Hunter x Hunter 278

[TN: I don't know why I bother even mentioning that Hunter chapters are a pain to translate any more, but... well, it was :p The gigantic pieces of exposition in the Yupi battle were an absolute bitch, and I'm certainly not 100% on some things. But as ever, I've translated it as best I can ~~;]

1
Hunter x Hunter
#278: Destruction
[side text: Yupi at boiling point!!!]
[Text: With a piercing roar... // ...Yupi changed his form. // This change... // ...was sufficient that Knuckle was forced to prepare for the worst... // ...and switch his stance to a defensive form. // It was at though Yupi had become an embodiment of evil... // ...and it was clear...]

2-3
[Text: ...all too clear... // ...that its focus was destruction alone.]

4-5
[no text just oh shit that form is worrying.]

6
Someone: ............

7
Shoot: Ngh...
Knuckle: Hold on!!
Shoot: Did you... get him?
Knuckle: Huh?!
Shoot: Did you smash him... for me...?
Knuckle: Not yet... dammitall! // I'll get it in in the end, just you wait!! // But I can't have you dying on me before then, so we have to get out of here...

8-9
[TN: holy goddamn fucking shit]
[Text: Yupi... // ...through the sensation he had never before felt, of overwhelming mental stress, // came to an understanding of the ability he possessed.]

10
[Text: ...Far removed from the defense of the King... // ...it could feed upon his violent wrath, increasing both his physical size and the magnitude of his aura at an astonishing rate. // There was a pure ecstasy in this "destruction". // But immediately thereafter, he was overcome by a sudden reduction in physical size, and a profound sense of loss.]
Yupi: .........

11
Knuckle: An opening!!
[Text: Knuckle, with his large quantities of experience, was able to analyse Yupi's condition with almost complete precision.]
Knuckle: (Such ridiculous destructive power......!! Did he just push himself far too hard... // ...stupidly thinking that he could draw out a power like that without causing damage to himself......?! // But in taking that risk, the power he managed to gain in return...... // ...was ridiculously immense!!! // "Literally exploding when angered"......!!! // But the sheer consumption of aura necessary for such an explosion should leave him open for a decent interval!! // And that moment of weakness is just what I need to get in my single attack...)
[Text: The plan that Knuckle came up with in an instant, considering Yupi's near-trancelike state, was, one might say, almost perfect.]

12
[Text: However. // Yupi's true worth lay after the explosion. // Caught in the void between that lingering sense of ecstasy and a profound despondency, // what might be called the dregs of his "self" pondered this selfish ability, // and devoted themselves to ascertaining... // ...just how this power could be used to aid the King. // SELFLESSNESS]

13
[Text: The instincts of an ant and the nature of a monster... // ...were still able to function calmly and clearly even after uncovering this overwhelming wrath.]
Yupi: (I must not be distracted by my emotions... // I must find a way to advantageously control this new anger-fueled ability... // ...it is my duty to the King. // And the obvious first step is to eliminate these irritating intruders!!)
[Text: Facing a Yupi who had simultaneously obtained both calmness and passion... // ...the risk that Knuckle now bore... // ...was extremely high.]

14
Zeno: I think I'll respectfully decline. // I'm really not in the mood.
Djitu: Come, now, don't say that! // What you should be doing is regretting you ever ran into me!! // You can be the first test subject! // For my... // ...new technique!♡

15
Djitu: Oh, c'mon, you don't have to look like that. // Tell the truth, you're not the guy I really want to be fighting, either. / That guy with the big pipe and the sunglasses... he's your nakama, right?
Zeno: ...... / If you want him, why don't you look for him?
Djitu: I found him already! But it was no good!! // Guy uses smoke, y'see - he shut himself up in this weird smokescreen... / ...and I tried and tried, but I couldn't get through! // I thought maybe I could get in from above, so I headed up to the roof... // But then of course, I bumped into you up here!
Zeno: ......So... // You're saying you want to fight me as a warm-up to the main event?
Djitu: Ding-di~~ng!!
Zeno: ...... // What a tiring day...

16
Zeno: Would you listen to me a little? // The thing is... I think I may have accidentally killed an innocent bystander for the first time since I inherited this profession...
Djitu: Hey, hey!! My technique, right? It's amazing!! // I'm gonna let you have a taste of it pretty soon, but don't be too amazed!! / Well, I can say that all I like, but I guess you'll be amazed anyway, huh?
Zeno: *sigh*... // You're not a very good listener, are you... // So, you're not going to just let me go in peace whatever I say?
Djitu: Ding-ding-ding-di~~~ng!♡ // ?
Zeno: I think... // You might want to look out behind you.
Djitu: Hahah!! Yeah, right!! // Like I'd fall for the oldest trick in the book!! // It was your nakama who taught be a valuable lesson... / ...you never take your eyes off the enemy in the heat of -

17
Zeno: Well... // I suppose it made little difference whether you looked or not.

18
Silva: Would you have preferred I leave him alive?
Zeno: Mmm... // I don't mind.
Silva: How's Killua?
Zeno: Hm... / He's grown up. // I suspect he has removed that needle of Illumi's, too.
Silva: ...... // I see.
Zeno: Oh, yes! That reminds me - I had the most incredible experience today. / It was like time started moving re~~~~~ally slowly...
Silva: ...... / I suppose I should hear my old dad out at least a little.
[side text: The climax approaches!!]
[bottom text: Knuckle vs. Yupi, a mighty brawl!! And then, Gon...!!]