Chapter Summaries

Gelman fought his way through the cave and followed signs of a huge creature, suspecting it had encountered Biscuit or Shizuku. He wounded the creature by prying up a scale and stabbing beneath it, then took cover as it moved farther into the tunnels.

• Gelman burned several swarms of Rats in the Wall and continued through the dark tunnels as the Pressure Value rose.
• Gelman climbed to a wider cave level and found fresh drag marks and scraping that showed a huge creature had recently passed through.
• Gelman heard violent rumbling and guessed the creature had encountered Biscuit, Shizuku, or both, so he hurried after it.
• Gelman used En to locate the creature's tail in the dust, but his first Meat Saw strike failed to pierce its scales.
• Gelman pried up a scale and stabbed beneath it with the Leech Sleeve Sword, causing heavy bleeding before he retreated into a side cave.
• The wounded creature thrashed against the walls, then crawled farther ahead, drawing its tail after it.

Gelman found Shizuku after the Giant Snake died, and the two reclaimed its body and began searching the cave for an exit. They left to find Biscuit, who might have been teleported to another level or could already be waiting outside.

• Gelman followed the dead Giant Snake's body through the cave and found Shizuku injured at a fork.
• Shizuku removed the venom from her wound with Evil Tenderfoot, then treated and bandaged herself.
• Shizuku told Gelman that she had been teleported to the cave level and fought the Giant Snake after it swallowed her flashlight.
• Gelman explained that the Rats in the Wall had teleported them and that Biscuit might be on another level.
• Shizuku reclaimed the Giant Snake with Evil Tenderfoot, and she and Gelman set off to find a cave exit and meet Biscuit.
• Gelman marked their route at each fork, while Shizuku asked whether Biscuit might still be inside the cave.

Gelman and Shizuku found Biscuit in her towering battle form beside a giant spider at the bottom of a forest valley. Biscuit warned them that spiders surrounded them, and a swarm descended from the trees as an even larger spider watched from its web.

• Gelman checked his Hunter Badge and saw that his Pressure Value had risen to 74 after their time in the Giant Snake's cave.
• Gelman and Shizuku followed a crash through the dense forest and discovered a ring-shaped, three-tiered valley.
• At the valley's bottom, Gelman and Shizuku found Biscuit in her battle form beside a defeated giant spider.
• Biscuit warned Gelman and Shizuku that enemies surrounded them, and they saw spiders covering the trees around the valley.
• A gigantic spider signaled from its web, sending the smaller spiders flooding down toward Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku.

Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku fought off the Spider Family in the valley, using their observations and fire to overcome the swarm. As they reduced the spiders’ numbers to seven, the Giant Spider finally leaped down to face them.

• Biscuit told Gelman and Shizuku that the spiders could briefly float and warned them about their webs and fangs.
• Biscuit, Shizuku, and Gelman identified the spiders’ weak points and learned that fire frightened them and ignited their webs.
• The three used improvised firebombs to create a wall of flames, forcing most of the spiders to retreat.
• The Spider Boss directed the Spider Family to attack around the fire and from above the stone wall.
• Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku counterattacked and cut the Spider Family down to seven spiders.
• The Giant Spider leaped from its web and landed in the valley.

Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku fought the Giant Spider and its Spider Family in the valley. After Gelman's Pressure triggered Torture: Paranoia, he recovered, cut down the Giant Spider, and killed it with a critical hit.

• The Giant Spider attacked the three with shrieks and a webbing-slung slab of rock, while Gelman warned Biscuit and Shizuku about the teleporting holes in the valley floor.
• Gelman burned through the webbing, and Biscuit and Shizuku broke two of the Giant Spider's legs as the fight continued.
• Gelman and Biscuit fought through the remaining Spider Family, and Biscuit broke another of the Giant Spider's legs while Gelman cut into its abdomen with the Meat Saw.
• Gelman's Pressure reached 100 and triggered Torture: Paranoia, leaving him dazed until Shizuku called his name and pointed out the Giant Spider's attack on Biscuit.
• Gelman severed another leg, brought the Giant Spider crashing down, and stabbed its head, triggering Beast Buster and killing it.

