"A penetrating wound. Minor damage to the intestines and liver, massive blood loss..."
After a quick examination of Ponzu's injuries, Allen let out a sigh of relief. "Phew… looks like I made it just in time."
Confirming that the bullet hadn't remained in her body, he immediately pulled out a Healing Potion and poured it down her throat.
In a matter of seconds, the puncture wound in her abdomen knit itself back together. Her deathly pale complexion gradually regained a hint of color.
Seeing that the young girl was out of danger, he turned his attention to the Chimera Ant that had lost its arm. Narrowing his eyes, he mused, "Now, how should I deal with you? Never mind, you're just a grunt. I'll just use Nen to devour you."
As the last word left his lips, he vanished from his spot and reappeared behind the ant. He reached out and forcefully forced open every node on the creature's body.
It had to be said, the Chimera Ants' vitality and talent for Nen far surpassed that of humans.
This one in particular possessed an astonishing amount of Aura the moment its nodes were opened. Within two or three seconds, it had already managed a basic Ten. Its speed was on par with geniuses like Killua and Gon.
Unfortunately, it would never have the chance for further study. Allen's fist drove straight through its chest.
"Vaelstrasz! Dinner time!"
"ROAR!!!"
The Red Dragon materialized instantly, exhaling searing Flames of Life. She encased the ant in a cocoon and swallowed it whole, a look of immense satisfaction crossing her face.
"How was it? What was the Aura count of that cocoon?" Allen asked with interest.
"Roughly 12,000." Vaelstrasz provided the estimate without hesitation.
Hearing this, Allen's eyes lit up. "A mere soldier ant has 12,000 Aura right after awakening? That means an Officer should be over 50,000, and a Squadron Leader over 100,000. If I can devour them all... no, I don't even need all of them. Just half, or even a third or a fourth, and I'll obtain unimaginable levels of Aura."
"Not only that. The Essence of Life condensed from these ants is much more potent than that of humans. It can significantly improve your muscular efficiency," Vaelstrasz added.
"Improve muscular efficiency? You mean... give me muscle types like an ant's?" Allen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He recalled reading science articles about ant physiology. They described ant muscles as incredibly efficient "prime movers," far outclassing even aircraft engines in power-to-weight ratio. Effectively, most insects possess speed, explosive power, and endurance that far outstrip mammals.
Take a cockroach, for example, if it were human-sized, it could run a hundred meters in under two seconds. The only drawback was the massive energy consumption, requiring a high oxygen-to-body ratio.
"No. With a human skeletal structure, respiratory system, and digestive system, you couldn't maintain that kind of muscle across your entire body. However, I can help you reconstruct the muscles in key areas. This way, your body won't be overburdened, but your strength, explosiveness, and reaction time will increase by several tiers," Vaelstrasz suggested.
As a Red Dragon possessing the power of life, she constantly monitored Allen's physical state, opting for the safest and most optimized upgrades. She would inject the seized Essence of Life into specific locations.
Allen nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Let's go with your plan then. Same as before: prioritize reaction speed and explosiveness, then the rest."
"Understood!"
Just as the man and dragon settled on their path for improvement, the off-road vehicle finally arrived along the bumpy forest path.
Fortunately, in addition to the five team members, several Chimera Ants were pinned to the roof of the car, each with one of Illumi's specialized Nen needles stuck in its head.
"Oh! Isn't this the little girl who controls bees? What is she doing here?" Bodoro was the first to hop off the car, staring at the unconscious Ponzu.
"Poor thing. Looks like she took quite a hit," Baise remarked, walking forward to lift the girl and place her on the back seat of the vehicle, gently brushing the hair away from her face.
Ignoring the survivor, Illumi expressionlessly commanded the soldier ants to jump down from the roof. "These four are yours. I must say, capturing these things was easier than I expected. They don't seem very bright."
"Of course! With your strength, you only need to be cautious against a Squadron Leader. Officers and common soldiers aren't a challenge to capture. Bodoro, initiate their Nen. Baise, get ready to control them. Let's see if we can develop any useful abilities."
Since Allen had already assigned everyone their roles, the team began working with clockwork precision.
Under the influence of the fanatical emotions from Baise's "Instant Lover," the four soldier ants were tested for their Nen types. In less than an hour, they had each developed an ability.
Though they were all low-potential "junk" abilities, it proved that Allen's methodology was sound. Ultimately, the four unfortunates were killed with a single blow and consumed by the Red Dragon as cocoons.
Once finished, the group left the site of the slaughter and set up camp on a riverbank about a dozen kilometers away.
As the light faded, it was no longer ideal to track the ants back to their hive. Moreover, through his Hunting Map, Allen could clearly see Pokkle's current position—the nest where the Queen fed and spawned. He didn't need to wander aimlessly like everyone else.
Lighting a campfire, he caught a few decent-looking fish from the river, skewered them, and set them to roast, sprinkling seasonings over them as they neared completion.
With a Cooking skill level of 300 and delicious spices from Azeroth, the aroma soon wafted over the entire camp.
Ponzu seemed to catch the scent of food. She woke with a start in the back of the car, looking around warily. When she saw the familiar faces of Bodoro and Hisoka, she covered her mouth to stifle a scream.
Once she calmed down, she walked to the campfire and whispered to Allen, "Thank you. Thank you for saving me."
"Don't mention it. We were in the same class for the Hunter Exam, after all. How do you feel? Any discomfort?" Allen asked with a smile.
"I... I'm fine." Ponzu instinctively touched where she had been shot, finding the skin and muscle perfectly intact. If not for the large, dark bloodstains on her clothes, she might have thought her nightmare was just an illusion.
"Here. Eat something. As for your companions... I'm sorry. By the time I arrived, they had either been killed by the ants or taken away as food," Allen said, handing her a fish.
Ponzu took a bite, but tears began to fall like pearls from a broken string. Finally, she broke down into uncontrollable sobs.