Kai wakes up six days later in a hospital bed, where he is being treated for his injuries. He feels a dull pain in his chest, where Zazan's stinger had pierced him. He also feels a bandage on his leg, where she had stabbed him.
He looks around and sees that he is in a white and sterile room, with machines and monitors attached to him. He hears a steady beep from his heart rate monitor, and he sees a drip from his IV bag. He smells a faint scent of disinfectant and medicine, and he feels a soft pillow under his head. He is relieved and happy to see that he is alive and well.
He is greeted by a nurse, who checks on his condition and vital signs. She smiles and tells him that he is doing fine, and that he is lucky to be alive. She says that he has been in a coma for six days, and that he has been given the best care and treatment possible.
She says that he has suffered severe injuries and poisoning, but that he has also shown remarkable recovery and resilience. She says that he is a fighter, and that he has amazed everyone with his will to live.
"Good morning, Kai. How are you feeling today?" The nurse says, speaking in a friendly and gentle tone.
"Good morning. I'm feeling… okay, I guess. A bit sore and tired, but okay." Kai says, speaking in a weak and hoarse voice.
"That's understandable. You have been through a lot, but you have also made a lot of progress. You are doing fine, Kai. You are doing fine." The nurse says, reassuring him.
"Thank you. Thank you for taking care of me." Kai says, feeling grateful.
"You're welcome. It's my job, and my pleasure. You are a very special patient, Kai. You are a very special person." The nurse says, smiling at him.
"What do you mean?" Kai asks, feeling curious.
"Well, you are not just any patient. You are a hunter, a hero, a legend. You are one of the hunters who participated in the Chimera Ant extermination mission. You are one of the hunters who saved the world from the Chimera Ant threat. You are one of the hunters who fought against the King and his Royal Guards. You are one of the hunters who killed Zazan, one of the most powerful and dangerous Chimera Ants ever." The nurse says, explaining to him.
"Wow… I guess I am." Kai says, feeling surprised and humbled.
"Yes, you are. And you should be proud of yourself, Kai. You have done something amazing, something incredible, something heroic. You have made history, Kai. You have made history." The nurse says, praising him.
"Thank you… thank you very much." Kai says, feeling touched and honored.
"You're welcome… you're very welcome." The nurse says, smiling warmly at him.
He feels a gentle squeeze on his left hand and sees his grandfather Zeno, who is sitting by his bedside. His eyes are bright and his smile is warm, despite the scars and bruises on his face. He leans in and hugs him, telling him that he has done a great job and that he is very proud of him.
"Grandpa…" he murmurs, feeling a surge of emotion. He can't believe he survived, after facing such a terrifying enemy.
"Hey, there. You're awake. You're amazing, Kai." Zeno says softly, kissing his forehead.
He looks around the room and sees that he is in a hospital. He remembers the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness: the roar of the explosion that shook the earth and the strong howling of the wind.
"What happened? Did we… did we win?" he asks, his voice weak.
Zeno nods. "We did. The mission was a success and the Chimera Ants have been exterminated. We managed to join the final fight of Chairman Netero and the Chimera Ant King called Meruem in time before Netero was about to sacrifice himself."
He gasps. "Netero… he's…"
Zeno sighs. "He's still in a serious condition, Kai. He gave his life to save us all. He was a great man, a true leader. He used a powerful bomb called the Miniature Rose, which killed Meruem and his royal guards. It was his last resort, his final act of defiance."
He feels a pang of sadness and respect for Netero. He wonders what he would have said to him if he had met him.
"What about us? What did we do?" he asks, curious.
Zeno smiles. "We did a lot, Kai. We helped rescue the survivors and the hostages, we fought off the remaining Chimera Ants, we secured the area and collected evidence. We were hailed as heroes by the Hunter Association and the public. You have earned a lot of respect and recognition for your bravery and skill, Kai. You have proven yourself as a true hunter and a true Zoldyck."
His twin brother killua and his friends gon, kurapika and leorio, as well as his teammates entered the room.
"Hey, Kai. You're awake. How are you feeling?" Killua says, entering the room with a grin. He is followed by Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, Knuckle, Shoot, Morel, Knov, Palm, Ikalgo, Meleoron and Biscuit.
