Hunter × Hunter Chapter 312: Resolve

A close-up shows Killua's face, eyes narrowed and mouth slightly open, sweat visible on his forehead. To the right, a tall figure with massive ornate butterfly wings stands silhouetted against a dark sky. Below, a barren rocky landscape features a small distant figure and the winged being; a speech bubble asks 'WHAT IS WRONG MERUEM-SAMA?'. Another bubble reads 'POUF?'. In the lower panels Killua appears in profile looking down while a helmeted character stands beside him; Killua says 'PERHAPS'. A vertical banner on the far right advertises the anime series start date.

A light-haired girl looks upward with concern and calls out, "MY KING?" Nearby, a stern figure in a wide-brimmed hat glares forward. Shaiapouf, in his butterfly form, hovers anxiously and exclaims, "THEN WE MUST SEEK REFUGE AT ONCE...!!!" and "YOU HAVE RECONSIDERED!?" Meruem, the King, answers from above the clouds, "ONLY ONCE I HAVE FIRST CAPTURED THE REMAINING INTRUDERS." Pouf presses, "YOU WILL STILL NEVER SAY IT YOURSELF?" The King replies, "WELL, ALL RIGHT. DESPITE HOW EASILY I CAN SEE THROUGH YOU," then fixes an intense stare and continues, "YOU WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERING RENEGING ON YOUR CLAIM OF TELLING ME EVERYTHING, WOULD YOU?" and "YOUR SECRET HAS SUDDENLY PIQUED MY INTEREST." The light-haired girl, Palm, responds firmly, "I WILL HONOR OUR PROMISE. EVEN IF THIS BODY OF MINE IS TORN TO PIECES." Pouf and the King stand together against a night sky with a distant tower visible. Meruem's massive legs step forward with a heavy "ZAH" as he concludes, "VERY WELL."

Palm's face fills the panel with wide-eyed shock, marked by "!?" as she realizes, "I CAN SEE IT...! EVERYTHING.....!! THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST TIME I USED "EN".....!!!" and "ALREADY USING "EN"....!?" A radiant silhouette of a tall figure wearing a hat and carrying a long object stands amid radiating lines and crackling energy, the aura expanding outward powerfully.

From a high vantage point the sprawling palace complex comes into view, its courtyards marked by fresh craters and rising smoke where something has struck the grounds. A close-up reveals wide, startled eyes and a tense expression as the observer processes the scene. In the next instant a luminous silhouette appears against radiating lines of force: a slender figure wearing a wide hat, long ear-like appendages, and a tail, standing barefoot with one hand extended. The figure radiates an expanding field of En. Narration overlays the panels: "THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST TIME I USED EN .....!!" "I CAN SEE IT...!! EVERYTHING!!" "ALREADY USING "EN"....!?"

Dark panels highlight discoveries sensed through En: Youpi's motionless corpse lies highlighted, footprints that were absent moments earlier appear on the ground, a door previously shut is now open, and an abandoned vehicle sits nearby. The En user reacts with growing alarm as new presences register. Bold circular captions read "ARE RESPONDING TO ME "EN"....!!" and "EVEN NEW PEOPLE". In the bottom panel the Pouf clone stands amid a crowd of ordinary people, tail raised and body tense, a large "!!" burst erupting beside its head as it registers the unexpected responses to its En.

A close-up shows the division commander with the striped centipede-like tail leaning forward, one hand raised as he directly confronts the wolf-like chimera ant. "WAS IT YOU WHO KILLED YUPI?" he demands. The wolf-like soldier reels back in shock, eyes wide and sweat flying, mouth open in a panicked "WHA....." Motion lines and jagged sound effects emphasize his sudden recoil. In the lower panels the division commander stands with his tail curled, facing the still-agitated wolf soldier who now shouts desperately, "A... ABSOLUTELY NOT!!" The commander presses further: "WHY WOULD YOU SUSPECT ME, A DIVISION COMMANDER!? I HAVE NO REASON FOR MURDERING YUPI-DONO, DO I!? YUPI-DONO WAS....." Wide, fearful eyes peer from between panels, watching the exchange. Background figures stand at a distance in the ruined stone setting.

