Chapter 1: Sea of Life & Death—Arrival in Meteor City

Mitene Union, Republic of Hass, Horiko City, 31. November 1989“Auren! Auren, wake up now!” an angry voice echoes through the room.

Auren opens his eyes, staring at the person in front of him.

He spots a middle-aged woman in her late thirties glaring at him, clearly annoyed, with visibly swollen bags under her eyes.

“Get up already! Your father and your brothers are already preparing for today’s trip! You’re six years old now. We gave you a few months after your birthday to get used to this life, but that grace period ends now. You need to learn how to fish—this is for your own future!”

“Why can’t I go to school? Luni is allowed to go! All my friends are going too!” Auren snaps back.

“Auren… women have it way harder. We can’t afford school for all of you kids. Your father is a great fisherman—he can teach you and your brothers a valuable skill that will set you up for life! Luni doesn’t have that opportunity, and I want my only daughter to have a good life! Now stop crying, stop complaining, and get moving already!”

This is so unfair!

Auren quickly gets down from the bunk bed and opens his tiny closet, pulling out one of the three sets of clothes he owns—just a pair of old pants, sewn together in multiple spots, and a slightly ripped shirt, all hand-me-downs from his older brothers. He doesn’t own a pair of boots. According to his father, a fisherman simply doesn’t need them.

He washes up and stares into the small, broken mirror. His blue eyes look empty. His black hair is long and unkempt.

He enters the kitchen and quickly devours a tiny piece of old, hard bread and a small bowl of lukewarm fish stew.

Finally, he leaves the house and walks toward the sea. Looking back, he feels nothing but contempt and hatred for that house.

Old, tiny, no privacy! I hate this so much! I hate this house, I hate that damn boat! The only thing I like about it is the ocean itself. I want to escape this hopeless life.

Along the way to the sea, he sees a few of his former friends heading toward the nearby school.

As he passes them, they snicker but say nothing.

Fucking assholes!! You’re not better than me!! I’ll prove it to you one day!

Auren reaches the coast of the small city, where hundreds of boats are anchored.

He immediately spots their old, broken-down family-owned boat. His father and brothers are already on it, preparing various pieces of equipment.

“Auren!” his father shouts. “Hurry up and clean! If someone slips because you slacked off, I’ll blame you!”

“Yes…” Auren mumbles.

“Father! The engine won’t start! It’s making weird noises!” Lora, Auren’s oldest brother, calls out, looking a bit worried.

“You should know by now! Just give it a damn kick and it works just fine! My buddy even replaced a few parts yesterday—this needs to fucking work,” his father curses, making his way toward the engine while Auren lazily swipes the floor, cleaning blood and other grime from yesterday’s trip off the boat’s deck.

Ten minutes later, Auren has cleared most of the dirt and sighs in relief, but suddenly hears a dull thumping sound.

What’s wrong? Is the engine really broken? Can we stay home?!

He quickly runs toward the engine, only to see his father violently kick it. To his shock, the engine actually starts, and his father laughs heartily. “SEE! I told you! You’d better learn how to do it yourself next time!”

Many hours pass, and Auren is now carrying fishing equipment and various types of bait toward his three brothers, his shirt soaked with sweat under the blazing sun, which is slowly cooking his small body. Meanwhile, his father is sitting around, relaxing, wearing a pair of cheap-looking sunglasses.

After delivering the gear, he walks over to their medium-sized supply barrel filled with fresh water. He pours himself a cup—already warm from the heat—and gulps it down instantly.

Delicious…!

Suddenly, a loud explosion rings out, and his vision fades. The last thing he sees is the sky with the blazing sun as he’s thrown into the water.

Auren regains consciousness. His lungs are filled with seawater. He coughs violently, nearly throwing up from how much he’s swallowed.

What happened?!

After a moment to recover, he desperately tries to swim toward the boat—but all he sees are scattered fragments of it. He grabs onto one of the larger pieces and pulls himself on top of it.

Where is everyone?!

“Lora! Numa! Daren! FATHER?!” he screams.

What now… I’m stuck. Are they dead?

Around a day later, Auren is still lying on what’s left of the fishing boat. Waves crash endlessly against it, drifting it into unknown waters.

I’m so thirsty… please… water!!!!! Please let it rain!

Another eight hours pass. Auren is hallucinating. The sun roasts his small body, leaving him unable to think clearly.

I need water!!! NOW!

Unable to endure it any longer, Auren greedily drinks seawater—only to instantly feel sick. He throws up, losing even more precious fluids.

I… feel lightheaded… I…

Auren slowly slips into unconsciousness, his mind drifting far away.

Will I die…?

At the brink of life and death, Auren feels his soul slowly leave his body.

He sees the vague shape of a person in front of him, way larger than himself, an adult. Auren sees him vaguely opening his mouth, but hears nothing. The person looks disappointed, before slowly dissolving into some kind of energy, entering Auren’s body, causing him to suddenly and violently get dragged back into his own body.

His eyes snap open for just a second. His head pounds, and it feels like he’s being shocked by powerful currents of electricity—but instead of energy, it’s information flooding into his brain. Exhausted, he shuts his eyes again, trying to process what’s happening.

Name… Jordan… no… I’m Auren! I’m 31 years old—no, I’m 6! Where am I? New York… no, I live in Horiko City!!

As his mind struggles to sort through this flood of memories, Auren suddenly feels something grab his legs.

In front of him are a group of elderly people in white robes, wearing hoods and masks, their eyes, partially hidden, locked onto him with greedy hunger—as if he’s holding a fortune just waiting to be claimed.

