Chapter 383 · Escape

00AI-written

A massive swirling vortex dominates the upper half of the page as the Hunter x Hunter logo appears below it. Text announces: 'FOR TONIGHT'S ENTERTAINMENT, WE HAVE A MUSIC PERFORMANCE ORGANIZED BY THE ROYAL FAMILY!!! DO LOOK FORWARD TO IT!!!' and 'WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I HEREBY DECLARE THE FIRST SUNDAY EVENING BANQUET TO BE UNDERWAY!' A side note reads 'THE DAY TO TAKE ACTION DRAWS NEAR.' Below, the chapter title '383 ◆ ESCAPE' is displayed. In the next panels, an older man with slicked-back hair and a mustache speaks while holding a plate, a smiling woman with a bun claps beside him, and a young man with styled hair claps in the background. A short-haired man and a woman with an updo clap enthusiastically in the adjacent panel. A large hall filled with round tables and seated guests stretches across the middle. Narration boxes explain that 8th Prince Sale-Sale, who proclaimed the performance would change the world, will not attend due to poor health. The speaker continues: 'ALTHOUGH I MUST MAKE ONE REGRETFUL ANNOUNCEMENT...' and reassures the audience that many other thrilling performances remain scheduled. In the lower scene, a buffet counter displays food as staff in chef hats and formal wear serve guests, including a woman in a white dress and a man in a suit.

Prince Sale-Saleunidentified older announcerunidentified clapping woman with bununidentified short-haired manunidentified woman with updo

A young girl with light hair states it is an honor to be the main event. Another girl with dark hair questions whether the order of performers is unchanged. A bald man with a serious expression notes that the absence of the first and second princes, both Nen users, reduces their anxiety. He concludes there is no problem. In the lower section, a detailed performance program lists events including a freestyle rap battle by Basho and Ryou, dance performances, rock music by Izunavi and Juliano, acapella chorus, talk show by Tamazo and Gantai, piano by Keeni, flute by Melody, and glass harp by the 10th and 11th princes. A spiky-haired character and others stand near a stage area with instruments. Text indicates '90 MINUTES UNTIL WE CARRY OUT OUR PLAN.' A suited man with a bow tie looks on with a neutral expression while another character questions an order from the prince.

Melodyunidentified light-haired girlunidentified dark-haired girlunidentified bald manunidentified spiky-haired characterunidentified suited man with bow tie

A bald man in a patterned jacket grips a microphone and points accusingly at a sharply dressed man with slicked-back hair and a goatee who stands with arms crossed. Close-ups capture the bald man's intense shout and the other man's stern glare. The scene shifts to a grand hall where two men observe a synchronized line of female dancers performing on stage under bright lights. On a lively stage, a band plays energetically: a long-haired man sings into a mic, a suited man points upward, a bespectacled man joins in, and a spiky-haired guitarist rocks out. In the foreground, a girl with pigtails and heart-shaped eyes sings passionately with hands clasped. Below, a headband-wearing man belts into a microphone while a small round character with buns reacts with wide-eyed excitement.

bald man with microphoneslicked-back haired mangrid-haired observerbun-haired womanlong-haired singerpointing suited manspiky-haired guitaristheart-eyed girlheadband mansmall bun-haired character

In a luxurious hallway labeled 1013, suited men and a young boy stand in discussion. A voice states: "BUT FOR THAT REASON, IF THE PRINCE OR QUEEN IS REQUESTED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR SOMETHING, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE HERE." Another continues: "UNLIKE THE PRINCES AND QUEENS, A SERVANT SUDDENLY ABSENT WON'T RAISE ANY ALARMS OR CAUSE TOO MUCH CONCERN." Concerns arise about servants returning after the performance. One speaker notes: "I WOULD LIKE TO PASS AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE PEACEFULLY AND WITHOUT ISSUE." Another replies: "BUT IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, IT COULD BE POSSIBLE TO STAY CONFINED HERE UNTIL WE REACH THE NEW CONTINENT." Discussion turns to sending hunters to Prince Marayam. A character affirms: "YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SAID YOU WANTED TO MAINTAIN THINGS 'PEACEFULLY AND WITHOUT ISSUE.'" The response is: "AS LONG AS WE'RE HERE THEN EVERYTHING IS FINE!" Biscuit appears with a boy, reacting to the plan. A man says: "IN THAT CASE... I SUPPOSE YOU'RE RIGHT." Biscuit exclaims about the happy-go-lucky prince. Another voice adds: "SHE SAID SUCH A WONDERFUL PHRASE SO CARELESSLY...!" and "WE NEED A WOMAN'S TOUCH AROUND HERE, RIGHT?"

