Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Conjuration, So Called...”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Greed drives five Nen users to attack Baibo and seize the crown he is carrying.
• Ryan, an overwhelmingly powerful Enhancer, intercepts them. He kills a fingerless attacker instantly with a single strike, demonstrating the lethal advantage of close-range Enhancement.
• Ryan orders the remaining four attackers to be eliminated, while Baibo continues protecting the crown and remains wary of the mysterious creature inside the nearby temple.
• From a rooftop, Shalnark observes the conflict rather than joining it. He plans to let the others weaken one another, then use his Manipulation ability to control Ryan and claim the crown.
• Shalnark identifies Ryan and Moyu as the two most significant threats. He also notices that Mantis, a dual-blade user traveling with Ryan, has chosen to attack Moyu.
• Mantis attacks Moyu, while Menchi withdraws and prepares to support him if necessary. She is also watched suspiciously by Baibo.
• Mantis overwhelms Moyu with a relentless offensive using his Transmuter ability, “Twin Blades Give You the Answer,” which sharpens his aura and gradually cuts apart opponents’ weapons.
• Moyu recognizes that Mantis is deliberately targeting his sword rather than simply trying to injure him. He uses Soul Echo in a restrained way to mislead Mantis about the nature of his ability.
• Mantis successfully breaks Moyu’s sword and believes he has left Moyu defenseless. However, Moyu’s apparent panic is an act.
• Moyu suddenly conjures a black sword in his empty hand and stabs Mantis through the chest, revealing that his true ability is related to Conjuration.

Character Developments

• Ryan is established as an exceptionally dangerous Enhancer with immense physical power, confidence, and a ruthless willingness to kill. He is also cautious enough to avoid provoking the unknown temple creature.
• Baibo acts defensively and pragmatically, prioritizing the crown and monitoring both the surrounding battle and the temple’s unexplained threat.
• Shalnark demonstrates strategic patience and manipulative thinking. Rather than fighting directly, he intends to exploit the others’ conflict and control the survivor.
• Moyu shows major growth from a year of sword training. He can now withstand a powerful blade master directly and remain calm under extreme pressure. He also displays tactical intelligence by identifying Mantis’s obsession and using it against him.
• Mantis is revealed as an aggressive and psychologically driven fighter. He takes particular pleasure in breaking opponents’ weapons and provoking panic before delivering the finishing blow.
• Menchi displays loyalty and concern for Moyu, preparing to intervene while carefully avoiding friendly fire.
• Baibo’s group functions as a coordinated team, contrasting with the attackers’ selfish lack of cooperation.

Significant Themes

• Greed and irrationality: Desire for the crown overwhelms judgment, causing the five attackers to ignore the overwhelming difference in strength and attack without cooperation.
• Cooperation versus individual ambition: Ryan, Baibo, and Mantis coordinate effectively, while the opposing Nen users’ selfishness leaves them vulnerable.
• Patience and opportunism: Shalnark’s strategy emphasizes allowing others to weaken one another before acting.
• Deception and hidden abilities: Moyu conceals the true nature of Soul Echo and uses a false moment of weakness to deceive Mantis.
• Growth through training: Moyu’s ability to defend against Mantis reflects the tangible results of a year of disciplined swordsmanship.
• Obsessive fighting styles: Mantis’s fixation on destroying weapons illustrates how Nen abilities can be shaped by personality and personal compulsions.
• Uncertainty and hidden danger: The unexplained creature within the temple remains a major threat, causing even confident fighters to act cautiously.

Character Interactions

• Ryan protects Baibo and the crown, killing one attacker and directing the fight against the others.
• Shalnark watches Ryan’s group and evaluates Moyu as a serious potential rival.
• Mantis targets Moyu because he specializes in fighting blade users.
• Menchi obeys Moyu’s order to retreat but remains nearby to guard him and prepare support.
• Mantis repeatedly pressures Moyu, believing he has psychologically broken him after shattering his sword.
• Moyu exploits Mantis’s confidence and obsession, ultimately counterattacking with a conjured black sword.
• Baibo and Ryan both monitor Moyu and Mantis’s duel, though Baibo remains especially concerned about the temple creature.

Key plot points and events

• Moyu kills Mantis with a conjured Black Blade, striking while Mantis believes he has the advantage. Mantis is exhausted from the fight and dies before he can retaliate.
• Moyu’s victory depends on layered deception: he conceals his conjuration by first fighting with a real sword, uses Soul Echo to suggest a misleading explanation for his strength, and exploits Mantis’s combat habits and the opening created by throwing his broken blade.
• Afterward, Moyu keeps his “Shadow Armament” visible so witnesses may wrongly conclude it enabled the victory. He also receives a small +3% Conjurer Nen-type modifier as a reward for deceiving Mantis.

Character developments and interactions

• Moyu demonstrates composure, patience, and strategic skill. He turns the tools and circumstances at hand into a trap rather than relying on an obvious power advantage.
• Mantis moves from confidence and satisfaction to shock, disbelief, and helplessness as his stamina and Nen fail him. His fixation on Moyu’s blade ultimately contributes to his defeat.
• Menchi, watching the fight, is first stunned and then filled with admiration for Moyu, recalling how he once defeated Light while seemingly at a disadvantage.
• Shalnark witnesses the fight from concealment and recognizes Moyu as a growing threat. Baibo also observes the battle.

Significant themes

• Nen as a battle of information: Concealing an ability and shaping an opponent’s assumptions can be as decisive as strength.
• Preparation and adaptability: Moyu wins by combining training, observation, and available circumstances.
• Power and cost: Mantis’s pleasure in exploiting opponents becomes part of the chain of events leading to his death—the chapter suggests that every gift or advantage carries a price.

Chapter Summary: Hand of the Paradise of No Return

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu defeats and kills Mantis, the twin-blade Nen user, in less than a minute. His victory comes not through superior strength, but through a quick and effective tactical trap.
• Shalnark is deeply unsettled by Moyu’s ability to turn a brief exchange into a decisive victory. Mantis’s death changes the arena’s balance into a two-on-two conflict between Moyu and Ryan’s side and Baibo and Mantis’s allies.
• Baibo is enraged by Mantis’s death and briefly considers attacking Moyu immediately, but restrains himself to avoid disrupting Ryan’s battle.
• Ryan, an extremely powerful Enhancer, kills another one of the four Nen users competing for the crown. The remaining three become frightened and begin considering retreat, but Ryan’s anger and overwhelming aura prevent them from escaping.
• Inside the temple, Mamen observes the battle without leaving. He reveals that he feeds on human greed and has collected enough desire from the ruins to sustain himself temporarily.
• Mamen plans to leave the ruins and seek the human world, where material desires are more abundant. He also considers using the gold and treasures in the ruins to lure more people to the temple.
• Mamen is particularly intrigued by Moyu, whose mind completely resisted the effect of the “Hand of the Paradise of No Return.” He contrasts Moyu with another resistant human, who was affected but protected himself through powerful, loyal love.
• After assessing Ryan’s strength, Moyu decides to eliminate Baibo before Ryan finishes his own fight. Baibo detects Moyu’s renewed killing intent and prepares for confrontation.
• Tonpa remains injured and terrified in a distant corner, regretting having entered the battle and suffering from numerous aches after being attacked.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates that his greatest danger lies in his intelligence and tactical judgment rather than raw power alone. After killing Mantis, he becomes more decisive and willing to eliminate Baibo as a potential threat.
• Shalnark: Loses his earlier composure and recognizes how dangerous Moyu’s tactical thinking is. He begins hoping that Moyu and Ryan will kill each other.
• Baibo: Shows both fury and discipline. Although devastated by Mantis’s death, he suppresses his impulsive desire for revenge and remains focused on the larger battle.
• Ryan: Reveals even greater strength when angered by Mantis’s death. His aura becomes so oppressive that the remaining Nen users lose their greed and become consumed by fear.
• Mamen: His motives and abilities become clearer. He is a supernatural being sustained by greed, seeks to restore his full power, and becomes unusually curious about Moyu’s immunity.
• Tonpa: Is reduced to a frightened, injured survivor, emphasizing the danger of the conflict and the gap between him and the stronger fighters.

