( Chorus vocalizing )
Gon: A grassy plain stretching as far as the eye can see.
( Gasps )
I’m being watched...
But from where?
♪
( Singing in Japanese )
♪
I’ve gotta wait here for killua.
( Chorus singing in foreign language )
Player: Hey, sorry to make you wait.
Player #2: Do you feel that?
Feels like somebody’s watching us.
Player #1: Yeah, and the gaze is definitely human.
Gon: So i’m not the only one.
Player #1: Whoever it is can’t be too good
if we can sense them from here, so there’s that.
Just ignore it.
Killua: We’re being watched.
- Gon: Killua! - Killua: What’s up?
I don’t see any towns around here. Do you?
Gon: I don’t, but everyone is heading the same way.
Killua: Hmm. There or there?
Gon: Wait. How did you know that?
Killua: Because that’s where whoever it is is watching from.
Unfortunately we have no idea what they’re watching us for.
Gon: Good point.
Killua: Well, whoever it is,
we need to start gathering information. Come on.
- So how did it go? - Gon: Hmm?
Killua: Your save data, of course.
Book.
How many cards were inside of it?
Gon: Uh, there weren’t any.
Killua: What? Really?
Gon: But there was a message from ging.
Killua: What’d he say?
Gon: He told me to enjoy the game.
Killua: "Enjoy the game"? Is that it?
The thing is, this just doesn’t really feel like a game to me.
And book.
Gon: What do you think about all those rules
that the girl explained to us?
Killua: Hmm. Don’t know enough yet.
I suppose we’ll see.
( Whooshing )
♪
What was that?
Gon: Was it nen ability?
Player: Let me guess.
This is your first time playing, huh?
Killua: Eh, who knows?
You must be a player. You’ve got a book.
Player: You think?
Hmm.
Can’t fool me. I know a newbie when I see one.
( Thinking ) I can use the peek card.
Killua: What the hell is he doing?
Player: Huh.
So you two are killua and gon, huh?
( Both gasp )
Gon: How do you know our names?
Player: That is an excellent question.
( Chuckles )
( Thinking ) If you don’t know about spell cards,
you don’t stand a chance.
There. That settles it.
They’re a couple of noobs who just got here,
and they’re only kids.
This one’s too good to waste on them.
Trace should do it.
Trace on!
- Attack killua! - ( Both gasp )
( Player laughs )
You can’t run away from the spells in this game, kid!
( Killua groans )
Gon: Killua, you okay?
( Player chuckles )
So it worked.
Killua: What was that?
Player: This kid is dangerous!
Return on!
Masadora!
( Killua scoffs )
- Shalnark: Shizuku. Kortopi. - Shizuku: Hmm?
Shalnark: You got a minute?
Kortopi: Play?
Shalnark: Yeah. Do you want to go with me?
There’s nothing to do at home once we get there, anyway.
Shizuku: You really want to clear this game?
Shalnark: Actually clearing it’s not really my goal.
Shizuku: So does this relate to troupe business?
( Shalnark chuckles ) Maybe.
( Both sigh )
Kortopi: I got it.
Shizuku: Okay.
Gon: So how are you holding up, killua?
Killua: Oh. I don’t feel any different.
Gon: Good, but i’m still worried.
That guy definitely did something to you.
Killua: There’s no point stressing about it.
Gon: Hey, did you see if he was using nen
when he said, "trace on"?
Killua: No. It’s probably magic that only works in the game.
Gon: Magic? What kind?
Killua: Don’t know, but we’ll find out soon enough.
Gon: Right.
Look. There’s a town!
♪
Killua: Those must be the prizes.
Gon: Wow! All of ’em?!
Killua: It seems like it.
Gon: Hey, killua, look.
Killua: "Antokiba monthly tournament schedule."
Gon: This month is rock-paper-scissors!
Killua: And the prize is the sword of truth.
Gon: So is that an important item?
Killua: Probably so. Check it out.
There, too.
Gon: You wanna play?
Killua: Of course.
Gon: Then since we’re here anyway,
let’s enter lots of contests and stuff.
Killua: But we should also gather information.
( Stomachs growl )
Chef: Welcome!
Finish this within 30 minutes, and it’s free!
You’ll also receive a gargaider
as your prize!
Your time begins right now.
♪
Killua: Old man, so do you know how to use any magic?
Chef: What is that?
Gon: Oh, and who’s the wisest person in this city?
Chef: Wisest? What is that?
Gon: This guy doesn’t really know anything,
killua: Really. I bet he’s just an npc or something.
Chef: Wow! You did it!
Here. You boys have earned your gargaider.
Killua: 1217...
And f-185.
Gon: Hey, wait. What does that mean?
Chef: Oh, is this your first time seeing a card?
The left number is the item’s card number,
and the sequence on the right
ranks how difficult it is to obtain.
There are 10 ranks in all,
from ss to h.
F would be the third easiest, you see!
And the number right next to the rank
is the item’s maximum conversion limit.
( Gon groans )
And that means that this item card...
Killua: Yeah, this is unplayable.
( Explosion )
( Crowd screaming, chattering )
Villager: Never seen him before.
