Chapter 123

The masked man sits before the JOYSTATION with both hands raised, palms open, as if preparing to start. Suddenly a massive explosion erupts from the console with the large sound effect "FOUTCH". The blond man is knocked backward by the blast, eyes wide in shock, while the masked man remains centered in the frame.

A man with slicked-back hair stares ahead with a serious expression and says, "I HAD HAD SOME DOUBTS, BUT... HE REALLY DISAPPEARED." Nearby, a large hand reaches toward a massive console labeled "GREED ISLAND" as someone exclaims "OOOH." In the next panel the same man, now in profile, remarks "A VIDEO GAME, GREED ISLAND." while two adults behind him react with "HM?" and "WHAT'S THAT?" Gon and Killua stand watching. Later, Killua turns away and replies "MAYBE LATER. NO THANKS." The man with the slicked-back hair smiles and offers, "THERE'S ROOM FOR TWO MORE PLAYERS. WANNA PLAY? IT'LL KILL SOME TIME." A long-haired figure holding a book states, "THE GAME IN WHICH YOU CAN DIE FOR REAL." Gon asks "WHO KNOWS ?" while Killua wonders "WHAT KIND OF GAME IS THAT?" The long-haired figure continues, "IS WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THE CATALOG THEY STOLE." Suddenly an explosion erupts with the massive sound effect "FOUTCH" as Gon, Killua, and the others react in shock with "OOOH !!!" In the final panel Gon leans over an open book and murmurs "HUM" while a man in a jacket bearing a triangle symbol walks away.

Gon stands on a rooftop, fists clenched and aura flaring with intense energy as dramatic speed lines and the large SFX ズズッ Z0000 burst around him. A stern bearded man in a bow tie glares from a nearby panel. The city skyline stretches behind them. In close-up, Gon’s face fills the frame as he declares with fierce determination, “HE’LL SEE!” and warns, “WITH NEN AS WEAK AS YOURS, YOU’LL DIE.” Below, Kurapika appears recovered, his fever broken. Gon reassures him, “I MADE YOU WORRY, BUT I’M FINE NOW.” Kurapika replies, “YES… MY FEVER HAS FALLEN.” Gon adds, “I’M FINE.” YEAH RIGHT…” while Killua watches from the side, noting, “THAT’S GOOD.”

Gon and Kurapika continue their conversation on the rooftop. Kurapika suggests resting more, saying it would be best not to overdo it after sleeping for two entire days. Gon reacts with shock, exclaiming the results are the opposite of expected. Kurapika asks if there is some way to stop the pursuers if they are still in York Shin City. Gon confirms Leorio’s information about aiming for an expensive game at the Southern Peace auction. Kurapika inquires about the training Gon went through. Gon admits he cannot think of any decisive techniques like Kurapika’s. A water bottle labeled “TEA” sits nearby as they talk.

Kurapika recounts his intense training to materialize a real chain. He watched it, touched it, caressed it, heard the sounds it made. His master ordered him to enjoy himself only with the chain. Then he started to close his eyes to feel and visualize it, making hundreds, maybe thousands of sketches of chains. For that, he spent all his time with a real chain in his hands, always by his side, day and night. Without realizing it, the vision came true and he materialized a chain. When darkness fell, his visions became even more real; he could hear it, feel its weight, and the coldness of the metal. After a little while, he began to dream of the chain and could separate himself from it. Gon reacts with surprise: "AH". Someone notes "REN AND TEN EVERY-DAY." Gon pleads, "YOU CAN SHOW ME WHAT I SHOULDN'T DO, AND WHAT MISTAKES I NEED TO CORRECT! I CAN'T MAKE PROGRESS ALONE, AND KILLUA'S GOING THROUGH A SPECIAL SECRET TRAINING. AND IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, I'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP KURAPIKA HERE WHILE THE AUCTION GOES ON." He then shouts, "KURAPIKA! TAKE ME AS YOUR STUDENT!" Gon beams with excitement until Kurapika replies "THAT'S IT!!" leaving Gon confused with a "HUH?"