Significant Themes

• Strategy versus strength: Moyu’s victory shows that clever tactics can defeat a stronger opponent, making intelligence as frightening as Nen power.
• Greed and fear: Mamen feeds on greed, but Ryan’s overwhelming presence transforms greed into fear, depriving Mamen of the emotional nourishment he prefers.
• Resistance to desire: The chapter contrasts people who surrender to material temptation with rare individuals who can resist or counteract Mamen’s influence.
• Escalation and consequence: Mantis’s death shifts the entire battle. A single tactical victory triggers grief, rage, fear, and a new confrontation between Moyu and Baibo.
• Human emotions as power: Greed, loyalty, love, anger, and fear all have tangible effects, shaping both Mamen’s survival and the combatants’ behavior.

Important Character Interactions

• Moyu and Mantis: Their brief fight ends with Moyu outmaneuvering and killing Mantis.
• Moyu and Baibo: Mantis’s death creates mutual hostility. Moyu identifies Baibo as a remaining threat, while Baibo notices Moyu’s intent to attack him.
• Ryan and the Nen users: Ryan’s strength overwhelms the group, especially after Mantis’s death intensifies his anger.
• Shalnark and the unfolding battle: Shalnark watches from the sidelines and hopes the strongest fighters will destroy one another.
• Mamen and Moyu: Although they do not speak directly, Mamen singles Moyu out as an extraordinary human because Moyu completely nullifies his desire-inducing ability.
• Mamen and the other resistant human: Mamen notes that this person resisted through absolute loyalty and love rather than true immunity.
• Tonpa and the battle: Tonpa remains physically and emotionally overwhelmed, serving as a fearful observer of the surrounding conflict.

Key plot points

• Moyu charges Baibo after killing Mantis, hoping to end the fight before Ryan can join in. Baibo sets the crown aside and prepares to fight alongside the approaching Menchi.
• Baibo uses Twin Fangs, an Emitter ability that launches one visible venomous fang and a second concealed with In and sent underground. Moyu blocks the visible fang, but Baibo’s hidden attack appears to pierce him.
• Menchi attacks Baibo with a Nen Ball, forcing him to defend. Moyu then emerges from the dust under Zetsu and runs Baibo through with a conjured blade.
• Baibo dies confused, believing he had fatally struck Moyu. Meanwhile, Tonpa and Shalnark have both noticed the unattended crown.

Character developments

• Moyu demonstrates the sharp increase in lethality gained from a year of sword training, as well as his skill at turning an enemy’s plan against them.
• His Shadow Clone, a Dark Chess Piece, supplies extra vision and enables his deception: Moyu uses it to take the concealed fang’s attack while making Baibo think the real Moyu has been hit.
• Menchi is shaken when the hidden fang strikes, but trusts Moyu and attacks Baibo rather than abandoning the fight. Her Nen Ball creates the opening Moyu needs.
• Baibo’s confidence in his carefully prepared technique proves fatal; he mistakes Moyu’s decoy for a successful kill.

Significant themes and interactions

• Deception and perception: Baibo’s concealed attack relies on misleading his opponent, but Moyu uses a decoy, dust, and Zetsu to reverse the trick.
• Teamwork: Menchi’s attack distracts Baibo and helps Moyu finish the fight, even though she does not know the full plan.
• Preparation and growth: Moyu’s prior training and habitual use of his Shadow Clone turn a dangerous surprise into a decisive victory.
• Moyu reassures Menchi by praising her Nen Ball, while withholding the mechanics of his counter from the dying Baibo.

Key plot points and events

• After Moyu quickly defeats Mantis and Baibo through carefully staged misdirection, Ryan remains the last of the Elimo Thieves Group’s three-man team. Ryan kills the remaining Nen users and turns his anger on Moyu.
• Moyu keeps Shalnark under surveillance through a Shadow Clone, while Shalnark secretly plans to steal the Pure Gold Crown rather than risk joining the fight. He sends a controlled examinee toward it using his Manipulation ability.
• Ryan charges Moyu and Menchi. Menchi’s first attempt at a ranged Nen attack misses, but it helps disrupt Ryan’s pursuit.
• Moyu copies the shape of Baibo’s Twin Fangs, using the shadow slashes not to injure Ryan but to create an opening. He swaps places with one slash and cuts Ryan’s back while Ryan is airborne, then retreats before Ryan can counter.
• Ryan realizes Moyu has concealed more than one kind of ability and becomes wary. Shalnark is unexpectedly exposed when his phone rings: Sheila calls, asking him to help her find her way.
• Moyu notices Shalnark and the surrounding Armor Men and Head-Holding Human Statues, and wants to finish the fight and leave quickly.

Character developments and interactions

• Moyu continues to show that preparation and deception are central to his fighting style. He recognizes that Ryan’s Enhancer durability makes him harder to defeat than the others and chooses practical teamwork over pursuing the greatest possible reward from fighting alone.
• Ryan shifts from rage to caution after seeing Moyu’s shadow-based attack and realizing Moyu’s abilities are more varied than he assumed. Despite taking a wound, he remains an immediate threat.
• Menchi supports Moyu, though her inexperience with ranged Nen attacks makes her first shot ineffective. Her later attack nevertheless helps give Moyu room to retreat.
• Shalnark remains opportunistic, preferring to take the crown without fighting. Sheila’s call unexpectedly reveals his position and interrupts his plan.

Significant themes

• Information and deception: Nen battles can be decided by hidden intentions and false impressions as much as by raw strength.
• Adaptation and strategy: Moyu turns even a weak imitation of an opponent’s technique into a tactical tool.
• Strength and vulnerability: Ryan’s Enhancer resilience makes him difficult to finish, but his straightforward charge leaves him open to clever positioning.
• Teamwork versus self-interest: Moyu accepts Menchi’s assistance to secure victory, while Shalnark seeks the safest personal gain.

Chapter Summary: “Shift in Stance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sheila accidentally exposes Shalnark’s location by calling him. She explains that she is using her Nen ability, Adventurer’s Path, whose stages are “Getting Lost,” “Seeking Help,” and finally “Exit.” Her search for an escape route has led her to contact Shalnark.
• Since his position is already known, Shalnark openly reveals himself to Moyu, Menchi, and Ryan. His appearance alarms Ryan and Menchi, who recognize that his mastery of Zetsu suggests considerable Nen skill.
• Shalnark intends to use an antenna-controlled human puppet to steal the Pure Gold Crown, but Tonpa unexpectedly reaches it first while everyone’s attention is diverted.
• Tonpa grabs both the crown and the sack of gold coins. When Ryan charges at him, Tonpa abandons the sack but desperately keeps the crown.
• Ryan pursues Tonpa, while Shalnark sends his puppet after the crown. Terrified, Tonpa throws the crown away. It lands in the hands of Terebell, who is actually Shalnark’s controlled puppet.
• Ryan attacks Terebell to reclaim the crown. Tonpa narrowly avoids being killed by a stone Ryan kicks at him and escapes into a nearby temple.
• Inside, Tonpa discovers a huge pile of gold coins and immediately becomes intoxicated by greed again. Unbeknownst to him, Mamen is also inside the temple, observing him.
• Mamen’s ability, the Hand of the Paradise of No Return, had temporarily failed when Tonpa was overwhelmed by fear, but the gold quickly rekindles Tonpa’s greed. Mamen watches with detached curiosity rather than attacking him.
• Tonpa finally notices Mamen standing in the eerie temple light and realizes he is not safe.
• Outside, Shalnark and Ryan clash directly over the Pure Gold Crown. Shalnark uses the controlled puppet and the surrounding armored figures and statues to interfere with Ryan.
• Moyu and Menchi stop fighting and observe the conflict. The balance of power has shifted: Shalnark and Ryan are now fighting each other, potentially giving Moyu an advantageous opportunity.

