Chapter 118: One Against Four
Cheetu's cheerful laughter resounded throughout the Chimera Ant nest.
The Squadron Leaders looked toward the arena, their eyes filled with shock. Although they had known that Cheetu was the fastest among the Squadron Leaders, they could at least barely keep up with his speed before.
Unlike now, where they couldn't even see his shadow, let alone the person himself.
Throughout the nest, aside from Cheetu's cheerful laughter, only the "rat-a-tat-tat" sound of rapid running remained, beating like drumsticks against everyone's hearts.
Watching Cheetu's performance, they grew even more eager to experience the changes after mastering that mysterious power themselves.
Mord stood motionless in the center of the arena, appearing completely stunned by Cheetu's speed from Cheetu's perspective.
In reality, Mord was considering how to maximize his gains.
Because Chimera Ants inherently possessed powerful life energy, their aura capacity after awakening Nen had already far surpassed that of ordinary professional hunters.
He didn't possess the ability of the butterfly man Shaiapouf, who could make these Squadron Leaders develop their own abilities within just a few days.
If all Squadron Leaders and Army Captains developed their abilities, Mord would lose absolute control. Squadron Leaders who developed their own Nen abilities would experience another boost in strength.
Moreover, time didn't permit him to proceed slowly.
Mord could clearly sense that deep within the nest, the intensity of one particular life rhythm was growing stronger and stronger, ready to emerge from its cocoon at any moment.
After all, the cat girl Neferpitou was a natural-born Nen user, an innate powerhouse.
Once she was born, the situation would become even more uncontrollable.
If only he had arrived here earlier... Mord glanced back at the Chimera Ant Queen, who was already nurturing the King in her womb.
"Though it's somewhat regrettable..."
A sighing voice suddenly sounded in Cheetu's ear, a sensation he had experienced before—like when he finally found a delicious prey only to have his subordinates kill it through careless handling.
It was always most delicious when alive.
He had made similar sighs during such times.
Just as this thought surfaced in his mind, a dazzling electric light suddenly flashed before his eyes.
Then he saw that man's face.
The face he would never forget in his lifetime.
Huh?!
Cheetu froze in astonishment.
How could he catch up to me?
That was its last thought before death.
The next instant, the Zanpakutō, wreathed in lightning, severed Cheetu's head in a flash.
Until the very end, that face remained frozen in stunned disbelief.
Carried by momentum, its headless body continued running forward until it crashed into a distant wall.
Thud!
Crimson blood splattered across the ground.
At that moment, several Squadron Leaders successfully awakened their Hatsu and rose to their feet. Feeling the power surging within them, they were about to roar to vent their earlier frustrations when they happened to witness this scene.
Their gaping mouths froze mid-air as they stood rooted to the spot, utterly stunned.
The scene couldn't have been more absurd.
Mord turned to look at them. In the distance, countless points of light flew out from Cheetu's body, eventually flowing into the Zanpakutō in his hand.
This method was indeed effective.
Feeling his own aura strengthen, Mord's black eyes grew increasingly bright.
Although these Chimera Ants hadn't learned Nen abilities and therefore couldn't provide Mord with any special energy types, they could be directly absorbed as pure energy to enhance his own aura.
Mord glanced at his character status panel. While his Nen ability level remained unchanged, the enhancement to his personal aura was undeniable.
"Let's not waste any more time. Why don't you all come at me together!" Mord said, looking at the four Squadron Leaders who had successfully awakened their Nen.
The four were Scorpion Queen Zazan, the centaur Yunju, the birdman Colt, and Alligator.
The Squadron Leaders exchanged glances and didn't hold back.
Truth be told, they had planned to do exactly that even without Mord's suggestion.
In their eyes, only the survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle mattered.
Squadron Leader Alligator didn't waste words and struck first.
It opened its mouth wide, its tongue shooting out like a blur, instantly piercing through the spot where Mord had been standing moments before and penetrating the wall behind, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
"What an arrogant man!"
Scorpion Queen Zazan followed closely, her poisonous tail transforming into a venomous dragon that hissed through the air as it lightning-fast shot toward Mord.
Mord's expression remained unchanged as he reached out with his large hand to grab the incoming poisonous tail.
To everyone's disbelief, Mord's right hand caught the already blurred poisonous tail right at its vital point.
Three inches before the venomous stinger at the tip!
Terrifying venom dripped from the stinger onto the ground, emitting a frightening sizzling sound.
One could only imagine what would happen if that poisonous stinger directly pierced someone's body.
"Damnable human!" Scorpion Queen's face twisted in rage. For scorpions, their tails are their pride.
Now her most prized possession was being handled so casually by what she considered an inferior species—how could this not enrage her?
The moment Mord's hand grasped the scorpion's poisonous tail, it began struggling violently, transmitting waves of terrifying power as it swore to break free from Mord's restraint.
"Annoying!" Mord's right hand formed into a claw, his five fingers applying pressure that directly tore through the scorpion tail's hard exoskeleton.
Scorpion Queen Zazan cried out in pain, then felt an immense force surge through her as her entire body was flung through the air, flying straight for over ten meters before crashing heavily to the ground.
"Zazan!"
Colt's face changed dramatically as he called out her name. Flapping his wings, he was about to go check on her when Mord's figure transformed into a flash of lightning. After several flickers, he had already appeared above Colt's head.
A whip kick sent the airborne Colt crashing to the ground.
BOOM!
A loud explosion echoed as dust scattered everywhere.
Fighting one against four, in just a few exchanges, he had already injured two Squadron Leaders.
The remaining Chimera Ants witnessing this scene all had their pupils violently shaking. Those who had believed their species stood at the top of the food chain now felt their convictions shatter.
Just what kind of monster was this man before them?!
"You should be capable of more than this. Get up." Mord looked up and spoke.
Even a Squadron Leader who hadn't developed their own Nen Ability couldn't be defeated by such an attack.
Cheetu's defeat was purely due to his own foolishness and underestimation of his opponent.
"I... I'll kill you!"
As the dust settled and debris scattered, Scorpion Queen Zazan rose from the ruins. Staring at her severed poisonous tail, her face twisted into a ferocious expression.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, she reached out with both hands, firmly grasped the base of her tail, and ripped it out with tremendous force!
Blood splattered everywhere.