The group learns the underworld of NGL wasn't the only place that was infested with ants, the rest of the country was overrun.

They reached a large room, unopened crates and massive machines hugging the walls. The room was like the rest of the place, patches of blood littering the walls and floor.

But unlike the pond outside, there were no bodies to be found.

It might as well have effectively been like a long-forgotten ruin, left to rot away by the previous owners. But that wouldn't have been the case.

Stray bullet casing littered across the floor, the multiple bullet holes all over the place meant whatever came through here was fast and relentless.

Raphael leaned down to touch one of the guns.

It was much different than the others. Raphael whistled for Killua to come over.

"Hello…" The boy ran his fingers over the weapon, admiring the workmanship, "That explains the military grading. This is an AK 74. Surprised, they could sneak one of these in without a complaint." The boy's eyes shifted to the large crates, "There's probably more of them."

"And the ones we saw outside, "AK-47, same series, but these usually have a higher accuracy and less recoil. They probably switched to these because the Chimera Ants were difficult to hit. Not that it looks like it helped them."

Killua dug his fingers into one of the many crates, prying off the lid with ease. Handguns, Assault Rifles, shotguns. They were armed to the teeth and ready for a throw down at any moment.

"Talk about the hidden side of NGL…" The boy whistled as he cocked one of the many shotguns, "This must be where they made their supply. The perfect narcotics factory, well protected and hidden."

Raphael frowned as he watched Killua check different aspects of the gun he held.

Kite's eyes shifted to one of the many machines. It caught multiple stray bullets, ruining any chances of it being fixed, "Yes… this is a manufacturing plant for D², the hot new drug on the market being spread throughout the mainland, it's likely they have a field of Bila trees nearby to help with the creation."

Kite scoffed at the situation. And NGL touted itself as being the perfect little country without machines, a return to the old ways of farming and living carefree, "Kind of ironic, given their claims of being preservationists."

Killua heard the disdain in the man's words. It looks like he's not just frustrated about finding out their hidden secret, he's annoyed that there's nothing they could do about it. The underworld has already been destroyed, and the Chimera Ants roaming about is the main pressing concern on his mind.

"It's likely this is the core of the NGL's cartel, then. And seeing that the NGL leaders already knew the truth about this place. Once they find out it's been ransacked, they'll do everything in their power to bury the evidence…"

"Very likely. Too bad, the other community members joined because they genuinely identify with the environmental message.

Raphael couldn't help but laugh at the irony. The people here were forced to follow the rules, yet the people who ran it… didn't, "That sucks. But I suppose if this does come to light, it won't help them with the ant infestation. So, what do we do now?"

Killua's eyes shifted from Raphael back to Kite, "Nothing, I'm guessing. If this place is empty…" The boy frowned, "It's likely that even if there are other facilities, they'll have already been evacuated."

"True. Taking this facility out would mean the Chimera Ants have officially wiped out the dark side of NGL. Whoever is left, even if they manage to join forces, a bunch of amateurs with guns isn't going to be enough to deal with the enemy."

"And their boss?" Gon asked out of curiosity.

"He escaped…" Kite shrugged, "or was eaten. Either way, this is bad news."

"Because the leader could be reborn as a squad leader?"

"Shh." Kite turned to look at one of the tunnels behind them. He felt it for a second. Someone was watching them. But the moment he felt them, they must have realised they were discovered, "One of them was watching us… there may be a few more of them around."

Both Killua and Gon stiffened at the information. How much did they overhear?

"I doubt our information would be useful to them? Shall I spy on our spy?"

"Oh?"

"Mirage doubles as an information gathering technique. I can send one in as a pair of eyes skulking in the darkness."

"No, we'll deal with them personally." Kite gestured for the boys to follow him, "Follow me."

"~"

They followed the man, Kite leading them through a long, winding tunnel. The man's eyes narrowed on to one of the three tunnels, "Seems like the spy already alerted them. They're slowly approaching through the middle tunnel." The man then gestured to the two other tunnels, "As well as the left and right. Six of them in total."

"Wait, you can use En?"

"Of course he can." When Raphael stuck out his tongue at him, Killua ignored it, "I wanna know the radius, how far he's searching from to be able to gauge that they're walking slowly?"

"Everything within a forty-five-meter radius. Well, it's roughly within a two-to-three-meter difference, depending on my physical or mental condition."

"Forty-five?!" Raphael smiled widely from excitement. He had a potential teacher to be able to improve his skills, "I can use En too, but the best record I've been able to retain was five meters, but that's if I'm focusing purely on retaining my En. If I'm fighting, I'm lucky if I can keep it at a meter."