"Killua… Gon… everyone…" he says, smiling weakly. He is happy to see them all alive and well.
"We're so glad you're okay, Kai. You were amazing out there. You helped us lessen the pressure by defeating a royal guard, you know." Gon says, hugging him.
"Thanks, Gon. You were amazing too. You fought the Chimera Ant King's strongest guard. How did you do it?" he asks, impressed.
"Well, it was tough. But I had help from Knuckle and Shoot. They lent me their abilities and taught me how to use them. And I had something else too." Gon says, showing him a small pendant around his neck. It has a picture of Kite, his mentor who was killed by the Chimera Ants.
"This is Kite's memento. He gave it to me before he died. He told me to keep it safe and to never give up. He said he was proud of me and that he believed in me. He was like a big brother to me." Gon says, his eyes shining.
"I'm sorry, Gon. I know how much he meant to you." he says, sympathizing.
"It's okay, Kai. I'm sad that he's gone, but I'm also happy that I got to meet him and learn from him. He taught me so much about being a hunter and a friend." Gon says, smiling.
"What about you, Killua? How did you fare?" he asks, curious.
"I did alright. I fought some tough opponents too. Like Leol, the Chimera Ant King of the underground city." Killua says, frowning.
"Leol? I remember him. He was the one who stole Morel's ability and used it against us." he says, recalling.
"Yeah. He was a jerk. He had this ability that allowed him to borrow other people's abilities and use them as his own. He also had this aura that made him arrogant and greedy. He wanted to take over the city and challenge the King." Killua says, annoyed.
"That sounds horrible. How did you beat him?" he asks, amazed.
"Well, I got lucky. I managed to trick him into using Morel's ability in a way that backfired on him. Then I ran into Zeno, our grandfather, who was also raiding the city." Killua says, smiling.
"Zeno? Grandpa was there?" he asks, surprised.
"That's him. He was looking for Leol too. He wanted to kill him for fun. He joined me in the fight and helped me finish him off." Killua says, proud.
"What did you do?" he asks, intrigued.
"I used my Godspeed ability to electrocute him and paralyze him. Then Zeno used his Dragon Dive ability to rain down nen dragons on him and shred him to pieces." Killua says, satisfied.
"Wow. That sounds awesome." he says, impressed.
"It was. Leol didn't stand a chance against us. We made a great team." Killua says, happy.
"What about you, Kurapika? How did you fare?" he asks, curious.
"I did well. I fought some tough opponents too. Like Cheetu, the Chimera Ant Cheetah." Kurapika says, calm.
"Cheetu? I remember him. He was the one who ran away from us and mocked us." Gon says, annoyed.
"Yeah. He was a coward. He had this ability that made him extremely fast and agile. He also had this aura that made him cocky and playful. He liked to toy with his enemies and challenge them to games." Kurapika says, disdainful.
"That sounds annoying. How did you beat him?" he asks, interested.
"Well, I got smart. I managed to trap him in a nen barrier that I created with my chains. Then I used my Judgment Chain ability to place a curse on him and force him to play by my rules." Kurapika says, clever.
"What did you do?" he asks, fascinated.
"I told him that he had to catch me within ten minutes or he would die. Then I used my Emperor Time ability to enhance my speed and reflexes and dodge his attacks. Then I used my Chain Jail ability to capture him and stab him in the heart." Kurapika says, cold.
"Wow. That sounds cool." he says, awed.
"It was. Cheetu didn't stand a chance against me. I made him pay for his arrogance." Kurapika says, satisfied.
"What about you, Leorio? How did you fare?" he asks, curious.
"I did okay. I fought some tough opponents too. Like Hina, the Chimera Ant Exorcist." Leorio says, modest.
"Hina? I remember her. She was the one who removed the bombs from the other ants and helped them escape." Killua says, angry.
"Yeah. She was a traitor. She had this ability that allowed her to exorcise nen curses and abilities from herself and others. She also had this aura that made her loyal and obedient to her superiors. She followed the orders of Bizeff, the corrupt minister who allied with the ants." Leorio says, disgusted.
"That sounds awful. How did you beat her?" Kai asks, curious.
"Well, I got creative. I managed to trick her into thinking that I had a bomb in my body that would explode if she touched me. Then I used my Warp Punch ability to hit her from a distance and knock her out." Leorio says, proud.
