Given the remaining combat forces within the Chimera Ant Nest, the Extermination Team clearly defined their respective roles and responsibilities after thorough discussions.
Neferpitou, who had nearly killed Kite, possessed an innate advantage in speed. Only Chairman Netero in the team could handle her.
If other members encountered Neferpitou in direct confrontation, they would almost certainly die.
Therefore, Netero had to completely suppress Neferpitou in this assault until she was killed.
Morel and Shoot were tasked with restraining the other Royal Guard, Shaiapouf.
Although the team deliberately captured Chimera Ants before the main attack to continue gathering intelligence, most of the information obtained was superficial and of limited practical value.
However, this did not affect the assignment and execution of tasks.
Kite, Gon, Ponzu, Kalluto, and others were responsible for eliminating any visible Chimera Ant soldiers to prevent them from interfering in the Royal Guard battles.
Killua was not assigned to this group; his mission was to assassinate the Chimera Ant Queen.
This arrangement was initially questioned by Knov and Morel, while Knuckle and Shoot also found it difficult to understand.
Facing their doubts, Killua, who had already removed the needle, demonstrated sufficient strength in just one second to convince them.
On the other hand, Knov did not directly participate in frontal combat.
He took on a mobile role, setting up entrances to Hide and Seek across the battlefield to ensure the rapid evacuation of injured personnel to safe areas.
Additionally, based on his own judgment, he would provide support to teams at a disadvantage as the battle situation evolved.
After sensing Youpi's terrifying aura, Knov initially concluded that Morrow urgently needed support.
However, upon arriving at the scene, he witnessed Morrow's powerful performance and Knuckle's ability to calmly assess the situation.
This made him reconsider his initial judgment and instead head to another battlefield.
Yet, his mind remained fixed on Morrow's unwavering composure even in the face of life-and-death situations.
The resolve to confront death not only completely changed Knov's perception of Morrow but also involuntarily stirred a sense of respect within his slightly tightened chest.
Morrow, Knuckle... you must hold on, no... you must win.
Knov murmured to himself, then hurried to another battlefield at top speed.
Soon, he noticed wisps of white smoke slowly seeping out from multiple damaged gaps in the Chimera Ant Nest.
That was Morel's ability.
It indicated that he and Shoot had already infiltrated the nest.
Meanwhile, Killua, tasked with assassinating the Queen, should have infiltrated using a more covert method.
The other Royal Guard that Morel needs to restrain is called Shaiapouf, right... It seems he's responsible for the Queen's personal guard.
Knov quickly scanned his surroundings but had yet to detect any movement from other Chimera Ant soldiers.
Approximately five minutes had passed since the Shooting Star bombardment of the nest.
However, the Chimera Ant soldiers inside had not acted rashly; instead, the two Royal Guards had chosen to take the initiative.
Is Shaiapouf coordinating the Chimera Ant soldiers within the nest?
Knov speculated inwardly. In that case, it won't be easy for Morel to restrain Shaiapouf, especially since there are at least five or six Squadron Leader teams inside the Chimera Ant Nest... Carrying out an assassination by bypassing these forces is no simple task either.
Knov withdrew his gaze from scanning the surroundings of the nest and took out the Sound-Receiving Paper Dolls specially made by Kalluto.
Through the sounds transmitted by these paper dolls, he could gather some real-time information to assist in his judgment.
Currently, the two paper dolls with the most intense audio were from Morrow and Chairman Netero's battlefields.
The one belonging to Morel, however, was relatively quiet.
Combined with the wisps of white smoke continuously seeping out from the damaged parts of the nest, Knov roughly guessed that Morel was likely infiltrating the nest by blending into the smoke.
After all, Neferpitou, who was most skilled in En, had already been sent flying far away by Chairman Netero's palm strike.
So for Morel, this was the perfect opportunity to execute this tactic.
Given Morel's style, while blending into the smoke to infiltrate, he should also help his teammates divide the battlefield along the way.
Knov was well aware of Morel's ability and conduct, and he knew even better that Morel had exceptional adaptability on the battlefield, always using his equally flexible and versatile Deep Purple to provide support or cover for his comrades.
It seems the final battlefield will likely be concentrated inside the nest. Kite and the others have probably already breached from another direction.
Knov quickly organized his thoughts and then decisively moved toward the direction of Netero's battlefield.
In his view, Morel's smoke deployment tactic would not only give the Extermination Team the initiative to invade but also create a more favorable combat environment.
In other words, the battle at the nest would likely remain undecided for some time.
Based on this judgment, Knov decided to first head to Chairman Netero's location to assess the situation.
After all, the key to this full-scale assault ultimately lay in how long it would take Chairman Netero to defeat Neferpitou.
