Colt was walking through the cavernous walls of the Chimera Ant Nest. Having returned after another successful human hunt with members of his squad. Though he couldn't help but notice that it seems that each squadron is not working enough even with the recently born soldiers before the Queen started to focus on the king instead of birthing more soldiers. He knows that there are a lot of insubordinate soldiers that keep eating the humans they catch or killing them for fun, even noticing that the number of fresh human corpses that were taken in has diminished recently. If the queen isn't satisfied she might starve to death and as long as he lives he will never let anything happen to her.
He calls a meeting with other Squadron Leaders to discuss this. Though he notices some like Hagya, Cheetu, and Zazan didn't make it. He hopes that they are actually out doing the jobs they're supposed to do, nonetheless, he decides to start.
"I feel like we need to start disciplining the soldiers underneath our divisions to keep them in line as well as the other Squadron Leaders. Nothing severe like killing but I feel that setting boundaries could be the proper way to establish order." Colt said.
A bull-like Chimera Ant named Bihorn stepped up.
"While I agree we need to do this gently, if we push too hard we could cause infighting and we could end up destroying ourselves. We could try physical punishment, but that could cause them to lash back out. Not to mention some of us are not physically capable of doing that to the soldiers under them." Bihorn said.
As Bihorn looks toward Melereon, the Chameleon Chimera Ant, he looks away and silently agrees in frustration.
"I am more of a tactical leader if anything and I agree with Bihorn not all of us Squadron Leaders are physically capable of punishing the lower ranks under us, even though I survived the Nen Initiation but I haven't gotten any stronger physically and I have yet to develop a special ability like some have," Peggy mentioned.
"When my officers gained Nen they've all been distracted, then again they all had weird quirks since they were born. Sirenade doesn't want to do anything besides singing and dancing, Beezlebubbs keeps eating whatever he can get his hands on, Baaphegor does nothing but sleep, Reaper sulks in a corner and is creepy as hell, Levinathan keeps being extremely competitive, Asmophet keeps draining the blood out of the humans he captures, Mammoon keeps hoarding whatever she finds within the human habitats and Salamander is too irritable and keeps picking fights with other Ants that piss him off," Welfin explained.
"It seems ever since your unit is born a lot of them were given weird quirks, or maybe that's due to your inability to keep them in line," Melereon suggested.
"Oh you want to go judging how the other Squadron Leaders lead their soldiers, you're no better than me Melereon!" Welfin shouted.
"I was just joking, man, you're so sensitive can't even take a joke," Melereon said before taking another smoke from a makeshift cigarette made from tobacco wrapped in a leaf.
"Please take this seriously Melereon," Colt said.
"You know he has a point I think there is some kind of pattern, ever since the NGL's king hideout was raided, and the humans there were fed to the queen, and from. A lot of the Ants born afterward started behaving very oddly. That goes for all the ones after we captured some of those gun-wielding soldiers," Octopus spoke.
"Maybe it has to do with the particular humans that we came from, humans being fed to the queen is what gave us the ability to speak, and whatnot maybe it gave us more than we could imagine," Turtle spoke.
"Listen to yourselves, wasting this time on this stupid meeting talking about stupid hypotheticals when we should be focused on getting more food for us-I mean the queen," Crocodile said.
"No Octopus and Turtle both have good points, there is this one Chimera Ant who defected recently and ignored the queen's orders by taking a human's jacket we procured and left. When I tried to stop him he just asked me if I knew who he was. He let out a malicious aura that was terrifying yet familiar. Even with my immense strength and being sure that he is no Nen user just feeling that malicious intent was enough to cause me to step away," Bihorn said.
"That reminds me of another matter when I went to the NGL King Gyro's hideout. He also had a similar malicious aura about him, but the scariest thing is he went willingly. He seemed to know all about what was about to happen, but what he said confused me. He told me that this death didn't count," Colt said.
As soon as Welfin heard the name Gyro his ears perked up, Melereon noticed the odd surprised reaction before Welfin began acting like he didn't notice anything. Melereon strokes his chin glaring at him curiously.
"What about lord Neferpitou? Surely a Royal Guard could do wonders for keeping everyone in line Squadron Leaders and the soldiers underneath them." Peggy suggested.
"Unfortunately I don't think that they'll be so helpful. Not only are they fickle but they have been distracted by those humans they took hostage. Plus their En is busy making sure everyone is alert. I don't think they can be trusted with such a task," Colt said.
As Colt is finished talking he notices they all look terrified as he turns behind him and is terrified to see Neferpitou. All of their damage from that fight with Kite and the other two humans was gone except a scar over their left eye and while their left eye is fixed it seems slightly faded giving them a bit of heterochromia and making them look even more unnatural and creepy.
