No.093

Gon and Killua stand inside a heavily damaged room with cracked and broken tiled floors covered in scattered debris, splintered wood, and rubble. Gon faces away from the viewer toward the back of the room while Killua sits on a pile of broken planks to the left, looking upward. At the far end, a man sits on the floor with his back against a heavily damaged metal door, appearing bound or restrained amid the destruction.

Killua stares forward with wide, intense eyes and a grim expression, sweat visible on his face against a dark background. In smaller panels, a figure chuckles with 'HEH HEH...' and reacts sharply with 'HE !'. Nobunaga, the long-haired man with a topknot, draws his sword in a swift motion accompanied by the large SFX 'SHUUUU' and a stylized 'Z'. He sits on a stool in a tiled room, blade partially unsheathed with a flash of light, and declares in a speech bubble, 'THAT'S THE FACE OF SOMEONE READY TO KILL, CORRECT?'

Nobunaga lunges forward with his sword, dark flame-like energy swirling around him as he threatens, 'I'LL CUT YOU IN HALF.' and 'IF YOU ENTER MY PERIMETER.' He adds, 'I WARN YOU.' while extending a hand. In a narrow panel, Killua and Gon react with wide eyes and sweat drops, accompanied by repeated 'DOM DOM' sound effects. The scene shifts to a wide shot where a massive explosion of light erupts behind Killua and Gon, who stand on rubble facing Nobunaga. Nobunaga assumes a low combat stance with his blade drawn, positioned in the foreground as the two boys face him from across the destroyed area.

Under a pitch-black night sky, a ruined building and rubble fill the background. Killua's face appears tense with sweat drops. Gon shouts desperately, 'KILLUA!!!'. A scarred man glances sideways. The scene shifts to a starlit night where a massive figure in overalls stands amid several people. The short-haired woman with glasses stands in the foreground, hand on hip, and remarks, 'They're alike? Uvo and that brat?' Bubbles convey thoughts: 'The way they stop thinking when they're upset. The way they express themselves, maybe. Yes.' Another voice adds, 'Him...' The scarred man concludes, 'Unless it's the way they deploy all their strength for people other than themselves. They're exactly the same.'

A dramatic flashback erupts with Uvogin in a massive fur cloak wielding a sword alongside Nobunaga in a chaotic battle, foes sent flying. Text reads, 'It was when he teamed with Nobunaga against several foes, that he was strongest. Uvo really liked one-on-one combat, but...' Smaller panels show the scarred man in profile: 'He was stronger when he had someone to protect. Uvo didn't want to recognize it, but...' 'Yes.' 'Really?' The scarred man continues, 'That's why they were such an exceptional team when fighting. On the other hand, Nobunaga is the king of carelessness, he needs set limits. They seemed invincible.' In the present, the man with the spider tattoo on his back walks away with others on a tiled path, saying, 'No... well, yes, if you want. He became stronger when he had an intruder in his clutches. I wouldn't have liked it...'

A heavy boot and a wrapped foot tap rhythmically on the wooden floor, each contact marked by a sharp TAP. Killua's face appears in tight close-up, sweat beading heavily on his skin as his eyes narrow with tension. More taps echo from the boots below while Killua's expression grows fiercer, droplets flying from his face. In a wide view of the ruined chamber, debris and broken furniture litter the tiled floor. Killua stands near the center, staring toward a heavy metal door at the far end, while a smaller figure crouches nearby. Close-ups capture Killua's intense glare and gritted teeth as a low G-RRR rumbles from him. His foot slams down again with another TAC, the impact lines radiating outward.

A massive BLAM explosion erupts behind Gon, sending him flying forward with hair and clothes whipping from the force. Gon stares upward in shock with wide eyes. Killua, still sweating, declares they must find a way to flee while another voice states it is impossible to attack directly. The small black-haired figure sits amid floating particles as TAC sounds repeat. In the ruined room the armed man with a topknot sits against the wall holding his weapon and announces there is only one exit. Gon looks up at the ceiling while the man adds that there are no windows. Killua and Gon now stand together near the door, facing the seated armed man.

In the ruined building, a man sits cross-legged on the floor holding a sword while Gon peers at him from the foreground, sweat on his face. Gon wonders aloud how they will manage to get the man away from the exit. Three sequential panels show the dark, debris-filled corridor and collapsed multi-story structure beyond. The man lights a single candle with a match as the sound effect 'swat' appears; Killua and Gon note that it is darker now. More candles are lit around the room, illuminating the seated man who grips his sword. Gon thinks to himself that he hopes the man and Zepairu are negotiating all right and wonders what Leorio is doing.

Killua suddenly asks Gon if he is okay, his face tense. Gon turns his head sharply to the side. In the next panel the seated man is shown from behind with Gon and Killua watching him. Close-up panels reveal the seated man’s hands gripping a rock-like object that cracks loudly with the sound effect 'Cric'. Sweat drips from the man’s face as he answers 'Yes.' Killua and Gon react with surprise; Killua questions what the seated man means by 'the heating, the opening, and then…' The seated man sits with his sword across his lap and a small flame burning on his head, replying 'Hm…?' while Gon watches with a concerned expression.

Killua leans close to Gon, sweat on his face as he mutters about the joint that melted. "GON. THE HEATING WAS SOMETHING TO REPLACE THE JOINT AFTER HAVING MELTED IT..." Gon stares back with wide eyes. A small panel shows Killua's hand gesture as he continues, "NO, IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE... THE SIDE...?" Killua turns away, hair shadowing his eyes. "... I FORGOT." Gon looks shocked, eyes huge in the next panel. Killua stands with his back partly turned. "I'LL BE THE BAIT." In a large close-up, Killua sweats heavily, serious. "YOU'LL USE THAT MOMENT TO FLEE." The scene shifts to a ruined room with a heavy door. A topknotted man sits calmly on the floor amid candles and debris. Gon and Killua stand before him. Gon shouts, "DON'T EVEN TRY IT!" The man replies, "YOU!" Killua demands, "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?"

