The last thing Alex Thompson remembered was the glow of his monitor, Gon's furious scream echoing from the speakers as the Chimera Ant arc reached its peak. Then pain—sharp, sudden, like his heart had decided 25 years was enough. Darkness swallowed him.
When consciousness returned, it wasn't to hospital lights or sirens. It was to the crash of waves, the salty tang of sea air, and warm sand pressing against his cheek.
Akira—wait, that name felt right now—groaned and pushed himself up. His hands were small, calloused, not the pale office-worker ones he knew. He stared at them, flexing fingers that moved with unfamiliar ease. A child's body. Maybe twelve? Thirteen?
He staggered to the water's edge. The tidal pool reflected a boy with messy black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a face that screamed "troubled orphan from a fishing village."
Memories slotted in like puzzle pieces: Akira Kurogane, parentless since a storm took the boat years ago. Raised loosely by the village elders on Whale Island. No close family. No one to miss him if he vanished.
But he wasn't vanishing. He was here. In Hunter x Hunter. The world he'd obsessed over for years.
A soft chime rang in his mind, not audible but clear as day.
[Reincarnation Complete. Soul Integration: 100%. System Online: Omni-Power Enhancement System (OPES).]
A blue panel shimmered into view, semi-transparent, hovering at the edge of his vision like augmented reality.
Host: Akira Kurogane
Age: 12
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 14
Aura Affinity: Undetected (Nen locked)
Unique Trait: Infinite Adaptation – Observe, analyze, and master any skill, ability, or concept instantly. No limits on upgrades. No costs. No cooldowns.
Current Missions:
Primary: Survive and Integrate into Whale Island.
Reward: Basic Stats Boost + Aura Awareness Unlock.
Akira blinked. "OPES... Overpowered Enhancement System? You gotta be kidding me."
He laughed—quiet at first, then louder, echoing off the rocks. This wasn't some weak grindfest system. Infinite Adaptation meant he could copy anything he saw, improve it, stack it endlessly. In a world like this? He was going to be broken.
But he tempered the excitement. The original series started slow for a reason. Gon didn't become a god overnight.
Power without control was dangerous—Hisoka proved that. Akira needed to play it smart. Blend in. Learn the world before rewriting it.
First things first: food, shelter, information.
He wandered inland. Whale Island was exactly as depicted—lush forests, winding paths, small wooden houses clustered near the shore. Smoke rose from chimneys. The scent of grilled fish drifted on the breeze.
Near the center of the village, a familiar house stood out. Mito's place. And there, in the yard, practicing with a fishing rod—
Gon Freecss.
The protagonist himself. Spiky green hair, bright eyes, that infectious grin. He was casting his line into a small stream, reeling it back with perfect form. Even as a kid, his talent was obvious.
Akira hung back, observing. System, analyze Gon's fishing technique.
[Analysis Complete. Skill Acquired: Freecss Casting (Basic). Precision enhanced by natural instinct. Upgrade path available.]
He didn't activate it yet. Too soon. Instead, he stepped forward casually.
"Hey," Akira called, keeping his voice neutral. "Nice cast. You always this good?"
Gon turned, eyes lighting up. "Oh! Hi! Yeah, I've been practicing forever. Aunt Mito says if I catch the Lord of the Swamp, I can take the Hunter Exam!"
Akira smiled. "The Lord of the Swamp? That big fish everyone's scared of?"
"Yep! It's super strong. But I'm gonna get it one day." Gon tilted his head. "I haven't seen you around. New?"
"Shipwreck survivor," Akira said, sticking to the cover story his memories provided. "Washed up a few days ago. Been laying low."
Gon's face lit with sympathy. "Whoa, that sucks! You okay? Hungry? Aunt Mito always has extra fish!"
Before Akira could answer, Gon was already tugging him toward the house. "Come on! You gotta meet her!"
Inside, Mito greeted them with a warm but cautious smile. She eyed Akira's disheveled clothes. "Another stray, Gon? The island's getting crowded."
"He's from the mainland," Gon explained. "Storm got his boat."
