18 pages · Chimera Ant arc

Hunter × Hunter Chapter 297: The Moment

What happens in chapter 297

Netero charges the Chimera Ant King and lands powerful blows that fail to slow his opponent. He activates Hyakushiki Kannon, manifesting a giant multi-armed figure that delivers a devastating strike. The King overpowers the attack and declares his superiority, but Netero demands he speak his name and shouts MERYEM before warning against underestimating humans.

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p.0Chapter 297 ends on this page.
p.8The Chimera Ant King is addressed directly by Netero.
p.16Chapter 297 ends with Netero's final stand.

Netero leaps through a shattered, debris-filled space, his muscular body twisted in mid-air with one arm extended and the other clenched. Shattered panels and impact marks surround him. Below, a young man in a wide hat and dark coat stares upward with wide eyes. Speech bubbles read: "IF YOU DON'T HURRY UP AND STOP THE BLEEDING, YOU'LL DIE." and "WHAT'S THE MATTER ?" A smaller panel shows the same young man beside a figure in a dark uniform. At the bottom, Netero's intense close-up face fills the frame with glaring eyes and motion lines as he declares, "DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH." Large text states "THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR STRENGTHS WAS INDESTRUCTIBLE..." The page is marked "HUNTER x HUNTER No.297 ◆ THE END".

Neteroyoung man in wide hat

The young man in the hat stares forward with a blank expression. Netero charges forward in a low stance, fist extended, shouting "WHO'S GOING TO DIE?" A massive impact occurs as Netero's strike connects with a dark, textured mass, producing heavy SFX "HMPH! HMPH!" and explosive debris. In a separate panel, a figure in black armor with a skull-like helmet reacts with "OHO ..." while being knocked back amid flying fragments and motion lines.

Neteroyoung man in wide hatarmored figure with skull helmet

Netero stares intently at his opponent, noting that it is a miracle the Chimera Ant King's energy levels have not faltered even a little. The King replies that it is quite admirable but warns Netero not to get ahead of himself, claiming the previous strike was merely a lucky punch. Netero counters that the lost leg is the result of the King's own sloppy defense and that losing it was almost inevitable. He declares that the battle is just beginning. A wide view of the Go board reveals that games played with Komugi made it possible for Netero to predict this exact outcome. Netero explains that the King's existence provided a guide to what could have been an infinite number of choices and that certain forms the King disliked were the key. In a ruined chamber, the King stands ready as Netero points forward and announces the next move: he will take the King's arm.

Netero Meruem

A massive explosion erupts as Meruem's body is torn apart in mid-air, limbs and mechanical fragments scattering violently outward against a black background streaked with white impact lines. The King, still recognizable amid the chaos, begins to speak the words 'THIS IS....' Below the blast, a close-up reveals Netero's intense, focused expression as he completes his technique.

Meruem Netero

A massive, horned face looms above the shattered ruins as Netero’s small figure hurtles through the air, beads of his rosary trailing behind him. It took less than a minute to ready his offense and defense. Their enhanced senses combined with Netero’s determination. But he was prepared for this to end his life. The old chairman’s body twists mid-fall, one leg extended, while the enormous visage of the Chimera Ant King dominates the upper panel, eyes half-lidded and mouth set in a grim line. Below, Netero’s determined face fills the frame, sweat and strain visible as he commits everything to the coming clash.

Netero Meruem

The moment arrived. Netero and Meruem collide in a burst of motion against a starry void filled with giant flowers. Giving birth to countless fireworks between them. And his Hyakushiki became over a thousand fists. Netero’s aged body is stretched forward, palms open, while Meruem’s armored form twists beneath him, one massive hand reaching up. Countless blossoms and sparks explode outward from the point of contact. Vertical text on the left reads “THE MOMENT AND THEN ARRIVED.” Netero’s face is locked in fierce concentration, veins standing out on his arms as he unleashes the full force of his technique.