Villager #2: That’s brutal.
Killua: He entered the game with us.
Hey, so what happened here?
Villager #1: His body suddenly exploded,
just blew up from the inside.
Gon: We’ve only been playing for a few hours,
and there’s already a fatality.
The corpse is real. He really is dead.
This doesn’t seem like a game at all.
We really are risking our lives here.
( Both gasp )
Gon: He vanished?
Killua: He went back to the real world. Game over.
Gon: Hey, killua,
do you think that the magic that guy used on you earlier...
Killua: I don’t know.
Player: Don’t worry.
There are no spells in this game that are anything like that.
Gon: Spell, sir?
Player: Like you said,
it’s something akin to magic.
Player: One thing’s for certain,
he died from another player’s nen.
Gon: Really?
Killua: Does that mean the players here
are trying to kill each other?
Gon: Why would they do that?
Player: It’s player hunting.
Killua: "Player hunting"?
Player: I can explain everything to you later.
Anyway, you two want to team up?
I know of a surefire way we can clear this game.
If you’re interested, follow me.
Meet the rest.
They’re waiting up ahead.
Gon: What now?
Killua: Well, sounds suspicious,
and we’re already off to a pretty bad start.
Player: Not to be rude, but on your way here,
didn’t another player use an attack spell on you?
Killua: Have you been spying on both of us?
Tell me the truth.
Player: Sure, and not just me.
Lots of people around here keep an eye
on brand-new players at the starting point.
If you come with me, i’ll explain why
and tell you all about the spell that was cast on you.
Killua: You’re sure being pretty generous.
There’s gotta be a catch in there somewhere.
Player: We don’t have a choice.
Once you realize how hard this game is,
not to mention how foul and frightening it could be,
i’m willing to bet
you’ll be a lot more happy to accept our offer.
And you’re newbies, so you could definitely use the information.
On your first time playing here, take all the help you can get.
Killua: What makes you think it’s our first time?
We could be returning players, even veterans for all you know.
Player: Book.
That jump is all I need
to prove that you’re both beginners.
An experienced player would have reacted much differently to that
by summoning his own binder,
because you need spell cards to defend yourself.
Gon: That means the spell cast on killua...
Killua: Can’t be stopped without a card.
Player: Even when you’re not carrying any cards,
you should still summon your binder.
It’s an important bluff.
Book.
Gon: So how do we obtain our own spell cards?
Player: Well, the easiest way is to travel to masadora,
the city of magic.
Gon: Masadora?
Attacker: Return on!
Masadora!
Gon: Hey, you wanna go?
I’m a little bit worried about the spell on you.
Come on!
( Killua groans ) Okay.
( Crowd murmuring )
Player: Is this everyone?
Player #2: Yeah. Everybody else turned me down flat.
Player #3: Fine. Then let’s begin.
♪
Player #1: Just now yet another player was found murdered.
He arrived here at the same time as the rest of you did.
His stomach exploded.
It was the bomber again.
Gon: Who?
Player #3: His victims aren’t killed by spells.
There isn’t a spell in this game
that’s capable of injuring someone,
so don’t worry.
No matter what happens,
you won’t be harmed or killed
by any spell that’s been cast on you.
Player #1: There are 40 different spells in all.
The one that was cast on you earlier was an inspection spell,
so it has to be either trace or cling.
Player #3: In short,
once the enemy uses one of these on you
he will instantly know
everything there is to know about you.
Killua: I get it. So that’s why...
Player #3: Some people choose to wait
for new players by the starting point.
That way, they could cast a spell on them quite easily.
As soon as a player obtains a valuable card,
they’ll show up and steal it.
In some cases, they just kill their target.
Puhat: Like the guy who just died?
Well, it won’t be that easy to kill me.
Player #3: No, he was killed by someone else,
by a radical type of player who hunts his opposition.
The man who died
was killed by someone called the bomber.
Gon: Bomber.
Player #4: In this game, there are only three ways
that a player can acquire item cards they can use.
Know what they are?
Gon: Hmm. Find them yourself!
Player #5: You can also trade for them with other players.
Killua: Or simply steal them from other players.
Player #4: Yes. Those are the three possible ways.
However, the number of players
stealing from others has increased.
♪
That’s because of the card’s acquisition difficulty
and conversion limit.
Players who can’t obtain cards themselves
often choose to take them from others.
If those players resist, they’re killed.
Their ring disappears, and the cards are lost,
but it increases the conversion limit
for that type of card.
If you kill a player,
you can’t take his cards.
That rule was put in place
to prevent players from killing each other.
Player #1: But lately it’s been backfiring.
It’s been over 10 years since this game was first released.
If no one can find a way to beat it,
the killing will only continue.
That’s why all of us are all trying to end this mess!
We need more allies to clear the game!
That’s where you come in.
Puhat: How do you plan to obtain cards?
One, find them, two, trade for ’em,
three, steal ’em.
Which are you gonna do?
Player #1: Steal them.
Player #5: I have to assume we’ll be using all three,
but that’ll be the primary method.
Puhat: Hold on. So you’re still gonna use force?
