Hunter × Hunter Chapter 363: Nen Beasts

A detailed overhead diagram of the V.I.P. residential area on the ship shows numbered rooms 1 through 14 arranged in rows. An inset highlights the V.I.P. royal entertainment facility including a prince's bedroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen. Labels indicate the V.I.P. exclusive entertainment facility, workers' area, and the most important area of the ship of offerings. Arrows point to soldiers and associate members' quarters one floor down, the banquet hall, and royal family's residential area. The chapter title 'HUNTER x HUNTER CHAPTER 363: NEN BEASTS YOSHIHIRO TOGASHI' appears at the bottom center. Small figures of soldiers patrol the corridors and open areas around the structure.

In a grand banquet hall filled with formally dressed guests, a voice announces that Cammy has something she would like to clarify. Another voice simply says 'Father.' A close-up shows a woman with dark hair and a pearl necklace asking if that is alright. Camilla, wearing an ornate necklace and dress, responds that she would like to not accept anything short of biological death as having lost and therefore 'dropped out' of the competition. She adds that the definition of having 'dropped out' is also too vague and that there are many ways one could interpret the word 'survive.' Hui, a bald man with a mustache, replies that he will give the same answer word-for-word that he gave him. He notes that the 3rd Prince Zhang Lei asked about the conditions for becoming king as well, although the nuance of his questions were slightly different. Camilla raises her hand with a large ring and declares that how one might interpret that is also part of the succession war. She states that the one sole survivor will be the official successor to the throne.

Camilla stands near a decorative pillar and tells someone not to worry about such pointless things. A large man with spiky hair in a suit stands beside her. A close-up shows a scarred face with intense eyes responding that if there is no need to focus on other people's definitions then the listener must truly desire to become king themselves. Camilla continues that ideally she wants all the princes other than Cammy to die and that first off Cammy wants all the princes other than Cammy to die. She adds that what Cammy wants is for all the people in the world to act exactly how Cammy thinks they should. A close-up of Camilla's eyes shows her thinking that is what she wants them to think, followed by the statement that Camilla will be king so she should just die.

Camilla glares sharply to the side, her expression filled with contempt. "How dumb can you get?" she snaps. "As if Cammy would ever do something like babysit! Out of the way!" Benjamin looms in close-up, veins bulging, teeth bared in fury. "What an conceited, arrogant woman...!!! Entrusting the royal throne to you would be tantamount to having a mad dog baby-sit!!" he roars. From behind, Benjamin faces a lavishly dressed older man and Camilla standing in an ornate hall. "UNFORGIVABLE...!!! THIS WHOLE WORLD IS WRONG!" Benjamin declares. "AND THERE'S NO CHOICE LEFT... BUT FOR CAMMY TO CHANGE IT BY HERSELF!" Close-ups show Camilla's narrowed eyes and the mustached man's calm face. "Show your older brother some respect. Camilla," the man says evenly.

Camilla stands centered under a massive swirling aura of cloud-like shapes and energy lines, her hair flowing wildly. "THIS WORLD IS JUST WAY TOO UNFAIR!!" she proclaims. "JUST WISHING SOMETHING ALONE WON'T MAKE IT HAPPEN?" A small distant panel shows Camilla walking away from a crowd of onlookers. In a formal setting, Benjamin stands in a dark suit, his face stern. "...IS THE SENSELESS WRETCHED REALITY OF ONE WHO HAS NO QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME KING! AS HER OLDER BROTHER, I FEEL ONLY SHAME!" he states. "THAT FATHER," he adds as an unseen voice responds.