"Nyow nyow, just because I've been busy with our new prisoners doesn't mean you should go and talk to me behind my back. Also seems I mastered my Zetsu as I've been here the entire time and you just now noticed. Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that the humans are off limits, we had a few soldiers try to grab a bite but I made quick work of them." Neferpitou said.
Neferpitou then threw a head of a Chimera Ant soldier on the ground whose half-torn head made a wet sound as it plopped to the ground as parts of it brain were leaking out. Just the sight of this brutality to one of their own, as well as the smell burning through his sensitive nose, was enough to make Welfin retch until he turned around and hurled. As the others were frozen in fear.
"By the way, I think we could discipline and train the soldiers by having those kids fight them, I finally got the hang of my new ability and healed them. First I just got to get more information out of them that they should know about Nen first." Neferpitou said.
Neferpitou walked away and through the caverns to the nest. Before walking to a cave with corpses of Chimera Ants strewn about and messages drawn in blood that says "Prisoners Inside" and "Do Not Eat". One who was barely alive was pleading for Neferpitou to heal them. Before Neferpitou crushed the ant's head without a second thought. Walking inside she finds Gon and Killua in a cell and chained up that they managed to procure from the late Gyro's narcotics factory. Before Pitou unlocks the door and walks inside as the boys wake up.
"Nyow, mind telling me more about those strange Nen techniques you and Kite used?" Pitou asked.
"Why should we tell you you already copied and mimicked it?" Killua asked.
"Yes, but I can't easily explain how I learned what I did to the other Chimera Ants I need some valid information to word it properly. Like names for instance. Now it would be purrtinent if you were to tell me, after all the fact that you two haven't tried to escape, shows that you're not the ones in control here," Pitou said.
"Or what you're going to tell us more of your awful cat puns?" Killua asked.
Pitou then began stepping on Killua's leg and breaking the bones in it. Killua was used to torture and pain but it still hurt like hell. However, Gon was in more pain just watching Killua get hurt. And Pitou took notice of that weakness in Gon's eyes. As Pitou then began twisting Killua's arm and bending it.
"Ryu, the technique you saw Kite used is Ryu," Gon said.
"Gon no-" Killua tried to say before Pitou grabbed his mouth.
"Ken is the advanced form of Ten and Ren and acts as a defensive technique. While Ryu allows you to use Gyo to focus that aura on specific points of your body. Ko is similar in that it puts all your aura into a specific spot which can be used for offense and defense but not as well as Ryu." Gon explained.
Neferpitou thought back to when Kite survived an attack just by focusing an aura at one point. And they already knew about the basic techniques when they picked Pokkle's brain to get those answers. Though it seems these boys knew more about Nen than he did. Clearly, it wasn't a lie or a bluff as it made perfect sense and it was all that they needed for the others to be able to learn and perfect these techniques. They then stood up and point at Killua's broken leg.
"Doctor Blythe"
As from their tail, a large creepy doll-like creature was manifested that used surgical equipment to fix Killua's leg. And what normally would take three to six months took only 4 hours for Neferpitou to be able to completely fix the leg and minor damage to the arm.
"Took a longer time than I thought, at the very least using Doctor Blythe on you guys is giving me purrfect practice to get the hang of my ability. Alright, then I'll get everything set up for the arena and spread the info around. Stay here and prepare yourselves and I'll be back" Pitou said.
As Pitou left Gon started crying. Not of tears of sadness but derived from anger at himself for his own helplessness.
"Sorry Killua, I couldn't bare to see you hurt, and I knew I couldn't do anything to Pitou. After all we've been through I can't believe I am still so weak," Gon said.
Killua couldn't bear to see his friend cry, and after thinking for a moment thought of a way to cheer him up.
"It's not like we haven't been in a similar situation to this remember Binolt?" Killua asked.
Gon stopped crying for a bit and turned to Killua. And remembered that criminal they were forced to fight when being trained by Bisky. He then nodded his head.
"All we need to do is fight these weaker Ants and then as they get stronger so will we. And once we get strong enough we bust out of here and meet back up with Kite. I am sure Kite is doing something similar and is training himself. So next time we see him let's show him how further improved we are," Killua said.
Seeing Killua's resolve and smile, as well as seeing him still having a plan even in a seemingly hopeless situation. Was all that Gon needed to cheer himself up and get his act together. He broke one of the cuffs and wiped the tears from his eyes. Before letting out a hand to grab Killua's. Killua just manages to use a sleight of hand to slip his right hand out of the cuff before grabbing Gon's hand.
