Chapter 98

A large title banner displays "N°098 3-SEPTEMBRE 14". In profile, a young man with a star-shaped mark on his forehead and an earring gazes leftward against a night sky. Below him stretches a city skyline under a shower of glowing meteors and fiery trails streaking downward. In the lower right, the same ponytail girl looks upward with a tense expression, her face partially lit by the falling lights.

A bald man in a suit stares in terror, sweat pouring down his face as he shouts, "IMPOSSIBLE! THEY'RE TOO STRONG! WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING AGAINST THEM!" Outside the building, a massive explosion erupts with the sound effect "ゴオオオオ-- Gooooo", sending smoke and debris flying while a blond figure in a dark dress stands with their back turned. A close-up reveals a wide, sweat-dropped eye as a voice continues, "HOW STRONG THEY ARE... IF YOU WANT TO KNOW..." The bald man suddenly screams "LOOK !!!" at the top of his lungs, dual-wielding handguns and unleashing a barrage of bullets accompanied by repeated "TA TA TA" impact sounds amid heavy motion lines and explosive effects.

Kurapika leans forward from a high vantage point, watching as the bald man is violently thrown backward by the force of his own gunfire, guns flying from his hands. Below, the bald man continues laughing maniacally while shooting, yelling "HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!" and "DAMN !!!" as bullets riddle the surroundings. A heavily damaged wall shows multiple bullet holes and cracks. In the foreground, a hand holds a small electronic device topped with a cartoonish cat-like antenna; its screen displays a live feed of the chaotic scene while the device emits "DODODODODO" and "BIP BIP BIP" sounds.

A hand grips a cell phone whose screen displays a monstrous face with sharp teeth; the device emits a small "HUT" sound effect. In the next panel a figure is struck violently from behind, head snapping forward with a large "PAN" impact and the exclamation "HA ?" Bodies plummet through the air amid scattered leaves. Killua sits on a thick tree branch, phone still in hand, his expression shifting from surprise to irritation. Large narration text declares: "BLACK VOICE, THE CELL-PHONE CONTROLLING THE DESTINIES OF OTHERS." Killua mutters, "DAMN! HE BROKE DOWN," then adds, "I'LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER TOY.." as he stares into the foliage.

A bald man in a suit shouts into his phone inside a damaged corridor, reporting that reinforcements have not arrived. Another suited man stands alone in a long hallway, asking what is happening. A tight close-up shows wide, sweating eyes. The bald man, now visibly strained, declares they tried to concentrate two hundred armed men but receives the answer "NO..." Outside the building an enormous explosion erupts against the night sky with the massive onomatopoeia "BOUM" and smaller Japanese SFX, the suited man silhouetted against the blast.

Under a starry night sky, a sprawling cityscape erupts in chaos as multiple explosions rip through high-rise buildings. Fireballs and smoke plumes rise while debris scatters. Sound effects mark the blasts: BOUM!!, PAN PAN, TAK TAK TAK, TATA TATA TA. A large speech bubble declares, "THEY WERE ALL KILLED ? ! !" In the lower section, a close-up shows a suited man with slicked-back hair shouting urgently into a cell phone: "GIMME THE GODFATHERS!!!" and "TOP PRIORITY!" The next panels depict a man identified as Bean stepping into a long, empty hallway, saying "IT'S ME, BEAN." Further down the corridor another figure runs while muttering "DAMN!" amid tapping footsteps.

In a grand hall, a commanding voice shouts "EVERYONE! ARM YOURSELVES! LET'S GO!" while CLAC sound effects suggest weapons being readied. Men in suits react with alarm; one protests "THERE'S NO WAY WE'LL LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS!!" Another notes they already appealed to professionals without result. A smaller panel shows a boyish figure saying "ER... WAIT!" and questioning the unprecedented nature of the case. Suddenly a massive BOUM explosion rocks the building, shattering glass and sending shockwaves. The blast is felt on a balcony where figures stand as debris flies and the crowd below looks up in shock. Additional SFX include DOOM, CLING, and Brrrr.

In a grand hall lined with suited figures, an elderly man with spiky hair and a distinctive scar steps forward. "I'm Zeno Zoldyck," he declares. A voice responds, "Fine." The surrounding Godfathers react with shock at the presence of the legendary Zoldycks. One panel shows the opulent staircase and distant figures as someone asks if the Godfathers went so far as to recruit them. Zeno continues, "You're all armed, but... We would need less than 67 seconds to eliminate all of you." Additional panels reveal a crowded upper floor and a lone figure descending the stairs. "One of them is currently in the building," a voice notes. "And unfortunately, several professionals have already been defeated." Zeno's intense close-up fills the bottom of the page. "Our enemy is able to do the same," he states. "If you wish to die, that's another story. If you understand me, wait here."

In a quiet room, a long-haired figure stands over a kneeling person with spiky hair who is adjusting something on the floor. "So?" the long-haired character asks. Narration explains that the target erased his energy in an instant and left no traces. "Nice work," the long-haired character says. "Only one hit, from behind." The scene shifts back to the staircase where Zeno stands with two companions. One asks, "Father, you know the perimeter of this building is almost 1km. Will it be okay?" Zeno replies, "Are you kidding? If I want, I can deploy it to 3km." Another suggests, "I'll deploy it from the roof to the basement." Zeno considers, "I see. Should we deploy the 'En'?" and adds, "It puts me on edge, and it's tiring, but..." A final panel shows the command, "Then do it."

A massive explosion rocks a tall city building, sending shockwaves and debris outward as the sound effect BOUM echoes across the skyline. Inside a grand, empty lobby with polished floors and a central fountain, a stern man with a high ponytail and a scar on his face stands alert. Beside him looms a tall figure with long flowing hair and a prominent facial scar, his hand raised as he speaks. "I'M STARTING TO BELIEVE THIS ISN'T A JOB FOR US," the long-haired man declares. Further panels show the vast, vacant corridors and atrium of the building. At the far end, a woman with long hair in a dark outfit approaches a set of double doors, reaching for the handle.

