Chapter 5: Prank War on Zevil Island
The third phase, Zevil Island. A survival game where applicants hunted each other for points, collected via badges. For Adam, it was a smorgasbord of potential deaths and skill acquisitions. He had his shiny new 'Minor Illusion' skill, his 'Basic Knife Proficiency,' his 'Basic Sailing Knowledge,' and his 'Enhanced Sense of Smell' (which, frankly, was more a curse than a blessing in a swamp filled with various decaying things).
" Okay, Zevil Island. The land of creepy crawlies, even creepier applicants, and enough opportunities to die to fill a dozen morbid Bingo cards. My goal? Find a few unique killers, preferably not Hisoka, and acquire some sweet, sweet skills. Also, maybe start that prank war I've been dreaming of. "
Adam found himself separated from Gon's group almost immediately, which was both frustrating (he wanted to protect them!) and convenient (more solo death opportunities!). He had his target: whoever had Hisoka's badge. And he had a new idea for how to get killed.
He wandered through the dense, humid jungle, his 'Enhanced Sense of Smell' picking up an overwhelming array of scents – fear, sweat, decaying leaves, and something vaguely metallic. He followed the metallic scent, which led him to a small clearing. Two applicants were locked in a tense standoff. One, a burly man with a large axe, the other, a stealthy-looking woman wielding a bow and arrow.
" Ooh, a standoff! Excellent! And look, an axe! Potentially a 'Basic Axe Proficiency' skill! Or maybe 'Stealthy Bowmanship' from the archer? This is like Christmas morning, but with more potential dismemberment. "
Adam, ever the chaotic neutral, sauntered into the clearing, whistling a cheerful tune. Both applicants immediately turned their weapons on him.
"Well, hello there, folks! Don't mind me, just passing through. Lovely weather for a murder, isn't it?" Adam said, giving them a bright, innocent smile. "Say, are you two having a disagreement? Perhaps I could offer my services as a completely unqualified mediator? I'm excellent at making situations worse, which, ironically, sometimes makes them better."
The man with the axe growled. "Get lost, kid, unless you want to be next!"
"Oh, how tempting!" Adam mused, pretending to consider it. "But I'm more of a 'victim' than a 'participant' in these sorts of things. Though, if you were to, say, accidentally swing that axe just a little too close to my head, I wouldn't complain. Much."
The archer, meanwhile, had an arrow nocked, aimed directly at him. "He's trying to distract us," she hissed to her companion.
"Distract you? Me? Never!" Adam scoffed, then decided to put his 'Minor Illusion' to the test. He focused, imagining a shimmering, illusory badge, a perfect replica of Hisoka's, appearing just above his own chest. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there, hovering like a taunting specter. "Besides, I've got my own little treasure. Though, I warn you, it's a bit… enchanting."
The burly man with the axe's eyes widened. "Hisoka's badge?!" He immediately shifted his attention from the archer to Adam, a greedy glint in his eyes. "Give me that!" He charged, axe held high.
" Yes! Finally! A good old-fashioned axe murder! This is going to be so much more satisfying than being turned into a pig-pancake. No offense, Great Stamp, but your skills were lacking in the 'oomph' department. "
Adam stood his ground, letting the axe come down. The illusion shimmered and dissolved as the heavy blade cleaved into his skull. It was instant, brutal, and surprisingly effective. Darkness.
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: UNIQUE DEATH DETECTED. SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATED. ** ]
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: ACQUIRED SKILL: [D-RANK SKILL] BASIC AXE PROFICIENCY. ** ]
" Oh, joy! Now I can be a woodsman! Or perhaps a very efficient butcher! What is it with me and sharp objects? Is the system trying to tell me something about my inner serial killer? "
Adam woke up, once again, in the inn room. He checked his head. Perfectly fine. He felt a newfound, instinctive understanding of axes – their weight, their balance, the swing mechanics. Great. He was now a master of various basic weapon types. A true generalist of mediocrity.
He spent the next few hours making his way back to the main group, using his 'Enhanced Sense of Smell' to track familiar scents (mostly Leorio's cologne, which was getting increasingly stale). He eventually found them, gathered with others, planning their strategy for the final days.