Benjamin stands tall with wild spiky hair framing his intense face, his eyes narrowed and mouth set in a grim line. He declares with fierce conviction, "I SWEAR TO YOU HEAR AND NOW, THAT I SHALL PROTECT THE GREAT AND MIGHTY TREE OF KAKIN!" and follows with "I, BENJAMIN, SHALL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND PRUNE THIS BRANCH!!!" The scene shifts to a dramatic split. On the left, bold letters explode outward reading "KILL !!!" In the center panel a grotesque, open-mouthed creature with jagged teeth and a spiky head looms forward. To the right, a bald man with a small topknot tilts his head back, smirking as he murmurs "MMMM..." and adds "I'M EXPECTING GREAT THINGS, HU!"

In a long ornate hallway lined with tall windows, soldiers stand at attention. A large oval bubble announces "I'M GONNA KILL THEM RIGHT NOW!!!" while side bubbles report "AREA ONE IS NOW ON MAXIMUM ALERT!!!" and "FIRST PRINCE BENJAMIN HAS LEFT THE ROOM." Motion lines streak across the corridor. Below, Benjamin bursts forward in a powerful stance, his muscular torso exposed and aura flaring wildly. He roars "THERE'S NO WAY I CAN WAIT FOR US TO DISEMBARK!!!" and "I'LL KILL THEM ALL!!!" Armed guards in the foreground react with surprise as the prince charges ahead.

In a grand hall, Benjamin stands shirtless and muscular, his spiky hair wild, and barks orders to his subordinates. "FIRST, BRING THE 4TH PRINCE TSERRIEDNICH BEFORE ME!!" A guard replies, "YES, SIR!" Benjamin continues, "TELL THIS TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE PRIVATE TROOPS, BALSAMICO!!" In close-up, Benjamin's intense face declares, "GOT IT? I'LL DO THAT MYSELF!! BUT DO NOT KILL HIM!! I DON'T CARE HOW YOU ACCOMPLISH IT!!" A subordinate answers, "YES, SIR!" The scene shifts to a corridor marked 1001 where Benjamin walks with guards. He thinks aloud, "THEN WHY CAN'T I SEE THEM, EVEN THOUGH I CAN USE NEN? NEN BEASTS THAT ACT AS PARASITES... HAVE LATCHED ONTO US?!" In a room with the 14th Prince Woble present, Benjamin stands with arms crossed beside an attendant in white. He analyzes, "THE FACT THAT THE AFORE-MENTIONED NEN BEAST WOULDN'T DIRECTLY KILL 14TH PRINCE WOBLE... MEANS THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE RULES THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET. THIS IS JUST A THEORY... BUT PERHAPS THERE WAS A CONDITION THAT PARTICIPANTS IN THE CEREMONY WOULD BE UNABLE TO SEE THE NEN BEASTS. OR PERHAPS THERE'S SOME OTHER CONDITION THAT YOU DON'T MEET... THAT'S LIKELY WHAT HAPPENED WITH 14TH PRINCE WOBLE."

Benjamin continues the discussion with his guard. "COULD VERY WELL COST US OUR LIVES. TAKING ANY ACTIONS BEFORE WE DO THAT..." The scarred bald guard replies, "THAT WILL BE THE KEY TO WINNING THIS SURVIVAL GAME. WE NEED TO GET A FIRM UNDERSTANDING OF THESE RULES AS FAST AS WE CAN, AND BEFORE THE OTHER PRINCES DO!" Benjamin asks sharply, "ARE YOU TELLING ME TO WAIT...?" In close-up, the guard holds up a device emitting light and explains, "OUR ENEMIES ARE NEN BEASTS AND AS LONG AS YOU, SIR BENJAMIN, CANNOT SEE THEM, IT BECOMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR YOU TO ACT BY YOURSELF. THEREFORE, WE NEED TO COMPLETELY REWORK OUR DEFENSIVE PLANS. YES. THERE ARE TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THIS." The scene shifts to a table where an older man in robes speaks to Benjamin and another guard. "ALL OF THEM ARE NEN USERS AND HAVE A MUCH LONGER HISTORY WITH IT THAN WE DO. IN ADDITION TO HAVING MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGE OF NEN. THEY ALSO POSSESS LITTLE INSIDER INFORMATION ABOUT KAKIN. AS FAR AS THE INFORMATION BATTLE GOES, WE HAD THE OVERWHELMING VICTORY. I SEE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNTERS? BUT PROTECTING THE PRINCES IS ONLY A SECONDARY MISSION FOR THEM. NOW THAT THE WORDS 'NEN BEAST' AND 'NEN ABILITIES' HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE TO ALL THE PRINCES AND THEIR BODYGUARDS... THE OTHER REASON HAS TO DO WITH THE EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT JUST NOW. YOU COULD SAY THAT OUR ADVANTAGE HAS BEEN ALMOST COMPLETELY SQUASHED." Benjamin reacts with surprise, "!?"

