Chapter Summaries

Gelman and his companions defeated the Disease Spreader, endured the aftermath of Gelman’s Torment, and harvested 56 Alchemy Plants. Ging’s deductions suggested that Don Freecss may have recently defeated the creature and could be replenishing supplies elsewhere in the Dark Continent.

• After the Disease Spreader fell, Gelman regained his reason and explained that using Chaos Roar left him in Torment, while the battle also earned him Grudge bestowal and the Lake of Greatness rune.
• Biscuit made Gelman rest until his Torment passed, and Shizuku lent him her Inverse Cross Necklace to help him feel calm.
• Shizuku’s Evil Tenderfoot provided the prepared storage supplies, and the group harvested 56 Alchemy Plants from the Disease Spreader.
• The group examined the bloodred Alchemy Plants and found that they contained markings corresponding to Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth.
• Ging reasoned that someone had defeated the Disease Spreader before it emerged from hibernation, leading the group to suspect Don Freecss and wonder whether he might visit the Labyrinth for Healing Herbs.

After returning from the Wilderness, Ging searched the Labyrinth for Don Freecss while Gelman’s group studied the Alchemy Plant and waited for the Teleport Lantern to recharge. Ging, Biscuit, and Menchi chose to remain in the Labyrinth as a base, while Gelman and Shizuku returned to Greed Island with the plant.

• Gelman Squad returned from the Wilderness to the Labyrinth, and Ging began searching nearby safe zones for Don Freecss.
• The group tested the Alchemy Plant and found that its elemental power briefly enchanted conjured weapons and Menchi’s twin blades.
• Biscuit’s treatments and Menchi’s meals reduced Gelman’s Pressure Value to zero by October 15.
• After the Teleport Lantern recharged on October 18, Ging chose to stay in the Labyrinth and continue mapping it.
• Biscuit and Menchi also decided to stay with Ging, while Gelman and Shizuku took the Alchemy Plant back to Greed Island on October 19.

Gelman returned to Greed Island with Shizuku and the Alchemy Plant, then shared news from the wider world, including the early Chimera Ant invasion of NGL. He left the plant with Doon and List for study and worried that the unfolding events were being accelerated by changes to fate.

• Gelman and Shizuku told the Greed Island team about their victory and displayed the Alchemy Plant, which Doon and List agreed to study.
• Buhara volunteered to join a future expedition to the Dark Continent labyrinth, while Gelman postponed choosing the next group until the Teleport Lantern could be used on November 8.
• Gelman learned that Kurapika had reclaimed several pairs of Hokage Eyes and was working with Melody, and that Chikyū had become a leading young fighter at the Sky Arena.
• Wing reported that Kajin Dorudo had become a Floor Master and left to seek a rematch with Hisoka, while Hisoka and the Phantom Troupe had gone silent.
• Gelman heard that Chimera Ants had invaded NGL ahead of schedule and that Netero, Morel, and Nobunaga had gone to lead the extermination team.

Germann warned Kite to avoid the Chimera Ant situation and had Abengane exorcise two Negative Traits, while continuing to monitor the invasion from afar. The chapter ended with Germann receiving unexpected news as he tracked the Chimera Ants’ progress through NGL.

• Germann reached Kite, warned him that the Chimera Ant situation might be tied to Beyond’s faction, and told him not to get involved; Kite agreed and asked after Ging.
• Germann told Abengane that defeating the Chimera Ants would be difficult but that the team would ultimately win with Chairman Netero present.
• Abengane exorcised Germann’s “Death Phobia,” and “Murderer” disappeared as well, revealing that Abengane had made a major breakthrough in his Nen ability.
• Germann reviewed the four stages of the Chimera Ant incident and tried to determine how far the invasion of NGL had progressed from fragmentary reports.
• Just as Germann was about to stop worrying about the matter, something unexpected happened.

Granny Lin Nie told Gelman that the Chimera Ant Queen had died and asked him to join the extermination effort, fearing Isaac Netero would face the Ant King alone. Gelman traveled to the East Gorteau Republic and found Netero training in a forest clearing.

• Granny Lin Nie explained that the Ant King and his Royal Guards were missing, the Chimera Ants were spreading, and Netero was determined to challenge the Ant King.
• Granny Lin Nie asked Gelman to join the Chimera Ant Extermination, and Netero personally called to request his help in the East Gorteau Republic.
• On November 6, Gelman left Greed Island with the support of its people after learning that Meruem and the Royal Guards controlled the East Gorteau Republic.
• Gelman arrived on an island north of the republic on November 8 and followed Netero's bursts of Nen through a dense forest.
• Gelman found an airship and a huge crater, where Netero repeatedly struck the earth in a horse stance.

