HxH: I Will Be Supreme

The two Kurta clansmen left the city loaded with supplies. Oboro followed them over mountains and ridges, the journey taking nearly three days before they reached Kurta territory. His targets remained vigilant, taking deliberate detours and scanning their surroundings for fear of being followed.

The consequences of revealing the Kurta clan's location would be disastrous.

As he ventured deeper into their territory, Oboro discovered numerous cleverly concealed traps and mechanisms, though none hindered his progress.

Deep in the mountains, he perched atop a towering tree and surveyed the settlement below. Unique dwellings dotted the landscape, most built into massive tree roots. Roofs and porches bore the distinctive vine patterns characteristic of Kurta architecture.

The clan's reverence for nature was evident, their outward appearance peaceful. But it couldn't hide their warrior bloodline.

Over a hundred people occupied the settlement. Oboro concealed his presence until nightfall, when most had retired and only a few guards remained on patrol. Silently, he descended from his branch and moved like a shadow toward a particular building.

His observations during the day suggested that this larger structure housed the clan's archives, as he had seen people entering and leaving with books. A nearby guard noticed something amiss and lifted an oil lamp, but found nothing unusual and continued his rounds.

Centuries of persecution had taught the Kurta to be ever vigilant.

The darkness of the room was no obstacle to Oboro's vision. Rows of bookshelves and equipment lined the walls.

He picked a book at random and raised an eyebrow when he found it incomprehensible that the text wasn't written in the common script of the hunter world.

Right, the Kurta have their own language.

A quick search revealed a few texts in the common script, though they were mostly basic material about the outside world and other cultures.

Finally, he found a book he could partially understand, but only the pictures, not the text.

The pictures depicted various fighting stances and weapon techniques. "Of course, a clan that lives with such uncertainty must train everyone to defend themselves. This must be where Kurapika learned his basics." Oboro muttered. The martial arts seemed primitive to his eyes, of little interest.

He replaced the book and turned his attention to another volume. This one occupied a privileged position in the middle of the top shelf, isolated from other texts, its cover a distinctive scarlet.

The first page had a striking illustration: sun and moon hanging over small figures kneeling as if in prayer on vast plains. Strange breezes crossed the sky in the image.

The following pages contained dense text, but the last page bore a familiar gate pattern identical to those that adorned Kurta clothing.

"Could this really be the Gate to the Dark Continent?"

Oboro's pupils contracted.

If the speculation was correct, it would explain a lot. In the larger narrative, Kurapika's prominence couldn't be a coincidence. Whatever the outcome of the Kakin Empire's war of succession, some of those aboard that ship would reach the Dark Continent.

And Kurapika's role could prove crucial.

"Perhaps someone could translate."

His thoughts broke as he registered torchlight through the window behind him, followed by hurried footsteps.

"Come out!" a deep voice commanded.

"Discovered after all." Oboro sighed softly, turned and stepped outside.

He found himself facing dozens of armed clan members, various weapons pointed at him, several bows drawn to full tension.

Their leader was a small elder with a prominent scar on his forehead, hands clasped behind his back, a stern expression on his face.

The Kurta clan elder stood at the front, flanked by other clan leaders.

Women and children huddled in the background, protected by adults. Among them, Oboro spotted young Kurapika and his friend Pairo.

"Who are you? What is your purpose here?" The elder's face darkened when he noticed the book in Oboro's hand.

He spoke in the common language so that Oboro could understand.

"Perhaps I can explain?" Oboro shrugged, feigning innocence. "I am a scholar, fascinated by other cultures, especially after learning about your Kurta clan. Let me be clear, I mean no harm, merely seek historical knowledge. Understanding your wariness of outsiders and sympathizing with your past hardships, I could only act after nightfall."

His serious tone belied his outrageous statements.

"We do not welcome outsiders. Put down what you're holding and leave!" the elder barked.

"Scholars? Even with our limited contact with the outside world, no scholar wears a suit and tie. This man is clearly not a scholar.

The very presence of an outsider was an enormous risk.

"I will keep your location a secret. In exchange, may I have this book? A copy would suffice. Even better if you can translate it. I'll compensate you."

Oboro showed shamelessness of the highest order.

"Or let's make a deal. I keep the book, but I need to understand its contents and learn about your clan's background. Are you from Lukso? Or did your ancestors come from somewhere else?" 

The elder hesitated before snarling, "I'll say it again: put everything down and leave!"

"The negotiations have failed, it seems," Oboro sighed and tucked the book into his suit.

The elder's eye twitched at this impertinent act.

"I'll borrow this briefly. I'll return it when I'm done."

He unilaterally explained his decision.

Pure theft!

""

"You bastard!"

"Attack!"

The elder's command rang out.

The Kurta warriors rushed forward, arrows flying ahead of their charge.

No one expected their skilled warriors to suddenly fall to the ground as they approached their target.

The arrows struck, but bounced harmlessly.

Eyes in the crowd blazed scarlet.

Their aura intensified.

But the thief moved like lightning, a shadow slipping through their ranks. He appeared in front of the young Kurapika and time seemed to slow down. Oboro studied the boy and pressed something into his hand.

A gust of wind ruffled Kurapika's hair.

When he regained consciousness, the man had become a distant figure, darting like a phantom between massive trees before disappearing into the night.

"After him!"

The elder's voice carried barely contained panic.

Torch-bearing pursuers rushed in the thief's direction.

Kurapika looked down to find a pouch in his hand.

The Kurta clan would not sleep that night.

"Impressive. Though I held back, intending only to immobilize them, they resisted better than expected. As their eyes turned scarlet, their physical abilities increased significantly, and even without full aura control, some of them displayed remarkable sensory abilities. No wonder they made such an impression on the brigade."

Oboro's form ghosted through the forest. He looked back with a smile.

Even if he couldn't read the Kurta language, others surely could. At worst, there was always V5.

His instincts told him that this book had value.