Well, it IS a super ant :P
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Well, it IS a super ant :P
Episode 77 is out!
Okay, it's pretty easy to see how these ants can become a serious threat in a hurry.
Eat a Hunter, boom, next generation of ants all has Nen powers.
Anyway...phagogenesis...isn't that the thing that Gormet cells do in Toriko?
Considering the squad leader could talk right after birth, without having been taught by anyone (since the queen was surprised he could), I guess it wouldn't be a stretch. But otherwise it would, since genes only give a potential, after all. No human is born a nen master. They all must discover and develop it. But at the very least they won't be eating any nen masters any time soon. They would need generations of gradually better nen users to get to the point of being a threat to people of high calibre.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
But, man, quite a plot element to first introduce those kids with such warmth and strength, and then the next moment they will be eaten. That's good, impactful writing.
And just like that, HXH went full-on Gantz-style. Wtf. I filly expected someone to jump between the monster and the kids. And not only were the kids killed, they even showed the boy getting hit by the attack. To make it extra clear, we also saw his clothing after he had been eaten by the queen. wow.
One thing I don´t understand is either why Kaito bears such fear of these chimera ants, or why the chimera ants are posing a threat NOW and not whatever amount of years ago. The former can be explained by what we saw in this episode: They´re super-quickly evolving and kill people. Good. But why now? Hope they clear that up.
And god, if I don´t love that all the chimera monsters look like they´re from Dragon Ball. The queen is basically a mix between Cell and Piccolo. So good.
Oh, what I also wondered: Is the queen the defacto appearance of a proper, 100% chimera ant, or did she eat humans before? Since clearly she´s very humanoid. From her sensation after having eaten the kids, I guess not. Still ...
PS: Btw. anyone know a good picture from the chimera arc that I could use for my future smartphone case? Google is flooded with manga images that I cant really use. Need some color. http://www.case-custom.com/custom-go...?for-item=8023 :>
The effects of the eaten species only appear in the offspring. Looking at the queen, one could surmise its own mother, the previous queen, had eaten a human. Or perhaps already two or more generations ago because the leap from an insect to a thinking and talking humanoid is quite a big one. So, whether this particular queen had or hadn't eaten humans before wouldn't affect in the slightest its own countenance or mental capability (provided it had enough food in general to develop fully, which it did).Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
The next queen ought to be quite interesting, though. I have a feeling we might see it before Kite, Gon & Co lay waste to the whole colony.
Something tells me that Kite's team will all be eaten.. no nen powers and looking for the queen? Recipe for disaster.
In the preview we see 2 'old' Hunter candidates... food for the queen or something more substantial...
I love it that I have no idea what's going to happen.
The fact that Kite's voice is the same as Char Aznable makes it even more awesome!
Anyone else bothered by the fact that these Chimera Ants haven't been exterminated by this point in the story instead of being placed on high-level quarantine? When you have a type of species that have this phagogenesis capability and aggressive behaviour towards people, why wasn't there been further action planned against them considering their potential to produce offspring with human genes?
That really depends on whether she can choose to pass on the genes of one thing she ate into an entire batch of ants, or just one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
If she can make 10 Nen users for every 1 she eats, it probably wouldn't take them years to work their way up the chain. They can just overwhelm stronger Nen users with superior numbers.
She might never have eaten a human before, but probably the queen that spawned HER did.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
Well, they WERE under quarantine. So maybe they'd just never eaten a human before the Queen's mother.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
And before they ate a human, there were probably just dumb bugs.
I get the distinct impression that only Hunters know much about these things, and the Hunter organization strikes me as one that's probably expressly against genocide of any kind.Quote:
Originally Posted by enkoujin
I´m starting to wonder if the whole Hunter-organization has some deeper connection to the Chimera-monsters. Like, they´re undeniably a global threat. And if there was a previous queen that ate human beings, chances are it was nen-users that defeated that previous queen. Considering their strength, only an experienced nen-user would stand a chance against these monsters. Who knows, seeing him in the opening, maybe Netero was the one who defeated the previous Chimera-queen/king?
