Chapter 166-170

Chapter 166: Fear Before Humanity’s Most Vicious Weapon! Tremble!

What is the most terrifying and vicious weapon ever invented by mankind?

Perhaps most people would instinctively think of nuclear weapons. Because of their sheer scale of destruction, a single warhead can easily erase a city from the map and kill tens of millions.

But the truth is quite the opposite.

Precisely because the power is so immense, those at the epicenter of a nuclear blast often feel no pain. They are killed instantly, even vaporized, leaving nothing behind but a black shadow etched onto a crumbling wall.

In comparison, biochemical weapons are far more horrific. Specifically, notorious poison gases often force a person to endure unparalleled agony before they finally succumb to death. Therefore, among all the armaments in the human arsenal, biochemical weapons are the most terrifying and malicious.

Now, this swarm of newly born Chimera Ants, who viewed humans as nothing more than lowly food, were finally about to taste the malice and vengeance of humanity.

Allen’s explosive arrow, imbued with a "Pinch of Gunpowder," streaked across the battlefield with extreme speed, accurately striking the massive glass vats on the ground.

In an instant…

BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Accompanied by violent explosions and blinding flares, a large number of Chimera Ants at the heart of the battlefield were directly engulfed, turning into half-cooked, charred corpses emitting black smoke.

But that was not the end of it.

The gas clouds generated by the explosion began to expand outward at an incredible rate. In just a few seconds, the flowers, grass, and trees on the ground withered and perished in swathes. As for the ants that inhaled the toxic fumes, they collapsed one after another, letting out screams of excruciating pain. Some, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, actually tore open their own throats and windpipes in a desperate frenzy.

In the blink of an eye, nearly half of the two thousand soldier ants, twenty Squadron Leaders, and nearly a hundred Officers lost their combat effectiveness, lying on the ground in agonizing misery, waiting for death's arrival. The other half fared little better; while they hadn't inhaled enough to be immediately fatal, their internal organs had suffered immense damage. Some, even if they survived, would be left with severe, permanent sequelae.

"You're thinning our numbers?!"

Pitou’s pupils dilated instantly upon seeing this scene. Her face was a mask of horror as she instinctively covered her nose and mouth. Although she had read records about human biochemical weapons during her studies, she never imagined these unassuming objects could be so horrific, destroying an elite Chimera Ant army in a mere ten-odd seconds.

Allen casually retrieved a gas mask and fitted it over his face, nodding meaningfully. "Correct. Quite a spectacle, isn't it? Tell me, do you still believe humans are the weak side and the Chimera Ants are the strong?"

To be honest, Allen never understood where the ants got their sense of superiority. Especially Meruem, the King, who acted as if he held all the cards, comparing humans to cattle and sheep. He even presumed to lecture Chairman Netero on human politics, suggesting he would establish a "reserve" for humans.

And the result? He was killed outright by a single Poor Man's Rose. He truly didn't know where the King found the audacity.

Perhaps it’s true that the more ignorant the fool, the more fearless they are. Throughout the Chimera Ant arc, the King was essentially just a beast with high intelligence—naive, foolish, arrogant, and a complete tool of fate. His brief life could be described as laughable, tragic, pathetic, and lamentable. Until his final breath, he never realized he died because he lacked basic fear and reverence.

Now, Allen was going to carve that fear into the very soul and genetic code of every ant, making them realize that compared to humans, they were the weak and helpless ones. Every ant should feel the same bone-deep terror and despair upon seeing a human as any other wild beast would.

Sensing the overwhelming malice radiating from him, Pitou shuddered involuntarily. She asked in a heavy voice, "What exactly do you want?"

"Simple. To kill you all. Every single one. Because you started this race war. Now, prepare to face humanity's retribution and destruction. Soon, you will realize how small you are, and how powerful humans can be, powerful beyond the limits of what your tiny heads can imagine."

