The hyena Chimera Ant's desperate cries brought no reply.
It was not that his comrades had abandoned him, but that they were no longer capable of answering. His brothers had already fallen before him.
An old man glanced back once at the three corpses on the ground, shook his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled out of the alley toward the old quarter.
He looked utterly ordinary—graying hair, a small felt cap, a dark coat. To a passerby he could have been just another elder out for a chat or a game of chess on the roadside.
But those who knew him understood that he was nothing like a common old man. He was the master of Heaven's Arena, and in this city, in most cases, the strongest individual alive.
He had already brushed the threshold of S-rank.
He had walked further along the road toward S-rank than Oster ever had. Oster's attempts to reach that level through experiments were little more than opportunistic shortcuts—and the results spoke for themselves. The Chimera Ants had also strayed from the human path, pursuing physical evolution rather than the mental route that true human S-rank Nen users followed.
Moments earlier, three Chimera Ants had chosen him as prey, failing to sense the dreadful aura he held. They saw only a potential Nen user, a desirable meal.
One lunged forward, striking at the old man. He did not even pause his step, only raised his hand lightly as the fist came down. No flourish, no violent eruption of aura—just a simple motion.
The Ant was hurled backward, its body breaking apart mid-flight into scattered pieces.
The squad captain roared and charged next, but met the same end.
The division leader froze in horror, realizing too late what he faced. As he wavered, the old man was already before him, unnoticed until he was standing face-to-face.
"What are you things?" the elder asked.
The Chimera Ant's pupils contracted, but the old man shook his head. "Forget it. I don't care to know." He pushed his palm forward.
Boom.
His strike sank into the Ant's chest, caving it inward and crushing the organs within. The Ant staggered back, vision dimming, strength draining away.
Just before consciousness faded, it heard the old man murmur.
"Hmm… only the chest collapsed? Not bad strength."
Bitter amusement flickered in its thoughts. When the King departed and the Queen lay dying, the Ants scattered. He had carried grand ambitions, moving with another division leader to increase his odds. Yet before he could even begin to realize his aspirations, he met such an absurd end.
"Brother, run. No… escape…"
But he could no longer speak, only pray in silence—and prayers were not always answered.
White flames wreathed around the hyena Chimera Ant as Misty's assault grew swifter, her strikes landing in an ever-quickening rhythm. He could no longer keep pace.
One subordinate had been killed, another captured. The support he expected never came, not even a word in response.
"Black Spark!"
Misty appeared behind him.
Boom.
A hole burst open in his back, punching clean through his body.
Puchi.
Blue-violet blood sprayed outward as his strength and consciousness slipped away.
Bang.
Misty clapped her hands together. "Done."
Shizuku drew out Blinky, absorbing the corpse and blood.
Scenes like this were unfolding across the world.
Meteor City.
The Phantom Troupe had returned, only to find Chimera Ants invading. Watching their people tormented by the creatures, rage consumed them.
"Where did these things crawl out from?"
The battle that followed was fierce, though not insurmountable. Ants were slain, and Troupe members gathered—about half of them.
"They look human, but not human."
"Call them beasts, and they don't match that either."
"They picked just this time to invade Meteor City. Could it be revenge from somewhere?"
"If so, we won't forgive it."
"A big fight may be coming."
Before long, the Troupe learned the truth.
"Creatures invading from the Dark Continent."
"A pity. I thought we'd have a proper war on our hands."
"It's been a long time since the Yorknew auction."
Feitan turned toward Pakunoda. "Pakunoda, how many elders are left alive?"
"Three."
"Still three?" Phinks scowled. "That chain user's not living up to his reputation. He was decent enough ambushing Uvogin, but after all this time he still hasn't finished off those old fossils."
"If I weren't barred from acting, I'd hunt them down myself."
Pakunoda gave him a flat look. "It's likely because the chain user's contract and restrictions are bound to us. Against Uvogin and against Hooker, he could gain an advantage. But against the elders, he's just an ordinary Nen user, and some of his abilities may not even apply."
Feitan glanced toward the distance. "And the boss—what's he doing now?"
"No idea."
"And Hisoka? Who knows where he's wandered. Why hasn't the boss expelled him yet? We all know there's something wrong with him. Back in Yorknew, it was probably he who sold out our intel. Uvogin's death and the others.... part of that falls on Hisoka's head."
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