As Gon and Killua run back to the border. Gon notices that only his footsteps are making sounds as he steps across the muddy landscape. Even in this situation, Killua's footsteps are completely silent. He watches his movements carefully to figure out how he does it but he still can't wrap his head around it. He then turns his head back to look over to where they left Kite. He then turns to Killua.
"Killua, you believe Kite can make it back like he said he would, right? Can he beat that Chimera Ant?" Gon asked.
Killua turned his eyes to Gon before looking forward.
"Honestly I am not sure, for some reason Kite was pretty quick to get us out of the way of that Ant's attack. They seemed to have got a better gauge of its power than we did. We only felt its malice but Kite must have felt aura through its En or some other means and deduced we couldn't fight it together," Killua theorized.
Gon looked shocked at this.
"Wait, thinking that you still left Kite behind?" Gon asked.
"I doubt Kite would be reckless enough to let himself die back there, most likely he has some plan for escape in case things go wrong, he saved us from that Ant's attack. The least we can do is return the favor and get out of NGL like he said," Killua said.
As Killua mentioned returning the favor Gon thought back to when he first met Kite. Being saved from that mother Foxbear and then being told about his father Ging. Being handed Ging's license and told him that if he wanted to fight him he would need to become a Hunter. Because of Kite, he was able to meet Kurapika, Leorio, and even Killua. He owes so much to Kite and he possibly left him to die back there.
"Killua, let's split up, in case that Ant starts to follow us, they will only be chasing after one of us," he suggested to Killua.
Killua thought that suggestion odd coming from Gon, but he couldn't fault the logic of it either. Perhaps it is the fact that Gon is saying something logical or reasonable that's bothering him.
"Alright, I'll meet you at the border!" Killua said.
Before they split off from each other diagonally. As soon as they were far enough apart Gon stopped and looked back to where Kite was. Clenching their fist.
"Sorry I had to trick you Killua but I know you would have forced me to come with you otherwise. I have to do this, Kite owes me too much for me to pay back by just abandoning him," Gon thought.
Gon ran towards Kite to join him in fighting the Chimera Ant head-on.
Meanwhile, Crazy Slots stops the number on 5, as Kite is given a belt and a bag shaped like Crazy Slots mouth as he reaches into the bag to take out five-pointed star-shaped shurikens all colored red, white, and blue. As Kite tosses one Pitou manages to dodge with it, as they begin to notice the shuriken begin to glow brightly. They are suddenly blinded by a barrage of bright lights right in their face as a loud noise rings in their hypersensitive ears. While disoriented Kite manages to land a few onto Pitou's face as they explode again. Pitou is starting to get a bit annoyed and pissed as they have trouble hearing and seeing where Kite is.
"You know the major drawback of this weapon is how loud it is, I probably alerted many of your allies to this area, but considering I can take them out with ease and how it seems to be effective at disorienting you I think I am glad I managed to roll this one after all," Kite said.
"Shee I've been talling you dat dese were good spins" Crazy Slots said with a mouthful of shurikens.
"Come on now that's just cheap, we were having fun and you had to ruin it. You're lucky I can sense in other ways," Pitou said.
They tried to sniff him out first, but then realized the smoke from the explosions of the projectiles seemed to cover his scent and the stench wasn't pleasant either. With all senses except touch and taste messed they release their abnormally large En throughout the area. This field of aura allows them to sense Kite's presence. Chimera Ant soldiers that went to investigate the knows felt the malicious aura coming from Pitou's En and decided not to intervene out of fear for their own lives as they turn back to the nest. One however continues to fly to Pitou's location towards the noise they heard. With their eyes closed, Pitou manages to continue their onslaught of attacks with their claws attempting to slash them with each swipe.
Kite is forced to continue sidestepping and backing away from each swipe in his direction. A swerve to the left, a duck here, a jump there. However, this has played in his favor.
"You know you made a major mistake using En to sense me out, of course, this is probably literally falling on deaf ears," Kite said.
He then continues throwing more of his shurikens around Pitou that explode into more fireworks, however, due to them being constructs made out of aura, along with the fireworks being made out of it as well. Pitou's sixth sense is being clouded by the traces of aura in the vicinity as they lost track of Kite's aura. Not to mention the pain their ears are still ringing as they try to clog up their ears with clods of dirt to get rid of the noise
"I made that ability to disorient opponents so that not even En can be used," Kite said.
Kite then threw five shurikens at five different points, before getting some powder from the bag and making a circle. As the fireworks lit the circle of powder it became a ring of fire as a glowing pentagram formed in the center of the circle with Pitou in the center.
"Star Spangled Shower," Kite said.
