Chapter 250

Close-up panels show a hand with two black dots on the fingertip marked '1° 千', followed by the same hand pinching a small dark object labeled '1° 千'. A stern-faced character wearing an ornate helmet and goggles appears next, with a mechanical device visible on the right. A wider panel depicts a small spiky-haired figure and a larger armored being interacting with motion lines and SFX 'ズ'. The lower half reveals the same massive black dripping creature looming over the spiky-haired boy and a small girl seated on the floor. Two standing figures converse on the right: one with spiky hair and a tail, the other with long hair and a coat. Speech bubbles read: 'HOW MUCH TIME WILL THE TREATMENT REQUIRE?' 'HMM~' 'FOR IT TO HEAL COMPLETELY... TWO TO THREE HOURS, NYAH.'

Heavy rain pours down in vertical streaks across a desolate landscape. A character with short hair and facial markings speaks while observing the surroundings. "My 'En' is much inferior to Pitou's..." he notes. Nearby speech confirms, "This ability has horrible efficiency, nyah." Another voice adds, "During that time, you won't be able to use either 'En' or the dolls, right?" The same speaker continues, "Restoration requires a considerable amount of energy. I will keep watch on the surroundings until the treatment is finished." A hand reaches toward the wet ground amid falling raindrops and motion lines. Far below, a lone hooded figure sits motionless in the downpour. "But it is too important a task to leave to others..." the observer reflects. "As I thought, there are no signs of 'En' being used..." the hooded figure concludes while scanning the empty terrain.

A glasses-wearing character stands in the rain, his hair wet and expression serious. "Do not be impatient," an off-panel voice commands. Another warns, "It is better for the 'exit' to be closed to the King, but it will be meaningless if it is discovered." The glasses character replies, "The sun will set soon as well. It is also to our advantage that the rain is making the visibility worse." He continues, "Once it becomes dark, I can assimilate with the darkness and the enemy's aura will become more accentuated." A spiky-haired figure dashes through bushes and debris. "Although I can move in and out freely, if Shoot and the others enter the 'mansion' once, they can only exit," the glasses character explains. In the final panel a spiky-haired silhouette leaps forward dramatically. "If the enemy lays an ambush in front of the 'exit,' it will be absolutely fatal...!!" he realizes with alarm.

The group discusses the layout of the palace grounds. They decide between the close, middle, and far rooms and enter and immediately exit. When it comes time to execute the plan, each can take their own conditions into consideration. The entrances will be farther out than the exits, with three of them situated in locations where the palace can be observed. When the plan is executed, they can standby at the most convenient location. One voice states they will prepare three exits around the palace: close, middle, and far. That element of surprise will act as a diversion and provide a small window of opportunity to separate the king from the royal guards. To the enemy, it will seem as if they suddenly appeared out of thin air. A large diagram labels the palace with entrances 1 through 6 and exits A (close), B (middle), and C (far). The kanji in the middle of the diagram means Palace. In a dramatic spread, several fighters react intensely as the declaration rings out: THEN EACH BATTLE WILL START...!! As long as the enemy's one loss belongs to the king, even if we end up with one win and three losses, it's fine.

A lone figure dashes across a rainy landscape toward the distant palace silhouette. The runner thinks I feel like a dead man as they push forward through the downpour. They realize I'm already within the range of the royal guard's EN. Large sound effects echo across the panels. Black text boxes explain that even for the farthest exit it is still necessary to place it within the palace grounds for it to be of any use however it is still far. The figure continues running with urgency saying but with haste...!!! while adding cautiously... The rain falls heavily as the character moves through the trees and open ground toward the palace.

The spiky-haired man clenches his teeth in determination, sweat flying as he pushes forward. "I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP GOING!!" he thinks. In the next panel he pauses, considering the darkening sky and distant palace silhouette. "But will this situation last until then...? Should I wait for the sun to set completely...?" A black panel shows a lone silhouette against a massive expanding aura. "IT WILL BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO APPROACH AT ALL, IF NEFELPITOU'S 'EN' IS REVIVED..." Another black panel states "BUT EVEN IF I FAIL... OTHER OPTIONS REMAIN...!!!" In the final close-up the man’s scarred face fills the frame, eyes fierce, motion lines and impact shapes exploding around him. "CLOSER...!!!" "APPROACH WITHOUT FEAR...!!!"

