Time rewinds to after Germain left the royal palace.
Inside the royal palace, Morel was misled and allowed Shaiapouf to escape. Now, they were facing Palm, who had been transformed into a Chimera Ant.
Shaiapouf wanted to know the whereabouts of the "King" and Neferpitou, and who killed Youpi. The only way to get answers was to pry them out of the people in front of him.
So, Shaiapouf's many clones drifted over to Palm, whispering to her, ordering her to attack.
Palm, now a Chimera Ant, was loyal and responded to Shaiapouf's command with action.
She had grown stronger. Her black hair had become thicker, wrapping around her body, forming armor. This greatly enhanced her physical abilities.
This was the new Palm, with a second nen ability called "Black Widow," in addition to her "Merman Clairvoyance."
Palm, whose body and Nen had been amplified by becoming a Chimera Ant, was already a formidable opponent. On top of that, the others felt guilty towards her, which made it harder for them to fight back.
The plan was extremely dangerous, and Palm's current appearance was proof of that. But the group couldn't confirm her condition, let alone rescue her.
After the battle began, sending Ikalgo to search for her was the best option after much deliberation.
Knov, seeing his student, felt immense shame.
With his "Fourth Dimension Mansion," he was the best choice to support, confirm, and rescue Palm. But he hesitated.
If it weren't for Germain's actions sparking the courage in him, he wouldn't even have stayed in the royal palace this long. He would have left long ago.
Seeing Palm like this, Knov already guessed what had happened, his mind in turmoil, unsure of what to do.
Countless clones of Shaiapouf secretly released "Spiritual Message" at this moment, severely disrupting the group's defense and allowing Palm to fight even more effectively.
Shaiapouf used this opportunity to press for information, demanding they reveal the whereabouts of the "King," Neferpitou, and the killer of Youpi. If they didn't, this infighting would continue.
Things might really go the way he wanted.
No matter how loudly the group shouted, Palm seemed lost in her role as a Chimera Ant. She remained obedient to the "King" and the "Three Royal Guards," attacking without hesitation.
But the group had made up their minds. They couldn't reveal the information to Shaiapouf.
They didn't know the outcome of Chairman Netero's and Germain's fight with the "King." If they let Shaiapouf go, the consequences could be disastrous.
For now, the only option was to keep delaying and avoid Palm's attacks.
Fortunately, here, there was Meruem's "Perfect Plan" and "God's Accomplice."
Together with Knuckle's "Hakoware," they worked in tandem, eventually causing Palm to be tangled by the "A.P.R.," which left her unable to use Nen for a month.
After capturing Palm, Knov approached her.
Though he had lost most of his hair, Knov never gave up on waking Palm up.
Finally, through his efforts, Palm's human side woke up and regained control of her body.
Palm remembered that she was a member of the Chimera Ant Extermination Team and Knov's disciple, but she had gone through a terrifying experience.
Now, the nightmare was over.
Palm woke up, and everyone was overjoyed, but then they remembered the important task at hand.
So, they turned to deal with the endless copies of Shaiapouf, only to realize that they were all just his clones, and the real "Shaiapouf" had already left.
At this moment, the clones mocked the group.
It turned out that the group's determination to not reveal the battlefield location had actually led Shaiapouf, who was good at sensing emotions, to a general direction.
Since they all refused to go that way, "The King" and Neferpitou must be in that direction. It was certain.
"Beelzebub" Shaiapouf had already flown toward the battlefield while Palm and the others were entangled, and he was already halfway there.
Everyone was both angry and frustrated, but there was nothing they could do. They could only hope that everything was fine at the final battlefield and split up to act.
Morel and Meleoron followed Shaiapouf, trying to intercept him before he reached the abandoned test site.
Knov, Palm, and Knuckle stayed in the palace to deal with any remaining enemies.
Then, they met up with another Chimera Ant companion, Ikalgo, to rescue the surviving humans in the area.
Ikalgo, in his search for Palm, was forced to fight the Chimera Ants. Though he won, he was injured and didn't expect that Palm, whom he had been searching for, was here all along.
The matters in the palace were temporarily settled.
Now, let's rewind time to a little earlier.
"Beelzebub" Shaiapouf and his clones, during their flight, plunged straight into four "En."
