Hunter x Chimera Ants

Chapter 5

Kiyoko looked over Kite's shoulder at the note bee's had brought them. The note was asking for help with the Chimera Ants, and Kiyoko remembered seeing the bees from somewhere. 

"Wait a second, those are Ponzu's bees! She was a girl that took the Hunter Exam with us," Kiyoko said.

"It'll be dangerous," Kite said. "But could you accompany me?"

"Of course," Gon and Kiyoko replied.

"We're pros," Killua said.

"Miss interpreter... Sorry, but we're in a hurry," Kite said as Kiyoko hopped of the horse.

"Yes. The horses can move a bit faster."

"They won't be fast enough," Kite said hopping off his horse. "I want you two to return to the border, find the others, and get word to the Association. These creatures are dangerous."

"Got it," Dinner said.

"Be careful, Kite," Pondungo said.

"Right. If you can't keep up, I'll leave you behind."

"We could say the same to you," Kiyoko replied with a grin as she stretched out.

"All ready to go!" Gon said. Kite grinned.

"Let's go." They took off as fast as they could, leaving a trail of dust behind them.

They reached a certain part in the trees and came to a stop when they seen shredded clothes and blood everywhere. Killua bent down and picked something up.

"This is a bullet casing," he said and Kiyoko glanced at it.

"Nothing mechanical is allowed here, right?" Gon asked.

"So the underground rulers of NGL were manufacturing guns in addition to drugs," Kite said.

"Looks like it," Kiyoko muttered.

"But judging by this...," Killua said.

"Yup. It was done by a Chimera Ant," Kiyoko replied.

"If the Chimera Ants are using guns...I hate to consider the possibility," Kite said as they stared down at the blood, "but it's possible that NGL's underground rulers have already been fed to the queen... What will happen if Chimera Ants are born with their genes? NGL and Chimera Ants... The worst combination imaginable. This could create an unprecedented biohazard."

They continued running.

"It's safe to assume that Chimera Ants have assumed control of NGL's interior," Kite informed. "The question is if we can reach their nest before the Queen births the King."

By sundown they reached a village. It was torn apart and looked as if it had been ravaged. Torn clothes, food, wood, and more littered the ground. They walked up to one of the torn apart houses and peaked inside.

"No one's here," Gon said. They all began looking around. "Say... Something smells. Coming from over there." He pointed towards the woods.

"I smell it, too," Kiyoko said standing up from her crouched position. They headed in the direction of the smell. Blood trails led off from the horse stalls. They followed the trail into the forest. After a few minutes of walking, they came across three dead horses being held up by trees. 

"It's like a morning sacrifice," Gon commented.

"A ritual practiced by birds called bull-headed shrikes," Kite informed. "They impale their prey on sharp objects, such as branches."

"Hey!" someone behind them shouted. They turned to see a birdman step out of the woods.

"Wh-What is that?" Killua asked.

"A Chimera Ant," Kiyoko whispered. Kiyoko's eyes flickered to the trees, and she sent out her En. Someone else was nearby, but she kept quiet. Kite looked back at her, and her eyes flickered back to the Chimera Ant in front of them. He raised his hand and pointed at them.

"Trash. Those are mine!" Gon and Killua glanced back and the birdman lunged. Kite disappeared, and Kiyoko sent aura into her feet and jumped just as he knocked Gon and Killua aside. Kite's aura blazed to life for a moment, and the birdman analyzed him. The birdman looked up at Kiyoko as her aura blazed to life, her eye color spinning into their usual gold and silver when she used her aura. Kite disappeared, and walked over to a tree.

"Gon... Killua... Kiyoko... You three must deal with him yourselves," Kite said. "That is a Chimera Ant soldier. We will encounter many more like him. I won't help you during combat. If you can't defeat it, you'll have to leave." She activated her Ice Mode and disappeared. She appeared in front of the Chimera Ant soldier and hit him in the stomach with her palm. 

"Freeze Palm!" she shouted. He coughed up blood as he flew back, a beam of ice freezing his stomach and some of his insides.

"No fair! You got a head start!" Gon shouted.

"No, I didn't. You were just too slow. You can deal with him now," Kiyoko said leaning against the tree, closing her eyes. The birdman lunged at her, and she ducked and moved away. He continued swinging, and she moved out of the way of each swing.

"You're our opponent now!" Gon and Killua shouted as they lunged forward. Kiyoko dove under them and flipped onto her feet. She slid to a stop and looked up at them to watch. Killua appeared above the birdman. His finger lit up with lightning.

"Thunderbolt!" He shot lightning down at the birdman, and the birdman screamed in pain.

"First comes rock...," Gon said building up his attack. The birdman stayed in place due to being paralyzed by the lightning. "Rock... Paper... Rock!" He punched the birdman, and he went flying. Kiyoko disappeared and sent aura into her foot. She appeared right under him and kicked him hard in the stomach causing him to fly upwards. A bird swooped out and caught him. Kiyoko formed an ice bow and arrow. She held it up and aimed. She shot two arrows, and the second birdman dodged them and flew off. The bow dispersed and she held out her palm.

"Ice Beam!" A beam shot out from her hand at the second birdman, slightly catching his leg but not slowing him down one bit. The first birdman let out a loud, angry screech.

"Bastards! I'm gonna eat you!" Kiyoko sent aura into her feet and jumped high. Once she was in the air, she spun around, kicking out both feet, one at a time. 

"Ice Slicer!" Two blades of long ice shot at the two, and the second birdman swooped out of the way, and Kiyoko growled in frustration. She lightly landed on the ground, her eyes turning back to normal as she let her Ice Mode disperse.

"That guy's smart. He let his soldier do the fighting, so he could learn our abilities," Kite said. "You noticed him, didn't you, Kiyoko?" She nodded.

"I kept quiet because the soldier didn't know. I wanted to lure him out. Thing is, my attacks missed. Well, it doesn't effect me. That's not the only thing I'm capable of doing," she mumbled.

"Are you coming?" Kite asked. "There's no need to feel down. Your attacks weren't that bad. You just need experience now. If you wish to become stronger, this is a perfect opportunity. But if you aren't prepared, you won't be able to endure the ordeal. Whether we win or lose, hell lies ahead of us."

"We're coming!" Gon said.

"Yeah."