Netero Meruem

On the Go board a slight deviation appears in the attack pattern. A tremor that could not even be called a habit or trend ripples through the air. The Chimera Ant King sees a faint light shining up ahead. As he continues to defend against Netero’s fists with his body, the old chairman is suddenly there. And then a blinding white flash erupts at the center of the impact.

Netero Meruem

Netero is hurled backward through the air, body twisted by the force of the blow. Close-ups reveal his narrowed eyes and the King’s fierce glare. A bald man with a topknot and a shirt marked 7 leaps into action, landing in a wide stance. Below, two small figures stand in a ruined hall, one wearing a hat and the other crouched low, watching the distant clash.

Netero Meruemunidentified topknotted fighter

Netero kneels on the cracked stone floor, one hand pressed down as he gasps "NOW". The Chimera Ant King looms above him, mechanical arm extended, demanding "SATISFIED NOW? ARE YOU". Netero turns his back to the King and speaks firmly: "SAY MY NAME." The King’s face twists into a grin as he declares "KING OF THE ANTS." and chuckles "HE HE." In extreme close-up, Netero’s sweat-streaked, bloodied face strains with the words "I COULDN’T PRAY? DID YOU THINK THAT WITHOUT MY ARM".

Netero Meruem

A single hand forms a prayer gesture labeled "PRAYER". A wide-eyed observer watches in shock. Netero, bloodied and shirtless, clasps his hands together as text states "OF THE HEART. IS A GESTURE". Below, a colossal serene Buddha-like figure materializes, its face calm and eyes closed. Vertical text reads "AND DESIRE IS WHAT BEARS FRUIT." and "IF ONE'S HEART KNOWS THE FORM THAT BECOMES DESIRE, WITH HYAKUSHIKI KANNON". Netero’s tiny silhouette stands before the giant’s chest while the ability name appears beside it.

Netero Meruem

A massive, radiant figure towers behind the seated form of Netero. The entity, Kannon, spreads countless skeletal arms in a vast fan-like halo, its central body clad in flowing robes and adorned with a large hat and beaded necklace. Netero sits cross-legged on the ground below, back to the viewer, his small silhouette dwarfed by the enormous apparition. Bold text declares the arrival: BEHIND THE ENEMY. KANNON APPEARS.

NeteroKannon

Netero's hands clench tightly on either side of the frame as he declares, GIVE YOU A CHOICE. A close-up of his intense eye and furrowed brow appears between the fists. IT WILL NOT, reads the opposing hand. Below, a glowing, multi-armed Kannon figure hovers in a brilliant aura, its form delicate yet powerful, with the caption IN HANDS OF MERCY. IT WILL WRAP YOU GENTLY. Netero's face strains as he focuses his entire aura, the text reading LIKE A BLINDING STAR AND LET LOOSE WITH A BLAST OF LIGHT. A small inset shows Killua shouting THIS WON'T GOOO. while another panel recalls an earlier moment where the force of his bloodlust was so strong it had made Killua change direction the other day. NOW NETER0, the narration states, FOCUSED HIS ENTIRE AURA.

Netero Killua Gon

A massive, armored hand thrusts forward from the right, index finger extended in a sharp, commanding gesture amid swirling motion lines and debris. On the left, a monstrous feathered figure with wild hair and a fierce expression looms, its head tilted back as if recoiling from the impact. Bold black cross-shaped symbols and jagged impact marks explode across the panel, accompanied by the large onomatopoeia 'ROAR.' A voice declares 'WITH A MERCILESS' as the strike lands with overwhelming force.

armored handmonstrous feathered figure

The monstrous feathered figure is hurled backward through a massive explosion of smoke, dust, and debris. Enormous black SFX characters dominate the upper half, conveying the scale of the blast. Below, two smaller panels show the aftermath: a clawed, scaly hand lying amid swirling smoke and rubble on the ground, followed by an empty panel filled only with lingering dust clouds. The destruction radiates outward from the point of impact.

monstrous feathered figureclawed scaly hand

Netero sits cross-legged in a meditative stance, hands pressed together in prayer, his aged face locked in intense concentration. Massive swirling clouds of smoke and debris erupt violently around him as impact sounds reverberate. A tiny distant silhouette stands amid the chaos on the ruined floor. Netero is then shown forced down onto one knee, body battered, as enormous stylized sound effects "オ" dominate the panel. He looks upward and declares that the attack is surely taking individuality to its extremes.