Character Developments

• Shalnark shifts from covert observation to open action after his location is exposed. He remains calm and strategic, quickly adapting his plan when Tonpa interferes.
• Sheila continues pursuing an escape through her unpredictable ability, Adventurer’s Path, demonstrating both its usefulness and inconvenience.
• Tonpa is portrayed as ruled by greed and fear. He repeatedly risks himself for treasure, only to abandon it when faced with mortal danger. His discovery of the gold temporarily restores his greed, but Mamen’s presence leaves him trapped in terror once again.
• Ryan becomes increasingly aggressive and single-minded. He views the crown as compensation for Baibo and Mantis’s deaths and is unwilling to allow anyone else to take it.
• Moyu demonstrates tactical patience. Rather than interfere when Ryan pursues Tonpa, he deliberately lets the conflict unfold, recognizing that the resulting struggle may benefit him.
• Menchi follows Moyu’s signal and withdraws from the fight, showing her willingness to trust his judgment.
• Mamen is characterized as curious and detached. Although his ability feeds on greed, he is not inherently interested in killing and instead studies Tonpa’s rapidly changing emotions.

Significant Themes

• Greed versus fear: Tonpa’s behavior illustrates how greed can override caution, while fear can temporarily suppress even the strongest desire for wealth.
• The instability of power: The crown changes hands repeatedly, and the confrontation constantly rearranges who has the advantage.
• Adaptability and strategy: Shalnark, Moyu, and Ryan each respond differently to unexpected developments, emphasizing the importance of flexibility in the test.
• Human nature as spectacle: Mamen views Tonpa’s emotional swings as evidence of humanity’s strange and fascinating nature.
• Risk and consequence: The characters repeatedly endanger themselves for treasure, revenge, or survival, while the ruin’s creatures and Nen abilities make every decision potentially fatal.
• Shifting alliances and roles: Moyu and Menchi move from active participants to observers, while Shalnark and Ryan become the central combatants. The chapter’s title reflects this sudden change in the battlefield’s balance.

Character Interactions

• Shalnark and Sheila briefly discuss the Hunter License before Sheila abruptly ends the call.
• Shalnark’s appearance places Ryan and Menchi on alert, while Moyu remains composed and observant.
• Tonpa’s theft of the crown draws Ryan and Shalnark into pursuit, indirectly relieving pressure on Moyu and Menchi.
• Ryan treats anyone holding the crown—including Terebell—as an enemy, while Shalnark uses his puppet to oppose him.
• Mamen silently observes Tonpa’s greed and fear, creating a tense contrast between Tonpa’s frantic emotions and Mamen’s calm curiosity.
• By the end of the chapter, Moyu and Menchi watch Shalnark and Ryan fight, with Moyu sensing that the altered situation may present a valuable opening.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shalnark finally intervenes after Tonpa throws the Pure Gold Crown toward the Human Puppet. Although the timing is dangerous, obtaining the crown may provide a way to escape the ruins or seek outside help.
• Shalnark avoids fighting Ryan directly, using the Human Puppet and the surrounding Armor Men and Head-Holding Human Statues to create distance. Ryan, recognizing the danger of Shalnark’s Manipulator abilities, ignores the puppet and focuses on attacking Shalnark.
• Ryan’s powerful attacks repeatedly destroy the nearby Armor Men. However, the creatures reassemble after being destroyed, becoming faster each time. Shalnark and Moyu realize that Ryan’s reckless fighting may eventually cause the Armor Men to evolve into a much greater threat.
• Moyu decides that Ryan must be eliminated before searching for an exit. He orders Menchi to attack both fighters after revealing that Shalnark is a member of the Phantom Troupe, an A-rank criminal organization.
• Menchi repeatedly fires explosive Nen Balls into the battlefield. The blasts hinder both Ryan and Shalnark, while also repeatedly destroying and strengthening the Armor Men.
• One explosion gives Shalnark an opportunity to attempt planting an Antenna in Ryan, but Ryan narrowly blocks it with Ryu. Once Ryan understands that the Antenna is Shalnark’s control condition, he becomes even more careful and prevents Shalnark from getting close.
• During another explosion, Shalnark is blasted backward. Ryan endures the impact and moves in to deliver a potentially devastating punch.
• At the last moment, Moyu uses Shin to conceal his aura and Shadow Shift to appear behind Ryan. He drives his Black Blade into Ryan’s back, seriously wounding him and interrupting his attack.

Character Developments

• Shalnark: Demonstrates patience, tactical awareness, and strong defensive ability. He avoids a direct confrontation with Ryan and relies on evasion, the Human Puppet, and the battlefield environment. Despite being pressured, he remains calm and nearly succeeds in controlling Ryan with an Antenna.
• Ryan: Displays overwhelming offensive power, durability, and determination. He refuses to retreat or be distracted by the surrounding monsters, prioritizing Shalnark above all else. However, his single-minded aggression causes him to overlook the danger of the repeatedly resurrecting Armor Men and leaves him vulnerable to Moyu’s ambush.
• Moyu: Shifts from observer to active strategist. He identifies Ryan as the immediate threat and deliberately uses Shalnark and Menchi to create an opening for a killing strike. His coordination and timing reveal his growing mastery of group combat and assassination tactics.
• Menchi: Follows Moyu’s orders without hesitation after learning Shalnark’s identity. Her Nen Balls become an important source of battlefield disruption, and her increased aura reserves allow her to attack repeatedly.
• Tonpa: Though he does not appear directly in the main confrontation, his earlier decision to throw the crown demonstrates that he, like Shalnark, is acting under an intense fixation on the artifact.

Significant Themes

• Tactical combat over individual strength: Ryan is physically powerful, but Moyu and Shalnark show that coordination, deception, and timing can overcome raw force.
• The danger of obsession: Shalnark and Tonpa behave irrationally because of their fixation on the Pure Gold Crown, suggesting that the artifact or the ruins may exert an unexplained influence.
• Escalating threats: The Armor Men become stronger and faster each time they are destroyed, showing how careless combat can worsen the surrounding danger.
• Information as power: Once Ryan discovers the purpose of Shalnark’s Antenna, Shalnark’s ability becomes less effective. Revealing a Nen ability can significantly reduce its threat.
• Survival and resource management: Moyu avoids unnecessary risks, recognizing that preserving strength and eliminating immediate threats are essential before attempting to escape the ruins.

Character Interactions

• Shalnark vs. Ryan: Their battle centers on contrast—Shalnark relies on evasion and control, while Ryan uses relentless close-range attacks. Ryan attempts to prevent Shalnark from planting an Antenna, while Shalnark uses the battlefield to survive.
• Moyu and Menchi: Moyu directs Menchi’s attacks and uses her explosions to disrupt Ryan and Shalnark. Menchi’s ranged support becomes the foundation for Moyu’s eventual ambush.
• Moyu and Ryan: Their conflict is personal because Moyu killed Ryan’s two companions. Moyu exploits Ryan’s focus on Shalnark to strike him from behind.
• Shalnark and Moyu: Though not allies, their simultaneous presence creates an accidental tactical partnership. Moyu uses Shalnark as bait and Shalnark’s battle with Ryan as a means to secure a decisive opening.
• The fighters and the ruins’ creatures: Ryan’s attacks repeatedly trigger the Armor Men’s resurrection, unintentionally strengthening the monsters and increasing the danger for everyone.

