Joey didn't run far.
Instead, he hid within a dense thicket.
---
His eyes stayed locked on the tree he had previously marked.
---
Just as expected—
The Chimera Ant hesitated for only a moment…
Then resumed moving—this time following his direction of escape.
---
Joey's lips curved slightly.
---
He wasn't afraid of being pursued.
---
He was afraid of being ignored.
---
If the enemy avoided his trap—
Then his entire setup would collapse.
---
From earlier observations, he had already understood the enemy's movement style.
---
Like the ape-like Chimera Ant before—
This one also moved through trees.
Jumping.
Climbing.
Avoiding ground paths.
---
Which meant—
Running toward less dense vegetation wasn't a mistake.
It was bait.
---
It told the enemy:
"I know how you move."
---
But Joey had no better option.
---
Trap or escape—
This was still the optimal route.
The only question was whether the enemy would fall for it.
---
And it did.
---
The Chimera Ant chasing him—
Lacked experience.
---
The moment it stepped onto the marked tree—
Joey acted.
---
He activated the first bomb.
Killer Queen ability triggered instantly.
---
Through repeated usage, Joey had refined his understanding of the ability.
---
The tree itself was a single object—
But the bomb effect was not limited to a single point.
---
Instead—
A zone formed around the contact point.
---
Anyone entering that zone—
Triggered the explosion.
---
Joey had calculated it roughly.
---
A spherical radius of about 50 centimeters.
Centered on his touch point.
---
Everything within it—
Became part of the bomb.
---
But his goal wasn't direct killing.
---
It was disruption.
---
Breaking the tree.
Forcing the Chimera Ant mid-leap to lose balance.
---
Creating an opening.
---
For the Skull Tank to finish it.
---
Sheer Heart Attack would then follow up with an explosion.
---
But this plan—
Was unstable.
---
And dangerous.
---
Because every explosion—
Drained Joey further.
---
Each detonation reduced his remaining stamina.
---
Every second—
His survival margin shrank.
---
Sweat soaked his clothes.
---
His breathing was heavy.
Controlled—but strained.
---
His eyes were bloodshot.
His legs trembled slightly.
---
He had only one chance.
---
One clean execution.
---
If it failed—
He would have to abandon everything and run.
---
But escape was not safe either.
---
Sheer Heart Attack lacked speed outside combat conditions.
---
And cutting off his arm to escape—
Was not a realistic option.
---
Pain alone would slow him too much.
---
Blood would attract enemies.
---
And losing an arm…
Even if survivable in this world—
Was still a massive disadvantage.
---
Joey raised his rifle.
---
He aimed carefully at the tree.
---
At this moment—
He looked like a cornered predator.
---
A wolf forced into desperation.
---
Not retreating.
Not yielding.
---
Only waiting for a single opening.
---
But then—
Something changed.
---
The Skull Tank suddenly deviated.
---
It didn't reach the tree.
---
It turned away.
---
Joey's expression froze.
Then darkened.
---
Did they see through it?
Impossible.
He hadn't revealed the bomb directly.
---
So why?
---
Caution?
---
Fear from earlier explosions?
---
Or were they regrouping?
Waiting for reinforcements?
---
Cold sweat ran down his temples.
---
He bit his thumbnail unconsciously.
---
His mind raced.
Distance.
Timing.
Explosion sync.
Kill window.
---
Everything was calculated—
Now broken.
---
If the enemy avoided the trap—
Even if they returned later—
The timing mismatch would ruin the combo.
---
Joey's eyes reddened.
---
A gambler on the verge of losing everything.
---
But—
One thing remained.
---
The Skull Tank had not exploded again yet.
---
Which meant—
He still had stamina.
---
Still had a chance.
---
He quickly searched for alternatives.
---
But none were reliable.
---
Every plan failed under pressure.
---
His breathing grew sharper.
His nails dug into his fingers.
---
Was the only option…
to go out and intercept it manually?
---
Then—
He made a silent vow.
---
If he survived this—
He would fully master the tank's control.
---
Blood seeped from his fingertips.
He didn't notice at first.
---
But the pain—
Cleared his mind.
---
He still had the first bomb hidden.
It hadn't been exposed.
---
He could still act.
---
He stepped forward—
Ready to chase—
---
Then stopped.
---
A flash of red light cut through the forest.
---
Too fast.
Too precise.
---
An arrow-like trajectory.
---
Joey's body froze.
---
"What…?"
---
BOOM.
---
An explosion followed three seconds later.
---
The Skull Tank had been struck.
---
And in the firelight—
Figures moved.
---
Joey narrowed his eyes.
---
Four silhouettes.
---
Two small and fast.
Two larger and slower.
---
No firearms.
Strange outfits.
---
Professionals.
---
And immediately—
Joey understood.
---
Hunters.
---
Specifically—
The group he recognized from memory.
---
Ponzu and her team.
---
Led by a licensed Hunter—
Buhara.
---
The rest—
Minor Hunters.
Easily eliminated in canon.
---
But here—
They were alive.
---
And in NGL.
---
At this time.
---
Which meant only one thing.
---
The Chimera Ant incident…
Was already accelerating faster than expected.
---
Joey's expression tightened.
---
"How did they get here…?"
___________________________
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