Since the Chimera could appear anywhere on earth, having hunters everywhere "hunting" stuff would come in pretty handy.
Well, that´s maybe all pure fanfiction on my part, but I like the thought :)
How do you know queens don't just die when they give birth to the next queen? That's a thing some insects do.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
Um...what strength? The only thing we've seen one do so far is kill a couple kids.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
One of them looks like a blatan cross between Cell and Vegeta. I wouldn't think lightly of their yet undisplayed strength.
I would be surprised if this one is any threat to a pro hunter. If he'd been hatched by eating someone awesome, I might think that. But he got his power from a couple little kids.Quote:
Originally Posted by Uchiha Barles
Even in its tiny default ant form, one managed to bite Killua, who easily wiped out the last batch of hunter examinees, and defeated a relatively strong hunter in Greed Island. If size is any indication of increase in power, they would be quite formidable.
Does the queen have to eat the entire organism for her to take proper traits from it, or is one bite all she needs?
If she needs to have a good serving (1+ organism?), the ants were probably too small to really give the queen enough food. Remember that the queen can't move around, so the little tiny ants had to carry the bits of food to her. If the entire species was tiny, then there could have been minimal harm.
If they were some species that was isolated to one island with the only other food being fish/random rodents/insects, then their harm would have been localised. It would have also delayed their discovery.
I just hate these all-assimilating beings though. They scare the hell out of me because they're clearly superior in terms of survival. They also just generally don't give a fuck in general.
She seems to be able to walk around just fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
I think she just hangs out in the cave to protect herself.
I love it. It's one of my favorite Superpowers. Although...consumption is not my favorite method of manifesting it...Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
She can walk, but she can't go hunting. You know.. general pregnancy issues. I'll agree with you and amend it to "the queen won't move around".Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
It's okay to have to brain that lets you learn new abilities, but anything that learns from from absorbing/devouring/destroying the original being upsets me.
Why? It makes the most sense out of the possible methods.
The queen needs to stay there for three things: Protect itself, lay eggs, and last but not at all least to simply be there when the offspring hatch. Considering insects living in colonies, if the queen is not present with its pheromones, the hatchlings might start to behave in a detrimental manner.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
Quote:
Originally Posted by shinta|hikari
The idea that something out there is driven by survival instinct to steal my genes and make a super-me freaks me out.Quote:
Originally Posted by me
Yeah, but in any series where characters have unique superpowers it means the only way to give this character new powers is to kill off other characters.Quote:
Originally Posted by shinta|hikari
For exampe, Sylar from Heroes. The only way for him to become a more powerful and threatening villain, is to have him killing off your favorite characters.
Eating the target does kill them. You're both agreeing that killing to take powers = way it should be done. :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
Well, in a lot of series characters like this don't always assimilate powers through consumption.
Per the Heroes example earlier, [spoiler]Peter DOESN'T kill people to obtain their powers. As he's an Empathic Mimic as opposed to Digestive Assimilation.[/spoiler]
Heroes sucked, I don´t knoiw why anyone would use it to prove anything.
Well, A. Season 1 of Heroes was awesome. And B. Prove what? We weren't having an argument. We were talking about powers we like and I was using it as an example.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
You´re right, season 1 was great, and season 2 had potential. Either way, I don´t like characters that can copy other characters´ abilities. However, the chimera ants are different from that imo. The queen cant copy abilities for herself. She can only outfit her children with it. And probably at random, too, unless she has control over her dna.
Episode 78 is out!!
Okay, that devolved from bug people into full blown furries in a real hurry...
Anyway, the Queen is already making the King and she still hasn't eaten any Hunters. Not sure how much of a threat these guys are logically suppose to post to our protagonists.
I mean, at best it's just all the mental capabilities of a human with all the best physical qualities of animals.
That's cool and all, but it's not going to do much to a kid who can punch holes in mountains.
Also, Worst. Amish. Ever.