"Ohh…" Kite shifted his attention down to the boy, "That's a big decrease, Raphael."

The man was right, it was. While it was true he had learned En not that long ago, he only used it while training with Gon and Killua.

He hasn't had many opportunities to train or properly utilise it, "You wouldn't happen to know of a way I can improve?"

"You personally?" Kite frowned, "No. There are as many category types as there are variations to En."

The boy's expression faltered. He felt like he knew the answer before he heard it. There is never one way to learn something.

The man looked over to the corridors. They still had time. He'll probably be able to give some advice before the ants reveal themselves. "How about you tell me how you've been practising, and if it's a method, or similar to one I know… I can give you a pointer."

"Well, first I focus on my body, the full extent of my limbs as though I'm using Gyo. Then I extend my aura to a comfortable range and maintain it."

"Hmm, so that explains the ability I saw earlier. You wouldn't happen to be an Emitter?"

"I am…"

"It's a common method for Emitters. Extend, then maintain. I do know of a method, but it's difficult. However, it's great if you want to get fast results. Would you like to know?"

Raphael eagerly nodded. He'd gladly learn any tricks of the trade, especially if it's going to help him in the long run.

"Good." The man gave a smile, "What I would suggest is for you to push your body to its limits. If five meters is your maximum, force your body to extend it to four meters and maintain that until you are exhausted. Rest, then extend it for as far as you can, we'll say the next day you can do six meters, pull it back to five meters, then rinse and repeat. It also works great if you're practising Ren at the same time, treating your Ren's range as though it's your En field."

Thanks." Raphael offers a big smile, "I'll try to keep that in mind."

"Good, here they come."

Low groans escaped from the middle tunnels; small figures came from the darkness.

The first thing they saw were two completely broken men, both crying in pain and anguish as they were forced to drag their naked bodies across the floor with their knees and elbows.

They were prepared for an instant fight… not this.

There were chains connecting to their neck, stopping them from getting away from their master. A Centaur-Chimera Ant, face more resembling a cross between a human and snake, was the one holding their leash.

He looked barely amused, his eyes drifting over to the group. His turf is being invaded by a bunch of kids and the adults. His tongue slithered out, groaning with frustration, "You called me for this, Lasirus… Lame."

Letting out an irritated click of his tongue, he yanked on the leash, "Shut it, you two."

Drifting his attention back, he looked rather annoyed, "So are you supposed to be? These replacements?" Yanking on the leash once more, the two subservient men looked up.

One wasted no time, "PLEASE SAVE-"

The ant slammed his hoof into the back of the human's head, crushing the skull into the dirt with a wet squelch "Shut it, Spot!"

Blood splattered across the ground, some of it hitting the other man in the process. When the Centaur Ant removed his hoof, he frowned, "Ah man, these pets are so weak. Maybe…" The ant gave a sinister smile, "I should get rid of the other too."

Gon couldn't believe his eyes. How come these ants were more monstrous than the last? He was executing someone without hesitation, and even thinking about killing another.

"Don't you-" Gon took one step forward, only for his wrist to be grabbed by Raphael. "Let me go, we have to-"

"There's only one there." Raphael directed the boy's attention back to the lone ant "Where's the other three?"

"You did good to stop him, Raphael." Kite frowned, "There was one waiting underground at the halfway point. Had you rushed in…" The man shot the boy a stern look, "You would've been trapped…"

"But…"

Killua's eyes snapped to the left tunnel, a large flying ant fluttering through. She wore a mask over her face, which meant she was trying to hide something in her mouth.

A second ant revealed themselves from the right tunnel, a man with several arms. Gon stared at this ant in disbelief.

But there were only three, where was the fourth? Kite said it was waiting underground at the halfway point, but the question is whereabouts…?

Another wet squelch followed, the second's head getting caved in like the last's.

Gon looked away. He didn't want to watch the man he failed to save be crushed by the deranged ant. But he was forced to.

"Don't look away. The last thing you'd want is to be hit by a projectile you can't see coming."

Gon forced himself to look at the gore, the ant's bloodied lower body after crushing the two men.

"You know what…" The snake ant suddenly spoke up, filled with murderous intent along with his mechanical smile, "I'll make you four my new dogs."

As his tongue slithered out, the two at his side charged them. Kite held out his hand, "Gon you deal with the centipede, Killua, the flyer, and Raphael, go after the one underground. Draw him to the surface."