After defeating the Giant Spider, Gelman explained how the Teleport Lantern’s Pressure effects had caused his Paranoia, and Biscuit and Shizuku helped him return to safety. The three left the valley, where a gigantic palm print appeared moments later.

• Biscuit confirmed that the Giant Spider was dead and returned to her petite form as Shizuku and Biscuit checked on Gelman.
• Gelman explained that the Teleport Lantern raised his Pressure Value and had triggered the Torture effect Paranoia.
• Biscuit worked out the rules of Pressure and offered to use Magical Beautician Miss Cookie to relieve Gelman’s pressure.
• Shizuku cleared the valley, and Gelman placed a Teleport Lantern there before the three departed with the little demons.
• Five minutes after they left, an enormous palm print appeared across the valley floor.

After returning from the archipelago, Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku rested before meeting for lunch. Gelman learned that Abengane could not perform an exorcism for a month, while Biscuit proposed a secure Hunter group chat that Shizuku could join.

• Gelman discovered that his new Light Warrior and Photosensitivity Traits canceled each other out and resolved to seek another Nen Exorcist if needed.
• Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku checked that their suite was secure, then went to sleep after Shizuku said she was tired.
• Biscuit woke Gelman after more than nine hours of sleep and invited him to join her and Shizuku for lunch.
• Gelman contacted Abengane, who asked him to wait a month for Nen Exorcism, and Gelman agreed.
• Biscuit suggested creating a secure group chat for Hunters and explained that Shizuku could join even without a Hunter License.

Gelman, Biscuit, and Shizuku formed an anonymous chat group called Post Carriage to coordinate their future Dark Continent journey and discuss their plans after their profitable trip. As Shizuku planned to donate some of her share to Meteor City, Gelman reflected on the city’s desperate, seemingly unchangeable place in the world.

• Biscuit created an anonymous chat group, and Gelman renamed it Post Carriage after Shizuku understood the metaphor.
• Gelman said their next Adventure Journey would likely be in a little over a month, while Biscuit planned to record their experiences and arrange the gradual sale of their haul.
• Biscuit planned to spend her share on gemstones, and Shizuku said she would return to Meteor City and donate some of her money to its children.
• Gelman chose not to argue with Shizuku and considered how Meteor City was trapped as a place discarded by the Six Continents, with its people struggling to survive.

Gelman said goodbye to Biscuit and Shizuku and left to train alone, planning to strengthen his Nen fundamentals and develop a suitable Restraint and Vow. He settled in a remote mountain forest, where he began preparing to refine his ability.

• Gelman told Biscuit he would pay Abengane the rest of his exorcism fee, rest, and then train to improve his Nen foundation and ability.
• Biscuit advised Gelman and Shizuku to focus on fundamental Nen training, cultivate their minds and bodies, and avoid rushing into dangerous Restraints and Vows.
• After five days of treatment and practice, Gelman received one final Peach Blossom Breath treatment from Miss Cookie and decided to leave the next day.
• Shizuku asked Gelman to donate money to Meteor City's children, and he agreed to give part of his share under her name.
• Gelman considered a Restraint and Vow that would let him spend extra aura on attacks and defenses to charge a later Nen ability for greater power.
• Gelman traveled to a remote mountain forest, found a spot near a lake, and built a crude wooden cabin.

Gelman received Machi’s summons to attend a Phantom Troupe gathering in Saint Valentine City, but he wanted to avoid it and focus on training. After provoking Machi by suggesting he could replace Chrollo as Leader, he cut off his phone and prepared to isolate himself for a month.

• Gelman cut down a tree for building materials while nearby beasts watched him with hostility.
• Machi called Gelman and told him that all Phantom Troupe members had to meet in Saint Valentine City on February 12 for a group activity.
• Gelman weighed the danger of defying the Troupe and decided to use his desire to become Leader as an excuse to avoid the gathering.
• Machi hung up after Gelman suggested that Chrollo could hand the leadership over to him.
• Gelman switched off his phone and planned to spend the next month training in isolation.