Scorpion girl is mine. For now. Until catgirl from the opening appears :>
Anyway, I have trouble writing about this episode, since literally every single scene was good, fun, interesting.
Maybe what I love most at the moment is how "random" the plot has become. And I mean that as praise. Giant bugs suddenly appearing and killing people, Gon going there. That´s 100% unrelated to both his search for his father and his personal growth. Oh sure, Gon will develop further during this new adventure, but it´s not like the Yorkshin-arc, where, even though the Spiders weren´t his top priority, it was all part of introducing nen powers. The Chimera-arc, as it is right now, is really just that: An adventure. And I love that.
You know, the only reason why HXH hasn´t turned into a full-blown Gantz-style anime is because of the less gruesome presentation. Seriously, that first village that got attacked ... just grabbing people, piercing holes through their bodies, and then throwing them on a pile, only for some bug queen to be eaten. That is super gruesome and cruel. It´s also such a mood shit. These aren´t enemies with a political purpose. They want to eat you and that´s all. No room for debates. At all.
Lastly, let me say that the chimera-monsters remind me a lot of Tengen Toppa´s beastmen. Am I right that the chimera-arc was released before Tengen Toppa? If so: Another anime that copied from HXH :D
Really? I got pretty bored. Hopefully we'll get Gon and Killua doing something next episode, because I can only watch so much "We'll sit over here and think about bugs, while bugs kill this island and make themselves at home".Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
Character designs have something to do with it as well, I think. I'm not super-fond of these random chimeras.
Well, you have to start looking at the Chimeras as characters. They´re as much characters as Gon for now.
By random, I'm talking about their appearance. Sure, randomness is apt for high-production offspring - but still random.
As random as what the Queen eats. And she tries anything she gets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
I was just a little put off by the fact every chimera now speaks and even has a fairly high intellect... at least Turtle and Pinguin.
That's extremely fast considering the first talking chimera was our little brother and sister chimera and their mother did not die from exhaustion yet. So we're talking about 2 weeks? 5 weeks? Way too fast to my liking.
But I guess this is part of that arc setting, so that chimeras can adapt very quickly to first fire arms and army, then nen users... with the Ponzu group giving nice genes and powers, etc.
Hey, they´re not dead, yet, asshole :(Quote:
Originally Posted by David75
Ponzu <3
I don't think anyone other than the King should have nen powers. The Royal Guards should be the last group of soldiers before the King comes, and they're already in development outside of the queen. Assuming the island didn't have any Nen users already, the only chimera ant that can still vary its power is the King.
I beginning to think the author has set it up so that he can do literally any story type he wants and not have to create a new manga for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
I mean, Christ, the last arc was a goddamn card battle anime. Which should have NOTHING to do with the original premise set forth by the series.
But you didn't have a problem with the one from last week that could talk from birth?Quote:
Originally Posted by David75
There is no developmental process here. The new ones are probably exactly as smart as some of the people the Queen ate. That's how it works. There's no gradual buildup. If she can get something in her mouth, her offspring can be just as good immediately.
Considering Ponzu hasn't managed to pass the Hunter exam yet, I find it unlikely that Ponzu even has Nen powers yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by David75
Bow kid probably does though since he's apparently a Hunter now.
I said Ponzu group as that's the only name I remember and I do not think she'd die even if she's supposed to be the weakest from the group... because she knows about social insects, they can protect her and she manages poisons well.
I meant the other ones, probably the 2 other heads I think we've seen for the first time.
For the boyish character we've already seen? I don't care about him.
My guess is that from that group, the 2 no names might have some nen and would be a great upgrade for the colony.
MFauli, just be careful ok ?
The queen must be a pretty mighty nen user already. Otherwise the offspring wouldn't be born with so high skills. What other power but nen could explain how well she mixes genetic traits and also pumps the intelligence and wisdom of the victims into her children?
