Hunter × Hunter Chapter 257: Hunter×hunter

Close-up of Komugi in her large hat, eyes intense, thinking: "SHE IS ATTACKING MY WEAK POINTS WITHOUT HESITATION. HER PACE IS GETTING FASTER." Meruem stares forward with wide eyes as a bubble reads "4-3-3 YUMI." Below, Pouf and another figure lean over the Gungi board calling moves: "6-6-1 SHOU-SHOU." and "2-1-1 KIBA." A large panel shows Meruem's face under the hat brim: "HOWEVER, IT'S NOT SUFFOCATING. IT'S EVEN FUN. IT'S BECAUSE SHE'S LEADING THE MATCH IN THAT DIRECTION." Close shots of hands on the board note "SEVERAL LEVELS HIGHER THAN I AM." and "IT'S PROOF THAT SHE'S STILL PLAYING AT..." Komugi's voice says "GREAT LEADER." Meruem wonders: "JUST HOW MUCH STRONGER WILL SHE BECOME...?"

A pair of intense eyes stare forward as a voice mutters that something feels off. The speaker's hand hovers uncertainly. Below, fingers reach toward a small white sphere resting on a checkered surface. In a sudden wide view, a larger hand descends from above and touches a glowing orb on the table, causing several smaller spheres to lift and orbit around it. At the bottom of the page, the back of a spiky-haired figure is shown beside a helmeted character whose eyes blaze as they declare the awakening. Nearby, a short-haired girl watches in profile while another voice states that the phenomenon will not stop.

The spiky-haired boy sits cross-legged inside a large translucent bubble filled with smaller rising spheres. He appears deep in concentration as thoughts flood his mind. A voice notes that incredible moves keep flowing into his head. Another inner voice declares that he can become stronger and stronger. Below, a close-up reveals the helmeted figure's determined face as they proclaim that the true growth of her strength begins from this point onward.

Komugi sits at the Gungi board, focused on the pieces. The King, with spiky hair and a serious expression, leans in and asks, "TAKE A LITTLE BREAK?" Komugi replies softly, "...MAY I..." The King questions, "IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG?" A narration notes, "THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS MADE SUCH A REQUEST." Elsewhere, the King’s hands hover over an imaginary board as he thinks, "ALL THE MOVES THAT ARE COMING INTO MY HEAD." He continues, "I JUST WISH TO RETURN TO MY ROOM TO WRITE THEM DOWN..." Komugi responds, "NO." She explains, "I'M JUST GOING TO SET THE PIECES ON THE BOARD. IF I ACTUALLY TOUCH THE PIECES AND SET THEM, I NEVER FORGET." The King reacts with surprise, "OH! I DIDN'T MEAN I WAS GOING TO WRITE THEM DOWN. WITH THOSE EYES OF YOURS?" A small panel shows his intense gaze. In a wider view, a tall figure with a cane stands nearby as the armored ant raises a hand and says, "HEY." Komugi looks up and answers, "AH." The King grants, "YOUR REQUEST IS GRANTED. REST." The armored figure adds, "EVERY SINGLE MATCH UNTIL NOW...?" Komugi finishes, "...A FOOLISH QUESTION."

The armored ant looks up and asks, "YOUR NAME?" Komugi stands and replies, "NAME..." The King watches silently from the side, his eye visible through a doorway. The armored ant presses, "WHAT IS IT?" Komugi begins to answer, "KOMUGI! SIR!" then stammers, "...KO KO KO..." The King questions sharply, "WHO ELSE IS THERE?" The armored ant responds, "YOU MEAN... MINE?" In a close-up, the King's face shows a stern expression as he says, "AND YOU, GREAT LEADER...?" The armored ant recognizes the situation and says, "KOMUGI...? I SEE."

A small chibi-like figure of Pitou floats in the upper center. To the left, an armored figure with a striped tail-like appendage sits on the ground, gazing toward the right. In the foreground, Pitou appears with spiky hair, eyes closed and face marked with distress, a tear visible. A speech bubble reads, "THE NAME OF OUR GREAT LEADER?" Another asks, "MAY I ASK..." A thick black bar cuts across the page with the text "MY... NAME..." Below it, a pair of wide, intense eyes stare forward. Another black bar states "WHAT'S... MY NAME...?" At the bottom, a tiny Pitou figure stands with a speech bubble declaring "PITOU!"

In the top left panel, a small armored figure with a striped tail leaps toward a kneeling character on a rooftop, asking "WHAT DO YOU DESIRE, YOUR MAJESTY?" The reply is "YES." To the right, Pouf sits atop a domed building with hands clasped. Next, a close-up shows the armored figure looking forward with an ellipsis. Below, multiple figures respond "YES." including a muscular man labeled "YUPII", a standing man, and the armored figure shouting "PUFU!" In a lower sequence, Pouf addresses the armored figure, who replies "PUFU." The armored figure then states "YOU ARE PUFU." and "THAT'S RIGHT." On the right, the armored figure leaps into the air asking "IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG, YOUR MAJESTY?" while three figures walk away in the background.