The shorter the time, the higher the chances of success.
Conversely, if Netero took too long to defeat Neferpitou, the variables in the overall battle would increase, and the operation would face greater risks.
After all, if the Squadron Leader teams out hunting sensed something amiss or received news and rushed back to reinforce the nest...
The combat pressure on the Extermination Team would increase dramatically.
It might even become the final straw that breaks them.
The Chairman will definitely win.
Knov unconditionally trusted Netero's strength.
—--
About a minute later.
Knov arrived at Netero's battlefield.
The first thing that caught his eye was a golden trajectory impossible to follow with the naked eye.
It was the palm strikes of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
They resembled fleeting golden streams of light, crisscrossing mid-air and leaving brief, sharp trails of radiance.
At the end of these lights was Neferpitou, the Royal Guard exuding an ominous aura.
Between the two, a hyper-speed, intense collision was taking place.
Completely... impossible to see...
The moment he witnessed this fierce battle, Knov almost forgot to breathe.
His eyes widened gradually, and a suffocating sensation spread through his chest.
It was terrifying.
His chest heaved violently, his face slightly pale, and in an instant, his entire expression was overtaken by a near-trembling disbelief.
Even standing at the edge of the battlefield, the overwhelming, terrifying presence was enough to make him profoundly aware of his own insignificance. The Royal Guards were absolute monsters.
This was already an established fact.
But unlike Youpi, who relied purely on brute strength and lacked strategy, this Neferpitou before them, who excelled in speed, was undoubtedly a nightmare for the other members of the Extermination Team.
Even Morel, with his strongest adaptability and containment abilities, stood absolutely no chance against this type of enemy.
Among everyone, only Chairman Netero could match her.
It wasn't until this moment, completely awestruck by the scene before him, that Knov became utterly certain of this.
Moreover, the strength Neferpitou was displaying now was clearly beyond what Kite's intelligence had provided.
Was it because she had only wanted to capture Kite alive back then, so she hadn't gone all out?
Or had she grown stronger during this time?
Knov didn't know.
Within the combat zone, Netero clasped his hands in prayer, and the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested in response, sealing off all of Neferpitou's possible attack routes with sharp, relentless palm strikes.
Every strike landed precisely.
Yet, the enemy's resilience was truly extraordinary.
From the start of the battle until now, even though she had been constantly on the receiving end of attacks, Neferpitou's offensive posture and momentum hadn't diminished in the slightest. Instead, they grew increasingly fierce.
She's really tough.
Netero couldn't help but sigh inwardly, while also feeling a long-lost surge of excitement.
When was the last time he had encountered such an evenly matched, move-for-move exchange?
He couldn't remember.
The only thing he was sure of was that it had been a very, very long time since he had faced a monster capable of trading blows with him continuously.
This genuinely delighted him.
But he also knew that when this duel ended would greatly influence the entire operation's direction.
Therefore, every palm strike he directed at Neferpitou was delivered without holding back, genuinely aiming to kill her.
Yet the reality was that this duel couldn't be concluded quickly.
Netero could continue suppressing Neferpitou until he completely destroyed her.
But this outcome clearly couldn't be achieved in a short time.
Simply because the opponent's aura output and physical resilience far exceeded expectations.
Perhaps only by using his trump card, "100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva: Zero Hand," could he swiftly end the battle.
But that move would drain his potential aura, making it unsuitable for the current situation.
This has become troublesome.
Netero could clearly feel that as the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva continuously unleashed its attacks, his own condition was rapidly escalating.
This was an effect that warming up with the Chimera Ant soldiers earlier couldn't achieve.
Still, it seemed something was missing.
If time weren't so tight, spending some time in quiet meditation to accumulate strength might have allowed this duel to end faster.
As things stood, even he couldn't be sure how much longer it would truly take to completely crush his opponent.
Because in this intense clash, not only was his own condition rising, but the enemy was also continuously growing through "taking hits."
That's right.
She was growing through being beaten.
I should have already pushed my speed and strength to the limit... so why can't I break through, meow?
Neferpitou's red cat-like pupils reflected the never-ceasing golden palm strikes.
The light wasn't blinding, but it stood like an insurmountable wall, ruthlessly blocking every single one of her offensive intentions. Despite her prolonged assault yielding no results, she had considered creating an opening using her Puppeteering ability.
But under the terrifying onslaught of this human before her, she dared not recklessly disperse her aura output.
Still not enough.
No matter how I change my approach, no matter from what tricky angle I strike...
It always gets intercepted midway.
So humans... can actually become this powerful.
But I must find a way to defeat him here, to completely eradicate this threat!
Neferpitou could feel the injuries continuously accumulating on her body, yet she had no time to attend to them.
