Hunter × Hunter Chapter 238: Killua's Lake Encounter

Close-up panels show the white bat-like creature's shocked face with wide eyes as it exclaims 'THIS IS...' and 'HUH?'. A bearded man identified as Captain Ika-rugo's host yells 'DAMMIT! STOP EATING!!' while the creature continues devouring. The host's body is shown being consumed in swirling motion lines. In a wider view, the creature's remains scatter as voices declare 'THE BLOOD IS CALLING TO US~~~!!' and 'WE WANT TO BUT... AHHH IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!'. The page ends with a dramatic close-up of a wide-eyed face with sweat drops and motion lines expressing intense reaction.

High in the trees, the octopus-like creature screams as several of its limbs are severed. "CUT OFF THE IMPORTANT LEGS OF ME, IKARUGO-SAMA — AAAA!!" it wails while tumbling through the air. Below, Gon clings to a branch. The enraged creature swings its cane, shouting "HOW DARE YOU..." and "YOU BAS-TARD~" with furious eyes. In a close-up, Gon examines one of the severed tentacles in his hand. "I WAS SAVED, THANKS TO THESE SUCKER CUPS," he notes as it sticks with a "PITA!!" Gon then leaps from the trunk, explaining, "BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE BEEN A PAIN IN THE ASS IF I FELL INTO THE WATER." In a small panel he stares upward and asks, "YOU'RE AN OCTOPUS, HUH? You have eight legs."

The octopus-like creature erupts in rage, its body swelling with smoke-like energy. "DON'T CALL ME AN OCTO-PUS—!" it bellows amid heavy SFX "ビロゥゥゥゥ ビリリ". Small inset panels show Gon’s surprised face and motion lines. A footnote reads: "*There are also squids with eight legs. († although this one is an octopus)". Below, the creature plummets through the shattered wooden structure, one tentacle waving as it calls "SEE YA—" while debris and impact marks fill the air.

A close-up reveals Killua's intense face as he declares he will let the Oroso siblings handle the situation. He adds that he cannot grow new bullets unless he puts the flea clothing on a new host. In the next panel Killua lunges forward with arms outstretched, firing a projectile that trails smoke and lightning-like energy while emitting a sharp "ん!!" sound. Below, the scene shifts to murky water where small aquatic creatures swim near massive pillars. A voice laughs "AH... AHAHA. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S BEEN AWHILE~~~ JUST KIDDING. HEHEHE." Another figure calls out "YO, WE MEET AGAIN." On the right a spiky-haired character is struck hard, marked with impact lines and the word "KNOCKED OUT" as debris flies. Ripples spread across the dark surface while the creatures circle below.

Killua stands in shallow water facing an unseen speaker. The voice questions whether Killua cannot swim and notes that underwater he would have the advantage. Killua replies that he realized the others were devouring the severed legs without thinking twice. He warns that going into the lake now would mean being eaten because of the blood scent. A large shark-like creature with open jaws lunges forward while an octopus clings to a pole. Killua continues explaining that the underwater guys are too excited by the smell of blood and will attack anyone injured without discretion. The octopus floats nearby with tentacles extended as the conversation continues.

Gon stares upward in confusion, sweat flying as he blurts out, "WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?" A small voice answers from below, "WHAT I MEANT TO SAY IS... UM..." followed by "AH... NO... AM I WRONG?" Gon panics, arms flailing, yelling "WHOOO-AAAA~ I MESSED UP~!!!" Ikalgo, the round creature with angry brows, insists from the shadows, "WE'RE STILL FIGHTING!" and "NO." He then demands, "IKARUGO, DID YOU GET RID OF HIM?" Gon replies nervously, "NO NO!! IT'S JUST THAT... UH... ER—" Ikalgo presses, "HE'S THE ONE WHO WAS BUZZING AROUND ABOVE ME, RIGHT? IS IT YOUR BOSS?" Gon confirms, "AH, THAT'S RIGHT. YOU GUYS CAN COMMUNICATE USING ELECTRONIC WAVES." He continues explaining the risk: "THE ENEMY WILL DEFINITELY SUSPECT SOMETHING IF THERE ARE TENS OF DRAGONFLIES FLYING AROUND IN THE CAVE. I WON'T BE ABLE TO SEND IN THE SATELLITE DRAGONFLIES." Ikalgo considers, "I SEE. I'VE BEEN BOTHERING YOU." Gon swings from a rope and proposes, "THEN LET'S MAKE A DEAL." Ikalgo reacts with shock, "IKARUGO!?" and affirms, "YES!! WE'RE STILL FIGHTING!!" while adding, "WELL, YOU'RE NOT ENTIRELY WRONG, BUT NOT ENTIRELY RIGHT EITHER."

Ikalugo's face fills with tension, sweat pouring as Gon gives an ultimatum: "YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO ANSWER." Close-ups show Ikalgo's widening eyes and trembling pupils while Gon counts, "EIGHT SECONDS LEFT." Ikalgo's thoughts appear: "I ESPECIALLY RESPECT THE WHIPLASH SQUID (CHIROTEUTHIS PICTETI)." He admits, "WHAT I WANTED TO BE BORN AS... IS A SQUID..." and declares, "TO ME, THE FORM OF A SQUID IS DIVINE." Gon stares in surprise as Ikalgo continues, "YOU THINK OCTOPUSES AND SQUIDS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, RIGHT? BIG MISTAKE!! OCTOPUSES ARE UGLY, SQUIDS ARE COOL." A panel notes the precise anatomical difference: "EVEN THE DIFFERENCE OF A MILLIMETER IN THE SHAPE AND POSITION OF THE EYES AND NOSE OF A HUMAN DETERMINES THE BEAUTY, RIGHT?" The final panel shows three seconds remaining on the count.