Chapter Summary: “Shalnark’s Ambush”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu kills Ryan, a powerful Enhancer, by stabbing him in the back with a concealed Shadow Clone using Zetsu. Shalnark recognizes that Moyu’s ability allows him to manipulate shadows and exchange positions with them, making Moyu extremely difficult to guard against.
• Shalnark retreats rather than immediately fighting Moyu, concerned about recovering his antenna and securing the Pure Gold Crown. His Human Puppet, operating in Automatic Control Mode, has lost contact after likely being destroyed in the chaos.
• Moyu remains beside Ryan’s corpse, preoccupied because Perception gives him no reward for killing Ryan. He wonders whether this is because Ryan was not sufficiently difficult to defeat, because Moyu has become too strong, or because Perception favors battles involving major “original” characters.
• Menchi gives Moyu a Snow Fruit to restore his aura. She has about thirty percent of her Latent Aura remaining, while Moyu has preserved most of his strength through efficient, carefully planned battles.
• Shalnark locates his Human Puppet, only to find its host dead and impaled on an armored man’s spear. The Pure Gold Crown is caught on the armored man’s helmet.
• Shalnark destroys the armored man, retrieves both the antenna and the crown, and attempts to escape the ruins. However, numerous armored men enhanced by repeated deaths pursue him.
• Forced to fight, Shalnark uses Gyo to identify and destroy the black parasitic threads controlling the enhanced armored men. He gradually eliminates the attackers on a rooftop.
• Moyu secretly places a Shadow Clone inside one of the armored men. After Shalnark destroys the armor’s parasitic threads, the disguised Shadow Clone emerges behind him and lands a powerful punch, severely injuring him and knocking him from the rooftop.
• The Shadow Clone catches the falling Pure Gold Crown.
• At the same time, a powerful magical beast emerges from the temple, drawing Moyu’s attention and preventing him from directly using Shadow Shift to attack Shalnark.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates increasingly sophisticated use of his Shadow ability, including concealed clones, aura suppression, Vision Sharing, and battlefield manipulation. He remains cautious and strategic, preserving his strength rather than fighting recklessly. His thoughts also reveal concern about the future difficulty of gaining rewards from Perception as he grows stronger.
• Shalnark: Shows strong tactical ability by defeating Ryan, retrieving the crown, and dismantling the enhanced armored men. However, his confidence is undermined by Moyu’s unpredictable shadow infiltration, proving that even his heightened awareness cannot fully counter Moyu’s ability.
• Menchi: Although fatigued after supporting Moyu with repeated aura bullets, she remains cooperative and attentive to his condition. Her remaining aura limits her effectiveness in future battles.
• Ryan: Dies abruptly after charging through the battlefield, his strength unable to protect him from Moyu’s ambush.

Significant Themes

• Strategy versus raw strength: Ryan’s physical power is rendered useless by Moyu’s planning and concealed attack, while Shalnark’s superior combat skill is challenged by an even more deceptive tactic.
• The danger of hidden abilities: Both Moyu and the ruins’ parasitic armor rely on concealed mechanisms, emphasizing that perception and vigilance are essential for survival.
• Resource management: Moyu and Menchi carefully monitor their aura, while Shalnark is forced to balance controlling his puppet, fighting Ryan, retrieving the crown, and surviving the ruins.
• Growth and diminishing rewards: Moyu questions whether becoming stronger will make it harder for Perception to reward him, suggesting that his advancement may create new limitations.
• Unstable alliances: Although Moyu and Shalnark do not immediately fight, the Pure Gold Crown gives both sides a reason to betray or attack one another.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Shalnark: Their brief confrontation establishes mutual wariness. Shalnark analyzes Moyu’s ability, while Moyu allows him to retreat before arranging a delayed ambush.
• Moyu and Menchi: Menchi supports Moyu by giving him food and checking in on him. Their interaction highlights their cooperative relationship and contrasting levels of fatigue.
• Moyu and Ryan: Their “interaction” is entirely one-sided: Moyu uses deception to kill Ryan before Ryan can react.
• Shalnark and the armored creatures: Shalnark fights through waves of enhanced armor by targeting the black threads controlling them.
• Moyu and the Shadow Clone: Moyu coordinates remotely through Vision Sharing, using the clone to infiltrate an armored body and ambush Shalnark at the decisive moment.
  The chapter ends with Shalnark injured and separated from the crown, Moyu’s Shadow Clone in possession of it, and a powerful magical beast emerging from the temple to introduce a new threat.

Chapter Summary: “Accumulated Rewards”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu’s earlier strategy against Shalnark is revealed. He concealed a Shadow Clone inside a heavily enhanced Armor Man, erased its aura, and waited for Shalnark to destroy the Armor Man. The exposed shadow then allowed Moyu to use Shadow Shift for a surprise attack.
• Before Moyu can finish exploiting this trap, a powerful unknown aura emerges from the temple. Moyu shields Menchi and temporarily shifts his attention away from Shalnark.
• The source is Mamen, a mysterious winged, hairless being apparently connected to the Magical Beast Tribe. His strength is so overwhelming that Moyu cannot determine its nature or origin.
• Mamen recognizes Moyu as “the key” who opened the ruins and gives him one of his own black, obsidian-like eyes as a token of thanks. He implies that it may help Moyu if he ever returns.
• Mamen explains that the Pipeline that brought Moyu and Menchi to the ruins has a time limit. Once it expires, they will leave automatically, but without a destination coordinate, their teleportation point may be completely random and potentially lethal.
• Mamen flies away, abandoning his original plan to lure more humans into the ruins. He intends instead to enter human society and feed on the greed-generated energy he desires.
• Moyu stores the mysterious eyeball and plans to investigate the ruins rather than simply wait. He sends Menchi to remain outside the temple while he returns to deal with Shalnark.
• Moyu uses Shadow Balls and repeated Shadow Shift tactics to confuse Shalnark. Shalnark attempts to counterattack with his antenna, but it fails against the Shadow Clone.
• Moyu severely cripples Shalnark, cutting off his right hand and part of his left arm, then lands a potentially fatal slash.
• At that exact moment, transport Pipelines suddenly envelop both Moyu and Shalnark. Perception announces several accumulated rewards, including the Exorcism opportunity Moyu desperately needed.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates his greatest strength: meticulous preparation and the ability to maximize his Nen abilities through deception and battlefield control. He remains cautious around Mamen, correctly recognizing the danger of acting rashly. His priorities also become clearer—he is focused on obtaining the Exorcism reward and securing a way out of the ruins.
• Shalnark: His confidence collapses into panic and regret. He realizes too late that he underestimated Moyu and allowed himself to be drawn into a carefully prepared trap. His injuries leave him nearly defeated and helpless.
• Menchi: Shows understandable fear in the presence of Mamen’s overwhelming aura but continues to rely on Moyu’s judgment. She becomes more serious after learning that their eventual escape may send them to a random and dangerous location.
• Mamen: Reveals himself as an intelligent, ancient, and nonhuman existence with knowledge of Moyu’s unusual nature. Although immensely powerful, he is not needlessly violent and appears motivated primarily by survival and the absorption of human greed.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and tactical mastery: Nen’s effectiveness depends less on the basic category of an ability than on how creatively and strategically it is used.
• Hunting and manipulation: Moyu’s battle with Shalnark is framed as a calculated hunt in which the victim is guided step by step into a trap.
• The dangers of knowledge and the unknown: Mamen’s identity, Moyu’s connection to him, the strange eyeball, and the ruins’ history remain unexplained, creating new mysteries.
• Survival and adaptation: Mamen’s parasitic existence and plan to enter human society emphasize the different ways beings endure in a hostile world.
• Accumulated consequences and rewards: Moyu’s actions—including his victories and torment of Tonpa—eventually produce delayed but significant rewards from Perception.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Menchi discuss Mamen’s identity and the threat posed by his aura, with Moyu offering cautious but incomplete explanations.
• Mamen identifies Moyu as the “key” to the ruins, gives him the black eyeball, and warns him about the dangers of leaving through an uncoordinated Pipeline.
• Menchi depends on Moyu to interpret Mamen’s cryptic information.
• Moyu and Shalnark engage in a brutal tactical confrontation, with Moyu repeatedly using Shadow Shift to evade the antenna and strike from unexpected positions.
• The chapter ends with Moyu and Shalnark being transported away together just as Moyu receives the accumulated rewards—and the long-awaited Exorcism opportunity.