Her burning desire to clash with strong opponents was being fully unleashed in this fierce battle against Netero.
And her duty as a Royal Guard perfectly aligned with this intense emotion.
This unity of action and will made her genuinely excited.
Thus, driven by this surging passion...
A Nen far more powerful than any human's once again responded to Neferpitou's will.
Faster speed, stronger power.
Neferpitou's eyes were completely dyed crimson with aura, gleaming with a blade-sharp cold light.
"Terpsichora"
An ability that only manifested when she truly desired to fight with all her might emerged in this intense battle.
Crimson aura condensed behind her into a demonic silhouette, with countless Nen threads connecting to every joint of her body like strings.
Oh?
Seeing Neferpitou awaken a new Nen ability mid-battle, Netero raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise.
In the next instant, his slightly contracted pupils reflected Neferpitou's form that had already broken through its limits.
I see.
She's manipulating herself like a puppet to unleash power and speed beyond her limits.
When masters clash, they can often see through each other's capabilities at a glance.
Netero was naturally a master among masters.
Immediately after, although this former strongest fighter in the world hadn't yet returned to his peak condition, he still struck Neferpitou with merciless palm strikes and impartial chops.
Mew!?
Before Neferpitou could even experience the powerful enhancement and excitement brought by her new ability, she was sent flying once again by the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Even after breaking through her limits...
Was the result still unchanged?
What a monster.
During the brief moment she was sent flying backward, Neferpitou felt an indescribable wariness toward this human before her.
If there truly existed a human in this world who could threaten the King's life.
Then it must be this one before her.
This realization naturally surfaced in her heart.
Therefore, she felt no discouragement.
Only increasingly heightened and surging fighting spirit.
Netero's expression grew slightly more serious.
It wasn't Neferpitou's terrifying learning ability that concerned him, but rather the resolve born from her duty that he couldn't ignore.
This meant Neferpitou's resilience would once again exceed his expectations.
It also meant he truly couldn't end this battle within his anticipated timeframe.
Equally troubled was Knov, who was watching from the sidelines.
His feelings at this moment were exceptionally complex.
On one hand, he was shocked by the Chimera Ant's terrifying potential that continuously shattered his understanding.
On the other hand, he couldn't help but marvel at the existence of an even more extraordinary monster like Chairman Netero in their own camp.
But what mattered most now was racing against time. However, the confrontation before them clearly could not be decided in a short time.
We can't place all our hopes of "victory" on the Chairman anymore... and we must be mentally prepared for casualties.
After assessing the situation, Knov felt heavy-hearted.
He left an entrance to Hide and Seek here before rushing back to the Chimera Ant Nest at full speed.
If they couldn't eliminate all the Chimera Ants in one go during this assault, they must at least ensure the Queen was killed to prevent the birth of the Ant King.
Afterward, depending on the situation, they could pull their teammates into Hide and Seek to achieve a clean retreat.
This was the strategy to minimize sacrifices as much as possible.
Although doing so might cause the Royal Guards and soldiers to migrate outward, threatening the safety of people in surrounding countries, by that time, the reinforcements sent by the Association should have arrived.
With their help in the encirclement and suppression, the risks could at least be minimized.
So the most crucial task now was to kill the Queen.
Knov had personally witnessed the extreme monstrous attributes of Youpi and Neferpitou.
He didn't even dare to imagine how terrifying the yet-unborn King... would be.
—--
Inside the Chimera Ant Nest.
Under Shaiapouf's efficient command, the soldiers quickly assembled and stood ready.
At the same time, Kite and his team had already breached the nest's interior.
However, under Shaiapouf's direction, the soldiers displayed astonishing discipline.
This was something Kite and the others hadn't anticipated.
It meant that the preemptive attack of Star Rain hadn't caused the expected chaos among the ant colony.
If Kite's team launched a direct assault at this moment, they wouldn't be able to pick off the ants one by one but would instead have to face the numerical advantage of the swarm head-on.
But the experienced Morel, relying on his sharp battlefield instincts, once again provided crucial support for his teammates.
He had infiltrated the nest ahead of Kite's group.
So he could deduce from the soldiers' reactions that there must be a commander within the colony capable of quickly consolidating combat strength.
Thus, Morel didn't hesitate to expend a large amount of aura, decisively releasing a wide-area smoke screen.
The dense smoke instantly divided the entire nest battlefield.
On one hand, it allowed him and Shoot to penetrate deeper into the nest faster; on the other, it effectively alleviated the pressure on Kite's team in frontal combat.
Shaiapouf, who had integrated the soldiers, naturally detected Morel's presence immediately.
More precisely, in his eyes, this smoke-releasing human posed a clear threat.