The three offered a nod, rushing towards the middle to draw their respective ant's attention.

Since Kite said nothing, the centaur was probably his target.

Raphael ran towards the centaur, the creature's tongue slithering across his lips in anticipation.

The teen let out his aura, using En to try to search for the ant still in hiding. The moment he did so, the ground opened up, multiple hands reaching out to drag him into the depths below.

With a smile, he grabbed one of the many arms, yanking him out of the ground, "Got ya!"

With his upper body, he threw them further from the others. They thudded onto the ground with a shrill "You bastard! You'll pay for that."

The creature twitched its legs burying itself underground once more, making the teen stop, using En once more to search, "Come on out, you hairy little fucker…" His eyes flicked across the area for clues.

What he caught a glimpse of looked like a spider crossed with a Chimera ant, at least by gauging their face. They didn't have the same set of eyes spiders usually had.

But that wasn't a guy like he initially thought. It sounded more high-pitched, like a female.

Using the clues, he put the pieces together. A type of spider that buries itself underground.

"Hey Kite, know any spiders that bury themselves?"

"Hmm…" Kite, slid across the floor, avoiding the centaur with ease, "I can. A Sicarius Hahni comes to mind."

"Do they act like traps?"

"Certainly…"

With a wide smile, the teen knew what needed to be done. He released his aura, summoning one of his Mirages to his side.

The Nen creature took several steps forward, Raphael leaping up to survey the area. As the ground opened up below the Mirage, Raphael made his move. He dropped behind the Chimera ant.

Her teeth sunk into the black mist, looking shocked that it hadn't tasted any human blood. But then a pair of arms wrapped around her neck, dragging her on the concrete.

She was unable to move, feet dangling in the air as the arm constricted around her neck.

Raphael squeezed his arm tighter, trying to cut the air off from the ant. As they continued to wiggle, fighting against him, he refused to let go, instead tightened his grip.

Right as the creature drew her last breath, a single gunshot rang out through the empty room.

Raphael held his arm for a few seconds longer, getting up to shove the body aside. She won't be getting up after he crushed the ant's oesophagus.

When he looked over to the others, it seemed like Gon was the last to defeat their ant, their body being carved in half by the boy's fingers.

He noted the aura extending to be shaped like a sword made from aura. Was that his (scissors)'s technique? If so, all that was left to be developed was paper.

"Yo, Gon-" Raphael's eyes widened when he saw the enemy twitch to life behind Gon, jumping up to take revenge "Look-"

Kite twisted his gun to face the boy, shooting the ant he failed to kill in the skull. But he wasn't done. He snapped towards Raphael, pulling the trigger once more.

A bullet sailed past the frozen teen, the sound of something squishy being penetrated behind him.

Kite let out a sigh, "Never relax after dismembering them…" The man turned from Gon back to Raphael, "Or choking them out. The head and body can survive an entire day after they've been separated. Always make sure to crush the head."

Raphael slowly turned to look at the crumpled body of the spider. Kite shot her right through the eyes like he did with Gon's ant.

The man certainly had a knack for shooting ants between the eyes, and pointing out things they probably should've known long before they fought the first ant.

Considering he hadn't said anything to Killua, it looks like their friend was the only person to kill an ant successfully.

Raphael frowned at the body, "A heads-up about the head would've been nice."

"Clearly…" The man ducked his eyes, "This is something you should assume in the worst-case scenario, since we're fighting Chimera Ants."

"Right…" Raphael crossed his arms. The man was right. They shouldn't have assumed they'd die after being dismembered or choked. These weren't strictly human beings, "I'll remember that for next time."

Kite's sentient weapon, however, had other ideas. It started regurgitating information as though its thoughts were linked with the man's "And preferably, you'll kill them quickly and quietly."

When the clown started laughing, Raphael couldn't stop himself from smiling, "So it has a link to your memories, huh?" This thing seemed to act like the complete opposite of the man who used it. Maybe it can be probed, too, questioned for information other than about itself. Although, being able to crack jokes meant it could probably react to insults too, "Since it has some form of intelligence, you'd think a gun that talks about killing quickly and quietly after going BANG, BANG, certainly knows about how to keep quiet."

"Hey, take that back, you little squirt! I always get the perfect roll when I spin the slot machine in my mouth! You better remember that for-"

"Go away."

The clown vanished before he could say anymore on the matter.

"So, about your noisy clown… gun. It mentioned something about slots?"

