The nights kept rolling by as Netero and Ashton both started getting ready to face the king of the ants.
It was decided that Ashton was to take care of Neferpitou by himself. As he knows her abilities best and can counter them effectively.
Gon didn't like the notion of someone else dealing with Pitou. He protested with fervour.
But he couldn't do much in that regard. He could only hope to reason with Ashton.
He wanted to be the one to end Neferpitou's life. Especially after seeing Kite. Who now was technically a flesh puppet that Pitou practised her Nen on. Technically, Ashton encouraged her to use Kite's body too. Saying that she should practice her control on a proper puppet.
Morel and Knov managed to retrieve his body while Netero was confronting Ashton.
They left the nest earlier than Ashton and Netero. But were still nearby when it got blown up by Ashton.
The only reason the two of them didn't get caught up in the blast of the explosion was that Knov acted quickly and pulled the two of them into his dimension.
Kite was currently attacking everyone that got near him. Much like Pitou, he was only docile when faced with Ashton.
The group was still very sceptical of Ashton. But, at this point, he was needed. And he had already provided valuable information about their opponents.
Gon was still not tested by Morel. He will be a day before the actual attack on the palace.
Until then his role in the attack will not be planned properly. He will remain on standby for a while. His Nen still hasn't returned to him.
Although, at this point, there is no one better to replace him on such short notice.
Knov and Morel both started to scout the region. Knov infiltrating the castle itself with his Hatsu and Morel attacking nearby gatherings if Chimera Ants before they reunited with their King.
It was a task that needed to be done, although it tired the two quite a bit.
Morel's students, Knuckle and Shoot were assisting him. They couldn't afford to waste any time. The more ants gathered around the King the more dangerous the mission would become.
As for Netero and Ashton...
Netero started preparing himself mentally for his last fight. While Ashton started preparing the explosive device that was to be planted in the old man's chest.
Ashton was quick in creating the schematics for his new little project. Building the miniature nuke fell on the hands of some other people.
But he did get to check it for any problems before it the operation started.
As for whether or not he made it strong enough to be able to kill the king. That isn't relevant to Netero.
He knows that even if the king somehow escapes from the bomb, he wasn't escaping from the curious hands of the old scientist.
__________POV Netero__________
My last battle... To think that even after all these years I am still afraid of my own demise.
Truth is, Ashton is the only reason I've managed to live for so long.
He saved my life during the expedition, he is also the only reason those wastelands didn't drive me insane.
I shudder to think that he called these lands 'home' for such a long time.
Even he doesn't realise how long he's lived there. It must've been centuries at least, the expeditions of humanity only happened in the last few centuries. He said that he spent a lot of time there before the expeditions ever happened. And he still wants to return...
I also know he wants to stop all humans from ever stepping foot in his home. Regardless of means.
Despite his age, when he arrived on human lands he was highly impressionable, which lead him down the wrong paths in life.
He knew everything about the Dark Continent, yet he knew little about human emotions. He didn't realise how brutal our kind could be at first.
After he did so... His desire to bring ruin to humanity showed itself.
It made me wonder if it appears due to these discoveries, or if he always had it... It was hard to say. As impressionable as he used to be, he was never open about anything.
I only found out more about him after spending a century befriending him. He never aged a single day...
I could feel a bit of jealousy welling up within me... Thinking about someone's immortality whilst preparing for death isn't a good idea.
Jealousy is unbecoming of such an old man... Although, if I was to say that in front of Ashton he'd laugh in my face. He never allows me to call myself old while in his presence. Although he calls me that all the time.
I think he just doesn't want me to sound wise in his presence... Really, what a despicable being. Why exactly is he one of my only friends?
As for trusting him to build a bomb for the King... I guess I just trust his judgement, he wanted to destroy humanity at first, but let it up to fate eventually.
I guess the fate of the world balances itself on his decisions.
With his influence, it would be extremely easy to start a world war. And with his weapons, humanity would be brought to an abrupt end. He holds the means to do such things. But chooses not to.
He just keeps improving the weapons of war, letting humanity decide what to do with them.
I wonder how this operation will go with his interference... He definitely won't follow any plan.
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The next chapter will be about Gon's test! I'll try to add the perspective of other characters from time to time.
U can support me here --->