Chapter 55: Into the Heart of Greed Island

The sun dipped below the horizon as the group descended from the mountain peak, the newly obtained Silent Ward card safely stored in their inventory. The cool night air carried with it a sense of calm, but the group remained alert. They had been on Greed Island long enough to know that danger could strike at any moment.

"We've collected a lot of useful cards," Gon said, glancing at the cards they had gathered so far. "But we still need more if we're going to complete the game."

Killua, his hands in his pockets, nodded thoughtfully. "We're making good progress, but we've also attracted attention. The stronger we get, the more other players will target us."

Biscuit, walking ahead with her usual air of confidence, glanced back at the group. "Killua's right. We're in the final stages of the game now, and the players left are going to be the strongest ones. We need to stay focused."

Tanjiro walked alongside Nezuko, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape. His senses were heightened, constantly alert for any sign of nen activity. "We've been able to handle everything so far because we worked together. We need to keep that up."

Nezuko, ever silent but fierce, gave a soft hum of agreement. Her glowing eyes flicked toward the distant horizon, always ready to protect her brother and their friends.

Yūka, though still recovering from the strain of her hatsu, walked quietly beside them. "The challenges are getting harder, but I feel like we're becoming stronger with each battle. We're learning."

Gon flashed a grin at her, his usual enthusiasm shining through. "Exactly! And with each card we collect, we're one step closer to finishing the game!"

Killua shot Gon a smirk. "Let's just hope we can keep up this pace."

A New Destination

As the group made their way down from the mountain, Biscuit consulted the map once more, her eyes narrowing as she examined the next location.

"There's a village not far from here," Biscuit said, pointing to a spot on the map. "It's known for its healing springs. If we're lucky, we might find some useful cards there."

Gon's eyes lit up at the mention of a village. "That sounds great! And maybe we can rest a bit, too."

Killua, always cautious, raised an eyebrow. "If it's known for healing, you can bet other players will be there, too. We'll need to be careful."

Tanjiro nodded, his expression serious. "We'll move cautiously. If there are other players, we need to be ready for anything."

The group agreed and set off toward the village, the path ahead winding through thick forests and rolling hills. The journey was peaceful at first, but as they drew closer to their destination, a strange tension began to fill the air.

Tanjiro's senses picked up on it first. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he sniffed the air. "There's something ahead."

Biscuit paused, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "What is it?"

Tanjiro frowned, trying to focus on the scent. "It's faint, but… there's a nen aura nearby. It feels… hostile."

Killua's eyes narrowed as he activated his Godspeed, his senses heightening. "Looks like we've got company."

Gon clenched his fists, his excitement tempered by caution. "Let's see who it is."

Ambush

As they approached the outskirts of the village, the group moved quietly, their senses on high alert. The faint glow of lanterns lit the path ahead, but the air was thick with an unsettling tension. Tanjiro's hand hovered over the hilt of his sword, ready to act at any moment.

Suddenly, from the shadows of the trees, a series of figures emerged, their nen auras flaring to life. There were four of them, each wearing dark cloaks that obscured their faces. Their nen was strong, radiating confidence and power.

"Well, well," one of the figures said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Looks like we've found ourselves some new players."

The group tensed, their instincts kicking in. Tanjiro stepped forward, his eyes locked on the strangers. "Who are you?"

The man chuckled, stepping closer as his companions spread out, surrounding the group. "We're just like you—players looking to finish the game. But unlike you, we don't plan on playing fair."

Killua's eyes narrowed, his Godspeed crackling faintly around him. "You think you can take us?"

The man grinned, his aura flaring brighter. "Let's find out."

Without warning, the man launched himself toward Killua with blinding speed, his fist glowing with dark nen as he aimed a powerful strike at Killua's chest.

But Killua was faster.

His Godspeed activated in an instant, and he dodged the attack with ease, moving like a bolt of lightning. In a flash, Killua was behind the man, his hand crackling with electricity as he delivered a precise strike to the man's back.

"Thunderbolt!"

The man cried out in pain as Killua's attack landed, but he quickly recovered, his eyes narrowing in anger. "You're fast, but it won't be enough!"

At the same time, the other cloaked figures attacked.

Tanjiro and Nezuko moved in sync, their instincts guiding them as they faced two of the opponents. Tanjiro's Hinokami Kagura flared to life, flames igniting around his sword as he slashed toward one of the attackers.

"Hinokami Kagura, Raging Sun!"

The fiery blade cut through the air, forcing the attacker to leap back, but Tanjiro didn't let up. He followed through with a series of swift strikes, each one aimed at exploiting his opponent's weak points.

Nezuko, her claws glowing with demonic nen, faced off against the other attacker. She moved with blinding speed, her movements fluid and precise as she dodged their attacks and countered with powerful slashes. Her strength was overwhelming, and her opponent struggled to keep up.

Biscuit, standing back, observed the fight carefully. "These players are strong," she muttered, her expression serious. "We'll need to finish this quickly."

Yūka, her shadowy hatsu flickering around her, stepped forward. "I'll bind their movements."

With a wave of her hand, Yūka's shadows surged forward, wrapping around the legs and arms of the nearest attacker. The shadows tightened, draining the enemy's energy as they struggled to break free.

"Shin'en no Seirei, Bind!" Yūka whispered, her voice calm but filled with concentration.

The attacker, caught off guard by the sudden binding, let out a growl of frustration. "What is this?!"

Gon, seeing the opportunity, charged forward with his nen flaring brightly. His fists glowed with energy as he prepared to unleash a powerful blow.

"Jajanken: Rock!"

With a resounding impact, Gon's punch slammed into the enemy, sending them flying backward into a tree. The force of the blow left the attacker dazed, their nen aura flickering weakly.

A Narrow Victory

The battle was fierce but quick. With the combined efforts of the group, the four attackers were soon defeated, their auras broken and their bodies slumped on the ground. The cloaked figures, once confident and threatening, now lay at the group's feet, defeated.

Killua wiped sweat from his brow, his expression calm but focused. "That was too easy. They were strong, but they didn't stand a chance."

Tanjiro sheathed his sword, his body still tense from the fight. "We've gotten stronger, but we can't let our guard down. There will be more players like them."

Nezuko stood silently beside her brother, her glowing eyes flickering softly as she watched the fallen enemies. She remained vigilant, always ready for the next fight.

Yūka, her hatsu fading, let out a breath of relief. "It's over, for now."

Biscuit crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the defeated players. "They weren't here by accident. Someone must have sent them to stop us from reaching the village."

Gon frowned, his usual excitement dimming as he realized the truth. "You think there's more of them?"

"There could be," Biscuit replied, her tone serious. "We need to be prepared for whatever comes next."

The group nodded in agreement. They had won this battle, but they knew the challenges ahead would only get tougher. As they continued toward the village, the weight of the game pressed down on them. The finish line was in sight, but the road ahead was filled with danger.

Together, they would face whatever Greed Island threw at them.