AWAKENING

A determined blond-haired man in a suit levels his handgun directly forward, his face set in a hard glare. "DON'T MOVE!" he shouts as a brilliant muzzle flash erupts. "AND I'M GOING TO DO IT PERSONALLY!" he adds with fierce resolve. In a tight close-up the pistol barrel fills the frame while a sweating man in a cap stares in shock, a jagged exclamation mark hovering beside his head. Gunfire suddenly explodes across a spacious hall. The massive onomatopoeia "バババババン!!" dominates the air as suited men and white-uniformed guards open fire on one another. Several figures clutch weapons and recoil from the barrage; others lie prone on the polished floor while spent casings and impact flashes scatter through the smoke-filled space.

Two white-uniformed guards stand with rifles lowered. Narration notes: "TO LET THEIR GUARDS DOWN AND STOP HAVING THEIR GUNS AT THE READY." An arrow points between them. Further text reads: "IT TOOK FOUR DAYS TO GET THE ROYAL ARMY..." Three successive panels show an ornate corridor and a lavish empty hall while narration continues: "HAD TO BECOME VICTIMS OF THIS...!!!" "BEFORE ANY OF THE OTHER PRINCES..." "BUT I MADE IT IN TIME...!!!" In a wide throne-room view, the blond-haired man in the patterned suit walks steadily across the checkered floor toward a lone seated figure whose back faces the viewer beneath a large landscape painting. The room is lined with framed artworks, antique furniture, and tall windows revealing trees outside.

In a lavishly decorated room filled with paintings, ornate furniture, and scattered bottles, a large bald man reclines in an armchair with his eyes closed. A suited man walks steadily toward him while holding a handgun at his side. A large painting of a radiant figure dominates the back wall. Someone shouts 'FATHER...!! ....' from off-panel. The suited man declares, 'LET'S END THIS...' Two close-up panels follow: the bald man's face with eyes shut and mouth slightly open, then the suited man's intense face as he aims the gun directly forward.

In a series of panels, Hui and the king exchange tense words. Hui says, 'NO, I'VE MADE IT IN TIME.' The king replies, 'YOU'RE LATE, HUI.' The king continues, 'YOU CONSENTED TO THE CEREMONY, HU.' Hui retorts, 'ABOUT IT BEING A DEATH-MATCH!!' and 'NO ONE EVER SAID ANYTHING...' The king responds, 'WELL THEN, THIS IS MY ANSWER. I SEE.' He adds, 'IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE PROCESS OF THE SUCCESSION WAR. THE ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGING SITUATIONS AND NEW FACTS AS YOU LEARN THEM IS ALSO A QUALITY NECESSARY IN A KING.' In the final wide panel, the king seated says, 'DECIDE HERE AND NOW...!' while Hui points the gun and asks, 'WILL YOU PROCLAIM THE SUCCESSION WAR TO BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED, OR WILL YOU BE SHOT BY ME?'

In an ornate room, a figure declares, "THIS SUCCESSION WAR BELONGS TO YOU... ALL OF YOU!" Another voice snaps back, "I REFUSE!" A calm reply follows: "THEN YOU CAN JUST TELL EVERYONE TO 'STOP.'" Hui, the bald man with a topknot, smirks and states, "THERE'S NOTHING MORE I'M ABLE TO DO AT THIS POINT, HALKENBERG. THE SUCCESSION WAR IS ALREADY OUT OF MY HANDS... IT'S PROGRESSING ON ITS OWN NOW." A massive close-up reveals the king's stern face as he growls, "THERE'S NOTHING MORE DISGRACEFUL THAN A HYPOCRITE WHO IS ALL TALK WITH NOTHING TO BACK IT UP, HUI..." and adds, "DON'T RELY ON OTHERS! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION, HALKENBERG...!!" Halkenberg, sweat on his brow, raises a pistol and declares, "I WILL STOP THIS ROYAL SUCCESSION WAR MYSELF...!! THROUGH REVOLUTION..." In a tight sequence, he aims and fires the gun. The final panel shows the weapon discharging with the words "FATHER ...!" and "FAREWELL..."