short-haired suited mantall suited manyoung boy in suitBiscuitsmall swirly-haired characterdark-haired suited manboy being carried

A pair of hands plays the piano keys on stage. In the grand hall, an audience sits at tables watching the performance from below. Two young women in matching uniforms stand in the foreground; the one with curly hair replies 'NOT REALLY.' while the bob-haired woman clasps her hands and asks 'AREN'T YOU NERVOUS, KAA-CHIN?' A voice from off-panel states 'WE'RE UP AFTER THE NEXT PERFORMANCE...' The bald man in a dark suit grips his cane near the ornate double doors guarded by armed men.

curly-haired uniformed womanbob-haired uniformed womanbald man with canearmed guards

Close-up shows two hands clasping tightly with a SFX 'ギュッ'. The bob-haired woman looks back with a tear and determined expression. The curly-haired woman states 'I'M NOT THE TYPE THAT EVER THINKS ABOUT FAILURE...' An announcer in a tuxedo raises his hand and declares 'AND COMING UP NEXT, WE HAVE A FLUTE PERFORMANCE BY MISS MELODY FROM THE HUNTER ASSOCIATION.' He continues 'WHAT A MARVELOUS PERFORMANCE!! PLEASE GIVE A GREAT ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MISTER KEENI!!' The audience reacts with surprise. The announcer adds 'MISS MELODY IS A MUSIC HUNTER!! WHICH MEANS SHE HAS MASTERED ALL MANNER OF INSTRUMENTS!! BUT AMONG THEM ALL, HER GREATEST SPECIALTY IS THE FLUTE!! PLEASE ENJOY!!' The bald man holding a flute stares forward intensely while a large man sits on a throne in the background.

bob-haired uniformed womancurly-haired uniformed womantuxedoed announcerbald man with flutelarge man on throne

Two girls stand side by side, each pressing earpieces firmly into their ears with tense, focused expressions. To their right, a man wearing a headband stares wide-eyed at his phone screen showing the word SIGNAL, then at a second phone. He sweats nervously and declares, "WE'RE JUST GOING OVER OUR SONG." A close-up reveals one girl's ear and flowing hair. A stark black panel filled with repeating symbols and a single hanging light bulb follows. In a bustling restaurant interior, a woman with long dark hair sits with her back to the viewer, thinking, "I CAN TRANSPORT THE CONSCIOUSNESS... IF I PLAY SINCERELY..." Beside her, the bald flutist with long hair grips his flute and plays, proclaiming, "TO THE REALM OF SOUND AND MUSIC FOR 3 MINUTES...!! OF EVERYONE LISTENING..."

girl with rose in hairshort-haired girlheadband manlong-haired womanbald flutist with long hair

The bald flutist stands alone in a vast, surreal landscape of blooming flowers and jagged mountains beneath a dramatically lit sky with swirling clouds and floating petals. A brilliant white light bursts behind him as he plays the flute, a glowing orb forming at its end. Butterflies and flower petals drift through the air. At the bottom of the page, a horizontal row of close-up faces displays varied reactions: surprise, concern, focus, and awe from multiple characters including men, women, and soldiers. The entire scene radiates an overwhelming musical and otherworldly atmosphere as the performance reaches its peak.

bald flutist with long hairrow of reacting faces

A grand hallway lies strewn with fallen bodies in uniform. A hand reaches toward a long sniper rifle on the floor. The suited man strides forward with purpose, one girl in a frilled dress on each side. He points sharply ahead and shouts, 'THIS WAY!!' A large speech bubble declares that Keeni will lead them to the launch bay for the life support boats. Nearby, a bald man with flowing hair plays a flute as musical notes drift through the air; an intense close-up shows his wide eyes as he urges, 'RUN WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT!!' In the vast lobby below, armed guards stand watch while the suited man continues leading the two girls across the open floor toward the stairs.

suited mantwo girls in dressesflute playerarmed guards

A woman presses a button beside an emergency door marked 'EMERGENCY'. Large bubbles explain the two-minute window to board the lifeboat and the need to head west at full speed once in the water. Another bubble warns that the door ability is the final trump card and can only be used in true danger. The suited man promises they will find another way to save Kakin without doubt. The two girls stand before a spherical lifeboat capsule as the suited man leans close, pleading that Kacho's guardian beast never appeared even until the very end. The flute player continues playing while small panels show the suited man smiling and the girls thanking him before he urges, 'HURRY!! GO!!'

