Little place in the big woods

Getting accustomed to the poison wasn't so difficult for her, while, yes every movement hurt, she began to accept it for what it was, Hell. But, she had already escaped Hell once, she knew all the ins and out. The cries of pain, the starving children, and the previous owner of her new bone necklace. Mary had decided that with the power of nen she'd be the one in charge of Hell up on Earth, her toys would experience a ride like no other. One with a nice happy beginning, but ending with pain and sorrow.

Day 1 of the test was the easiest yet most challenging day for her body. Because of her cells needing to rapidly adapt to the poison and just over all being tired from the three days of training she had chosen to stay within the confines of the cave.

Despite being inside the seemingly safe cave, she felt uneasy, it was as though it was moving, consuming her. In fact, she could no longer recognize the stalagmites and stalactites around her.

"How curious, although I'm sure it's just my imagination, I think I'd be better off leaving and returning when night falls."

Marking the way to cave by simply scratching lines on the trees as she walked passed them her unease grew even stronger.

"Damn what's up with this forest!?"

Her shout was answered only by silence.

"He wouldn't leave me in a place I'm sure to die, right? Remembering his devious smile she shuddered, "No, he would, but I can't defend myself without knowing what's threatening me."

A few hours had passed and as Continued straight forward she noticed a few distinct marks on the trees ahead. "These are the marks I made, but I've only been going straight, that means that straight ahead should be the cave." She thought to herself. She ran as fast as she could straight, however when the marks on the trees ended there was no cave, it had disappeared entirely.

—————

In a room with a low amount of light two people could be seen observing Mary through an image made of nen.

"Thanks for agreeing to help me out with this, Zecht." Said a familiar looking man.

"No problem, besides with your Nen Ability I'd need to help you out regardless." answered a stout man with grey hair and green eyes.

"Your nen ability Forest of Illusions is perfect for training the runt, now lets see how she'll deal with the beast."

"You truly are mad aren't you? You couldn't beat that monster without your nen, so how do you expect her a, little girl, to without her nen and while being poisoned?"

"Quiet now, the shows just beginning, besides have a little faith, I've personally trained her." He said with a voice brimming with pride and confidence,

"Yeah like three days could be called training." Scoffed Zecht.

—————

"How!? It's only been a few hours since I've left!" Taking a deep breath Mary stopped to think, "ok, considering the fact that Uncle said that there was a beast that nullifies the effect of the poison from my bracelet, I can assume that there's probably a beast doing this to the forest. It must have some kind of special ability that allows it to control the earth or something of that sort. If it truly is the one doing this I have no chance at winning, it'll tire me out by changing the forest constantly, wearing down my mind as I slowly succumb to fatigue, plus the poison has already begun to slow me down. I need to conserve my energy, get ready for the cold night, and make a quick, temporary shelter."

Gathering a few large leaves and vines, she would make small holes within the large leaves and pull the vines through the holes to make a sort of tarp. Then, finding two trees close together she fastened the "tarp" to a few branches low to the ground to protect her against the wind. And finally Mary foraged the nearby area for anything edible, although with little understanding of the flora and fauna there was a chance she'd have eaten or found something poisonous.

The night was cold, and with it came blistering winds. Everywhere around her she could hear the same sound, the pitter patter of a small animals, however she did not waver, and with her face filled with determination to live she did the unthinkable. She fell asleep.

—————

"Ha! Seems as though you didn't really train her well."

"Zecht, she's just preparing for the future, you yourself knows how important it is to rest, besides if anything were to happen she'd wake up instantly!" Said Mary's "uncle" while hiding his red face with the darkness surrounded him. "Mary how dare you shame me like this! I taught you better!" He thought to himself.

"Well then while we wait for her to wake, how about a game of chess?"

"Get ready to lose Zecht I've been practicing since the last time!"

With a fierce passion he had gone and lost in just 5 moves.

"Checkmate, said Zecht, you didn't pay attention to my queen you fool."

"God Damn it! Let's play another one! The first one didn't count!"

"He wasn't always this childish, was he?" Wondered Zecht, "normally he's cold, and while honest he never really tells the whole truth, of course he's no liar his own ability forbids that. So, just what's his game?"

—————

6 am

Mary woke up and looked at the sun. "Guess I fell asleep, regardless it looks like the beast is one that doesn't leave its territory, most likely until I venture further into the woods it won't attack. After all, what idiot doesn't attack their opponent when they're wide open? A beast of course, although it's not like it's one of the beasts I'm accustomed to, hopefully."

——————

In the center of the forest a bird could be seen leaving a blonde hair on the ground, and as a silhouette was seen picking up Mary's scent. Zecht and Mary's uncle knew a true hunt was about to begin, with the pieces set it was time for the first move of the game and, as they say, "Fortis fortuna adiuvat."