Gelman joined Netero, Zeno, and Silva as they prepared for the Chimera Ant campaign and reviewed what was known about their enemies. The chapter ended with the group studying the scant information on Meruem and the Three Royal Guards, the foes they would have to face.

• Gelman watched Netero train and met Zeno and Silva Zoldyck, who had come to support Netero’s mission.
• Zeno explained that his task was to drive back the Three Royal Guards and escort Netero to the battlefield, while Silva would provide backup.
• Netero told Gelman, Zeno, and Silva that he had called them in to help while the V5 and Hunter Association prepared a new battle plan.
• The group reviewed danger assessments comparing the Chimera Ants with the Gold Bar and the Undead Disease, then examined reports on active Ants and noted that many had acquired Nen abilities.
• Gelman read the limited information available on Meruem, Menthuthuyoupi, and the other Royal Guards, whose strength far exceeded that of the Division Leaders.

Netero arranged a sparring match between Gelman and Silva while he and Zeno watched from the airship. Gelman gained the upper hand in their opening exchange, and Silva recognized how dramatically Gelman’s Nen abilities had improved.

• Netero proposed a sparring match to pass the time and test the fighters, then set the basin’s edge as the boundary and forbade killing or maiming.
• Zeno negotiated a ten percent discount for the extra work, and he and Netero went to the airship while Gelman and Silva prepared to fight.
• Silva launched a sudden attack using Shadow Step and Body Bend, but Gelman conjured a Flamethrower and then a Spiral Cane to counter him.
• Gelman saw through Silva’s afterimages and stabbed his left shoulder, prompting Silva to realize Gelman could control conjured weapons through extended Nen Energy without holding them.
• Gelman summoned a Meat Saw to clear the dust and revealed himself in his Hunter Cloak.

Silva surrendered to Gelman after realizing Gelman’s Aura Gauge made continuing the match increasingly dangerous, giving Gelman the first exhibition victory. As they returned to the airship, Silva apologized for Illumi’s past actions and promised the Zoldyck Family would not take assassination jobs against Gelman; Gelman then asked about Killua running away from home.

• Gelman used his conjured weapons to counter Silva’s Nen Bullet barrage while his Aura Gauge filled, and Silva tried to push him across the basin’s boundary.
• Gelman moved to the center of the basin, and Silva noticed that two of the gauge’s five segments had filled even as Gelman defended.
• Silva stopped fighting and surrendered, explaining that he saw no way to win under the match’s rules; Gelman accepted, claiming the exhibition victory.
• Silva apologized for Illumi’s role in the train incident and said he had forbidden Illumi and the rest of the family from accepting assassination jobs involving Gelman.
• Gelman asked Silva whether Killua had run away from home, and Silva recalled how the family had investigated Killua’s departure and questioned Canary.

Silva discussed Killua’s escape and expected him to take the Hunter Exam, while Netero learned that Chimera Ant defectors had joined the fight in East Gorteau. The chapter ended as the second sparring match began aboard the airship.

• Silva told Gelman that Illumi had abandoned the Phantom Troupe to search for Killua, and he expected Killua to take the Professional Hunter Exam early next year.
• Silva explained that the Zoldyck Family wanted Killua to face hardship but worried he would challenge someone stronger without guidance.
• Netero took Morel’s call and reported that Morel, Nobunaga, Knuckle, and Shoto were fighting Chimera Ants in East Gorteau, with two more Ants defecting to humanity’s side.
• Netero explained that some Chimera Ants with human memories had turned against the Ant King and the Three Royal Guards to avenge their friends and families.
• Netero said the Hunters’ most important contribution would be the help they could provide in the final battle.
• The next day, the second sparring match began aboard the Zoldyck Family airship.

Gelman fought Zeno and discovered that his enhanced Physique let him match the older fighter head-on. He defeated Zeno with a combination of Nen abilities, stopping just short of killing him, and Zeno admitted defeat.

• Silva watched as Zeno began the fight by feinting with one hand, then attacked Gelman with his Fang Pierce and tried to break through his manifested weapons.
• Gelman and Zeno clashed hand-to-hand, and both realized Gelman could hold his own against Zeno’s strength.
• Zeno unleashed Dragon Star Cluster, but Gelman drew the arrows into a vortex, charged through the explosions, and attacked with flames and a skeletal beast.
• Gelman destroyed Zeno’s purple dragon and trapped him between the skeletal beast’s claws, leaving Zeno unable to defend himself.
• Gelman restrained his urge to kill Zeno, withdrew his Nen Energy, and ended the fight; Zeno lowered his arms and said he had lost.

