Chapter 210 · WEAKNESS ③

00AI-written

Gon stares forward with a heavily swollen left eye and multiple bandages across his face, his spiky hair wild. He shouts, 'KILLUA!! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE!?' Killua's voice answers from off-panel, 'HUH? OH, IT'S SPECIAL TRAINING WITH BISKE.' Gon replies with a determined expression, 'YUP. ALL BETTER!' In the next panels Killua, bruised and bandaged, sits up in bed and asks, 'DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME. HOW'S YOUR CONDITION? DO YOU FEEL OKAY?' Gon, kneeling on the floor, answers, 'SPECIAL TRAINING? LOOKS MORE LIKE YOU GOT BEATEN UP...' Killua explains, 'SINCE I'M GONNA FIGHT TO-MORROW.' Gon rubs his face and says, 'WE OWE IT TO THAT GORILLA... OLD HAG'S MASSAGES I GUESS.' Killua replies, 'I THOUGHT I'D BE EXHAUSTED SINCE I HAD USED UP ALL MY AURA BUT I'M FINE.' Gon grins widely with sparkles around his head, 'SHE WASN'T JOKING ABOUT IT EITHER.' Killua warns, 'IF YOU TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS, I'LL MAKE YOUR FACE THREE TIMES AS BAD AS IT IS NOW, OKAY?' Gon sweats nervously with a question mark above his head while heartbeats sound 'dok dok dok' and he mutters, 'WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE.'

GonKillua

A massive muscular man stands with his back to the viewer, his body outlined by black energy and flames. A tiny silhouette of Gon appears in a bright panel on the left. The muscular man asks, 'SO DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR WEAKNESS IS?' Gon’s face is shown in close-up with wide eyes and sweat drops. A close-up of the muscular man’s intense face declares, 'THAT YOU GIVE UP TOO QUICKLY!!' and 'YOUR WEAKNESS IS...' A pointing hand emphasizes, 'WHEN YOU CONFRONT AN OPPONENT YOU CONSIDER STRONGER THAN YOU...' The muscular man continues, 'IN YOUR CASE...' and 'I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT YOU UNDER-ESTIMATE YOURSELF.' In the final panel Gon stands in a fighting stance inside a room with potted plants while the muscular man is visible through a doorway; a voice warns, 'YOU'RE JUST TOO CAREFUL WHEN IT COMES TO BATTLE! IN OTHER WORDS...'

Gonunidentified muscular man

Against a pitch-black background, a small figure of Gon radiates intense aura while a massive clawed hand reaches toward him. A speech bubble declares: "YOU FIGHT WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RUNNING AWAY!!" In the next tier, Killua appears in close-up, sweat dripping down his tense face as he listens. A follow-up panel shows a powerful impact or strike. Killua’s eyes widen as he responds, "IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON WHO TAUGHT YOU HOW TO FIGHT." Another close-up of Killua continues, "BUT BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ELSE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT." The bottom tier reveals Knuckle standing with arms crossed beside Biscuit, whose long hair frames her face. Knuckle states, "ONE... THING I WILL SAY IS..." and "ESTABLISHED HABITS ARE NOT THAT EASY TO GET RID OF."

KilluaGonKnuckle BineBiscuit

A massive close-up of Killua’s face fills the top panel, eyes wide and expression grim amid ink splatters. A large speech bubble reads: "ONE DAY, YOU WILL LEAVE GON TO DIE WITHOUT HELPING HIM...!" Below, Knuckle sits writing with "kari kari" sound effects while tiny Gon stands in the background; another panel shows Killua raising a fist toward Gon. A grid chart labeled MAX to MIN with bars A through E appears beside a woman in a fighting stance. Text explains battle power varies by condition. Knuckle’s fist strikes with "BISH" and "BISH" effects as he declares, "IN YOUR CASE!" A final note states that if C is in peak condition, C can defeat D when D is weakened.