After a month of training in the mountains, Gelman completed and refined his Restraint and Vow, then reconnected with his friends and learned the Phantom Troupe had committed a major robbery. He left the next Dark Continent Journey on hold while he sought someone to spar with.

• Gelman spent over a month training his Nen techniques and refining his Restraint and Vow, increasing his Physique and aura by one point.
• On March 8, 1998, Gelman returned to his cabin, fed the group of tamed felines, and turned on his phone after more than a month offline.
• Gelman found missed calls from Machi, Biscuit, and Shizuku, along with messages from Hisoka, whose number he saved as "Pervert."
• Gelman told Shizuku he would find someone to spar with before arranging another Dark Continent Journey, and he reassured Biscuit that his training had paid off.
• Biscuit told Gelman that the Phantom Troupe had robbed Bly City's largest underground vault on February 14 and warned him that their crimes would eventually catch up with them.

After training, Gelman met Abengane in Martin Town and had him exorcise one of his Scarlet Nen Beasts. Gelman then spoke with Hisoka, who proposed working together to isolate Chrollo for a one-on-one fight and help Gelman pursue the Phantom Troupe's leadership.

• Gelman shaved, packed his few belongings, and said goodbye to the wild cats before leaving for Martin Town.
• Abengane met Gelman and followed him to a secluded grove to perform the exorcism.
• Abengane saw five ominous Nen Beasts in the bonfire and exorcised the Scarlet Nen Beast Gelman identified as representing fear of light.
• Gelman confirmed the exorcism had worked, paid Abengane, and left after saying he would contact him again in a month.
• Gelman called Hisoka and heard his plan to draw Chrollo out, with Gelman keeping other Phantom Troupe members away so Hisoka could fight Chrollo alone.

Gelman considered Hisoka’s plan to destroy the Phantom Troupe and agreed to hear out the details. At their arranged meeting near Sky Arena, Gelman caught a Metal Gyro thrown by three familiar strangers who had never seen him before.

• Hisoka explained that Gelman wanted the Phantom Troupe destroyed and proposed killing Chrollo and eliminating the combat group.
• Gelman questioned the plan’s risks, then agreed to meet Hisoka and discuss the details.
• On March 11, Gelman traveled to the Batochiya Republic and waited at Alice Cafe beneath a view of Sky Arena.
• A Metal Gyro entered Gelman’s En range, and he caught it after stripping away its aura.
• Gelman looked toward the attack and saw three familiar people standing in a careful formation.

Gelman fought three Sky Arena fighters who had been turned into puppets by a Manipulator and killed them in the street. He recognized Illumi Zoldyck in the crowd, who signaled him to leave before the police arrived.

• Zushi launched his nine tops at Gelman, who used his own top to deflect them and slip past the attack.
• Sodam, Rikudou, and Zushi attacked Gelman together, but Gelman used a Spiderweb Lasso to evade their trap and realized they were dead bodies controlled by Nen needles.
• Gelman cut Sodam in two, shot Rikudou, and then chopped Zushi down.
• Gelman gained 3 points each in Physique and Pressure and obtained Grudge bestowal · Left Arm Guard.
• The crowd cheered as Gelman spotted Illumi Zoldyck, who signaled him to leave.

Gelman, Hisoka, and Illumi agreed to work together against Chrollo, settling on a loose plan built around a surprise attack. Their meeting was interrupted when Kajin Dorudo arrived at Hisoka’s door and challenged him to a duel.

• Illumi explained that he would help control the guards around Chrollo and said he was satisfied with Gelman as a partner.
• Hisoka described Chrollo as the first target in his plan, while Gelman asked how they intended to fight him.
• Illumi said Hisoka would improvise, and Hisoka confirmed that they would attack if Chrollo agreed to meet.
• The three noticed someone approaching, and Hisoka opened the door to find Kajin Dorudo, who challenged him to a duel.
• Hisoka eventually remembered Kajin Dorudo as a previous opponent he had planned to defeat later.

Gelman stopped Hisoka from killing Kajin Dorudo, then advised him to abandon his misguided Nen technique and find his own path. Kajin Dorudo left the Sky Arena, while Gelman confirmed that his hypersomnia had disappeared.

