The leaves were too dense.
Sunlight could not penetrate them at all.
The primeval forest was hot and humid.
A pungent smell of rust hung in the air.
It was the smell of blood.
Kite stopped.
He tightened his grip on his spear.
"Something happened up ahead."
Kite kept his voice very low.
Gon and Killua immediately readied themselves for battle.
The four of them and one fish pushed through the head-high bushes.
A clearing came into view.
The scene was horrific.
The soil had already turned dark red.
Severed limbs lay everywhere.
Shreds of clothing hung from the branches.
Several broken hunting rifles lay discarded in muddy pits.
Kite stepped forward.
He crouched down.
He examined a body that had been torn apart.
The edges of its wounds were extremely ragged.
It looked as though an immense force had forcibly ripped it apart.
But on a nearby tree...
There was a smooth, clean cut.
"This was made by a blade."
Kite felt the cut in the trunk.
His brows knitted tightly.
"Not claws."
"A slash from a metal weapon."
Gon walked over.
He saw the carnage on the ground.
He clenched his fists until they turned white.
His knuckles cracked.
"These bastards."
Gon gritted his teeth.
"How could they be this cruel?"
Killua stood beside him.
His eyes were cold.
He surveyed their surroundings.
"The dead were professional Hunters."
Killua pointed to a metal badge on the ground.
"They were well equipped."
"And judging by the traces left here..."
"They didn't even have time to mount an effective counterattack."
Kite stood up.
His expression was frighteningly grim.
"The worst-case scenario has come true."
Kite looked deeper into the forest.
"The ants have learned to use weapons."
"And..."
"They can instantly wipe out a fully armed squad of Hunters."
"That