Personally I wish the ants all looked more like insects, like the queen, only with secondary traits from the other creatures the queen eats, but I guess this approach makes more sense with the skill and attribute sets they possess. Still, considering they are so intelligent, it should be impossible to remain so loyal. Even the fact the crocodile ant was so keen on competing with others suggests he would rather see himself on top. First on top of the other squad captains, then on top of the whole colony!
The genetic power of chimera ants?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
They've been able to do that from the beginning, that's what we're led to believe.
True, but in the HxH universe nen isn't, per se, any magical ability. It's inherent to the world and the raw potential a person has is dictated by their genes. There's no particular reason why beasts wouldn't possess it. In the end the basics are incredibly simple and don't require high intelligence and consciousness (or Gon would never learn anything). The advanced techniques, yes, but if we are talking about beasts, it would be highly specialized techniques. There are many monsters in the HxH universe (not talking about Gon), and their existence and ability to survive and operate could be explained by nen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
Well, there´s one more thing to consider: Is Nen really the only way to become (superhumanly) strong? After all, the Nen we know is more of a way for measy human beings trying to expand their might through unusual means. What if the Chimera-monsters possess some natural strength´s somewhat a counter power to Nen? Like, say, Rock Lee vs. Sasuke, Taijutsu vs. Ninjutsu. :> And then imagine the future King to combine both :D
I'm with Buffalobiian. I don't see any evidence that the Chimera Ant's phagogenesis is any kind of Nen ability.
This is a completely semantic argument. Especially since there are settings where actual "Magic" is itself inherent to the world and the raw potential a person has for Magic is dictated by their genes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
Nen is just another generic "chi" trope. Whether you consider that stuff to be "natural" or "magical" is a pretty pointless distinction to try and make.
And some human supremacy thinking isn't completely pointless? Humans are far from the best in everything but logical and certain emotional brain power in this world. And since Gon can use nen splendidly, we know with 100% certainty it doesn't depend on one's intelligence.
The difference between magic and nen (chi) that I was referring to is that magic often requires different sorts of rituals, mumbling arcane spells, drawing magic circles, using ingredients, staves, whatever. Chi, however, doesn't require anything of that sort (at least not for everybody in HxH. Some have certainly had spell like details). Some nen users we have seen are sort of living in perfect harmony with their special kind of nen (like some of the shadow beasts, for example).
I'm saying, it's irrelevant, since they not only obtain genetic traits, but clearly they also obtain learned abilities.
If they hatch from their eggs with complete human language skills, then they can hatch from the egg with fully trained Nen abilities if the queen manages to eat anyone that is actually trained.
That's also irrelevant, because we know Gon & Gang is going to beat the whole bunch before this arc is over (unless this arc is really going to surprise me). So, what does it matter if they get nen abilities or not if they are going to get beaten by the main characters anyway? In fact, everything happening in this series is irrelevant because Gon is going to meet his old man before the end to conclude the story.
Right, DE?
Because whether or not the ants have Nen abilities or not is probably going to determine whether them getting beaten but the main characters is going to be interesting to watch or not?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
Ah, I see what you're doing now. You're trying to suggest that because I suggested you were saying something pointless that if it is, then everything must be pointless.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
You were trying to differentiate between Nen and Magic in a shounen series. Which is irrelevant because everything is magic and nothing is. You're trying to give a term a definition that it doesn't have by trying to define "Magic" in overly narrow terminology. That's pointless. There are series that actually call their supernatual abilities "Magic" and follow NONE of the "requirements" you assign to differentiating Magic from Chi-like abilities.
The things that happen in a series are not pointless. And you trying to equate the series entire plot with the same importance your weird theory is dumb.
Then I suggest you review your high school biology books if you think there's nothing strange about how this phagogenesis works. It's even stranger than Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics. Yet you need to do nothing but add nen to the equation, and you have a perfectly working system. I can't fathom why you wouldn't even consider it.
That was my whole point. I see nothing wrong with beasts using magical abilities (such as nen), but I can't see them using ritualistic magic. After all, folklore and fantasy are packed full of magical beasts.