Chapter Summary: “He... He Jumped Down!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu is teleported through the mysterious “pipeline” ability to the top of the World Tree, arriving safely inside the enormous bird’s nest where Gon and Ging once met.
• He confirms that Menchi was also teleported safely, though to a wetland park within human territory.
• Perception grants Moyu two rewards:
  • One additional opportunity to exorcise Nen.
  • A black version of Shalnark’s Automatic Mode antenna, which can force a target into unconsciousness and trigger a powerful, short-term aura boost.
• Moyu reflects on Shalnark’s condition after severely injuring him. He assumes Shalnark is probably dead or, at best, permanently crippled.
• After recovering through meditation, Moyu completes his Ten Thousand Sword Swings training and continues practicing until dawn.
• Hunter Association personnel locate him through the tracking function on his candidate badge. A rescue official asks whether he still intends to participate in the Hunter Exam, and Moyu confirms that he does.
• Rather than use the rescue aircraft’s basket, Moyu deliberately jumps from the top of the World Tree.
• He uses Shadow Shift when he is roughly a thousand meters above the ground, switching places with a conjured shadow and landing safely.
• Moyu intentionally allows the shadow to fall and shatter, causing the impact’s pain to transfer to him. This unlocks a “high-altitude fall” achievement.
• Beans receives Moyu at the base and is stunned by his reckless but successful descent. His reaction reminds him of his first encounter with Ging.
• Moyu boards the Hunter Association airship, where he unexpectedly meets Chairman Netero, who has personally come to see him.

Character Developments

• Moyu remains calm, practical, and highly self-controlled, even after being transported across the world and nearly falling from the World Tree. His willingness to jump deliberately demonstrates his confidence in Shadow Shift and his increasingly unconventional approach to training and achievement acquisition.
• His rewards significantly expand his combat options. The Automatic Mode antenna gives him access to a dangerous burst of enhanced aura, though the loss of consciousness remains a serious limitation.
• Moyu continues to prioritize training, meditation, and the pursuit of Nen-related power, showing his relentless discipline.
• Menchi is confirmed safe, reinforcing the cooperative trust between her and Moyu.
• Beans is portrayed as easily overwhelmed by Moyu’s behavior but gradually regains composure while carrying out his duties.
• Netero’s appearance indicates that Moyu’s actions and the unusual teleportation incident have attracted the personal attention of the Hunter Association chairman.

Significant Themes

• Risk and calculated recklessness: Moyu repeatedly places himself in dangerous situations, but his actions are based on confidence in his abilities and careful use of Nen.
• Growth through suffering: The pain from the shadow’s impact is deliberately accepted as part of Moyu’s achievement and training process.
• The unpredictability of Nen: The pipeline’s space-transcending teleportation and the antenna’s aura-overloading function emphasize how varied and extraordinary Nen abilities can be.
• Ambition and relentless self-improvement: Even after surviving the emergency, Moyu immediately returns to training and continues seeking stronger abilities.
• Absurdity and shock: Moyu’s calm behavior contrasts sharply with the panic of the rescuers, creating humor while highlighting how far his mindset has diverged from ordinary people’s expectations.

Character Interactions

• Moyu calls Menchi to verify her safety and arranges a meeting with her.
• He speaks with the black-suited rescue official, confirming both his identity and intention to continue the Hunter Exam. His sudden jump leaves the official horrified and nearly causes the rescue aircraft to crash.
• Beans receives Moyu after the fall and communicates with the rescue official, reassuring him that Moyu is unharmed.
• Moyu’s silent teasing and thoughts about touching Beans’s bald head create a humorous, uneasy dynamic between them.
• The chapter ends with Moyu meeting Netero aboard the airship, setting up a likely discussion about Nen Space and the consequences of the teleportation incident.

Key plot points and events

• After regaining a second chance to use Exorcism, Moyu tells Netero that he can help dispel the Nen Space trapping Hawk. Netero agrees, but asks him to finish the Hunter Exam first so the Association can formally recognize his work.
• Netero asks Moyu to recount the exam accident. Moyu explains what happened in the ruins, including the appearance of a mysterious, two-winged creature. Netero suspects it may be an ancient being from the Dark Continent and considers it a serious potential threat.
• Moyu asks about examinees Tonpa and Shalnark. Tonpa survived after being found trapped by wolves, but withdrew from the exam; Shalnark is presumed dead after rescuers found blood and signs of large beasts.
• Moyu tells Netero that Tonpa encountered the mysterious creature in the temple. The Association sends Mizaistom to question him. Tonpa refuses an offer to rejoin the exam, horrified at the thought of continuing alongside Moyu.
• Two days later, the remaining examinees begin the final phase: one-on-one elimination matches. After three days, Moyu, Menchi, and Bolton pass. Moyu becomes a Professional Hunter.

Character developments and interactions

• Moyu chooses to involve the Association rather than handle the Nen Space alone. He is open with Netero about the incident and remains composed when hearing Shalnark is presumed dead. He also advances from examinee to licensed Hunter.
• Netero trusts Moyu’s Exorcism ability but prioritizes getting him officially licensed before arranging the rescue. He is alarmed by the creature’s possible Dark Continent origin.
• Tonpa is deeply traumatized by his encounter with the creature and by the prospect of facing Moyu again. He firmly rejects Mizaistom’s offer to restore his exam eligibility.
• Mizaistom approaches Tonpa to obtain information, using both official authority and the incentive of reinstating him.
• Menchi reunites with Moyu at the final exam site and passes alongside him and Bolton.

Significant themes

• Cooperation and institutional responsibility: Moyu’s ability could resolve the Nen Space, but the Association coordinates the response and seeks to recognize his contribution.
• The dangers of the unknown: The mysterious creature and the ruins illustrate how ancient remnants—especially those linked to the Dark Continent—can threaten the present.
• Trauma and choice: Tonpa’s withdrawal shows the lasting psychological cost of the accident, while Moyu continues despite the dangers.
• Achievement and recognition: Moyu’s Hunter License marks the formal recognition of the abilities and actions he has already demonstrated.

Key plot points and events

• Moyu, Menchi, and Bolton receive their Hunter Licenses. Bolton thanks Moyu for saving his life in the ruins; Moyu brushes off the gratitude, feeling partly responsible for the incident.
• On the airship to Shivadani City, Menchi recognizes Netero as the “old freeloader” who once ate her food and taught her Nen. She is startled to learn he is the Hunter Association chairman.
• Netero offers a celebratory meal, then claims the ship’s chef is ill. Menchi eagerly volunteers to cook, and Netero is delighted by her enthusiasm and Gourmet Hunter potential. He also invites Moyu to exercise, but Moyu declines to keep up his training.
• Moyu confirms he intends to become a Bounty Hunter, using dangerous criminals as opponents to sharpen his combat skills. Menchi is pursuing the Gourmet Hunter path.
• In Shivadani City, Moyu and Menchi learn how commission work functions. Moyu spots the three Nen users he killed in the ruins listed as members of the A-Rank Elimo Thieves Group, alongside other registered criminal groups such as the Phantom Troupe. He postpones taking commissions because rescuing Hawk is his priority.
• Moyu stays at Cheadle’s home while the Association prepares to resolve Elena’s Nen Space. He assures Cheadle he can handle the Balance himself, while the assembled Nen Exorcists deal with the Nen Space. Cheadle trusts him.
• About a week later, Cheadle takes Moyu and Menchi to the operation. Sambika and Piyon have joined at their own request, while Cheadle will lead the medical team treating Hawk. Kanzai and Fiona are also present.
• The airship reaches the scenic area containing the Nen Space. Eleven Nen Exorcists have assembled, and the operation is about to begin.

