Pyon approached a whiteboard, picked up a marker, and began sketching. "I've briefly reviewed the Chimera Ant intel," Pyon announced, "and I
Pyon approached a whiteboard, picked up a marker, and began sketching.
"I've briefly reviewed the Chimera Ant intel," Pyon announced, "and I've discovered something."
Pyon swiftly sketched a Chimera Ant hierarchy.
"Chimera Ants, despite their predatory, symbiotic nature, still have a Queen. Below the Queen are the Squadron Leaders. A Squadron Leader commands multiple Legion Leaders. Each Legion Leader commands approximately ten Chimera Ant soldiers."
Pyon paused, glancing at the others. "Up to this point, their social structure mirrors that of ordinary ants; all serve the Queen."
Resuming her drawing, Pyon continued, "But it changes. The Queen's purpose is to birth the King! The entire Chimera Ant colony's collected genetic material will be perfectly combined in the King."
Pyon added three circles to the whiteboard. "Once the King is born, the colony's mission is complete. The King leaves the nest, and before that, the Queen births the King's Royal Guards."
Putting down the marker, Pyon surveyed the whiteboard. "That's the gist of it!"
The simple diagram clearly illustrated the Chimera Ants' social structure and hierarchy.
However, everyone's gaze fixated on the King.
Unlike ordinary ants, all the Chimera Ants' efforts were geared towards the King's birth.
Now, with human genes incorporated, the soldier ants already possessed human characteristics.
Legion Leader-level ants could use Nen.
Therefore, a King, combining the strengths of humans and other creatures, would be incredibly powerful.
After examining Pyon's diagram, Kanzai turned to Ging. "How strong is your apprentice, Kite?"
Ging replied, "He has the potential to be a Zodiac member; I'd considered recommending him."
This implied that Kite, while not yet at the Zodiac level, was very close.
Killua's earlier report indicated that ordinary Squadron Leader-level Chimera Ants could skillfully use Nen.
Several Squadron Leaders working together could push Kite to his limits.
The Chimera Ant that instantly injured Kite was likely a Royal Guard, ranking above Squadron Leaders.
This analysis suggested that ordinary Chimera Ant Squadron Leaders possessed near-top-tier Nen user strength. The Royal Guards far surpassed top-tier Nen users, likely exceeding even most Zodiac members in combat ability—excluding Ging, whose skill was exceptional even among the Zodiacs.
Kite's strength provided a reasonable estimate of the Chimera Ants' overall power level. The Zodiacs' faces fell. Top-tier Nen users were rare in the Association, let alone those surpassing them.
As previously discussed, even Loki, who defeated Netero at his peak, had evaded his enraged attacks.
The Chimera Ants' strength was at least on par with the Chairman's.
Among the Zodiacs, only a few could match the Chairman: Botobai and Ging.
Yet, the King had three Royal Guards, and the King himself would undoubtedly be stronger than his guards.
In the animal kingdom, strength almost always dictates social hierarchy; the Chimera Ants would be no exception.
"It seems that even if we Zodiacs deploy, victory against these ants isn't guaranteed!" Kanzai admitted, though reluctantly.
If even the Zodiacs couldn't guarantee victory, how should they handle the Chimera Ant threat?
"Treat that brat!" Ging suddenly declared.
Immediate objections arose. "No, that brat is dangerous. If he wakes, we can't control him."
Cheadle looked at Ging. "You want to use him against the Chimera Ants?"
Ging nodded. "Having defeated Netero at his peak, that brat's combat strength is arguably the strongest. With him, dealing with the Chimera Ants will be easier."
"They're just ants! Has the Hunter Association fallen so low that we need a brat to solve our problems?"
Kanzai countered. Even with the Zodiacs' combined strength, victory wasn't assured, but resorting to a brat seemed excessive.
Ging looked at him. "Chairman Netero's body was likely consumed by the Queen. What kind of King will be born from a Chimera Ant that consumed Netero?"
This was a question Kanzai hadn't considered. What would happen if the Queen consumed Netero's body? Everyone exchanged glances. Chimera Ants possessed predatory, symbiotic abilities.
After a long silence, Cheadle spoke cautiously. "Perhaps we're overestimating the Chimera Ants. They're just ants, after all."
The Hunter Association's most skilled medical team was summoned to Knov's Four-Dimensional Apartment. Five or six medical personnel gathered around Loki's bed, awaiting orders.
Cheadle, Pariston, Ging, Pyon, Gel, Kanzai, Cluck—all available Zodiacs—were present in the Four-Dimensional Apartment. Morel and Knov stood guard over Pakunoda and Baise, along with several Association Hunters.
This was the Zodiacs' second time seeing Loki up close; the first was during his attack on the Association.
Cheadle pulled back the bed curtains, observing Loki.
Even unconscious, his Nen was potent.
Up close, the strength of his aura was undeniable, even in his comatose state.
Loki's numerous scars, already scabbed over, crisscrossed his body like centipedes. He'd endured this without treatment.
'What incredible tenacity,' Cheadle thought, marveling at his resilience. The other Zodiacs were equally astonished.
This was Ging's first time seeing Loki up close.
Such severe injuries would have killed Ging without treatment.
This brat, however, had persevered.
His tenacity explained why, after Cheadle's order to keep Loki alive but unconscious, the medical team only stopped the bleeding.
Pariston coldly observed Loki.
'As expected of the Chairman's chosen brat. He doesn't even die under these circumstances.'
"He…" Cheadle pointed at Loki, addressing the medical personnel. "If we treat him, when will he wake up?"
A medical personnel considered this. "He should wake up immediately. This child's vitality is unprecedented. With minimal treatment, given his constitution, he'll regain consciousness quickly."
The medical personnel looked at Loki like a wild animal.
Cheadle was surprised. 'Consciousness immediately?' Humans could possess such incredible vitality?
Cheadle glanced at the Hunters. "Restrain him."
Ging glanced at the Hunters, who nodded at Cheadle. One produced an antenna, attaching it to Loki's neck. They were Manipulation-type Nen users, similar to Shalnark.
Cheadle nodded to the medical personnel, who immediately began treatment.
Soon, Loki's breathing…
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