Hunter x Hunter features thrilling moments that promote the series' popularity in the shonen world. Apart from the interesting and expansive Nen power system, Hunter X Hunter has an incredible cast hosting unique characters with powerful abilities and interesting mannerisms. A perfect example is the innocent but diabolical Gon and the kind-hearted assassin, Killua. However, another character that had a visible impact on fans is Isaac Netero.
The Chairman of the Hunter Association lived up to his title during his fight with Ant King, Meruem. Even though he didn't accomplish his goal with his noble self-sacrifice, his last defining moments are among the best in the series. In the battle against Meruem, Netero used the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva technique to square off with the Ant King. The ability is still one of the strongest techniques in Hunter x Hunter, but how does it really work?
Issac Netero's Backstory
Isaac Netero was the 12th Chairman of the Hunter Association – a powerful organization holding exceptional Nen users. Hunter x Hunter revealed subtle details regarding the true strength of Chairman Netero despite his old age from the story’s opening arcs. In the Hunter Exam Arc, Netero outpaced the youthful Gon & Killua in a high-level ball game all night. This is not an extraordinary feat in the Nen world, but considering Netero's age, it is. Netero's age was never revealed in the series, but it's fair to assume he's over 110 years old. This was established when Zeno Zoldyck remarked that Netero has always been old since he was a child. Note that Zeno was about 67 years old at the time of Netero's death, meaning that the aged Chairman is approximately twice his age.
During Netero’s prime days, he was considered the strongest Nen user in the Hunter x Hunter world. However, in Hunter x Hunter’s recent timeline, he modestly claimed that he is no longer the strongest. No one ascertained the truth behind this fact, but either way, Netero's strength as a Nen user is unquestionable. Even after his death, Netero is still regarded as one of the strongest Nen users. Zeno remarked that Netero was able to fight with his grandfather Maha Zoldyck – one of the strongest Zoldycks ever to exist and walk away unharmed. In Hunter x Hunter much of Netero's feats are left in the dark. However, the Chairman's backstory revealed important details of his past.
As a prelude to the debut of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, Hunter X Hunter showed an important flashback featuring the middle-aged Netero training in the mountains. At a point in his life, Netero trained in the mountains, throwing 10,000 punches daily as a show of gratitude. He continued this routine for 2 years until each blow moved faster than the speed of sound. This feat is linked to Chairman Netero's strength as a Martial arts practitioner and not his Nen techniques. His personal Nen training process is relatively unknown, but he was powerful enough to be dubbed the "strongest Nen user," meaning that his skills as a Nen were on the high side.
The 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, Explained
The 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva is a powerful manipulation Nen technique, which is quite surprising, following Netero's nature as an Enhancer. This adds to his long line of achievements. Using a manipulation technique he isn't naturally compatible with to a very large extent is impressive and extraordinary in the Nen world. The manifestation of 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva resembles a Buddha statue with many hands.
For Netero to kick-start the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, he adopts a praying stance that needs to complete a full motion for the ability to kick in. While this might look like a setback, it actually takes Netero 0.1 seconds to complete a single prayer motion, meaning that Netero's years-long training in the mountains eventually paid off. Following the speed of a single prayer motion, we can infer that Netero can release 1000 moves in the timeframe of a minute, signifying how remarkable his speed is. Netero revealed only four different moves of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
- The First Hand: Using the First Hand move, Netero changes his praying stance to one that allows him to create an arc with open palms. The resultant effect of this move is that one of his the statue’s hands strikes his opponent at incredible speed and considerable power. This was Netero’s opening move against Meruem, so it’s highly likely that First Hand works best as an attack move.
- The Second Hand: Contrary to the First Hand technique, the Third Hand is a clapping technique. Using Third Hand of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, Netero uses a stance that gradually leads to a clap. Consequently, the technique hits Netero's adversaries in the form of a powerful clap movement. If not for Meruem's high durability, he wouldn't have survived the Third Hand.
- The Ninety-Ninth Hand: The Ninety-Ninth Hand differs from the First & Second Hand in two ways. First, Netero doesn't need to adopt any motion. He just stays in a single stance while his hands form the shape of the number 99. Second, the Ninety Hand is not a one-strike move. It involves the constant barrage of countless attacks. Finally, the technique far exceeds the First & Second Hand in power and speed.
- The Zero Hand: Zero Hand is the strongest technique of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. Contrary to the other techniques that involve strikes and exaggerated movements, the Zero Hand is an energy-based attack. The Zero hand grasps Netero’s opponents and releases a powerful beam over them. Meruem survived the attack, but he didn’t come out unharmed as he had visible injuries on his hand. Most likely, there is more to the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, but for some reason, Netero chose not to reveal it – maybe he realized the futility of his actions against a fast-evolving creature.
Chairman Isaac Netero is one of the strongest characters in Hunter X Hunter. Most fans even infer that the series didn’t show the true capabilities of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva since Netero estimated that technique would be harmless to Meruem. Regardless, the old Hunter still managed to show impressive feats, unrivaled by most Hunters in the manga-anime series.