"What did you do?" he asks, impressed.
"I used my nen to create a fake bomb in my chest and make it beep and flash. Then I pretended to be scared and begged her not to touch me. Then I used my nen to open a portal in front of her face and another one behind my fist. Then I punched through the portal and hit her in the jaw." Leorio says, amused.
"Wow. That sounds funny." he says, laughing.
"It was. Hina didn't stand a chance against me. I made her fall for my bluff." Leorio says, happy.
"Kai Zoldyck, I'm here to congratulate you on behalf of the Hunter Association. You have shown remarkable courage and skill in the face of a formidable enemy. You have contributed greatly to the success of the mission and the safety of humanity. You have earned the respect and admiration of your fellow hunters and the public. You have proven yourself worthy of being a hunter." The vice-chairman says, entering the room with a smile. He is followed by a group of officials and reporters.
"Vice-chairman… thank you. I'm honored." He says, sitting up on his bed. He is still recovering from his injuries, but he feels much better than before.
"You're welcome, Kai. You deserve it. As a token of our gratitude and appreciation, we have decided to promote you to 1-star hunter, effective immediately. This is a rare privilege that only a few hunters achieve in their lifetime. It grants you access to more resources, information and opportunities within the Hunter Association. It also gives you more influence and authority in the hunter community." The vice-chairman says, handing him a badge with a star on it.
"Wow… thank you, vice-chairman. I'm speechless." He says, taking the badge and pinning it on his chest. He feels a surge of joy and pride.
"That's not all, Kai. We also have another surprise for you. We have awarded you with a medal and a certificate of honor for your bravery and achievement in defeating Zazan, a chimera ant Royal Guard. This is a rare feat that only a handful of hunters have accomplished. You have demonstrated exceptional strength and talent in combat. You have earned the admiration and respect of your peers and superiors." The vice-chairman says, handing him a medal with an eagle on it and a certificate with his name on it.
"Wow… thank you, vice-chairman. I'm overwhelmed." He says, taking the medal and the certificate and holding them in his hands. He feels a wave of gratitude and happiness.
"You're welcome, Kai. You have done us proud. You are a true hero, Kai Zoldyck." The vice-chairman says, clapping his hands. The others join him in applause.
"Thank you, vice-chairman. Thank you, Hunter Association. Thank you, grandfather. I'm grateful for your support and guidance. You have taught me so much about being a hunter and a person. You have given me the opportunity to pursue my dreams and to challenge myself. You have been there for me when I needed you." He says, looking at the vice-chairman and his grandfather with admiration and respect.
"You're welcome, Kai. You're a remarkable young man. You have a bright future ahead of you." The vice-chairman says, smiling.
"You're welcome, Kai. You're a wonderful grandson. You have made me proud." His grandfather says, beaming.
"I also want to thank my friends and teammates, who fought with me and for me. You are the best friends and teammates anyone could ask for. You have been my companions, my partners, my mentors, my rivals, my inspirations. You have helped me, protected me, encouraged me, challenged me, supported me. You have shared your stories, your emotions, your joys, your sorrows, your victories, your defeats. You have made this mission memorable and meaningful." He says, looking at his friends and teammates with affection and gratitude.
"You're welcome, Kai. You're an awesome friend and teammate. You have been our leader, our ally, our student, our friend, our brother. You have impressed us, amazed us, inspired us, motivated us, cheered us up. You have shared your strength, your talent, your courage, your kindness, your passion, your spirit. You have made this mission fun and rewarding." His friends and teammates say in unison.
"I will continue to improve myself and to serve as a hunter. I will never stop learning and growing. I will never forget this mission as a turning point in my life. It has changed me for the better. It has shown me what I can do and what I want to do. It has given me a new perspective and a new purpose." He says with determination and enthusiasm.
"We're happy for you, Kai. We're proud of you, Kai. We're with you, Kai." His friends and teammates say with sincerity and warmth.
He smiles and hugs them all, feeling loved and fulfilled. He thinks of his past, his present, his future. He thinks of his challenges, his achievements, his goals. He thinks of how much he loves being a hunter.
