Hunter x Hunter: Guiding Shadows

Orin squinted as the bright sunlight hit his face. The recruits had been herded to an open training ground, a sprawling park bordered by barbed wire fences. A narrow footpath circled the grounds, and a faded signboard at the entrance displayed a diagram marking the track's length—3 kilometers.

"Run around the track until I say stop!" Ezek's voice cracked through the air like a whip. He slumped onto a stool nearby, his ever-present smirk plastered across his face. "Oh, and you better be quick. Anyone too slow fails," he added, his voice dripping with mockery.

A staff member approached, handing each recruit a wristwatch. The display showed a countdown: 8:00. The timer began to tick.

"Run, you maggots!" Ezek barked again, though it was hardly necessary. The recruits bolted like startled deer.

Orin kept his pace steady, his long strides eating up the distance without pushing him to his limit. Around him, the sound of pounding feet, labored breaths, and occasional grunts filled the air.

"Hey, sleepyhead! Don't fall behind!" Nobu's voice rang out, teasing as he darted past Orin, his usual energy unflagging.

Orin ignored him, focusing on his rhythm. His breath synced with his steps, in and out, like a metronome. Beside him, Jake appeared, his voice calm despite the effort. "You've got eight minutes to finish each lap," he said, flashing a reassuring grin. "Keep it up."

"I'll keep that in mind," Orin replied, his own smile brief but genuine.

The first lap passed, and their watches emitted a sharp beep. The timer reset to 8:00, signaling the start of another round.

Time blurred as the laps piled up. Orin's legs burned with every stride, sweat dripped down his face, and his breath came in ragged gasps. By the thirteenth lap, the initial group of sixty had thinned drastically. Over twenty recruits had already dropped out, their watches flashing FAIL in red letters.

Ezek showed no signs of stopping. The sadistic bastard was actually smiling, reveling in their misery. Orin would have cursed him if he had the energy. He glanced at the others—faces pale, eyes wide with exhaustion.

As he crossed the line for the fourteenth time, the timer beeped again, but this time, it reset to 6:00. A collective groan rippled through the remaining recruits.

"Six minutes?" Orin muttered under his breath, his heart sinking. His legs felt like lead, but he forced them to move.

He pushed harder, his pace quickening as the seconds ticked away. When he reached the final curve, the timer displayed only twenty seconds. Desperation kicked in, and he sprinted, every muscle in his body screaming in protest.

He crossed the finish line just as the timer hit zero. The wristwatch emitted a new sound, softer than before, and the word PASS blinked in green on the display.

Orin staggered to his knees, his chest heaving as he gulped down air. Around him, only a handful of recruits remained—less than twenty. He glanced up to see Ezek's smirk widen as he surveyed the exhausted survivors. The trial had just begun, and more than half of them were already gone.

"Rest up! Next test begins in ten minutes!" Ezek's bark echoed across the open field. Orin staggered to the shelf, grabbed a water bottle, and took measured sips, trying to calm his racing heart.

"Glad you made it!" Jake said, walking up beside him. He grabbed another bottle, looking as composed as ever.

"Barely made it," Nobu snickered, leaning against the wall with a smug grin. His breaths were heavy, but his confidence hadn't wavered.

Orin glanced up at him but decided not to bite. Nobu had been a thorn in his side since their first fight, never missing an opportunity to remind Orin of his superiority. Still, Orin couldn't deny it—the boy was a natural. Nobu had completed the endurance test well ahead of most, a feat that was impressive even for someone two years older.

"What's next?" Orin asked Jake, his voice low. His legs still felt like jelly. "I don't think I've got another endurance round in me."

"Probably not," Jake mused, his tone light. "But with Ezek, who knows?"

Before Orin could respond, the man in question returned, followed by two staff members lugging a heavy machine into the clearing. The recruits fell silent, watching as it was set down—a punching machine, sleek and ominous, its screen blinking to life.

"Strength test," Ezek announced, his smirk widening. "250 points or higher, or you're out."

The recruits lined up, the tension palpable. Nobu was the first to step forward. His confidence was unmistakable as he squared up to the machine. With a sharp exhale, he delivered a powerful punch. The machine beeped, and the screen displayed 275. Nobu turned back to the group, grinning as if he'd already won the entire trial.

One by one, the recruits took their turns. Each punch was met with either cheers or groans, depending on the score. Seven of the first sixteen passed, with Jake delivering an impressive 310, the highest score so far.

Then it was Orin's turn.

Standing in front of the machine, he felt every pair of eyes on him. His chest tightened. He was the youngest here, the smallest. This wasn't his strength. He knew it. But he couldn't afford to fail.

Closing his eyes, Orin focused. His mind raced through everything he'd endured to get here—the hunger, the loneliness, the nights wondering if he'd ever escape his past. This trial wasn't just about strength; it was his chance to rewrite his life.

When he opened his eyes, a fierce determination burned within them. He stepped forward, planted his feet, and struck.

The sound of his punch echoed louder than the others. The machine beeped, and the screen lit up: 350.

For a moment, the clearing was silent. Then whispers rippled through the group.

"What the hell?"

"350? That's insane!"

Orin stared at his fist, a strange sensation tingling in his knuckles. He'd felt something in that moment—a surge of power, fleeting yet undeniable. It reminded him of something he'd heard once, a faint memory of unconscious Nen use.

"Passed," Ezek's voice rang out, tinged with disbelief. Orin snapped out of his thoughts and stepped back, joining the passed line.

Jake was staring at him, wide-eyed. Even Nobu's smug grin had vanished, replaced with a mix of shock and frustration.

Unbeknownst to Orin, another pair of eyes had been watching. From the shadows of an observation room, Jonathan Clemence leaned forward in his seat, his gaze fixed on the screen.

"Amazing," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "That wasn't just raw strength. That was… Nen."

Jonathan's lips curved into a smile, his mind racing. He'd thought the head's bastard, Jake, was their most promising recruit. But now, this boy—this Orin—might be the key to the Clemence family's rise.