Allen spread his arms wide and loudly pronounced the fate of the remaining ant survivors. To the ants who had just witnessed the horror of the chemical gas, he looked like a Reaper from another world, looking down upon their fragile lives from a great height.

"You won't succeed! Our King will defeat you! Then he will lead the legion to destroy your human world!" Leaving those words behind, Pitou immediately grabbed Youpi and vanished into the woods. With the shifting air currents, the poison gas was beginning to drift their way; if they didn't leave now, they might never leave at all.

"Hehe, it seems I've planted the seeds of fear deep in their hearts. Now, I just need to wait patiently for them to take root and sprout. Enjoy your final moments, little ants. You don't have much time left."

Allen’s lips curled into a playful smile as he quickly materialized his green Philosopher’s Stone, using the power to manipulate wind to disperse the toxic gas. On the other side, the Red Dragon, Vaelstrasz, appeared in her physical form to resume her buffet feast, incinerating the ants dying from the gas and swallowing their cocoons.

Before long, the battlefield, once littered with corpses, was mostly cleared. Aside from the withered vegetation, there was little evidence of the massive clash.

After five or six minutes, the entrance to the Hide and Seek opened again. Knov peeked his head out cautiously to ensure the gas had cleared before stepping out. "The plan was a success?" he asked tentatively.

"Thanks to everyone's hard work. The gas I manufactured killed about two thousand soldier ants, a dozen or so Squadron Leaders, nearly a hundred Officers, and even injured a Royal Guard. I doubt they’ll dare to leave the nest so easily for a long time," Allen replied.

"So that means there are fewer than fifteen hundred ants left in the hive, right?" Morel emerged from the mansion, resting his giant pipe on his shoulder.

"Yes. Most importantly, they now understand what fear is, fear of humans. Next, I’m going to let these little ants march toward death one bit at a time in total despair. A slow, agonizing death..."

A chilling light gleamed in Allen's eyes. It was the cold, ruthless determination of a Hunter, existing solely to ensure the absolute death of the prey.

"My, my~ How terrifying! It seems these little ants will face the Reaper’s judgment soon. Actually, from a personal perspective, I quite liked them," Hisoka remarked, stroking his chin with faux regret.

Illumi nodded tonelessly. "Mm. I quite liked them too."

It was clear that while both used the word "like," for Hisoka it meant the thrill of the kill, and for Illumi it meant the substantial profit killing them provided. To use an analogy: Hisoka’s "liking" was that of a foodie who loves cows because of the taste of juicy beef; Illumi’s "liking" was that of a rancher who loves cows because of the profit they bring at the slaughterhouse.

Chapter 167: Are You Car-Sick?

Within the Chimera Ant nest.

Pitou, having returned from her defeat, knelt before the Queen. In an extremely solemn tone, she recounted the entire process of her and Youpi’s failure and the subsequent massacre of over half their elite forces. She placed particular emphasis on Allen’s final declaration of vengeance: the vow to slaughter the entire ant race until not one remained.

The Queen sank into deep thought upon hearing this. Several minutes passed before she inquired via telepathy: “So, humans are not as fragile as we imagined. There are strong individuals among them, and they possess powerful weapons that we can neither understand nor manufacture. Is that correct?”

Pitou nodded hurriedly. “Yes! For the King’s safety, I suggest you relocate immediately. Otherwise, if the enemy truly storms our gates and releases that horrific gas again, the poor ventilation here means we won’t even be able to escape.”

“But the problem is, this world is crawling with humans. Where could we possibly run?” the Queen asked, gently stroking her abdomen where the King had already finished developing.

As the sovereign of a race possessing telepathic abilities, she could sense the fear and anxiety within Pitou’s heart. It was true, one of the Royal Guards, standing at the very pinnacle of Chimera Ant combat power, had begun to feel afraid. And the object of that fear was the very species they had previously regarded as mere food.

This sudden shift filled the Queen with bewilderment. She simply could not fathom what was so terrifying about a creature like a human, beings with no sharp teeth, no claws, no sturdy carapace, and no thick fur.

