Hunter × Hunter Chapter 272: Miscalculation

Knuckle and Youpi clash violently amid swirling clouds of dust and debris. Youpi's grotesque, multi-limbed form lunges forward with claws extended while Knuckle, shirtless and bruised, recoils with a look of utter disbelief. Large text on the left screams "THIS IS ABSURD...!!!" On the right Knuckle shouts "YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!!!?" A digital timer at the bottom left reads 0:00:13:86. The chapter title appears at the bottom: "HUNTER×HUNTER NO. 272 : MISCALCULATION".

A close-up reveals a face drenched in sweat, eyes wide with fierce determination and veins bulging from the strain. Below, a massive impact erupts as a spiky-haired fighter with a long tail-like appendage lunges forward in a violent dash. Motion lines and debris explode outward while a grotesque, multi-limbed creature with horns and a spotted body recoils from the strike. The fighter shouts in defiance, 'AS IF I COULD STAND THIS!!!!' as black cross-shaped impact marks slash across the panel and the creature is driven back amid swirling dust and shockwaves.

A large hand reaches forward against streaking speed lines. In a black panel, Knuckle is shown mid-air with a determined glare, his body twisted and one arm extended while a swirling tail trails behind him. Below, Knuckle lands hard on the ground amid dust clouds, still in motion. Text boxes read: 'Was Meleoron's first tap.' and 'What stopped Knuckle's violent dash.'

Knuckle's face twists in shock, sweat flying as he glares ahead. "ARE YOU SERIOUS? THERE'S ONLY 10 SECONDS LEFT?" Meleoron, pushed to his absolute limit, had activated God's Accomplice, yet the timing had nothing to do with Knuckle's own strategy. "BUT... COULD THAT JUST HAVE SAVED ME!" A sudden barrage of strikes erupts across the battlefield. Knuckle is hurled sideways amid sharp impact lines and debris as the grid-like arena shakes. Below, the scene explodes into chaos: multiple figures tumble through the air, smoke and cracks spreading across the tiled floor while clouds of dust rise around the combatants.

Knuckle grits his teeth in fury. "DAMMIT...!!" Potclean displays the number 322 while narration explains the damage dealt to interest and power. Youpi failed to notice he had grazed something, nor did he register Potclean's proclamation. Shoot fights desperately on the line. Knuckle and Meleoron tumble together across a wooden surface. "CALM DOWN YOU FOOL!" Knuckle shouts as they skid, the arena walls and debris blurring past them.

Knuckle stares intently from the side, thinking that his target shouldn't have any way of noticing Potclean for an instant. In the distance, a figure with a long tail leaps between stone pillars, positioning carefully while thinking this is the best range possible. The figure notes that as long as Shoot is doing his best, the distance isn't close enough to be seen but isn't too far to approach. Knuckle urges Meleoron to take a breather with all his might. A massive impact erupts with heavy motion lines and debris as the ability activates. Below, Knuckle's face twists in shock with wide eyes and sweat flying as the words RESCINDED!! appear. The label GOD'S ACCOMPLICE materializes in bold letters amid swirling clouds and falling rubble while the distant figure stumbles on the ground.

Youpi's muscular body twists violently in midair with multiple eyes wide open in surprise. A close-up shows his face with gritted teeth and a question mark as he wonders what just appeared. Below, his torso reveals a small round creature with glasses and a smiling face floating near his waist while numbers materialize around it. Youpi questions when the effect started and denies having been attacked from behind. The small creature emits a bright aura as a countdown appears. Youpi wonders if it is a delayed effect or if conditions were fulfilled during battle. In the lower panel Youpi continues to thrash with tentacles and debris flying, demanding to know what the countdown numbers mean and whether they are rising or falling, while the small creature hovers nearby with question marks floating around.

