Hunter × Hunter Chapter 264: Break-In

A grand building complex with multiple domed towers stands under a pitch-black sky streaked with countless white motion lines. The structures feature rounded roofs, spires, and rectangular windows along their bases. Large text on the left reads 'Dragons fill the night sky and attack the ants on the ground!!'. On the right, a glowing circular burst contains the words 'DRAGON DIVE!!!'. The entire upper sky is filled with radiating speed lines suggesting a massive aerial assault descending upon the area.

The curly-haired figure releases his "En" to prepare for battle after sighting the enemy, but the action backfires. As a result, Pitou's eyes widen in alarm. "WHERE ARE THEY!?" he shouts. With their presence completely suppressed and their bodies hidden in the rear of the group of glittering dragons, Pitou lost sight of the two. "..."

Close-ups show Pitou's eyes widening then narrowing. "But..." With a fierce grin revealing sharp teeth, Pitou reacts to the threat against his king. Faced with the threat to his king, Pitou's six senses, now sharpened to their utmost limits, guided him to the intruders with ease.

Amid a torrent of slashing white streaks like a downpour of dragons, a figure with wild curly hair and pointed ears leans forward in shock, one arm raised and mouth open wide. Behind and above, a muscular man with short hair, a beard, and the number 9 on his chest tumbles through the air, body angled as if falling or propelled at high speed. The background is consumed by chaotic black-and-white energy lines radiating outward. A large speech bubble near the curly-haired figure reads 'IS THAT HUMAN!!!' while another on the right declares 'WHAT IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE DOWNPOUR OF COUNTLESS DRAGONS...'

A close-up shows the curly-haired figure with wide, intense eyes and a slight smile. Next to it, an old man with a thick beard, mustache, and intense gaze stares forward, sweat or strain visible on his face. Below, in a shattered circular arena, the curly-haired figure and a small cloaked person with white hair stand amid debris and impact lines. A large black circle labeled 'TERPSICHORA.' dominates the lower right. A text box states 'A nen ability manifested when Pitou fights at full strength.'

Netero lets out a low chuckle, 'HOH HO.' The narration explains that he only requires 0.1 seconds to transition from manifestation to attack. However, within that split second, Pitou heard him without question. Two figures streak through the darkness: Pitou with outstretched limbs and another smaller silhouette trailing behind. Pitou's thoughts continue, 'I'VE ANTICIPATED A FEW DIFFERENT KINDS OF ATTACKS, BUT...' In a dramatic close-up, Netero's aged face fills the frame, eyes narrowed and mouth open as he speaks the words 'THAT'S A BAD MOVE... LITTLE ANT.'

Pouf lounges on an ornate, dragon-carved throne, one hand resting on his cheek while the other holds a long pipe. A massive, clawed hand grips an intricate lantern nearby. Pouf remarks, 'IT CERTAINLY IS.' Smaller panels show Pouf eating with chopsticks and close-ups of the lantern as narration describes how, at the moment of death, time becomes super-slow and one's life flashes before the eyes. Pouf compares the sensation to a revolving lantern, stating 'IT'S CLOSE TO THAT.' The lantern spins with the sound effect 'ゴロ,' and Pouf questions, 'NO, IT IS. NOT POSSIBLE?'

Both sides serve as witnesses to the unfolding exchange. It means you can sometimes learn information that no one other than that person could possibly know. After all, you are hearing what your opponent is thinking at that moment, rather than your own thoughts. But the authenticity of this is even easier to measure than that. The moment two truly powerful men engage in battle, their sense of the passage of time is often inconsistent with one another. It is a phenomenon that is called Shinteki Ken-chou in a certain martial art. The secret to that geezer's strength? In a quiet close-up, Netero sits holding chopsticks near a plate of food. First, his Nen is frighteningly quiet. No one can predict his next attack from the flow of his aura. Well... there are a few.

A character with yin-yang symbols around their head shouts in frustration. It is true that he's an acquaintance... hmm... I guess we're like yin and yang... Anyway, that geezer's been a geezer since I was sucking on my mother's breasts. So, he hasn't lived this long for nothing. His mind is like a plant. The only human to have ever fought my grandpa and lived to tell about it. Right, about the secrets of his power. As far as fighting goes, I'd have to say... what's left... ah, yes. In profile, Netero grins widely with an intense, battle-ready expression. Hyakushiki Kannon. That's probably his most dangerous move.

Netero stands centered against a dark circular backdrop, his body surrounded by multiple overlapping afterimages of arms and hands in fluid motion. His right hand is raised near his face in a prayer-like gesture while his left arm extends outward. Below him, Pitou's wide, staring eyes fill the lower frame. Narration boxes detail the scene: "However... There was no doubt that Netero had completed his movements during the brief moment between Pitou's activation of his ability and his attack. To Pitou, the sequence of Netero's actions seemed extremely elegant and in slow motion. in order to see Netero's movements at all. It meant that Pitou had to compress his own body's sense of time as much as possible, tantamount to placing himself in a suspended state of time..."

A massive white explosion erupts from the center of the page, radiating outward with intense speed lines and debris. In the upper right panel, Netero appears with long hair flowing, right hand raised, blood visible on his arm, stating "That is to say, the true situation was..." Smaller panels show Pitou standing with hands near face, a close-up of an eye, Pitou's silhouette glowing, and impact effects with motion lines and sparkles on black backgrounds.

A massive close-up of a face fills the top of the page, mouth agape in shock as motion lines streak across the panel beside a jagged black symbol. The view shifts to an overhead shot of a vast hall where a blinding explosion erupts on the left, hurling debris and shockwaves outward while a small figure lies sprawled on the floor amid radiating impact lines and scattered black spots. In the bottom panel a close-up reveals wide, disbelieving eyes and an open mouth as the character processes the scene. The attack came from below his position... Impossible?

In a dark rocky space, a small figure hovers amid vertical white streaks while a tall person stands with one arm raised. A close-up shows an eye glancing sideways next to Netero, who speaks with a calm yet firm expression. I would appreciate it if you would just disappear off to the distance. The final panel depicts Netero sprinting up a wide staircase inside a grand building, a small sign visible on the right wall near ornate railings and a fiery glow at the base of the stairs.

In the vast, empty hall of the palace, wide stone stairs stretch upward under harsh lighting. On the left staircase, a powerfully built man with long hair crouches low, muscles tensed, his expression grim and focused as he grips the steps. On the right side of the hall, a group of young fighters charges forward across the floor and up the stairs: a spiky-haired boy in the lead, a white-haired boy beside him, a girl with a long ponytail and flowing clothes, and another figure with wild hair. Motion lines and dust trails emphasize their urgent sprint. Large text overlays declare the moment: "THE PUNITIVE FORCE INVADES THE PALACE" on the left and "DAY OF THE ASSEMBLY" with "TWELVE O'CLOCK MIDNIGHT" on the right. A digital timer in the bottom right reads "0:00:00:96". Near the center stairs, bold lettering reads "The point of no return! It's do or die!"