Netero

Meruem stands tall and imposing in the foreground, his armored form dominating the panel as he looks down with a confident expression. In the background, a small Netero remains visible amid the smoke. Meruem speaks with multiple speech bubbles, declaring the attack wonderful, that it is not even zero, and that he is the fruit of the ants' unstinting evolution. He claims to be the dearest wish of his race, born king of the ants to stand at the pinnacle of life. He asserts there is no way humans can stand against the Chimera Ants' evolution and that the fact he is a king entrusted with his entire race marks the boundary between victory and defeat. He concludes that the listener is just one human, while he is a king.

Meruem Netero

The Chimera Ant King stands tall in the ruined chamber, his tail curling behind him as he addresses the battered Netero. "CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS DISRUPTION IN THE ANTS' LEADERSHIP," a voice explains. "KNOWING THAT HUMANS' STRONG EGO" leads to the conclusion that "THERE IS NO LONGER ANY BENEFIT TO BREEDING HUMANS, HOWEVER." Netero, bloodied and kneeling, recalls his solitary battle. "WAS NOT IN VAIN," he affirms. The King continues, "YOUR SOLITARY FIGHT... I WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THEIR NUMBER AND QUALITY WHEN CHOOSING WHICH TO FEAST ON. SO IN DEFERENCE TO YOU, I WILL ALLOW HUMANS TO PERMANENTLY RESIDE IN A GHETTO." Netero's eyes narrow with fierce determination. "SAY MY NAME...!" he demands, a grin spreading across his face. "HE HE HE!" The King leans in. "I WON'T ASK YOU AGAIN." Netero rises, aura flaring. "I AM NOT ALONE... I..." With a final surge of will, he shouts the name that shakes the chamber: "MERYEM...!!!" The massive skull of the Chimera Ant King looms forward as Netero warns, "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HUMANS."

Netero Meruem

A black credits page displays multiple manga-style collages featuring characters from Hunter × Hunter, One Piece, Naruto, and other series.

End of chapter18 pages

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About this chapter

Hunter × Hunter Chapter 297: The Moment

Chapter: 297
Summarised: 23 Aug 2026
Pages: 18
Arc: Chimera Ant
Previous: Chapter 296
Next: Chapter 298

Chapter 297 summary

17 key facts · 11 characters

Key facts in chapter 297

Chapter 297 ends on this page. Netero is shown heavily engaged in combat. A warning about bleeding is given to an unseen combatant.
Netero lands a heavy strike on an opponent. The armored figure is sent flying by the impact.
Netero and Meruem are engaged in direct combat Meruem has already lost one leg in the fight Netero references prior Go matches with Komugi The setting includes a large Go board and a ruined interior
Meruem suffers catastrophic damage from Netero's attack The attack produces a massive radial explosion effect Netero remains composed while executing the technique
Netero prepared his offense and defense in under a minute. Netero’s determination is combined with enhanced senses. Netero is prepared for the fight to end his life.
Netero’s Hyakushiki technique produces over a thousand fists. The clash creates countless fireworks between Netero and Meruem. The moment of the decisive exchange has arrived.
Netero’s attack shows a minute change in trajectory. Meruem continues to block with his body rather than dodge. A sudden bright flash occurs at the moment of contact.
Netero is sent flying by the King’s counter. A third fighter with a topknot enters the visible scene. Two observers remain in the lower hall watching the fight.
Netero is missing his right arm. The Chimera Ant King is addressed directly by Netero. The setting is a heavily damaged stone chamber.
Netero performs a prayer gesture with both hands. A massive Nen construct resembling a Buddha is summoned. The construct is identified as Hyakushiki Kannon.
Kannon appears behind Netero as a large multi-armed entity. Netero is shown seated on the ground in the foreground.
Netero focuses his entire aura for a powerful attack. Killua recalls the strength of Netero's bloodlust from a previous encounter. Gon appears in a small reaction panel.
The page depicts a high-impact strike in a battle sequence. Cross symbols represent the force of the blow. The armored hand is the primary attacking element shown.
The monstrous figure is sent flying by the previous strike. A clawed hand is visible on the ground after the impact. The sequence shows both the moment of explosion and its immediate aftermath.
Netero is shown in a seated meditative position before being forced down. Large impact sound effects dominate the visual space. A distant figure is visible amid the smoke and debris.
Meruem is shown standing over the battlefield in full view. Netero appears as a small figure in the distant background. Meruem delivers multiple lines asserting his superiority as king.
Netero forces Meruem to acknowledge his name Meruem offers humans a permanent ghetto in deference to Netero Chapter 297 ends with Netero's final stand

