Killua has finally made it to the NGL Border Stop. As he finally took a rest from running for hours he stopped by laying his back to one of the two giant hollowed-out trees that make up this checkpoint/embassy. Breathing heavily and in a cold sweat. He has never been so terrified once he got a look at how strong that Chimera Ant was. They made Hisoka and even his older brother Illumi look tame in comparison.

"All we can do now is wait for Kite to come back, Gon," Killua said.

As he then searches around to see where his friend is, even uses Gyo to see if he's hiding somewhere, and even tries using En to sense any trace of him until he realizes he can't find him. Then he remembered that strange feeling he had when he suggested they split up. Did Gon get caught by Neferpitou after all, or, no he went back to help Kite. He clenched his fists tight, so tight that some blood began to drip from his hands.

"Damn it I knew I shouldn't have left him behind, I should have just knocked him out and ran off with him before he did something stupid like this," Killua thought.

As he turns around a sharp pain fills his head until that nagging voice in his head comes back.

"Gon is probably already dead, what's done is done, it's too late for him," the voice said.

"No you don't know that, and even if that were true I can at least try to avenge him," Killua thought.

"You would risk going against such an opponent out of your league and die? You should know better, you're more careful than this, turn around." the voice said.

Killua was now too terrified to move. When he tries to step forward the pain in his head returns and the voice keeps telling him to run away, but he still refuses to leave. Even so, he can't just leave Gon like this. After all that they have been through, the first friend he's ever made. He can't forgive himself if he just lets him die out here with the fact he could have prevented it on his conscience.

"People die all the time, that's how it is in the business of assassins. Just make sure you're not the one dead. That's all that matters in this world, kill or be killed." the voice said again.

"Wait, I am not an assassin anymore, I don't give a shit about it anymore. Could it be that I subconsciously still see myself as a killer or…?" Killua thought.

As he dwelt on it, that voice reminded him of something he heard once before. Digging through his memories he tries to remember. Whether he forgot due to trauma or something else. Until he remembers it clearly. So many years ago he doesn't even remember how many there were but he was younger than from what he can recall. And how he was in tremendous pain, while his brother Illumi loomed over him.

"Why are you hurting me when you said you love me?!" Killua asked.

"I only hurt because I care and am making you strong so that you never get hurt or killed by any means. The poison resistance training, the electrocution resistance training, all of it I have been doing for you so that you can never die before me. Your pain is my pain though, I hurt more than you can ever know, but even so, I must do this," Illumi said.

"No no this isn't love, I don't think I want to be an assassin anymore," Killua said.

"You may say that now but one day you'll understand why this business runs in our blood, why we must be killers and nothing else," Illumi said.

Illumi then picked something off of his shirt and then held it out in his right hand between his thumb and forefinger. Killua saw something shining but it was too tiny to see.

"This tiny needle will be an example of how much I care, I will place this inside your head so you will always remember what I taught you to ensure your survival. Don't worry little brother, you'll never die on my watch," Illumi said.

Illumi then looks over to their father Silva Zoldyck, who then nods in approval as he watches over what happens As Illumi's hand reaches Killua's forehead the memory fades away. He can't remember much of what happened after but one thing is clear. Knowing how Illumi is a Nen user he must have used Manipulation on him. No, Manipulation is part of the reason he can't move. It's the training and ideals beat into him as a child that made him so paranoid and careful.

That pain that needle is causing along with that voice in his head is only there to remind him of said training. To further drill it into his psyche like a parasite. As he screamed out into the sky he stepped forward until the pain kept growing. Until he started to walk back towards NGL.

"What are you doing?! You shouldn't do that, you can't-" the voice was then gone.

As Killua pinpointed where exactly the needle was and ripped it out himself.

"You're a real piece of work Illumi, but after seeing what a real monster looks like I don't think I will ever be scared of you or anyone else again," Killua said.

He then casually tosses the needle away. The thoughts are gone, but still, other nagging thoughts in his head that are unsure. One thought suggested he first go find backup before going back to Gon. One suggests stealthily approaching first before grabbing Gon and getting out of there. Then he just focuses all of his thoughts on Gon. His courage, his optimism, all of that which he admires, and any stray thoughts that cloud his mind disappear.

Though he does stop to look at NGL's Border Stop and gets an idea of getting something before making his way to fight the Chimera Ant. As he smirks before he puts his stealth skills to the test as he's about to do something incredibly risky.

