Hunter X Hunter: The Phantom Troupe's Carnage.

Chapter 42: A Strong will to continue.

It had been a week since the Phantom Trope incident.

Gon was diligently caring for Pitou, ensuring she was on the path to recovery. However, something felt off...

She appeared significantly weaker and had lost noticeable weight.

Her Nen was in complete disarray, and she was far less capable than usual. It took some time for Gon to grasp the extent of Pitou's transformation and what had transpired.

She recounted the events leading up to the chaos.

Jason had restrained her, forcing her into a cruel game that made her believe her children were in peril.

She had been deceived.

Consumed by despair, she felt as though she had lost everything...

Gon sat beside Pitou, his hands resting on his knees as he watched her in silence. The usual vitality that radiated from her was gone, replaced by a hollow stillness. Her once-proud posture was slouched, her tail curled limply around her waist. Even her eyes, which had always glowed with a mix of curiosity and mischief, now seemed dull and unfocused.

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke, recounting the torment Jason had inflicted upon her. Each word felt like a confession, as if saying it aloud forced her to relive the horror. Gon listened, his fists clenching as she described the cruel illusion, the desperate fear that had shattered her spirit.

"He made me believe my children were suffering... that they were calling out for me, but I couldn't reach them." Her voice broke, and she shut her eyes tightly, ears flattening against her head. "Every second felt like an eternity, and when I finally realized it was all a lie... it was too late."

Gon's chest tightened. He had never seen her like this. Pitou, who had once been a relentless force of nature, was now a mere shadow of herself. He wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault, that she had been manipulated, but he knew words wouldn't erase the scars Jason had left on her soul.

Instead, he reached out, placing a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Pitou, your kids are safe. You didn't lose them."

She flinched at first, but then, slowly, she opened her eyes to meet his. There was hesitation, a lingering doubt in her gaze.

"But I failed them," she murmured. "I should've been stronger."

"You are strong," Gon insisted, his grip tightening slightly. "You're still here, aren't you? And our kids-they need you now more than ever. You can't let Jason take any more from you."

She inhaled shakily, her claws twitching as if fighting against the weight of her own self-loathing.

Gon exhaled, leaning forward slightly. "You have people who care about you. Me, Makoto, Millianna, our children-we're not going anywhere."

Pitou looked down at her hands, scarred and trembling. The silence stretched between them, heavy but not suffocating.

Finally, she gave a small nod. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Gon smiled faintly. "We'll take this one step at a time. You're not alone in this."

For the first time in days, Pitou lifted her gaze, and though her expression was weary, there was a flicker of something else beneath the pain.

Hope.

As Pitou leaned into him, Gon instinctively wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Her body was frail, her usual warmth now a faint whisper against his chest. But in that moment, she wasn't just seeking comfort-she was seeking him. The weight of it crashed into him all at once.