After Germann defeated Zeno in their mock battle, he explained why the Chimera Ants had to be eradicated, and Netero later outlined the invasion and his plan to use the Poor Man's Rose. The final battle was set for November 23, with Germann assigned to keep Neferpitou from saving the Ant King.

• Zeno ended the mock battle, and Silva praised Germann's performance.
• Zeno asked why the Chimera Ants deserved extermination while human tyrannies were tolerated, and Germann argued that their predatory nature and capacity to replace humanity made them an existential threat.
• Zeno agreed that Germann was clearheaded, and the two went to wait for Netero aboard the airship.
• Netero returned on November 13 and reported that the Royal Guards had begun converting East Gorteau's people, set the final assault for November 23, and revealed his plan to use the Poor Man's Rose if he could not defeat the Ant King.
• Netero assigned Zeno to transport him and the Ant King to a remote testing ground and ordered Germann to stop Neferpitou from reaching the Ant King after its death or kill it.

Netero imposed a sparring challenge in which Gelman had to dodge ten consecutive attacks before midnight on November 22, while Netero unleashed the Hundred-Type Guanyin across the primeval forest. As Netero’s attacks intensified, Gelman revealed a powerful transformation and finally dodged two blows in a row.

• Netero changed the rules so Gelman could only dodge, defend against, or destroy his attacks, and set a deadline for Gelman to dodge ten in a row.
• Netero launched Gelman through the forest with the first forms of Hundred-Type Guanyin, while Gelman gradually learned to track the attacks.
• Gelman used his Spiral Cane to escape Netero’s Third Form, but Netero escalated his assault as Zeno and Silva watched.
• Gelman summoned a skeletal revenant to counter Netero’s increasingly powerful forms, but the Guanyin eventually sealed off his escape routes.
• Gelman summoned a Dark Crown and endured the Torture Thorns, then transformed into a monstrous beast and used Chaos Roar and Blood Frenzy to break through the attacks.
• Netero unleashed the Seventy-Second Form, but Gelman dodged twice, prompting Netero to take him more seriously.

Gelman’s Chaos Roar withstood Netero’s Hundred-Type Guanyin but collapsed before Gelman could complete the challenge. Netero explained that Gelman needed to manage the ability’s dangerous mental pressure and left him to decide whether to continue before their deadline.

• Gelman’s Chaos Roar repelled Netero’s attacks, adapting through the 99th Hand as Netero failed to hit him repeatedly.
• Gelman charged through a gap in the golden strikes, but his aura faded and he collapsed, causing Chaos Roar to vanish.
• Gelman told Netero that using Chaos Roar built mental pressure that could drive him mad and kill him, and listed four ways to reduce it.
• Netero advised Gelman to keep landing Critical Hits and warned that he could run away or concede before the deadline, but might not survive the pressure.
• Netero ended the training, spoke with Zeno and Silva, and returned to the airship.

Gelman used Greed Island cards to manage his pressure while training against Netero, then deliberately cycled between Torment and Virtue to master Chaos Roar. He continued enduring the punishing training as the team prepared for the Chimera Ant palace assault, despite learning that Pam had gone missing and Nobunaga had suffered a breakdown.

• Gelman used Greed Island cards to relieve pressure and keep his Pressure Value below the Torment threshold before fighting Netero.
• Gelman tried to fight without Chaos Roar, but Netero's Hundred-Type Guanyin overwhelmed him, so he unleashed Chaos Roar and managed to evade more attacks.
• Netero told Gelman that Nobunaga had prepared palace entrances with Four-Dimensional Apartment, while Pam had gone missing after infiltrating the palace and Nobunaga had suffered a mental breakdown.
• Gelman decided to deliberately raise his Pressure Value past 100 to trigger either Torment or Virtue and improve his control of Chaos Roar.
• Gelman kept fighting Netero and cycling through Torment and Virtue, experiencing Virtue only four times while using a Sleep Girl card to avoid sleep-related side effects.

Netero’s battle with Gelman reached its climax as Gelman reconsidered his ambitions and renewed his resolve to pursue the Dark Continent. Netero trapped him with Zero Hand, and the chapter ended with Gelman and the Chaos Roar missing in the dust.

• Netero struck Gelman with the Hundred-Type Guanyin, sending him crashing into a crater as Zeno and Silva watched from a mountain.
• Silva asked whether Gelman could meet Netero’s deadline, and Zeno said the outcome rested with the fighters.
• As Netero prepared what he believed would be his final attack, Gelman reflected on the year since his arrival and reaffirmed that he would not abandon his pursuit of the Dark Continent.
• Netero sensed Gelman’s resolve and used the Hundred-Type Guanyin to trap him before firing Zero Hand: Merciless Roar.
• After the blast, Netero found Gelman and the Chaos Roar nowhere in sight and wondered whether they had disappeared.