Killua reports that his boss has already left town to return home. Kurapika replies that he is sorry but it is not possible for him to leave yet. Killua asks if they are going to leave York Shin tomorrow. Kurapika confirms yes. Two days have passed since their last meeting, so the others must have left town already. Kurapika adds that he hasn't settled things with the Ryodan yet. Killua points out that Gon should seek advice from Kurapika since he is a master too. Kurapika states that at the moment his top priority is the eyes of his brothers in blood. Gon agrees, "THAT'S TRUE, HUH." and murmurs "AH..."

A dark silhouette looms against a cloudy sky as an unseen speaker remarks, "TO BE EXPECTED, COMING FROM YOU..." Another voice laughs, "HA! HA! HA! SPECIAL TECHNIQUES ?" In a modest room marked 1108, a young man with dark hair sits on a chair holding a phone to his ear. He explains, "BECAUSE OUT OF THE 6 NEN CATEGORIES, IT'S THE ONE WITH THE BEST BALANCE BETWEEN ATTACK AND DEFENSE." Small inset panels show a tiny figure demonstrating stances while the man continues, "IF YOU INCREASE YOUR REN AND TEN, YOU'LL GET AN OVERPOWERING FORCE... YOU CAN CALL THAT A DECISIVE TECHNIQUE IF YOU WANT..." He adds, "I'LL GET RIGHT TO THE POINT: REINFORCEMENT NEN USERS DON'T NEED THOSE KIND OF TECHNIQUES." The listener, a spiky-haired boy, reacts with shock: "WHY?" The man replies, "YES... I THINK I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS, IF YOU'VE SEEN HIM, YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN." He warns, "I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THE SITUATION, BUT YOU MUST NOT IMITATE THE ONE CALLED KURAPIKA." The boy protests, "BUT, WING... I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!" Wing insists, "FOR YOU, THE SHORTEST WAY IS TO CONTINUE AS YOU HAVE UNTIL NOW: PRACTICE YOUR REN AND TEN EVERY DAY." Nearby, Kurapika listens on the phone and states, "IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE. IF A PROFESSIONAL HUNTER TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE LACKING SOMETHING..."

Kurapika continues on the phone, "YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I WOULD BE DECEIVED IF YOU SHOWED ME YOUR SPECIAL MASTERED TECHNIQUE." He adds, "IF I WERE YOUR EXAMINER..." Gon stares at his Hunter license in a dark panel. Kurapika explains, "YOU AUTOMATICALLY SEE 'A PARTICULAR FORCE AND RISK,' BUT... I CAN UNDERSTAND THE ATTRACTION OF THE IDEA OF A 'SPECIAL TECHNIQUE.'" In a close-up, Kurapika smiles slightly while saying, "IS ALREADY ABLE TO PRODUCE A PARTICULAR FORCE... THE GON I KNOW..." Gon listens intently as Kurapika concludes, "AND YOU'LL SEE THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUS. TRY TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO." Standing on a ruined rooftop, Gon holds the phone and answers, "OF COURSE. REALLY ?" A small panel shows the back of Gon's head with a question mark as a loud "SHUUU BONG!" sound effect erupts nearby.

Gon sits cross-legged on the floor, phone pressed to his ear. "I wonder if I'm the weakest of all the professional hunters... Of course, since I've arrived here, I've only met people stronger than me," he says. A voice on the line replies, "You sound really anxious." Gon leans forward excitedly, "A clue! Give me one clue to get started!!" The voice continues, "Next time, show him everything at once." Gon stares at the phone, thinking, "If there wasn't a time limit set for the 10th of September, that's what I would think, but... Even if that is the case, so what? The future lies before you." He asks, "You only showed your normal Ren to that professional hunter, right?" The reply comes, "Yes. I see. Too bad, I'll give you a clue." A stern voice demands, "Do you understand? Do you remember those powers you learned to master? Use them all at once." Gon answers, "Yes." In a ruined room he stands alone and shouts, "EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED .... AT ONCE ..."

