"He'll die."
"What?! Are you messing with us?"
Leorio couldn't hide his shock this time. "What are you actually gonna do to him?"
"I told you," Kurapika replied calmly. "I'm going to awaken him."
"You're—"
Kurapika ignored him and looked down at Killua. "You ready?"
"Go for it," Killua said without a hint of hesitation.
"Good."
What followed was felt only by Kurapika and Killua.
From Kurapika's side, he released a dose of his nen into Killua's body.
As he'd said, this was his first time awakening someone. He'd practiced before, but only on inanimate objects.
'Let's see if I'm as good as I think.'
With that thought, he circulated the nen through Killua's body.
'Now, I need to pull my nen out sharply, but not too hard.'
He could feel Killua's body trembling slightly.
'This must be intense…'
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!"
Then came a thunderous scream from Killua.
"Hey, Kurapika—" Leorio started to rush forward.
But Gon grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
"Gon, don't you see—"
"Killua wouldn't want us to interfere."
Celeste, who had passed out from exhaustion earlier, jolted awake at Killua's scream. Seeing the scene, she could only stare in horror. "Blondie, what are you doing to your friends?"
For Killua, it was unbearable pain. As Kurapika had warned, he literally felt every pore in his body open, his energy pouring out in a flood.
'It's hard… to control all this…'
He tried to hold back the escaping energy, but failed. Second by second, he felt life slipping away.
'I have to…'
Even his consciousness was fading.
But just as the void threatened to take him, a figure appeared before him.
'Illumi…'
It was Illumi, his older brother, his trauma.
'"You'll never escape me, Killua."'
'"You'll never be free."'
'"You won't run from me or the family."'
Cold sweat poured from his body as he felt himself convulse.
'No, I… I… I…'
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!"
Another wave of excruciating pain hit. But against all odds, he stayed on his feet.
Illumi's image vanished, replaced by the end of a tunnel with a distant, glowing light.
'"What are you doing just standing there, Killua?"'
A voice called out. It was Gon, with his infectious smile.
'"Let's go!"' Gon added, extending a hand.
Killua stared at the offered hand, then at the light at the tunnel's end.
'I can… Can I really?'
'"What are you talking about? You coming or not? We're going together!"'
Killua's lips curled slightly, and he grabbed Gon's hand. Gon gripped it firmly, pulling him into a run.
One step, two steps, three steps…
The light grew brighter, and Killua's face lit up.
'Yes, I can be free. I am free!'
His eyes snapped open, and he found himself on his knees, drenched in sweat.
He raised his hands, seeing what looked like steam rising from them. His whole body seemed enveloped in a faint vapor.
"So, how do you feel?"
Kurapika had crouched to his level and asked.
Killua looked up at him. Like himself, Kurapika was surrounded by vapor, but denser and more stable.
"You see it now, don't you?"
At Kurapika's question, Killua opened his mouth. "So this is that power?"
Kurapika smiled and stood. "Yes, but you're only at the beginning. Before…" He paused and looked at Leorio and Gon. "Next."
With Leorio hesitating, Gon stepped forward.
Killua got up and turned to Gon. He could see vapor around him too, but it was thin and leaking heavily from the top of his head.
He stepped aside to make room. "I'll be waiting at the end of the tunnel, Gon."
Gon nodded and faced Kurapika with determination. "I'm ready too."
Kurapika nodded. "Let's do this, then. Don't die, Gon."
Gon closed his eyes as Kurapika placed a hand on his head.
Just like with Killua, he released his nen into Gon's body.
'Let's see how this goes with him.'
After coursing through Gon's body, Kurapika sharply withdrew his nen.
Gon's eyes flew open, widening, his mouth struggling to release a cry. He swayed briefly before steadying himself.
From Gon's perspective, it felt like his body was on fire.
'It hurts…'
His injuries amplified the sensation. His legs threatened to give out.
But…
'"I'm not going to kill you. ♣️ Not today. You're not… ripe yet. ♦️ But one day… oh, one day, you'll be a lion. And then… Then you'll be worth it. ♥️"'
Those words echoed in his mind.
Gon's fists clenched, his legs regaining strength.
'I have to get stronger!'
At that moment, the pain stopped, and Gon saw Kurapika's smile.
"Congratulations, you're awakened," Kurapika said.
Gon could see Kurapika's dense vapor and his own.
"It's wild, right?" Killua chimed in. "Like we've been blind this whole time."
Gon was awestruck, like a kid with a new toy.
"Incredible…"
"Alright, move aside," Leorio said, striding forward with bravado. "My turn."
The two boys cleared the way for Leorio.
"You'll do great, Leorio! Be strong! It hurts a bit, but it passes!" Gon cheered.
"Hmph! Who said I'm like you guys?" Leorio shot back confidently. "If you two pulled it off, why not me? I'm your senior, after all."
"Gon, he's gonna die," Killua said bluntly.
"You little—"
Leorio held back and turned to Kurapika, standing tall. "Go on, do your thing."
But Kurapika stood still and silent.
Seconds ticked by.
Everyone was baffled.
"Hey, Kurapika, what's the hold-up?" Leorio snapped, a bit offended.
"Kneel."
Another confusing statement from Kurapika.
"Huh? I…"
Leorio bristled.
"I need to place my hand on your head to awaken you," Kurapika cut in bluntly. He eyed Leorio up and down, pointing out their height difference. "As long as you're standing, I can't do it."
"Seriously?" Leorio asked, shocked.
Kurapika just shrugged.
In truth, Kurapika was lying. While placing a hand on the head was convenient for channeling nen into another body, it was just one of many possible methods.
'I don't know why I enjoy messing with him so much. Seeing his reactions in real life is even funnier than in the manga or anime.'
"Come on, Leorio, kneel. There's no shame in it," Gon urged.
"Dead standing or sitting, it's all the same," Killua added.
Leorio hesitated. "I could sit, then you'd be able to…"
"I need to stand during the process," Kurapika interrupted. "You in or not?"
Leorio clenched his fists and pursed his lips. He glanced at Gon and Killua, who seemed different, though he couldn't pinpoint why. His gaze returned to Kurapika.
"Just for two seconds, right?"
Kurapika gave a faint smile. "That depends on you."
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