The entrance to the Forbidden Land was just ahead.
Gon walked at the very front, kicking pebbles along the road and humming an unknown tune. His right hand was wrapped in bandages—the burns he had suffered while fighting the Lava Giant Lizard. They had almost healed, but Leib insisted he keep the bandages on, saying, "Otherwise, you'll be scarred."
Killua glided around on a skateboard fitted with the Wind Gallop Beast's eyeballs, occasionally pulling an Ollie and kicking loose stones off the roadside. White arcs of electricity sometimes jumped between his fingertips, as if he were playing with a lighter.
Leorio walked in the middle, rubbing his shoulder as he went and muttering, "I'm never charging ahead again... My shoulder still hurts..."
Kurapika walked beside him, holding the Void Core in his hands and studying it carefully. A thoughtful light flickered in his Scarlet Eyes, and every so often, he ran a finger over the core's surface, sensing the information sealed within.
Leib walked at the rear, his backpack stuffed to bursting with ingredients brought back from the Forbidden Land. As he walked, he mumbled, "Shadow Leopard meat is suitable for sashimi... Lava Giant Lizard heart is good for stew... Poison Mist Toad meat can be made into meatballs... Crystal Beetle shells can be ground into seasoning..."
Genos flew through the air, his optical lenses scanning the surrounding environment and recording data.
Saitama walked at the very front of the group, yawning and looking as if he had not yet woken up.
"How much longer...?" he asked. "I'm hungry."
"Almost there, almost there!" Gon shouted over his shoulder. "We'll reach the town in another half hour!"
"Half an hour..." Saitama sighed. "That's so slow."
Just then—
A rustling sound came from the grass.
Then, three Level 115 Black-Scaled Beasts sprang