However, the influx of large amounts of smoke into the nest and the multi-directional invasion by the humans conveyed a crucial piece of information to Shaiapouf.
Although we haven't yet determined Her Majesty's whereabouts or safety, we can at least rest a little easier now.
Shaiapouf spread his brilliant butterfly wings, hovering at a low altitude, and pressed his right hand against his chest, trying to calm the intense unease within him.
After the Queen's sudden disappearance, concern for her whereabouts and safety had become the overriding priority.
And now, the humans launching such a forceful invasion precisely indicated one thing: they clearly hadn't realized that the Queen wasn't in the nest at all.
In other words, the Queen's mysterious disappearance wasn't the work of these humans.
But rather, the ability of someone within the nest.
The most likely culprit was a soldier ant. Just as Shaiapouf raised his hand to his chin, lost in thought, Morel and Shoot suddenly appeared before him.
It's him.
With just one glance, Morel was certain that this person was the last Royal Guard, the commander who had been efficiently coordinating the Chimera Ant soldiers within the nest.
Shaiapouf slowly lifted his gaze, unsurprised by their arrival.
To be precise, he had intentionally waited here, having already transferred his "true body" elsewhere.
Damn humans... You shall not harm Her Majesty the Queen!
As if consumed by anxiety and urgency, Shaiapouf abruptly erupted with intense malice, stirring a turbulent, pervasive aura.
Yet he did not strike directly. Instead, he sharply fluttered his butterfly wings, turned, and swiftly flew toward the passage behind him.
His posture made it clear, he intended to rush to the Chimera Ant Queen's side.
「Smoky Jail」
The thick smoke, pre-arranged, silently rose, instantly sealing off Shaiapouf's path.
Thump!
He collided with the smoke wall and was forcefully thrown back.
This smoke... it's unusual.
The moment he touched it, Shaiapouf sensed the smoke's peculiar nature.
Morel, holding his large pipe with one hand, smiled faintly. "Unfortunately, I've just enclosed this area."
As he spoke, his thoughts raced: Although this guy quickly organized the nest's forces, that very action gave me the chance to isolate him from the Queen. This way, Morrow's initial attack wasn't in vain, and Killua, upon noticing the form of Smoky Jail, can infer that the Queen is nearby.
Shaiapouf stood with his back to the two, the thick malice still silently spreading.
He gathered a considerable amount of aura and struck the smoke heavily.
Thud.
With the sound, waves of aura surged.
But the smoke remained completely unmoved.
Shaiapouf immediately understood, this must be an ability enhanced under the so-called system of Vows and Limitations.
Otherwise, given the smoke's strength, it should not have withstood his attack.
He finally turned around slowly, looking at Morel and Shoot.
What Morel and Shoot saw was Shaiapouf's face gradually twisting into a fierce expression.
Next, what Shoot and I need to do is hold out as long as possible...
Morel confidently held his large pipe before him, thinking to himself.
At this moment of strategic success, the experienced, seasoned Nen user had no idea that the seemingly insignificant intervention of a third party... would greatly influence both sides' judgments and the disparity in information gathered.
So much so that Morel never realized he had fallen into Shaiapouf's scheme.
This outcome wasn't due to a lack of ability, but rather a gap in information beyond his perspective.
Near this area was the Queen's backup palace for pregnancy preparations.
The Queen was moved?
Killua, who had meticulously tracked his way here using his exceptional assassin skills, found no sign of his assassination target.
Before him lay an empty mattress.
Surrounding it were remnants of flesh scraps and speckles of bloodstains.
Likely leftovers from the Queen's meals, carelessly splattered around.
Need to find her quickly...
Killua frowned, recalling the paths he had checked.
His reaction was observed by Shaiapouf, hidden in the shadows.
Just as expected.
These humans truly have no idea about Her Majesty's condition.
Shaiapouf didn't need to use his Hatsu to get the exact answer from Killua's reaction.
But regarding Her Majesty the Queen's whereabouts, this was also a question he needed to resolve as quickly as possible.
—--
In a room with alternating black and white panels, hazy white light emanated throughout the space.
Morena sat in the chair, her hands folded neatly on her lap, calmly gazing at the Chimera Ant Queen before her.
About seven or eight minutes passed.
It was enough time for Morena to explain the situation and for the Queen to completely calm down.
"You've done well."
The Queen glanced at the large number of well-prepared Meatballs beside her and praised Morena's actions during the emergency via Telepathy.
Then she carefully caressed her highly swollen abdomen, where the King's form could vaguely be seen.
Having escaped danger, the Queen seemed to have no mind to pay attention to Morena's posture as she sat upright in the chair.
It was a condescending gaze from above.
-------------
Bonus chapter @200power stones