Is it really any stranger than tigers with unicorn horns that cook their food over a campfire?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
I think the main problem with your theory is that so far, everyone we've seen has had different Nen abilities. Even people who are directly related.
While phagogenesis is a power that works exactly the same in all Chimera Ants. If it was really a Nen-based ability, I don't see why it would be so specific, and also so identical in all Chimera Ant queens.
At this point, I guess we do not really care. What we need is a good story with exciting moments and nice pace. If chimera ants get nen and this fullfills the requirements I just named, then it'll be great :D
On the contrary, I think it only strengthens my theory. The ants have little intelligence to speak of initially, I reckon. So, they basically have no choice or option how to develop their abilities. They only have instincts to eat stronger and bigger prey to make their offspring inherit better characteristics - to hunt even more varied prey. In fact the queen is still exactly like that, despite having wits. It's not like tiny ants could choose to develop special nen techniques like humans do. An insect only has what its genes grant it. And we know genes play a big part in nen.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
But if Phagogenesis is a Nen ability it would be the most specialized Nen technique ever. It'd either be Specialist as fuck, or the most insane Conjurer ability ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
Given their simplemindedness, if Chimera Ants had Nen they'd probably all be Enhancers. And the ones that weren't STILL wouldn't all have the EXACT same ability.
We have even seen a specialized genius nen ability of predicting the future... If that's not specialist as fuck, I don't know what is, because it's a divine ability. But anyway, why not? This phagogenesis is actually very specific and streamlined ability, even if the results are outrageous, as we have seen. Something like that would suit brainless insects much better than summoning a vacuum cleaner or something else as outlandish.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
The flying offspring actually are technically either enhancers (because such a big thing would need lots of extra power fly with such small wings) or manipulators (to alter gravity to fly). But I feel like it's useless to go down this path...Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
And I feel like your debate is taking place way too early. We simply haven´t seen enough to guess either way.
Personally, I like to think that the chimera ants either achieve their strength by natural development, putting the fancy nen-powers in their place, OR they´re natural nen-gatherers, absorbing nen through their cells and using the fantastical ability that is phagogenesis without even realizing what they´re doing. But that´s all baseless speculation.
That's what I said 2 days ago. And yet here we are...Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
That's basically what I've been meaning. Although naturally the queen at this point already realises what it's doing, since its intelligence is equal to a human of some level. But since we are talking about eating and breeding, consciousness isn't required.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
Well, it's not like there would have been too much other stuff to talk about at this point, before the new episode. Certainly not the culinary sense of these ant beasts...Quote:
Originally Posted by DE
Which isn't saying much because the vast majority of humans don't even know what Nen is. Even those that are using it without realizing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
Episode 79 is out. I suppose no filler was too much to hope for, there wasn't nearly this much focus on the drug dealers.
That Koala bear was annoying. At first he seemed like some kind of more sophisticated, intelligent chimera monster, but as time went on, he just randomly killed everybody he met, spouting his nonsense "no hope". whatever.
What the fuck is wrong with the bee hunter girl not knowing to fight at all?! That´s just bullshit. Running from the monsters, then tripping to the ground and screaming in fear. Pathetic. But I fear the bow hunter guy will die, too, when they meet one of the stronger chimeras :(
Also, something I actually noticed last week: Why are they chimera leaders wearing clothing ? Lol, sure, so we dont see Zazan´s bare titties, but does it make sense on a more reasonable level? One explanation, of course, would be their human DNA parts. However, with how much the chimera despise human beings, you´d think they wouldnt touch human clothing from a thousand miles.
It helps to show their level of civilised thinking and individuality.
Welcome to NGL
*sees desert*
^ that got a chuckle out of me.
Man, Ponzu got hot.
I know right? Where are they even getting them?Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
I know that Koala didn't get that suit from anywhere in this country!
For that brief second there when he was holding that Uzi, that Koala was the coolest looking thing ever...
Nah, that goes to Killua riding horses like a boss.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
I liked Killua's clothing and attitude too.
