Hunter × Hunter Chapter 288: Praise

The chapter title HUNTER X HUNTER #288 : PRAISE appears prominently. Narration explains that Pitoh used signal methods Gon would not understand, focusing only on what was being said. Pitoh did exactly as Pouf told him to, took his distance and started talking. Large text declares GON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ANT'S PLANS!! In the main panel, Pitoh sits behind Gon with one hand on the boy's shoulder while a cloaked figure stands nearby holding a staff. A close-up shows Pitoh's face noting some change in Gon's eyes. Gon stares forward with a fixed expression, arms crossed tightly. Narration states there is no change in Gon's position. A small panel shows a hand reaching toward the ground with the words THE KING... Another panel shows Gon from the side with the text BUT... The reason Pouf purposely did not mention the king hugging Komugi was because it would not do justice to what happened there in words.

In the rubble-strewn ruins of a damaged building, Killua sits on the debris-strewn floor with arms crossed and a stern expression. A tall man stands silently in the background near an open doorway. Nearby, a curly-haired figure kneels and points emphatically toward the distance, stating that someone went in that direction with the enemy of his own will. In a close sequence of panels, the curly-haired figure's lower body is shown as they declare he went south. The same figure then looks up with wide eyes and says they get it, adding there is no need for us to go. The page culminates in a dramatic close-up of Pitou's face, marked with the label PITOH, as Pitou smiles faintly and declares they understand everything now, followed by the remark nice play.

Against a stark black background, a long-haired figure stands in profile, adjusting their collar while speaking. They suggest that they should just wait here. A second bubble adds for our king to return. Below, a chibi-style version of the same figure lies on the ground, declaring that the remaining 67 will be enough for just my shell, with the note 1/7 should be enough for just my shell.

In a rocky canyon under a dramatic sky, Meruem stands tall with his tail coiled, facing forward with a determined posture. A small spiky-haired boy, Killua, bursts into the foreground with wide excited eyes and an open-mouthed grin, arms outstretched as massive sound effects explode around him. In the distance, a lone figure stands with arms spread wide. Speech bubbles appear near Meruem: "A FIGHT WHERE YOU'RE PREPARED TO DIE HUH?" A large circular bubble shouts "GO TO THE KING!!!" Killua reacts with pure thrill as the scene emphasizes the vast rocky landscape and the powerful presence of the characters.

Meruem continues speaking in close-up, his expression intense as he declares his vision. Earlier panels show him from the side and back while an elderly man with white hair comments on the situation. Speech bubbles convey Meruem's thoughts: "ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BORDER, THERE'S A CHILD DYING OF HUNGER, AND ON THE RIGHT, THERE'S SOME TRASH THAT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. THAT'S A STATE OF MADNESS" "THEN WHAT I'M DOING SHOULD BE CALLED 'ASSISTANCE'" "I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT... IS IT FOR THE HUMAN SPECIES?" "FOR EXAMPLE, IN YOUR SOCIETY YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES CALLED NATIONAL BORDERS RIGHT" "AND I'LL PROVIDE" "I'LL DESTROY ALL THAT" In the final large panel Meruem stands centered with radiating speed lines, proclaiming "THE WORD 'EQUALITY' WON'T EVEN EXIST" "A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE IS SO EQUAL,"

The bald man with a star marking holds a phone to his ear and mutters "...." He turns his head with a stern expression. The man in the wide hat continues speaking: "I ONLY USED THAT TO MAINTAIN ORDER BUT," "AT FIRST, I WAS USING POWER AND FEAR TO REMOVE THE TRASH." In the distance, a small spiky-haired figure stands over a kneeling opponent as the hatted man declares, "NOT TO OPPRESS THOSE I'VE ALREADY BEATEN TO PROTECT THOSE THAT ARE WEAK, BUT STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE FINALLY LEARNED WHAT I SHOULD USE MY POWER FOR I HAVE." A close-up reveals a wrinkled face warning, "IS DANGEROUS THIS GUY." In the rocky canyon the hatted fighter stands ready and states, "I'M NOT STUCK GOING TO FIGHT YOU HE'S."

The bald man is hurled through the air amid debris and impact lines while shouting, "THE REASON I MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION, WAS ONLY TO AVOID FIGHTING BETWEEN BEING AN ANT AND BEING HUMAN!!!" Motion lines and cross-shaped impact marks fill the rocky terrain. Below, the hatted fighter crouches in a ready stance inside a dark panel and thinks, "YOU CAN GET CLOSER HE HASN'T NOTICED IT YET THAT THE TWO SHOULD NEVER MIX!!!"

A close-up shows a helmeted figure with a fierce grin declaring intent to win. Beside it, another armored character stands ready. The bearded old man with a small crown-like emblem on his head speaks calmly: 'IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHICH SIDE WINS OUT HOWEVER, IT'S IN YOUR HANDS NOW.' The scene shifts to a sprawling city skyline viewed from a high window. In the next panels, the old man holds a phone to his ear and asks, 'CAN I TAKE IT AS YOU DON'T MIND WHAT METHODS WE USE?' A voice on the line replies that there have already been a lot of casualties and that the extermination of the dangerous animals is underway. Another speaker adds, 'WE'RE ASKING ONLY ONE THING OF YOU.' At a formal dining table laden with food, several figures discuss the operation. One states, 'ANYWAY, WE ONLY WISH FOR THE ERADICATION OF THOSE BEASTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.' Another responds that they can't say anything about the methods a specialist uses.

