Birth (誕生, Tanjō) is the 213th chapter of the Hunter × Hunter manga, written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi.
Synopsis
Eager to be born, Meruem forcefully rips open the sac, causing severe injuries to the Queen . All the Squadron Leaders rush to her when they hear her screams, but Meruem pays no heed to his dying mother. He orders the gathered Ants to bring him some food. When Peggy does not heed his order and rushes to the Queen, without a moment's hesitation, the newly born King beheads him with his tail. He then tells Colt to wipe the blood off. Seeing an opportunity to get in the King's good books, Turtle offers to clean it with his handkerchief, but is decapitated as well. Meruem once again orders Colt to clean his tail, this time warning him to not make him repeat it twice. Colt obeys.
After his tail is cleaned, he once again orders food. At this moment, the Royal Guards arrive, stating that his meal was prepared for him, They introduce themselves and state that his wish was their command. With that they lead him away. With the King gone, the Squadron Leaders' attention turns to the Queen, who is now in critical condition. Desperate, Colt rushes after Neferpitou for aide, who dismisses him saying that she had no use for the queen anymore, as the King has already been born.
After Colt goes away, she informs Meruem that his meal was prepared at the top of the nest, for the nice view. Meruem breaks a part of the wall of the nest, and with the help of his tail, propels himself upward, landing at the top. Shaiapouf follows, using his wings to fly up. Following suit, Menthuthuyoupi grows a pair of wings on his back and tries to follow Shaiapouf. But unable to maintain balance, he crashes into the wall, realizing that he needed practice.
When Meruem bites into the meat, he complains that it is bland, and that he wanted a meal that was as delicious as the one that the Queen once fed him. Neferpitou tells him that it was the meat of a rare human, and assures him that they will find more for him.
Elsewhere, Colt approaches Morel and Knov with a white flag, and announces that they would surrender as long as the Hunters saved the Queen.
Characters in Order of Appearance
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