My guess is that Chimera ants are showing human traits in everything from strong personalities, to clothing and the ability to fight/kill their own kind. Some of them also begin to act for their own interest, and for the moment it's the fun of hunting and killing and do not care about their mission that is to feed the Queen.
I wonder if fighting among themselves would really be detrimental in the long run provided they do not annihilate themselves.
Yeah, I hope she won't die. She's too cute to die in the hands of some ant monster.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
The suit might have come from some drug trafficker or a smuggler. It's not like the border control and official propaganda would be the whole truth in a country that big. Goods would be certain to be smuggled in and people certain to enter unofficially. The no technology stance would also make it next to impossible to really control contraband and illegal entry. Even if a citizen saw something suspicious, what would they do? They can't make a phone call with no phones, and with the lack of modern technology they need to toil from morning till evening to eke out a living, so they can't afford to make a timely trip to report to anybody. So, any smugglers would have a free reign as long as they didn't draw too much attention. Not to mention the drug gang is probably sanctioned by the government.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
I'm gonna go ahead and call she IS gonna die, along with an healthy portion of this arcs characters. Fuck, i wouldn't be surprised if Killua got offed as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
I'm 50-50 divided thinking she will or won't die. But Killua dying... Haha. The manga would have lost too many fans to justify an anime remake if that had happened.Quote:
Originally Posted by Archangel
Eh, I'm sure she'll be fine. Pokkle seems like a fairly competent Nen user now. He'll keep her alive at least long enough for them to meet up with Gon.
Now those other two guys on his team that don't even have names? Yeah, they're doomed.
What it does is it leave the possibility open for Gon to befriend some of them and have them make Heel Face Turns.Quote:
Originally Posted by David75
They're basically just beastfolk already, so it wouldn't surprise me of Gon could convince a couple that killing people is wrong.
That's not really an issue since we know the "no technology" thing is just propaganda, and the people actually running the country have no problem with guns or anything else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
Episode felt slow to me. Since the new arc started, madhouse slowed down the pacing. The latest episodes only covered like 1 chapter each.
Those arrows seem fairly weak. True that we don't know how strong the ants with human genes are, but they'll certainly be stronger than the ants Pokkle seemed to have problems with in this episode. I mean, they had to run from them.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
I was hoping she could control them to a degree after she showed us her powers last episode, but that doesn't seem to be the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by antiravage
Given that his Nen ability is called Rainbow, and the attack he used was called Red Arrow, I'm willing to bet he's got a total of 7 different colored Arrow attacks. Some are probably stronger than the one he used.Quote:
Originally Posted by antiravage
I was thinking the same thing. That if she can control the bees, she could control the ants a bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
And it's possible she still can, and she just hasn't bothered to try it yet.
I imagine it wouldn't be very easy. As I had hoped before, we have already seen the more intelligent ants are starting to do as they please. Even these three stooges, quite insectoid still, already appeared unsatisfied and ready to switch to another squad. So, it seems imminent the hierarchy and society in general inside this ant colony can't be anymore based on everybody mindlessly serving the queen's needs. However, this also means any outsider shouldn't have much more luck controlling them than controlling any random human organization would take - with the exception these guys consider humans a food source and you don't usually obey your next dinner.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
Makes sense.
Episode is out.
Chimera ants were engineered to be world-enders huh? Well that explains everything.
Ponzu also got killed by the most unlikable of the intelligent ants and applied a bad taste to the act of hunting in the process.
Ugh...what a depressing episode.
Now they're going to eat Pokkle and gain Nen.
What's this? Did I miss this part?Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
Gyro's backstory told us that he was out to destroy the world. Appearance of world-destroying ants that were given the chance to do so by growing in a backward, powerless country? Coincidence? I don't think so.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
Gyro's men might have been resisting, but the man himself wasn't in a rush to leave
Wow, the only reason why HXH doesn´t feel quite as depressing as Shingeki no Kyojin is the shounen-esque artstyle and the more placative music. Basically, the lack of subtlety. Other than that, HXH is MORE gruesome than Shingeki. Just wow. Piling up dead bodies, gathering living prey, killing and eating that girl. Just wow.