Killua sweats, eyes narrowed in profile. "FIGURES... I ALREADY KNEW THAT." Nobunaga looms in close-up, stern face filling the panel. "IF YOUR IDEA OF THE STRENGTH OF YOUR ENEMY ISN'T CLEAR, YOU LACK TRAINING, KID. I WON'T GIVE HIM ENOUGH SPACE." A wide shot reveals the destroyed room from above, Gon and Killua seen from behind facing the distant door. Narration explains the danger of facing a sword master in a single-exit space with no pauses in attacks. Killua thinks, "IF I GO LIKE THIS, HE'LL FATALLY WOUND ME, THERE'S NO DOUBTING THAT." In smaller panels, Killua's face shows realization. "YOUR YOU CAN'T DO THAT..." Nobunaga's words continue off-panel. "IT MAKES SENSE!! THAT'S WHY..."

Killua stares forward with wide eyes and sweat on his face, declaring, "IF WE DON'T TRY, WE'LL NEVER KNOW!" In the next panel a topknotted man sits in the background as Killua snaps "SHUT UP!" with a sharp "TAC" sound effect. A bearded man sits with eyes closed in quiet thought. Gon leans in close, urging Killua to use the moment to escape while he stops the sword even if it costs his life. Killua whirls around shouting "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?" as Gon yells "KILLUA!" A close-up shows Gon's intense, angry expression. The boys stand amid rubble; Killua grabs Gon by the collar, both shouting "YOU'RE THE CRAZY ONE!" and "ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Gon retorts "WHAT?!" as Killua is yanked backward by an unseen force with a loud "VLAM."

Killua and Gon grapple fiercely. Killua yells that it is the same if he dies but not if Gon dies, reminding Gon of his earlier words. Gon is stunned. The topknotted man calls it useless to reason with a Reinforcement Nen user. Killua laughs "HE! HE!" while Gon demands answers. The bearded man bursts into loud laughter "HA! HA! HA!" and mocks the boys for not knowing what they want. He warns that they cannot escape without risking their lives and tells them not to do anything stupid and stay quiet. Killua retorts that the man is funny.

Killua stands tense and sweating as Nobunaga warns him, "BUT DON'T AIM FOR A STUPID DEATH. I KNOW YOU'RE SERIOUS." Killua replies firmly, "DON'T FORCE ME TO TAKE MY SWORD OUT." Nobunaga counters, "BUT IF YOU TRY TO ESCAPE, I'LL CUT YOU IN HALF. ONCE HE'S EXAMINED YOU, YOU'LL BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE. STAY CALM UNTIL THE BOSS RETURNS." Gon and Killua exchange tense words in the next panels: "YOU'LL DIE." "IF I TAKE IT OUT..." Suddenly the scene shifts to a ruined room where Nobunaga sits calmly on the floor. Gon and Killua stand amid scattered debris and broken tiles as a massive impact shakes the space. Killua's eyes widen in shock with a "?!" while a huge "AH!!!" erupts across the panel.

Gon excitedly declares, "I SOLVED THE POT PROBLEM! THE HEATING, THE OPENING, AND THE SIDE BREACH!!" Killua reacts with shock, eyes wide and hair flying. A close-up shows Killua shouting "AAAAH!" as a small crack appears on the wall behind him. Gon asks, "DO YOU REMEMBER?" The man with glasses questions the realization with floating "?" marks. Gon and Killua both exclaim, "I REMEMBER!" and "HOW COULD WE NOT REALIZE THAT BEFORE?!" In the final panel Killua and Gon stand side by side with intense expressions; Killua mutters "Shit!!" as realization hits.

A close-up reveals intense eyes glaring forward with sharp exclamation marks. In a dramatic panel filled with swirling black flames and smoke, Gon stands ready in his jacket and boots, fists clenched, while Killua crouches in his sleeveless outfit, both facing an unseen threat. Gon asks, "SHALL WE GO ?" Killua replies confidently, "IT'S WAY BETTER." Below, the scarred man appears in profile, his face marked by deep lines and a stern expression. He declares, "TO STOP MY SWORD, NEITHER OF YOU IS SKILLED ENOUGH..." and threatens, "YOU'LL ONLY FIND DEATH!!" A small distant figure questions, "ARE YOU SERIOUS ?" Two tiny silhouettes stand far below on the empty ground.

A massive "DAM" sound effect erupts as a figure in the distance kneels. Gon and Killua charge forward at high speed, motion lines streaking behind them. The scarred man's eyes fill the frame with fury as he shouts "IDIOTS!!!" A sharp "SLAT" impact and "!!" effects burst outward. The boys continue their advance amid heavy black brush strokes and speed lines.

In a ruined corridor littered with shattered doors, scattered papers, and broken furniture, Gon charges forward and delivers a powerful flying kick. His foot smashes into the wall with a thunderous VLAM, sending cracks and debris flying outward amid massive impact sound effects ドドドド!!! and ドォオオオ!!!. A small figure tumbles in the background while another person sprints toward a distant doorway marked with a startled !?. At the bottom of the panel a man with tied-back hair stares upward in shock, shouting THE WALL ?!!. In the lower inset panels Killua looks up with a serious expression and says YOU ONLY HAVE TO EXIT SOMEWHERE ELSE!! Gon, still mid-action with a fierce gaze, replies IF THE EXIT IS BLOCKED .... Motion lines and flying rubble emphasize the force of the strike as the entire space shakes from the impact.