Hunter × Hunter chapter 264: Break-In — what is in it
Chimera Ant arc · 16 pages · 16 characters
Key facts in this chapter
Pouf is shown reacting to the address 'Your Majesty'. Pouf disobeys the King's orders in this scene. Pouf heads toward the throne room on the third floor.
A dragon dive attack is occurring over the building complex. The attack targets ants on the ground near the domed structures.
Pitou uses En ability Pitou loses sight of two targets Targets are hidden behind glittering dragons Targets have completely suppressed presence
Pitou senses sharpened to utmost limits Pitou reacts to threat against his king Pitou is guided to intruders by enhanced senses
The curly-haired figure has visible pointed ears and wild hair. The muscular man wears a shirt marked with the number 9.
The ability is named Terpsichora. It is a nen ability manifested when Pitou fights at full strength.
Netero requires only 0.1 seconds to shift from manifestation to attack. Pitou detected Netero's voice within that split second. Netero addresses Pitou as 'little ant.'
Pouf is seated on a throne with dragon carvings. A large clawed hand holds an ornate lantern near Pouf. Pouf compares the death experience to a revolving lantern.
Netero discusses the unpredictability of his aura flow. A martial-arts phenomenon named Shinteki Ken-chou is mentioned. Netero is shown eating while explaining his combat philosophy.
Netero possesses a technique named Hyakushiki Kannon. A character compares their relationship with Netero to yin and yang. Netero's longevity and mental state are discussed by another character.
A figure with long flowing hair and striped clothing reacts violently, wings flaring as the name 'YOUR MAJESTY' rings out in large letters. The character turns ferocious, body twisting with intense motion lines and impact marks. A narration box states 'With utter disregard for punishment...' while another declares 'Pufu turns ferocious!!'. Below, the scene shows the figure diving or moving rapidly past a multi-tiered building structure. A text box explains 'Pufu dis-obeyed the King's orders and headed towards the throne room on the third floor.' Exclamation marks and motion lines emphasize the sudden, defiant action.
Pouf
01
A grand building complex with multiple domed towers stands under a pitch-black sky streaked with countless white motion lines. The structures feature rounded roofs, spires, and rectangular windows along their bases. Large text on the left reads 'Dragons fill the night sky and attack the ants on the ground!!'. On the right, a glowing circular burst contains the words 'DRAGON DIVE!!!'. The entire upper sky is filled with radiating speed lines suggesting a massive aerial assault descending upon the area.
02
The curly-haired figure releases his "En" to prepare for battle after sighting the enemy, but the action backfires. As a result, Pitou's eyes widen in alarm. "WHERE ARE THEY!?" he shouts. With their presence completely suppressed and their bodies hidden in the rear of the group of glittering dragons, Pitou lost sight of the two. "..."
Pitou
03
Close-ups show Pitou's eyes widening then narrowing. "But..." With a fierce grin revealing sharp teeth, Pitou reacts to the threat against his king. Faced with the threat to his king, Pitou's six senses, now sharpened to their utmost limits, guided him to the intruders with ease.
Pitou
04
Amid a torrent of slashing white streaks like a downpour of dragons, a figure with wild curly hair and pointed ears leans forward in shock, one arm raised and mouth open wide. Behind and above, a muscular man with short hair, a beard, and the number 9 on his chest tumbles through the air, body angled as if falling or propelled at high speed. The background is consumed by chaotic black-and-white energy lines radiating outward. A large speech bubble near the curly-haired figure reads 'IS THAT HUMAN!!!' while another on the right declares 'WHAT IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE DOWNPOUR OF COUNTLESS DRAGONS...'
curly-haired figure with pointed earsmuscular man with number 9
05
A close-up shows the curly-haired figure with wide, intense eyes and a slight smile. Next to it, an old man with a thick beard, mustache, and intense gaze stares forward, sweat or strain visible on his face. Below, in a shattered circular arena, the curly-haired figure and a small cloaked person with white hair stand amid debris and impact lines. A large black circle labeled 'TERPSICHORA.' dominates the lower right. A text box states 'A nen ability manifested when Pitou fights at full strength.'
curly-haired figure with pointed earsold bearded mansmall cloaked person with white hairPitou
06
Netero lets out a low chuckle, 'HOH HO.' The narration explains that he only requires 0.1 seconds to transition from manifestation to attack. However, within that split second, Pitou heard him without question. Two figures streak through the darkness: Pitou with outstretched limbs and another smaller silhouette trailing behind. Pitou's thoughts continue, 'I'VE ANTICIPATED A FEW DIFFERENT KINDS OF ATTACKS, BUT...' In a dramatic close-up, Netero's aged face fills the frame, eyes narrowed and mouth open as he speaks the words 'THAT'S A BAD MOVE... LITTLE ANT.'
