Shadow of the Hunt

The light from the newly revealed doorway enveloped Kilua and Gon as they stepped through, and for a moment, the oppressive darkness of the labyrinth vanished. Instead, they found themselves standing in a long, narrow corridor. The walls shimmered like liquid silver, reflecting distorted images that flickered in and out like memories trying to surface.

Kilua tightened his grip on the orb, its glow steady but subdued. "What is this place?" he muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the corridor for threats.

Gon moved closer to one of the walls, his hand hovering just above its surface. "These... these look like scenes from my past," he said, his voice tinged with awe and unease.

Kilua frowned. "Don't touch it, Gon. This feels like another trap."

But before Gon could respond, the images in the walls began to shift and expand. The shimmering reflections solidified into vivid, moving scenes. One wall displayed Gon's memories: his departure from Whale Island, meeting Killua, and their battles together. The other wall showed Kilua's past—training with his family, moments of rebellion, and the weight of his family's expectations.

As they walked forward, the images grew more intense, more personal. Gon stopped abruptly, staring at a memory of himself as a child, crying in his room after being told about his father's absence.

"Gon…" Kilua began, but his words were cut off as the corridor's glow intensified, and the memories on the walls spilled out into the corridor itself, forming tangible illusions.

A spectral figure of Silva Zoldyck emerged in front of Kilua, his towering presence radiating authority and disapproval. "You think you can escape your destiny, Kilua?" the illusion said, its voice cold and sharp. "You are a tool, nothing more."

At the same time, an image of Gon's father, Ging, appeared before him, his back turned. "You'll never catch up to me," the figure said, his tone dismissive. "You're just chasing a shadow."

Kilua clenched his fists, his Godspeed flickering faintly as frustration built within him. "You're not real," he spat. "You're just another trick."

But the illusion of Silva stepped closer, its piercing gaze locked onto Kilua. "Are you so sure? Or are you afraid that I'm right? That no matter how far you run, you'll always be a Zoldyck."

Gon, meanwhile, felt his own anger boiling over. He stepped toward the illusion of Ging, his aura flaring. "I'm not chasing you for approval!" he shouted. "I just want answers! Why did you leave? Why am I not enough?"

The illusions smirked, their forms twisting and becoming more menacing. The corridor began to shake, and the walls closed in, forcing Kilua and Gon back-to-back.

"Stay focused!" Kilua yelled. "These things are trying to break us!"

"I know!" Gon replied, his fists glowing with Nen. "But it's hard when they're using our own memories against us."

The illusions attacked simultaneously, Silva launching a barrage of shadowy strikes at Kilua, while Ging's figure summoned spectral beasts to corner Gon. Kilua activated Godspeed, his lightning-fast movements evading Silva's attacks as he countered with precise, electrified strikes. Each hit caused the illusion to waver but not disappear entirely.

Gon faced the spectral beasts head-on, his Jajanken: Rock obliterating one of them in a burst of energy. But for every beast he defeated, two more appeared, snarling and lunging toward him.

"This isn't working!" Gon shouted. "They keep coming back!"

Kilua glanced at the orb in his hand, its glow pulsing in rhythm with the illusions' attacks. "The orb," he realized. "It's connected to this!"

Without hesitation, Kilua hurled the orb to the ground, shattering it into pieces. The corridor erupted in a brilliant flash of light, and the illusions froze, their forms dissolving into shimmering particles.

As the light faded, the corridor returned to its original state, the memories on the walls now dim and dormant. Kilua and Gon stood in the silence, breathing heavily.

"That was close," Gon said, his voice shaky but steady. "What was that about?"

Kilua looked at the shattered remnants of the orb. "This place is testing us. It's not just about survival—it's about breaking us emotionally. If we hadn't fought back, those illusions would've consumed us."

Gon nodded, his determination renewed. "Then we won't give it the chance. Whatever's waiting for us at the end of this, we'll face it together."

A new pathway opened ahead, its glow faint but inviting. Kilua and Gon exchanged a nod, their resolve unwavering, and stepped forward into the unknown.

..............

"Don't miss the chance to get advanced chapters of my novel for FREE! Just copy the link now and start reading!"

https://shorturl.at/3DZhG