Hunter × Hunter Chapter 188: Chapter 188

A determined young fighter with spiky black hair stands ready in the center, surrounded by a swarm of chimera ants of various shapes and sizes. Some ants have spotted patterns, others have large eyes or mantis-like limbs. The fighter clenches his fists and issues a command. 'DO IT!!' he shouts. In the lower panel the ants close in on a group of villagers. Screams erupt as people cry out 'MOMMY YYYYY!' and 'AHH HHH!' while the fighter turns his back to the viewer, facing the chaos.

High above a rugged, rocky landscape dotted with palm trees, the massive Chimera Ant Queen is carried forward by several soldier ants clinging to her limbs. Her enormous form looms over the terrain as narration explains the colony's plans. "WHEN THE PLACE IS DECIDED UPON, PREPARE TO GRADUALLY INCREASE THE POPULATION OF SOLDIER ANTS TO DEFEND THE AREA." Another voice adds, "KEEP MOVING UNTIL THE QUEEN'S CHIMERA ANTS FIND A PLACE THAT SHE LIKES." Below, construction ants labor to raise a massive mound that will become the Queen's castle. "MEANWHILE, A LARGE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION ANTS ARE TO QUICKLY RAISE A CASTLE WHERE THE QUEEN WILL LIVE UNTIL SHE DIES." Smaller winged ants and soldier ants swarm the area, delivering prey as the Queen's appetite peaks. "AS HER APPETITE REACHES ITS PEAK, THE SOLDIERS ARE TO DELIVER LARGE AMOUNTS OF PREY TO THE QUEEN." A final caption warns of the coming disaster: "THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE A MASS DISAPPEARANCE FROM NEARBY VILLAGES AND TOWNS ...!" A proofreader's note discusses the Queen's size and the inevitable human evacuations.

In an office setting, a young man with spiky black hair argues with a long-haired girl wearing a cap while another spiky-haired boy sits nearby. "EVERY YEAR, ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND REPORTS OF MISSING PEOPLE THE WORLD OVER." The girl snaps, "DON'T BE SILLY!" and "NOTHING!" when asked about recent large-scale disappearances. The spiky-haired boy suggests checking areas with abnormally large missing persons reports. "HOW ABOUT WE CHECK OUT AREAS WHERE AN ABNORMALLY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE MISSING." They discuss the lack of reports involving groups larger than ten people in the last six months. A suited man notes that a two-meter-tall insect sighting would cause a stir. The girl requests ocean current data for the day the arm was discovered. A map of a coastal region appears with the label "THE ARM WAS DISCOVERED HERE" and a "BEEP" sound effect.

Gon, Killua, and Biscuit examine a massive insect leg aboard a ship. Gon asks what they are getting at while Biscuit wonders which areas the insect leg could possibly have come from. A crew member in a cap suggests they try to work their way back ten days and notes the ocean temperature is rather low. Another voice concludes the leg might have been separated from the body before it drifted off into the sea. A map of scattered islands appears. Gon reacts with surprise as the group realizes the leg could possibly be from the Mitene Federation. They note this means it could possibly be from the entire Barusa archipelago.

Killua asks what the NGL is. Gon and Killua listen as an explanation begins. The NGL is described as a group of people who shun all modern technology and try to live as one with nature. It stands for Neo Green Life. A map labels the NGL Free State, Mitene Federation, Republic of Rocario, Republic of West Goltо, and Republic of East Goltо. The speaker explains that if the Chimera Ant's body washed ashore there, the people of NGL would probably do nothing because they refuse outside help and claim they do not want to interfere with the environment. News of the incident leaked too late. A three-man TV crew that tried to sneak in was caught; one was sentenced to death and the other two imprisoned. Correspondence is achieved only by letters, transport by horseback, and modern technology smuggling is dealt with severely. The NGL has a population of around 2.17 million, 99% of whom are members of the organization.

A bald man’s face fills the top panel, eyes wide with shock as a heavy impact lands. THUD. The next frame shows the same man slammed violently forward, motion lines streaking across his body. Below, a chaotic wide scene unfolds: dozens of humanoid figures are hurled through the air amid shattered rock and debris. A small black silhouette stands calmly in the center while two larger creatures are flung aside, each marked by another THUD. In the lower half, a massive crocodile-headed Chimera Ant looms over several smaller subordinates. He speaks while gesturing with clawed hands. “But this is just half of what my troops collected.” Another ant replies, “Quite a big haul.” A third voice adds, “Quality over quantity.” In the background, a lone figure walks toward a cave entrance. The panel ends with a bold circular command: DIVISION LEADERS, FALL IN!!

