"How do they compare to you? I mean the strongest individuals among them," Netero asked with a serious expression, stroking his white beard.
Unlike in the original timeline, where he knew nothing of the Chimera Ant army's true strength, he was now mentally prepared thanks to several recent exchanges with Allen.
Sensing the fierce fighting spirit flickering in the Chairman's eyes, Allen raised his hand and suddenly released his Aura.
Instantly…
A massive surge of Aura blanketed everything within several hundred meters!
Knov, whose psychological fortitude was relatively weak, didn't last even a second; he collapsed to his knees with a thud, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Morel fared slightly better. Leaning on his cloth-wrapped pipe, he managed to remain standing. Neither of these men possessed an Aura volume exceeding 100,000. Faced with an impact of more than a tenfold difference, they lacked the capital to resist or even hold their ground.
Compared to their current pathetic state, the lecture they had given Killua just minutes ago seemed like a complete joke, a piece of biting black humor and irony.
Fortunately, this lasted only a few seconds. Allen withdrew his Nen and spoke meaningfully: "Without using any of my trump cards, in terms of raw Aura volume alone, I should be roughly on par with a Royal Guard. As for the unborn King, he will likely be three times stronger than a Royal Guard."
"You... you've got to be kidding! How could such a monster exist in this world?" Knov countered, his voice dripping with disbelief.
"While I'd like to treat it as a joke, unfortunately, this is the reality, the cold, hard truth. In terms of basic biological potential, humans have never been the strongest species, let alone compared to Chimera Ants, extreme organisms capable of absorbing the elite genes of other species and passing them to the next generation. So, if you intend to join this war, do not harbor any delusions. Be prepared for a bitter struggle, or even death."
Allen bluntly cut off the other man's unrealistic fantasies. Given the strength the ants were currently displaying, he was certain the battle would be far more intense than in the original story. It wouldn't be surprising if Netero's entire team was wiped out.
"In other words... the Royal Guards have already been born!" Netero's expression shifted slightly.
Allen nodded without hesitation. "Exactly. And not just one. I've seen at least two with my own eyes: one with white hair, cat ears, and a tail, and another tall figure with deep red skin."
"Hmm… this is truly going to be a problem." Chairman Netero wore a look that was half-excited and half-troubled.
"What do you plan to do?" Allen tested the waters with a faint smile.
"Hahaha! Thin out their numbers first, of course! Are you coming along?" Chairman Netero laughed, extending an invitation.
"Of course, but not right now. My team and I need to rest for a few days to recover our stamina and energy." As he spoke, Allen turned to glance at his teammates, who had been fighting a guerrilla war alongside him for over ten days.
Due to the lack of sleep and rest, most were exhausted. Even the battle-maniac Hisoka, who had engaged in frequent, intense combat with high-level ants, had less than half the Aura volume he started with. If they didn't rest, they might struggle even against an Officer, let alone a Squadron Leader.
But a freak is always a freak. Although Hisoka had nearly died several times during ant ambushes, his face still bore an expression of excitement and satisfaction, punctuated by occasional, spine-chilling laughter. He was clearly in such a good mood that even the sight of his two "unripe apples" (Gon and Killua) failed to trigger any emotional fluctuation or murderous intent.
"In that case, I'll head out first to ensure the disaster doesn't spread further to neighboring countries. Find me once you've rested. Also, you handled that business on Neldrant Island well, far better than I imagined. You know, the first time I encountered that 'thing,' I was so terrified I turned tail and ran," Netero remarked with a trace of nostalgia.
"Oh? You've encountered it too? What exactly is that thing? Are there many of them in that unknown land?"
At the mention of the Dark Continent, Allen's interest peaked. Based on the clues provided in the source material, humans likely fled from the Dark Continent to this giant "petri dish" in the center of Lake Mobius. This implied that the Dark Continent itself held some incredibly powerful prehistoric civilization.
Perhaps it was a civilization built by humans that perished in a catastrophe or war. Or perhaps it was built by another sentient race, and humans were merely their slaves or vassals. When destruction came, humans escaped, while that unknown civilization collapsed, leaving behind ruins of ancient cities. Whatever the truth, Allen was fascinated.
Netero shook his head with a soft chuckle. "I'm sorry, I don't know. That place is simply too vast; what humanity has touched is only a negligible fraction. But remember one thing: always remain humble before Great Nature, or it will quickly teach you a lesson you'll never forget."
"You aren't going to stop me from exploring the Dark Continent?" Allen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I might have in the past. But now, they have turned the exploration of the Dark Continent into a rolling tide of history. Anyone standing in the way will be crushed, even I am no exception. So, the old persistence no longer has any meaning; the human world is about to enter a new chapter. For me right now, eliminating the threat of the Chimera Ants is the top priority."
With that, Chairman Netero beckoned Morel and Knov to follow. They gradually disappeared into the depths of the dense primeval forest.
As they left, Allen turned his gaze to Killua. "Where is my Growth Pill?"
"Here."
Killua reached into his pocket and tossed a card over without a word.
"Perfect. Now we're even."
As soon as Allen caught it, he materialized the item: a bottle containing exactly one hundred Growth Pills. Just as he was about to unscrew the cap and count them, Killua finally spoke up.
"Is there any way you can help us become stronger quickly in a short amount of time?"
"Stronger in a short time?" Allen paused his unscrewing and looked up at the most talented child of the Zoldyck family.
"Yeah! I'm sick of this feeling of being weak and powerless! You can help us, can't you?" Killua clenched his fists, meeting Allen's gaze without flinching.
Being exceptionally sensitive to Nen, he had noticed Bodoro's unusual rate of Aura growth. If it were just one person, it might be explained away as talent or coincidence. But seeing Baise later confirmed his suspicions: Allen definitely possessed a method to make people stronger rapidly.
Allen realized this as well and responded playfully, "Yes, I do have such an ability. But the problem is, it involves certain secrets. So, give me a reason to help you."
"What do you want in exchange?" Killua tested carefully.
"Simple. Remember when you first learned Nen and owed me a favor? In the near future, I will ask you to repay it. At that time, regardless of the request, you must fulfill that promise immediately without delay or refusal. This will be a Binding Vow. If you break it, you will lose all your Nen and abilities. Think carefully before you answer."
Allen didn't hide his intentions; his target was Alluka and Nanika.
Unfortunately, Killua still had the needle planted by Illumi in his head. He naturally didn't remember the sister (or brother) locked away in the basement. He nodded without hesitation. "Fine! As long as you can make Gon and me stronger quickly, I'll do whatever you ask."
"Then it's a deal. Let's go. We're heading to the nearest city."
With that, Allen climbed back into his off-road vehicle. Following the green truck carrying Netero's trio, they set off toward the relatively safe rear lines.