This near death experience has helped him grow and mature, finding his purpose and identity, as well as his values and beliefs. He becomes a renowned and respected hunter, a loyal and reliable friend, a loving and proud grandson, and a happy and fulfilled person. He lives a life of adventure and meaning, a life of honor and duty, a life of passion and joy. He lives a life that he can be proud of, a life that he can call his own. He lives a life that is worth living.
Kai recovers from his injuries and leaves the hospital, where he is ready to resume his journey and his adventure. He has spent two weeks in the hospital, undergoing treatment and therapy. He has endured pain and discomfort, but he has also received care and support. He has healed his wounds and regained his strength, but he has also learned his lessons and gained his insights.
He is eager to see the world and explore the unknown, but he is also grateful for what he has and cherishes the familiar. He bids farewell to his grandfather, his friends, his teammates, his doctors, his nurses, his fans. He packs his bags and boards a plane, where he is joined by Killua and Gon to wish and say goodbye to him. Kai will return to the Yorbian continent heading to his next destination, where they hope to find new challenges and new experiences.
But before they enter the airport, Kai receive a call from the vice-chairman, who asks them to attend a conference at the front of the hunter headquarters.
"Hello, Kai. I'm sorry to bother you, but I have an urgent request for you. I need you to come to the hunter headquarters as soon as possible. There is something important that I need to tell you." The vice-chairman says, sounding serious.
"Vice-chairman? What's going on? Is there a problem?" Kai asks, feeling worried.
"No, no. There's no problem. It's actually good news. But I can't tell you over the phone. It's too confidential. You have to come in person." The vice-chairman says, sounding mysterious.
"Okay… I guess I'll come then. But can you at least give me a hint? What is it about?" Kai asks, feeling curious.
"Well… let's just say it's about your future. And your past." The vice-chairman says, sounding cryptic.
"My future? And my past? What do you mean?" Kai asks, feeling confused.
"You'll see when you get here. Trust me, it's worth it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." The vice-chairman says, sounding excited.
"Alright… I'll be there soon. But can I bring my friends with me? They're with me right now." Kai asks, looking at Killua and Gon.
"Sure, sure. Bring them along. They're part of this too." The vice-chairman says, sounding generous.
"Okay… thank you, vice-chairman. See you soon." Kai says, hanging up.
He turns to Killua and Gon, who have been listening to the conversation.
"Guys, we have to go to the hunter headquarters. The vice-chairman wants to see us." He says, explaining.
"Why? What does he want?" Killua asks, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know. He said it's something important and confidential. Something about our future and our past." He says, shrugging.
"That sounds interesting. And mysterious." Gon says, smiling.
"Yeah… I wonder what it is." He says, wondering.
They get off the plane and take a taxi to the hunter headquarters. They arrive at the front of the building, where they see a large crowd of hunters and media waiting for them. They are greeted by the vice-chairman
"Kai Zoldyck, you have been chosen as the Hunter of the Year by the Hunter Association. You have completed numerous missions and quests, ranging from exploration to investigation, from combat to negotiation, from rescue to recovery.
You have displayed outstanding skills and abilities in various fields and disciplines, such as martial arts, nen, stealth, strategy, leadership, teamwork, intelligence, creativity, adaptability, resilience. You have earned the trust and admiration of your clients, colleagues, superiors, peers, rivals, enemies.
You have made significant contributions to the hunter community and the world at large. You have exemplified the qualities and values of a hunter: courage, curiosity, integrity, generosity, justice, excellence. You have lived up to the expectations and responsibilities of a hunter: to seek the unknown, to protect the innocent, to serve the greater good.
You have honored the legacy and spirit of a hunter: to challenge yourself, to improve yourself, to enjoy yourself." The vice-chairman says, announcing his name in front of a large crowd of hunters and media.
"Thank you, chairman. Thank you, Hunter Association. I'm humbled by this honor. I'm grateful for this opportunity. I'm happy for this recognition." Kai says, walking up to the stage. He is wearing a suit and tie, but he still has his trademark spiky hair and piercing eyes.
"You're welcome, Kai. You deserve it. You're an exceptional hunter. You're an inspiration to us all." The vice-chairman says, handing him a trophy with a star on it.
"Wow… thank you, vice-chairman. I'm speechless." He says