First Encounter at the Underground River: A Hasty Hunt Goes Wrong

The fire crackled.

Snake meat sizzled over the flames, its aroma drifting far into the distance.

The six sat around a rock, each holding a piece of roasted snake meat.

Gon took a huge bite, and his eyes lit up.

"Wow!" he said through a mouthful. "It's so good!"

"And... my whole body feels warm."

Killua took a bite too and raised an eyebrow.

"Meat from a Level 11 Fierce Beast. No wonder it packs a punch."

He could clearly feel warm energy spreading from his stomach through his entire body.

The strength he had spent fighting the Demon Giant Serpent was rapidly returning.

Kurapika ate slowly.

His internal injuries were serious, but after a few pieces of snake meat, the turmoil inside him gradually settled.

His Nen was steadily recovering too.

Leorio ate with the most enthusiasm.

He had been close to collapsing from exhaustion. A few pieces of snake meat later, he felt much more energetic.

"This is incredible..." he marveled. "I eat some meat, and my injuries are practically healed?"

Genos recorded data nearby.

"Analysis complete," he said. "The energy concentration of Demon Giant Serpent meat is approximately seventy percent that of the Rainbow Sacred Fruit."

"It has a significant effect on physical recovery and Nen replenishment."

Saitama sat nearby, already on his third piece.

"Mm." He nodded. "Not bad."

"A little tough, though."

A dozen or so minutes later.

The fire gradually died down.

The six had eaten their fill.

Every one of them was back in peak condition.

Gon flexed his wrist. The muscle he had strained no longer hurt at all.

He even felt stronger than before.

"I feel... a little stronger again." He clenched his fist, his eyes bright.

Killua flexed his fingers too.

The electricity around him was more concentrated than before.