As the flashy, oversized off-road vehicle disappeared at the end of the highway, Killua finally asked without looking back, "Where to next?"
"According to Chairman Netero's instructions, we find the contact person first. Regardless of who holds the other two wooden tokens, I'll defeat them, catch up to Allen, and help rescue Kite," Gon answered resolutely.
"True. And this time, we have to win, no excuses. I never want to go through that terrifying 'Hell Training' ever again," Killua added, a trace of genuine fear flickering in his eyes.
Compared to Allen's insanely brutal training regimen, the various forms of torture, conditioning, and exercise the Zoldyck family had tailored for him since childhood felt like child's play. At the very least, no matter how terrifying the Zoldyck training seemed, it never pushed past the absolute limit of human endurance; they usually stopped just before the breaking point.
But Allen...
He was truly driving them toward death's door!
You either endured and grew stronger, or you experienced the agony and despair of the brink of death firsthand. There were several times Killua felt Allen genuinely intended to kill them, only to pull them back at the very last second.
"Hahaha! I don't want to do it again either! But you have to admit, his method really works." Gon laughed, his expression a complex mix of love and hate.
On one hand, he thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of fighting various enemies in the Dungeons and could feel his power skyrocketing. On the other hand, he felt that throughout the entire process, Allen hadn't treated them as "humans" at all, but rather as some kind of "monsters."
The pain of exhausting all physical strength and then being forced to squeeze every drop of potential out of every single cell was something no one would ever want to taste twice.
And yet? They had endured that state beyond the limit for a full 140 days!
…
While Gon and Killua were venting about their hellish experiences and leaving contact information on the bulletin board, Allen had already led his team across the NGL border and back into the interior.
Unlike their previous visit, the villages flanking the road were now hollowed-out ruins. In some corners, residual corpses and bloodstains were still visible. Under the ruthless sweeping of the Chimera Ants, virtually no village had been spared.
As for the NGL high-ranking officials who had secretly manufactured and trafficked drugs, they were mostly dead or scattered; some had even been converted into Officers or Squadron Leaders.
It is worth noting the Chimera Ants' method of reproduction: Phagogenesis. Simply put, they consume a creature and then optimize and mix its genetic sequence with ant genes and those of other species to produce eggs. Because the process is exceptionally bloody and cruel, often involving being eaten alive, the resulting creature has a certain probability of retaining parts of its previous personality and memories.
Of course, those unfortunate enough to be used as nourishment for the Royal Guards or the King were not afforded such an opportunity.
After passing seven or eight villages without finding a single living soul, Baise couldn't help but sigh. "Regardless of how this war between humans and ants ends, this country is finished."
"Indeed. If things go as expected, it will likely be annexed by neighboring countries. With nearly the entire population dead and the ruling structure collapsed, it's impossible for it to remain a sovereign state," Bodoro agreed.
As they spoke, Hisoka suddenly pointed toward the woods not far ahead. "There seems to be a person over there."
"A person? Are you sure it's a person?" Illumi asked, deliberately emphasizing the word.
"Hehe, whatever it is, I have a feeling it might be interesting," Hisoka replied with a curved smile.
Screeech—!
With the piercing sound of braking, the group pulled over to the side of the road. Allen was the first to hop out, raising his binoculars. Sure enough, he saw a human figure dressed in a black top with a hooded tunic, their face entirely obscured by shadows.
"Do you need me to go grab him?" Baise asked tentatively.
"No need. I plan to meet him personally."
With that, Allen leaped down the steep slope and sprinted through the forest at high speed, intercepting the mysterious figure in a matter of seconds.
The opponent clearly sensed his arrival as well. Without a word, he pulled a weapon resembling a Uzi submachine gun from his pocket and pulled the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
As the muzzle flashed, a hail of brass casings ejected from the side. Unfortunately, the bullets that should have easily shredded a man were stopped mid-air, as if hitting an invisible wall. In a couple of seconds, the entire magazine was spent, leaving only the click-click of an empty chamber.
Seeing this, the mysterious figure discarded the weapon and spoke in a low, raspy voice. "You're a Hunter from the Association, aren't you? I think perhaps we should sit down and talk."
"Talk? If you were in my shoes, what would you say to a guy who just fired thirty rounds into you the moment you met? The uncrowned king of the NGL underworld, the world's greatest drug lord, Gyro-sama!"
Allen sneered as he tore through the man's disguise. There was no helping it; that black coat and hood were far too distinctive. Moreover, the man radiated a nauseating stench! To a Nen user, this aura was like sewage that had fermented in a cesspool for a long time. Unless one's sense of smell and taste were simultaneously broken, it could be sensed from miles away.
"Oh? You recognize me!" Gyro looked up, revealing eyes that were cold as ice. Under the modification of Chimera Ant genes, he no longer looked human; he appeared both monstrous and terrifying.
"How could I not? You are one of the primary people responsible for NGL turning into this hellhole."
As he spoke, Allen released his terrifying Nen. It was clear he intended to execute this piece of trash, who deserved to die ten thousand deaths more than the Phantom Troupe, right here, rather than letting him escape to Meteor City to stir up more trouble.
Gyro, evidently a Nen user himself, immediately retreated in a wary crouch, releasing an aura filled with distortion and malice. Although the sheer volume of Allen's Aura made him feel like he was suffocating, he managed to maintain a shred of calm and logic.
"Young man, you are doing something meaningless. According to the laws of most human nations, the original 'me' is already dead. The current me is just an insignificant Chimera Ant. How about this: I'll give you a bank account with ten billion Jenny in it, and you pretend you never saw me. How does that sound?"
"Hehe! Do you really think I care whether you're a human or a Chimera Ant? Or do you think a mere ten billion Jenny can buy me off? No! Neither! I don't want anything from you. I simply want you dead! That's all. So don't waste your breath. Today, no matter who intervenes, you aren't leaving this forest alive..."