Chapter 124: Breaking the Situation
This was Kite's Nen ability, Crazy Slots.
When activated, it materializes a talking clown. Upon activation, a roulette wheel in the clown's mouth would spin through numbers 1-9, with each number corresponding to a different materialized weapon.
"Der, der, der!"
The clown in Kite's hand let out cheerful laughter as the roulette wheel in its mouth began spinning rapidly, finally stopping at the number 4.
As the roulette stopped, the clown in Kite's hand transformed into an extremely exaggerated-looking long gun. The end of the long gun barrel featured the clown itself, and most strangely, the trigger was located at the very front near the muzzle.
"Didn't get the number I wanted," Kite said expressionlessly.
Crazy Slots had one drawback—Kite himself couldn't control which weapon would appear each time. Moreover, if he didn't properly use the weapon drawn by the clown, the weapon wouldn't disappear.
It could be said that this was an ability even Kite himself found "troublesome."
"Du du du, to catch rebels, first catch the leader!"
"Checkmate!"
"Well done, Kite!"
Crazy Slots shouted loudly.
The Chimera Ant Queen stared at the dark gun barrel pointed at her, but she couldn't even dodge, let alone resist.
The massive egg forming in her abdomen made it extremely difficult for her to even move her body.
It seemed this was the end.
I'm sorry, my unborn child.
Your mother is useless, not even able to let you see the first ray of light in this world.
Kite looked coldly at the Chimera Ant Queen. As a professional hunter, he would never be affected by any external emotions.
Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
Bang!
At this critical moment, a figure rushed at the fastest speed in front of the Chimera Ant Queen, using its own flesh and blood to block this fatal bullet.
However, having been forcibly awakened and born prematurely, it clearly hadn't fully adapted to mastering this body's capabilities.
The bullet pierced through his body, yet it was precisely this obstruction that altered the bullet's trajectory, preventing it from piercing the Chimera Ant Queen's head as Kite had intended.
"Absolutely not!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Absolutely no one is allowed to harm the King!"
The one who suddenly appeared in the Queen's palace and saved the Chimera Ant Queen was none other than another King's Royal Guard—Shaiapouf.
Shaiapouf turned his head, his eyes filled with fury as he glared at the man who dared to harm the King.
The figure standing with his back to Kite was tall and slender, dressed in an elegant evening gown. But when he turned around, Kite was met with a horrifying visage—half human face, half ant—twisted and terrifying.
Even Kite was startled deep down.
He could sense an overwhelmingly intense malice emanating from this Chimera Ant before him.
The bullet wound on Shaiapouf's right shoulder gradually healed.
An immensely powerful aura burst forth from within him, no less formidable than that of Neferpitou, the Cat Girl.
"Those who harm the King are unforgivable!"
Shaiapouf spread his wings and charged toward Kite.
With Shaiapouf present, it had become impossible for Kite to kill the Chimera Ant Queen.
Unlike the previous situation between Cat Girl and Mord.
Though Kite was quite powerful, facing an opponent of the Royal Guards' caliber still proved beyond his capabilities.
The battlefield of their clash soon moved outside the nest.
Mord forced Neferpitou back, glanced toward Kite's direction, and said, "It seems we can only call it a night here. Let's save this unfinished battle for next time."
Since Shaiapouf had awakened early, there was no guarantee the final Royal Guard, Youpi, wouldn't do the same.
Apart from his ultimate trump card, Bankai, which Mord hadn't used yet.
He had nearly exhausted all other means. Although Neferpitou appeared covered in wounds, none were critical, making it impossible to determine a winner quickly.
On the other side, while Kite was holding his own against the furious Shaiapouf for now, it was uncertain how long he could last.
After all, there was a genuine gap in their strength.
In Mord's view, Kite's power was roughly equivalent to his own before coming to NGL.
Moreover, Mord didn't want this grand drama to conclude so soon.
If he had wanted to prevent the King of Ants' birth, he could have killed the Chimera Ant Queen long ago.
As for the reason?
It was the same as Netero in the original story.
In Mord's opinion, if that old man had adopted more proactive strategies from the start, there would have been no need to wait until the King of Ants was born.
Back then, only Neferpitou existed among the three Royal Guards.
Not to mention how he deliberately had Morel and Knuckle stand down, claiming they should wait for Menthuthuyoupi and Gon to settle their match.
While this couldn't prove intentional negligence, it at least indicated passive handling.
Perhaps deep down, he yearned for someone who could give him the battle he had always craved.
Every hunter has something they pursue.
What did Netero pursue? Mord believed Chairman Netero sought The Pinnacle of Martial Arts.
In Netero's own words: To face an impregnably powerful opponent and fight with all one's body and soul. After half a century of invincibility following daily training of ten thousand punches, how profound that loneliness must have been.
Now standing at the peak of human martial arts.
The only one who could offer him a challenge was that unborn King of Ants.
Thus, many believed Netero took on this suicide mission to exterminate the Chimera Ants because he was pressured by V5, or for the Hunter Association, or for humanity's future.
In Mord's view, these were all wrong.
That old man Netero was simply using public duty for private gains, exploiting power structures to achieve his personal goals.
What he wanted from beginning to end was simple: to enjoy a good, proper fight.
Thinking this, Mord's lips curled slightly.
He sheathed his blade.
Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and left.
On the other side, Kite noticed Mord's situation. Seeing Mord's actions, he cursed inwardly.
Using Crazy Slots, he rolled a black umbrella.
The moment the umbrella opened, countless identical black umbrella surfaces appeared before him, blocking Shaiapouf's line of sight.
Then, without looking back, he too turned and departed.
If forced to face two Royal Guards-level Chimera Ants simultaneously, escape would become utterly impossible.
During the brief confrontation with Shaiapouf alone moments earlier, he had already sustained several minor injuries.
After fleeing, Kite wanted to find Mord, only to discover the other had long since vanished without a trace.
Completely disappeared from his perception range.
Not daring to linger, Kite swiftly headed toward the NGL border.
Meanwhile, Neferpitou and Shaiapouf similarly made no attempt to pursue Mord and the others.
For them, the most crucial mission was ensuring the absolute safety of the King.