Swindler's Swamp

{Ren POV}

In about twenty minutes from when we reached the exit, a metal door closed shutting the exit.

Satotz- "Allow me to reiterate-- The creatures here are wily and their tricks are endless… and deadly. This is not their whim, but the basis of their entire ecosystem. That is why it is called 'Swindler's Swamp'. Follow me closely and stay focused. If you don't, you are lost."

Leorio-'Nice of him to warn us. Can't dupe someone who is on the lookout for tricks.'

"THAT'S A LIE! HE'S LYING!" shouted someone. The source was an injured man with tattered clothes. He limped out of the corner dragging a passed out humanoid monkey and said, "He's an imposter! He is not the real examiner! I am! He's one of the Wetland creatures-- The man face ape!! They lust after human flesh but are too weak of limb to capture prey on their own. So they disguise themselves and lead a crowd of humans to the wetlands where in cooperation with other creatures, they capture them alive. This time they are out to sweep the entire hunter application pool."

Hisoka was getting increasingly bored of this.

Suddenly, a few cards flew toward Satotz and the injured man. The injured man dies on the spot while Satotz just stopped them effortlessly.

Hisoka- "HeHeHe… I see…"

The humanoid monkey that they injured man was carrying immediately got up and fled only to be killed by Hisoka.

Random Guy- "That monkey was playing possum!"

"Now we know… He's the real thing," said Hisoka while looking at Satotz who dropped the cards he had caught.

Hisoka- "Examiners are Hunters who do this without pay at the request of the judging committee. A simple Hunter, which we ourselves aspire to become, would have no trouble dodging my attack."

Satotz- "I shall take that as a compliment. But the next attack on me, for any reason at all, will be grounds for immediate disqualification. Understood?"

Hisoka- "Sure… "

Immediately scavenger birds started to feed on the corpses of the two monkeys.

Satotz- "As you see, losing isn't pretty."

Leorio- "The law of the jungle… Is disgusting."

Satotz- "Nice ruse, saying I'm the imposter in order to confuse examinees into taking the wrong path -- right into their clutches. That's the sort of life-or-death deception that makes the swamp the perilous and fascinating place it is. Well, I'm sure many of you were starting to have doubts about me. Well, so much for that. To the second phase."

He once again started taking strides as we ran to catch up.

There are 311 examinees left.

Leorio- "Another blasted marathon."

Random Guy- "Running through the mud! Ick!"

A few minutes into the run, a thick Fog started to settle in.

Kile- "Let's get in front."

"Right, Gotta keep the examiner in sight," said Gene.

Kile- "And it will keep us away from Hisoka. He has killed and he wants to kill again. The fog will make a great cover for that."

"Leorio, Kurapika… You should get to the front!" Shouted Gene.

Leorio- "If I could I would Leorio!!!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the expression Kile made at Gene.

"Hey, what's so funny!" said a flustered Kyle. "It's nothing. Either Way, the fog's getting thicker." I say getting serious. I could sense the life force of many people vanishing. There were now less than a hundred people still alive.

"Ahhhhhhh" resounded Leorios voice. Shit, can't believe I forgot about this.

Ren- "You go ahead, I'll catch up with you all later."

Freya and I dash toward the source of the voice followed by Gene. She's pretty stubborn

When we reach their location, we could see a bunch of bodies impaled by cards all around us.

"Bastard! What are you doing!" said Kurapika.

Hisoka-"Playing Examiner..."

"I meant to hold off until the second phase but this first phase is utterly boring. So I thought I'd assist in the selection process and judge acceptability," said Hisoka reeking with killing intent.

Random Guy- "Judge us Yo-" Before he could finish, he was killed with a card to his head."

Hisoka- A lesson before dying gentlemen, a true magician never runs out of tricks.

A bunch of examinees attack him at once only to be killed in an instant.

"Tch, so many dropouts. Just you 5 left," said Hisoka while pointing at us.

Hisoka lunges at Leorio almost killing him. Just as he was about to kill him, Gene's fishing rod hits him in the head. Stopping him.

Hisoka- "Not bad. A fishing rod? How original."

While Hisoka was distracted, Leorio attempted to hit him only to be punched. Just before the punch could land, I punch Hisoka sending him crashing into a tree.

"Hisoka, I am in no mood to fight you right now. We can continue this another time if you want." I say to Hisoka who was struggling to get up."

"Hisoka, quickly get here, the second phase is about to start." A voice says from the transmitter on Hisoka.

Hisoka- "Guess, I have to- go… Let's do this another day."

Hisoka walks off into the mist as I say, "Gene, Leorio, Kurapika. Follow me closely. We need to get there quickly. The second phase is about to start.