No.226

The clawed creature is slammed against a rocky wall, its body riddled with triangular confetti. Large black SFX “タタタタ” slash across the panel as the spiky-haired boy is flung through the air. A close-up shows the girl’s hand releasing more paper while she smiles faintly. She says “AHA HAHAHA. THROWING PAPER WON’T HURT ME. IT WON’T EVEN TICKLE—”. The boy lands in a crouch, weapon ready, as the creature’s severed limb lies nearby. In the final panels the girl leaps gracefully through swirling confetti while the boy braces himself on the ground. A small balloon reads “LIGHT.” and another fragment says “proceed”.

The black-haired girl stands poised amid swirling motion lines and sharp energy effects, her arms extended as large SFX symbols burst around her. In the upper right, the spiky-haired rope user is caught mid-air, entangled in looping ropes while reacting with surprise. A thought bubble reads 'PAPER AGAIN...?' as the girl moves forward with swift steps marked by 'シャシャ'. Smaller panels show her striking pose and the rope user shouting 'IT'S SUR-ROUND-ING ME!' as he struggles against the binding ropes. Dynamic action follows with the rope user being slammed by heavy impact lines and the girl delivering a powerful strike. The rope user, now grounded and partially transformed with a reptilian face, yells 'I AL-READY TOLD YOU IT'S NO USE!' and laughs 'GYA HA HA HA—' while the girl watches intently from the side with a focused glare.

In a dark panel the spiky-haired rope user stands with arms spread, a bright aura behind him. The black-haired girl, holding a thin object, points and remarks 'THAT ONE...'. The rope user lunges forward with extended limbs and whipping ropes, taunting 'YOU'RE JUST A KID AFTER ALL!'. The girl dodges with fluid steps marked by motion lines, replying 'ABSURD...' while cutting through the ropes. She adds 'THIS ROPE IS MADE OUT OF STEEL.' as the rope user reacts with shock, his face showing surprise. The girl continues to evade the steel ropes with agile movements, her expression calm and focused amid the swirling lines and debris.

A cloaked fighter grips an enormous paper fan and swings it with precision. "MY FAN IS MADE OUT OF PAPER," the fighter states. Another voice warns, "DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULDN'T UNDERESTIMATE PAPER?" A third line adds, "EVEN A NORMAL PERSON CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE CUTTING THROUGH WOODEN CHOPSTICKS WITH A BUSINESS CARD..." The fan slices through the air, sending razor-sharp paper strips spiraling outward. A monkey-like creature with a long whip recoils as the strips coil around it. The fighter's eyes narrow beneath a blunt bob haircut. "DANCE OF THE SERPENT'S BITE," the fighter intones. The paper strips twist into a massive, biting serpent that lunges forward, striking the creature and sending it tumbling across the floor in a burst of motion lines and debris.

The paper serpent strikes with explosive force. The monkey-like creature is hurled backward amid a storm of black impact lines. "GU" and "Z" sound effects punctuate the blows. The creature screams "AAAAAHHH" as it crashes into a wall. In a smaller panel the fighter's face shows intense focus. Another panel shows the creature yelling "AAHHH!?" while the fighter mutters "THAT ONE..." Close-ups reveal the creature's pained expression, sweat drops, and torn clothing. The paper strips continue to lash violently, creating a whirlwind of debris and motion lines that dominate the right side of the page.

A close-up reveals a young woman with short black hair and intense eyes staring forward as she declares, "NEXT WILL BE YOUR RIGHT ARM." Below, dynamic panels show a fierce struggle: a blonde fighter is hurled through the air amid motion lines and impact effects. The spider-like humanoid creature with a skeletal exoskeleton grabs and twists the blonde fighter in a brutal hold, eliciting a startled "WHOA" from the victim. The creature's multiple clawed limbs pin the fighter as they tumble. In the final wide panel, the spider creature lies sprawled on a forest floor near a stream, its body partially submerged while distant figures flee among the trees and the blonde fighter's arm is visible at the edge.

Close panels detail the spider creature's clawed limb with a thin antenna-like appendage and Japanese SFX near the joint. The blonde fighter appears on the right, focused and sweating as he thinks about exploiting the gap in the creature's shell when it opens its body. Text boxes convey his internal assessment: the antenna is pretty sharp and the chance of success without injury is only 20%. In the wide middle panel the spider creature stands amid motion lines and impact effects while several fighters scatter around it. The bottom sequence shows rapid slashing SFX followed by a close-up of a clawed hand striking or grabbing.

