Chapter 25: Thunder and Fire
"Test us? Hahaha, utterly ridiculous!" one examinee sneered, pointing at Hisoka.
"In this thick fog, once separated from the examiner, we're doomed... There's no way to find the chief examiner who's already disappeared."
"So, like us, you'll be eliminated!"
"Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to test us?"
The moment the words left his mouth, a playing card pierced his throat.
Hisoka narrowed his eyes, gazing at the group of examinees. "Frogs in a well, so ignorant. Don't lump me together with you."
"As a parting gift, let me tell you this: a magician can do anything!"
Tap.
Faced with the fear of death, one examinee instinctively took a step back.
They had witnessed Hisoka's strength and terror before.
"Don't be afraid! No matter how strong he is, he's still just one person," a clever candidate shouted, stepping forward.
"Right, he's not some four-armed, eight-headed monster. If we attack together, he won't be able to defend every angle."
Others chimed in, rallying courage.
But beasts walk alone; only sheep and cattle herd together.
Hisoka watched them, surrounded yet showing no fear. A neurotic smile spread across his face as he muttered to himself, "How many cards should I use to deal with you? Such a headache... Hehehehe!"
"Decided. Just one will do."
"Kill!"
Over a dozen examinees brandished their weapons, charging at Hisoka from all directions. Their attacks covered every possible escape route, leaving no blind spots.
At the same moment, Hisoka drew a single card from his deck, pinched it between his fingers, and extended his arm, spinning in a full circle.
Like a dance of death.
A thin crimson line appeared in the air.
Then, over a dozen heads soared skyward, blood gushing forth like fountains.
Hisoka stood at the center, allowing the blood rain to drench him. He spread his arms, tilted his head back, and wore an expression of utter ecstasy.
"Truly... truly exquisite..."
He reveled in slaughter, in the scent of blood.
This is the world's most terrifying magician, Hisoka.
Just then, two people happened to run to this spot and witnessed the scene before them.
Simultaneously, expressions of terror appeared on both their faces.
"Leorio, let's split up and run!" Kurapika said in a low voice.
...
"This efficiency is truly too slow," Mord murmured softly after casually decapitating a Man-faced Ape.
After fighting for half a day, he had only gained a few dozen experience points.
Although there was no risk for Mord, they were still in the middle of the exam, and time—the most crucial factor—had to be considered.
Mord looked up at the large tree before him and suddenly wondered if striking a tree with lightning could start a fire.
Gonryōmaru!
Mord extended his right hand, and the Zanpakutō materialized.
"Roaring Thunder!"
A bolt of lightning erupted from the Zanpakutō, striking a distant tree and splitting it in half.
At the point of impact, flames burst forth with a "whoosh."
Trees act as conductors, connected to the earth. When lightning strikes a tree, it instantly heats the object to an extremely high temperature, causing thermal effects such as melting, ionization, expansion, and combustion.
This is the principle behind lightning-induced fires.
Mord had initially thought that starting a fire in such a foggy environment would be difficult and had prepared to try multiple times.
Unexpectedly, he succeeded on the first attempt.
Forests shrouded in thick fog are generally not prone to catching fire. However, once a forest fire starts, the water vapor in the fog can actually fuel the flames.
3Fe + 4H2O = Fe3O4 + 4H2↑
C + H2O = CO↑ + H2↑
Whether it's the hydrogen or carbon monoxide generated from the water vapor, both are combustible.
Following the same method, Mord unleashed a series of lightning strikes on the ancient trees around him.
Soon, the flames ignited all the surrounding trees and shrubs, and because they were in a dense forest, the fire spread rapidly.
Judging by the situation, if not contained in time, it could even engulf the entire Trick Tower Wetland.
"The Hunter Examination Association will likely send someone to stop it. Burning the entire wetland is probably impossible, but destroying this small patch of forest shouldn't be a problem."
"Now, it's time to get back to business."
Grinding experience!
A glint flashed in Mord's eyes as he watched one ferocious beast after another charging out of the sea of flames. A cruel smile curled on his lips as he gripped his Zanpakutō and charged toward them.
Fear of fire is an innate instinct for wild animals.
Even the ferocious beasts in the Trickster's Wetland were no exception.
In the face of the raging flames, their ferocity was clearly suppressed, and with no trees to hide behind, their deceptive tactics were greatly diminished.
Mord leaped lightly, sheathing and unsheathing his blade in one motion, severing the head of a Noggin Lugging Tortoise.
Mord stood alone in the sea of flames, his Zanpakutō in hand.
Like the Grim Reaper.
...
The fire grew increasingly intense.
Finally, it caught the attention of the other examinees in the Trick Tower Wetland.
Hisoka knocked Leorio unconscious with a single punch. For daring to turn back and confront him directly, Hisoka had refrained from killing him.
Whether it was out of respect for such courage or because he could see the latent potential in Leorio remained unclear.
"Don't worry, I didn't kill him," Hisoka said to Gon, who had rushed over to help his friend.
He glanced back at the spreading flames behind him.
He hoisted the unconscious Leorio over his shoulder.
"This fire, coming from who knows where, is about to reach us. If we stay here any longer, we might not be able to leave."
Hisoka chuckled, then turned and walked forward, his figure gradually disappearing into the thick fog.
"Gon!"
"Where's Leorio?!"
Kurapika, who had also returned, didn't find Leorio but instead saw Gon and urgently asked.
Gon explained what had just happened to Kurapika.
After a moment of thought, Kurapika said, "Hisoka once mentioned he would act as an examiner, meaning he's evaluating us. Based on what you just said, Hisoka must have deemed Leorio as having passed his test."
"In that case, he should be safe for now."
"Let's get out of here. This mountain fire, wherever it came from, is about to spread."
Gon nodded.
"Wow, this fire is really intense."
Just as Gon and the others were about to leave, a figure emerged from the sea of flames.
"Brother Mord, I didn't see you earlier and thought something might have happened to you," Gon said happily, looking at the suddenly appearing Mord.
Mord brushed the soot off his clothes and looked into the distance.
"It's about time. We should hurry and catch up."
"Yeah!"
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