Parallel world Manga Artist-Chapter 221: Storyboards and Dialogue

Why was the Chimera Ant arc of Hunter × Hunter considered by many manga fans in Rei’s previous life to be the most "god-tier" arc of the series?

The answer lies in its departure from the traditional shōnen manga framework of friendship, victory, and hard work. While it does not completely abandon these elements, the core themes of the story clearly shift toward exploring war and peace, morality, and the darker side of human nature.

Looking at the arc as a whole, many readers may initially be enraged by the Ant King’s cruelty. However, if you entertain a hypothesis, suppose you were transmigrated into the world of the manga as a Chimera Ant, you might realize that what the Ant King does is no different from what humans have always done to other species.

Furthermore, throughout the entire arc, it is difficult to find anyone who is purely good or purely evil.

Whether it is the Chimera Ants or the protagonists opposing them, most characters exist in a moral gray area.

Even toward the end of the arc, the Ant King appears almost heroic. When he declares a one-on-one battle, he honors it. Despite commanding a vast army of powerful Chimera Ants, he chooses to duel Chairman Netero with a sense of dignity and chivalry. In the end, he falls victim to Netero’s desperate and ruthless final plan.

Across the arc, the methods used against the Ant King, threatening civilians, ambushes, conspiracies, and ultimately poisoning, are morally questionable. At times, the protagonists’ tactics seem closer to those of villains. Of course, these actions are justified under the banner of preserving humanity’s survival.

But then again, is the Ant King not also fighting for the survival of the Chimera Ant species? In terms of the nobility of their respective causes, his side is not necessarily inferior.

As the Chimera Ant arc continued serialization, these moral complexities became increasingly apparent to readers.

In many other shōnen manga, when a villain appears, readers instinctively condemn them as evil.

But in Hunter × Hunter’s Chimera Ant arc, every character is criticized by someone.

And yet every character also has a strong group of supporters.

The depth of the plot and character writing pushed online discussions and fan debates to their peak during this period of serialization.

On Thursday, the official sales data was released for the latest tankōbon volume of Hunter × Hunter, which had debuted nationwide the previous week during Rei’s signing event.

The volume sold 8.3 million copies in a single week.

Combined with the unprecedented level of controversy and discussion surrounding the current arc, this figure shocked the entire Japanese manga industry.

Although Hunter × Hunter already ranked fourth in the history of the Japanese manga industry with an average of 21.6 million copies per volume, a first-week sale of 8.3 million copies set a new all-time record.

The term "phenomenal work" was no longer sufficient to describe its performance.

"8.3 million copies in a single week... this..."

In the spacious villa of Miyu, she stared at the news in disbelief.

She had always known Rei’s Hunter × Hunter would achieve great success, but this level of performance far exceeded her expectations.

Then she glanced at her sister, who was still reviewing the storyboards and character designs for Rei’s new project, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, and felt an even stronger chill run down her spine.

Although this new work was only a limited collaboration with the Hoshimori Group, given Rei’s current nationwide popularity, its performance would likely be significant as well.

Due to confidentiality agreements, Miyu was not permitted to read the storyboard drafts the way Misaki could.

However, judging from Misaki’s composed expression, Miyu inferred that the opening Chapters did not seem to contain any especially shocking or groundbreaking elements.

"The character designs are excellent, and the fictional world, set in a stylized version of the Japanese islands with a samurai-era atmosphere, is quite distinctive," Misaki commented as she set the storyboards down and looked at the young man sitting across from her.

Rei was now twenty years old, fully grown, with refined and handsome features. Years of indoor work drawing manga and producing animation had left his complexion somewhat pale, giving him a scholarly air.

Yet in Misaki’s eyes, he was still the same person she had met four or five years ago. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"It’s just that the plot... the plot feels a bit..." she hesitated.

"A bit ordinary?" Rei finished with a faint smile.

Miyu immediately leaned in, listening intently.

In truth, cultural works are often just old wine in new bottles.

The anime that were popular before Rei’s transmigration in his previous life followed similar patterns. Attack on Titan was essentially no different from a reskinned ultraman or a reskinned Gundam. In the early stage, the protagonist controlled a giant to resist the invasion of giants and guard their home... later, the core of the plot became the protagonist controlling a giant to participate in war and save the world.

Jujutsu kaisen had a strong Naruto vibe at the beginning, with the familiar two-male-one-female protagonist group setting. Rei didn’t believe for a second that Gojo’s appearance wasn’t copied from Kakashi.

As for the demons in Demon Slayer, aside from lacking weaknesses to silver crosses, they closely resembled traditional Western vampires: they spread their curse in similar ways, feared sunlight, and possessed regenerative abilities.