Pitou was clearly prepared. She immediately spread out a map and explained earnestly, “I have learned about the state of this world from the mouths of the slaves. Our current location is the Balsa Islands at the southernmost tip of the Yorbian Continent. There are five countries here in total. Our current range of activity is concentrated in the NGL Autonomous Region, a place where the human population is sparse and technology is backward."

She pointed to the east. "By taking a small number of Squadron Leaders, Officers, and soldiers across the sea to the other side of the islands, we can reach a nation called East Gorteau. Not only is it densely populated, but it also possesses relatively advanced knowledge and technology. Most importantly, that country is isolated from the outside world with almost no communication. We can directly seize the royal palace, control their supreme ruler, and use that puppet to provide the legion with ample food while learning to manufacture powerful weapons from the humans. If we move fast enough, those pursuing us won't even notice.”

It had to be said that for the King's safety, Pitou had truly done her homework. Under the threat of the toxic gas, she had realized the importance of scientific knowledge and technology; she no longer placed blind faith in individual strength and now yearned for weapons of mass destruction.

“East Gorteau...” The Queen was visibly swayed. She heard that humans were more numerous there, and more humans meant more food and better nutrition.

“Your Majesty, please do not hesitate. Make your decision quickly. Otherwise, when that terrifying human strikes, we will all die,” a Squadron Leader urged.

“Very well! Then we move! Prepare immediately! Take all the eggs!” After sensing the intense panic radiating from the increasing number of ants fleeing back to the nest, the Queen finally understood the gravity of the situation and agreed to Pitou’s relocation plan.

About an hour later, a large number of Chimera Ants began leaving the nest, feigning a hunting expedition. In reality, these movements were a ruse to deceive the enemy. The true Queen, the Royal Guards, and the Squadron Leaders had already slipped away amidst the crowd, moving rapidly toward the east.

…

Meanwhile, camping several kilometers away, Allen sensed something was wrong. Specifically, the red dot on his Hunting Map belonging to Pokkle had vanished, and a new record had appeared within his Eyes of the Dead.

Eaten? No... that’s not right. If the ants wanted to eat him, they would have done it long ago. They wouldn't have waited until now.

“What happened? You look a bit off,” Knov noted. As a sensitive individual, he immediately caught the shift in Allen’s mood.

“Something seems to have happened at the Chimera Ant nest. By the way, are you car-sick?” Allen suddenly pivoted, a mischievous, ill-intentioned expression crossing his face.

“Car-sick?” Knov was baffled by the non-sequitur and shook his head instinctively. “No, of course not.”

“Is that so? Good. Come here, look into my eyes.”

Without another word, Allen snatched the glasses off Knov’s face and activated his Nen ability, Eyes of the Dead.

In an instant, a massive influx of visual data flooded into Knov’s brain like a tidal wave. In just a few seconds, he witnessed everything that had transpired during Pokkle’s final moments.

The moment the transmission ended, the poor man felt a violent wave of dizziness. His stomach lurched, and he couldn't stop the bile from rising. Before he could even process his thoughts, Knov lunged toward a large tree, clutching the trunk and vomiting violently.

Only after he had emptied his stomach did he ask, his face pale, “Dammit! What the hell did you just show me?”

Allen shrugged innocently. “Sorry, I wasn't sure myself. Actually, that was the final memory of a Hunter captured by the ants. Now, tell me, what did he experience before he died? The more detail, the better!”

“Things seen before death? I see!” Knov realized what had happened and quickly took out a tissue to wipe his mouth. “I saw a massive amount of ants in the nest moving eggs and meatballs. But soon, including the deceased, about seven or eight captive Hunters were brought directly before the Queen and eaten alive. They had some strange devices on their heads; they didn't even resist at the end.”

“Eating seven or eight captive Hunters all at once?” Allen frowned.