Gelman awakened a powerful Holy Aura, evaded Netero’s attacks, and promised to eliminate two Royal Guards during the palace battle. As the Chimera Ant Extermination Team prepared for the midnight assault, Nobunaga withdrew from the fight, but Morel announced that Zeno and Gelman would reinforce them.

• Gelman survived Netero’s assault and unleashed a dense Holy Aura that impressed Netero, Zeno, Silva, and Zobair.
• Gelman evaded Netero’s Hundred-Type Guanyin attacks and promised to quickly take out two of the Three Royal Guards before joining Netero.
• Nobunaga admitted he could not join the palace assault and asked Morel to find Pam, so Morel promised to search for her.
• Morel and the others prepared for the battle with Meleoron and Ikalgo among their reinforcements, while the other allied Chimera Ants stayed behind.
• Morel received Netero’s message and told the team that Zeno and Gelman would support their operation.

The Chimera Ant Extermination Team prepared for the palace assault as Ikalgo planned to search for Pam and Nobunaga reconsidered staying out of the fight. At the palace, Menthuthuyoupi kept watch and the Royal Guards anticipated the Hunters’ attack, which began with three figures descending from the sky.

• Knuckle explained that Zeno and Gelman had joined as reinforcements, while Ikalgo asked to partner with them and was told they would have separate assignments.
• Ikalgo decided to infiltrate the castle’s underground area to search for Pam, and Nobunaga reflected on Gelman’s past victories over the Phantom Troupe and his own reasons for remaining behind.
• Morel announced that the operation would begin in ten minutes and told everyone to get ready.
• Menthuthuyoupi watched over the palace and recalled that the Royal Guards had captured Pam, transformed her into a Chimera Ant, and placed her egg inside the palace.
• Three figures descended from the sky after a monstrous bird raised by the Zoldyck Family flew over the palace.

Gelman, Netero, and Zeno launched an aerial assault on the palace, forcing Menthuthuyoupi to choose between threats as Netero knocked it away. Menthuthuyoupi stopped its flight with Doctor Blythe, only to face the approaching black-robed Gelman.

• Silva stayed aboard the giant bird while Gelman, Netero, and Zeno descended toward the palace and Zeno unleashed Dragon Star Cluster.
• Menthuthuyoupi sensed the attack and chose to confront Netero, while Youpi flew toward the King and Youpi moved to respond.
• Netero struck Menthuthuyoupi with Hundred-Type Guanyin: Second Form, sending it flying beyond the palace.
• Menthuthuyoupi conjured Doctor Blythe and used its tail connection to stop its flight, then saw the black-robed Gelman coming toward it.

Gelman defeated Menthuthuyoupi and absorbed its Grudge before racing toward the palace. Zeno arrived with the gravely injured Komugi, explaining that Meruem had agreed to leave with Netero and him if they saved her.

• Gelman used his Chaos Fusion Form to overpower Menthuthuyoupi, setting it ablaze and then cutting it in two.
• Menthuthuyoupi’s corpse launched one last Grudge-fueled attack, but Gelman crushed its face and absorbed the Grudge through his Hunter Badge.
• Gelman gained the Deep Sea of Greatness rune and ran toward the palace, leaving the battle between Netero and Meruem to begin elsewhere.
• Zeno landed in front of Gelman carrying Komugi and explained that his Dragon Star Cluster had left her near death.
• Zeno told Gelman that Meruem had offered to leave with Netero and Zeno to fight elsewhere if they saved Komugi.

After Zeno rescued Komugi from the palace, he handed her to Nobunaga and left the battle. Gelman returned to the palace after killing Gido, while Nobunaga took Komugi to safety and weighed whether to rejoin the fight.

• Zeno explained that Meruem had surrendered after Zeno healed Komugi, then asked what should be done with the unconscious girl.
• Nobunaga emerged through Four-Dimensional Apartment, and Zeno handed Komugi to him to take somewhere safe.
• Zeno left to watch the battle from the sky, while Gelman told Nobunaga he had killed Menthuthuyoupi and planned to eliminate another Royal Guard before supporting Netero.
• Gelman urged Nobunaga to choose whether to support his companions or withdraw, then crossed the palace wall.
• Gido ambushed Gelman, who killed him with a single Spiral Thrust before entering the palace.
• Nobunaga took Komugi to the rear for medical care and considered whether to return to the battlefield.