Hunter X Hunter: The Phantom Troupe's Carnage.

Bonus Chapter: The Spark Reignites

The Rita Docks fish market was always bustling, the air thick with the scent of fresh seafood, sizzling street food, and the chatter of merchants haggling with customers. It had been years since Gon had truly fought for anything. After sacrificing his Nen to save Pitou, he had found peace in simply being a father, a husband, and a friend.

But on this day, something changed.

He was walking alone, carrying a small bag of groceries for dinner, when he heard a sharp cry.

A young boy—no older than eight or nine—was sprinting down the street, clutching a handful of food with desperate, shaking hands. His tiny frame was malnourished, his clothes tattered.

Behind him, a furious merchant was in hot pursuit.

"Thief! Someone stop him!" the man roared, his voice filled with rage.

The crowd parted as the child ran blindly, bumping into stalls and knocking over crates of fish. His breath came in ragged gasps, his tiny legs struggling to carry him forward.

Gon watched the scene unfold, his heart pounding.

He’s just a kid…

But before he could even process his next move, someone else did.

A massive, armored enforcer—a local thug hired to "protect" the market—stepped forward, lifting a heavy wooden baton. His eyes burned with cruelty, his grip tightening.

The boy skidded to a halt, too exhausted to keep running. His eyes widened in horror as the thug raised the baton high above his head, preparing to strike.

The child flinched—

But Gon was already moving.

His body reacted before his mind did.

He threw himself forward, slamming his arm against the enforcer’s wrist just as the baton came down. There was a dull crack—pain jolted through his forearm, but the weapon was deflected, narrowly missing the child’s head.

"Tch! You bastard—" the thug growled, spinning toward Gon.

The merchant, now catching up, seethed.

"Stay out of this! He stole from me!"

Gon stood protectively in front of the boy, holding out an arm as he shielded him from further harm. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath heavy.

He had no Nen. No enhancement. No power.

But it didn’t matter.

"He’s just a kid," Gon said, his voice steady. "You really think beating him to death is the answer?"

The enforcer sneered. "Thieves get what they deserve."

Then he swung.

The baton came fast, aiming straight for Gon’s skull—and for a brief moment, time slowed.

His muscles tensed, his instincts screamed—and suddenly, something erupted inside of him.

A long-dormant spark.

A sensation he hadn’t felt in years.

A raw, electric force surged through his veins.

And just before the baton struck—his body moved on its own.

With lightning speed, Gon twisted, catching the weapon mid-swing with his bare hand. The enforcer’s eyes widened in disbelief—Gon shouldn’t have been fast enough.

And yet…

His grip tightened.

His knuckles burned.

Something awoke deep within him.

The enforcer staggered back, confusion flashing in his eyes.

Gon’s breath hitched—because he felt it. The warmth. The energy. The return.

It was faint. Weak. Fragile. But it was there.

His Nen…

It was coming back.

The enforcer growled, lunging at him again, but this time, Gon didn’t even hesitate. His foot slammed into the man’s gut, sending him sprawling into a fish cart. The wooden structure collapsed, sending fresh seafood flying everywhere.

The crowd gasped.

Gon’s hands shook as he clenched them into fists. His body felt… different. Stronger. Sharper.

Like something inside him had been reignited.

The merchant, now terrified, stammered, "J-Just take the damn food and go!" before scrambling away.

The boy, still trembling, clutched the stolen bread to his chest. His wide, disbelieving eyes stared up at Gon.

"Mister… you…" he whispered. "How did you do that?"

Gon swallowed hard, staring at his own hands.

"...I don’t know."

But as he looked at the bruised enforcer groaning on the ground, as he felt the faint hum of something deep within him, he realized the truth.

His journey wasn’t over yet.

And neither was his Nen.

Gon’s heart was still pounding, the sensation of his Nen returning lingering in his veins like a spark waiting to ignite into a flame.

The young boy beside him clutched the stolen food, still shaken. Gon knelt down, offering a reassuring smile.

"Are you okay?"

The child hesitated, then nodded, though his eyes were still wide with shock. "Mister… you were amazing. That guy was huge, but you—" He stopped, fidgeting. "Are you a Hunter?"

Gon chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Not anymore."

At least… not yet.

The weight of that truth settled in. He had lived without Nen for so many years, never expecting to feel it again. But now, even if it was just a flicker, he knew—it was still there.

The enforcer groaned as he pushed himself up from the pile of overturned fish crates, but one look at Gon—his steady stance, the way his aura seemed to hum faintly around him—and the thug thought better of it. With a grunt, he turned and stumbled away into the crowd.

Gon let out a breath.

"Looks like I still got it, huh?" he muttered to himself.

The child tugged on his sleeve. "Mister… I only stole because I was hungry. I swear I’ll pay them back one day."

Gon ruffled his messy hair. "Just make sure you do, okay?"

The boy grinned, then ran off into the crowd, disappearing into the winding streets of the fish market. Gon watched him go, his mind drifting.

Nen…

It had been gone for so long. He had come to terms with losing it, accepted a quiet, normal life. But now? Now, that fire inside of him had been rekindled.

He stretched his arms, tilting his head up to the bright blue sky.

This wasn’t the end of his journey.

It was a new beginning.

With a slow exhale, a grin spread across his face, full of excitement and determination.

"Heh…" He clenched his fists, his energy stirring.

"Time to go back to the basics," he said, smiling happily.

And just like that—Gon Freecss was ready to begin again.

—The End.

(For real this time, this is the end. 😁)