Then several bright orbs of light erupted from the flaming circle and collided with Pitou as each one exploded into more fireworks. Before a massive cone of fireworks sprout from the center shooting vertically in the air like the finale of a mortar cannon firework. After the smoke cleared, Pitou was now covered in scorch marks across their body and on their clothes. Then Crazy Slots turns back to normal.
"Nyow I see why you made those weapons work like that, though I hope that's not the last one you have," Pitou said.
It was then the En retreated back into Pitou as the aura began converging onto one spot, their right hand. Kite recognized this as Ko, and realized they must have figured this out by catching a glimpse of them using it. They haven't been fighting for long and already this Ant has been improving exponentially combat wise. Greater fears loomed in his mind however, if this was just one of the Royal Guards before him, what would the other ones be like once they are born, if they are unable to stop the Chimera Ant King from being born would anyone stand a chance against him? Would even Isaac Netero be unable to best such a being?
Kite continued to dodge Pitou's swipes. With one claw swipe of their aura enhanced claws cleaving through a tree cleanly. While dodging every swipe Kite finds himself backed up against a tree. As Pitou was closed in the distance between them as they quickly came into melee range. Everything seemed to slow down as if his life was flashing before his eyes.
Whether he is able to guard against the shot or not, he uses Ryu on his arm as he tries to use it to block Pitou's strike. However, as he is doing so he notices someone approaching Pitou from behind. Someone he was hoping wouldn't come back for him. It was Gon approaching Pitou from behind. Since Pitou was not using En, focused entirely on Kite, and still hard of hearing from Kite's ability earlier they are unable to sense Gon coming closer to them.
Gon cups his hands together while running and pours as much aura as he can.
"First comes rock…rock, paper, FIST!" he yells out.
Gon then throws a powerful punch at Pitou's back. While it normally wouldn't hurt that much Pitou was pouring most of their aura into their right hand and thus was left defenseless from mitigating the blow to do barely anything. As Pitou bends backward violently from the shock. Kite then took advantage of this opportunity shifting Ryu from his arm to his leg as he kicked Pitou in the right side of their torso, launching them sideways away from him and Gon. As he looks towards Gon, angry at him.
"I told you to retreat, it's too powerful! We can't fight them without me trying to protect you at the same time!" Kite said.
"You don't know that unless we try, I couldn't just leave you alone. After all, you didn't leave me alone with that foxbear all those years ago. You did so much for me, this time I am saving you!" Gon said.
Kite was silent for a second, he didn't realize Gon looked up to him this much. If he died while fighting Pitou there was no telling what Gon would do after. Though he is also too stubborn for him to try to change his mind. If Gon died however he would be unable to forgive himself. However, he can definitely see that this boy is his mentor Ging's son.
"Stubborn to a fault just like you, you really know how to pass down the worst parts of you Ging," Kite thought.
Diving down from the air, Gon's face is taken by talons as a humanoid bird like Chimera Ant has pinned Gon to the ground. As he looks toward Neferpitou.
"Lord Pitou, I saw these two humans were ganging up on you, allow me to assist you," the Chimera Ant said.
"What?" Pitou shouted, still a bit hard of hearing.
"Uh..are you okay my lord?" the Chimera Ant asked.
Pitou then got up as they tried to stop the ringing. Shaking their head, tapping their head, patting it. Getting the dirt of their ears. Until eventually the awful ringing finally went away.
"Now then Colt, why are you pinning down my prey?" Pitou asked.
The avian Chimera Ant Colt looked confused at this statement.
"I was just aiding you because they had an unfair advantage against you, if we lost you that would leave the Queen defenseless against them." Colt said.
"I was doing just fine on my own, I was just caught by surprise, if I couldn't kill them both, then I wouldn't be able to call myself a Royal Guard now will I. Now let that boy go," Pitou said.
Colt didn't think this was a good idea. Though Pitou didn't seem to be in too bad of a condition. Plus since they outrank him he must comply. He then flies off and perches himself on a nearby tree. As Gon picks himself up.
"Very well, but I will stay here to drag you back if you end up unable to continue fighting. And I will take any punishment you give me if you have a problem with that," Colt said.
"A bold one, you would forcefully drag me back even if I could possibly kill you after. Don't worry though I won't lose. Though I will give them a chance. Tell you what, you two get a chance to rest for a few minutes before we can continue," Pitou said.
"Very well we will comply with those terms," Kite said.
"Good, meow don't you two go anywhere," Pitou said.
Pitou then went under the cover of a tree to get out of the rain as they began to stretch themselves like a cat would. Gon was cross with them because they were being looked down upon while also they were not being taken seriously. He then looked over to Colt.
