This article contains spoilers for the Hunter x Hunter manga.
Key takeaways
- Halkenburg's Nen ability involves a forced mind swap that can potentially affect others.
- Halkenburg's death leads to a plan to take over his brother's body, which lasts 10 hours after his own demise.
- The Phantom Troupe members return, setting the stage for potential conflicts with the Mafia families.
Hunter x Hunter's the story has been pretty intense in this current part of the Succession War arc. Although this arc has been playing out for quite a few years now, the last few chapters have been some of the most intense, with huge and shocking revelations.
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Hunter x Hunter: The Next Prince To Die In The Succession War, Explained
As the succession war heats up, the death of one of the Kakin princes is almost inevitable in HxH.
IN HxH 404, Halkenburg's unwavering determination is placed in the spotlight, while fans also get to see the mob storyline heat up again, making things more exciting than ever before.
Zhang Lei's Nen Spirit Beast Ability Revealed
Has a pseudo-coercive manipulative ability
IN HxH 403, the Third Prince of the Kakin Empire, Zhang Lei, had decided that he wanted to visit Kurapika in hopes of understanding the power of his Spirit Nen Beast. Zhang Lei had his own theories about the coins his beasts drop, but he believed that someone with experience like Kurapika will be able to figure out what they are doing.
HxH 404 started with Kurapika and Zhang Lei observing the coins. Kurapika theorized that whenever the coin changes hands, something probably changes. It was shown that the coins Zhang Lei had given away and the ones he had kept each had different designs on the back.
Zhang Lei then proceeded to give Kurapika a ten coin – something that could have been dangerous to do if the effects of those coins were immediate. However, due to Zhang Lei's status, it would have been unacceptable for Kurapika to refuse, and would have put their alliance in jeopardy. Regardless, the ten coin changed the other Kurapika that contained it.
This led Kurapika to deduce what he believes the power of this Nen beast to be. Kurapika describes this ability as Cumulative Conjuration. During a period of 6 months, the coins will be worth 10^64, and then the owner of the coin will be able to unlock them without any training.
The problem is how the role is cut! The role that held this balance for so long may seem fragile, but is actually strong… — Kurapika
However, there is one more thing about this ability that Kurapika does not make public. He realizes that this ability also has a pseudo-coercive manipulation power. Whoever has it will somehow be forced to become loyal to Zhang Lei, although it is unclear as of yet how that would work.
Kurapika realizes that Coventoba, one of Benjamin's bodyguards, had stolen one of these coins a while ago. If the pseudo-coercive manipulation of this Nen Beast kicks in, Coventoba will be one of the first to feel the effects. And now that Kurapika has obtained one of these coins, he too may be in danger, potentially falling under Zhang Lei's influence.
Beyond that, though, it's clear that Zhang Lei looks down on Kurapika, and will only stay on their side as long as it benefits them. With the current situation, Kurapika has the option of keeping Prince Woble in Zhang Lei's room to protect her, though Kurapika is unsure if that would be a good thing since Zhang Lei is a mafia benefactor – someone he believes Benjamin can get behind to be able to use martial law . On the other hand though, room 1014 isn't the safest, especially with the Silent Majority coming over.
It's also important to note that Prince Camilla, the second-eldest prince of Kakin, has plans to send one of his bodyguards to Kurapika's next Nen workshop, which could mean some trouble. Kurapika thinks she wants to cover up or cover up some of her dirty secrets that she believes Kurapika is in possession of.
Prince Benjamin's death is imminent
Halkenburg's body died, but his consciousness lives on in Might
After a long time, fans of HxH could see a beloved main character that hadn't been seen in a while – Leorio. Although he was only for one panel, he was seen taking Prince Halkenburg to the emergency room due to his deteriorating condition.
This chapter of HxH further explains Halkenburg's ability, giving fans a better idea of how The Boy Who Shoots The Arrow: Grimmel The Dissonance works.
While experimenting with Sumidori and Shikaku, Halkenburg was able to get a better idea of how this ability works. It is revealed that this Nen ability is basically a forced mind switch, where only one mind can be awake at a time. Specifically, when Halkenburg shoots a target with his ability, a random person from his group, including himself, is chosen to switch bodies. It's completely random as well, and the fact that Halkenburg was able to trade with Might is pure luck.
Halkenburg reveals that if the body the target was swapped into dies, the consciousness will return to its original body and coexist with the other consciousness.
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Hunter x Hunter 405: What to expect from the chapter
The tensions of the succession war will heat up in HxH 405. Halkenburg will be a central character.
Halkenburg's body dies in this chapter rather gruesomely, of cardiac arrest. This brings his plan to fruition, where he will be able to take control of Balsamilco's body for about 10 hours before the latter takes over. During these 10 hours, he must eliminate or take over the body of his older brother Benjamin.
The time I have until Balsamilco's mind is resurrected can only dissolve, but I will be able to control this body for about ten hours after the death of my own body. I have to finish this in that time! — Halkenburg
It is also important to note that Halkenburg reveals that the succession war needs both body and soul to be dead in order to figure someone out.
Anyway, Benjamin fully believes that Halkenburg is dead and that Balsamilco's mission is complete. It is revealed that the body of Halkenburg will be transferred from level 3, all the way to the morgue in level 1, and that Balsamilco, who is actually Halkenburg, will accompany it there.
The Return of the Phantom Troupe in Hunter X Hunter Chapter 404
Nobunaga, Phinks and Feitan are back in the story
The Phantom Squad has finally been seen again after a while. Specifically, in the last panel, Nobunaga, Phinks, and Feitan were finally back in the story. Technically they've only been absent from the story for a few chapters, but that chapter came out over 2 years ago.
The final panel is a flashback to their last appearance, showing that all the events up until now had happened during or before the failed raid on the Heil-Ly hideout with Hinrigh, where they hid a transmitter. From the looks of it, Nobunaga may call the other members of the Phantom Squad first before attacking Heil-Ly. These few members of the Phantom Troupe could meet the other two mafia families, making things even more exciting for the future.
Hunter x Hunter is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus app. The release date for the next chapter of Hunter x Hunter, Hunter x Hunter Chapter 405, is set for November 3, 2024.