“Yes! And especially the ants I saw at the beginning... their behavior looked like... like they were moving house!” Knov suddenly looked up, voicing his suspicion.

“Crap! The Queen is trying to escape!”

Now understanding the enemy’s intent, Allen didn't waste another second. He summoned the Red Dragon into her physical form, leaped onto her back, and flew straight toward the Chimera Ant stronghold.

By the time he arrived, the place was a ghost town. Aside from a few pawns left behind to maintain the illusion, the rest of the ants had vanished without a trace. Deep within the nest, he found a massive pit filled with human remains, at least a million skeletons, many of them belonging to small children. Some still bore fresh blood, indicating they had been killed only recently.

Based on this pit of bones alone, the Chimera Ants had to be completely eradicated!

Chapter 168: They Actually Got Scared Away?!

The sudden collective disappearance of the Chimera Ants was undoubtedly a bombshell. It represented a massive threat to both the Hunter Association and the V5. Consequently, within a few short days, a host of helpers and experts, including Chairman Netero, arrived by airship at the abandoned nest.

Gazing at the investigators busily scouring the area for clues, the 120-year-old man finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "What exactly did you do to scare the ants into this state?"

"Nothing much. I simply showed them a glimpse of human strength and malice, that’s all," Allen replied with a look of pure innocence.

He had never imagined in his wildest dreams that the ants would be so easily spooked. He had merely used the ability stolen from the mad chemist to manufacture some toxic gas, and it had frightened the enemy into abandoning their hive and fleeing. If he had actually brought out a nuclear bomb and set it off, they might have fled the human world entirely for the Dark Continent on the other side of Lake Mobius.

It seemed that the essence of the Chimera Ants was no different from any other creature: they were typical bullies who preyed on the weak but feared the strong. When they realized the power possessed by their enemy far exceeded their expectations, their first instinct was to retreat and preserve their strength rather than rush in for a mutual destruction.

"Hahahaha! Human strength and malice..."

Netero couldn't help but burst into laughter. Minutes ago, he had learned about the frantic "population reduction" operation from Knov and Morel. He knew exactly how heavy the Chimera Ants' losses were. The mad chemist’s ability, in particular, was capable of wide-range lethality; the resulting deaths were so gruesome and agonizing that anyone witnessing them would instinctively feel terror.

Clearly, the Chimera Ants' relocation was driven by fear and a sense of threat. No matter how powerful an individual ant was, they had no way to withstand such horrific chemical gas.

"Don't laugh; I’m telling the truth. But where could those ants have hidden themselves?" Allen rubbed his chin, sinking into thought.

Since the soldier ants left behind in the nest were nothing more than expendable pawns who knew nothing of the Queen’s or Royal Guards' whereabouts, he could only wait patiently for information. After all, a large-scale migration of an alien species could hardly escape human eyes for long. Once they neared a densely populated area, photos and videos would inevitably surface on the internet or the news. By tracking these reports, they would soon find the ants' new hideout.

As for using his Hunting Map, he had tried. However, perhaps because their Aura capacities were too similar, or because the ants were using some unknown Nen ability, the two massive red dots representing Youpi and Pitou ended up blanketing the entire island and its surrounding waters.

Chairman Netero stroked his beard and said, "No matter where those little ants hide, they will be exposed sooner or later. According to the experts' investigation, the King being gestated by the Queen has reached a critical stage. He must consume vast amounts of food to ensure sufficient nutrition. Theoretically, they shouldn't have gone too far; they are likely still on this island."

"Could it be East Gorteau?"

Allen suddenly recalled the original timeline: after the King was born, he led the three Royal Guards in a direct assault on that nation's royal palace, ruling through the manipulation of the supreme leader's corpse. This tactic had once proven a major headache for the Extermination Team, as they had to deal not only with the ants but also with an entire human government under their control.

"East Gorteau?" A thoughtful expression appeared on Netero's face. "It's possible! No, I should say the probability is high. Like the NGL Autonomous State, it exists in a state of isolation from the outside world, making it a perfect environment for the Chimera Ants to flourish."