• Hisoka nearly killed Kajin Dorudo after easily defeating him, but Gelman intervened and persuaded Hisoka to let him live.
• Hisoka let Kajin Dorudo survive after a card draw and warned him not to challenge him again unless he had improved.
• Kajin Dorudo asked Gelman how to become stronger, and Gelman told him his aura showed he was pursuing the wrong Nen path and wasting his Enhancer talent.
• Gelman refused to train Kajin Dorudo, who bowed toward Hisoka's room before leaving the Sky Arena that night.
• Illumi observed that Gelman's advice seemed to have worked, while Gelman checked his Hunter Badge and found that his hypersomnia had disappeared.

Gelman and Hisoka met Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe for negotiations, but Illumi had disguised himself as Gelman to ambush Pakunoda and Machi. After Machi exposed him, Hisoka attacked Phinks while the real Gelman waited among the stone pillars.

• Chrollo offered Gelman a chance to compete for leadership if he met three conditions: Pakunoda would check his memories, he would guess a coin toss, and two members would recommend him.
• Chrollo explained that Shizuku’s donation to Meteor City had led him to suspect she was helping Gelman.
• Machi sensed that Gelman had changed, and Illumi revealed himself after his Nen Needles were deflected.
• Hisoka used Elastic Love to hurl Phinks toward the stone pillars while the real Gelman released Zetsu and waited for him.

Gelman used traps and the Spiderweb Lasso to injure Phinks, but Phinks survived an explosion and kept building power with Ripper Cyclotron. Phinks noticed Gelman’s newly conjured Aura Gauge and decided to wait for reinforcements, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Phinks charged Gelman with Ripper Cyclotron, but Gelman swung onto a standing stone and detonated a buried trap.
• Phinks survived the blast by smashing a hollow into the ground with Heaven-Returning Strike, though the explosion left him scraped and burned.
• Phinks attacked Gelman atop the stone, and Gelman dodged his punch before cutting Phinks with the Spiderweb Lasso’s sleeve blade.
• Phinks realized the wound was causing abnormal bleeding and suspected Gelman’s Nen ability was responsible.
• Phinks noticed Gelman’s visible Aura Gauge and chose to hold back while waiting for the other Phantom Troupe members and their leader.

Gelman used the Aura Gauge's stored progress and a series of weapon tricks to outmaneuver Phinks. He left Phinks badly wounded and unable to move, with the fight firmly in Gelman's hands.

• Phinks taunted Gelman and charged his Ripper Cyclotron, while Gelman recognized that Phinks had guessed the Aura Gauge tracked damage from Forced Bleeding.
• Gelman switched weapons to exploit Phinks's grip, cutting his palm with the Leech Sleeve Sword as Phinks charged.
• Gelman escaped Phinks's seventeen-rotation strike, then used a Crow Shield to make Phinks's Heaven-Returning Strike connect and reset his rotations.
• After one of Gelman's Aura Gauges emptied, he used its Amplification to fire his Shotgun Handgun at Phinks.
• Gelman paralyzed Phinks and stabbed him in the abdomen with the Meat Saw, leaving him unable to use Ryu, Ko, or Ken.

Gelman killed Phinks and defeated Machi, while Illumi captured Pakunoda and Hisoka fought Chrollo and Bopbov. After Hisoka’s battle ended in a massive impact, Gelman and Shalnark agreed to take the hostages and negotiate with Chrollo.

• Gelman beheaded Phinks, explained how his Aura Gauge worked, and took the Grudge Bestowal item Revolving Heaven Cannon.
• Machi attacked Gelman, but he knocked her unconscious and carried her out of the boulder field.
• Gelman found Illumi controlling Pakunoda while Shalnark stood nearby, and learned that Hisoka had killed Kopf at the cost of one hand.
• A huge sphere crashed down near Hisoka’s battle, and Shalnark proposed trading Hisoka for Machi and Pakunoda.
• Gelman agreed to negotiate after confirming Hisoka was alive, and Shalnark led them toward Chrollo to decide the exchange.