Every second, a Shooting Star howled as it shot toward the Chimera Ant Nest.
Neferpitou could only focus all her energy on intercepting these Shooting Stars.
Fortunately, her own aura was powerful enough to withstand the impact of the Shooting Stars unscathed.
Otherwise, to fulfill her duty, even if these Shooting Stars would cause her severe injuries, she would still risk her life to intercept them.
Morrow naturally realized this.
So he couldn't help but feel regretful.
If his current aura output were strong enough, perhaps he could exploit this weakness to eliminate Neferpitou.
Unfortunately, there were no ifs.
While rapidly retreating to create distance, Morrow steadily released Deceptive Shooting Stars.
He was inherently extremely sensitive to bloodlust. The moment his eyes met Neferpitou's, he had sensed her overwhelming bloodlust.
It was likely because the Shooting Stars posed a threat to the Chimera Ant Nest that Neferpitou immediately regarded him as a potential threat that must be eliminated.
Morrow respected this. Even though he felt he had control of the situation, he didn't dare to be the slightest bit careless.
Just like that, he safely retreated beyond Neferpitou's perception range.
Despite this, he did not stop releasing Shooting Stars.
This was to ensure no accidents occurred.
At the same time, he could use the Shooting Stars' long-range striking characteristic to increase the mental pressure on Neferpitou as she protected the nest.
Morrow continued retreating until he was ten kilometers away, then released one final Deceptive Shooting Star high above the forest.
Watching the Shooting Star shoot straight toward the Chimera Ant Nest, he turned and swiftly headed toward the NGL border.
At this distance, he was basically safe.
—--
Meanwhile.
Neferpitou, confined to her limited area of movement, had eyes filled with ferocity and resentment.
Despite her overwhelming bloodlust, she clearly understood that she truly couldn't stop that human.
During the process of intercepting the Shooting Stars, she had actually been constantly searching for an opportunity to counterattack.
But that human who made her feel dangerous was so cautious that he left no openings whatsoever.
With things having reached this point, Neferpitou could only forcibly swallow her unexpressed killing intent back down.
Just when she thought the opponent had escaped far away, she unexpectedly saw a speck of green light appear in the distant sky.
It was that human's attack again!
Coming from such a far distance...
Neferpitou stood on the outer wall of the Chimera Ant Nest, the ferocity in her eyes slightly faltering.
The aura hasn't diminished at all!?
She could no longer determine exactly how far away the Shooting Star had come from. The only thing she could confirm was that the power of these Shooting Stars did not weaken with distance.
This power called "Nen"... seemed to hide some profound, indescribable usage within it.
Neferpitou fell into deep thought.
But her body showed no hesitation due to her contemplation. Instead, like a machine pre-programmed with precise instructions, she suddenly leaped into the air.
The Shooting Star shooting straight from the distance was once again forcefully intercepted by her.
Boom!
A deafening explosion resounded through the sky, with violent shockwaves crazily spreading in all directions, pressing down the trees below and sending broken leaves and dust flying everywhere.
Neferpitou's figure plummeted from the center of the explosion, her feet slamming heavily into the ground and carving two deep furrows. This time, the force was stronger than any previous attack.
Yet she still blocked it completely unscathed.
Neferpitou stood in place, thin white steam rising from her body.
Without lingering, she immediately returned to the outer wall of the Chimera Ant Nest, still intently watching the direction of Morrow's retreat.
Although the range of Shooting Star's attack surprised Neferpitou, its power was nothing to worry about, which gave her some peace of mind.
"Just in case, I need to remain vigilant at all times, meow."
Neferpitou raised a finger to her chin and murmured to herself.
Currently, she was the only Royal Guard in the Chimera Ant Nest.
As for the other Chimera Ant soldiers... if Nen didn't exist, Neferpitou might have felt at ease entrusting the task of constructing a surveillance network to the soldiers.
But after witnessing humans' astonishing applications of Nen abilities, she clearly realized that the seemingly impregnable soldier army was essentially useless.
Let alone providing any real protection for the nest.
They need to master Nen as soon as possible...