"You, why do you care about someone who doesn't care about you?" Gon said.
"I am doing what's best for the future of our kind, and to keep the Chimera Ant Queen alive and healthy so she can birth the King so our species can prosper. Nothing else matters," Colt said.
Gon's aura spiked a bit.
"And the innocent people you have been killing don't matter," Gon said.
"You say that but you have been killing my comrades. Without the nutrition your species provides, the Queen would perish if not properly fed. I can't let that happen, I…I swore to protect her. I am sorry it has to be this way but either our species dies or yours. Surely you would do the same thing for your mother wouldn't you?" Colt said.
Gon's aura dwindled from those words. This Chimera Ant was more noble than the others. And he would protect Aunt Mito no matter what. And he didn't even think of the implications of exterminating all of them. Still though, he disregards humans and sees them as food for the Queen. He didn't let that go.
Kite saw Gon was conflicted, he was worried that this would happen if he met a Chimera Ant that cared about his comrades though he did not expect to this extreme. Even he was surprised to see how human this Chimera Ant was compared to the others. He approached Gon and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Gon, sometimes we have to do things we'll regret later on. Hard decisions not just to protect ourselves but everyone we know and they know. He said you would do the same thing for your mother right? Well if the Chimera Ant King is born and the Chimera Ants spread throughout the planet, everyone you care about, Aunt Mito, Killua, they will all be killed unless we don't kill the queen." Kite said.
Colt sneered at Kite upon hearing his words.
"And if it comes down to you two surviving against Lord Pitou, I will do everything in my power to stop you two from accomplishing that goal, even if it results in my own death," Colt said.
"He is determined, there is no use trying to make him an ally or convince him to stop. Might as well respect that with the same determination then. Kite is right, the Chimera Ants are too dangerous to live. Even if there are ones who deserve to," Gon thought.
Gon then pointed towards Colt.
"You, what's your name?" Gon asked.
Colt was confused by that question.
"It's Colt but why would you ask that if we are enemies?" Colt asked.
"Cause I at least want people to remember you even if it comes down to me killing you. And if you want to know mine I am Gon Freecs," he said.
"A strange name for a strange child, you seem to respect me despite me announcing how I am determined to kill you," Colt said.
"Frankly I am a bit offended, you asked Colt his name but you never bothered to ask for mine," Neferpitou said.
Gon looked towards Pitou and bluntly said "Well, I don't respect you at all."
A blood vessel begins to show on Pitou's forehead as they twitch their eye after being given that blunt response. Already they didn't take a liking to this kid either. Especially since he doesn't seem to be as strong as Kite is. Kite then turns himself and Gon around.
"Alright Gon, here's the plan. That Chimera Ant is powerful but they are still new at using Nen. And they seem obsessed with fighting me in particular, they might ignore you due to being weaker than me so hit them while they are engaged with me to give me an opening, and then back off. If we keep at it long enough we may be able to take it down or at least cause them to use up all of their stamina before we do." Kite whispered.
Gon nodded his head in response. As they both turned towards Pitou, before walking away from each other to make distance from each other. Pitou then began to ready themselves like a cat ready to pounce. They leap forward towards Kite, only to land in front of him and turn and go towards Gon.
"Damn," Kite said.
As Gon was about to guard, Kite dive kicked Pitou, knocking them away. As Pitou landed on all fours they began sprinting towards Kite. As Crazy Slots began to roll once more, this time landing on the number seven. As Crazy Slots transformed into a strange sharp curved blade in the shape of the number seven with Crazy Slots clown head as the pommel. Kite then slashed at Pitou with his blade, Pitou got hit but as they stepped back they noticed a sharp pain around their torso.
They look down to see the slash left a cut wound through their exoskeleton and clothes. A lot deeper than the minor cut from earlier. Definitely stronger than his last weapon especially since it skipped past 6. Still, they wondered what made this weapon stronger than the other ones because it did not seem to have a special power compared to what they saw Kite used previously.
"A lucky spin, thank god, this blade can only be used to attack seven times but each time it hits an opponent it gets stronger with the seventh being the strongest. If I can manage to successfully make seven hits in a row consecutively, the last could be the finishing blow I need to end this." Kite thought.
Kite then looked at Gon beside him.
"However, I must also protect Gon, now that it's going after him to get to me. Though he's not entirely helpless, he might help distract them to get the hits I need to kill it. It's do or die, if we don't succeed then there'll be no way we'll get to kill the Queen," Kite thought.
This is a battle against their biggest obstacle towards their goal. A battle that could mean death if they fail. Though as they are fighting for their lives. Killua is still running to the border. Unaware that Gon won't be meeting up with him there.
