Initiate, control, develop, seize...
In a mere half-hour, both squads of ants had ended up in the Red Dragon's stomach.
Among them, one Officer had developed an intriguing Manipulation-type Hatsu. It could place a "Mark" on a single designated target. As long as the user wrapped their Aura around a projectile, be it a bullet, javelin, arrow, or throwing knife, the item would automatically correct its trajectory and flight path after being launched, homing in until it struck the marked target or exhausted its supply of Aura.
In simple terms, it added an auto-targeting and tracking function to long-range weapons.
While these course corrections would significantly bleed the arrow's speed, penetration, and destructive force after several maneuvers, it was an excellent way to cause persistent trouble for an opponent. As a tactical auxiliary, its effectiveness was undeniable.
Furthermore, when paired with Allen's Big Bang Arrow and Little Flower, the reduction in power was negligible.
Due to his vast Aura reserves, the Little Flower Allen utilized was far beyond anything Genthru could muster. Moreover, once attached to an arrow, he didn't even need to worry about reserving half of his Aura for self-protection.
Tests showed that an explosive arrow infused purely with the Little Flower ability could easily produce destructive power comparable to a large-caliber howitzer—more than enough to handle creatures the size of humans or Chimera Ants.
After all, a defining trait of the Hunter x Hunter world was "High Attack, Low Defense." Even masters at the pinnacle of Enhancement, such as Chairman Netero or a transformed Gon, could have their defenses breached instantly and lose limbs if they didn't maintain an overwhelming advantage in Aura volume.
After waiting in the car for about an hour, Bodoro finally couldn't help but ask, "Hisoka has been gone so long; why isn't he back yet? He couldn't have been taken out, could he?"
"Hmm… I think the possibility of him being killed is low. He's likely just having too much fun and lost track of time," Illumi replied expressionlessly, stroking his chin.
"Dammit! That madman wouldn't actually be teaching the Chimera Ants Nen, would he?" Baise's expression shifted slightly.
An ant before learning Nen and a Chimera Ant after learning Nen were two entirely different threat levels. Before Nen, they were far superior to humans in strength, explosiveness, and speed, but she could still handle them with her current power. Even an Officer, with enough caution, could be brought under control with a single kiss.
But if the ants learned Nen? The days of controlling them for long periods with a tiny amount of Aura would be gone forever. She would have to inject significantly more Aura all at once to bend those insects to her will. Furthermore, Nen would bolster the basic offense and defense of every ant; combined with their unique Hatsu, a single lapse in judgment could lead to a total disaster.
"It certainly sounds like something Hisoka would do. But it doesn't matter. The ants learning Nen was inevitable; whether it happens sooner or later makes no real difference."
As he spoke, Allen glanced at the Hunting Map in his hand and noticed that the icon representing Pokkle was still active. The guy was surprisingly good at staying alive. If Pokkle could hold out until the team arrived, Allen wouldn't mind lending a hand to rescue him. However, he wouldn't risk a reckless charge into a heavily guarded nest.
As a leader, Allen's priority was the safety of his own team. He would save whom he could, but if it was impossible, so be it.
Take the residents of NGL, for example. Even after witnessing the horror of the Chimera Ants, many refused to heed warnings to leave. They stubbornly believed this was part of natural selection—just as humans preyed on other animals, these giant insects could prey on humans. Some even tried to attack or sabotage the team's off-road vehicle.
Unfortunately for them, people without proper weapons were no match for a group of powerful Nen users and were promptly given a thorough thrashing. Since then, Allen had adopted a very detached, "let-it-be" attitude toward saving the civilians in the NGL Autonomous State.
There was no other choice. If they themselves didn't mind being eaten, what else could he do?
Just as he was internally criticizing these "environmentalist" lunatics, a familiar figure suddenly descended from above, a faint smile and a look of unparalleled satisfaction on his face.
"Heh! It seems accepting your terms was the right choice after all. These lovely little ants are simply delicious! So delicious they make my whole body tremble!"
"You! You didn't actually teach that Officer and then let him go, did you?" Baise demanded, raising an eyebrow.
"No! I didn't let him go. I simply happened to encounter enemy reinforcements, and they 'rescued' him," Hisoka said, spreading his hands in a mock display of regret.
"You definitely did it on purpose." Illumi, being one of the people who understood this freak best, exposed the lie immediately.
"Fine, I admit it was intentional. Don't you think it's far more interesting to let these fascinating ants learn Nen? It will make the coming hunt much more exciting, and the fruit will become sweeter and more tempting," Hisoka defended himself, licking his lips.
Illumi wasn't buying it. He stared at Hisoka with his deep, dark eyes. "But you've just made my job harder."
"I'll help you catch a few more Officers and Squadron Leaders. How does that sound?" Hisoka had clearly anticipated this and immediately offered compensation.
"OK. I have no further issues." Having secured the promise he wanted, Illumi instantly reverted to his usual detached self.
In contrast, Bodoro seemed excited. It was obvious he was eager to fight Nen-using Chimera Ants as a means to spur his own growth.
As for Allen, he had expected this from the moment he recruited Hisoka. For a "veteran orchardist," Hisoka would try anything to make the fruit "tasty."
So, Allen remained calm and simply asked, "What was that Officer's ability?"
"A very interesting Nen bullet. Likely an Emitter," Hisoka replied without hesitation.
"I see. And how long do you think it will take for the entire Chimera Ant army to spread Nen among their ranks once he returns?" Allen asked with interest.
Hisoka shook his head slightly. "I don't know. Maybe a few days, maybe a week or two. But in the coming days, more and more ants will use Nen, and the battles will become increasingly entertaining. If you don't mind, could you leave a Squadron Leader for me next time we run into one?"
"What, Officers can no longer satisfy you?" Allen looked up, his tone playful.
"No, of course not. I just think a Squadron Leader should be a bit more capable and provide extra stimulation. Also, I swear I won't kill it; I'll just beat it until it's half-dead for you to devour," Hisoka promised earnestly.
"Very well. But remember your promise. If you pull a stunt like today again, I will kick you out of this group without hesitation, physically speaking," Allen warned meaningfully.
"Understood. You're the boss; you call the shots."
Hisoka's lips curled upward into a twisted, pathological smile.
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