Chapter 11 – Kindred Spirits
Outside, the moon hung high while stars scattered sparsely across the sky.
Without a storm in sight, the night was a serene stretch of black velvet, speckled with glittering stars. Their soft light draped over the ocean and the ship like a silvery mist—everything appeared dreamlike and beautiful.
But beneath that beauty lurked danger.
Clang!
Clash!
The sharp sound of clashing weapons rang through the night.
By the time Osren and Gon stepped out, Kurapika and Leorio were already locked in a fierce duel.
Blow for blow, they went at each other with equal ferocity. Leorio hadn't expected that this moody kid could fight so well, and Kurapika hadn't thought this scruffy older guy actually had some real skills.
In short, a grudging mutual respect was forming between them. As the saying goes: only those with true ability recognize and admire it in others. Without skill, there's nothing worth admiring.
"Not bad," Leorio said with a raised brow.
"You too," Kurapika replied.
Their eyes met in sync, and it was like sparks ignited in mid-air. One dashed forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, the other pounced like a tiger descending from a mountain—and once more, they clashed without hesitation.
Neither was willing to back down. Both were wholly focused, putting everything they had into the fight.
Smack!
In a swift exchange, Leorio's dagger came to a halt just beside Kurapika's neck, while Kurapika's short staff hovered mere inches above Leorio's head. A perfect stalemate.
They froze, weapons poised, locked in that moment for several heartbeats.
Then—"Hahahahaha!"
Both suddenly lowered their weapons and burst into hearty laughter, the tension melting away in an instant.
Watching them, Osren finally relaxed. He'd been a little worried earlier—without the convenient interruption, the two might have actually fought to the death.
And if it really had come to that, he would've had to step in. After all, both Leorio and Kurapika were solid allies, at least in the anime. Sure, Leorio could be a loudmouth, and Kurapika cold as ice, but those traits were shaped by their pasts. It wasn't something anyone else had a right to judge.
Osren subtly lowered his hand. For a brief instant, a dazzling flicker of red light flashed and vanished.
"Osren, that's great! I just knew they'd end up being good friends—just like us!" Gon said with a big grin.
"Yeah, not bad at all," Osren replied with a knowing smile. He turned to glance at Gon. Honestly, he was the impressive one. Though Gon could be a bit single-minded sometimes, his ability to cut through complexity and get straight to the heart of things was truly something else...
When there's conflict, just fight it out—once it's over, everything's settled. It's a simple truth, yet how many people truly grasp it?
"I never said we were friends," Kurapika and Leorio said in unison. Realizing they'd spoken at the same time, both scoffed and turned their heads away.
But that little moment broke the ice and brought the four of them closer together.
Not long after, they were laughing out loud, standing side by side, watching the island of Dolle grow larger on the horizon—each filled with dreams of a vibrant future.
"I want to apologize for earlier, Mr. Leorio," Kurapika said, gazing toward the coastline where a faint light was beginning to shine.
That dim glow seemed to pour sunlight straight into the turquoise sea. The once-cool waters felt alive with warmth, and Kurapika himself seemed transformed—no longer solemn and reserved, but full of energy.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Leorio, Kurapika," Leorio said, scratching his head in embarrassment. Then, growing serious, he added, "I owe you an apology too. I take back what I said about your clan."
Kurapika nodded. "Thank you."
Everything seemed to fall perfectly into place. As if on cue, Captain Red Nose came over with a surprise gift, strengthening the budding friendship even more.
"All four of you have passed," the captain announced with a smile.
Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, and Osren all lit up at the news. It was their first real step forward in the Hunter Exam.
Osren, who knew the story well, was even more excited—he knew that the most thrilling parts were still ahead.
As dawn broke, the Kaijinmaru docked steadily at the port of Dolle Island.
The remaining successful candidates disembarked all at once, eagerly asking around for directions to Zaban City.
Compared to the original storyline's humble trio, this large group felt like an upgraded deluxe version.
"Thanks, Captain. This trip was amazing," Gon said with a grin.
"Thanks for your hospitality," Osren added, hoping to coax the captain into spilling the shortcut to Zaban City.
He was especially eager to witness those "animals that can turn into humans." In the real world, supernatural beings were banned post-constitution. If people ever saw actual monsters, they'd bolt in the opposite direction without a second thought.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
"And I wonder," Osren mused, "can those beasts or magical creatures be eaten? What do they taste like?"
Just thinking about it made his mouth water.
"I've fallen," he thought with mock sorrow.
Ever since he gained the Face-Fruit ability, Osren had been spiraling into the abyss of food obsession. Every time he saw something new, his first thought was: Can I eat this? His second: What's the tastiest part?
As a proud Face-Fruit user, Osren figured he was destined to thrive on the path of a gourmet.
Kurapika and Leorio also came over to thank the captain for his care during the voyage.
Captain Red Nose was visibly pleased. "You've made it to Dolle Island, but the journey's far from over."
Once they nodded, he continued, "In fact, let me give you a little bonus info—as a special service."
"See that massive cedar tree over there on the mountaintop? Head in that direction and you'll find a shortcut to the exam site. If you understand, don't waste time—the test has already begun."
"Thank you, Captain!" all four of them said in unison, waving goodbye to the crew.
"But the cedar tree is in the opposite direction of Zaban City. What do we do now?" Leorio asked, frowning.
They gathered around a city map to figure things out. From the looks of it, Leorio wasn't wrong—getting to the tree meant taking a long detour.
"I don't think the captain would've pointed us to the tree for no reason. Let's vote—majority rules. Hands up if you want to head for the cedar," Osren said quickly, not wanting Leorio to get tricked into taking the trap bus.
"This sounds fun—I vote for the cedar!" Gon said, raising his hand immediately.
"I agree. I trust the captain," Kurapika added. Ever since he'd seen Osren make that mysterious sea-offering, he'd started to believe in him. There was something powerful and enigmatic about the guy—it just felt right to follow his lead.
"I never said I was against it," Leorio muttered, scratching his head and furrowing his brow. "If everyone's in, then let's go."
"The bus to Zaban City is leaving soon. The station's right over there," a sudden voice called out.
Osren looked up and saw a guy with short orange hair, a pair of sticks strapped to his back, and a sly grin on his face. It was clearly Matthew—the same guy from the original story who tricked Gon into carrying his stuff the whole way. He looked even more greasy in real life than in the manga.
In the original story, Matthew had succeeded because the trio had split up. But now that Gon had like-minded friends, strangers like Matthew weren't about to catch their attention so easily.
The four of them barely gave him a glance. The other three even shot him puzzled looks before dismissing him altogether.
"Alright, let's move out," Osren called, taking the lead.
---
.