Why didn't Neferpitou heal Komugi herself?
Why insist on bringing Joey?
The tower's scene was difficult to describe.
The Chimera Ant King, who had until now treated human life as disposable, now knelt quietly beside the blood-soaked girl.
His eyes, locked onto her, were filled with a tenderness that defied logic.
When Pitou and the others returned, the King raised his head, gaze calm—but after a brief pause, his eyes fixed directly on Joey.
"So you're the one. The one with healing powers. I'll entrust Komugi to you—and to Pitou."
"Your Majesty!"
Pitou's body trembled violently at his tone—not rage, not frustration… but stillness.
Even Netero gave a slight nod to Joey, indicating he could proceed.
Joey furrowed his brow. He wasn't surprised Netero already knew of his healing abilities.
He carefully stepped forward to Komugi's side.
Gently tearing open the fabric of her shirt, he stared at the gaping wound in her abdomen.
His throat tightened.
"Can you save her?" the King asked patiently.
"Only if someone stabilizes her—keeps her breathing and alive while I mend her wounds."
Joey made a clear assessment. If he fully entered his Nen Wallet State, he could rapidly reconstruct her body.
But that wouldn't stop internal bleeding or keep her alive through the treatment window—things outside his Nen's reach.
He needed someone to maintain her vitals.
"I can."
From above Pitou's head emerged a towering puppet—a large, humanoid nurse in scrubs.
It was the ability she had created specifically for the King:
"Doctor Blythe" – The Royal Medical Practitioner.
Though it had been made to treat the King, some of its auxiliary functions could be extended to others—such as oxygen shielding and life-support tanks.
However, the core surgical and regenerative functions could only be used on the King.
That was by design.
Pitou had anticipated potential injuries to the Royal Guards, but Youpi and Pouf didn't require surgery.
Their natural healing abilities only needed temporary stabilization.
So when building the ability, she focused all enhancements—maximum effect, rapid regeneration—solely for the King's benefit.
It explained her sudden reappearance at the stairwell, just before reactivating her En.
Now, with Komugi stabilized in the machine's stasis pod, Joey exhaled and nodded toward the King:
"I can heal her. But it'll take some time."
"Excellent." The King stood up and turned toward Netero and Zeno.
"Let's change locations. I assume you agree—a change of scenery would be more appropriate."
It was a gesture of concession—leaving Pitou behind to honor the Hunters' plan to separate the King from the Royal Guards.
"Your Majesty!" Pitou looked up in disbelief. Her aura exploded into a storm of murderous black.
Netero and Zeno instinctively reacted, both their gazes shooting upward.
But just then, the King casually walked between them, utterly unfazed.
"Pitou. I won't repeat myself. Komugi is in your care."
His voice, though light, cut through like a blade.
The room chilled.
Pitou's ferocious aura condensed in an instant—but her eyes locked onto Komugi.
At that moment, she looked like a mother guarding her child.
As Netero and Zeno departed the tower with the King, Pitou sat silently on the opposite side of Komugi, never once looking away from Joey.
Joey knew: the moment Komugi was healed, could very well be the moment Pitou went berserk.
Kite stood beside him silently, his clown-tailed katana now manifested, ready for battle.
Gon and the others exchanged a look—then wordlessly left the tower.
Palm had already completed her surveillance of the King, Pitou, and Youpi.
With her ability, she could now remotely monitor all three at any time—no reason to remain and risk danger.
From the size of the wound—and the subtle hand signals Joey gave—everyone understood:
Joey needed thirteen minutes to heal Komugi.
That was their window of opportunity.
In that time, they needed to regroup, rally any scattered allies, and prepare for the inevitable clash with Pitou.
But Pitou didn't move.
Her entire focus was locked on Komugi and Joey.
Joey didn't fully enter his Nen Wallet State—his healing was slow, but Pitou's stasis kept Komugi stable.
In this situation, going all in could be suicidal.
If his aura ran dry mid-heal, he'd collapse from exhaustion.
While he worked, Joey's mind raced.
Pitou had clearly created this healing ability.
And from the past disappearance of her En, and the King's attachment to Komugi, he pieced it together:
The King must've torn off his own arm—just like in the manga.
Pitou must've healed him using this very ability.
It made sense—why else would Pitou appear so quickly afterward?
Doctor Blythe was clearly a stationary healing-type ability like Terpsichora or her former Toy Repair.
Had she not been blown away by Netero, she wouldn't have reappeared so fast.
That meant she must've been launched by Netero's strike—just like in the manga.
Therefore, this healing power could only be used on the King.
And that thought planted something dark in Joey's chest.
What if… after the Miniature Rose detonates… Pitou gets there in time?
Could she bring the King back from death?
After all, this was an ability created exclusively to heal the King.
If it had absurd power beyond normal limits—it would make perfect sense.
That meant only one thing:
Pitou must be killed—before the Rose detonates.
No exceptions.
Forget Youpi. Forget Pouf.
Pitou was the real threat.
Joey licked his dry lips.
Can we really take her down before Netero's final move?
He wasn't confident.
In the manga, only Gon's transformation was enough to kill her.
Everyone else—the guards and the King—had died to the Rose's lingering poison.
And in Joey's eyes, Pitou was leagues ahead of the other guards.
Not only in power—but in devotion.
She might even fight posthumously, through sheer will—Nen after death.
Joey's conclusion was chilling:
It all falls on me.
He'd have to get close to Pitou before the Rose detonated—and plant Killer Queen's First Bomb.
That would erase her entirely. No corpse. No post-mortem Nen.
No miracles.
Otherwise…
They might face a reborn King, stronger than before.
Joey's breath hitched.
His heartbeat stuttered.
Both Pitou and Kite glanced his way.
But no one spoke.
Joey forced himself to calm down.
I have to find a way… to touch Pitou. Before it's too late.
__________________________________________________________________________
For this week I will do more release depending on the power stones !
100 Power Stones = 1 chapter (in addition to the daily update)
So give stones if you want mooooar !