Mito sighed but handed Akira a bowl of stew. "Eat. You look half-starved."
Over the meal, Akira listened. Gon talked nonstop—about the island, the sea, his dream to find his dad, Ging. Mito listened with quiet pride mixed with worry.
Akira shared little: lost parents, vague memories of the city. It was enough to earn trust without suspicion.
That night, in a spare room with a simple futon, Akira pulled up the system again.
[Daily Log: Integration Progress 15%. Side Objective: Bond with Gon Freecss – Reward: Minor Stat Increase.]
He thought about his trait. Infinite Adaptation. He could copy Gon's raw athleticism just by watching more. But rushing would make him stand out. Better to grow naturally at first.
The next morning, Gon dragged him out at dawn. "Fishing time! Let's see if you're any good!"
They hiked to a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. Gon set up his massive rod—the one that looked too big for a kid.
Akira borrowed a smaller one from the village. He cast awkwardly at first, line tangling.
Gon laughed. "Like this! Feel the wind, watch the water."
Akira observed closely. Gon's form was flawless—timing, wrist flick, balance.
[Observation Threshold Met. Adaptation Unlocked: Freecss Casting (Intermediate).]
He tried again. Perfect arc. The line sailed far, hook sinking cleanly.
Gon's eyes widened. "Whoa! First try?"
"Lucky," Akira said, shrugging. Inside: This is too easy.
They fished for hours. Gon caught small ones; Akira matched him, then surpassed slightly—never too much.
By afternoon, they sat on the rocks, sharing fruit.
"So... why the Hunter Exam?" Akira asked.
Gon stared at the horizon. "My dad left when I was little. He's a Hunter—the best kind. I wanna find him. Ask why he left. And... see the world like he did."
Akira nodded. In his past life, he'd envied Gon's freedom. Now he had a chance to live it.
"I get it," he said. "I don't have family either. Maybe I'll take the exam too. See what it's about."
Gon's face brightened. "Really? We could go together! That'd be awesome!"
Over the following weeks, a routine formed.
Mornings: Training with Gon. Running trails, climbing trees, swimming in the cove. Akira adapted subtly—Gon's stamina, his jumping power. Stats crept up.
[Strength: 12 → Agility: 14 → Endurance: 11]
Afternoons: Village chores. Akira helped fishermen mend nets, learning knot-tying. [Skill: Maritime Knot Mastery – Basic.]
Evenings: Stories around the fire. Mito shared island legends; Gon dreamed aloud.
One day, while exploring deeper woods, they found a hidden grove. Gon pointed to a massive tree. "That's where I practice jumping. Race you to the top!"
They climbed. Gon was fast—natural talent. Akira kept pace, adapting mid-climb. [Skill: Arboreal Agility – Intermediate.]
At the top, panting, Gon grinned. "You're getting better every day!"
Akira chuckled. "You're a good teacher."
But the system pinged.
[Milestone: Friendship Level 1 with Gon Freecss. Reward: Aura Sensitivity (Passive). You can now faintly sense life energy around living beings.]
Akira focused. A soft glow surrounded Gon—bright, pure. His own aura flickered weakly.
Nen. The foundation.
He didn't push it. Not yet.
Weeks turned to months. Akira grew stronger quietly. He adapted small things: better hearing from birds, sharper eyesight from eagles. Nothing flashy.
One evening, as sunset painted the sky orange, Gon sat by the shore, rod in hand.
"Akira... you think the Hunter Exam is hard?"
"Probably," Akira replied. "But worth it."
Gon nodded. "Yeah. I'm gonna pass. For Dad. And for everyone here."
Akira looked at his friend. In the original story, Gon left alone. Now? Two boys chasing the same dream.
[Primary Mission Update: Integration 80%. Prepare for Departure.]
The Lord of the Swamp waited. The exam loomed.
Akira felt the pull. Adventure. Power. The chance to stand beside legends—or surpass them.
But for now, he savored the quiet. The island. The friendship.
Because once they left... nothing would be the same.