Chapter 231

Split panels show Killua glancing sideways and Gon looking surprised among the trees. A large thought bubble reads "They're strong...?" Another questions "What the...? These guys are not humans of this country..." followed by "They're a bit too young to be spies... but..." A black banner states "Could they be... Assassins...?" The mysterious observer continues thinking: "If that's the case, then I can't just leave them alone... but..." and "I don't want a two-on-one situation..." A close-up of lips asks "Are they here... to kill the king...!?" In the background, Killua and Gon walk farther down the path while the cloaked figure watches from the shadows.

From behind, a boy with wild white hair stands against a dark background as two large starburst panels flare with narration. "I can see that his movements are flawless already from the way he walks. His potential is that of a division commander?" one panel reads. The second adds, "Especially the silver-haired one on the left." In a forest clearing, two small figures stand among the trees. A close-up shows Killua turning with a surprised expression. Killua and Gon walk deeper into the woods; a speech bubble near Killua contains only dots. Killua stops and looks back with a question mark effect as Gon continues ahead. Two oval bubbles overlay the scene: "Even though I've erased all signs of my presence, he still sensed something..." and "Just as I thought, he's not an ordinary one..." The final wide panel reveals a dense forest floor littered with massive roots and fallen logs. Distant figures are visible among the trees while a large bubble reads "KU KU KU KU KU KU HOW CONVENIENT..." and another shows only dots.

A wide city skyline at dusk shows a dense cluster of buildings with a large speech bubble asking, "Will it really be alright?" Below, a hand places a pocket watch on a surface beside a record player emitting musical notes. An open door is visible in the next panel. In a furnished room, a woman seated on a zebra-patterned couch says, "You can rest assured." A man in uniform stands by a folding screen replying, "You said that my family and I can defect to a third country." Narration boxes explain that full disclosure of military information is required for defection and that the situation is unfortunate for both parties. A man in a cap states, "Everything..." while an older man with a glass says, "That's a problem you don't have to worry about. I will tell you everything." A close-up shows a smiling man with glasses declaring that consent has already been received from a close politician and all necessary documentation prepared.

On a high balcony overlooking a sprawling nighttime cityscape glowing with countless lights, a stern man in a light military uniform holds a wine glass and declares, "EVERY DEVILISH ACT THAT THE BASTARD HAS COMMITTED." A voice from off-panel retorts sharply about the wording. The uniformed man continues, "YOU SHOULD BE REFERRING TO IT AS THE DEVILISH ACTS THAT 'WE' COMMITTED, NOT JUST 'THE BASTARD'...!!" while the city lights sparkle below. In a closer panel, a man with slicked-back hair, sunglasses, and a facial scar leans in and says, "THE BASTARD," HUH?... YOU TALK AS IF YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED," followed by another speaker adding, "PLEASE, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. OUR LIVES ARE ALSO DEPENDENT UPON IT." The uniformed man questions the expensive wine and the view enjoyed by the son of the bastard's lead. Below, a long-haired man with sunglasses sits with a grim expression while a woman with glasses and dark hair watches him closely. The scene returns to the illuminated city as the uniformed man states, "YOU JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE GOING ABOUT YOUR REGULAR DAILY ROUTINE," and promises that in two weeks the family will be sipping cocktails on the beach. The scarred man smiles and replies, "BUSINESS IS BUSINESS." "I KNOW." "SO MARCO-SAN..."

A hand smashes through a surface with a sharp "jyari" sound effect as a voice declares, "THIS IS BULLSHIT." Two men stand face-to-face in profile; one has spiky hair and the other has a patterned head covering, both tense. In a rocky, uneven terrain, several robed figures sit or crouch while one standing figure shouts, "AND YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANT ME TO GO TO SLEEP, HUH, PUNK!?" and another yells about 5,000,000 citizens being selected to sleep over ten days. A calm voice answers, "CALM DOWN." Close-up panels show an angry face shouting, "HOW THE HELL CAN YOU STAY SO CALM!?" and another stating, "THAT MEANS 450,000 HUMANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED!" The final panels emphasize, "BILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL END UP DYING!!" and "BECAUSE IF WE DON'T STAY CALM..."

Under a starry night sky, two men crouch close together in tense conversation. The man in the cap leans forward and says, "If we can't separate the three royal guards from the king, even the chairman won't be able to defeat him." His companion replies, "If this plan fails, everyone will die." A close-up reveals a stern face with narrowed eyes declaring, "Obviously, the security surrounding the king will become even tighter. It's too great a risk if they find out about us before the plan is carried out!!" The discussion continues as the capped man insists, "That's right. So you want me to sit around and abandon 5,000,000 people for the rest of mankind?" A sharp profile shot commands, "Endure it!!" The ponytail-wearing man retorts angrily, "Isn't it selfish for you to argue about doing the right thing without even having a solution!?" The capped man counters, "If it makes it any easier for you, you can blame it all on me! However..." In the final wide panel both men kneel facing each other as one declares, "But with all our strength...!! With no regard for our own lives!!" The other finishes, "Let's only do what we're capable of...!"

A vast starry sky fills the top of the page. Below, Gon sits with eyes closed, holding a small object while speaking to himself: "But if I kept following him, he would've gotten really mad~ Maybe it would've been better to stick together after all~ ..." Nearby, Killua sits alone against a large tree root, thinking, "He seemed a bit strange. I wonder if Killua will be alright~" A small "pita" sound effect appears as a hand drops a round object. In a sudden close-up, Killua's eye widens in alarm. The final panel shows Killua crouching low by the tree trunk, hair spiking upward as he stares at a single falling leaf in the darkness.

