Shuffle The Deck

Chapter 7 - New Heights

"Kurapika, Number 404 is the twentieth to pass."

"Killua, Number 99, is the twenty-first to pass."

"Delilah, Number 406 is the twenty-second to pass."

"Gon, Number 405 is the twenty-third to pass."

"Time elapsed: 71 hours and 59 minutes."

"Thirty seconds remain."

"Leorio, Number 403 is the twenty-fourth to pass."

"Tonpa, Number 16 is the twenty-fifth to pass."

"Time elapsed: 71 hours and 59 minutes."

Illumi stared blankly but contently as he saw her there, covered in soot and dust. Her hands were completely red, and it was covered in harsh blisters. They had completed the Third Phase as a team of six with Tonpa, who had fallen from the ceiling as the required sixth member. It involved choices, battles, and exactly fifty hours of waiting. But right in the nick of time, they made it and successfully passed the Third Phase.

Two were all that remained.

"Congratulations on escaping Trick Tower everyone," came the voice of Lippo, the prison warden and Examiner for the Third Phase. "All that remains now are the Fourth Phase and the Final Phase."

He pointed behind him with his thumb, directing it at a small island not too far away. "The Fourth Phase will take place right over there on Zevil Island. Now, let's proceed."

He snapped his fingers, and a man rolling a cart with a small box on it came into everyone's field of vision.

Lilah stood next to Killua while shooting Illumi smiles once in a while. She was sure he was happy she had made it through this Phase, though he had no doubt she would, no matter what.

"To begin with, I will need each of you to draw lots now."

Murmurs arose, proposing questions on what lots would do to proceed with the Fourth Phase.

"Lots?" Lilah looked confused and turned to Killua and Gon. They just shrugged their shoulders.

"Draw lots for what? What'll that decide?" Someone with a bow and arrow asked.

"Hm. Who you hunt, and who hunts you," came his voice, sounding a bit excited.

"In this box are exactly twenty-five numbered cards. Which means that one of the numbered cards will correspond with your badge. Now, each of you will draw a card in the order you exited the tower."

Lippo looked around a bit and then laid eyes on the box.

"Alright, which of you is first?"

Lilah looked around, seeing someone's body move. It was Hisoka.

He walked slowly to the box, Gon following him intensely with his eyes. She just paid attention to the wound on his shoulder, wondering how he had gotten it.

He drew a card and then turned around. His eyes darted straight at her, and she smiled in response. He turned away from her as her grin faded, staring at the blank card. There was a sticker that needed to be removed in order to see the number.

Illumi was next, and then a large portion of others.

Right after Killua drew his lot, she drew hers.

Her hand went inside the box, and she picked up a blank card. Eying it suspiciously, she went back to Gon and Killua, who were anxiously waiting to pull off the sticker. She was, too.