woman at emergency paneltwo girls in dressessuited manflute playerarmed guard

A man in a dark suit walks alone down a long brick tunnel toward a black void. A massive spherical device covered in spikes hurtles forward amid motion lines and debris. From off-panel, a voice urges him onward: "RUN WITH ALL YOU'VE GOT!! YOU CAN DO IT... GIVE IT YOUR ALL!!!" The suited man sprints desperately. He draws a pistol, the slide clicking with a sharp "CHIK". He reaches an emergency exit where two bodies lie motionless on the floor. "...NOW THEN..." he murmurs. In close-up, he holds a pocket watch while gazing at a photograph of a smiling woman and young girl. "ARE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER," he states. "THESE..." he continues, showing the image to others. A group gathers: a long-haired woman, the suited man, and a bald man with an "H" on his tie. The bald man insists, "IT'S FINE." The woman cries, "NO...!! YOU CAN'T...!!!" The suited man explains, "I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR MY PLACE TO DIE. EVER SINCE THEN..." A shocked reaction panel shows "!!" as he reveals, "THEY DIED IN AN ACCIDENT... TWO YEARS AGO..."

suited man with slicked hairbald man with H tielong-haired womanyoung girl in photographwoman in photograph

The suited man continues, "AND BESIDES, I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SAVING TWO WONDERFUL GIRLS... I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT I WILL SEE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER AGAIN!" The bald man stares in shock. He adds, "OTHERWISE, IT WILL CREATE A HUGE OBSTACLE FOR THE ENTIRE HUNTER ASSOCIATION IN THE ACCOMPLISHING OF THEIR MISSION. THIS IS A PLAN THAT ABSOLUTELY REQUIRES SOMEONE TO TAKE THE FALL, AND AS AN INDIVIDUAL." He resolves, "LEST I END UP HEARING A HEART SOUNDING LIKE THAT...!!" A silhouette of the suited man fires a gun with a loud "BANG!" The spiked spherical device erupts in a massive explosion of lightning-like energy and debris. On the phone, a man states, "LOOK UP THE PHRASES WITH THESE NUMBERS." Another panel notes, "13:44 PRESENTLY." He explains, "SAYING NUMBERS FIRST REFERS TO THE HUNTER CODE."

suited man with slicked hairbald man with H tiesilhouetted gunmanman on phone

Under a starry night sky, a massive ship cuts through dark waters as a glowing circular hatch opens on its side. Inside, a blonde girl in a light dress kneels before the exit, radio equipment nearby, as she shouts that the plan worked and they are almost at the exit. VRRRRR sounds echo from the hatch and the churning sea below. In a flashback panel, the blonde girl and her dark-haired friend clasp hands, promising they will always be together no matter what. The dark-haired girl excitedly calls out to Kaa-chin that they will never have to be apart again. They plunge through a swirling vortex door, the blonde yelling for them to hang tight. Emerging on the other side, the blonde girl stands alone, glancing back with concern as a large ominous black shape looms nearby.

blonde girl (Fuu-chin)dark-haired girl (Kaa-chin)

Close-up panels show the blonde girl's wide shocked eyes and the dark-haired girl's startled expression as they feel an awful sensation. The scene reveals them facing a mass of dark, clawed hands or creatures emerging from the walls and floor around them. The blonde girl grips the dark-haired girl's shoulders in alarm. In the next panel the blonde girl stares in horror at a distant glowing light on the water, realizing the door does not lead to escape but to death. She screams Fuu-chin as the dark-haired girl remains frozen in fear.

blonde girl (Fuu-chin)dark-haired girl (Kaa-chin)

Amidst a violent explosion of dark smoke and debris, the light-haired girl in a maid-like uniform grabs the dark-haired girl with a headband by the arms and shoulders, pulling her forcefully backward. The dark-haired girl looks shocked, eyes wide with a visible "!?" reaction. The light-haired girl shouts urgently, "HURRY !!" A large speech bubble declares, "WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE SHIP!!" The scene shifts to a round metallic hatch or pod on the ground amid swirling smoke and impact lines. Below, the dark-haired girl reaches desperately toward an ornate door with heart-shaped carvings as the light-haired girl slams it shut with a loud "SLAM", motion lines and debris flying from the impact.