"In that case, I'll take my team there immediately to investigate."

Allen stood up, ready to leave the hollow nest and head for East Gorteau to search for signs of the ants. Anyone who had seen that massive pit filled with human remains would instinctively feel a surge of rage and a bone-deep desire to annihilate the Chimera Ant race. This had nothing to do with good or evil; from a human standpoint, a species that exists solely to prey on mankind cannot be allowed to exist.

But before he could walk far, Chairman Netero called out to stop him. "Wait! Don't be so hasty. I understand how you feel, but it's best not to act rashly right now. I have already issued a high bounty in the Association's name; news should arrive shortly. Furthermore, East Gorteau is not like NGL; the political environment there is much more complex. If you go in recklessly, the consequences will be severe."

"How severe? Will the V5 put a bounty on me for the sake of some small-time dictator?" Allen asked back with a meaningful smirk.

"Hardly! But as a Hunter of the Association, coming into direct conflict with a national government is never a good thing," Netero explained patiently. As the Chairman, he had to consider the future of the entire Association. If a direct confrontation occurred with the high-ranking officials of East Gorteau, the Association's position would become extremely awkward regardless of the outcome.

"Don't worry, they won't get the chance. If the ants truly are in East Gorteau, the first thing they'll do is seize the ruling class to control the nation. If they aren't there, do you really think I'd waste my time dealing with politicians and bureaucrats?"

With that, Allen turned and boarded the Association’s private airship stationed outside, gesturing for the pilot to fly directly to East Gorteau.

Since the Neldrant Island incident, he had established solid cooperative relationships with many powerful politicians and bureaucrats within the V5. He no longer needed to be as cautious as before. Forget about an operation to eliminate the Chimera Ants; even if he actually did something to the ruling class of East Gorteau, the V5 would likely turn a blind eye. Compared to a self-isolated, fringe dictatorship, his value was far greater—he could even help the human world deal with threats from the Dark Continent. With the shrewdness of politicians, they could make that choice without a moment's hesitation.

Watching the airship slowly ascend, Netero let out a soft sigh. "Sigh, it seems this matter is becoming more and more troublesome."

"Chairman, is it really okay to let Allen leave like that? I felt a dangerous glint in his eyes; he might do something extreme," Knov warned cautiously.

"There's no helping it. He isn't the type to listen to advice. He’s the kind of Hunter who, once he identifies his prey, will pursue it to the bitter end. For now, all we can do is mediate as much as possible to ensure the Association doesn't end up in an open conflict with the East Gorteau government. Additionally, keep tracking news from around the world. The moment there are reports of monsters eating people or large-scale disappearances, send someone immediately to confirm if it’s the work of the Chimera Ants."

Netero didn't dwell on the issue for long, quickly issuing instructions in his capacity as Chairman. Currently, many world leaders, including those of the V5, were focused on the Chimera Ants' sudden disappearance from the NGL Autonomous Region. He had to provide an accurate answer soon. Otherwise, the entire human world would remain in a state of high tension and panic. To many politicians, the potential for even a small-scale invasion of highly developed major cities was far more terrifying than the deaths of a million people in the NGL Autonomous Region...

Chapter 169: Learning Fear

Sitting in the airship and watching the birds fly past the window, Hisoka suddenly spoke up: "Were those lovely little ants truly scared away?"

"Mm. Indeed. Though it was likely to protect their unborn King, they have certainly begun to feel fear toward humanity," Illumi responded tonelessly.

"Hehe... Teaching a species that preys on humans how to feel fear from scratch? That sounds quite terrifying!"

A playful smile immediately spread across Hisoka's face. He didn't forget to cast a sidelong glance at Allen, who was still focused on trying to use the Hunting Map to localize the two Royal Guards.