Seeing no more Shooting Stars coming, Neferpitou sat cross-legged on a platform on the nest's outer wall, quietly contemplating the soldiers' potential and usefulness.
Since she was born with the ability to wield this power, other soldiers, especially the Squadron Leaders and Officers, should also possess the aptitude for Nen awakening.
But I can't leave my post right now!
She understood how crucial it was for her subordinates to awaken their Nen quickly, yet her duty to protect the nest was like invisible chains binding her firmly in place.
Primarily because of Morrow's ability, which felt like a constant, intangible threat, forcing her to remain highly alert.
Neferpitou irritably scratched her head, her tail continuously thumping the ground.
That's it!
In her agitation, Neferpitou suddenly recalled Kite using aura to materialize weapons.
And that reminded her of the books on human anatomy she had studied to perform the craniotomy.
Since I can't leave...
A spark of inspiration struck Neferpitou. She raised her right hand with its sharp claws, and a sinister, powerful crimson aura rippled from her palm.
Then I'll create a doll to handle things for me!
With that thought, Neferpitou firmly confirmed her inner desire.
And her innate, formidable Nen responded to her without hesitation.
「Puppeteering」
Sss!
With a faint sound, the crimson aura spread like mist, rapidly coalescing into a corporealized doll with a bulky build and bulging muscles.
It stood over three meters tall, with a ferocious face, exposed fangs, and eyes brimming with malice.
Its shoulders and arms were as thick as palace pillars.
From the waist up, it was the epitome of a powerful, beastly physique.
However, its lower body, specifically its legs, appeared rather slender, creating a stark and eerie disproportion compared to its robust upper half.
Its physique seemed almost like an inverted reflection of Neferpitou's.
But beyond its bizarre build, once materialized by Neferpitou, it could float freely in the air like a balloon.
What's the big deal? It wasn't difficult at all.
Neferpitou gazed at the physical doll hovering before her.
The information extracted from that human's brain had mentioned that developing Nen abilities wasn't easy.
But it seemed that such difficulties only applied to the human species. Neferpitou effortlessly completed the materialization of her ability, and in doing so, her earlier impatience faded.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling once more the abilities Kite had displayed during their battle.
Compared to the other human's crude method of externalizing aura, she was far more intrigued by Kite's Conjuration ability.
At the time, her opponent had summoned a weapon seemingly possessing its own consciousness and intelligence out of thin air using aura.
Yet, after just a few dozen exchanges, the weapon had transformed successively into a scythe and a heavy hammer.
Clearly, the ability wasn't confined to a single form.
In other words... "As long as I can manage it, Puppeteering can shift forms and abilities according to my will."
This thought sparked a deep interest in Neferpitou's eyes, along with a burning curiosity to explore further.
It gave her the idea to replicate Kite's ability.
No.
But soon, her gaze sharpened as she realized she'd fallen into a fixed mindset.
Humans were indeed adept at evolving multiple forms from a single ability.
But ultimately, that was merely a clever workaround born of inherent limitations.
If I need a new ability, why not just create another one? Why cram every possibility into the single vessel of 'Puppeteering'?
Neferpitou's lips curled into a nearly mocking smile.
Humans had to take detours because they were incapable of doing otherwise.
Even awakening to Nen required external stimuli and cumbersome methods.
But these powers... she had been born with them.
Thus, the heights she could reach were naturally far beyond human grasp.
So, what ability do I need now?
As if discovering a fascinating new toy, Neferpitou pondered her next requirement with keen interest.
Still, she kept firmly in mind the information she'd extracted from Pokkle's brain.
The birth of a Nen ability, it was said, depended on the practitioner's personality, preferences, desires, and even their upbringing.
Based on this, those with a combative nature were more likely to develop Nen abilities suited for battle.
So, while considering her needs, Neferpitou also took into account her own fascination with human experimentation and the need to further enhance her combat prowess.
Two.
She needed at least two more abilities.
Especially a combat-oriented ability, that was crucial.
Neferpitou was certain of this.
The root of this conviction lay in her encounters with Morrow and Kite's abilities.
If it were just a matter of aura level, she felt she could crush Morrow and Kite with a single slap.
