum with tension, each rustling leaf or snapped twig a harbinger of danger.
…
Lucas Greystone sat cross-legged on a smooth boulder, nestled under the shade of a towering tree. The canopy above offered a brief respite from the relentless sun, but beads of sweat still trickled down his face as he focused intently on the blue, translucent screen floating in front of him.
"Status," he muttered, his voice steady despite the exertion of his intense training.
The familiar screen materialized before him, displaying his stats:
…
Name: Lucas Greystone - The last Assassin from a family of assassins
Age: 14
Level: 29
Attributes: Physical: 47, Spirit: 98, Aura: 1450
Nen Category: Conjurer
Nen Skills: Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu, Gyo
Points: 0
…
The journey to this point had been grueling. Over the past week, Lucas had faced beastly creatures and trained hard. His growth wasn't just physical—it was mental and strategic.
When his level had increased by four, the system had rewarded him with twenty points to distribute among his attributes. Lucas had taken his time to assign the points, meticulously testing the effects of each increment.
"This trial is almost over," he muttered, standing and stretching.
…
Deep within the forest, the swordswoman who was Lucas' target moved with the grace of a predator. The trees around her stood like silent sentinels, their leaves whispering secrets in the breeze. Her sharp eyes darted left and right, scanning the dense foliage for any sign of movement. She gripped her blade tightly, the weapon an extension of her very being.
Then came the gunshot.
The sound cracked like a whip, and she moved on instinct alone. Her body twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the bullet. Pain flared in her right arm as the bullet grazed her, tearing through flesh and leaving a thin, bloody line. She winced but didn't falter.
"Coward," she spat under her breath, narrowing her eyes. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the direction of the shot. Her feet barely touched the ground as she closed the distance.
Another shot rang out. This time, she was ready. She ducked, feeling the rush of displaced air as the bullet zipped past her head. And then, she saw him.
Rex stood amid the trees, his dark attire blending seamlessly with the shadows. His handgun was raised, its barrel still smoking. His left hand was in his pocket, and his eyes were cold and calculating.
The swordswoman didn't wait for an invitation. She lunged, her blade cutting through the air in a deadly arc. Rex sidestepped, his movements almost lazy, and the blade bit into the bark of a tree instead.
"You're good," Rex said, his tone mocking. "But not good enough."
He fired at point-blank range, but the woman twisted again, her sword sweeping upward to deflect the shot. Sparks flew as steel met lead, and she pressed the attack. Her blade sang through the air, striking again and again, but Rex was a master of GunFu. He dodged and redirected each strike with his knife, firing precise shots whenever an opening presented itself in close quarters. The battle was a marvel between two fighters.
Their battle was a blur of motion. Rex retreated, firing as he moved, but the swordswoman was relentless. Her strikes grew more aggressive, forcing him to stay on the defensive. Rex suddenly fired but the gun jammed showing that the gun ran out of bullets. He started reloading with a spare magazine in his left hand. The swordswoman found this opportunity and pressed for attack. She swung her sword multiple times but Rex either dodged or used the barrel of the gun to redirect with cold eyes.
Then, she overcommitted.
By now the gun was already reloaded and Rex had pulled the chamber so that the gun had live round. He then saw the opening and took it. Instead of blocking her next swing with his gun, he raised his knife. The blade caught her sword mid-swing, and in the same instant, he fired his handgun. The bullet struck her stomach, and she gasped, staggering backward.
Pain lanced through her body, but she wasn't finished. Summoning her remaining strength, she kicked Rex hard in the chest, forcing him back. She stumbled behind a nearby tree, clutching her wound as blood seeped between her fingers.
"Where are you?" she whispered, peeking around the trunk. The forest was silent, and Rex was nowhere to be seen.
Her breathing quickened. She turned to run, but the final gunshot echoed before she could take a step. The world blurred, and she collapsed to the ground.
Rex emerged from the shadows, his expression unreadable. He searched her body and found four badges. He pocketed them, his lips curling into a faint smirk.
"Mine badge is 3 points and with 4 badges, I have 4 points more," he muttered. "Enough to pass. No point chasing my target now. I should give the extra badge to Kael. He would then need to get 1 point more to pass."
He disappeared into the trees, leaving the fallen swordswoman behind.
…
Tristen crouched over his latest victims, a macabre grin plastered across his face. The bodies of a three-person team lay sprawled around him, their lifeless eyes staring into the void. Blood pooled beneath them, glistening in the moonlight.
"You all put up such a pathetic fight," he sneered, wiping his blade clean on one of the corpses. "I was expecting more. Disappointing."
The first kill had been easy. He had stalked the group for hours, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When one of them wandered off to relieve themselves, he pounced, slitting their throat before they could scream.
The remaining two had been more challenging but no less satisfying. Tristen's blade flashed in the darkness, cutting through flesh and bone with precision. The thrill of the hunt and the finality of the kill sent a shiver of ecstasy down his spine.
Now, he stood over their remains, laughing softly. "Where is that guy that caught my interest?" he muttered, gazing into the distance. "Where are you hiding? I've been looking forward to our meeting"
…
Inside a hidden cave, two figures sat beside a small, flickering fire. The martial artists had found the perfect place to lay low, and their conversation was low and measured.
"We were lucky," one of them said, stirring the embers with a stick. "Both of our targets were in the same team."
"Yeah," the other agreed, flexing their fingers. "And now we've got the points we need. No point risking anything more. We'll stay here until it's over."
They nodded in agreement, their confidence bolstered by their shared victory. Outside, the night deepened, and the trial edged closer to its end.
…
Under the massive roots of a colossal tree, Finn, Greg, and Lyra huddled together. The hollow base provided excellent cover, its thick walls shielding them from prying eyes.
"We're safe for now," Lyra whispered, her eyes scanning the forest outside. "But we need to stay vigilant."
Greg winced as he shifted his position, his muscles still sore from earlier battles. "We've got the badges we need. Let's not do anything stupid."
Finn nodded, checking his handgun. "Agreed. If we keep our heads down, we'll make it to the end."
The trio settled into a tense silence, their ears tuned to every sound outside. The trial wasn't over yet, and the dangers lurking in the darkness were far from gone.
…
Back to Lucas…
He is sitting and thinking about what kind of Nen ability to create.
When I learned I am a Conjurer, I was a little bit disappointed but I know if my ability is crafted well then under the right conditions which maximise my ability, I will be stronger than an Enhancer which is the most balanced type. Thinking about Conjurers and the rules that make their items or abilities amazing, I want an ability that is strong but adaptable. The first thing that popped up in my mind are cards. Special kind of cards. Yes, that would work. I will create an ability that allows me to create cards with special effects. But to make this ability really powerful I need to think about its restrictions and vow. What's more, this ability is adaptable as different cards will have different effects.
He closed his eyes and started focusing. His aura flaring up and increasing due to his w