Hunter × Hunter Chapter 295: Determination

Knuckle bends forward in the top panel, his bag marked with a cross visible on his back as he speaks. Below, a long-haired character in a dark outfit extends an arm while declaring they are just a copy. Knuckle stands to the right with a serious expression, stating "I MYSELF". In the center of the ruined, debris-strewn area, a figure runs away from the group. A tall character with long dark hair stands on the left with hands clasped. Speech bubbles continue: the copy is already heading back to the King, while the real one remains. The bottom row shows three close-up reaction faces: a spiky-haired boy looking shocked, a curly-haired girl with wide eyes and sweat drops, and a stern man with a pompadour glaring intensely. Vertical text reads "KNUCKLE'S CHALLENGE!!" and a final bubble asks what Pouf is plotting.

Pouf knew that Morel and Knuckle had been in contact with each other once he'd escaped from the smoke cage, so he made a split-second decision to operate under the assumption that his powers were already known. Knuckle stands facing the blonde-haired figure and declares, "AND IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION." The blonde-haired figure replies, "ABOUT YOUR COPIES... IT'S TRUE." Knuckle continues, "THE BOSS TOLD ME" and "KNUCKLE THAT IN ORDER TO LET GON KNOW." Narration notes that by telling the truth had worked. Pouf's plan to gain the upper hand psychologically unfolds as Knuckle, now shirtless and muscular with a crown-like aura flaring behind him, points forward and demands, "DID YOU TELL ME?" while another voice asks, "BUT WHY."

Pouf's goal was Youpi. A close-up shows the blonde-haired figure's face with a serious expression. Narration explains that depending on the reason, if Knuckle was here that meant Youpi had let him get away and had not told him. In a forest-like setting with a winged angelic figure visible in the background, the blonde-haired figure stands with arms crossed. To find out from Knuckle about the change he'd sensed in Youpi, the blonde-haired figure had to keep the peace. The figure adjusts their collar while facing Knuckle's back.

Pouf stands with his back partially turned, speaking firmly. "If that's all right with you, I'll fight you. I won't make copies of myself. He has demanded I not leave here. First of all, I want to convince Gon." Killua and Gon watch closely from the side, Gon with arms crossed and a stern expression. Pouf continues, gesturing with an open hand, "However, what I really want is to talk. And that's why I'm telling you this. If you want to fight one-on-one, you'll have to make him take back his demand." Pouf knew that speaking honestly would be effective. Knuckle appears in close-up, glaring intensely. "With someone who had challenged him rather than taking the advantage. And attacking from behind." A large hand reaches forward as a voice declares, "Liar." Pouf's face turns sharply, sweat visible, replying, "From behind." A close-up shows a small dark mark on skin.

Killua's intense eyes fill the panel as he warns, "Don't be fooled, Knuckle. You said so yourself." Knuckle sweats, looking tense. Killua presses, "What proof do we have? And you say you're a copy, not the real you?" Pouf stands with arms crossed, replying with a serious expression. The scene shifts to show Gon in profile, Palm with wide surprised eyes, and Pouf with a sweat drop saying, "You're right..." A close-up reveals textured skin with the words "A pain. This kid's" overlaid.

A massive explosion of aura erupts across a barren landscape under a turbulent sky. Bold text declares that he is the most strong-willed of their enemies. In the next panels, Gon sits with his back to the viewer, spiky hair prominent, as he states that the enemy's determination means he will stay here. Nearby, Killua sits beside a curly-haired figure who remarks that maybe they should be glad he is tied up with Pitou. A shirtless, muscular figure with intense eyes leans forward and tells someone to find out for themselves whether he is real or a copy. The curly-haired person replies that revealing the truth would put them at a great disadvantage. The page ends with a small "x..." and the word "AND" in a bubble.

Gon sits with arms crossed on a rocky outcrop beneath swirling clouds, declaring they will decide what to do afterwards. Killua stands behind him with arms folded, saying he will leave it up to Gon. The scene shifts to a close-up of the curly-haired figure with wide, distressed eyes shouting for someone to stop, addressing Pouf directly and asking what he means. The final panels show close-ups of Gon's ear and the side of Killua's face as they react in silence.

Gon and Killua float wildly in the air with ecstatic expressions, arms outstretched amid a massive explosion of light and debris. A muscular man with curly hair leaps forward dramatically, striking a powerful pose as enormous black letters spell out 'NO' across the radiating background. Below, the same man stands on a raised platform, glaring intensely to the side. In the final panels he speaks with fierce determination, his face shown in close profile. 'IT'S UP TO YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOU JOIN ME!! I'LL WAIT AT THE FRONT GATE FOR 10 MINUTES!!'

Killua stands atop a silhouetted figure, shouting apologies for Pouf while Palm's voice pleads for him to stay. 'I APOLOGIZE FOR POUF!!' 'YOU JUST NEED ME TO STAY, RIGHT?' 'WAIT!! I'M STILL HERE!!' In the next scene Palm, with curly hair and glasses, leans close to a seated Killua whose face is shadowed. A speech bubble notes '10 MINUTES...' A massive close-up of a dark, lined face commands 'HEAL HER FASTER' and states 'THAN YOU PLANNED.' Final panels show Palm's wide-eyed, surprised reactions in two close-ups.