Meanwhile in the Republic of Rokario. Kite arrives in Doli City where the chairman set up a challenge for Gon and Killua in case they were the ones to get out of NGL. However, because of the different outcomes Morel and Knov's students were notified of the change of plans. As Kite walks to the local cafe Aguilor where he's supposed to meet up with Palm, Knov's student. He arrives and sees a dirty greasy black haired woman in a purple dress with a gloomy aura glare at him.
As he takes a seat across from her.
"So I take it you were notified?" Kite asked.
"Yes, honestly I was so heartbroken to learn I couldn't be brought to NGL but was glad to hear that I was given at least a chance. I wanted to help the boys all I could until I learned that they got captured I was about to tear my hair out. Until I heard that you were going to train us," Palm said.
"Not so much train you all as a teacher but more so training with, I have heard from Morel how excellent his students are and how they might be closer to my level than Gon and Killua were. Clearly, if I expect to improve they are the best opponents for me to spar with, but I need your abilities for something else actually," Kite said.
Palm stopped staring at her cup of coffee and looked up at Kite, before getting a closer look at his handsome face and features. Not to mention his voice is so calm and soothing. His calm and collected professional demeanor even reminded her of Knov. As she was blushing she looked back at her cup noticing that her Enhancer aura was beginning to make it overflow before she started drinking from it. After drinking the whole cup down she let out a sigh.
"I take it you want me to use my divination ability to help find someone who can help?" Palm asked.
"Exactly, specifically this person," as Kite brings out a magazine with Biscuit Krueger, a Double Star Treasure Hunter who specializes in rare and valuable gemstones.
"She helped trained Gon and Killua on Greed Island and I feel like they will help the four of us as well in getting stronger," Kite explained.
"I have heard of her, if you say that her training was able to help these boys you praise so much then I should use my ability to find her and contact her no problem. Especially thanks to this magazine you gave me," Palm said.
As a waitress came and gave Palm a receipt she was about to grab it to pay for it, before Kite took it with his right hand. And during that moment their hands briefly touched. Palm's heart skipped a bit as Kite took the receipt and paid for it himself.
"So…so courteous and gentlemanly." Palm thought.
"I figured I could repay you for your help, you mind if I order something as well? It's been a while since I've eaten." Kite asked.
"Oh no not at all," Palm said.
As she began to look at Kite more as she tries to bottle up the intense feelings she is having right now.
"No, master Knov is your one and only, you shouldn't be infatuated with another man so easily. All he is just a way to get closer to him." Palm thought.
Meanwhile, in another part of Doli City, Morel's students Knuckle and Shoot were sitting on a park bench. Knuckle was crossing his arms and tapping his right foot in frustration while Shoot was trying to ignore it. Before out of nowhere Knuckle roars in frustration. Causing bystanders to stare at him before beginning to walk away.
"This is stupid! The whole point we came to this city was because we were supposed to fight those boys to prove ourselves, but not only did they get themselves captured. Now we have to train with some random Hunter while those kids are going through Hell, we should be in NGL right now." Knuckle said.
"It's not like training with a stranger is bad considering those boys are still strangers to us. I know you're worried about them despite that fact, but the whole point of the original test was to get us prepared for NGL and so is this one. All we can do now is improve," Shoot said.
"Speak for yourself I don't need to improve. I bet this Kite guy isn't all that great. Just you watch," Knuckle said.
"I rather not watch honestly but I feel like I won't have a choice in that matter," Shoot said before sulking.
"I still don't agree with Morel that all of these Chimera Ants have to die. I just had to become a Beast Hunter. Damn it, I wish I hadn't become one I could've been anything else." Knuckle said.
"Whether you agree or not doesn't matter either, considering that it's the V6 who ordered Isaac Netero and our masters to take care of this. As in the world leaders of various governments are trusting us with this, and if we break their trust and faith in us that would be bad news for the Hunter Association." Shoot said.
Knuckle hated that Shoot was right. Especially considering he's always been a bit of a rebel that despised authority. Including that of the government and police. Yet they have no other choice in the matter but to obey the laws they imposed or else they end up in jail or worse. And the same could be said for Morel getting into the same kind of trouble too. As well as many other Hunters.
The fact though that they would be punished for such a thing is a part of why he hates the system in the first place. If there was another way they wouldn't have to go through with all of this. Yet at this point, no one has thought of a way to resolve things peacefully. All he can do now is wait impatiently until he can meet this Kite person. Though he doubts he'll share his sympathies.
As they then see Palm and some other person walk toward them. He noticed that the man standing next to her was not hiding his aura and was close to his own. After all that bravado he never thought Kite would be his equal. After being through five thousand battles he met someone as strong as him. Not counting his master Morel who surpasses him.
"I am Kite, and I'll be the one training with you all," as he introduced himself to Knuckle and Shoot.