Close panels focus on the wolf-like soldier's wide eyes and frantic face as he insists, "I DID ACTUALLY SHOOT YUPI, BUT!! THIS ISN'T A LIE!! I..." He explains that during a conversation Yupi suddenly vomited blood and perished in pain. Another panel shows him continuing, "HE WAS IN PAIN BEFORE MY BLACK CENTIPEDES HATCHED! IT WAS BEFORE HE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS!!" The wolf-like soldier then cries out, "I SWEAR! I'M NOT LYING, MY KING!!" A Pouf clone hovers nearby with insect wings spread, stating that Yupi must have taken an enemy attack before meeting the soldier. In the wide lower panel the striped-tail division commander stands with the wolf-like soldier and a feathered figure; the commander declares he came to check whether insurgents had slipped into the crowd. The wolf-like soldier mutters, "SO, I..."

In a cavern filled with onlookers, Meruem stands facing a cloaked figure. A voice calls out, 'MERUEM-SAMA!! HE'S...' while another declares, 'I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY.' A large speech bubble emphasizes, 'I'LL FORCIBLY GET RID OF THIS SPIRIT OF REBELLION AND CONVICTION!! IN THE WORST CASE, I'LL HAVE TO SEPARATE HIM FROM THE KING...!!!' Nearby, a spiky-haired man thinks, 'THIS GUY HAS SOME SORT OF... POWER TO SEE INTO MY HEART!!' and 'KU... ROYAL GUARD PUFU... THIS GUY'S GONNA BE DANGEROUS.' Another character sweats, 'HE'S... NEVER ONE TO KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT!! IF I GET THE CHANCE, I SHOULD KILL HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!' and 'WELFIN, THIS IS TROUBLE! TRULY!! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE COULD SAY HERE!!' A close-up shows wide eyes with a '!?'. Meruem states, 'INCLUDING THIS PERSON'S SERIOUS HOSTILITY TOWARD ME.' He continues, 'I'VE BECOME ABLE TO READ PEOPLE'S EMOTIONS WITH MY "EN".' A young character with light hair stares in shock. The spiky-haired man on crutches reacts with '!!'. A figure in a hat and striped tail asks, 'WHAT? WHAT?' while thinking, 'I CAN CLEARLY SEE THEIR HEARTS JUST BY LOOKING CLOSELY AT THEM.' and 'FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO MY EN.'

A towering figure with striped limbs stands with back to the viewer, one arm raised high. Text reads, 'AND HE'S BRILLIANTLY SUBLIMATED IT TO A HIGHER PLANE OF ABILITY...!!!!!' and 'IT'S NOT JUST YOUPI'S WINGS AND CANNONRY, HE EVEN HAS MY SPIRITUAL MESSAGE...!!!' The figure on crutches grips the tall character's leg. A large speech bubble exclaims, 'MY KING!!!' Impact lines and 'V!' mark a sudden reaction. Below, swirling smoke and impact effects fill the panel with 'DOES MY CHEST NOW FEEL LIKE THIS!!' 'WHY...!!!?' 'DOKUN DOKUN' and 'DOH'. Text continues, 'THE KING IS INVINCIBLE!! THE KING IS UNEQUALLED!!' and 'AND YET...!!!'

A young man whose torso and arms are covered in intricate rose patterns clutches at his chest with both hands, his face tense with unease. Heavy black sound effects of heartbeats pound around him as large vertical lettering declares an unpleasant anxiety and that the air is filled with nothing but that feeling. In smaller panels below, a figure wearing a military-style helmet and coat faces the rose-patterned man and declares, "I WILL NOT FORGIVE LIES. TELL ME." The rose-patterned man replies, "YOUR HATRED TOWARD ME...! I HAVE A SLIGHT INTEREST IN THE SOURCE OF IT." A third voice continues, "IT IS NOW BEING SLIGHTLY DOMINATED BY FEAR, BUT THERE IS A STRONG KILLING INTENT THAT IS DRAWING TO ME LIKE A WAVE WHICH YOU AREN'T TRYING TO HIDE." A spiky-haired boy is seen from behind, and a close-up shows the rose-patterned man's wary eyes.

A wolf-like humanoid with sharp fangs and sweat drops on his face shouts desperately, "MERUEM-SAMA!! THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS... THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO GET SWEPT UP IN SENTIMENTALITY!!" In the next wide panel the helmeted man stands with a small cat-like creature beside him while the rose-patterned young man is bent forward, one arm extended as if reaching or falling, a long coat flaring behind him. Background onlookers watch the scene. A close-up shows the helmeted man's intense eye and the rose-patterned man's hair. A final caption states, "A CHANGE IN PROCEDURE."

