A split second later, blood sprayed across the grass. Neferpitou landed beside Kite, her claws slicing clean through his right arm. The severed limb dropped to the ground with a dull thud.
Neferpitou crouched low, tail twitching, her massive eyes burning with feral bloodlust that flooded the clearing.
The entire world seemed to turn blood red. Gon and Killua felt their chests tighten painfully, as if their hearts might explode. Even breathing became a struggle.
Their pupils shrank in shock at the sudden, overwhelming change. Killua's warning instincts screamed in his mind, 'You'll die! Run!' But under Neferpitou's intense, almost hellish hostility, Killua couldn't move.
Cold sweat poured down their faces, instantly soaking their clothes. In that moment, Gon realized Kite's arm was completely broken, and it was his fault. If he hadn't reacted too late, Kite could have dodged the attack and saved his arm.
Rage and regret filled Gon's heart, and with a fierce roar, he unleashed his Aura. His golden aura shone brightly amidst the sea of bloody hatred, but it felt fragile, like a candle flickering in a storm.
"Fools…" Kite hissed, just about to shout at Gon, when Killua suddenly moved. But instead of attacking Neferpitou, Killua turned and struck Gon sharply in the back of the neck. Gon's eyes rolled back as he crumpled, unconscious. Killua caught him before he hit the ground.
"Well done… Killua," Kite said, relief flickering across his face even in that moment of desperation. "Get Gon out of here… If you stay, all three of us will die."
Killua's eyes locked with Kite's. He clenched his jaw, then turned and bolted into the forest with Gon on his back.
Neferpitou didn't bother to follow. She was completely uninterested in the boys, her gaze stayed locked on Kite, her tail flicking slowly. To her, they were nothing but insects.
Kite let out a long breath. He braced himself, left hand rising.
A clown-faced staff materialized from thin air, its mouth gaping open with eerie laughter. Numbers whirled on the roulette above its lips, finally stopping on a "3."
"Damn it…" Kite muttered, gripping the staff as it shifted shape. He didn't have a choice, he had to use whichever weapon the roulette summoned. That was the price of Crazy Slots, his nen abilities.
The clown cackled as the staff became a scythe nearly as tall as Kite himself. Kite tightened his hold.
He knew that even with this, his odds were almost nonexistent. But as a Hunter, and as Ging's apprentice, he refused to show fear.
Meanwhile, Killua ran silently through the forest, the rain starting to fall in cold sheets over the trees. Gon hung limp over his shoulder. The wind stung his eyes, but he didn't slow down.
They had been too naive. Even Kite, stronger and more experienced than either of them, couldn't guarantee survival. Neferpitou's killing intent had left no doubt of that.
This enemy was truly terrifying, far beyond Illumi or Hisoka. Killua's mind raced through every powerful figure he had ever heard of, trying to think of someone who could face that monster.
But no one came to mind. His expression twisted in horror. Was there really no one who could defeat her?
Suddenly, a thought struck him, Larry! That's right. They had to find Larry. Only Larry could handle this. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to keep moving. There was no time to hesitate.
Early that morning, near the border of the NGL, a lone figure finally emerged from the grasslands. Thick morning fog clung to Killua's hair and clothes. He had been running the entire night, Gon unconscious on his back.
His thoughts churned with guilt. If he had hesitated even for a moment, Neferpitou would have killed Gon.
He glanced down at his friend's pale face. He didn't know how long Gon would stay unconscious. The blow he'd delivered to knock him out had been harder than he intended, but there hadn't been any choice.
They had ventured deep into the NGL, past the point of no return. And now, exhausted, bruised, and drenched in cold morning dew, Killua finally stepped out of the tall grass, carrying Gon's limp body toward safety.
After passing two massive ancient trees, Killua and Gon arrived at the junction between NGL and the outside world. Killua carefully laid the unconscious Gon down and immediately pulled out his phone to call for help. They needed support, and more importantly, they had to get Larry here.
The NGL is a strange place, located in the southwestern region of the Mitene Union on the main continent. Its full name is the Neo-Green Life Autonomous Region, often simply called NGL.
Their guiding principle is to completely reject modern technology and live in harmony with nature. The people here lead lives reminiscent of an earlier era: men work the fields, women weave, and there are no visible signs of advanced machinery.
All forms of mechanical devices, including cell phones, vehicles, and firearms, are banned at the border. Transportation within the country relies mostly on horses and simple carts. Villages are the main form of settlement, scattered across the vast, undeveloped landscape.
In this country, tech products are strictly banned, mobile phones included, which makes it the perfect place for chimera ants to thrive across all six continents. News travels slowly here; most people only communicate within their village, so any major events often go unnoticed by the outside world.
The chimera ants have been steadily spreading out from the heart of the NGL, growing stronger without anyone realizing it. They're tough, ordinary farmers can't beat them, and even soldiers armed with guns struggle against many chimera ants. Interestingly, despite the country's claim of completely rejecting mechanical civilization, it does have soldiers with guns.
On the surface, it seems like a green, untouched land, but beneath that facade, it hides factories producing countless drugs that are distributed all over the six continents. These soldiers are also tasked with guarding these factories, creating a stark contrast between what the country appears to be and what it really is.
Anyone entering the NGL must pass through strict inspections at the border, ensuring no "technological products" are brought in. Killua and his group were no exception, forced to leave their communication devices behind before entering.
Not far from the NGL, a delivery truck sped through the wilderness. Onboard were Kite's biological survey team and the chimera ant expedition team he had helped bring along. "What? You left Kite there alone?! What are you thinking?" Spinner Clow shouted angrily into the phone at Killua.
In such a critical situation, leaving Kite behind was unthinkable, and as her teammate, Spinner Clow was naturally furious. Before Killua could respond, someone in the back seat snatched the phone away.
"Hmm... we've got a clear picture of the situation now," he said calmly. "Don't worry, reinforcements are on their way." Monta, a man with a simple but steady demeanor said.
Even amid the crisis, he remained composed and reassured Killua. Hearing about reinforcements, Killua, who had been crouching tensely. 'Could Larry be among them? '
"We'll be there soon. Just hang tight," Monta added before ending the call.