"Yes, it's an annoying little ability. They roll a number between one and nine, then it gives me a weapon."

Raphael raised an eyebrow. Something wasn't adding up. He speaks to it as if he hates it. And considering what he just said, Kite just confirmed it generates a random weapon he has no control over "You don't have a choice?"

"No…"

"And it just talks by itself?" Killua posed the next question.

"Apparently…"

This left the boys more confused. People tend to design their ability to suit their needs. Kite's acts like it does the complete opposite. It gives him whatever it wants, and it doesn't seem to shut up, much to the man's dismay, "Does it do anything you want it to do?"

"Sadly, no…" The man let out a long sigh, "And if I summon it and fail to use the weapon given to me, I simply cannot get rid of it. It's so aggravating…"

Kite turned to walk away, leaving the trio feeling a mix of confusion and exasperation. If he hates it… why does it act that way? Was it parasitic in nature? Given to him without consent?

"Wait, didn't you make it that way? Is it not your ability?"

The man gave a solemn nod, "Yes, to both. Unlike my ability, your powers are much easier to use, compared to mine."

"Compared to that thing of yours?" Killua was a little amused at the man's predicament. He designed the ability to be as annoying as possible for himself, yet he's the one complaining "No kidding…"

Gon agreed with his friend and Kite, although he didn't really want to, because this is Ging's student, he was pretty much insulting by agreeing he was the worst designed Nen ability, at least when it came having to deal with a complaining, insulting, sentient ability that won't seem to shut up, much to Kite's dismay…

"Gon, I noticed you appear to have incorporated Enhancer, Transmuter, and Emitter abilities into Rock-Paper-Scissors."

"Yeah, I did. Although, I think my Paper technique needs a little work. It's the thing I struggled the most with back on Greed Island." The boy let out a huge smile, "But Enhancer is my natural affinity, so Rock is what I feel most comfortable with."

"Is that so…" The man let out a hum of agreement. Rock-Paper-Scissors was a straight forward technique, so it made a lot of sense. He then turned to one of the other boys, "Killua, since you used lightning, you must be a Transmuter, correct?"

"You would be…" Killua let a snap of electricity connect between his fingertips, "But it doesn't look to be that strong, and it tends to drain my energy quickly…"

"You'll have plenty of chances to improve, although I'd disagree with its strength."

"Yeah!" Raphael playfully nudged his friend, "You made that ant scream in agony, I doubt your ability is weak…"

"Whatever…" Killua found himself looking away with a faint blush, "He still could move afterwards, so weaker than I intended…"

"Like Kite says, we have time and opportunities to improve."

"That leaves you, Raphael." The man looked over his shoulder to the other boy, "I guessed you were an Emitter earlier, but it seems like Gon's ability, you implement multiple abilities. Namely, Emitter and Manipulation. And dare I say… Transmutation?"

"You'd be correct. But I do have another ability up my sleeves, but it's sort of like a one trick-pony ability. Blash Bang, which acts as a sort of blinding light when I hurl the ball of aura at them. I'm not blinded by it in the slightest, but it does disrupt my other ability, Mirage. So yes, I do use Transmutation. Mainly, the properties of shadows and light."

"Seems like my electricity seems to disrupt your ability too…" Killua offered a sly grin.

"I'm not surprised, since lightning casts a flash of bright light." He playfully flicked his friend, "Which means our abilities are incompatible. It's going to be interesting teaming up with you in a duo fight."

"I would rather fight with Gon, thank you very much."

"Yeah! We're perfect for each other!"

Killua felt his cheeks burning. Did Gon seriously not think before he opened his mouth, "Idiot…" Think before you speak…

"But it's true! You stun them, I beat them to a pulp. The same could be done with Raphael's ability. He blinds them, and I knock them out!"

"Why thank you…" Raphael found himself smirking at his friend. Looks like Killua has some competition for the best ability to synergies with. Although Gon might have a little trouble if he gets blinded in the process.

"That's if you don't blind him too…"

"True."

Kite looked at the boys, confessing their thoughts of teaming up with ease. They did have a strong synergy between their abilities.

Not only that, Raphael's abilities did run into the same problems as his did, except, his abilities countered his own, whereas his abilities were absolutely annoying for himself, whenever he used it…

However, the man could appreciate the boys' enthusiasm to try different team ups. But first, as individuals they'll need to improve their technique before they think of combining their techniques, "We should hurry. The nest is nearby, so we should be able to reach it before the end of the night."

A/N: Leave a review, it helps inspire me.