Player #1: No! We refuse to use violence to achieve our goal.
- Player #5: Spells. - Players: Hmm?
Player #5: You just use spells. Correct?
- Player #1: That’s right. - ( Puhat scoffs )
Player #1: There are spells that exist for taking others’ cards,
as well as cards that defend against them.
We plan to monopolize those spell cards.
We’re going to use the very same card conversion limit
that’s been frustrating us.
It’s the only way to clear the game.
Player #3: I’ve met a lot of players,
and they’ve all reached the same conclusion.
Every card you find will be taken from you eventually.
Player #4: Because that’s what the game is based on,
taking cards from each other.
Player #6: We take cards from others
while mitigating our own risk of losing cards.
Puhat: You’re leaving out something important, aren’t you?
How you gonna split the reward money once you clear the game?
Player #6: Good point.
Mr. Battera hired all of you guys, didn’t he?
Puhat: You knew who we were when you found us?
Player #6: Yeah. You see,
Mr. Battera hired all of us to play the game, too.
Player #1: That means the reward will be 50 billion.
We’ll split it between everyone who helps us.
Player #4: We have 53 players.
Two months to collect the remaining spell cards,
one to get the cards we need--
three months to finish.
Player #3: Of course, if you decide to join us,
we’ll remove any spells that were cast on you.
Puhat: I’m in.
Can’t say I like the idea of splitting the 50 billion,
but I do like the idea
of clearing the game in three months.
Player #3: What about you?
Player #5: I have a question.
So if I get an ss rank card on my own,
what’s my cut, roughly?
Player #1: Ss? For one of that rank,
it’s about 500 million.
Player #5: Okay. I’m in.
Player #1: What about you, kid? You in?
Gon: Killua, sorry.
Killua: For what?
Gon: Count me out.
I’m playing on my own.
( Killua gasps )
Well, you guys heard the boss.
I gotta pass.
Hey, gon, wait up!
Player #4: What about you?
♪
Player #1: First we’ll need you to exit the game
so the spells placed on you can be removed.
Once you’ve reentered the game,
just wait for us by the starting point.
We’ll come get you.
Player #3: And if you have any cards in your free slots,
i’ll need for you to give them to me now.
Player #5: Why’s that?
Player #3: When you leave the game,
the cards left in your free slots
disappear completely.
Puhat: Yeah, but your data automatically saves
when cards are put into or taken out of the specified slots.
Player #3: That’s true, but your data disappears
if you don’t return within 10 days.
Player #1: And if you don’t return to the game before then,
unfortunately we’ll have to assume that you gave up.
Got it?
( Whooshing )
Player #1: Don’t worry. A friend is joining us.
Player #7: We don’t know if anyone’s watching.
Let’s begin.
First off, i’ll use the leave card.
Killua: Hey! Wait up, gon!
You wanna tell me what that was all about?
( Gon sighs )
Sorry, killua,
but I guess I just couldn’t take it anymore.
Killua: Okay, but I still don’t get why you’re apologizing.
Gon: Because you’re gonna be stuck with that spell
for a while, and it’s all my fault.
Killua: Okay. I get it now.
Look, it’s no big deal.
Gon: It is! You’re playing this game ’cause of me.
You’re only here to help me find my dad.
Killua: You’re wrong.
I’m playing this game, because...
So anyway, why’d you get so mad?
Gon: It’s because they said mean stuff about ging’s game,
how it’s all based on killing and stealing cards,
and I guess it really ticked me off.
I want to do what ging said to do and just enjoy the game.
When I first got here, I knew it wouldn’t be easy,
but I wasn’t afraid, because I thought--
well, I figured all the players
genuinely enjoyed the game, you know?
People actually die here,
but the game, it’s not scary.
It’s that players hurt each other
all over getting some cards.
That’s the really scary part.
Killua: Really? I think it makes sense.
Gon: Hey, you really mean that?
Killua: It’s dangerous, but it’s just meant for hunters.
Gon: Still...
Killua: Killing is wrong, sure.
No argument on that part.
But what if two players each put forth a card
and the one who wins a battle with defined rules
gets to keep both?
Gon: Uh, that’s okay.
Killua: See?
When that guy cast a spell on me
and those guys start their strategy,
they’re only following the rules of the game.
( Gon grunts )
Killua: But to be honest,
it kinda feels like they’re chickening out.
Look, forget about them, all right?
Let’s just enjoy the game by ourselves.
- Gon: Killua... - Killua: Hmm?
Gon: Thanks a lot.
I’m glad you’re here with me.
No...
I’m really glad I met you in the first place.
Killua: Idiot.
This is embarrassing!
Gon: No, it’s not.
How can it be embarrassing if I mean it?
I’m sorry, gon, but you’ve got it backwards.
I’m the one who’s glad I got to meet you.
I really am.
Girl: I see. So that’s why.
The friendship and innocence of two young boys
is such a beautiful thing.
It would be so much fun...
To ruin it.
♪
Narrator: Gon and killua have reaffirmed their friendship.
But what about the little girl watching them?
Who is she, and what does she want?
( Singing in Japanese )