Pitou's face fills a panel, eyes wide with shock. Narration explains that Pitou was shaken by Pouf's decision to leave regardless of the consequences, but even more than that, rather than rise to Pouf's challenge, Pitou was afraid of Gon, who had simply demanded Pitou take less time. A small panel shows Pitou's hair and a starburst effect. In the beginning, Pitou had overestimated the amount of time necessary because he wanted to make sure Komugi was healed. Gon stands with his back to the viewer, asking "WILL IT TAKE?" while Pitou looks on. A tiny Komugi lies bandaged, saying "I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG." Gon replies "NO." Pitou thinks "AND GON HAD REJECTED HIS ESTIMATE." Another panel shows Gon saying "PROBABLY 3-4 HOURS..." as Pitou's face appears again with wide eyes.

Pitou appears in profile with a serious expression. Narration continues that the time Pitou had originally estimated was the hour they'd agreed upon, but Pitou had grown more skilled with Dr. Blythe. Pitou had just been thinking that he might be able to finish up to 10 minutes sooner. A panel shows a close-up of a hand and Dr. Blythe. Narration wonders if there was a good chance Gon was just echoing Pouf's words, or if it might just be a coincidence. A large close-up of Pitou's face shows wide eyes and sweat as Pitou thinks "I HAVE TO RISK MY LIFE..." and "BUT EVEN AS HE TOLD HIMSELF THAT," followed by "PITOU COULDN'T SHAKE THE BAD FEELING HE HAD." and "IF I DON'T, HIS FANGS..."

A massive, ferocious tiger-like entity with bared fangs and piercing eyes dominates the background, its presence overwhelming the scene. In the foreground, Palm kneels with a determined expression, her curly hair framing her face as she raises a fist and declares, "ALL RIGHT...!!" Beside her, Killua sits on the ground, one hand extended forward, his spiky hair and lean frame visible against the chaotic backdrop. Bold text beside the beast proclaims, "MAY REACH THE KING'S THROAT!!" A digital timer at the bottom reads 0:25:31:81, counting down the critical moments.

Knuckle appears in close-up with a shocked expression, sweat flying as he reacts. A muscular man stands with his back turned in the next panel. Palm and Killua converse intensely: Palm states, "BUT I THINK POUF WAS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE REAL HIM," while Killua replies, "I KNOW WHAT I SAID. HEADING FOR THE KING." They continue, "FINE. I'LL BE HERE ALONE." The focus shifts to Killua's face as he declares, "IS TO THE SOUTH. THE KING." Close-ups show Palm's surprised eyes and Knuckle's tense reaction. Narration boxes explain: "BUT PITOU HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT, SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL HE THOUGHT GON MUST HAVE READ POUF'S MIND." and "GON HAD BEEN THERE WITH KILLUA."

In the darkness, narration declares that he knew what he must do. In that instant, Pitou's vague fears solidified. A close-up shows an eye widening in shock with the words 'WHAT...' and 'NO MATTER'. Beside it, Pitou's face appears with flowing hair, thinking 'TO KILL HIM.' and 'I HAVE'. Below, Gon and Pitou sit side by side on the ground. Gon remains still while Pitou, with cat-like ears visible, declares 'FOR THE KING'S SAKE.....!!!' A large speech bubble from Pitou reads 'I HAVE TO KILL GON ...'

Killua's face appears in close-up, eyes wide as he thinks 'I CAN'T LEAVE HER WITH POUF OR YOUPI!... SHE'S HEALED ...?' and '...!! SHOULD I LEAVE HER IN SOMEONE'S CARE ONCE SHE'S HEALED?'. Another panel shows Killua sweating, thinking 'NO, I CAN'T PUT HER IN DANGER. AFTER I HEAL KOMUGI...?' A black panel poses the questions 'WHO WILL TAKE HER TO THE KING...!? IF I DIE'. Gon sits with Pitou nearby; Gon says 'I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.' and 'AND I'M GOING TO DO IT MY WAY.' Pitou responds 'GON...'. Youpi stands in the distance. A low panel shows feet and a speech bubble 'YUPI...'. Killua, now shirtless and muscular, thinks 'NO... NEVER MIND.' and considers 'THAT COULD END UP COSTING HIM HIS LIFE. IF HIS INFORMATION ON SHOOK GON UP OR MADE HIM HESITATE...'

Knuckle stops himself from saying anything more. "See ya," he calls out. And so Knuckle heads into the large building with the domed roof. Inside the long empty hallway he suddenly tumbles forward with a startled "Wah!" and "Ooh!" as chains whip around him. At a computer terminal a round-headed figure frantically types, declaring he has to find Palm and that this is no time to cry.

The round-headed character realizes the garage door to the storage area is opening and panics with a loud "WHY!?" In the next room he comes face to face with a large multi-limbed creature. The creature warns "Don't move. If you move, I'll attack." The character freezes, sweat pouring down, thinking any sudden move means death and that the creature has many questions. He worries that spilling the beans will endanger lives and that Welfin will want the information from him.

A massive impact rocks the battlefield as two fighters clash with overwhelming force. A skull-faced figure recoils violently, shouting "WHA...!? STOP!!" while another voice declares "I'LL SHOOT!!" A thought bubble reveals inner turmoil: "HE MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO CONTROL ME" and "AGAINST MY WILL!!" Below, the same figure resolves grimly, "IF IT'S THAT OR SELL OUT MY FRIENDS... THEN GO AHEAD!! KILL ME!!" The combatants unleash simultaneous blows, their strikes landing at the exact same instant amid explosive motion lines and debris. A bold caption declares "HUNTER VS. ANT: THE FINAL BATTLE!!" as the page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and "No.295 END".