Character developments and interactions

• Moyu remains focused and disciplined: he trains daily, declines Netero’s invitation to spar, and prioritizes Hawk’s rescue over career commissions. He takes responsibility for Bolton’s safety and confidently accepts the risk of handling the Balance.
• Menchi is passionate about food and her Gourmet Hunter ambitions. Her rivalry-minded enthusiasm makes her easy for Netero to lure into cooking; she is also visibly pleased by his praise.
• Bolton gains the license he has long pursued and recognizes how fortunate he was to survive thanks to Moyu.
• Netero is playful and manipulative, enjoying Menchi’s bluntness and encouraging her potential. He also shows interest in testing Moyu.
• Cheadle supports Moyu and trusts his assurances, while preparing to treat Hawk. Piyon and Sambika’s decision to join—and Menchi’s move closer to Moyu—hint at personal interest, though their motives are not explained.
• Kanzai’s unexpectedly correct use of an idiom surprises Moyu and prompts teasing confusion from Kanzai and Fiona.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and gratitude: Moyu minimizes Bolton’s thanks but recognizes his own role in the danger.
• Trust and confidence: Cheadle believes Moyu because of who he is, while the Association relies on his abilities.
• Growth through challenge: Moyu sees combat as the fastest way to improve, motivating his choice to become a Bounty Hunter.
• Distinct callings: Menchi and Moyu pursue different Hunter careers, each aligned with their strongest interests.
• Preparation before danger: The chapter shifts from licensing and everyday interactions to the coordinated Nen Space operation, building anticipation for the coming rescue.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Netero arrives with Moyu to lead the effort to remove the Nen Space covering the mountain. Eleven Nen Exorcists have gathered; they will divide the strain of absorbing the Nen that sustains the barrier.
• The Exorcists expect Netero’s promised “safeguard” to be a renowned, retired expert. Instead, Netero identifies Moyu as the person who will handle the more dangerous post-mortem Nen inside the Nen Space.
• Ella, Aldin, and Youyan—who previously saw Moyu struggle with Exorcism during the Swamp Man Incident—are especially startled. Netero’s confidence nevertheless persuades the group to trust his judgment.
• Moyu, focused on rescuing the dying Hawk, waits with Netero, Cheadle’s team, and several friends who have volunteered to help. The Exorcists take positions around the barrier, and Netero gives the signal to begin.
• As the Exorcists absorb the Nen sustaining the space, the starry barrier develops gaps and begins to collapse. The fearsome post-mortem Nen within spills through, overwhelming the Exorcists with pressure and doubt about whether Moyu can handle it.
• Moyu notices the Rat Treasure Bead losing its glow and throws a Shadow Ball into the barrier. Inside, the effects of Time Stasis fade: nature starts moving again, and the trapped people experience the apparent sudden return of time.
• Hawk sees the Nen Space vanish and fears for Moyu and Cheadle, while the Qinglin Squad members Sivir and Ken are confused by the abrupt change. Ken attacks the helpless Hawk with a Nen-infused pebble.
• Moyu suddenly appears through Shadow Shift and destroys the pebble before it hits Hawk. Ken and Sivir recognize him—and are alarmed by how much his Nen and appearance have changed.

Character developments and interactions

• Moyu is treated as an Exorcist of exceptional ability on Netero’s authority, though the others have not yet seen what he can do. His urgency to reach Hawk drives his actions.
• Netero lends Moyu credibility by entrusting him with the greatest danger rather than explaining the choice outright. His endorsement changes the Exorcists’ attitude toward the young Hunter.
• Ella, Aldin, and Youyan move from skepticism, based on their earlier experience with Moyu, to serious attention because they trust Netero.
• Moyu’s allies—including Menchi, Piyon, Kanzai, Fiona, and Sambika—support him voluntarily, while Cheadle silently anticipates Hawk’s reaction to Moyu’s growth.
• Hawk is near death and powerless, but remains concerned for Moyu, Cheadle, and the danger posed by the released Nen.
• Ken and Sivir shift from confusion to unease when Moyu intervenes. Their questions about his transformation hint that he has changed dramatically since they last saw him.

Significant themes

• Trust and reputation: Netero’s judgment earns Moyu the Exorcists’ respect before he demonstrates his ability.
• The cost of confronting dangerous power: The Exorcists can handle the barrier’s Nen, but the more hostile post-mortem Nen threatens to overwhelm them.
• Time, change, and return: As the Nen Space collapses and Time Stasis ends, the trapped world resumes motion—while Moyu’s changed appearance makes clear that he, too, has undergone a major transformation.
• Loyalty and urgency: Moyu’s friends volunteer their help, and his immediate priority remains reaching Hawk in time.

Key plot points and events

• Moyu returns from the Nen Space after what seemed like only a second or two to Ken and Sivir. In reality, an unknown amount of time has passed, and he has transformed from a novice into a highly skilled Nen user.
• Hawk realizes that he succeeded in sending Moyu and Cheadle out before Elena’s Nen Space froze time. Relieved to see Moyu grown, he believes he can now die without worry; as time resumes, his failing body begins to give out.
• Moyu attacks Ken and Sivir with his developed shadow abilities. He uses a Shadow Ball, a shadow decoy, and Shadow Shift to exploit Ken’s missed attack and strike him down with a Black Blade.
• Sivir recognizes the pattern behind Moyu’s tactics and uses her Enhancer strength and “War Rhythm” ability to overwhelm him. Moyu’s Shadow Clone cannot keep up, and Sivir appears to have the advantage.
• Moyu reveals a further trick: he can control two shadows. Using a Floating Shadow Orb to misdirect Sivir, he teleports behind her and stabs her through the chest. The chapter ends with Sivir realizing too late that she, too, has been outmaneuvered.

Character developments and interactions

• Moyu has changed from an inexperienced boy into a composed, inventive fighter. He uses feints and careful timing rather than relying on strength, and his confidence reflects his new mastery of Nen.
• Hawk is relieved and proud to see Moyu alive and grown, while accepting that his own death is near.
• Ken is bewildered by Moyu’s sudden power and dies before understanding his ability.
• Sivir quickly studies Moyu’s tactics and adapts, but her anger-driven strength cannot overcome his misdirection.
• Netero deliberately lets Moyu take the fight, viewing combat as an opportunity for the young Hunter to grow.
• The battle highlights the contrast between Sivir’s direct, overwhelming force and Moyu’s strategic use of shadows.

Significant themes

• Time and transformation: Moyu’s dramatic growth occurs during an interval that barely registers for those outside the Nen Space.
• Adaptation and mastery: Moyu’s victory depends on reading opponents, controlling what they perceive, and turning their reactions against them.
• Growth through combat: Netero sees battle as essential to Moyu’s development.
• Uncertainty and consequence: Ken and Sivir’s repeated questions—how Moyu changed, and why—underscore the frightening gulf between what they know and what has happened.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu rapidly defeats the remaining Qinglin Squad officers, Ken and Sivir, by using Shadow Shift repeatedly and revealing several powerful Nen abilities without wasting time on the usual probing phase.
• He fatally wounds Sivir with his Black Blade. Before dying, she insists that her companions will avenge her, but Moyu tells her that the Qinglin Squad has already become history.
• Hawk, severely injured and barely alive, witnesses Moyu’s overwhelming growth. Moyu reveals that only a year and a half has passed since they last met.
• Moyu gives Hawk the Rat Treasure Bead and performs basic first aid until Cheadle’s medical team arrives.
• Kanzai and the others reach the battlefield shortly afterward and are stunned that Moyu defeated two formidable Nen users in only a few minutes—actually less than half a minute.
• Cheadle prioritizes treating Hawk but warns Moyu to be careful. Netero and the other Hunters then arrive and observe the corpses and the enormous damage caused by the battle.
• Moyu identifies the source of the spreading Post-Mortem Nen as the Balance atop the mountaintop temple. Because the Nen could cause widespread casualties, he immediately heads toward the temple.
• Inside the temple, the Nen Exorcist Arieser is suffering terribly while attempting to absorb and digest the Balance’s powerful Dead Nen. His ability, “Appetite of the Anorexic,” is overwhelmed by the growth-type Post-Mortem Nen, leaving him convinced that he is near death.
• Arieser desperately hopes Moyu will come and save him. Moyu arrives, tells him to hold on, and leaps directly onto the floating Balance.
• Upon touching it, Moyu sees strange writing meaning “sin and punishment, merit and reward” and receives a choice related to performing Exorcism.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates a dramatic increase in strength and maturity after disappearing for a year and a half. His battle strategy has become highly efficient and disciplined: he uses his abilities decisively, understands opponents quickly, and wastes no time testing them. However, the fight and rapid travel leave his Latent Aura severely depleted.
• Sivir: Remains defiant until death, still trusting in the Qinglin Squad’s vengeance. Moyu’s pity and declaration that the squad is finished emphasize the complete collapse of her cause.
• Hawk: Is shocked by Moyu’s transformation and recognizes his extraordinary talent. Though unable to speak, he remains conscious long enough to see Moyu rescue him and entrust him with the Rat Treasure Bead.
• Kanzai: Is astonished and unsettled by Moyu’s power. His curiosity about Moyu’s training conflicts with his desire to stay away from him, especially to avoid being mocked or called “Zai Kang.”
• Cheadle: Understands how dangerous Ken and Sivir were and is deeply surprised by how quickly Moyu defeated them. Her concern shifts immediately to Hawk’s survival.
• Arieser: Reaches the limit of his Exorcism ability and loses hope, but his faith in Moyu becomes his only emotional support. His relief upon Moyu’s arrival shows how completely he now depends on Moyu for survival.

