Time bled away in Joey's thoughts and quiet anticipation.
The idea of revealing his secret—Bites the Dust—flashed through his mind for a brief second before he abandoned it.
The Third Bomb was his ultimate fail-safe, a lifeline that must remain hidden, even from the Extermination Team.
Not because he didn't trust them.
But because it only takes one slip, and the consequences would be catastrophic.
An ability that manipulates time was one filled with exploitable loopholes, potentially spiraling out of control.
If Joey wanted to avoid accelerating his own death—or inviting disaster—then Bites the Dust had to die with him.
Even if it meant sacrificing Komugi, the girl who'd become his unwitting bomb.
He made peace with that choice. Inhaled deep. Shut his eyes.
He knew: if Bites the Dust caused any casualties among the King or the Royal Guards, people would notice.
But as long as Joey played it cool, didn't stand out—no one would link anything back to him.
The key was hiding one thing—
That he could no longer summon Killer Queen.
Especially during the critical fight against Youpi—
Where he was originally supposed to use Sheer Heart Attack.
Now, he had to devise a way to not use it, without raising suspicion.
Maybe… he'd act rattled during Dragon Dive's descent.
That would actually match the persona of a rookie Nen user.
In contrast, during the first incursion before the rewind, he'd performed far too well—
Calm under fire, composed against Pouf and Leol, decisive against Youpi.
Overperforming. Suspiciously so.
Fifteen minutes wasn't enough to build a perfect plan.
He likely had flawed ideas mixed into his calculations.
But he was out of time.
Morel had already begun his final briefing.
The countdown hit ten seconds.
When Morel called one, the group burst from Hide and Seek, emerging beneath the throne room stairs.
As they rushed forward, Joey looked up—
Youpi's face twisted in rage, and Dragon Dive's aura bolts rained down, punching through the palace roof and scattering into the throne hall.
Joey's expression shifted.
His stride faltered the moment the spears fell—hesitation breaking his momentum.
But that moment of hesitation looked natural—nervous, unsure.
Meanwhile, Kite, Gon, and Killua charged toward Youpi without flinching.
Youpi flinched. A blow landed at his waist—
Knuckle and Meleoron were alive.
Potclean had successfully attached.
Joey started running again—
But Killer Queen didn't appear. No Sheer Heart Attack.
Yet in the chaos, no one noticed.
The very next second, Youpi unleashed an explosive counterattack—
Obliterating the staircase, scattering the Extermination Team.
Joey was flung clear of the central palace.
And then—
Time rewound again.
Joey glanced at his watch.
11:00:04.
Less than an hour to infiltration.
00:00:00:96
Dragon Dive screamed from the sky, smashing through the rooftop of Komugi's tower, aiming straight for her.
But Killer Queen appeared.
Small as a doll—yet with a sudden kick, she launched Komugi away.
It was the only way to save her.
Killer Queen couldn't deflect the spears.
But she could move Komugi out of harm's way.
As Komugi rolled aside, dazed—
A blur of movement stormed into the tower.
Komugi groaned, waking.
The figure—who arrived instantly after sensing Dragon Dive—
Was none other than the Chimera Ant King.
But what he saw—was Killer Queen, hovering toward Komugi.
Killer Queen froze.
Then turned—
And appeared directly in the King's eyes.
Explosion.
Gory craters tore through the King's chest and stomach.
"Impossible—!"
Komugi turned instinctively at the sound.
00:00:02:37
Two more figures vaulted into the tower.
Moments later, Neferpitou materialized.
"WAAANG!!!"
Her anguished scream echoed through the palace.
Because what lay before her—was the King's fading ashes, his body annihilated mid-motion.
Killer Queen: Third Bomb – Bites the Dust.
Activated.
Time rewind.
Komugi sat quietly.
In front of her, the milky white board of Gungi.
Blind, ears tuned to the insects chirping through the palace walls, she frowned.
Had she fallen asleep?
But no…
She couldn't possibly sleep.
All she wanted was to play one more match.
She even considered getting up to find the Supreme Commander.
But she didn't have the courage.
He must be busy.
To have played with her at all had already been a miracle.
How could she demand more?
Yet—she yearned.
He had improved so much.
She was sure one day, he'd surpass her.
Still...
Had it all been a dream?
She swore she'd heard his voice.
And a desperate scream from one of the Royal Guards.
Had something happened?
And that kick—that blow had hurt.
But—
Komugi touched her body.
No pain.
She carefully shifted posture, quiet thoughts buzzing behind closed lips.
She wouldn't say a word.
Wouldn't acknowledge it.
She'd simply wait.
Time passed.
At midnight—
Dragon Dive returned.
But this time, Komugi wasn't asleep.
She sat still, alert.
The bolts fell toward her.
Killer Queen appeared again.
Kicked her aside.
The King arrived.
But again, before he could speak—
He disintegrated.
When Netero and Zeno stormed in, all they found was Komugi, sitting alone in the West Tower.
The King, their target—gone.
Had he hidden?
Was it a space-related ability?
Had he detected their arrival?
Years of experience kicked in.
Zeno and Netero parsed endless possibilities in a flash.
Then—
Pitou crashed in.
And the moment she saw no King,
Terpsichora surfaced behind her.
But—
To their surprise, Pitou didn't attack.
She rushed past them, appearing before Komugi.
Zeno and Netero sensed bloodlust—
But also… restraint.
That flicker of hesitation kept them from striking.
Pitou, trembling, reached out—hands carefully settling on Komugi's shoulders.
So soft—she feared hurting her, delaying the search.
Her voice cracked:
"Where's the King? Where is he?!"
"...I don't know…" Komugi whispered.
She truly didn't.
Blind—she hadn't seen him.
And his presence, his death, had left no trace.
Yet something felt… off.
Still, she couldn't name it.
"No… NO! It can't be like this! WAAAAANG!!"
Pitou's volume spiked.
Her claws tightened.
But before they pierced Komugi—
Killer Queen appeared.
Looked up.
Locked eyes with Pitou.
Her confusion turned to realization, then fury—then—
Explosion.
Pitou vanished into ash before Netero and Zeno's stunned eyes.
And again—
Time rewound.
Komugi sat once more in the palace—before Dragon Dive.
She didn't know what time it was.
But she knew something was wrong.
Pitou had vanished.
The noises were gone again.
Her Gungi board was back.
It felt cold to the touch.
What was happening?
Thoughts clawed at her from the inside.
Two dreams—so vivid.
Impossible things had occurred.
Was it about the Supreme Commander?
Should she tell him?
She wanted to.
She psyched herself up—
But couldn't move.
She sat paralyzed, waiting.
Until midnight struck again.
And once more—
Events replayed.
Pitou turned to ash.
Killer Queen leapt—
This time, into Netero's eyes.
Time rewound.
Everything was caught in a loop.
Until the fourth rewind—
Triggered by Zeno's death—
Komugi finally stood up.
Hours of silent deliberation and courage-building behind her.
A faint, nervous voice escaped her lips:
"Is… anyone there?"
A moment passed.
Then—
A shadow stepped forward.