A lone Hunter stands holding a document as large speech bubbles explain the situation. 'THIS RENDERS OUR PLAN TO USE NEN FOR A SURPRISE ATTACK ON THEM USELESS!' another continues, 'SO NOW THE ONES THAT CAN USE NEN WILL BE ON THEIR UTMOST ALERT...!' A final bubble adds, 'BUT THANKS TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JUST ONE LONE HUNTER, ALL THE BODYGUARDS GAINED A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY WERE UP AGAINST.' In the next tier, a gray-haired man gestures angrily while questioning why the 8th Queen Oito would not have told him about the jar ceremony and why the enemy prince would leak the Nen beast identity. Nearby, a spiky-haired man sits with arms crossed, a water bottle on the table before him, muttering 'I CAN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND...' and '...THAT WAS SUCH AN UNNECESSARY THING TO DO...' while another voice notes 'SIGH...'. A bald man with a stern expression then speaks: 'RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THAT INFORMATION, WE'RE BEING FORCED TO CHANGE OUR PLANS AND WAIT NOW, WHICH MEANS WE'RE ABLE TO AVOID ANY OTHER SITUATIONS OCCURRING.' He continues, 'DETERRENCE IS PROBABLY THE MOST LIKELY AND REASONABLE ANSWER.' The spiky-haired man replies, 'WE ALSO STRUGGLED TO MAKE SENSE OF THAT. I'D HAVE EXPECTED NOTHING LESS OF YOU, SIR BENJAMIN.' In the bottom panels the gray-haired man adds that other Hunters have begun sharing information with each other, and the spiky-haired man notes this aligns with the younger princes' motives to stay passive until their Hunters arrive on the Dark Continent.

The bald man continues, 'THE NEN BEASTS AND HUNTERS' ABILITIES ARE STILL UNKNOWN. DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY ARE, THEY COULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO US.' Benjamin answers 'PRECISELY!' while the bald man adds that the situation will change depending on how Hunters control the princes and Nen beasts. In a wide panel showing a large meeting room, a figure in a high-collared outfit sits at a table with water bottles as speech bubbles warn that if the princes learn Nen from the incident they may try to master it themselves, and that Nen users among older princes' private soldiers could also appear. A large text block states Benjamin acts on impulse, takes the shortest route, shows no fear, and can make sound decisions with proper information; he is the only one with the flexibility needed to guide the country. The bald man says 'YES, SIR!' as Benjamin orders, 'SUMMON ALL THE PRIVATE SOLDIERS HERE, NOW!' with a 'GRIN' visible near his face.

In a grand hall lined with ornate windows, rows of uniformed soldiers stand at attention in formation before a raised platform. A tall man with spiky hair stands on the right, hands clasped behind his back, addressing the troops. Speech bubbles detail the mission: the details remain the same—guard the princes while observing them and report on their actions. From now on the soldiers must act as the royal family's bodyguards, working in shifts with the other members present. Because of the unknown threat the Nen beasts pose, the mission has become extremely high-risk and dangerous. In a closer panel, a bald officer with a stern expression warns that if the enemy should attack, or if it becomes clear they intend to attack, the soldiers must pay the utmost attention to the Nen beasts and Hunters' abilities and figure out what they are. The final panel shows an intense close-up of a bald man's face twisted in fury as he declares that the soldiers now have permission to kill their opponent and must exercise their right to defend themselves by whatever means necessary.