Significant Themes

• Growth through hidden effort: Moyu’s year-and-a-half absence is revealed to have produced extraordinary development, suggesting intense training and personal transformation.
• Preparation and mastery: The contrast between Moyu and his opponents highlights the importance of understanding Nen systems and having a mature ability framework rather than relying only on raw strength.
• Time and urgency: The chapter repeatedly emphasizes speed—Moyu must end the battle quickly, reach the temple, and stop the Dead Nen before it causes mass casualties.
• Hope in desperation: Arieser’s suffering and prayer create a stark contrast with Moyu’s arrival, presenting him as a last-minute savior amid overwhelming despair.
• The danger of Post-Mortem Nen: The Balance’s aura is portrayed as powerful, ominous, and capable of affecting both Nen users and ordinary people, making it a threat beyond the immediate battlefield.
• Judgment and consequence: The Balance’s inscription, “sin and punishment, merit and reward,” introduces the theme of moral judgment and hints that Moyu’s next challenge may involve more than simply destroying the Nen.

Character Interactions

• Moyu kills Sivir after she threatens him with revenge from her companions, responding coldly that the Qinglin Squad is already finished.
• He teases the gravely wounded Hawk about looking as though he is about to die, using humor to ease the tension while quietly treating his injuries.
• Cheadle and Moyu exchange a brief but meaningful warning: she tells him to be careful before rushing to save Hawk.
• Kanzai reacts internally to Moyu’s sudden strength, combining admiration, frustration, and anxiety over their past dynamic.
• Arieser views Moyu’s arrival as the answer to his desperate prayer. Moyu offers him brief reassurance before confronting the Balance directly.
• The chapter ends with Moyu touching the Balance and being presented with an apparent choice to perform Exorcism, setting up the next conflict.

Chapter Summary: “I Have Never Envied Anyone”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Balance releases an enormous mass of Black Nen, or Dead Nen, toward Moyu. Its aura rapidly withers anything it touches, as it previously did to Hawk.
• Moyu immediately uses one of his limited Exorcism opportunities by touching Balance with his right hand.
• His Exorcism ability creates a powerful suction force that absorbs the surrounding Dead Nen into his body. His shriveled arm quickly returns to normal.
• Balance resists the absorption violently, causing the aura over the entire scenic area to twist and surge. The Nen Exorcists processing the Dead Nen elsewhere are alarmed, believing Moyu is recklessly attempting to absorb all of it at once.
• Despite their concerns, Moyu steadily suppresses Balance. In less than a minute, the Black Nen disappears completely, and the ominous aura covering the area vanishes.
• Arieser’s Dead Nen is also removed. Moyu successfully exorcises Balance without needing to use his second Exorcism chance.

Character Developments

• Moyu demonstrates an extraordinary level of power and control. His unique Exorcism method allows him to absorb a massive amount of Post-Mortem Nen almost instantly, astonishing even experienced Nen Exorcists.
• Moyu remains calm and practical throughout the process. He briefly considers using his second Exorcism chance but is relieved when the first attempt succeeds.
• Arieser, who had suffered terribly from the Dead Nen, is overwhelmed with disbelief and admiration after witnessing Moyu’s ability. He realizes that Moyu has reached a level he could never attain himself.
• Arieser experiences envy for the first time. Although he has always believed he excelled in his own field, Moyu’s ability makes him recognize the difference between ordinary talent and an almost unreachable realm of mastery.
• The other Nen Exorcists shift from confidence in their own expertise to shock and uncertainty, as Moyu accomplishes something they considered impossible.

Significant Themes

• Exceptional talent and unattainable mastery: Moyu’s ability is portrayed as so powerful that even highly skilled Exorcists cannot comprehend or imitate it.
• Envy and self-awareness: Arieser’s realization that he envies Moyu marks an important emotional development. His envy comes not from hostility, but from longing to reach the same level.
• Risk and courage: Moyu undertakes an extremely dangerous exorcism despite the possibility of physical and mental backlash.
• Appearance versus reality: Although Moyu repeatedly insists that he is not a Nen Exorcist, his actions are so extraordinary that everyone else naturally interprets him as one.

Character Interactions

• Moyu and Balance engage in a direct struggle, with Moyu’s Exorcism ability gradually overpowering Balance’s violent resistance.
• The distant Nen Exorcists debate and worry over Moyu’s reckless method, believing he may be endangering himself and preparing to deal with the consequences.
• Arieser watches Moyu’s success from close range and compares it to his own earlier assumptions about equivalent exchange. He finally understands that Moyu’s power lies beyond the limits he once believed absolute.
• After Moyu lands, Arieser confronts him and asks him to stop denying that he is a Nen Exorcist. Moyu sincerely repeats that he is not one, leaving Arieser—and the situation—comically unresolved.

Plot points and events

• Moyu removes the immense post-mortem Nen from the bronze Balance. The object loses its supernatural power but remains as an ordinary physical object—an unexpected result that suggests the long-dead Nen user’s ability may have created matter.
• Moyu wonders whether exorcising Nen artifacts always destroys their abilities or leaves them inert, and decides the Balance might still be valuable as an antique.
• He calls Piyon to report the exorcism. She bombards him with questions, so he hangs up and calls Menchi instead. Menchi confirms that Hawk is out of immediate danger.
• Piyon, furious that Moyu disconnected, punches Kanzai because he is nearby. Their argument escalates into a comic scuffle, with Piyon wrecking Kanzai’s hair.
• The Nen Exorcists who helped absorb and sublimate the Nen arrive to ask about Moyu. Netero assures them that the exorcism succeeded and Moyu is safe; impressed, they resolve to make his acquaintance.

Character developments and interactions

• Moyu remains modest about his extraordinary exorcism ability, while Arieser—who deeply admires that ability—behaves deferentially toward him.
• Menchi worries that removing so much post-mortem Nen might have harmed Moyu. He reassures her, concealing that the exorcism was performed by Perception rather than directly by him.
• Piyon’s concern for Moyu comes out as anger when he hangs up on her; she takes her frustration out on Kanzai, who protests and trades insults with her.
• The other Exorcists’ awe of Moyu grows, and they begin referring to him as “that gentleman.”

Significant themes

• Power and respect: The Exorcists judge Moyu by his remarkable ability and respond with admiration.
• The limits and costs of exorcism: Removing dangerous post-mortem Nen can neutralize an artifact, but may also erase the ability that made it useful.
• Comedy amid danger: After the crisis is resolved, the chapter shifts to lighthearted interpersonal bickering and relief.

Key plot points and events

• After Moyu removes the Balance’s powerful Post-Mortem Nen, the Hunter Association’s Nen Exorcists are stunned. They prioritize getting to know him, seeing his skill as an invaluable professional connection.
• With Hawk safe, Moyu feels the burden of responsibility finally lift and reflects on the difficult year that brought him to this point.
• He checks the rewards from the incident: When the Stars Shine on Humanity rises to 135%, his Affinity reaches level two, and he gains a Godspeed Ability Keystone.
• Moyu considers using the keystone to expand the ability system of Black Blade rather than adding another branch to Soul Echo. He also thinks about developing Kyoka Suigetsu, but resolves not to rush ahead.
• Arieser asks to exchange contact information, which Moyu readily agrees to. Arieser returns the commission deposit to Cheadle, believing he failed his assignment.
• Arieser asks whether Moyu can handle the Balance’s Post-Mortem Nen. Moyu claims it will take a long time to digest and says the process will restrict him, hoping to discourage future requests for exorcism.
• Eager to help and build goodwill, Arieser offers to take some of the Nen. Moyu summons a dark fragment with a “decay” property; its ominous aura terrifies Arieser, who panics and tumbles down the hillside. His cry alarms the people waiting nearby.