Halkenberg's face appears tense with sweat as he stares forward. The king sits elevated on a throne-like chair, his large form dominating the panel. A small glowing cube-like object floats near a bald figure's finger, marked with "SP" effects. A hand wearing a ring activates or interacts with the object amid motion lines. Halkenberg's shocked expression returns in close-up. The king, now seated casually with hand to chin, remarks, "IF YOU REALLY INTEND TO KILL SOMEONE, ALWAYS SHOOT THREE TIMES, HUI." and adds, "QUITE IMPRESSIVE ...BUT..." Another speaker states, "I HAVE A DUTY TO FULFILL, SO UNTIL IT'S FINISHED, I CANNOT DIE, HUI. AT THIS POINT, I'M A PART OF THIS CEREMONY, HUI." The king continues observing with a composed demeanor.

In a lavishly decorated room, a man in a suit reassures Prince Halkenberg that neither the prince nor his private army will receive any punishment or reprimand. He explains that preparations had already been made in their plans before departing to handle such cases as secret training exercises. A subordinate answers Yes, sir while another voice calls Nugui! Prince Halkenberg questions whether everything was within their calculations. The man suddenly raises a handgun to his own temple and asks In that case, what about this...? He then turns and fires at the seated bald man, the gunshot sending the bald man reeling as small reaction panels show close-ups of eyes and faces amid the chaos.

A massive, horned, winged Nen beast with fierce eyes and clawed hands materializes behind Shikaku, its enormous form looming as it grabs his head and arm while he still holds the gun. The beast's presence dominates the upper half of the page. Below, Hui, now with a changed expression, asks Have you awakened, Hui? and states that Shikaku's Nen beast seems to have a similar mindset to his own. A dropped handgun lies on the floor with impact marks. Shikaku stands holding the gun, facing Hui across the table under a bright circular light.

In an ornate room, Hui lounges while the king stands nearby. Hui laughs and says, "TWO CHOICES? HUHUHUHUHUHU, THAT'S NOT LIKE YOU AT ALL. THAT JUST PROVES THAT YOUR MIND IS WORKING NORMALLY, HUI." The king replies, "WHAT, YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY THAT MY TWO CHOICES ARE A RAILWAY WITH MY FELLOW PRINCES ON IT, OR A RAILWAY WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE KINGDOM ON IT? DO YOU KNOW OF THE 'TROLLEY PROBLEM'?" Hui leans forward intensely, pointing at the king and shouting, "THE ONLY QUESTION IS 'WHO' WILL PULL THE LEVER, HUI!! THE COUNTRY IS WHAT SHOULD SURVIVE! SO WITHOUT QUESTION, IT'S THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE CHOSEN, HUI!!" Close-ups show the king's stern face and Hui's determined expression. The king continues, "AND UNLESS YOU ARE KING, YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE COUNTRY, HUI...! WITHOUT ACCEPTING AND SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF KARMA, YOU CANNOT BE KING." In a wide shot, the king stands with his back to the viewer before a long table holding a large revolver. He says, "THEN BECOME KING FIRST, THEN SAY THAT, HUI...! IF YOU SAY WE DON'T NEED A KING..."

Shikaku jolts awake in bed, shouting "SHI-KAKU!! COME IN!! SHI-KAKU!! NGH..." Alarmed, he sits up and processes the situation. "REVOLUTION?! IT CAN'T BE... THE 9TH PRINCE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OPPOSED TO THE SUCCESSION WAR. THE SEAL... IS GONE! IT MAY HAVE ALREADY DISAPPEARED! AN ATTACK FROM THE PRINCE'S NEN BEAST...!!" He realizes, "THE 9TH PRINCE HAS GONE TO THE KING TO DELIVER HIS PETITION... I... WAS RESTING... YES..." Shikaku stands in a wooden room, noting "THIS IS SHIKAKU... I'M IN ROOM 1009. INDEED... IT IS STRANGE... THAT EVEN THOUGH THE 9TH PRINCE HAD GONE OUT... I WAS SLEEPING..." He adds, "I'M HEADING THERE NOW!! DON'T WORRY, THE KING IS SAFE." Footsteps echo as he moves. In a grand hallway, Shikaku runs toward the throne room, thinking, "BUT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, HE WENT THERE TO KILL HIS FATHER, THE KING. IT WILL PROBABLY ALL BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG, BEING CALLED A TRAINING EXERCISE..."

In a grand, echoing hallway lined with ornate doors and chandeliers, a large group of suited men stands rigidly in formation as heavy rumbling sound effects shake the air. A spiky-haired man in profile adjusts a small device and notes that the target has accepted his fate, yet he has failed. A close-up reveals a sweating, tense face with an earpiece. Below, the suited group is shown again amid swirling smoke as a voice declares that eliminating him is now the top priority. Another voice warns that Halkenberg has awakened and will likely dominate the succession war with full strength. The page ends on a dramatic close-up of Halkenberg himself, his face shadowed and intense, hands clasped before him as bold text proclaims the 9th Prince Halkenberg's ability and a shout demands to seize his power.