Meanwhile within the NGL Border Stop. The ambassador smokes a high-quality cigar as he watches from a window high up in one of the trees that make the border stop. Nervously twitching his fingers as he looked out towards NGL. As one of his underlings opens the door. It was one of the fake translators they sent to follow that last group of Hunters that made it through NGL.

The translator was incredibly nervous and her hair was messed up as if she was caught in a massive gust of wind. Trying to put the words together of what she just saw. As the Ambassador sat down he put out his cigar.

"I am sorry Ambassador Balk but I lost track of the last group of Hunters who entered NGL, three of them sprinted off faster than our horses could follow while they sent the rest with them back here, and I haven't learned about what is going on or what their true reason for coming in is," the translator said.

The ambassador rubbed his temples at this revelation, he was hoping for some news but got nothing.

"The only thing we know is that these various Hunters claimed they wanted to go into NGL because of a threat of some mysterious invasive species and to make matters worse I can't get in touch with King Gyro. For all we know, those Hunters were laced with some kind of bioweapon, and now who knows how many people in NGL are dead!" Balk said.

She looked frightened by this fact, especially considering if such an outbreak happened in NGL the citizens would just accept it and let themselves die thinking it's just the course of nature.

"Well they all seemed healthy. I doubt it was bioweaponry that was involved or that people would resort to such extremes. If anything there might be more truth to those bugs they mentioned they were here to investigate, if they were in that much of a hurry to get away from me," the translator said.

"As if some big bugs could topple NGL so easily, no there's something bigger going around here and I do not want to stay around any longer to find out," Balk said.

He then began packing various files into a briefcase and locking it up, before putting a jacket and hat on. However, in his mind, thoughts were reeling besides the preservation of his life.

"I knew ever since getting into this role what Gyro was really up to, but I helped as long as he cut me a share of the profits. I doubt he's dead, no way someone like him who is so dead set on seeing his goals through no matter what. He's probably going to start from scratch somewhere else, and whenever he does he'll probably call me for assistance. Still, I can't stay around here any longer, I need to lay low and change my name. Before this place is thoroughly investigated and people find out what has been going on here and what I've been involved with," Balk thought.

Finally ready to depart he then turned to the translator.

"Tell everyone I am going to be going on vacation, you are free to try to leave too if you so wish." Balk said.

While walking out the lights began to flicker. going out. Turning his head to the light fixtures he sees them come back on a few seconds later due to the emergency generator most likely. Quickly running to the door he opened it as a frantic employee was in front of the door as he was about to knock on it.

"Balk, this is serious!" the man said.

"Whatever it is, can't it wait till after my vacation?" Balk groaned.

"Sir, someone broke into one of our contraband vaults." the man said.

Balk was surprised as no one was able to get past their high level of security to get any of the metallic items they had taken off from various people they screened before letting them in. As he was shown the scene of the crime he sees that someone has managed to rip it open cleanly. As if it was done with both quick precision and strength. He then turned to the surveillance cameras and saw it was untampered with. What's strange however is there still seemed to be a lot of items in the safe, but only one thing was stolen.

"There was a sudden power outage as soon as it happened, it only lasted for a few seconds but as soon as the light turned out the vault was ripped open," the man said.

"And what exactly was stolen?" Balk asked.

"Some strange metallic Yo-Yo's, one of those young Hunters had to leave behind before going to NGL, the oddest part about them was when putting them in they were described as extremely heavy for a children's toy. To the point where they needed more than one person to put them in," another worker said.

"Did one of those Hunters do this? What was it that she said, that they ran off faster then any of our horses could follow? Damn, they're all freaks, if they pull shit off like this perhaps they are why Gyro is not answering and not some bug problem after all, but why go through all of this trouble to steal these back when you could have just gotten them back the normal way?" Balk thought.

"Uh sir, what are you thinking about?" one of his subordinates asked.

"I am thinking I am going to be late for my flight if I don't leave right this second, you all can handle this on your own. I don't want to hear any more about this," Balk said.

And with that he left off in a huff, hearing murmurings and whispers behind him. Stepping out of the border stop before getting picked up by the limousine he called for. It sped off in the distance with tires specially altered to be able to handle the rocky arid terrain of the area. As he looked out the window as he started to drive farther away from NGL.

"Those poor ignorant fools, staying to continue their posts not aware of the bigger picture. And those who do know yet are not following my lead. It's always been survival of the fittest anyway, it's been that way for animals and humans for centuries. If you can't survive through strength and speed you must rely on your brains alone to save you. Gyro understood this perfectly, but for all I know he could be dead." Balk thought.

Taking another heavy inhale of his cigar before exhaling, he then begins rolling down the window and dumping some of the ashes outside.