NeteroPitou
07
Pouf lounges on an ornate, dragon-carved throne, one hand resting on his cheek while the other holds a long pipe. A massive, clawed hand grips an intricate lantern nearby. Pouf remarks, 'IT CERTAINLY IS.' Smaller panels show Pouf eating with chopsticks and close-ups of the lantern as narration describes how, at the moment of death, time becomes super-slow and one's life flashes before the eyes. Pouf compares the sensation to a revolving lantern, stating 'IT'S CLOSE TO THAT.' The lantern spins with the sound effect 'ゴロ,' and Pouf questions, 'NO, IT IS. NOT POSSIBLE?'
Pouf
08
Both sides serve as witnesses to the unfolding exchange. It means you can sometimes learn information that no one other than that person could possibly know. After all, you are hearing what your opponent is thinking at that moment, rather than your own thoughts. But the authenticity of this is even easier to measure than that. The moment two truly powerful men engage in battle, their sense of the passage of time is often inconsistent with one another. It is a phenomenon that is called Shinteki Ken-chou in a certain martial art. The secret to that geezer's strength? In a quiet close-up, Netero sits holding chopsticks near a plate of food. First, his Nen is frighteningly quiet. No one can predict his next attack from the flow of his aura. Well... there are a few.
Neteroponytailed swordsmanseated opponent
09
A character with yin-yang symbols around their head shouts in frustration. It is true that he's an acquaintance... hmm... I guess we're like yin and yang... Anyway, that geezer's been a geezer since I was sucking on my mother's breasts. So, he hasn't lived this long for nothing. His mind is like a plant. The only human to have ever fought my grandpa and lived to tell about it. Right, about the secrets of his power. As far as fighting goes, I'd have to say... what's left... ah, yes. In profile, Netero grins widely with an intense, battle-ready expression. Hyakushiki Kannon. That's probably his most dangerous move.
Neteroyin-yang characterslick-haired character
10
Netero stands centered against a dark circular backdrop, his body surrounded by multiple overlapping afterimages of arms and hands in fluid motion. His right hand is raised near his face in a prayer-like gesture while his left arm extends outward. Below him, Pitou's wide, staring eyes fill the lower frame. Narration boxes detail the scene: "However... There was no doubt that Netero had completed his movements during the brief moment between Pitou's activation of his ability and his attack. To Pitou, the sequence of Netero's actions seemed extremely elegant and in slow motion. in order to see Netero's movements at all. It meant that Pitou had to compress his own body's sense of time as much as possible, tantamount to placing himself in a suspended state of time..."
NeteroPitou
11
A massive white explosion erupts from the center of the page, radiating outward with intense speed lines and debris. In the upper right panel, Netero appears with long hair flowing, right hand raised, blood visible on his arm, stating "That is to say, the true situation was..." Smaller panels show Pitou standing with hands near face, a close-up of an eye, Pitou's silhouette glowing, and impact effects with motion lines and sparkles on black backgrounds.
NeteroPitou
12
A massive close-up of a face fills the top of the page, mouth agape in shock as motion lines streak across the panel beside a jagged black symbol. The view shifts to an overhead shot of a vast hall where a blinding explosion erupts on the left, hurling debris and shockwaves outward while a small figure lies sprawled on the floor amid radiating impact lines and scattered black spots. In the bottom panel a close-up reveals wide, disbelieving eyes and an open mouth as the character processes the scene. The attack came from below his position... Impossible?
Pouf
13
In a dark rocky space, a small figure hovers amid vertical white streaks while a tall person stands with one arm raised. A close-up shows an eye glancing sideways next to Netero, who speaks with a calm yet firm expression. I would appreciate it if you would just disappear off to the distance. The final panel depicts Netero sprinting up a wide staircase inside a grand building, a small sign visible on the right wall near ornate railings and a fiery glow at the base of the stairs.