Halkenberg's subordinates stand ready while he forms a hand seal; his aura transforms into powerful unmatched armor that protects him and launches an arrow that pierces the enemy. A translator note references the game 'Yu-Gi-Oh! King of Games'. Halkenberg then draws his own aura into a bow and infuses his will into the arrow. Panels illustrate military might as the ability to change the will and system of an enemy nation using military might, with combat shown as using military might to eradicate the enemy's will. A figure in armor is struck by multiple impact symbols. The page closes on a large hand and the question of whether the resolve to face one's own death is the key to using this power.

Halkenberg releases his arrow in a massive burst of energy and motion lines. The caption states: "THE ARROW HE RELEASED... WILL PIERCE THROUGH ANY AND ALL MANNER OF DEFENSE THE ENEMY MAY HAVE AND TAKE THE 'WILL' FROM THE ENEMY'S BODY." A man in a puffer jacket reels from the impact, hand to his head. Below, a kneeling man with short hair desperately tries to activate his ability but fails, exclaiming "I COULDN'T EVEN... TURN INTO A CARD...!!" and "MY... POWER...!!" while asking "WHAT'S GOING ON..." In the background, two suited men point forward with stern expressions. A close-up shows a shocked face as narration explains: "IN OTHER WORDS... IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BODY OF ONE OF HIS OWN SUBORDINATES."

Halkenberg stands triumphantly amid swirling black energy fragments as narration declares his arrow guarantees victory in individual battles because it cannot be intercepted or defended against. A fallen document lies nearby. In an ornate hall, a suited attendant addresses someone as "...PRINCE..." while Halkenberg walks away from a collapsed figure. The puffer-jacket man lies motionless on the floor. Close-ups show the puffer-jacket man with intense focus as an unseen person commands "GIVE ME YOUR COMMAND....!" Dramatic sound effects "ズズズ" and "ズゴ" emphasize the moment.

A young boy with light hair stands facing forward in a formal suit, his expression serious. That along with a rumbling came a massive swelling of powerful aura. This is the second time. In a grand hallway lined with ornate windows, a man in a dark suit stands with his back to the viewer, facing a group of people. Several figures in suits and uniforms are scattered along the corridor. If that power is in fact coming from a single person, if they come after me I won't be any match for them. Right when I thought the silent assassin had settled down, now there's a loud oppressor? To better make note of exactly what date and time it occurred... I've got to get any kind of grasp or understanding on them I can...! Damn it...! Isn't there anything else I can do apart from sitting here on alert...?! A close-up shows the boy's eye with a bead of sweat. If I start feeling powerless, it's only going to have a negative effect on my Nen... No, everyone's already doing everything they can to account for everything possible! At the bottom of the page, against a dark, turbulent background, bold text declares: WILL BE MYSELF...!!! IN THIS WAR OF ATTRITION, MY WORST ENEMY...

A large, heavyset man with wild hair lies in bed, mouth open, fists clenched, his body covered in spots. He appears to be in distress or reacting strongly. Below, three women are on the bed: one with long dark hair kneeling and looking concerned, a short-haired woman with her back turned, and a woman with long hair pointing urgently to the side. In a small panel, a shooting star streaks across a night sky above a dark landscape. On the right, a man in a puffy jacket holds a phone to his ear with a serious expression while two other men behind him look surprised or alarmed.

Three close-up portraits fill the top of the page. A bald man with a long ponytail tied back stares ahead with a tense, downturned expression. Beside him, a young woman with shoulder-length wavy hair maintains a neutral, serious gaze. Next to her, another young woman with dark hair pulled back offers a faint, knowing smile. In the center panel, two flamboyant announcers burst into view with microphones in hand. A man with wild, spiky hair clutches his head in exaggerated shock while shouting into his mic, and a woman with her hair styled in multiple buns raises her arm high, beaming with excitement. Between them hangs an ornate framed portrait of a smiling man in regal attire. The lower half reveals a vast, opulent banquet hall packed with hundreds of formally dressed guests seated at round tables beneath grand chandeliers and heavy curtains. A caption declares the time and date: "8TH DAY OF VOYAGE, 8:00 PM." Another box states "THE BANQUET BEGINS." A final text box asks, "IS WHAT AWAITS BEFORE THE PRELUDE HOPE OR DESPAIR?" The page ends with the chapter number and "END."