A small panel shows a surprised face peering from darkness as light bursts around a circular opening. Nearby, a spiky-haired boy stares upward with wide eyes. In a forest-like cavern, a figure stands with back turned while a large, armored creature with a bulbous torso emerges from an arched doorway, growling. The creature's limbs extend in a dramatic black-background spread, gripping and slamming a smaller figure to the ground. The boy, Gon, holds a small flower-like object and speaks, 'YEAH, I DIDN'T THINK I COULD DO IT WITHOUT GETTING INJURED,' while wincing with an 'ouch...' The large creature looms directly behind him, its massive clawed arms swinging forward with motion lines as Gon remains focused on the object in his hands.

Gon looks up in surprise with a 'HUH?' as the large creature grabs him from behind, wrapping its limbs around his body in a powerful hold amid radiating speed lines. Close-up panels show the creature's grip tightening on Gon's arm and leg. Gon, still held, thinks aloud, 'I'M CERTAIN THAT I STUCK THE ANTENNA IN PROPERLY...' while wondering why it did not activate. The creature continues its assault with additional limbs striking. In the final panels, the scene shifts to a forest path leading into a dark cave entrance, then back to Gon's face as he declares, 'YOU'RE A MANIPULATION TYPE, HUH?'

In a forest tunnel, a figure in a striped helmet and armored suit holds a tray of small objects while addressing an unseen listener. The suited figure states that the listener must also be a Manipulation type and notes the successful activation of their ability, proven by the antenna stuck into Pell. A small black creature labeled Pell sits on the ground nearby. The suited figure's face is shown in close-up as they remark on the remote controller. A boy with spiky hair stares forward with wide eyes, realizing his own Manipulation ability is already being controlled by another user, meaning the activation condition has failed. The suited figure concludes that Bok's job is finished and that everything left is up to the boy when it comes to Manipulation abilities. The boy, looking distressed, says he does not feel like doing this but guesses he has no choice. In the final panel the boy strains with both arms raised, shouting that he cannot even budge as impact lines and motion effects surround him.

Numbered panels show a sequence of combat. A spiky-haired fighter in a loose robe stands with hand to his head as numbers 11 through 14 appear around him. In the forest a small creature is struck and sent flying with numbers 4, 5 and 6 marking the hits. Close-ups reveal the fighter's intense expression with sweat drops and the word "WHAT..." as he reacts in shock. The fighter then delivers a powerful forward punch, the impact rendered with large stylized Japanese characters and motion lines. Below him a furry creature with wide eyes looks up in alarm, saying "BUT THAT'S LIKE..." while the fighter taunts that the opponent had promised one hit. The creature yells "WA-WAIT!" as the massive strike lands.

Feitan launches forward in a powerful stance, his body twisting as massive jagged energy blades erupt around him in a whirlwind of force. The impact creates explosive shockwaves and debris flying in all directions. Below, Feitan crouches with a focused glare, his fist clenched tightly. A large speech bubble declares "RIPPER CYCLO-TRON!!!" as narration explains that the power of the punch increases according to the number of times he winds up his arm. In smaller panels, a character with short hair wonders "WHICH WAY SHOULD I GO...?" while another voice trails off "...NOW..." and notes "AS USUAL, I'M BAD AT CALCULATING." Feitan stands with a slight smirk, remarking "HEH. JUST HALF WOULD'VE BEEN ENOUGH."

In a web-filled area, a spider-like creature clings to threads while holding a spear, with speech bubbles asking "OR LEFT?" and "RIGHT?". Nearby, a muscular creature with spotted armor carries another figure through a forested area. Feitan stands holding a coin, declaring "I'LL LET THE COIN DECIDE." with a small "....." reaction nearby. A dramatic panel shows a hand flipping the coin with motion lines and the sound effect "KACHIN!!". In a forest clearing, a girl with long curly hair stands facing a figure in a black coat holding a closed umbrella, who asks "? AN UMBRELLA...?" while the distant figure remains still.

In a forest clearing, a woman with long wavy hair and a forehead mark runs forward while a black bird flies past. Ahead, a skull-like symbol floats in the air. The spiky-haired man in a dark coat stands ready. Suddenly the woman is sent flying backward in an explosion of motion lines and debris as the man lunges with his sword drawn. She shouts, "DAMN, MY CHANEL SKIRT." The man remarks, "GOOD REACTION..." In close-up panels the two face each other. The man says, "IT'S COMMON SENSE TO ASSUME YOUR OPPONENT'S HIDING SOMETHING IF THEY WEAR SOMETHING SO SPACIOUS." She replies, "NO DIFFERENT THAN YOU." She continues, "YOU LIKE TO HIDE THINGS, DON'T YOU? LITTLE BOY," while holding a thin concealed sword. The man notes, "A CONCEALED SWORD..."