Is the Dark Continent Arc Over? Everything You Need to Know Before the Return of Hunter X Hunter Manga, Explained

With the end of Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen manga, fans of Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter X Hunter are eagerly awaiting the resumption of serialization. However, due to the series’ history of extended hiatuses, there may be some uncertainty among fans about what to expect next.

Despite this, there is one aspect that fans undoubtedly recall – the manga’s focus on the Dark Continent story arc. So, has the Dark Continent Arc concluded or is there still a significant portion of the story arc left to explore?

Although the Dark Continent Expedition arc ended years ago, the Dark Continent Arc, as referred to by fans, is still ongoing.

This article includes spoilers from the Hunter X Hunter manga, so please proceed with caution.

Is the Dark Continent Arc of Hunter X Hunter over?

Kurapika as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

The Dark Continent Arc from Hunter X Hunter manga is still ongoing and may take a considerable amount of time before the current story arc concludes.

Based on the Togashi Yoshihiro -Puzzle- exhibition, the current number of official story arcs in Hunter X Hunter is seven. However, some fans have divided certain arcs into separate sections, leading to a misconception that there are nine arcs in the manga series. The two arcs that have been divided are The Zoldyck Family Arc and Dark Continent Arc.

Ging Freecss as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Despite being a topic for discussion another time, the Zoldyck Family Arc has been separated from the Dark Continent Arc, which has been split into two distinct story arcs: the Dark Continent Expedition Arc and Succession Contest Arc.

Despite any doubts about the conclusion of the Dark Continent Expedition Arc, it officially ended over eight years ago. However, for those who question the completion of the original Dark Continent Arc, it could still be years before it reaches its conclusion. This is due to the ongoing journey of Beyond Netero’s expedition on the Black Whale 1 to the Dark Continent, which has yet to reach its destination. As a result, the characters in the series have not yet arrived at the Dark Continent, let alone begun their exploration.

Beyond Netero as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

The main focus of the Dark Continent Expedition Arc was centered around the global response to the Kakin Empire’s choice to embark on an exploration of the Dark Continent. Despite the V5’s treaty opposing such a venture, citing the potential for catastrophic consequences for the world, the Kakin Empire, having never signed the treaty, remained determined to proceed with their expedition. This ultimately set them on a collision course with the V5’s stance.

With this in consideration, the V5 extended an invitation to the Kakin Empire to become its sixth member and joined forces with them on the expedition. This journey brought together Hunters and civilians from various parts of the globe as they set sail on the Black Whale 1 towards the mysterious Dark Continent.

Hisoka Morow as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

The Succession Contest Arc centers around a competition orchestrated by the Kakin king to determine his heir. In this deadly contest, the princes of Kakin are pitted against each other, with the goal of being the last one standing and inheriting the kingdom. This event takes place on the Black Whale 1, making it a significant part of the Dark Continent Arc.

As the Hunter X Hunter manga makes its return, viewers can anticipate the continuation of the Succession Contest. However, there has also been development in the plot involving Hisoka Morow and the Phantom Troupe, hinting at a potential alternate storyline for the series to delve into.

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