Illumi nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is terrifying. This fear is built upon a foundation of destruction and death. Imagine if you suddenly discovered that the food you eat every day possessed the power to kill you effortlessly. How much despair and terror would you feel?"

"It would be an absolute nightmare. Now I finally understand why those little ants chose to flee," Hisoka remarked with a lingering sense of dread.

"The situation for the Chimera Ants might be much worse than that. Based on our previous clashes, you likely sensed that psychologically, the ants firmly believed they were superior to humans. But in that last battle, Allen smashed all of their pride, self-esteem, and sense of superiority to pieces, then trampled them underfoot. That psychological gap is the most fatal blow of all. It’s quite possible your favorite little ants have lost the courage to face humans head-on and have turned into a bunch of rats only capable of living in the dark sewers."

As an assassin, Illumi was clearly an expert at analyzing an opponent's psyche; in just a few sentences, he had painted a clear picture of the Chimera Ant legion's current predicament.

The world did not belong to humans alone; there were numerous species of Magical Beasts living alongside them, and in the distant past, wars had even broken out between them. But the result? Humans completely dominated the world at the center of Lake Mobius.

The intelligent Magical Beasts either retreated into the deep mountains to live in isolation or integrated into human civilization as subordinates and servants, much like the Kiriko that frequently appeared during the Hunter Exam. Clearly, the Chimera Ants were now facing the same dilemma and choice.

However, they had consumed far too many humans to ever be accepted by civilized society. Coupled with Allen's overt and unmasked malice toward their entire race, the only path left for them was likely a dead end.

Hisoka looked disappointed upon hearing this analysis. "That would be a shame! I hate it most when delicious, ripe fruit rots and withers. Still, I should be able to play with them a bit before that happens."

"Oh? Killing so many Squadron Leaders and Officers didn't satisfy you?" Illumi looked up, staring at him with surprise.

"Satisfy? After seeing the Royal Guards fight Allen, how could I be satisfied? That staggering Nen... just remembering it makes me tremble with excitement."

As he spoke, Hisoka's dense bloodlust leaked out uncontrollably once again, and he extended his tongue to lick his lips.

"You'll die, you know," Illumi remarked with feigned kindness, well aware of what the pervert was planning.

"It doesn't matter! Dying at the hands of such an enemy would be a kind of happiness. Besides, if I don't even dare to try, what meaning is there in my life?" Hisoka shrugged noncommittally.

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Illumi immediately said, "If you die, I'll collect your body. Of course, the price is that all your inheritance goes to me."

"No problem!" Hisoka agreed without hesitation.

…

Meanwhile, in the territory of Rokario, Gon and Killua were engaged in a fierce battle with Morel's two disciples, fighting for the final two spots in the Extermination Team.

Just like the original story, the Emitter Knuckle faced the Enhancer Gon, while the Manipulator Shoot went up against the Transmuter Killua. The only difference was that this time, thanks to their hellish special training, both protagonists had been thoroughly tempered in terms of Aura capacity, combat experience, and mastery over their Nen abilities.

In just a few minutes, Knuckle was struck squarely by a Jajanken. He was sent flying, coughing up a large mouthful of blood before his eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness. A.P.R. (Amortizing Power Redirector), created by his Nen, vanished automatically once its master fell unconscious, unable to continue calculating interest.

Looking at his fallen competitor, Gon instinctively clenched his fist, whispering in a voice only he could hear, "I really have grown stronger! I can do it! I will definitely save Kite!"

Just as he finished, Killua emerged from the nearby woods, dragging the defeated and incapacitated Shoot behind him. He teased with a grin, "Not bad! Looks like we finished off our opponents at about the same time. All that suffering we went through lately wasn't for nothing. Otherwise, the next time I see that guy, I’d definitely have to get some revenge."

"Hahahaha! Don't say that; Allen did it for our own good. If it weren't for his strictness, we wouldn't have gotten this strong in such a short time," Gon laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"Whatever, as long as you're happy. Let's go find Palm, then we can head out to join the Extermination Team. This time, I’m definitely going to show those ants what's what," Killua said with a mischievous, devilish smirk.