The King stares forward with wide eyes beneath his ornate helmet as fragmented thoughts surface. "MY NAME..." he begins, the words trailing into silence while background figures react with confusion. "IS MY NAME? WHAT..." he questions aloud. A long-haired figure bows deeply and speaks with reverence: "PLEASE BESTOW UPON ME THE HONOR OF TELLING YOU. YOU ARE THE KING." The figure continues, declaring the King's unmatched status: "A PEERLESS EXISTENCE WITH NO EQUAL...!!! YOU NEED NOT BE ANYTHING ELSE." From behind, the armored King addresses the room, explaining that only one being can hold the title. "THEY WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO THINK OF ONE BEING... THEREFORE, WHEN ANYONE IN THIS WORLD REFERS TO 'THE KING'... BUT THEY WILL ALL SOON BE ELIMINATED. PRESENTLY, THERE ARE COUNTLESS UNWORTHY INSOLENTS WHO DARE HOLD THAT NAME WITHOUT PERMISSION..."

The King turns toward a kneeling figure and asks, "YUP, WHAT DO YOU THINK?" The long-haired guard responds, "A KING IS A TITLE. A TITLE IS ULTIMATELY A FORMALITY, NOT A NAME. THAT'S JUST A PREMISE." Another guard admits, "I LACK THE MEANS TO ANSWER IT, YOUR MAJESTY. I DO NOT FEEL ADEQUATE TO ANSWER SUCH A QUESTION..." The curly-haired guard smiles brightly and addresses the King directly: "PITOU." The King extends an open hand and listens as the guard continues, "I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE BEST FOR YOUR MAJESTY TO APPOINT A NAME WORTHY OF YOUR MAJESTY... HMM... WELL, AFTER ALL, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HOW YOU FEEL, YOUR MAJESTY." The King lowers his gaze and concludes, "SO IT SHALL BE." A faint utterance escapes: "FU... MM."

The long-haired young man speaks with quiet resolve, stating that completing tomorrow's task without problems or delays must be their priority. Another voice emphasizes that the priority is tomorrow. The helmeted figure suggests choosing a name. The long-haired man adds that it won't be too late if the water is selected after the selection. A small ellipsis floats above the long-haired man as he lowers his head. The helmeted figure stares intensely. The long-haired man, hand on his chest, declares they exist solely for that purpose. He offers that if anything is bothering the listener, they should let him know. The helmeted figure asks if there is something else. Close-ups show the helmeted figure's eyes narrowing and a small creature appearing nearby. The helmeted figure states that Komugi's entire body was surrounded by light. The long-haired man's hair flows as narration notes that his majesty is recognizing such a being by name. The helmeted figure and another character react with surprise as someone calls out Komugi.

The small creature addresses the helmeted figure as your majesty. Pitou appears in profile, speaking the name Pitou. Narration explains that if Komugi was to go through the selection, the method which will be used tomorrow would determine those with physical and psychological qualities suitable for a soldier. A large panel shows a wide-eyed character with curly hair stating that Komugi's strength will grow exponentially and that she has awoken. The same character adds that however only in terms of Gungi. The curly-haired character warns that she would die. A figure in armor points upward while another character with a bag stands nearby. The armored figure notes the only ones who will survive are those with exceptionally high combat abilities. At the bottom, the long-haired character says your majesty and please.

A figure in a wide hat bows deeply, pleading with the King. 'YOUR MAJESTY... PLEASE...' the voice continues, '...FOR EXAMPLE, ON MY WAY HERE...' The speaker explains that because of Komugi he has learned there are different forms of strength. Suddenly a sharp command cuts through: 'STOP...!!!' followed by a desperate 'PLEASE...' The same speaker insists, 'YOU MUST NOT SAY IT!! YOUR MAJESTY...!!!' An eye glares as the words 'I KILLED A CHILD.' hang in the air. Large lettering declares 'IT IS NOT BEFITTING OF YOU!!' and 'IT IS NOT WORTHY OF YOU!!' A bubble adds that the child may have had talent. At the bottom the King himself speaks from shadow: '...TO SURPASS ME IN A PARTICULAR FIELD.' The word 'KING...' and 'THE ABSOLUTE...' frame his statement.

The King, now shown in his powerful armored form, recalls trampling a seed. 'I TRAMPLED OVER...' he says, 'THAT SEED.' His own actions are emphasized in jagged lettering. He questions whether he should regret it. Below, a smaller panel repeats the trampling image. The King continues, 'FOR NO REASON AT ALL...' and 'NO MATTER WHAT...' while a voice pleads 'PLEASE...' Another speaker cries 'YOUR MAJESTY...!!!' The King commands 'YOU MUST NOT SAY...' An unfinished 'I...' lingers. Bold text at the bottom announces 'THE WORDS THAT COME NEXT!!!'

A large close-up fills the upper half of the page, showing the King in a wide-brimmed helmet, his eyes narrowed into a chilling, intense glare with sweat drops trailing down his face and a faint, unsettling smile forming. The expression radiates menace and calculation. Below, two small panels capture Gon and Killua in profile and three-quarter view; Gon leans in with a focused, determined look while Killua stares forward with a serious, sweat-streaked face. The bottom panel turns black, centering a white circular emblem containing a dark, bird-like symbol with small markings around it. Narration text overlays the scene: "The chilling expression of the king, what could it mean!?" and "Gon and company finally commence the plan to defeat the King...!?"