A towering skyscraper dominates the frame as narration states the judgment of the Hunter Society is the same all around. A voice in an oval bubble says 'UNDERSTOOD' while another commands 'MAKE SURE YOU GET RID OF THE ANTS!' In a dark panel, a large clawed hand reaches forward with the note 'TO TAKE HIM OUT QUICKLY IT'S BEST.' Nearby, a pair of legs stands firm as a voice says 'KING, THE DECISION WON'T CHANGE.' The scene cuts to a rocky cave interior where a striped, octopus-like creature lies collapsed on the ground, smoke rising from its body. The creature says 'WE BOTH HAVE LOTS OF TROUBLE' while the bearded old man stands nearby and replies 'BEFORE MY HEART IS SWAYED.'

A bald man with a topknot sits in meditation against a vast dark circle, his body transformed into a multi-armed entity. Numerous arms extend outward in all directions, some with palms open, others clasped together in front of his chest in a prayer gesture. Thin lines connect the limbs, emphasizing the technique's intricate control. Below, a close-up reveals a character wearing a wide hat, eyes wide and mouth slightly open in intense focus or shock as they witness the manifestation above.

The full power of the technique erupts as a colossal multi-armed entity dominates the panel. The central face bears black tear-like markings, a grid-patterned headpiece, and a ruffled collar with beads. Massive arms surge forward, one delivering a devastating punch that creates a massive impact burst. The small bald user with topknot is visible in the lower right, controlling the attack. Bold text declares "HYAKU-SHIKIKANNON ICHI NO TE" on the left and "SINGLE PALM - 100 SOUNDWAVE ATTACK" at the bottom right, with large Japanese characters spelling out the technique name across the center.

A massive muscular figure surges forward in a powerful leap, its body twisting with explosive force amid heavy motion lines and impact shapes. Smaller figures react in the background as debris flies. In a lower panel a sharp "HYAA" sound effect punctuates the chaos while fragmented shapes scatter. The scene shifts to a devastated rocky basin where Morau kneels amid rubble and countless fallen soldier silhouettes. Sweat and strain mark his face as he points desperately forward. A large speech bubble declares: "THERE'RE ONLY 10 BODIES LEFT!!"

A close-up reveals Morau's face streaked with sweat and fatigue, dark sunglasses reflecting tension. Two thought bubbles appear: "HE PLANS ON LEAVING ME FOR DESSERTS HUH?" and "IT LOOKS LIKE I'M ON BORROWED TIME NOW". The view widens to show a powerful beast-like figure, Youpi, charging through rocky terrain while gripping a weapon, with a small round creature floating nearby. Morau's narration boxes explain that the soldiers could not spread out because Morali had reached dangerous fatigue levels, and that Youpi could only see the soldiers because Morali followed his movements. Multiple small panels depict the ongoing struggle and scattered soldier forms.

A close-up shows a bare foot planted on cracked ground, sweat dripping down the leg. The exhausted long-haired fighter kneels nearby, face bruised and streaked with dirt, eyes half-closed. Narration boxes detail his spent energy: with everything gone he could not even finish the word 'bankrupt,' yet he has reached his absolute limit. If he falters for a second the soldiers will turn to smoke. In the wide lower panel a massive crater stretches across the wasteland under a dark sky. The same fighter sits slumped at the crater's edge while two distant figures clash near the rim. A digital timer at the bottom reads 0:09:29:53.

Close panels reveal torn fabric and dripping liquid. Youpi stands transformed, multiple clawed arms extended, body covered in grotesque growths. A hooded man faces him and declares he was going to attack after finishing the smoke soldiers. Youpi replies he wants to say something. The hooded man's eyes narrow in silence. In the lower scene Youpi looms massively, one arm ending in a blade, while a small round creature stands beside him holding a staff. The creature notes Youpi looks like a larva on the verge of death. Narration explains that after learning to quarantine his anger energy, Youpi's mind became razor sharp, widening the ability gap with the attack group. The long-haired fighter remains seated on the ground nearby, watching.

A towering figure with a massive armored head looms in close-up, his stern face filling the panel as he speaks. "AMAZING," reads one balloon while another declares "YOU GUYS ARE" and a third trails off "BUT STI L...." Below, a tight shot focuses on the figure's mouth and chin. Text boxes state "THE FEELINGS TOWARDS THE LOSER" and "WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THOSE OF OPPRESSION." In the lower section, Morali kneels alone inside a dark, rubble-filled cavern, head bowed and body slumped. Speech bubbles read "THIS PROBABLY WONT COME OUT RIGHT, BUT..." and "BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, MORALI TOOK IT IN AS THIS IS WHAT YUPII IS REALLY LIKE." A final box notes "THOSE WORDS WERE FROM THE FURTHEST FROM THE IMPRESSION HE HAD OF YUPII."

Morali appears in profile with long hair and dark sunglasses, declaring "IT'S GAME OVER FOR ME." He continues, "I PUT AN END TO YOU" and "I NEED TO MAKE SURE." Youpi responds from off-panel, "BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOU'RE AMAZING..." A sudden motion line erupts as Youpi warns "DON'T MOVE" and states "WELL, I'LL END YOUR SUFFERING WITH ONE SHOT." In the next panel Youpi lunges forward with a massive blade-like arm, saying "SEE YA." Morali thinks "I EVEN THOUGHT GETTING KILLED BY HIM NOW WONT BE SO BAD" as the attack lands. A final panel shows only the large sound effect "K..." fading out.