"What about these two?" Gon asked, pointing at Knuckle and Shoot.

"Hmm, let's just leave them here," Killua suggested with a simple, blunt solution. He didn't want to carry an adult all the way back to the city from the wilderness.

But Gon shook his head. "No! They'll be attacked by wild beasts!"

"Then you mean..." Killua looked at his best friend.

"Let's carry them back. Regardless, these two are Morel-san's disciples, and since we took their spots, I feel a bit bad about it."

With that, Gon leaned down and hoisted Knuckle onto his back, trekking toward the city. Killua followed suit with Shoot. The two shared a look and grinned; the reason was simple, they had won.

However, before they could get very far, a humanoid creature with a head resembling a bull suddenly burst out of the dense forest. Radiating an astonishing amount of Aura, it raised a fist and slammed it down without a word.

The next second...

BOOM!

Accompanied by a deafening roar and a violent tremor, a crater over thirty meters in diameter appeared in the ground. Fortunately, the two boys' reactions were fast enough that they narrowly avoided the strike.

"A Chimera Ant? How could one be here!"

Killua's gaze instantly became sharp and wary. He quickly found a relatively safe spot to put Shoot down and entered a combat stance.

But before he could act, Gon stepped forward and said, "Stay here and protect Morel-san's disciples. I'll handle this enemy."

"OK! But be careful. According to Allen's rank classifications for the ants, this guy is likely a Squadron Leader. Judging by the power of that punch, he's probably a textbook Enhancer," Killua cautioned in a low voice.

"Got it! Just leave it to me," Gon nodded with total confidence.

Chapter 170: Ants Attacking on All Fronts

"Oh? Interesting! You guys are Nen users too!"

A look of surprise flashed across the face of the Chimera Ant, who possessed the head of a bull.

It was clear that the punch he had just thrown was intended to kill; he hadn't held back in the slightest.

"Who are you? Why did you attack us?" Gon asked, cutting straight to the point.

"My name is Bihorn! I am a Squadron Leader under the Queen! By the order of Pitou-sama, we are launching an assault on the surrounding human cities and villages. Now, are you ready to die, brats?"

This tall, muscular ant made no effort to hide anything, openly revealing his name, status, and objective all at once.

Strictly speaking, there was no need for concealment.

Neferpitou’s instructions to him were to cause a scene—the bigger, the better—to draw as much human attention as possible before the King’s birth.

He wasn't the only one; several other Squadron Leaders had received similar assignments.

"Pitou?!"

Upon hearing that name, Gon’s pupils dilated instantly. His entire demeanor shifted into a state of extreme agitation. "Where is she? What did you do to Kite?!"

"Hmph! If you can defeat me, I'll tell you," Bihorn grinned, revealing a cruel, predatory smile.

"Fine! Then I'll just knock you down!"

Those of the Enhancement category are naturally straightforward.

Having established the stakes, Gon immediately crouched low and began to focus his aura into his fist. He intended to end this in a single strike, just as he had done during his encounters with Knuckle.

Unfortunately, a human like Knuckle could never compare to a Chimera Ant Squadron Leader in terms of raw aura capacity.

In truth, after Allen’s hellish crash-course training, even Killua and Gon had surpassed Knuckle by a full magnitude in terms of aura volume.

It was precisely because of this gap that Knuckle, even after activating his ability, had his defenses instantly shattered by Jajanken. He hadn't been able to rely on his usual tactic of stalling for time to accumulate interest until his opponent went bankrupt and was forced into a state of Zetsu.

Gon, however, failed to realize the difference here and chose to meet his opponent head-on in a clash of brute force.

The moment the two fists, one small, one massive, collided…

BOOM!

The resulting shockwave and terrifying air currents sent the surrounding flora flying in every direction.

The outcome was predictable.