An empty palace corridor with tall pillars is shown, followed by a tall tower struck by heavy rain and wind. A black bar separates the scene. A short-haired person with a worried expression speaks while a small speech fragment floats nearby. "CURRENTLY, THERE ARE THREE HUMANS ASIDE FROM THOSE DESIGNATED AS 'FOOD' INSIDE THE PALACE." The pigtail girl with closed eyes listens. "ONE IS THE GIRL GUN-GI PLAYER AND ANOTHER IS DIEGO." In the bottom panel only lower bodies and a torn "KOT" cloth fragment are visible. "AND THE LAST ONE IS..."

A sharply dressed man with a neck brace leans forward in a chaotic office, sweat flying as papers scatter around him. The caption identifies him as Secretary Bizef, the one who truly controls the country from behind the scenes. Because he cannot be replaced, he is the only human allowed to serve the King. In a lower panel, a woman sits at a communications desk with multiple phones while Bizef works at his own cluttered desk, fielding calls. Another panel shows the woman from behind at the switchboard as negotiations with foreign countries and major domestic organizations all must go through him to proceed. Bizef grips a phone receiver tightly, his expression tense, as the weight of every decision presses down on the solitary human servant of the King.

Heavy rain pours over the palace grounds as narration explains that human guards are defenseless against Nen users and that the royal guards determined there was a high risk the enemy could mix in with them and infiltrate the palace. Therefore human guards are not situated even outside of the palace. Among the ants within the palace, the only division commander is the recently returned Zitoh, and the remaining six ants are squad captains or below. Currently inside the palace there are three humans aside from food and eleven ants. Silhouettes of ants move through the stormy courtyard near the palace tower while rain streaks down the panels.

Narration boxes detail the loose structure among the Chimera Ants. Based on the nature of the Chimera Ants, there is no distinct hierarchical relationship between the King and the Division Commanders so any involvement is highly dependent upon profits. The ants below squad captain class are all favored subordinates of Division Commander Leol and are not involved with the protection of the King. Therefore the task of observation will not be given to them. The Royal Guards are well aware of the assumption that the ants will fail, so Pitou gives the Division Commanders jobs that won't cause any problems. There is no way for Novu to know this, but at this point where he is invading by himself this is the one and only greatest chance. A lone spiky-haired figure crouches amid dense foliage and hanging vines, sweat beading on his face as he peers forward with intense focus.

A stressed man with slicked-back hair sits in darkness, cigarette glowing as he speaks. He admits he was lucky to be left alive somehow but cannot handle all the work by himself anymore. He worries that without help he will die from exhaustion and decides he must persuade someone to let him have at least three secretaries or clerks. A small child stands nearby amid floating particles. Separate panels show a wide-eyed close-up, a woman with a headband holding a small animal, and finally the same man at a desk staring at an open laptop in a cluttered room filled with scattered papers.

A hand reaches toward a laptop on a desk and clicks the mouse with a sharp kachi sound. The screen displays text reading REGARDING THE MEAT-SENDING THE LIST. Behind the viewer, a short-haired figure sits facing the display as Japanese characters appear on either side. Below, a dark panel shows dripping liquid falling with a po... sound effect. The scene shifts to a cluttered bulletin board covered in pinned photographs labeled No.14, No.15, No.24, and No.25, each showing different individuals. The short-haired person returns to the laptop, fingers tapping keys amid scattered papers and SFX indicating rapid typing.

A door stands slightly open with an arrow pointing inward and a small pi sound effect. A boy with dark hair peers around a corner with a surprised expression. An empty panel follows. A close-up reveals a girl with wavy hair and wide, intense eyes staring forward, her face showing strong emotion with a lo... sound effect beside her. At the bottom, three small panels show close views of eyes and the same boy's face reacting with wide eyes and an open mouth.

A box lists the numbers 2・16・79・103・119 as the requested number, followed by the note "As scheduled." A hand repeatedly taps a surface, producing sharp "カ カ カ カ" sounds. In the city below, a voice cries out "WE GOT IT...!!" as the plan succeeds. The scene shifts to a dramatic close-up where Morel extends his arm and declares "HE'S TAKEN THE BAIT." Palm-kun stands beside him, her presence radiating intensity. Large text proclaims "Most frightening, Palm appears! The battle is deepening!!"