Symbols and visual details17 · show

Netero airborne with torn clothing and extended limbs amid flying debris Young man in hat and goggles stares upward with wide eyes Shattered rectangular panels floating in background Large close-up of Netero's glaring eyes and wrinkled face Impact cracks and motion lines radiating from central figures Dark uniform figure visible in small background panel Chapter end text "No.297 ◆ THE END" prominently displayed Speech bubbles positioned near young man's face
Netero running low with clenched fist and focused glare Young man in hat shown in close-up with neutral wide-eyed stare Large dark mass being struck with visible cracks and impact Armored figure recoiling with open mouth and floating debris Bold SFX "HMPH! HMPH!" overlaying the strike Speech bubble "OHO ..." near armored figure Motion lines and shattered fragments indicating powerful blow Dark background emphasizing Netero's charge
Close-up of Netero's determined face under his hat Meruem's scarred, bearded face with narrowed eyes Small figure of Netero leaping away from debris Large Go board with black and white stones in mid-game Netero's hand forming a precise pointing gesture Ruined stone pillars and scattered rubble in background Motion lines emphasizing the King's stance Sound effect placement near the Go board panel
Meruem's body disintegrating in multiple pieces Scattered mechanical and organic fragments Radial speed lines radiating from the explosion center Netero's face in extreme close-up with sweat and intensity Large stylized text 'THIS IS....' floating in the blast Dark void-like background emphasizing the detonation
Large horned face of Meruem dominates the top panel with intense shading and cracks suggesting impact. Netero’s rosary beads form a curving chain across the page, linking panels. Netero’s body is shown small against the massive background figure, emphasizing scale. Motion lines and debris radiate outward from the central clash zone. Netero’s face in the bottom panel shows gritted teeth and wide eye, conveying total resolve. Vertical text box on the right reads in bold white letters against black. Shattered wooden planks and rubble fill the background of every panel. Netero’s posture in mid-air shows one arm extended and legs bent for impact. The King’s face features dark markings under the eyes and a calm yet menacing expression.
Stylized flowers and sparks fill the black background, symbolizing the intensity of the clash. Netero’s arms are extended in a double-palm strike posture. Meruem’s body is shown from below, helmet and armor detailed with circular patterns. Large white flowers bloom dramatically around the fighters. Vertical text “THE MOMENT” and “ARRIVED.” frame the left edge. Netero’s bald head and wrinkled face are shown in profile with intense focus. Meruem’s eyes are visible through his helmet slits, staring upward. Motion lines and starburst effects radiate from the center of the page. Netero’s clothing is torn, revealing muscular arms and chest. The composition places Netero above and Meruem below, emphasizing the downward strike.
Close-up of Netero’s wrinkled face with intense eyes and flowing hair Go board showing scattered black and white stones with one clear deviation Multiple needle-like spikes rising from the ground around the impact zone Bright starburst flash centered inside a dark oval silhouette Large bold text HE WAS THERE. and AND THEN flanking the flash Narration boxes placed over dark smoky background
Netero’s body flying horizontally with motion lines and impact glow Extreme close-ups of Netero’s eye and Meruem’s eye side by side Topknotted fighter mid-leap with clenched fist and flowing shirt Small distant figures in a damaged corridor at the bottom panel Shattered debris and motion lines around the leaping figure
Netero kneels with back turned, posture defiant despite injury. Meruem’s mechanical arm and segmented tail dominate the upper frame. Close-up on Netero’s furrowed brow and clenched jaw. King’s sharp-toothed grin fills a narrow panel. Dust and debris scatter across the ruined floor. Netero’s torn clothing and exposed back emphasize vulnerability. Motion lines streak behind the King’s seated figure. Sweat droplets fly from Netero’s face in the final panel.