KilluaGonKnuckle Bine

A lone figure stands amid radiating speed lines as two large speech bubbles deliver a harsh assessment. "AND YOU ASSUME THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGIN FIGHTING!!" one declares, while the other states "YOU ALWAYS CONSIDER THE OPPONENT'S MAX POWER!!" Close-up panels follow: a raised index finger emphasizes the point that the listener thinks "HE'S REALLY STRONG" or that danger will follow if the opponent acts. Another panel shows a sweat-streaked face with wide eyes as the narration continues that even against equal strength the mind defaults to escape. "YOU ONLY CHOOSE HOW TO RUN AWAY," a bubble reads, comparing the mindset to "A BEATEN DOG'S." Further panels show a profile view warning that if the opponent is even slightly stronger, "YOU GIVE UP." The sequence ends on a dark panel where a muscular man with a star-shaped chest mark stands in a glowing aura, declaring that tomorrow the listener must defeat Shoot and that from now on the habit of losing must be broken, because greater strength and determination will be needed against stronger foes.

GonKnuckle Bine

Killua stands beside Gon on a black background, hands clasped, while a large starburst bubble shouts "YOU MUST LEAVE GON'S SIDE!!" Killua answers with a small "OK!" and asks "SHALL WE GO?" Biscuit appears in the lower right in her full frilly outfit, back turned. Smaller panels show close-ups of Biscuit and narration explaining that Killua's over-protective love for Gon was probably the result of his upbringing, described as "A TWISTED KIND OF LOVE" and "A DISTORTED, SELFISH..." The final panel depicts Gon and Killua walking away down stone steps in a town square while Biscuit watches from the foreground.

KilluaGonBiscuit

A young girl with spiky blonde hair stands motionless in a frilly black-and-white dress adorned with star patterns, positioned before a brick building with double doors. Narration overlays describe intense emotions: "IT BECOMES EMBEDDED INTO THE RECIPIENT OF THAT LOVE" and "SO STRONG AND HEAVY..." followed by close-ups of a swirling eye labeled "THOSE SHACKLES... CAN'T BE BROKEN WITHOUT A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT!" Footprints marked "Go Go" trail across the ground as a hand reaches toward a closed eye. The girl turns her head slightly, sweat visible on her face, and speaks in thought bubbles: "WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE..." and "I CAN'T TELL EITHER..." A small note reads "In that case..." The final wide panel shows an empty sky with clouds, a small airship silhouette, and the caption "PERHAPS I SHOULD ESCAPE."

blonde girl in frilly dress

Under a starry night sky, Gon and Killua stand facing two opponents on sandy ground. Gon wears a torn shirt and shorts; Killua stands in a jacket and boots. Opposite them are a tall man in a high-collared uniform and a figure with long hair tied back wearing flowing robes. Close-up panels show Gon's determined eye, Killua's wide eye, and the opponents' narrowed, intense eyes. The scene cuts to Gon and Killua looking strained with sweat, while the opponents glare fiercely. A large speech bubble declares "THE LOSING SIDE MUST HAND OVER THEIR PLATES!!"

GonKilluatall man in uniformlong-haired figure in robes

Under a starry night sky, several figures stand on a vast, flat open ground. Distant silhouettes walk slowly across the plain, their footsteps marked by sharp sound effects. Closer views show small figures pausing in the darkness. Gon appears in close-up, sweat on his face and a determined expression as he speaks. A voice calls out to him. In a massive splash panel, Knuckle Bine lunges forward with intense fury, muscles tensed and aura flaring, shouting his resolve.

GonKnuckle Bine

Gon steels himself, thinking he must inflict damage despite the speed difference. He braces for a direct clash. In a burst of motion, Gon charges forward with explosive speed, creating shockwaves and impact lines. Knuckle Bine is seen from behind reacting with surprise as the rapid assault unfolds around him, with multiple motion effects and a small figure visible in the distance.

