Chapter 5
The Dance of Death
"Here we go, maggots!" Royoko said. "365 divided by 5 is 73. Yes, I was ordered to kill two of you! Anyways, there are 73 doorways in this hallway. Chose one, and enter with your group. After a group enters a doorway, the door will lock, so only one team can enter any given doorway!
"Behind the doorway is a hallway, which then splits into tunnels. It's a maze. In order to reach the end, you need to get through everyone in your path, including other teams! Only the FIRST TEN TEAMS to reach the end will proceed to stage 2. That's right, sissies! At least 315 of you will FAIL! Now, go find a door. I'll blow the whistle to begin. The door's locked right now so don't try to open it!"
Ging's team found a doorway. The door was labeled 58. They stood around the locked door, just as the other teams did.
"You have twelve hours to reach the end! You'll be going through levels of basements, so expect a long journey. And....." She blew into her whistle. "Begin!"
All of the doors opened simultaneously. Ging's headstrong nature resulted him to be the first to charge into the doorway, with List, Wdwune, Scarecrow, and the mysterious girl at his heels.
• • •
The five had been walking in near silence for ten minutes. The maze was dim. None of them knew if they were going the right way, but Ging's confident stride persuaded the others that he knew what he was doing.
"Excuse me." Scarecrow asked the mysterious girl, "What's your name? I don't believe we've formally met."
She gave him a hard glare. "Tell me your names first. And don't lie about anything." Her eyes glowed purple. "I can tell when you lie."
Scarecrow's stride slowed down. His face was coated with astonishment and worry. He must know something we don't. The three boys thought. And they were right. List, Ging, and Wdwune could not sense the intimidating aura that the girl was giving off. However, Scarecrow, possessing superpowers himself, could sense her Nen clearly.
"M..my name is..." Scarecrow humbly removed his straw hat. "Fumito Takeshi. However, everyone just calls me Scarecrow."
The revelation from Scarecrow, combined with the fact that the girl did not call him out for lying, convinced the boys that there definitely was something going on. They continued to walk straight with their backs to the girl and Scarecrow to avoid suspicion.
This girl... List thought. Her intimidation alone forced Scarecrow to reveal his true name- something he wouldn't tell us. Scarecrow is a trusting person. I could tell he trusts us and not her, but he is more truthful with her than us. He must know that her threat has something behind it. But why does he know that? What can he feel that we cannot?
"Cool." she said. "What about you three?"
List closed his eyes. "My name is List Reagan."
"Ging Freecss." the reckless teenager said.
"... Wdwune." he said. "Pronounced D-w-u-n, spelled W-d-w-u-n-e." Wdwune walked quietly, covering his solemn face in the shadows that the dim maze generated.
Quiet. List thought. That is a first. Is he intimidated as well? Is this how he acts when faced with a serious situation? If so, why was he so scared with those giant fish, but so serious now?
"Hey," Ging said, "why does everyone feel so tense and down in the dumps?"
List looked up. Nothing. He realizes nothing. Is he not as smart as Wdwune, or is this saying something about Wdwune's true mental level?
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Ging Freecss: A Hunter x Hunter Fan Fiction
FanfictionA fan-made story about the life of Ging Freecss, the adventurous vagabond and father of Gon Freecss, the main protagonist of Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter x Hunter. This story starts at Ging leaving Whale Island to take the hunter exam, through his adv...