"At the very least if I never hear from Gyro again I have enough wealth saved up to last through the rest of my lifetime. I just need to get away from this continent first," Balk thought.

As he stared out the window he saw a glimpse of a truck that they sped past. It was just a blur but if he were to take a guess that was the same truck that was reported to be used to bring various other groups of Hunters before it. None of which have seemed to come out of NGL after going in. Since it seems the Hunter Association's interest in this place hasn't stopped he is becoming thankful he left when he did. He can't imagine what other group of freaks would be going towards there next.

Little did he know that the group inside was strange indeed. Involves a bespectacled black-haired young man reading a book that looks like he belongs in an office, Knov. A man in a suit and tie wearing sunglasses and inhaling from an abnormally large smoke pipe, Morel Mackernsay. And a bearded elderly man who is revered as the strongest human in the world and the Chairman of the Hunter Association, Isaac Netero, who is currently meditating in the back of the vehicle.

Knov looked up from his book to turn to glance his eyes at the two of them before closing it and putting it down.

"Alright, I wasn't going to ask this but I am afraid considering the circumstances why ask us two specifically with this mission? Shouldn't you have asked Ging to go to NGL with you or any of the other Zodiac?" Knov asked.

Morel groaned as soon as Knov asked this and placed a hand on his palm.

"You are seriously arguing with Isaac why he didn't make the most effective Hunters take this case. You and I both worked as Hunters long enough to see how he doesn't like to take things the easy way and neither does he want us to. Hell I am out of my element out here away from the sea and yet here I am willing to take it on," Morel said.

"Yes I do know, but a million lives are at stake from what we are told, not just in NGL, but also if this Chimera Ant King was born and these Chimera Ants start to infest the rest of the continent. Surely he would let his lust for thrills aside to think of the better of the populace?" Knov said.

"You say that but most Hunters only are in it for the thrills or whatever it is they are searching for, Chairman Netero is no exception. Though if the situations were as dire as you said then perhaps he would be taking this seriously. I don't even think we need Knuckle and Shoot to take care of these Chimera Ants," Morel said.

"Don't be so sure," spoke Netero.

As they all turned in shock to see him come out of his meditation or was he just pretending and was listening to the whole time, hard to tell with him.

"I have been having a premonition of sorts as if my instinct has been telling me to stay away from NGL and it grows as we inch ever so closer. Though yet this feeling of being in danger has me excited. It has been a long time since I was able to let loose. Why shouldn't I ignore those instincts and face that danger head-on even if it almost kills me," Netero said.

The very suggestion that what is lurking in NGL could be something that could harm even Netero caused some concern from the other two seasoned Hunters.

"Considering where these Chimera Ants came from, the one place you couldn't conquer and refused to go back to, would you say that some of the Chimera Ant Queen's offspring might have DNA of other dangerous creatures from the Dark Continent?" Knov asked.

Morel glared at Knov for even bringing up the name of that place.

"A possibility, though how a Chimera Ant Queen like this came to have still been bothering me. Thanks to information given to us by some people who have already been inside, we know from the arm sample that it's large and has humanoid features as well as how it drifted to NGL through a powerful current. Though how it could have gotten human DNA from the Dark Continent has been itching the back of my brain. Was it from humans that were devoured by Chimera Ants that stepped foot there long ago or a poor fool who went there more recently? From what I've seen from that place there's no way humans can survive there, well…not normal humans anyway." Isaac Netero said.

"The idea of there being some alternate evolution chain of humans from the Dark Continent is scary enough but a Chimera Ant with that kind of DNA in it? Yet you still think bringing me and Knov was the smart thing to do?" Morel said.

"You were defending him earlier and now you are paraphrasing what I've been saying," Knov thought to himself.

"Now this is all just speculation and hypotheticals do not get discouraged. However, an important part of being a Hunter is taking the worst-case scenario into account and even thinking of an even worse scenario than that. It's your actions after thinking of those scenarios that show what makes you different from an ordinary person that even Nen can't help you with," Netero said.

Back in the forests of NGL Killua was sprinting back to where Kite was and most likely where Gon is currently. He was going so fast that he could hear his footsteps for once. He was so caught up focusing on getting to Gon as fast as possible that he forgot to make his footsteps silent. He didn't care to correct them though as that would only slow him down if by a little and every second counts. He had his special Yo-Yos in hand that should hopefully help him in some way against that monster. As the dark rain clouds over the head blotted out the light of the moon and the light of the sun to the point where the time of day is hard to determine.