Given this, Misaki quickly recognized the pattern.

Wasn’t Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba essentially a story about demon hunters fighting demons under a different name?

Stories with similar concepts had existed for decades.

Had Rei really fought so hard with the Hoshimori Group over the rights to what seemed like a repackaged concept?

"The setting does feel familiar," Misaki admitted with a cough.

"It’s supposed to," Rei replied calmly. "At its core, Demon Slayer is exactly what you think it is. There aren’t any radically new settings even later on."

"But settings are only the surface. The true core lies in plot progression and character development."

Misaki blinked.

"After Hunter × Hunter, Japanese manga fans have extremely high expectations for you. Many competitors in the industry are quietly waiting, using Hunter as the benchmark. Even if your new work merely reaches a passing grade, anything below a 90 out of 100 will invite harsh media criticism."

"I know," Rei laughed lightly. "But I also know that after Hunter, readers will have great patience for my next project. They’ll wait for me to gradually expand its worldview."

He paused, then smiled.

"And why do you assume Demon Slayer will be inferior to Hunter? Why talk about passing grades or 90 points?"

Miyu stared at him, clearly hearing his next words.

"Why haven’t you considered that Demon Slayer might be a 200-point masterpiece?"

"In your eyes, it’s twice as good as Hunter × Hunter?" Misaki blurted out in disbelief.

"Two hundred points isn’t about the manga’s artistic quality. It’s about market acceptance... I believe you understand what I mean, Editor Misaki," Rei said, looking at Misaki.

The fact that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was essentially a rebranded "vampire-hunting" story was obvious to any seasoned manga reader. But why had it become a global phenomenon in Rei’s previous life?

Because vampires, or demons of that archetype, are simple.

Whether in the East or the West, even a three-year-old can grasp the basic concept.

That simplicity eliminates cultural barriers to dissemination.

As long as the story is emotionally compelling and well-written, it can spread worldwide with ease.

In contrast, works like Hunter × Hunter still faced certain limitations. The Nen system was extraordinarily complex, Enhancers, Emitters, Manipulators, Specialists, and so on.

The derived abilities were intricate, sometimes bizarre, and often governed by rule-based mechanics that raised the barrier to entry. Not to mention, the largest demographic of manga readers, children, often struggled to fully comprehend the darker themes that emerged in the middle and later stages of the story.

And yet, even with those limitations, Hunter × Hunter still reached the pinnacle of success in Japan, largely because the domestic young reader market was massive.

However, Rei knew very well that Hunter × Hunter’s success had not yet reached the absolute ceiling of the Japanese manga industry’s overall market potential.

That was difficult for Misaki to imagine. In her mind, Hunter × Hunter already represented the peak of the market.

"In that case, I won’t offer any suggestions regarding your storyboard," she said calmly. "I’ll submit it as it is. The higher-ups who don’t understand manga, and don’t want to take responsibility, won’t dare to force revisions. They’ll most likely approve it directly. When the time comes, you can draw and serialize the final manuscript according to this version."

"I appreciate your help, Editor Misaki," Rei replied with a smile.

He then glanced at Miyu, who had clearly been eavesdropping nearby, and gave a deliberate cough.

"It’s been half a month since we last met. It’s already afternoon, perfect timing. Come on, I’ll treat you to dinner."

"Who wants your treat?"

Miyu responded with a few tsundere remarks, but her actions betrayed her. She stood up, grabbed her bag, smoothed her dress, and headed straight for the villa door with a faint smile.

A few days after Rei submitted the storyboards for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Misaki sent her reply.

The plot review had passed.

With no further issues, Rei began working on the manuscript. The new manga was scheduled to begin serialization in four months.

Meanwhile, Hunter × Hunter released two additional Chapters during this period.

In these two weeks of serialization, the long-anticipated Ant King and Komugi storyline was temporarily set aside. The perspective shifted back to the protagonist group.

Among the assault team carefully selected by Chairman Netero was a space-type Nen user named Knov.

Earlier in the arc, Knov had been portrayed as the mentor of Palm, a mentally unstable but powerful woman. Palm herself had once demonstrated enough strength to suppress both Gon and Killua.

Knov initially carried tremendous authority and confidence. In several scenes, he openly expressed disdain for the Chimera Ants.

However, after accepting the mission to infiltrate the Ant King’s palace, set up spatial portals, and prepare to transport the team on Selection Day, everything changed.

He never even encountered the Ant King.

Merely sensing the overwhelming aura of the Royal Guard Neferpitou was enough.

The suffocating Nen pressure crushed his spirit completely.

He did not dare advance any further. His hair turned white overnight; most of it fell out, leaving him nearly bald. Without even seeing the enemy’s face, his will to fight shattered. He withdrew from the assault mission entirely.