“This one looks fine. Washed up together with a broken boat. No damage, just a little worn out. Let’s sell him to the Elders! They’ve been asking for newcomers. This is a great find!” one of them shouts with joy. “I spotted him, and I'll take care of this deal. I’ll share the reward, don’t worry.”

Auren glances around and realizes the small chunk of boat he’s on has drifted onto a beach littered with old shipwrecks and garbage. Strange-looking people watch him from a distance.

Although confused about his situation, Auren suddenly feels a wave of confidence. New information now rests inside his mind, as if his consciousness has absorbed something more.

They want me alive. Fine… I’ll play their game. At least until I find a chance to escape.

“Wa…Water…! Please...!” Auren begs, his throat aching just from uttering the words.

“Fine, here you go, kid,” the elderly man, claiming Auren, says, pulling out an old metallic bottle and slowly pouring the water into Auren’s mouth.

Auren drinks greedily until the bottle is empty. Despite the foul smell and muddy taste, it feels like heaven. His body, dry and exhausted, absorbs every drop of the impure water. Somehow, it’s the most delicious thing he’s ever tasted.

Auren’s whole body tingles in ecstasy, a feeling he has never felt before, all because of a little bit of muddy water.

“Where am I?” Auren finally asks, desperate for information.

“Heh, you’re home, little one. You belong to us now. And in return, this entire country belongs to you. Welcome to Meteor City, kid!”

Meteor City? I… Hunter x Hunter?! What is this…? These memories—! I know these things… but only fragments.

He starts following the scavengers, who carry huge backpacks stuffed with junk. Every step hurts—without shoes, the trash beneath him cuts and stings his feet, small cuts opening up with every step, causing him to visibly struggle.

One of the female scavengers watches him for a moment, then digs through her bag and tosses Auren a small pair of used shoes. “Found these earlier. Looks like today’s your lucky day. Take them—my gift to you, child. Remember this: Our bonds here are thinner than water, and yet thicker than blood.”

“Thank you!” Auren says, quickly putting on the shoes. They’re a bit too large, but they almost fit, and it makes walking a lot easier.

This place… I’ve heard of it. Outcasts… forgotten people… surrounded by trash. How many of them exist? There should be 10 million! This is it. My new home. I feel nothing for my old life. Family? What’s that supposed to mean to me? I’ll forge my own destiny here. I’ve been given a gift—and I’ll use it. That’s all I can promise. Goodbye, Jordan, let’s do our best together as Auren!

I remember something: “We’ll accept anything you leave here, but don’t ever take anything away from us...” That’s one of the rules, right? What I need… is strength. To survive—and to become free. I need to learn… Nen!

As Auren becomes aware of his first goal, his body trembles. He doesn’t fully understand the feeling, but deep inside, a desire begins to bloom—powerful, raw, and unrelenting.

“Kid, don’t think we’re doing you dirty,” one of the scavengers says. “We’re taking you to an Elder. He’s a well-known swordsman. Specializes in Katanas. He offered a reward for any young students between four and eight years old. You look like a perfect match. If you obey him and train hard, you’ll get food, and you’ll learn how to fight. Sure, we’re getting paid—but honestly, this isn’t a bad deal for you.”

“That sounds good. Is the Elder strong?” Auren asks, feigning childish curiosity.

“He’s… strong. And scary. Just listen to him, don’t act up, or you’ll be in real trouble. He’s taking in a lot of students, but the dumb ones who refuse to obey him? Let’s just say they don’t have peaceful endings. I wonder why he is looking for exactly 24 this time? Anyway, do your best!”

A strict Elder looking for students... this is exactly what I need. If I obey, I’ll not only get food, but…

Auren gulps, licking his dry lips.

Water… and I’ll learn swordsmanship. Katanas, huh? Just like Nobunaga. Wait… who is Nobunaga again? These memories… I need more time to sort them out!

Climbing over mounds of trash, Auren finally spots a large, chaotic settlement in the distance. Trash piles, tents, shoddy houses, and worn-out buildings sprawl in every direction. Meteor City, thanks to its disorganized construction, seems endless—a nation of garbage with millions of people surviving despite, or maybe because of the trash around them. He passes by ramshackle homes built from debris, rusted metal, and rotting wood.

Everyone around him wears long, dirty robes. Half of them are clearly scavengers, digging through heaps or dragging wagons of junk, while the rest look like workers or people offering various services or selling recycled things. They walk for more than an hour through the foul, disordered streets.

Auren struggles to keep up, but endures in silence.

“Old Noga, you found a real treasure this time, huh? You’d better buy me a drink tonight!” a woman suddenly says, approaching one of the elder scavengers. Her bony fingers wrap around his waist as she clutches his robes.

“Fuck off, you disgusting old hag. You make me sick—and you’re banned from the bar after what you did last time! Move it, or I’ll tell the Elder you’re trying to steal his student!” the scavenger who gave Auren the boots snarls.

“Filthy old bastard… I’ll get you for this,” she mutters, backing off and giving Auren one last greedy look before walking away.

Eventually, they reach the center of town. The buildings here are larger and a bit cleaner, with much less trash around.

This looks promising, indeed!

Finally, they stop in front of a large mansion, with tall walls surrounding it, almost appearing like a prison. The elder scavenger knocks on the heavy wooden door.

A man—seemingly in his mid-sixties—opens it. He wears a crisp kimono and has a katana at his waist. Without saying a word to the scavengers, he locks eyes with Auren.

“Looks to be about six years old. Slightly underweight, but healthy. I see brightness in his eyes. Good. This one will do,” he says, pulling out a few bills and tossing them to the scavengers.

He then stares at Auren, ordering, “Follow me. Your training starts tomorrow. From now on, you are number 23. Do not disappoint me.”