"So the King is destined to die?"
"Yes."
"From the very beginning, this result was already set?"
"That's right."
Neferpitou might have already accepted it inwardly, but still resisted. Somewhere inside, the hope of a different outcome clung on.
"I want to see the King's condition."
"You don't have a choice," Ron said calmly. "Either submit to me now, or be killed. There is no third option. But if you choose to submit, I can take you to witness the King's final moments. You have ten seconds to decide."
"Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Three.
Two..."
Finally, Neferpitou lowered her head.
"I submit."
Ron smiled. "A wise choice."
He produced a contract of his own making, modeled after the Gourmet Paradise contracts but modified with additional Divine Characters. Strong vows and restrictions bound both sides, forming a master–servant pact. At its core lay rules similar to the Three Laws of Robotics, with many more harsh conditions layered on. Once signed, betrayal would be impossible.
"Hold it."
Ron and Neferpitou each grasped one end of the contract. Aura flowed in as Ron channeled power into it.
The parchment glowed.
An overwhelming pull burst forth, drawing in aura from both Ron and Neferpitou. Already heavily injured, Neferpitou turned pale as the drain intensified. Ron remained unaffected. But as time passed, Ron sensed something was wrong.
The contract was overreaching.
Nen is a fair system—what you give, you must balance with what you gain. Ron had thought he had accounted for everything, but the design left hidden debt. If it continued unchecked, Neferpitou would die under the strain.
Ron's eyes narrowed.
"Natsu."
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"Killer Queen."
"Akame."
"Yuzuru Yamai."
"Chii."
"Erina "
All of his Nen Beasts manifested at once. He turned to Killer Queen.
"Killer Queen—go."
The command dropped. Killer Queen appeared behind Neferpitou. Power enveloped them both as fusion began.
"Second Shadow."
Killer Queen merged into Neferpitou's body. Around them, a massive cocoon-like shell took form. As the process completed, the unstable contract steadied.
Crack.
The parchment stilled. Ron stored it away. The cocoon split, and a new figure emerged.
The form was no longer Neferpitou's, nor fully Killer Queen's, but a blend of both. Humanoid in shape, walking upright with humanlike limbs, yet vertical pupils glowed, cat ears crowned the head, and a long tail extended behind. Pink hair fell freely, and clothing had shifted into shades of pink as well.
"From today, your name is Wither," Ron declared, taking two characters from Withering Heart Bomb.
Wither bowed, kneeling on one knee before him.
"Yes, master."
"Call me Captain."
"Yes, Captain."
Neferpitou was gone. Only Wither remained. Though faint resemblances lingered, Killer Queen's traits dominated. Not even the Royal Guards or the King himself would immediately recognize her. Gon and Killua certainly would not.
But Ron did not care about appearances. Even if Wither wore Neferpitou's old face, it made no difference. Defeated, bound, and contracted, Wither was now Ron's possession. Gon could no longer insist on killing her for Kite's sake.
What mattered was power.
Wither was without question S-class. Stronger now than Neferpitou had been, fusion with Killer Queen had elevated every basic attribute.
The abilities were even more crucial.
Neferpitou's original three—Puppet Master, Doctor Blythe, and Black Puppet Dance—remained. Added now were Killer Queen's arsenal.
The First Bomb. Withering Heart Bomb. Abilities whose power grew proportionally to the wielder's strength. With Wither's capacity, their effectiveness skyrocketed.
And beyond them was Killer Queen's third ability: Bites the Dust.
An ability combining explosion and time itself. Deadly, invisible, leaving no trace. A strike no one could predict, with the potential even to rewind events.
Overpowered beyond measure, but Nen demanded balance. Its price was steep—immense aura consumption, far beyond even what Ron as an S-class could bear easily. Usage required long cooldowns and strict additional conditions.
Still, even with its severe restrictions, the ability's value was immeasurable. Especially in the Dark Continent, where one critical use could alter fate itself. Ron had dreamed of harnessing it since Killer Queen was first born, and now it was his. The joy of gaining Wither as a servant was great, but this ability was greater still.
He recalled all his Beasts. Letting his body fall freely, he plunged downward, faster and faster.
Thud.