Close-up of a hand pressed together in prayer. Surprised face of an observer wearing a cap. Netero’s bloodied torso and joined hands in prayer pose. Massive multi-faced Buddha statue dominates the lower half. Vertical text banners frame the Buddha’s body. Netero’s small figure stands at the base of the giant construct. Smoke and energy lines radiate from the summoned figure. The Buddha’s expression is tranquil with closed eyes.
Kannon manifests with a massive halo of skeletal arms spread wide behind Netero. Netero sits in meditation pose facing away from the viewer on cloudy ground. Large stylized text reads BEHIND THE ENEMY. KANNON APPEARS across the lower half of the figure. The central Kannon figure wears a wide hat with flame-like patterns and multiple necklaces. Dark smoke or clouds frame the bottom of the composition. The skeletal arms radiate outward like a peacock's tail or divine aura.
Netero's clenched fists frame the top of the page with motion lines. Close-up of Netero's intense eye and sweat drop. Central glowing Kannon figure with multiple arms and a bright aura. Small inset panels show Killua and Gon reacting. Text panels describe the force of Netero's bloodlust affecting Killua previously. Netero's face appears strained with closed eyes as he channels aura.
Large armored hand with extended index finger dominates the foreground. Monstrous feathered head with wild hair and intense eyes on the right. Multiple bold black cross-shaped impact symbols scattered across the page. Heavy motion lines and speed streaks emphasize the forward thrust. Large 'ROAR.' text positioned near the left side of the action. 'WITH A MERCILESS' text floating near the upper right. Swirling cloud-like shapes and debris in the background. The hand appears to emerge from a sleeve or gauntlet with detailed shading. The feathered figure's posture suggests it is being struck or pushed back. High-contrast black-and-white composition focused on the clash.
Monstrous feathered figure flying backward amid explosion lines. Large stylized black SFX characters filling the upper panels. Thick smoke and dust clouds billowing outward. Clawed scaly hand resting on cracked ground in lower left panel. Empty lower right panel showing only residual smoke. Radial speed lines and impact marks radiating from center. Debris and rubble scattered across the scene. The figure's body is partially obscured by the blast effects. Ground surface appears shattered and uneven. Contrast between chaotic upper panels and quieter lower panels.
Netero in prayer pose with clasped hands and stern wrinkled face Large swirling smoke clouds filling the background Distant small silhouette standing in the center of destruction Netero crouched on one knee after impact Oversized black "オ" sound effects scattered across the panel Tattered robes and visible strain on Netero's body Ruined stone floor and pillars in the background Motion lines indicating powerful force pushing Netero back
Meruem standing upright with powerful armored physique Meruem's clawed hands and segmented limbs visible Small distant Netero silhouette in the smoke behind Meruem Large speech bubbles surrounding Meruem Dark panel background contrasting with Meruem's figure Ruined stone architecture in the upper background Meruem's helmet-like head with sharp features Smoke and debris clouds at floor level
Netero kneels with blood on his face and torn clothing Meruem's tail coils behind him in the background Large skull silhouette of Meruem dominates the final panel Flames and aura lines erupt around Netero as he speaks the name Speech bubbles positioned above and around the characters in right-to-left order Dark panel borders emphasize the tense confrontation

Chimera Ant arc

Cite this chapter

Hunter × Hunter, ch. 297 — The Momenthttps://loresquare.com/hunter-x-hunter/source/chapter/297

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