Youpi's massive form looms as debris scatters from the force of his movement. A huge speech bubble declares, "IT JUST MEANS I HAVE TO GET RID OF THE SOURCE, RIGHT?!" Smaller panels follow: one labeled "One reason" shows motion lines with "FROM FAR AWAY!!!" and "SOME-THING'S COMING!!" alongside a circular symbol. Narration explains that despite his overwhelming power and pride, Youpi could not land a hit on Shoot. The reason could be explained as a difference in true ability. A powerful strike crashes into the tiled floor, sending out a massive burst of smoke, cracks, and flying rubble as the impact radiates outward.

A figure with long hair is sent flying through the air, desperately thinking "I CAN'T GET AWAY IN TIME!!!!" as the word "FAST....!!!" appears above. Motion lines streak across the page. Close-up panels show a sweating face with wide eyes and the text "COMIN' RIGHT UP!!!" and "ONE SKEWERED PIECE OF MEAT..." A massive impact follows, with Youpi's powerful strike creating a cross-shaped burst of energy and debris that engulfs the area below.

A fierce impact erupts across the battlefield. In the upper left panels, Knuckle's face twists in shock, eyes wide and mouth open in a strained yell as motion lines streak behind him. Below, his eye narrows with intense focus. The main panel explodes with action: Youpi, long hair whipping wildly, is hurled backward by a massive blow, body contorted, limbs flailing as heavy black SFX symbols crash around him. Debris and impact bursts scatter through the air. In the lower panel, a massive blurred form rockets across the sky, trailing speed lines and cloud bursts, one clawed hand extended downward toward the grid-like ground far below while SFX roar with the force of the strike.

Youpi stands amid swirling clouds, glaring fiercely to the side. A small panel shows a distant figure plummeting while narration notes he hit himself to gain speed. Youpi's thought appears: "WHATEVER." Larger narration explains the plan-less Youpi polishing his own battle strategy as a drawback. Youpi lunges forward with a fiery foot, declaring internally "I always win" and "THAT WAS CLOSE!" as a bright flash erupts near him. Further narration reveals his readings were more or less correct and that he would eventually win. A butterfly flutters in the foreground while text states it was the fact that Shoot thought "that's fine," and Youpi did not notice, ending with the possibility of a miscalculation.

Shoot's body twists violently through the air amid a storm of falling leaves and butterflies. His limit has crept up on him. With one arm outstretched and the other clenched, he forces himself upward, shouting that he can still fly. Black ink blots and motion lines streak across the page as butterflies flutter around his battered form. A detached sleeve drifts nearby. Quietly but certainly, he affirms that he can still fight, his voice echoing even as his strength fades.

Youpi's massive face fills the panel in a roar of fury, teeth bared and eyes wild as he screams Yupi's name in rage. Smaller vertical panels on the left show a stern bald man glaring, a close-up of a fox-like eye peering through leaves, and a wide view of a ruined building complex where smoke rises and debris scatters. A lone figure stands before a doorway while another character is hurled through the air by the blast. Youpi continues bellowing that he is over here, calling out insults at the top of his lungs.

In the ruined hall filled with smoke and rubble, Knuckle stands in the foreground, eyes wide with realization. Behind him, Shoot remains partially hidden while the massive multi-limbed form of Youpi looms in the distance. The narration states that the conclusion the cooled-down Knuckle had come to was to reveal himself. Knuckle mutters his own name under his breath. In a sudden close-up, Youpi's face twists with fierce excitement, his eyes blazing as he declares the brilliance of the move. Someone shouts 'EXCELLENT!!!' while another voice questions whether Knuckle had purposefully revealed to the enemy that he has another opponent.

Youpi lunges forward with tremendous force, arms outstretched and aura flaring, shouting 'THIS IS THE ONLY WAY...' while repeating 'C'MOOONN!!!' multiple times to distract the Royal Guard and protect Shoot. The multi-armed Youpi turns his attention, growling 'SO YOU'RE THE ONE OVER HERE...' and '...I SEE.' Narration notes that if there was a miscalculation, Knuckle was more or less correct. The page ends with the chapter number, 'No.272 / END', and a teaser for the next issue focusing on Knuckle and Youpi.