dark-haired girl with headbandlight-haired girl with pigtails

In a dark corridor, the dark-haired girl sits on the floor before the closed ornate door, looking back with a startled expression. Close-ups show her face as she whispers "KA-CHIN ...?" with wide eyes. She then cries out in panic, "KA-CHIN! KA-CHIN !!!" and "NO... NO, YOU CAN'T...! KA-CHIN!" while reaching toward the door where a hand grips the edge with a spark effect. Her expression shifts to shock with sweat drops. The light-haired girl suddenly appears from the side, smiling widely with sparkling eyes and motion lines, embracing the dark-haired girl tightly as large impact symbols and "ドン!!" SFX burst around them.

dark-haired girl with headbandlight-haired girl with pigtails

The two girls sit bound together inside a dark, curved tunnel. The light-haired girl speaks first: "WE'VE GOTTA LAY LOW FOR A LITTLE WHILE." Her companion replies, "BUT..." The light-haired girl continues, "WE'LL REVISE OUR PLAN AND TRY AGAIN." They decide, "NOW, LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE BOAT FOR NOW." The dark-haired girl adds, "IT'S OKAY, WE MADE IT IN TIME." A large speech bubble bursts with "KA-CHIN!! I'M SO GLAD!! I WAS SO WORRIED!!" The light-haired girl asks, "WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED?!" The dark-haired girl reassures her, "I'M FINE AS LONG AS I'VE GOT YOU, KA-CHIN!!" Someone answers, "OKAY!!" Narration notes, "THIS CEREMONY IS A LOT MORE TROUBLESOME THAN WE EXPECTED. THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES IN PLACE FOR TRYING TO LEAVE THE SHIP ON OUR OWN." The girls crawl forward through the narrow passage side by side, both looking worried. The scene shifts to a wide view of dark, choppy water at night with a small round object floating alone on the surface.

light-haired girldark-haired girl

Text boxes explain the girls' abilities in detail. Fugetsu's beast is called "Magical Worm," a teleportation-type ability that controls the departing trip while Kacho controls the return. Kacho and Fugetsu's guardian beasts are mutual cooperation types; Fugetsu exists as a wormhole state and Kacho's is formless. Smaller panels show close-ups of their faces and the two girls embracing. Another panel depicts them sitting together on the floor. A caption states, "WE'LL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER." Below the waterline, the small pod rests on a stone platform inside a circular chamber. Kacho stands with arms outstretched. A text box reads, "KACHOU'S BEAST'S ABILITY NAME IS 'WITHOUT YOU.' IF EITHER ONE OF THE TWO DIES, IT TAKES THE FORM OF THE DECEASED." Another box states, "STAYING BY THE SIDE OF THE OTHER AND PROTECTING HER UNTIL DEATH." Final panels show the two girls standing back-to-back with arms spread wide and a close-up of the light-haired girl's shocked face. The page ends with the Hunter x Hunter logo and the line, "THE LINES OF INFLUENCE AND POWER BEGIN TO CHANGE... WHERE IS THE SUCCESSION WAR HEADED...!?"

light-haired girldark-haired girl

End of chapter18 pages

Discussion

00AI-written

Prince Sale-Saleunidentified older announcerunidentified clapping woman with bununidentified short-haired manunidentified woman with updo

Melodyunidentified light-haired girlunidentified dark-haired girlunidentified bald manunidentified spiky-haired characterunidentified suited man with bow tie

bald man with microphoneslicked-back haired mangrid-haired observerbun-haired womanlong-haired singerpointing suited manspiky-haired guitaristheart-eyed girlheadband mansmall bun-haired character

short-haired suited mantall suited manyoung boy in suitBiscuitsmall swirly-haired characterdark-haired suited manboy being carried

curly-haired uniformed womanbob-haired uniformed womanbald man with canearmed guards

bob-haired uniformed womancurly-haired uniformed womantuxedoed announcerbald man with flutelarge man on throne

girl with rose in hairshort-haired girlheadband manlong-haired womanbald flutist with long hair

bald flutist with long hairrow of reacting faces

suited mantwo girls in dressesflute playerarmed guards

woman at emergency paneltwo girls in dressessuited manflute playerarmed guard

suited man with slicked hairbald man with H tielong-haired womanyoung girl in photographwoman in photograph

suited man with slicked hairbald man with H tiesilhouetted gunmanman on phone

blonde girl (Fuu-chin)dark-haired girl (Kaa-chin)

dark-haired girl with headbandlight-haired girl with pigtails

light-haired girldark-haired girl

End of chapter18 pages