The mocking feeling he had toward the palace group had long since vanished.
One of the "En," Shaiapouf immediately recognized it. It was the same one he had felt being released in the palace before. Its user was highly likely the one who killed Youpi.
He wasn't afraid of the owners of these "En," but he had realized an astonishing fact.
None of the initiators of the "En" were the "King" or Neferpitou.
Had they... had they left?
Or, for some reason, did they not release their "En"?
Or were they not in this direction?
Shaiapouf quickly spotted a huge, collapsed pit. From its broken state, it was clear how intense the battle had been here just moments ago.
Four humans stood at the edge of the pit, looking up, seemingly observing Shaiapouf and his clones.
They must have been the ones who released the "En," the numbers matched.
But...
No way...
Since the "King" and Neferpitou had fought these humans, how could they let them live and just leave?
This didn't fit the style of the "King" or Neferpitou.
Unless...
No, no, no, absolutely impossible. My "King" is invincible, and with Neferpitou around, even if Neferpitou had lost its life, it would have protected the "King" to the end.
What exactly happened here?
Why, after coming out of that damn smoke prison set by that man who spewed smoke, has the whole world changed? It now feels completely unfamiliar.
No, no, I have to understand what happened. I need to find a way to learn the truth from those four people's words or emotions…
But at that very moment, two things happened simultaneously.
Shaiapouf, thinking about this matter, showed a twisted and ferocious expression, no longer the graceful and confident appearance from before.
Suddenly, a figure appeared between Shaiapouf and his clones. There had been no sign of it beforehand.
Shaiapouf focused and saw a muscular man with his upper body bare, holding a surprisingly large sword glowing with a green light.
This man...
This man must be the one who killed Youpi, and the one who caused its world to fall into such chaos.
Shaiapouf made this judgment.
However, at this moment, that judgment no longer mattered.
Germain released his "En," wrapping all of Shaiapouf and his clones within it.
After a brief assessment, his eyes locked onto the "Beelzebub" Shaiapouf among the clones.
Shaiapouf, as one of the "Three Royal Guards," had an incredibly strong sense of emotion. At this moment, he felt a sharp, icy cold.
He has already discovered my true form?!
He has already found out who I really am?!
The man before him wasn't like the "King," who liked to release his Nen openly, forcing the Chimera Ants to feel his power and submit.
This habit was normal for beasts, who would release their Nen when patrolling their territory or encountering enemies.
But Germain was a beast hunter, and hunters preferred to hide their presence, achieving a lethal strike.
Thus, Shaiapouf truly felt the horror of Germain in this instant.
Youpi was no match for him, and neither was Neferpitou. I... am no match for him.
Even the "King" would be threatened...
The "Beelzebub" Shaiapouf spread his wings and turned to flee.
All his clones rushed toward Germain, attempting to delay and obstruct him.
In this moment, countless thoughts surged within his mind.
He truly hoped that Neferpitou would take the "King" away, or somehow convince the "King" to leave, so that Neferpitou could stay behind and fight to the death.
Yes, it must be this way.
It has to be this way. Well done, Neferpitou. Well done.
Your death will not be in vain. Once I meet with the "King," I will come back and avenge you and Youpi!
Shaiapouf had successfully convinced himself, but the next words he heard made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice pit.
"Rest assured."
"I will send you to meet Neferpitou, Youpi, and your 'King'—Meruem."
The "Beelzebub," Shaiapouf, shrank his pupils, quickly turning his head to see the man, whose countless clones were entangled around him, effortlessly swinging a large sword.
The man, holding the large sword with both hands, approached his face, reflecting a cold and merciless expression, his black eyes chilling to the extreme.
A greenish light suddenly shot out from the sword, instantly destroying all of Shaiapouf's clones and quickly closing in on the "Beelzebub" himself.
How could this happen...?
Shaiapouf felt his body withering, and in that moment, his mind was filled with vivid, fleeting images, ultimately freezing on the "King."
"King," my "King," I have come to see you...
Buzz—
The green light spread across the night sky, forming a ring, then gradually descended like glowing starlight.
Everything returned to silence.
The Chimera Ant "King" and the "Three Royal Guards" were all, at this moment, killed by the same person.
********
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