Yet the reality was that Kite had proven troublesome, and Morrow had felt dangerous.
This stark contrast between appearance and reality was precisely the change brought about by "combat-type Nen abilities."
No need to rush. Right now, the most important thing is to help the soldiers awaken to Nen.
Neferpitou quickly reined in her thoughts, shifting her focus back to strengthening the army.
Not only did she need to enhance the soldiers' power quickly, but she also had to devote time to studying the techniques derived from the Nen System.
"The task of Nen awakening, I leave to you."
Neferpitou turned her gaze to the floating Puppeteering.
Puppeteering bared its rows of sharp teeth and nodded. "Oyi."
Having accepted the Nen awakening mission, it drifted like a ghost straight into the Chimera Ant Nest.
"Conveying Squadron Leader Neferpitou's command: all Squadron Leaders and Officers are to heed the order immediately!"
"Shortly, an 'Awakening Ceremony' will be held in the First Lecture Hall. Through a modicum of pain, you shall obtain true power!"
"Use this strength wisely and pledge unwavering loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen!"
"Repeating once more..."
The logistics Squadron Leader transmitted Neferpitou's directive clearly to every command level via telepathic communication.
As time passed, the summoned Squadron Leaders and Officers, unaware of the ceremony's specifics, hurried back to the Chimera Ant Nest at top speed.
Even those previously intimidated by Morrow finally shook off the lingering dread under the order's authority and rushed toward the nest.
They felt compelled to report the incident to Squadron Leader Neferpitou.
Yet, upon arriving at the First Lecture Hall, the gathered Squadron Leaders and Officers found not Neferpitou, but a menacing, grotesquely built figure.
With all attendees present, the Puppeteer began shrilly recounting Nen intelligence extracted from Pokkle's mind.
Originally... Neferpitou believed that once Meruem was born, he would immediately separate from the ant colony.
Meaning, from that moment onward, the Queen and her soldiers in the nest would hold no ties to Meruem.
Based on this, her initial plan upon extracting intel from Pokkle was merely to force Nen awakenings upon the soldiers, assigning them guard duties.
This would free her to devote more time to the enthralling human research and related texts that captivated her.
But before this plan could unfold, she encountered the troublesome humans Morrow and Kite.
Thus, Neferpitou altered her stance, resolving to permit no oversights before Meruem's birth.
Strengthening the soldier ant legion demanded greater emphasis.
—--
In the lecture hall.
The Puppeteer elaborated on Nen fundamentals in detail.
The Squadron Leaders fared well, grasping the gist after one hearing.
Some Officers, however, struggled to comprehend Nen, only associating it vaguely with aura.
"So the power humans wield is called Nen..."
Chimera Ants who had suffered Morrow's intimidation or participated in Barbara and Pokkle's capture showed dawning realization.
After explaining Nen, the Puppeteer allowed no time for digestion, proceeding directly to the next step.
Forced Nen Awakening!
Standing before the assembled Chimera Ants, the Puppeteer stated flatly, "Decide your order among yourselves."
No sooner had it spoken than Morena stepped forward from the ranks.
In terms of craving this power, she undoubtedly topped all Chimera Ants.
Only then did the ants shaken by Morrow's display follow suit.
Seeing Morena approach first, the Puppeteer wasted no words, lifting a fist larger than a human torso.
"...!"
Morena's eyes flickered at the massive fist wreathed in aura.
Indifferent to her reaction, the Puppeteer struck her squarely.
Thud!
Morena was sent flying backward, crashing into the nest wall with a dull thud. Then she slowly slid down from the wall, head drooping as if she had lost consciousness.
The Chimera Ants present were all shaken by this sight.
Was this Nen awakening even reasonable!?
At that moment.
Morena hadn't lost consciousness; only her pupils had contracted sharply to pinpoints. She could clearly feel a force flowing out from within her body, while some memories inexplicably surfaced in her mind.
"Cough, cough..."
Leaning her upper body sideways, she coughed up several mouthfuls of blood that splattered on the ground.
Then she stared blankly at the bloodstains blooming like plum blossoms on the floor.
In her daze, she saw a face with a centipede-like scar in the bloodstains.