This dramatic contrast ignited intense discussion among Japanese manga fans about the terrifying power of the Ant King and the Three Royal Guards.

If merely sensing one Royal Guard’s aura could break an elite Hunter...

How could they possibly win?

The Ant King’s oppressive presence intensified once again.

Then came last week’s Chapter, the clash between the assault team and the Chimera Ant Squadron Leaders.

On one side, Knov represented despair: a veteran Hunter whose spirit collapsed under overwhelming pressure.

On the other side stood Gon, Killua, and even defecting Chimera Ants who chose to fight alongside them, burning with determination to defeat the Ant King.

The contrast between these Chapters was striking.

And with it, the atmosphere of tension and hopelessness reached its peak.

Even the most optimistic readers began to doubt whether Netero could truly stop the Ant King.

An earlier line from a defecting ant now felt disturbingly prophetic:

"With your strength, I’m afraid you won’t even be able to approach the Ant King."

Yet Chairman Netero was the strongest Hunter introduced in the series so far.

August came to an end, and September arrived.

Another Friday.

Another issue of Dream Comic Journal hit the shelves.

Keiko, a career-driven professional who had been lying low for three months, had spent her time binge-consuming all of Shirogane’s works:

Hunter × Hunter, Hikaru no Go, Arcane, 5 Centimeters per Second...

These three months of unemployment had been the most enjoyable of her life.

After all, "If I were still working, how could I line up early on Friday morning just to buy the latest issue of Dream Comic Journal?"

"If I didn’t buy the journal immediately, then by the time Friday came around, the thousands of Hunter × Hunter fans in the thirty-two fan groups I joined would definitely have spoiled the entire Chapter."

Keiko smiled brightly.

She snapped a photo of the cover with her phone and posted it in all her Hunter × Hunter fan groups.

This week, Saki’s manga, Touch of Glass, which had climbed to seventh place in the magazine rankings, was featured solo on the cover.

But Keiko had absolutely no interest in the work of the person who claimed to be Shirogane’s close friend.

The moment she returned home, she tore open the packaging and flipped straight past everything else to the serialized pages of Hunter × Hunter.

It was still that iconic minimalist Chapter-title style:

"..."

This week’s Chapter title read:

"Komugi’s Gungi."

Simple. Direct.

Keiko’s eyes lit up instantly.

Are we returning to the Ant King’s storyline?

It wasn’t that she disliked the Chapters focusing on Gon, Killua, and the others fighting the peripheral Chimera Ants.

Even if those Squadron Leaders were "small fry" compared to the Ant King and the Royal Guards.

In a country like NGL, they were likely at least comparable to members of the Phantom Troupe. An ordinary army of a thousand soldiers would be wiped out instantly. Within the Troupe, aside from individuals like Hisoka or the Leader, few members could confidently defeat those so-called "small fry."

Still, compared to large-scale battle scenes, Keiko undeniably preferred reading the King and Komugi’s storyline.

She flipped open the Chapter.

The first page showed the King and Komugi sitting across from each other, playing Gungi.

After battling for an entire day and night, and still losing, the King spoke to the exhausted Komugi:

"Rest for half a day. Even if I defeat you while you’re distracted, I won’t be satisfied."

Keiko paused.

Just that single panel made her hesitate.

The reasoning made sense... but no matter how she looked at it...

"Wait a minute... Is the Ant King actually worried about Komugi? Concerned she’ll collapse from exhaustion?"

When other players had trembled nervously and grown fatigued before him, he had shown no mercy.

They were executed the moment they lost.

She shook her head.

Maybe I’m overthinking it.

She really shouldn’t read so much into the interpretations of those fanfiction creators who constantly shipped the Ant King and Komugi.

Sure, she could accept that the King might show a trace of consideration due to his obsession with defeating her fairly.

But romance?

That would be too much.

If Shirogane really went in that direction, it would feel like a downgrade.

In the next scene, Shaiapouf appeared outwardly calm, yet inwardly consumed by jealousy as he watched Komugi, leaning on her cane, prepare to return to her room.

"This woman is extremely dangerous. Her influence over the King’s behavior makes her a serious threat."

He wanted to kill her.

Yet in the end... he restrained himself.

Then he spiraled into inner turmoil.

It wasn’t fear of punishment that stopped him.

Rather, he feared that if he killed Komugi, the King would never forget her. An opponent he had never defeated would become an irreplaceable presence in the King’s mental world.

Keiko couldn’t help laughing.

"Well, well..."

"We’ve caught a hardcore Ant King devotee red-handed."

...

STONES???

Read 50 Chapters ahead @[email protected]/Ashnoir