Neferpitou knew that Ron and the others were in that direction, and also knew that among Nen users, they were among the very best. As for taste, there would be no prey more delicious than them—at least within the range of NGL, none could compare.
But the King had only just been born. Neferpitou understood that the King was strong, yet also understood how strange and unpredictable Nen abilities could be. Under the current circumstances, Neferpitou judged that taking the King to confront Ron and the others carried risk. The risk might not be great, but even that much risk was not one Neferpitou was willing to accept.
"Lead the way."
"Yes, my King."
A gust of wind swept past, stirred by Youpi's wings. Unlike Shaiapouf, who had been born with his wings, Youpi had reshaped his own body to grow fleshy wings, similar to those of a bat.
The four departed—Pouf carrying the King, Youpi carrying Neferpitou—heading away from the nest without a glance back or any trace of attachment.
............
.....
.
At that moment, an Ant approached Ron's group, holding up a white flag.
Netero regarded it calmly. Morel and Knov grew alert.
Ron recognized this Ant. It was Colt, the first division leader born from the Queen. As for his strength, it was hard to say. In the original timeline, Colt had not displayed anything particularly striking. Still, he was a division leader, and Ron also understood what Colt intended to do.
"I mean no harm! I come as a representative to surrender."
His words shocked both Morel and Knov.
"But we have one condition. We beg you to save the Queen! She has already lost the ability to bear children. I don't know if you can sense it, but the King—that being, those beings—they are like demons. They do not see us as kin. So now, between us and you, there is no reason for hostility. We will no longer attack humans. We now share a common enemy."
The Queen's impending death had filled Colt with hatred for the King.
To Ron, however, in this matter there was no essential difference between the Chimera Ants, the King, or the Royal Guards. To humans, the Ants were themselves demons—devouring, slaughtering without end. When people were taken as food, did any Ant pity them?
Now the same fate had merely fallen upon the Ants themselves.
For the Ants, it was difficult to accept, because they saw the King as their kin. But to the King, they were not the same kind.
Even so, Ron had already confirmed that the Chimera Ants existence was man-made. In that sense, no side could claim the moral high ground. They were all the same. The truly pitiful ones were the people at the bottom—like those in Begrossé.
No, those in Begrossé had it even worse. When they were killed, they still had to sing hymns to the temple. Humans eaten by the Queen, at least, did not have to suffer that indignity, and sometimes even awakened fragments of human memory. Colt was one such case, though not fully restored.
As a human, he had been an ordinary villager, with a younger sister. When the Chimera Ants attacked, he had stood in front of her to protect her. But the enemy's strength had been overwhelming. Colt had died, and his sister had died with him.
Now, with the King gravely wounded and near death, his ability to command the lower Ants had greatly weakened. Not all division leaders remained loyal to the Queen or wished to save her. Many harbored other ambitions.
..........
...
.
The Ox Ant, the Polar Bear Ant, the Chameleon Ant, the Lobster Ant, the Crocodile Ant, the Leopard Ant, the Lion Ant, the Scorpion Ant—all began to discuss.
"So, what should we do next?"
"What do you mean, what should we do?"
"The Queen is beyond saving, and the King does not acknowledge us. Where should we go now? Staying here is meaningless."
"That may be true."
"In fact, for us as individuals, this might be something to rejoice over. The one who bound us is gone. Now we can do as we please. Act freely."
Hearing this, some of the Ants eyes lit up. They had always carried selfish desires. Even under the Queen's rule, some acted alone, disregarding her will. Now, even more so.
"To act by our own will? That sounds good. Do whatever we want. Such a life would surely be enjoyable."
But not all of them agreed.
"What are you saying? The Queen isn't dead yet—have you already given up? Even if she is gone, we are still Chimera Ants. Are we not together? This is the nation the Queen built—it is our nation. Would you betray it? Colt has already gone to seek help."
Yet such voices were few, very few. Among division leaders, only the Ox Ant and the Polar Bear Ant still thought this way.
The Lion Ant, the Scorpion Ant, and the Crocodile Ant were filled with ambition, unwilling to bow to anyone, dreaming of ruling as kings themselves.
The Chameleon Ant had regained its human memories and thus felt no loyalty to the Queen, harboring instead deep hatred for the King. In life, the Penguin Ant had been his teacher, but the King had casually killed him. The Chameleon Ant was already seeking a chance for revenge.
"You may follow your path, and we will follow ours. But do not think of stopping us. Otherwise, you will regret it. Our numbers far exceed yours. Anyone who wishes to leave—now is the time. Go, and begin a new life, one that belongs to us as individuals, not as parts of the Chimera Ants."