A grid of close-up faces shows the assembled soldiers responding in unison with a loud 'YES, SIR!!' Their expressions range from determined to startled. Below, the bald officer continues speaking, noting that the situation is indeed fitting for the next king. Another panel reveals a cloaked figure with a grotesque, multi-limbed appearance standing before the group; the officer asks if everyone can see his Nen beast and identifies it as Balsamico. The final panel is an extreme close-up of a wide, toothy grin stretching across the lower half of a face, conveying a menacing satisfaction.

In a grand hall lined with ornate pillars and chandeliers, several figures discuss the rules of the royal succession. A large speech bubble explains that as the military's supreme vice counselor, Benjamin's private troops are allowed to serve as his bodyguards, overriding the usual requirement that royal bodyguards must be official troops of the king's army. Nearby, a bald man with three dots on his forehead thinks that this is a chance to learn about Nen beasts. In another panel, a suited man warns that if anyone steps into the living room they should kill them and call mom, while a woman in a frilly dress stands amid swirling energy. Two men converse in profile: the long-haired one says to tell them they're fools while he is in the middle of his Nen meditation, and the slick-haired man replies that they have no obligation to acquiesce to the request and asks how they shall handle this as the fourth prince Tserriednich, the first queen's child. In the final panel, a bespectacled man in a suit stands before a door labeled 1014, declaring he wants information on that Hunter brought to him immediately, while an unseen speaker notes the person who made the emergency announcement is trying to draw things to a stalemate.

From a high-angle view of a checkered-floor room, a spiky-haired man stands with hands on hips while several speech bubbles debate using Sayird's power to investigate other princes. One bubble notes that all phones on board are controlled by the king's army, making contact with Melody risky. Another explains that the bodyguards' wireless phones have fixed channels, so contacting other princes' bodyguards is possible but they cannot narrow targets without more information. A close-up of a woman's face with sweat drops expresses concern about being short on manpower. In the next tier, a blonde woman and suited man discuss throwing a new spy on top of the situation while a door opens and a ding-dong sound effect plays. The final panels show a video screen displaying a man, followed by a woman on a phone saying she contacted the royal bodyguard Vincent previously and is under the employ of the first prince.

In a spacious room with checkered flooring, Kurapika stands with his back to the group while Bill and others discuss security. "We'll make sure to watch over the entryway at the same time, in shifts," someone states. "I understand," Kurapika replies. A woman holding Prince Woble adds, "I'm a little worried about the new person being here. Also... I wonder what's wrong? I had just finished breast-feeding him... Maybe he's sleepy? I'll take him to his bedroom." "Got it," Bill responds. Suddenly, shock ripples through the group. Bill's hair stands on end as he exclaims, "WHAT THE?!" Close-ups show wide eyes and tense expressions. In the hallway below, a cloaked figure appears in the distance. "BILL! WATCH THE PRINCE," Kurapika shouts urgently. "AHHH~" cries someone as the figure approaches. "That was just in the nick of time... Yup..." a voice notes amid the tension.

A tall, muscular man in a light jacket restrains Kurapika from behind, speaking with a grin. "And on top of that, she had this little vial of poison on her... Yup... Yup..." he explains. "She suddenly pulled a knife on me and tried to attack me... So I had no choice... Yup..." He continues, "She probably tried to stick me with it... Ahh, that was a close call..." Kurapika looks strained in his grip. "So as you can see... I exercised my right to defend myself." In close-up, a young character realizes, "HE'S AN ASSASSIN ...!!" Another voice confirms, "HE'S NOT A SPY..." The tall man replies, "YUP." A caption reads, "THE BLADE HAS BEEN LET LOOSE!! WILL IT PIERCE, WILL IT BE DODGED, OR WILL IT BE...?!"