The page opens with the same bold command: DIVISION LEADERS, FALL IN!! A long-haired Chimera Ant hangs upside down from the ceiling, one arm extended, while a frog-like creature reads nearby. The Queen’s voice echoes through the chamber. Several division leaders react: a suited lizard-like Ant stands upright, a bespectacled bald Ant clutches his head, and a goat-horned Ant complains that the Queen’s voice gives him a headache. The bespectacled Ant notes his ears are ringing with a “kill” sound. A bird-like Ant and a feathered creature also gather. One Ant wishes the Queen could speak like them. The long-haired Ant continues to dangle while the command repeats at the bottom. A translator note explains that “butsu butsu” represents grumbling.

The Chimera Ant Queen looms in the center of the panel, her jagged crown-like head and clawed hands raised as she issues her decree. In bold circular bubbles flanking her, she declares, "I WILL DEVOTE MYSELF TO BREEDING THE KING!!" and "FROM THIS MOMENT ON ..." Below, her body twists with urgency as she commands, "DELIVER THE HUMANS TO ME!!" and "SEND ME FIFTY BODIES A DAY!!" A subordinate ant kneels low in the bottom panel, head bowed, and respectfully asks, "SPEAK. YOUR HIGHNESS, IF I MAY?"

The Chimera Ant Queen sits with eyes closed, delegating authority while stating she will leave the matter in their hands to focus on breeding. A long-haired ant explains there are several ways to proceed and asks to explain. Another panel shows a muscular ant declaring the need to improve defenses and increase security to thwart human attacks, noting humans possess many weapons. A small ant asks "WHAT IS IT?" and is told there is one additional matter. The Queen grants permission for individual names after an ant requests it to distinguish themselves, replying "DO AS YOU WISH." The group of ants moves together with the SFX "ZORO ZORO" as they bow in gratitude.

The Chimera Ant Queen reflects on the value of names. "NAMES WILL HELP DISTINGUISH INDIVIDUALS AND PREVENT QUARRELS OVER WHO ACCOMPLISHED WHAT, BUT IT COULD END UP BACKFIRING." She notes the unusual nature of the group: "TO COME UP WITH IDEAS LIKE POSSESSING NAMES, AND TO EXPRESS SUCH DESIRES... THAT'S A STRANGE BUNCH." In a large dark panel she declares with certainty, "ANYWAY, I HAVE A FEELING ... !! MY KING WILL BECOME THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF US ALL!!" She continues, "PERHAPS I TOO HAVE SOME HUMAN BLOOD IN ME. EVEN I HAVE BECOME RATHER ECCENTRIC SINCE I FIND IT INTERESTING ..." The Queen leans forward in a dramatic close-up, proclaiming, "YOU WILL STAND AT THE VERY TOP OF THIS WORLD. MY KING ..." In a small final panel an unidentified spiky-haired character reacts with interest: "SOUNDS INTERESTING" and "NAMES EH? ..." while a "DOKUN" heartbeat effect and a distant silhouette appear nearby.

Three massive spherical forms pulse with energy, each topped by a small figure and marked with "DOKUN" sound effects. The Chimera Ant Queen stands in the foreground, her body partially transformed, and announces, "I WILL PERSONALLY NAME YOU THREE." Bold text across the upper right declares "THE KING'S THREE PERSONAL WARRIORS" as the Queen gestures toward the three beings amid swirling smoke and impact lines.

A vast open landscape stretches toward a distant checkpoint building marked by the sound effect BUORORORO. On a rocky overlook, a large bearded man in overalls stands with a group of children and a woman in a hat and dress. The children include a spiky-haired boy, a round-faced child with glasses, and others peering ahead. A speech bubble from one of the group states that over there is the checkpoint and furthermore their embassy. Another bubble declares this is NGL's border. Below, the scene shifts to a massive gnarled tree with exposed roots overhanging a river. Two speech bubbles note that the inhabitants may seem strange, but people like you who come to visit are even stranger. A small vehicle and distant figures appear near the water's edge.

A cloaked figure stands near a vehicle on the open plain as the sound BUORORORO echoes. The figure remarks that they are actually late starters. Another cloaked person questions what could possibly be in such a remote place and notes having transported ten groups similar to yours just today. The scene cuts to a rocky cliff where the same cloaked figure says ZAA and then suggests let's go. In a close panel, Gon and Killua react with surprise to rumors about the NGL people. A stern face states there are many disturbing rumors and before dealing with the ants they must worry about the NGL too, as the situation is becoming more tense. At the bottom, two tall men stand in a cave-like entrance with a small animal nearby. Large vertical text reads EXPECT A "PUZZLE" CLOSE CONTACT!! SHOCKING DESTINY!!! along with the Hunter x Hunter logo and chapter number.