Fuck, I don´t want Pokkle to die. Come on, the way he evaded the spider´s netstring-attack was the first time he showed somewhat fighting skills. Remember, he became a hunter only because Hisoka was uninterested in fighting him. And now he´ll be eaten. No. :( But unavoidable, I guess, since for plot-reasons they need a nen-user´s genes.
While I can see how someone could get tired of all these episodes basically just showing humans being eaten, I feel like the producers are doing a damn great job in world building here. Ffs, the last moments when Kaito, Gon and Killua finally started to activate hunter-mode, it felt like "omg, Son Goku and Son Gohan finished their training in god´s palace, now they´ll fight Cell!". Pure awesomeness.
Only weird thing: Why is Gon angry? We´ve had debates about Gon being seemingly without feelings towards murder before. Shouldn´t this be all natural to him?
Also, about the first half of the episode: First, I thought Gyro was the guy that Gon fought in the tower arena. The one with the spinning.
But anyway, since they spent so much time on this unknown guy, also stating that he became king of the NGL, it´s fairly safe to assume that Gyro´s personality will heavily influence the future mentality of the Chimera-King.
Gon was pretty pissed off and challenged Bomber when they obtained Patch of the Shore. I'm pretty sure he gets angry when people are killed, but he just doesn't go around dealing judgement on them.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
Oh, no, Ponzu! This show has few enough cute girls as it is, and now one of them got eaten by a gun-loving ant. Gon and Killua better start wiping out the ants by the next episode. They have had their way long enough as it is.
Somebody should also sent in a fleet of bombers dropping canisters of pyrethrin.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kraco
hey, we´re getting a bunch of hot furry girls instead. Well, at least scorpion girl and cat girl a hot. Not so much the rest, lol.
They already seem to be using nen at some level, although they dont seem to quite understand the specifics yet. The spider dude could see the arrows and observe the flow of aura around pokkle, something that should only be possible using Gyo. He was also able to grab the arrows bare handed. Their abilities seem much more developed than 'raw potential'. Even one in hundred million talents like Gon and Killua couldn't actually see nen until Wing taught them the basics.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
But having Pokkle give them a better understanding of their own powers will indeed make them much stronger.
As I (and others) assumed, it seems that the chimera monsters are natural nen-users, independent of any food source. So as I guessed before, I think Phagogenesis is their inherent nen-ability.
That's still not a conclusion I would come to. The spider guy and the earlier autopsy both confirmed that the grunts (which seem to be less human than the higher ranked ones) couldn't see Pokkle's arrows. I would expect having human dominant traits would be a minimum requirement to allow the spider guy to be able to see nen.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
Phagogenesis is an innate ability of chimera ant queens, human genes or not. I don't see why it has to be anything more than a biological process for them. Either ways, it doesn't matter too much.
I'm betting at the very least they'll need Pokkle in order to learn unique abilities.Quote:
Originally Posted by Splash!
I think it's just that they're like people that way. Some people have more natural talent with Nen than others. And the Ants that happen to be made from those people will have inherited that talent.Quote:
Originally Posted by MFauli
Also on note is that this episode they revealed that the Ants don't just remember vague knowledge. They retain some actual memories from the people they came from, as Colt showed when he remembered his sisters name.
It also seems pretty clear to me at this point that the queen can't just eat something, and then pass that ability on to ALL of it's offspring. Every specific creature she eats can get loaded into one specific offspring. She can put a lot of creatures into one offspring, but she can't take one victim and spread their abilities out over multiple offspring.
Which means every ant with human intelligence requires a specific human sacrifice. Which hopefully means that every Ant they want to give advanced Nen abilities requires a specific Nen user to be eaten.
It's either that, or once they eat Pokkle and learn exactly HOW Nen works, they can just teach any other Nen-talented ant how to use it.
The king looks a bit like Pokkle, so I'm going to say he's the most advanced Nen user of the bunch. I don't think teaching is going to happen, but the guards and monsters will be pretty strong anyway when they combine their physical capabilities with nen potential.
