Hearing the Chimera Ant King's angry scolding, Ronnel smiled slightly, then turned around and motioned for Morel to follow him as they left to join Gon and the others.
Fate is such a strange thing—no matter how hard one tries to control it, it often has a way of slipping through the cracks.
Who would have thought that, just like the way a king's horse losing a horseshoe could shift the course of an entire war, the turn of events that sent the Chimera Ant King down an entirely different path would come from something as insignificant as a passing eagle?
...
Gon and the others were inside a four-dimensional apartment, separated from the outside world by space itself.
Under normal circumstances, communication through a phone call should have been impossible.
But with Ickshonpe calling Ronnel, such trivial concerns no longer mattered.
Nen can be so unreasonable sometimes.
After contacting Gon, Ronnel and Morel successfully found an entrance to the apartment and reunited with Netero and the others.
"Ronnel! If you're here, then this crusade is as good as won!"
Gon and the others greeted him with excitement.
Morel let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
With Knov incapacitated and the Royal Guards demonstrating overwhelming strength, the addition of Ronnel significantly eased the burden on Morel's shoulders.
While Ronnel and Gon exchanged playful banter, Morel and Knov instinctively assessed Ronnel's presence.
Especially Knov—who felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for having withdrawn midway. Yet, given his current state, he knew he could no longer participate in the battle. The only thing he could do was hope that Ronnel had the strength to suppress the Royal Guards, alleviating at least some of his shame.
However—
"I can't sense anything..."
Both Morel and Knov's pupils trembled slightly.
The last time they saw Ronnel, they could at least perceive some of the power wrapped around his body, an aura that hinted at his true strength.
Any experienced Nen user, by instinct, would maintain a layer of aura around themselves—a precaution against unexpected attacks.
But now? There was nothing. Ronnel stood before them as if he were just an ordinary person, completely unguarded, without the slightest hint of Nen wrapping his body.
They weren't foolish. Ronnel wouldn't have come all this way, laughing and joking, if he had lost his abilities. That only meant one thing—
"Could it be that his strength has grown even further...?"
They exchanged glances, a mix of shock and excitement flashing across their faces.
If Ronnel had grown even stronger, their chances of victory in this crusade would increase significantly.
Yet, at the same time, they couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of awe.
Before, Ronnel had already been strong enough to defeat Jed—arguably even surpassing Netero himself. If he had advanced even further...
"This is insane."
The thought emerged simultaneously in their minds, bringing with it an odd sense of powerlessness.
The younger generation was truly terrifying. They were being left behind by the times.
...
As Morel and Knov grappled with this realization, Gon's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Ronnel, you've been adventuring for years... do you know any methods—or abilities—that could restore someone to normal?"
At his words, everyone turned their attention toward them, immediately understanding who Gon was referring to.
"Oh? Do you have a friend who's severely injured and needs treatment?"
Ronnel's gaze sharpened as he quickly pieced things together.
"Yeah..." Gon nodded before glancing at Palm.
Taking the cue, Palm retrieved her Merman Clairvoyance ability and revealed Kite's reconstructed body.
Looking at Kite, whose movements were stiff and unnatural, Ronnel stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"What do you think, Ronnel? Is there any way to heal him?"
Gon's voice carried a quiet desperation. He knew the chances were slim, but if anyone could defy expectations, it was Ronnel.
He had already asked Morel and Knov, but their responses had been... hesitant. They had never encountered a Nen ability capable of reversing such severe damage.
Gon wasn't sure if that meant it simply didn't exist or if they believed Kite's condition was beyond saving.
Despite his usual optimism, he wasn't naive. He understood the weight behind their words.
That's why he was asking Ronnel—one last time. If even Ronnel had no solution, then...
Gon clenched his fists unconsciously. Killua noticed but remained silent.
...
Under everyone's gaze, Ronnel rubbed his chin before finally speaking.
"I can't do it myself... but I do know someone who might be able to restore him."
Gon's head, which had been lowered in resignation, snapped up in an instant, his eyes shining with newfound hope.
"Are you serious, Ronnel?! There's really a way to bring Kite back?!"
The atmosphere shifted. Everyone who had been listening closely perked up in an instant.
"Yeah. I know of a guy whose ability is called Time cloths. It has two sides—red and blue."
Ronnel spoke with complete seriousness, as though discussing an established fact.
"The red side accelerates time, causing an object to rapidly age into its future state. The blue side, on the other hand, reverses time, restoring an object to how it was in the past."
As he spoke, Gon's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"So if we cover Kite with the blue side, we can restore him to his original self!"
"However..." Killua interjected, frowning. "With an ability that powerful, the conditions must be insane, right?"
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)