As the party with an absolute disadvantage in both aura capacity and physical constitution, Gon was sent flying horizontally. He smashed through the trunks of two or three large trees before finally managing to stabilize himself and come to a halt.

The shock visible in his eyes made it clear: he had not expected this result.

"Hahahaha! Surprised, aren't you?" Bihorn raised a fist the size of a sandbag and laughed wantonly. "The reason is simple! My aura and strength are several times greater than yours. As a human, you're excellent, but you’re still far from my level."

"Gon! Watch out! This guy's aura is at least two to three times ours! Don't try to overpower him!" Killua shouted a warning from the side.

"Yeah! I know!"

Gon wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and quickly scrambled back to his feet.

"It's useless! No matter how you struggle, you will eventually die by my hand."

Bihorn bellowed, once again concentrating his aura into his fist, and charged forward with the force of a thunderbolt.

…

While the two protagonists were encountering the Chimera Ant Squadron Leader, the densely populated towns and villages surrounding the entire Balsa Islands were simultaneously hit by a Chimera Ant invasion.

Reports of massive casualties and stomach-churning acts of cannibalism spread rapidly across the news and the internet in less than half an hour.

In an instant, fear of this unknown species gripped the public's nerves.

Some nations even deployed their entire military and police forces in an attempt to kill these man-eating beasts.

What they didn't know was that a Chimera Ant that had learned Nen could almost entirely ignore small arms fire.

Consequently, within a mere ten minutes, the military and police units, armed primarily with pistols and rifles, suffered heavy casualties, and the survivors fled in a rout.

Looking at the various reports, photos, and video footage playing on the airship’s electronic displays, a cold sneer appeared on Allen’s face. "Interesting. These ants are actually trying to divide our attention."

"Mm. While the tactic isn't exactly sophisticated, it is effective. At the very least, the Hunter Association must prioritize public safety when faced with this situation," Baise nodded in agreement.

"So what do we do now? Continue to East Gorteau as planned, or hunt down these ants invading the human world first?" Bodoro asked in an uncertain tone.

"Simple. We split up. You all head to East Gorteau to investigate. I’ll go alone to clean up these overbold ants. Remember, if you find anything truly wrong, don't act rashly. Call me immediately."

With those words, Allen pushed open the airship's hatch and leapt out. In mid-air, he materialized his Red Dragon (Vaelstrasz), which carried him toward the nearest invaded city.

Watching the massive red beast shrink into a small dot in the distance, Hisoka wore a playful expression and said with a smile, "Oh my, the Boss left us behind to go have all the fun himself. I truly hope we find traces of those ants in East Gorteau; otherwise, this trip will be far too boring."

"Hey! I'm warning you, you'd better not be planning anything," Baise threatened, narrowing her eyes.

Perhaps due to a woman's sharp intuition, she felt that this pervert was plotting something.

"Heh, don't worry. I won't do anything to jeopardize the team. I just want to go out and find some excitement on my own," Hisoka explained nonchalantly.

He clearly didn't take Baise’s warning to heart.

To be precise, other than Allen and Illumi, he didn't believe anyone else in the group posed a threat to him, not even Bodoro with his near-perfect defense.

"Dammit! I knew this bastard was unreliable," Baise leaned her head on her hand and complained in a low voice.

"Just leave Hisoka be. If he really causes trouble, we can just kick him out of the group," Illumi shrugged with an air of indifference.

"True enough! Hisoka has always been a man who does as he pleases. Unless you can prove you're stronger than him, he won't take orders from someone weaker," Bodoro added.

Ultimately, the team passed the decision to leave Hisoka to his own devices by a vote of two to one.

As for the poor cross-dressing Kalluto, he was deprived of even the chance to speak by his elder brother. He remained quietly in the corner, acting as a "tool," attempting to use his paper-cutting ability to discover exactly where the two Guards had hidden the Queen.

However, under the interference of some unknown Nen ability, all he could hear was a cacophony of white noise.