As for the one-off genetics, it's hard to say. If we use that current logic, that means that the queen would have continues to eat crabs, turtles, scorpions and cheetahs along with humans. My impression was that ever since she acquired a taste form humans, she's been eating them exclusively.
Thinking about it, there isn't very much "ant" left in them anymore. The funny thing too is that the queen tries to birth a king instead of future queens. So what happens to the next generation?
Going by the Hunter x Hunter Wiki (Spoiler Website), the Queen gives birth to the King, which in turn leaves the hive to impregnate another different organism to produce the next Queen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
Quote:
Originally Posted by enkoujin
Hahahaha.. oh god, that's great..
(only read until I got what I needed)
Was it me, or did this episode feel like 2 minutes.
The whole Gyro backstory felt a bit dragged out to me.. just mentioning a messed up childhood would've been enough. Maybe it will become useful information later...
Why the hell is this in a children's anime time slot? Shit's brutal yo!
I wonder how Gon and Killua will fare against the chimera ants. The arrows guy never gave me the impression of being that strong but he lost to almost scrub tier bugs, that spider guy wasn't even a squad leader.
I don't expect any of our main characters are going to have any real difficulty with anything less than the royal guards. I don't think it's coincidence we have 3 royal guards and 3 main protagonists here.
Based on everything we have seen, it would make no sense they would have troubles with random lower tier ants, as those ants have hardly shown any extraordinary prowess so far. I could perhaps see the captains already posing a threat, maybe pushing Gon and Killua to finish polishing some techniques that could then really shine against the royal guards. However, the lieutenants could show us some jolly scenes of an ant acting all arrogant and confident, but then getting one-shot defeated.
the MCs must rely on their Nen abilities since the bugs have them beat in the physical department. Gyo bugs will pose some problems until the Hunters use something involved like lightning. Royal guards will be a problem, so I don't even know how the King would come in. Maybe Hunter Association pops in at the end with some killer moves or something, since I doubt we'll see Gin.
Why? It's not like having Gyo has made anyone else difficult for Gon and Killua to defeat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
All Gyo is going to do is let them see how glowy Gon's fist is right before he puts it through them.
Because the bugs are physically superior.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
By "involved", I mean actually trying. So like 85% strength and upwards.
Royal guards would take 100%, if not more (pressured improvement - aka penguin's "Human's capacity to learn").
81 is out!
Holy shit, a 2 on 1 with a foot soldier and they had that much trouble with it? They better hope backup is coming...
Haha, and even then I underestimated, though I suppose Rammot was like, 2nd-command of a squad under Colt like the spider is under Zazan (hot damn Zazan), so that's not too bad an effort. (comment also directed @Ark)Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
Ugh. I am severely disappointed in their performance...
That said, Killua has gone from electrified Yo-yos to just straight up throwing lightning bolts since the last time he fought anyone.
I swear Togashi has ADHD or something...
He couldn't use his hands last time.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
No, Killua used Electric Palm last time, then just beat the shit out of the guy with his yoyo (non-electric).Quote:
Originally Posted by DarthEnderX
This time, he tried a lightning bolt. The range has increased, but the effect is probably slightly lengthened (based on what we saw, there's no way for us to scale the power between Bomber jnr #2 and this Ant).
I´m dying from pure awesomeness in this episode. Fantastic, gorgeous, great!
I expected the winged rabbit-chimera to be cannon fodder to our heroes. Completely wrong. Goddamn! This guy even gave me the chills, when he shouted, screamed at them while his leader flew him to safety. Kind of reminiscent of Uborgin. These guys are strong, and now we know just how strong they are. And even then ... Kaito was super cool.
The preview seems to indicate that Gon and Killua will take out some of the higher Chimeras, however. Well, they have to start somewhere.
Want to see Pokkle, and also know if the queen already ate the NGL leader.
Anyway, judging from this episode, I guess there´s a reason why we see Netero in the opening, haha.