"Guys! Guess what?!" Adam burst into their discussion, a wide grin on his face. "I've discovered the ultimate survival hack for Zevil Island! It's all about strategic napping! The less you're awake, the less likely you are to be eaten by a giant spider! Pure genius, right?"
Kurapika sighed. "Adam, where have you been? We were worried."
"Worried? About me?" Adam feigned shock. "My dear Kurapika, I'm practically invincible! I'm like a cockroach, but with more charm. And a better sense of smell." He nudged Gon. "Did you know that Leorio smells faintly of desperation and unfulfilled dreams? It's quite distinctive!"
Leorio sputtered, "Hey!"
Killua, meanwhile, had found his target, Geretta. Adam knew this. And he knew Geretta had a particularly annoying Nen ability that involved traps. He saw an opportunity.
"Say, Killua," Adam whispered, sidling up to him. "I've got a challenge for you. Think you can handle a guy whose entire personality revolves around setting up painfully obvious traps? Because I think he's got a skill worth 'acquiring'. For science, of course."
Killua raised an eyebrow. "What are you planning, weirdo?"
"Just a little… mutually beneficial exchange," Adam said cryptically. "See that guy, Geretta? He's got a trick up his sleeve. And I, for one, would love to 'experience' it firsthand. For research purposes, naturally."
Killua, intrigued, decided to follow Adam's lead. They tracked Geretta, who, true to form, was setting up a rather elaborate, but predictable, trap. Adam watched, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Alright, Geretta!" Adam called out, stepping into the clearing. "I've heard about your legendary trap-setting skills! But I must say, this one looks a bit… elementary. Are you sure you're using enough tripwires? And where's the giant swinging log of doom? Disappointing, truly."
Geretta, startled, spun around. "Who are you?! And how do you know about my traps?"
"Oh, I have my sources," Adam said evasively. "But here's a thought: if you're going to set a trap, make it count. Something that really makes a statement! Like, 'I am a master of pain and suffering, and also, this trap is going to make you regret your life choices!'"
Geretta, incensed, triggered his trap prematurely, sending a volley of sharp darts flying. Adam, knowing exactly where they would land, adjusted his position ever so slightly.
" Here we go! Come on, give me that 'Trap Disarmament' skill! Or maybe 'Annoying Dart Projection'! Either way, I'm ready for my close-up. "
Several darts embedded themselves in Adam's chest and limbs. They stung, but were not immediately lethal. Geretta stared, surprised. "What?! Why aren't you going down?!"
Adam swayed, clutching his chest dramatically. "Oh, I am, I am! Just appreciating the craftsmanship! Very pointy. Excellent trajectory. A true work of art, really." He collapsed to his knees, eyes wide. "But I must admit… I was expecting more oomph. Maybe a little explosion? A catchy theme song?"
Geretta, frustrated and confused, rushed forward, pulling out a hidden, spring-loaded blade from his sleeve, intent on finishing him off. "You're infuriating! Die already!"
" Finally! A proper blade! This is much better than tiny darts. Let's get this over with, Geretta! I've got places to be, and skills to acquire! "
The blade plunged into his heart. The world went dark, but not before Adam heard Killua's surprised gasp from the nearby bushes.
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: UNIQUE DEATH DETECTED. SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATED. ** ]
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: ACQUIRED SKILL: [C-RANK SKILL] BASIC TRAP DISARMAMENT. ** ]
" Yes! Finally, something actually useful! Basic Trap Disarmament! Now I can diffuse landmines with a casual flick of my wrist! Or, you know, just avoid stepping on them. One step at a time, Adam. "
He was back in the inn room. He grinned. Three deaths down, three skills acquired. And one of them was genuinely good!
He checked his mental log. Basic Knife Proficiency, Basic Sailing Knowledge, Enhanced Sense of Smell, Minor Illusion, Basic Axe Proficiency, and now Basic Trap Disarmament. A motley crew of abilities, but certainly a start. He looked out the window, picturing Zevil Island. He knew the exam was almost over. The final phase awaited. And with it, more opportunities for chaos, pranks, and, of course, delightful demise.