Killua, slightly cautious, considered the implications and couldn't help but ask,
"So, as far as I understand, the price and limitations seem to be tied to lifespan. But whether it's the lifespan of the person using the ability or the lifespan of the one wrapped in the cloths... that, I don't know."
Killua and the others processed this information in silence.
A Nen ability linked to time... That wasn't something an ordinary price could cover. If it required sacrificing lifespan, then the time limit made sense.
"No matter what." Gon took a deep breath, his resolve unwavering. "Even if it costs most of my life—or all of it—I have to save Kite!"
His eyes burned with determination.
Killua opened his mouth to argue, but after a moment, he swallowed his words. Right now, Gon was consumed by guilt and self-blame. No one could talk him down from this.
If the price turned out to be unacceptable, then...
Unconsciously, a familiar yet distant figure flashed through Killua's mind. He lowered his gaze slightly.
...
"I do know someone who might help," Ronnel admitted, "but we rarely talk, and I can't be sure I'll find him again."
"Or," he added, "once you find Ging, he might have a way to heal Kite."
"Ging? He has a way?" Gon's eyes widened.
"Did you forget about Greed Island?"
At first, Gon looked puzzled, but Killua caught on immediately.
"That's right! Your dad created Greed Island, and there's a card in the game called [Angel's Breath], remember? If that card exists, there must be other healing abilities out there. If you find him, he should know a way."
"Really?!" Gon's face lit up, his usual grin returning.
"That's great! There are so many ways to save Kite!"
The heavy weight that had been pressing down on him seemed to lift at that moment.
"Yeah, so if Neferpitou can't help Kite, don't do anything reckless." Killua seized the moment to knock Gon on the head.
He knew his friend too well. If Neferpitou failed, Gon would make an extreme demand—on himself, on Neferpitou, or both. His grief would drive him to impose a terrifying restriction.
Even before Ronnel arrived, Killua had sensed it.
He didn't want to see that happen, so he took this chance to knock some sense into Gon while he could.
"Hehehe, got it!" Gon laughed, rubbing the back of his head.
"Hah! You say that now, but you sure didn't know it before!"
Their usual bickering broke the tension surrounding the upcoming battle.
Ronnel watched them with a small smile.
It wasn't anything special—he had only given Gon a new perspective and a sliver of hope. That was enough to stop him from making a terrible mistake when that hope was taken away.
A mistake that would've caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people—including Ronnel himself. If he could prevent all that with a few words, why not?
...Though, in a way, some of Doraemon's gadgets would make great inspiration for abilities.
As for Kite…
She wasn't dead. She had been taken to Greed Island, where she was living a peaceful life.
Right now, she was still in an early, unaware stage. Once she fully matured and regained her memories, Gon would naturally stop thinking about Nen abilities that burdened time.
And while Kite had changed from male to female, her potential had only increased.
The restructuring through Chimera Ant cells had enhanced her growth far beyond what her original body was capable of, both in talent and physique.
Chimera Ants were naturally gifted. On top of that, reborn Kite had the chance to reset her Nen abilities. Years of using Crazy Slots must have taught her its weaknesses—if she could redesign her abilities, they would undoubtedly be stronger.
She had also regained her youth, her lifespan refined. If she started training from childhood, her future achievements would be limitless.
So for Kite, whether this transformation was a blessing or a curse... that remained to be seen.
...
With Gon's burden lifted, he and Killua naturally started discussing the upcoming battle.
Ronnel introduced Meleoron to the group, and after confirming his Nen abilities, they began planning the final attack.
"The Chairman said he'll take on the Ant King," Ronnel read aloud from Netero's message. "The Royal Guards? We can decide how to split them among ourselves."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
"Let us assign them... The Chairman really thinks highly of us, huh?"
Everyone felt the weight of that statement.
"So, Ronnel," Killua asked, hands in his pockets, "what do you think?"
"Well, the old man already said he's handling the King. So I'll just take care of the three Royal Guards—begrudgingly, of course."
Ronnel spread his hands in mock helplessness.
"Begrudgingly...?"
Killua stared at him, momentarily speechless, before scowling and keeping his mouth shut.
"Of course, if the old man can't handle it, don't blame me for cleaning up his mess," Ronnel added with a smirk, his mind already deep in thought.
The Chimera Ant King he wanted to fight wasn't just some half-baked version.
Along with Netero's update, Ronnel also shared what he had learned about the strange game of Gungi between the Ant King and Komugi.
"So that's it… No wonder Neferpitou withdrew her En earlier. The Ant King must've ordered her not to disturb him... for a game of chess?"
Morel exhaled a long stream of smoke, his mind racing as he tried to process what he'd just heard.
"That's... certainly unexpected."
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)