In a dense forest, a massive muscular humanoid with a snake-like lower body coils tightly around a thick tree trunk, its powerful form looming over the scene. The creature, bald with multiple thick braids on its head, lunges forward with clawed hands extended. Below, Gon stands with his back to the viewer, body tense as the enormous snake tail wraps around the tree and threatens to crush everything in its path. The impact strikes hard: a series of violent explosions and shockwaves erupt across the forest floor. Gon is hurled backward amid flying debris, broken branches, and swirling dust as the snake's tail smashes through the undergrowth with tremendous force, sending the boy tumbling through the air.

Gon sprints through the forest clearing, glancing back over his shoulder as the snake chimera pursues him from behind. The creature calls out mockingly, "YOU RAN AWAY WELL." It then taunts further, "THEN HOW ABOUT THIS!?" while its body begins to spin rapidly, coiling into a tight spiral. The snake chimera's torso splits open with the words "Giri Giri" appearing on its sides as it accelerates into a high-speed rotating attack. Gon stops abruptly, turning to face the threat with a shocked expression. In the final panel, Gon plants his feet firmly in a wide stance on a dark background filled with speed lines and impact bursts, bracing himself for the incoming assault.

In the pitch-black forest, Killua's eyes gleam as he faces an unseen foe. A voice boasts from the shadows: "KUKUKUKU I USE MY STRONG TAIL LIKE A SPRING TO MOVE IN AND OUT OF THE TREES!!" Another line follows: "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE MY MOVEMENTS IN THE DARK!!" accompanied by the sound effect ゴゴゴ. Suddenly the scene explodes into motion as Killua is hurled through the air, his body spinning inside a massive coiled tail. Below, a muscular man with long dreadlocks laughs triumphantly, arms raised high: "HYAHAHA I CAUGHT YOU!!" Killua, undaunted, grips the tail tightly and declares, "I WILL CRUSH YOU LIKE THIS!!" Impact lines and speed effects fill the panel as the struggle intensifies.

Killua is shown mid-air, breaking free from the tail's grip with a sharp motion. The muscular man looks shocked, sweat flying as he realizes his mistake. Killua's face fills the panel with fierce determination, shouting, "THE ONE THAT'S BEEN CAUGHT... IS YOU!!" A massive impact sound effect ゴゴッ!! erupts across the bottom of the page as the counterattack lands. The muscular man is sent reeling backward, his body outlined against the flash of the strike.

In a sunlit forest clearing, a large tree rises with thick roots spreading across the ground. Coiled tightly around its trunk is a massive snake whose body is wrapped around a humanoid figure with scaled skin and a serpentine lower body. The creature hangs motionless among the branches. Below, Gon runs through the undergrowth, glancing back over his shoulder. Speech bubbles appear around him as he thinks aloud: "But if I'm dealing with snakes, guess it doesn't matter." A small panel shows a dark orb and a leg as another voice notes, "He sure found me quick. I will need to hide well..." Gon continues, "He seemed to have the genes of a snake..." A larger panel reveals a grotesque, armored snake-like beast with a bulbous body and a smaller snake emerging from its mouth, its head turned toward the viewer. Text blocks explain, "WITH THESE PITS, SNAKES CAN LOCATE THEIR PREY IN THE DARK AND CALCULATE ITS SIZE, SHAPE AND DISTANCE ONLY BY SENSING THE BODY HEAT." and "SNAKES POSSESS PITS THAT THEY USE TO SENSE HEAT." Another bubble states, "In the worst case, he should still be able to survive without eating for about 10 days." Gon dashes onward in silhouette against tangled roots while two final bubbles read, "Maybe they're patrolling since this is close to the border." and "But it's a bit strange that there are still soldiers in an area that has already undergone the 'selection.'"

A dramatic close-up fills the frame with Gon's face, eyes wide and mouth slightly open, surrounded by sharp black motion lines radiating outward like an explosion. His expression is one of shock and focus. Below, a rapid sequence of panels shows chaotic action: a figure in light clothing is struck and sent flying, limbs flailing, while another round object tumbles nearby. Impact lines and dust clouds emphasize the force of the blow. Gon appears again in a low-angle shot, looking upward with alarm. The page ends with a large black panel showing only the back of Gon's head and shoulders as he crouches or falls forward, the spiky outline of his hair stark against the darkness.

Against a black sky, a bat-winged girl with short light hair, cat-like ears, a striped dress, and a blindfold-style accessory soars through the air with large leathery wings spread wide. Beside her flies a bulky owl-like creature with feathered body, round glasses, and overalls bearing the number 3329. Below them, two boys stare upward in shock. One boy with spiky hair shouts, "AND A BAT!?" while the boy with black hair adds, "AN OWL..." In a lower panel the spiky-haired boy narrows his eyes and says, "KUKUKU THIS TIME THERE ARE TWO..." An unseen voice asks, "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO...?" The bat girl and owl creature continue flying as motion lines and SFX indicate swift movement.

The page displays the large Hunter × Hunter logo at the top with "NEXTGEAR PRESENTS" above it and website addresses below. At the bottom of the otherwise empty white page, two boys stand facing each other. The boy on the left has spiky light hair, wears a short-sleeve shirt over a long-sleeve shirt and shorts, and stands with hands at his sides. The boy on the right has black spiky hair, wears a collared outfit with boots, and has one hand on his hip.