Gon stands with eyes closed and arms relaxed. "ZETSU!!!" he declares as he closes his vital points, completely containing the aura radiating from them; the sound effect "shuuuu" accompanies the technique. In the next panel he activates "TEN!!!" with aura surrounding his body, the sound "fiuuu" visible as he concentrates. He then shouts "REN!!!" while opening his vital points to their maximum, expelling the most aura that emerges; a powerful "VOOM" erupts with motion lines. Finally Gon focuses and says, "I must do all that at the same time... WAIT A MINUTE ..." with a tic sound effect, followed by "AND FINALLY... 'HATSU'!!"

In a ruined training space, Zushi stands holding a small device as his body gives out for the third time that day. "OH..." he mutters weakly while the word "Ziiiim" floats above him and a loud "BONG!" echoes from the impact. Nearby, Killua focuses intensely on his own aura, sweat on his face as he thinks, "EXPELL AND CONTAIN AT THE SAME TIME...?" with the words "REN EX-PELL AURA" flashing beside him and "SHUUU— SHUUU" sounds marking the aura flow. A small panel shows a spiky aura shape and an empty speech bubble. In close-up, Killua's eyes narrow as he advises, "IF YOU THINK TOO MUCH..." and urges, "KEEP WITH IT, GON!" Below, Gon stands firm with a determined expression, his hand extended as sharp aura lines flare around him with a loud "SHIIING." Gon declares, "YOU'LL FAR WAY BE-HIND!!" while pushing his limits.

A figure lies on the ground with swirling aura above as someone says, "I DON'T GET IT AT ALL...." while "SHUUU 7" 2 7" 2 SHUUU" marks repeated aura attempts. Killua appears in profile, murmuring "HUM..." and reflecting, "ONE AFTER ANOTHER, EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO..." He wonders, "MAYBE WING WAS MISTAKEN..." and questions, "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. HOW DID I CONTAIN AND EXPELL MY AURA AT THE SAME TIME...?" with a "PLOC" sound. In a memory panel, a small figure raises both arms while recalling, "WHEN WE FIRST MET ZUSHI AND WING... AND WE MET HISOKA AGAIN. BACK THEN..." The large bottom panel shows intense action: Killua and Gon training with motion lines and "SHING" effects. Text explains how this led to mastering Zetsu, starting only with Ten, fighting for the first time and getting wounded, then Wing making them aware of Nen. Gon shouts "GYO" !?" as they learn to see through Hisoka's techniques. The sequence ends with "BLAM" and "THEN..."

Gon stares intently, his face tense as he tries to focus. "CONCENTRATE?" he wonders, with a powerful "ZUUUM" sound effect pulsing around him. In the next panel he concentrates harder, eyes wide, declaring "CONCENTRATE THE AURA IN YOUR EYES TO FIND A HIDDEN AURA...!!" as the word "GYO" flashes above him and sharp "Z Z Z..." lines emphasize his effort. Suddenly realizing something, Gon leaps into a dynamic pose, shouting "I FORGOT ABOUT GYO!" and "THAT'S IT!!" A large close-up shows his surprised yet enlightened expression as he thinks, "I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE REST OF MY BODY...!!" and "YES...!! I FOCUSED MY EYES, AND SUDDENLY..." A massive radiant burst of aura explodes outward with the declaration "I CAN DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE!!" Beside it, Gon clenches his fist and resolves, "IF I HOLD IT..." noting that "IT'S HARDLY NOTICEABLE, BUT MY AURA ESCAPES."

On an otherwise empty white page, Gon sits cross-legged on the floor with his arms tightly crossed and eyes closed in deep concentration. A low "HUM..." sound effect lingers beside him while vertical Japanese characters "うーん" float upward, indicating his thoughtful humming as he processes his recent realization about aura.