Netero
14
In the vast, empty hall of the palace, wide stone stairs stretch upward under harsh lighting. On the left staircase, a powerfully built man with long hair crouches low, muscles tensed, his expression grim and focused as he grips the steps. On the right side of the hall, a group of young fighters charges forward across the floor and up the stairs: a spiky-haired boy in the lead, a white-haired boy beside him, a girl with a long ponytail and flowing clothes, and another figure with wild hair. Motion lines and dust trails emphasize their urgent sprint. Large text overlays declare the moment: "THE PUNITIVE FORCE INVADES THE PALACE" on the left and "DAY OF THE ASSEMBLY" with "TWELVE O'CLOCK MIDNIGHT" on the right. A digital timer in the bottom right reads "0:00:00:96". Near the center stairs, bold lettering reads "The point of no return! It's do or die!"
A black textured background displays the Nexgear scanlation credits for Hunter × Hunter. Large stylized logo reads "NEXGEAR PRESENTS HUNTER HUNTER" with Japanese text below. Website and IRC information are listed. Staff credits are arranged in two columns: Translators Molokidan, Proofreaders runpsicat and thehyperion, QC j00s on the left; Editors Gon Freaks, keitarou, manu, wikberget, j00s, Paro on the right.
End of chapter16 pages
Discussion
Netero completed his movements in the brief moment between Pitou's ability activation and attack. Pitou perceived Netero's actions as elegant and in slow motion. Pitou compressed his sense of time to perceive Netero's movements.
Netero has blood on his arm during the confrontation. A large explosion occurs during the exchange. Pitou is shown in multiple small panels reacting to the event.
An explosion occurs inside a large interior hall A figure is positioned on the floor beneath the blast
Netero is shown standing in a dark environment Netero runs up a staircase inside a building
The scene is set at exactly twelve o'clock midnight on the Day of the Assembly. A timer shows 0:00:00:96 at the moment of the punitive force's entry. The palace interior is depicted as vast and empty with wide staircases.
What is said, page by page
Narration states Pouf acts with utter disregard for punishment. Onomatopoeic declaration that Pufu turns ferocious. Narration explains Pouf disobeyed the King's orders and moved toward the third-floor throne room.
Narration declares that dragons fill the night sky and attack the ants on the ground. Large sound effect announces 'DRAGON DIVE!!!'.
Narration explains En release backfired after enemy sighting (neutral narrator) Pitou shouts "WHERE ARE THEY!?" in frustration and alarm Narration states Pitou lost sight of the two due to suppressed presence (neutral narrator)
Narration notes Pitou's six senses sharpened to utmost limits (neutral narrator) Narration states senses guided Pitou to the intruders with ease (neutral narrator)
curly-haired figure shouts in disbelief about whether something is human narration questions what could be more dangerous than a downpour of countless dragons
text box describes a nen ability that manifests when Pitou fights at full strength large label reads TERPSICHORA
Netero chuckles 'HOH HO.' with calm amusement Narration states the 0.1-second transition time from manifestation to attack Narration notes Pitou heard Netero in that split second Pitou internally states anticipation of several attack types Netero warns 'THAT'S A BAD MOVE... LITTLE ANT.'
Pouf affirms 'IT CERTAINLY IS.' Narration explains the super-slow time and life-flashing effect at death Pouf states 'IT'S CLOSE TO THAT.' and compares it to a revolving lantern Pouf questions 'NO, IT IS. NOT POSSIBLE?'
Narration explains the value of reading an opponent's thoughts during battle. Narration describes the time-distortion phenomenon called Shinteki Ken-chou. Netero states that his Nen is frighteningly quiet and unpredictable. Netero acknowledges there are a few secrets to the geezer's strength.
Yin-yang character angrily denies being the one crying and blames another. Slick-haired character acknowledges the acquaintance and compares them to yin and yang. Slick-haired character notes the geezer has been old since their childhood. Netero names his technique Hyakushiki Kannon and calls it his most dangerous move.
Netero states: "That is to say, the true situation was..."
Pouf reacts in shock to the source of the attack coming from below
Netero calmly requests the opponent disappear off to the distance
Narration text: "The point of no return! It's do or die!" (emphasizing the irreversible commitment of the invasion)