A composed figure with light hair and a mark on their cheek speaks with quiet certainty. "But he does not realize it himself. That person is deeply related to my secret." Nearby, a helmeted guard and a beast-like chimera both react with startled "!?" expressions. In a crowded underground chamber filled with onlookers, the same speaker continues, declaring they will use the truth itself. "You learning the spoils of our competition before a victor is decided would be directly counter to your main intent. Before the king's ability, lying is useless...!!! There is a large possibility he will leak part of or even all of my secret. If you continue this line of questioning, without even being able to gauge himself, so I'll use the truth!!!" A small silhouette walks away through the throng. In a dramatic splash panel, the silhouetted king stands against a burst of light as the speaker concludes, "I'll try and fool him with only the truth!!! If you wish to continue this contest with me, I would ask that you please have your questions with that person afterward...!!!"

Youpi, the wolf-like chimera, sweats heavily while internally panicking. "It's all because that super powerful guy Yupi died so quickly, like a tiny bug being squashed, right in front of me!!! I should've ran right away!! I gave into my impulses, dammit!! God-dammit!! I can't believe this crazy monster is going to... How can I get away from this monster!!! Secret!? About what!? No, more importantly, what am I supposed to do here!? What the hell is this guy saying!?" He recalls getting drunk on the feeling of omnipotence after believing he could kill the king, comparing it to a little brat's delusion. "That's it!! I'm an idiot!! I had to be drunk!! Everything happened at once and I panicked thinking about Jairo, it made me sentimental, and I got drunk on a feeling of heroism!! It gave me the delusion that I could even kill the king!! I was drunk off that feeling!! It's the same kind of feeling of omnipotence a little brat has!!" Youpi continues spiraling, realizing his hostility is exposed, that his head will be blown off before he can use Missileman, and that Pouf's secret is the source of his emotions. He wonders if there is any hope left and whether he can still get revenge for Jairo.

An oppressive, nervous atmosphere fills the chamber as Pouf stands tense before the unseen King. Sweat drips from Pouf’s face while jagged motion lines emphasize the crushing pressure. A close-up reveals the King’s piercing eyes as he begins, “FIRST…”. Narration boxes stress that the first words will decide victory or defeat, life or death. The King asks whether Pouf’s earlier objection has relevance. Pouf replies carefully that after interrupting and raising rival objections, he merely imitated the King’s wording and is resolved about it. Narration explains that despite knowing Pouf’s absolute devotion, the King released an aura of clear killing intent. The King continues, “SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT EVEN IF JUST A SLIGHTLY, HIS HATRED TOWARD ME… AFTER INTERRUPTING ME AND RAISING RIVAL OBJECTIONS WITH MY WORDING, YOU MAKE A PROPOSAL IMITATING A MANDATE… YOU’RE QUITE RESOLVED ABOUT THIS, AREN’T YOU?” Pouf’s nervous posture and the King’s looming presence dominate the scene.

A massive, terrifying close-up fills the page: the King’s face transformed into a skull-like visage streaked with black ink splatters and dripping lines. Empty eye sockets and a stitched mouth convey overwhelming menace. A text box states that any answer not matching the King’s will can only be atoned for with death. At the bottom of the panel a banner declares: “BEFORE THE KING, LOYALTY AND ANIMOSITY ARE ALL EQUALLY WORTHLESS.” Pouf’s small, hunched silhouette is barely visible at the very bottom, dwarfed by the King’s wrathful presence. The entire composition radiates absolute authority and impending judgment.

A determined man in a wide-brimmed hat declares he has already resolved to lay down his life. He recalls a past moment when he thought no one could stop him. A close-up shows an intense face shouting about the one line that will save him. In a black panel, a voice states nothing and vows to sacrifice it all. Below, a muscular figure wearing goggles and striped leg wraps stands amid debris, declaring his faith in the kneeling person. The long-haired figure remains bowed, replying that they have nothing to say. Final close-up panels focus on wide, sweat-streaked eyes reacting with shock.

A close-up of a face with long bangs states that is no more than a competition. A box notes a deviating decision. Silhouettes and the hatted man appear with text that the insanity stopped the King. In the final wide panel the hatted man stands among a group; a spiky-haired figure declares he is hungry while the goggled character raises an arm and the long-haired person remains near the ground.

A helmeted figure in a mask stares intensely to the side, eye wide, against a stark black background. The single word "BUT" appears in a small box. The scene cuts to a massive close-up of Welfin’s grotesque face, eyes bulging in terror, sweat flying, mouth open to reveal sharp teeth. A box reads "WELFIN". Another box states "IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTOOD." At the bottom, narration declares "A TRANSIENT LIFE BLOTTED OUT...!!!"