The octopus-like creature thrashes and yells in protest as the spiky-haired boy swings his weapon toward it. "I AM NOT SELLING OUT MY COMRADES...!!!" the creature shouts while being struck. In close-up, the long-haired girl stares intensely and states, "YOUR EYES ALREADY TOLD ME." The boy replies, "...YEAH. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT ♪" The creature, now on the ground, laments, "TO BE BORN AS A SQUID~~~ ♪" and adds "NEXT TIME..." before a massive impact erupts with the loud sound effect "ドドドドドド!!!" shaking the scene as the boy is knocked back amid swirling dust and debris.

The octopus-like creature recoils with wide eyes and sweat drops, its expression shifting to shock. In a small panel the long-haired girl is seen mid-air asking "WHY?" while the creature clings to a pipe. The girl, now in close-up with a gentle smile despite her injuries, says, "HAD WE MET UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES... I THINK WE COULD HAVE BEEN FRIENDS." The spiky-haired boy answers, "BECAUSE YOU'RE COOL." The creature's enormous eyes fill the final panel, tears welling up as it processes the words.

A massive burst of light and energy erupts from above as Knuckle is hurled backward, his body twisting violently while his right arm remains chained upward. His spiky hair stands on end and his face twists in pain from the impact. Below, Potclean the small round creature tumbles across the rocky ground near a dark cave entrance, its body bouncing from the force. In quick succession, Potclean's face fills with shock, eyes wide and mouth open as it stares upward. Explosions ripple through the air with jagged impact lines and debris flying. Potclean lands hard on its back, limbs splayed, sweat drops flying as it processes the scene. The creature then sits up in the rubble, its expression shifting to confusion and concern while staring at the empty space where the attack originated.

Leol the bat-like creature hovers in the air with wings spread, observing the fight below. Speech bubbles appear around it as it questions the battle. "Is he using any kind of weapon or ability?" "We're still... fighting." "Ye... yes!!" "Ikalgo, respond!!" On the ground, Potclean remains crouched on all fours, its body tense. Leol continues watching intently. "He's only been fighting with his bare hands." "...No." Suddenly a massive impact strikes the ground near Potclean, sending rocks and dust flying with bold black impact shapes and motion lines.

Gon clings desperately to a jagged stalactite as the massive winged creature looms over him, its body pressing him against the rock. The creature laughs maniacally, its voice booming through the cavern. "HYAHA HAHA HAHA. DID YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!?" it taunts. In another panel it sneers, "YOU DIDN'T THINK A FISH COULD JUMP!? HUH!?" The beast continues its sadistic monologue, shouting "C'MON, C'MON, CRY AND SCREAM FOR ME! I WANNA ENJOY KILLING YOU!!! HUH!?" while threatening to "TEAR YOU APART ALONG WITH THIS STALACTITE!!" It mocks Gon's silence with "IS IT TOO PAINFUL FOR YOU TO MAKE A SOUND!? HUH!? HEY!!" Gon hangs on, battered but still gripping the rock as the creature's massive form fills the frame.

Gon’s face fills the panel with a sudden relieved expression, sweat and tears visible as he exhales "I'M RELIEVED." The bat creature reacts with shock, its eye widening as it gasps "WHAT!?" and "HUH!?" It snarls "HUH!?" while biting down, declaring "I PREFER PIECES OF SHITS LIKE YOU AS ENEMIES." The creature continues, "THEY'RE SO EASY TO JUST KILL. BECAUSE..." In the lower panel Gon is shown leaping away from the crumbling stalactite as the massive creature thrashes, its body breaking apart under the strain.

Gon clashes with a towering gray creature whose massive hand lunges forward. The creature's eye widens in shock as it blurts 'WHAT!?' and 'HUH!?'. It seizes a tiny figure clinging to a tree trunk and growls 'HUH!?' followed by 'I PREFER PIECES OF SHITS LIKE YOU AS ENEMIES.' Narration states they are so easy to just kill because... On the right, Gon appears with spiky hair and a bloodied face, sighing in relief with 'I'M RELIEV-ED.' and 'AH-'. In the bottom splash, the creature's clawed hand slams into Gon, sending him hurtling backward amid red impact bursts and motion lines as he grips an object for balance.

A lizard-like creature stands as narration declares 'THAT'S RIGHT!! HE'S GOOD-FOR-NOTHING SHIT!! THEREFORE, BAIT!!'. Gon crouches and announces 'AMAZINGLY, I, COBAAN...' and 'I DID IT, OROSO-SAMA!!' while the lizard reacts with 'KU KU KU.'. A circular badge labeled 'BAR DOUBLE BULL' is highlighted with the command 'PUT THE BADGE ON HIM!!'. In the lower panel a man with pointed ears and a winged woman appear; the man smirks and says 'HUHU, LET'S HAVE SOME FUN...' and 'GAME START.'. An off-panel voice questions 'What is this game?'.