Rewind to twenty minutes earlier.
The King had set his sights on Tonpa. He didn't voice this thought, but the three Royal Guards understood clearly.
Thus, Youpi, who had just mastered flight, carried Pitou, while the proficient flier Pouf carried the King.
They headed towards the direction the radar Nen Circle had come from.
Flying high, not only the King but even Pitou and the others searched for traces of the target.
Four terrifying existences flying through the air were like suns piercing through darkness, their presence overwhelmingly strong.
Law's group easily noticed the King and the three Royal Guards. This was also because the King and his guards made no effort to conceal themselves, coming openly to hunt.
That glance towards the sky instantly triggered a reaction from the King, who sharply looked towards the source of the gaze… a hilly area.
However, that glance revealed no signs of any creature.
The King released his tail from around Pouf's leg, plummeting towards the hills like a cannonball.
Upon landing, it was as if a missile had exploded there, creating a huge crater.
"Such immense power!"
Seeing the crater, Youpi whispered excitedly.
Pouf offered no comment, descending towards the ground.
Seeing Youpi still excitedly staring at the crater made by the King, Pitou helplessly let go and jumped down directly.
The King stepped out of the crater, a flicker of contemplation in his eyes.
"Not here?"
He was certain the source of the gaze was nearby, but he saw no humans, no traces, no Aura… as if they vanished into thin air.
The three Royal Guards arrived behind the King, silent, in a standby posture.
They remained still and silent, the King also stood motionless. A minute or two passed this way.
Sensing the King's perplexity, Pitou ventured a suggestion, "Your Majesty, pardon my forwardness, but Nen Users can transform life energy into special abilities."
Those few gazes, though brief, Pitou had also noticed.
Now, while explaining the King's confusion, she didn't state it outright, leaving room for him to think.
"So that's how it is."
The King nodded slightly. He couldn't sense any creature's presence nearby.
"Pardon my intrusion again. If Your Majesty requires, I can demonstrate on the spot and investigate the surroundings," Pitou said respectfully.
"Granted."
The King glanced at Pitou, somewhat interested in Nen Users' special abilities.
Hearing this, Pitou released her Aura. Instantly, it transformed into an irregular shape, spreading outwards in all directions… the Nen Technique, En.
'This feeling...'
Youpi and Pouf's expressions changed, recalling the life energy that had infiltrated the nest earlier. The King, however, remained expressionless.
The Aura forming the En covered an area of about one kilometer around them. Shortly after, it retracted.
Undoubtedly, Pitou had no conceptual understanding of Nen Techniques. The reason she mastered the difficult En in such a short time was because Tonpa's radar Nen Circle had stimulated her, giving her inspiration.
Thus, she thought En was also a special ability developed by Nen Users using life energy. She tried it, and it didn't seem hard.
"Your Majesty, there are no anomalies within one kilometer," Pitou reported.
"Let's go. I'm hungry."
The King nodded slightly. With no leads, he didn't persist.
Then, he wrapped his tail around Pouf's legs again, flying eastward. He wanted food.
After they left, a considerable time passed. A patch of ink-like black stain seeped from a spot somewhere, and Tonpa's head emerged from it.
For safety, he used his radar Nen Circle again. If he detected the King and Royal Guards still nearby, he would immediately retreat into Hide-and-Seek, and Knov would close the exit.
"They're gone. We can come out."
The Nen Circle's detection found no sign of the King and his Royal Guards.
Tonpa sighed in relief, emerging from the black exit onto the ground.
Then, Law and the others came out one by one.
Regarding the King's birth, Law had informed Netero and the others. Initially disbelieving, seeing it with their own eyes forced them to accept reality.
Not long ago, when Knov saw the King and the three Royal Guards flying over, he almost lost his composure. Fortunately, he successfully activated his ability, leading everyone to hide in Hide-and-Seek in time.
Otherwise, with their current combat strength against the King and three Royal Guards, Law was confident he could survive, but the others might not.
"The most urgent task now is to prevent the remaining Chimera Ants from leaving East Gorteau," Law said gravely, looking at the nest not far away.
The King's threat was indeed immense, but as long as he remained in East Gorteau, there was ample time to prepare. However, if other Chimera Ants left East Gorteau, the trouble would be huge.
Especially since the Mitene Union was located within the Balsa Islands, where there were many strange countries on the numerous islands, such as information-isolated nations like NGL and East Gorteau itself.
While hiding in Hide-and-Seek, Law had explained the hidden dangers to Netero and the others.
Now, hearing Law say this, no one objected.
To completely block the remaining Chimera Ants within East Gorteau, the previously called reinforcements were far from enough.
"Given the situation, we can only try to salvage it," Netero sighed and said, "Follow me."
He wouldn't regret not heeding Law's suggestion because regret was meaningless now. All they could do was try their best to eliminate the hidden dangers.
Regarding the King's strength, even that hurried glance gave a rough idea.
From that moment, Netero had already made plans.
The group of five rushed to the nest at top speed. Under Tonpa's radar Nen Circle detection, they immediately went to the Queen's chamber and saw the dead Chimera Ant Queen.
Not lingering long, they headed to the food processing area.
There, a pig-headed Chimera Ant mechanically wielded a cleaver, continuously chopping humans into meatballs.
The air was thick with the smell of blood. Not far away, countless skulls and bones were piled high.
The pig-headed Chimera Ant, serving as the chef, seemed not to have received any notification, so he continued his duty.
When Law and the others arrived, the pig-headed Chimera Ant noticed the movement and looked over. The next moment, Law removed and crushed its head.
"Based on Chimera Ants' travel speed, they won't leave East Gorteau that quickly. If we pursue now, we might catch many," Law said, lightly flicking his arm.
Tonpa's radar Nen Circle sweep confirmed the nest was empty, leaving only the pig-headed Chimera Ant and many humans paralyzed by neurotoxin.
Thus, everyone left the nest, heading west.
Then, in the forest, they encountered Nique, lost in thought.
Seeing five humans suddenly appear… more precisely, seeing the perceived god of slaughter, Law, Nique's face stiffened.
Stimulated by the crisis, he used the fastest speed of his life!
He wasn't foolish enough to turn and run. Instead, he raised his hands in a surrender gesture.
Moreover, looking at everyone, he spoke at an extremely rapid pace:
"Actually, I am a vegetarian! The kind that doesn't eat meat. If you don't believe me, check my pockets. There's a freshly picked tender blade of grass there."
"So please, you must believe me. That tender grass is my dinner for today."