Hunter x Hunter: Nan Hulkenburg's ability explained

This article contains spoilers for the Hunter x Hunter manga.

Key conclusions

• Halkenburg's Nen ability, Grimmel The Dissonance, is extremely powerful and has an unknown Nen type.
• Hulkenburg used his ability to possess the Power body to influence the War of Succession.
• Grimmel's future use of The Dissonance in HxH remains uncertain, raising questions about consciousness and strategy.

Hunter x Hunter is heating up with the final chapters of the Succession War, and there are currently quite a few interesting characters taking center stage, such as Hulkenburg.

Hulkenburg is one of the princes of the Kakin Empire and is definitely a character for fans to keep an eye on. He has demonstrated his abilities before in Enterhowever, fans finally learned the name of this ability after chapter 403 of the series. This ability is extremely powerful and will have major consequences in later chapters.

Who is Prince Hulkenburg in Hunter X Hunter?

• 9th Prince of the Kakin Empire
• Son of Nasubi and Queen Unma

Halkenburg is one of the 14 princes of Kakin and certainly one of the most interesting. He is a very ambitious man, seeing that he wants to change the Kakin political system from a monarchy to a more democratic one.

At the beginning of the competition for succession, the arch in Enterhe was more of a pacifist. However, this slowly changed as he became more comfortable killing as the story progressed.

War changes the enemy's institutions through force. Combat destroys the very will of the enemy through force. To have such power is to be ready to face death! – Halkenburg

Until recently in history, Halkenburg was believed to be the son of King Nasubi by his second wife, the second Queen Duazul. This would make Camila, Tubepa and Luzura his full blooded siblings. However, as seen recently in HxH 403, Hulkenburg had a secret when it came to his maternal line. Indeed, it turns out that Halkenburg is not the son of the second Queen Duazul, but the first Queen Unma. This makes him a full-blooded sibling of 1st Prince Benjamin and 4th Prince Ceridnich.

In a letter to Benjamin, from whom Kaiser and Fugetsu claimed it was Kacho, he was told that Halkenburg was Unma's son, and that she had ordered the other queen to take him away to avoid possible assassination attempts by the other two brothers. However, Benjamin doesn't seem to believe all of this, thinking it's just a rumour.

However, Hulkenburg is definitely believed to know who his real mother is and appears to be on good terms with her, unlike his adoptive mother Duazul.

Arrow Shooting Boy : Grimmel Dissonance

• The ability of Nan Halkenburg
• Nan Type: Unknown

Hulkenburg is a character not to be underestimated. His Nen Ability, which has two names, Boy Who Shoots an Arrow: Grimmel's Dissonance, is a currently unknown Nen-type power and is one of, if not, the strongest abilities seen in the Legacy War contest arc in everyone Enter.

His Nen ability allows him to, as the name suggests, shoot an arrow. By transforming his Nen into a bow and arrow, he can fire this arrow that can penetrate almost any defense, even through walls and Nen abilities. When an arrow hits a target, Hulkenburg can transfer his consciousness or the consciousness of one of his minions into the target he just hit. The body of the person whose consciousness is being transferred falls into a coma-like state from which they will not awaken until the target's body is killed. This ability also creates armor around him, protecting him.

However, in order to even use this ability, Hulkenburg must gather followers. To do this, Hulkenburg relies on his guardian beast, which has a symbiotic-type Enhancement ability that marks people on the back of his hand with a gear. If the people listed are loyal to Hulkenburg, then this gear will remain. Otherwise, it will disappear after 10 minutes. That being said, Hulkenburg can use their aura when he uses Arrow Shooting Boy: Grimmel's Dissonance.

Although the Nen type of this ability is unknown, it is likely that it involves multiple Nen types as it is quite a complex technique. This can include types of Nen such as radiation, transmutation, and manipulation.

To put it at an angle of 26 degrees… I need to step 60 cm forward. Arrow Shooting Boy: Grimmel Dissonance! Fire!! – Halkenburg

The official English translation of this ability uses the term “Grimmel The Dissonance”, however the katakana name of the ability is Grimal Les Dissonances. This is a reference to a French orchestra working without a conductor, which is a good representation of Hulkenburg's ability because he needs to have fans to use Nen's ability, and how he wants to democratize Kakin.

However, some things about this ability remain unknown. Hopefully Togashi will shed some light on this eventually. One of these questions concerns the fate of the target's consciousness and whether it remains in the original body, but is simply out of control, or something else entirely. Another question that may soon become relevant is whether Hulkenburg can use this Nen ability while his consciousness is in another body. Hulkenburg is currently in Might's body, so it remains to be seen if he can use Nen's ability or not.

Future use of Grimmel the Dissonance in HxH

Halkenburg Has Possessed The Body of Might

Recently in EnterHulkenburg used his ability against one of Prince Benjamin's bodyguards, Balsamyl Might. Hulkenburg recruited some men and with their support he was able to fire his arrow at Balsamylk Might. Maybe Might came up with the assassination plan during his trial with CSK-17, the silent killer.

Hulkenburg has now sent his own consciousness into Balsamilco Might's body, and what he will do in the future remains to be seen. His body is in a sleep-like state, surrounded by his admirers.

What he does next will depend on whether or not Hulkenburg can use Grimmel the Dissonance as part of Might. If he can, he may be planning to switch bodies again, perhaps with the first prince of the Kakin Empire, Benjamin, his older brother. In Benjamin's body, Hulkenburg would have access to much more power and that would definitely be a game changer in this succession war.

Alternatively, Hulkenburg may choose to remain in Might's body until he eliminates his older brother, Benjamin. Indeed, Hulkenburg was able to infiltrate Benjamin's ranks by pretending to be the Power. Then he could use the very weapon that Benjamin planned to kill him with.

With that, Hulkenburg could eliminate Benjamin and possibly some of his men as well. This mission could also cause Magee's body to die, allowing him to return to his original body, without any possible evidence of Benjamin's death attached to him.

Hunter x Hunter is available to read through Viz Media. Fans can read the series officially and for free on the Shonen Jump app and Manga Plus. The next Hunter x Hunter chapter, Hunter x Hunter Chapter 404, is scheduled for release on October 27, 2024.