Character developments

• Moyu gains confidence and relief after fulfilling his responsibility to save Hawk. He also shows growing strategic restraint, recognizing that new abilities must fit within the limits of Nen vows and conditions.
• Arieser shifts from his former professional arrogance to deep humility and admiration for Moyu. His offer to share the burden shows both genuine concern and a desire to earn Moyu’s favor.
• The other Nen Exorcists now view Moyu as a potentially indispensable colleague, though they remain curious about the cost and consequences of his technique.

Significant themes

• Competence and professional solidarity: Exceptional ability outweighs payment or prestige when colleagues’ lives and reputations are at stake.
• Responsibility and release: Moyu’s relief reflects the emotional weight of the effort he made to protect Hawk.
• Power, reputation, and misunderstanding: Moyu’s remarkable feat changes how others see him, while his claims that he is “not a Nen Exorcist” only deepen their confusion.
• Restraint in ambition: Moyu considers new powers but reminds himself that Nen’s vows and restrictions prevent limitless freedom.

Character interactions

• Moyu accepts Arieser’s contact request and offers to pay him, while Arieser refuses and returns the deposit.
• Arieser seeks reassurance about the removed Nen and offers to share its burden; Moyu accepts, then reveals its terrifying aura.
• The other exorcists and the Hunter Association members remain outside, watching and waiting—until Arieser’s sudden scream makes them suspect danger.

Chapter Summary: “Fame Is Imminent”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moyu and Arieser descend the mountain after Moyu successfully handles the dangerous Balance Dead Nen. Arieser admits that he cannot safely help with the Nen’s sublimation.
• Moyu explains that nearly two years passed inside the Nen Space, shocking Arieser and clarifying how Moyu was able to use his Exorcism ability twice in what seemed like a short period.
• They reunite with the Hunter Association members and hired Nen Exorcists. Hawk has stabilized and is being transferred to a hospital, while Cheadle and Netero are absent.
• Hawk leaves Moyu a brief message: “Watch the house and wait for me to come back.” Moyu decides to remain at the temple temporarily.
• The Nen Exorcists surround Moyu to ask about his Exorcism ability and the Post-Mortem Nen. Moyu avoids them by having Arieser answer their questions and manage his contact information.
• Arieser’s unexpected return reveals that he had also been trapped in the Nen Space, causing surprise among the Exorcists.
• Moyu reconciles with the irritated Piyon by offering to spend time gaming with her. What begins as an offer of seven days becomes ten days after Piyon pushes her luck.
• Moyu invites Piyon, Kanzai, Fiona, Sambika, Menchi, and others to stay at his temple. The Nen Exorcists leave after receiving information about the Balance Dead Nen and Moyu’s contact details.
• Menchi prepares an excellent banquet, and the group spends the evening relaxing together. Fiona leaves, while Kanzai, Piyon, Sambika, and the others remain overnight.
• Cheadle messages Moyu to confirm that Hawk is safe and sends a photo of Rat Treasure, who appears healthy.
• Moyu sends Light a photo of his Hunter License, belatedly informing him that he has passed the Hunter Exam and become a professional Bounty Hunter.
• As snow begins to fall, Moyu plans to watch the temple, complete ten thousand sword swings, and possibly train with Kanzai. Piyon, however, urges him to return to the room so they can begin their promised gaming session.

Character Developments

• Moyu: Demonstrates increased confidence and control over his Exorcism ability. He is calmer, more relaxed, and willing to enjoy leisure time instead of focusing exclusively on training. He also officially becomes a professional Bounty Hunter.
• Arieser: Shows concern for Moyu but recognizes the danger of the Balance Dead Nen and abandons his plan to share the burden. He willingly acts as Moyu’s representative when dealing with the Nen Exorcists.
• Piyon: Moves rapidly from anger to excitement once Moyu offers her more gaming time. Her playful manipulation and strong internet-game addiction remain central to her behavior.
• Sambika: Quietly notices that Moyu seems more relaxed than before, suggesting her growing attentiveness to his emotional state.
• Fiona: Reflects on Moyu’s remarkable growth and believes his fame is now inevitable because of his strength and powerful Exorcism ability.
• Kanzai: Remains embarrassed and annoyed after Piyon ruins his hairstyle, but decides to stay at the temple because of Menchi’s cooking. He also becomes wary when Moyu appears interested in sparring with him.
• Hawk: Though absent, his stabilized condition reassures the group. His cryptic request that Moyu “watch the house” leaves Moyu feeling mildly helpless but accepting of the temporary responsibility.
• Menchi: Provides hospitality and strengthens the group’s relaxed atmosphere through her cooking.

Significant Themes

• Moyu’s rising fame: His rare and powerful Exorcism ability attracts Nen Exorcists from across the community, making it clear that his reputation will soon expand.
• Recovery and relaxation: After the intense Nen Space crisis, the characters enjoy a peaceful interlude at the temple. Moyu’s willingness to socialize and rest reflects a shift in his priorities.
• The burden of power: Arieser’s inability to share the sublimation process emphasizes the danger and responsibility associated with Moyu’s abilities.
• Time and growth: The revelation that nearly two years passed inside the Nen Space explains Moyu’s rapid development and highlights how extraordinary his progress has been.
• Friendship and interpersonal bonds: The reconciliation with Piyon, the group’s shared meal, and their overnight gathering show the characters forming a comfortable, family-like community.
• Future preparation: Moyu’s plans for sword training and sparring with Kanzai indicate that the peaceful period will also serve as preparation for future challenges.

Character Interactions

• Moyu reassures Arieser after the Exorcism, while Arieser’s concern reveals his respect for Moyu’s strength.
• Moyu uses Arieser to deflect the eager Nen Exorcists, creating a humorous but practical exchange in which Arieser becomes his spokesperson.
• Moyu and Piyon engage in a playful negotiation over gaming time, turning her resentment into excitement.
• Moyu notices Kanzai’s ruined hairstyle but chooses not to question him, while Kanzai remains embarrassed and guarded.
• Menchi follows Moyu into the kitchen to help prepare tea and later cooks for the group, winning Kanzai over with her food.
• Sambika quietly observes Moyu’s changed demeanor, while Fiona notices Sambika’s interest in him but chooses not to comment.
• Moyu’s exchanged messages with Cheadle and Light mark both Hawk’s recovery and Moyu’s new status as a professional Bounty Hunter.
• The chapter ends with Piyon impatiently trying to pull Moyu away from the group, contrasting her eagerness for games with Moyu’s thoughts about training Kanzai.

Chapter Summary: “Taking a Day Off to Plan the Next Part”

Plot and events

The narrator takes a day off after suffering from prolonged indigestion, fatigue, nausea, and suspected inflammation. Although they had delayed seeking medical attention for a month, they decide to rest and use the time to plan the next major story arc. This upcoming section is described as a crucial bridge between the novel’s original storyline and the original Hunter plotline, so the narrator wants to develop it carefully. They also reflect on recent chapters by Mr. Togashi, which explore the Phantom Troupe’s childhood and origins. The narrator postpones the next update, joking that no make-up chapter should be required, though three updates are promised for the following day.

Character development

The narrator shows self-awareness about their declining health and the need to pause rather than continue working. They also demonstrate growing concern and responsibility toward the novel’s future direction, recognizing the importance of planning the next arc properly. Their interpretation of the Phantom Troupe becomes more nuanced as they consider the characters’ backgrounds and motivations rather than judging them simply as villains.

Character interactions

There are no direct interactions between characters in the chapter. The narrator engages indirectly with Mr. Togashi’s work and its depiction of the Phantom Troupe, while also addressing readers through apologies and the announcement of the delayed update.

Significant themes

• Health and self-care: The narrator acknowledges the consequences of neglecting their physical condition.
• Planning and creative responsibility: The next arc’s importance demands careful preparation.
• Moral complexity: The Phantom Troupe’s origins challenge simplistic ideas of “whitewashing” and suggest that characters’ actions should be understood through their histories and circumstances.
• Flexible morality: The narrator notes that in the Hunter world, even assassination can be legally accepted, making rigid distinctions between good and evil difficult.