In the opulent hall with a high decorated ceiling, the long-haired muscular man stands with his back partly turned, fists clenched, facing a small distant figure in a suit standing before heavy curtains. A shorter man with slicked-back hair leans forward nearby. The scene shifts to a close-up of Killua in profile, his expression serious. "HE HAS THE SKILL TO STEAL THAT OF OTHERS," Killua says. In the next panel the long-haired man walks forward with a young boy at his side; a speech bubble reads "BE CAREFUL, FATHER."

Killua stares forward with a cold, focused expression, his head wrapped in a bandage and eyes sharp beneath the headband. Below, an empty corridor stretches with multiple doors lining the walls. In the next panel, three figures stand spaced apart in the vast room, their shadows cast long on the floor. The scene erupts into chaotic motion as several combatants clash violently. A long-haired fighter lunges with an extended arm while a suited man and a spiky-haired fighter twist and dodge amid heavy motion lines. Another figure in a vest recoils from the impact. Sound effects punctuate the frenzy with 'Shut', '247', and 'Flu' marking the rapid strikes and movements.

Killua peers through a barrier with wide eyes while other figures react nearby. A massive close-up shows a clenched fist hurtling forward with radiating speed lines, accompanied by 'Shut' and 'Fist' effects. Below, two bodies plummet through streaked space, marked by multiple 'TAP' sound effects as they fall. At the bottom, Killua faces off against the long-haired fighter; Killua's expression is grim and determined while the opponent glares upward with an aggressive posture, their arms extended in confrontation.

Kurapika launches a powerful flying kick into Gon's midsection, the impact exploding outward with a sharp BAM and a massive DOOOM that shakes the surroundings. Gon is hurled backward by the force. In the next panel, Kurapika's face twists with effort as he shouts HAA !!! while driving the attack home. Gon staggers from successive strikes marked TAK TAK, his body jolting under the rapid blows. A close-up captures Gon's eye narrowing in focus. At the bottom, Killua sprints forward at full speed, the ground erupting behind him with another resounding DOOOM as debris flies and motion lines streak across the panel.

Kurapika leaps high into the air with arms raised, his hair whipping wildly as he descends toward Gon below. Gon braces on the ground with one hand extended, bracing for the impact that sends cracks and debris flying outward in a massive burst. A small panel shows Kurapika's focused profile. Killua crouches nearby, one hand on the ground, watching the clash. The next sequence shows a fallen figure on the ground with large slashing SFX, while Killua remains in a ready stance. Kurapika then charges in with a powerful horizontal strike, the motion rendered as ジィ!! SLAT. Gon and Killua react with wide eyes and open mouths, KAT and exclamation marks punctuating their surprise.

The long-haired fighter stands with his back to a massive pillar, his tattered dark robes fluttering as a small knife slices across his skin. "It has to be a very good knife to manage to cut my skin," he remarks calmly while examining the blade. In the background, two distant figures watch the confrontation. The bandaged young man with a headband crouches nearby, gripping a pistol and muttering, "2 against 1, it's far from being easy..." The long-haired fighter suddenly lunges forward with a powerful punch, his fist glowing as he declares, "Judging by its form, it's a Benz, from the Central Period." He then inspects the weapon closely, noting the unusual shape. "A poisonous blade? That form..." he wonders aloud as the blade is revealed in close-up panels, with the bandaged fighter reacting in surprise. The long-haired fighter continues to manipulate the small knife between his fingers, testing its edge with precise movements.

The bandaged young man with the headband listens intently as the long-haired fighter explains the risks of stealing Nen abilities. "If you manage to successfully use that, you're a real threat," the long-haired fighter states. "But, in return, the risks to be able to take it are great." The bandaged fighter responds with a grin, "You can steal the Nen of others...? You're from Specification." A spiky-haired man watches from the side. The scene shifts to a close-up of the bandaged fighter's face as he processes the information. An older man with slicked-back hair appears, noting, "4 or 5 conditions that need to be met to reach your goal. But I think there are..." The bandaged fighter reflects, "In other words, you won't be able to steal our forces when fighting us," and adds, "You demonstrated that to us when you used that poisonous knife." The older man concludes, "You'll have a difficult task of fulfilling the conditions when confronting both of us." The bandaged fighter replies, "Good job... It won't be easy to beat you, Gramps," while the older man says, "Good job once again... Whatever."

A young man with dark hair and a headband leaps forward aggressively, gripping a small knife in his right hand. Blood streaks his face and torn shirt as dramatic impact lines and debris explode around him. Large sound effects read "FOUTCH" and "ジィィ" emphasize the sudden motion and intense stare. In the lower panels, the same headband-wearing youth appears in close-up, responding calmly. Nearby, an older man with slicked-back hair says "WITHOUT BOTHERING WITH ME." A long-haired man declares "KILL HIM." Another voice adds "WHEN I HAVE HIM BLOCKED..." while a spiky-haired figure with a fur collar shouts "COVER ME." The headband youth replies simply "OK." The final panel shows the group clustered together, one man carrying another on his back as they prepare to move.

A lone figure stands on a nighttime city rooftop or ledge, arms crossed over his chest with hands clasped. His body is heavily wrapped in bandages around the torso, arms, and legs. He wears a sleeveless top and loose pants, with a small dark emblem visible on his chest. A single musical note floats above his head, suggesting he is humming or singing softly. The background shows a dark starry sky, distant illuminated buildings, and scattered glowing orbs near his feet. The character smiles faintly, appearing relaxed despite the bandages.