GonKnuckle Bine

Gon stares ahead with intense focus, his eyes narrowed as he thinks, 'I MUST FEEL HIS MOVEMENT...' Small sound effects 'shiri shiri' appear near his ear. In the next panel his expression sharpens further as he resolves, 'I MUSN'T FOLLOW WITH MY SIGHT.' The scene shifts to a dynamic full-body shot of Gon leaning forward in his fighting stance, aura flaring around him with motion lines streaking the background. Large text declares 'WITH MY AURA.' The following panels show empty space with heavy speed lines and jagged impact shapes, suggesting rapid movement. At the bottom, a small round object tumbles through the air with 'Zzz zzz' sound effects trailing behind it.

Gon

Gon and a muscular fighter with a tall pompadour hairstyle clash violently in close combat. Gon is struck across the face, his head snapping back from the impact as a large 'GO' sound effect explodes between them. The muscular fighter grimaces with effort, veins visible on his face and arm. In a separate inset panel below, a long-haired fighter is sent flying backward from a powerful strike, with large 'NIN' and impact effects dominating the foreground.

GonKnuckle Bine

Knuckle launches a fierce barrage of strikes, his body twisting with explosive force as motion lines and impact SFX "ZU ZU ZU ZU ZU ZU ZU" erupt around him. In close-up, Knuckle grits his teeth with a strained "...GHH". Gon leans in, sweat flying, muttering "I WAS A BIT SLOW. umph" while thinking "BUT I WAS ABLE TO SENSE THE ATTACK!!". His expression shifts to shock as his body reacts with "ZU" effects and he exclaims "WHY IS MY STRENGTH OVERFLOWING!?". Knuckle, equally bewildered, demands "BUT WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON...!?".

GonKnuckle Bine

A small round creature clings to Gon's back, its body emitting "ZUDODO..." vibrations as Gon glances sideways with a focused look. A close-up reveals sweat on Gon's cheek. The creature declares "THE INTEREST IS PILING UP. IT'S TIME." with a cheerful "nikkori" smile, the number "210" prominently displayed on its forehead. In the background, a tiny distant figure of Gon stands near a large "H?" SFX. The creature continues grinning broadly while perched on Gon's shoulder.

Gonsmall round creature with 210 on forehead

A sleek white vehicle labeled 231 with a kashiya tag speeds through the night. Gon stares in shock, exclaiming, "WHAT IS THIS GUY!?" as a small round creature clings to him. The creature bumps against Gon repeatedly while Gon holds it at arm's length. A muscular man with a pompadour stands in the background, his hand raised as he declares, "MY AURA, THAT IS. I'M LOANING IT OUT. TO YOU." The man points directly forward with intense focus, stating, "TEN PERCENT EVERY TEN SECONDS!! JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE INTEREST IS 'TOICHI'." A footnote explains that Toichi is an interest system charging 10 percent every 10 days. Gon looks horrified, sweat dropping as he yells, "YOU'LL GO BANK-RUPT...! IF YOU DON'T PAY IT OFF QUICKLY."

GonKnuckle Binesmall round creature

A full-page credits spread for Hunter × Hunter. Large stylized title reads 'NEXGEAR PRESENTS HUNTER × HUNTER' with Japanese characters below. Website www.nexgear.com and IRC channel irc.irchighway.net #nexgear are listed. Translator credit: THEHYPERION BIRDIE. Editor: JOOS. Proofreaders: THEHYPERION, HIROSHI HYDE, WURLY. Special thanks to KENNETH, FULLISH, ALBERT, MUSASHI (NG), SHIBES AND ALL OF OUR HOSTS. A black-and-white illustration of a long-haired girl appears in the lower right corner.

long-haired girl illustration

End of chapter16 pages

Discussion

00AI-written

GonKillua

Gonunidentified muscular man

KilluaGonKnuckle BineBiscuit

KilluaGonKnuckle Bine

GonKnuckle Bine

KilluaGonBiscuit

blonde girl in frilly dress

GonKilluatall man in uniformlong-haired figure in robes

GonKnuckle Bine

Gon

GonKnuckle Bine

Gonsmall round creature with 210 on forehead

GonKnuckle Binesmall round creature

long-haired girl illustration

End of chapter16 pages