Insult (
Synopsis[]
After meeting up with Killua, Meleoron uses God's Accomplice on him so the two can find a safe place to talk, and deactivates it afterward. He tells Killua about Shoot being unable to fight as well as Knuckle trying to take on Youpi alone and running away from him to buy time. Killua asks him how many seconds he can use his ability, and Meleoron says around a minute now that he's calmed down. Killua thinks it will be enough time, asking Meleoron to give him one chance.
Three minutes and five seconds before their conversation, Youpi blasts a hole in one of the towers, forcing Knuckle to jump out as he flees Youpi's tentacles. It's stated that Knuckle considered his ability to make a quick escape his best asset, having eluded the police for 24 hours and never getting caught on the day of his elementary school graduation. His speed is likened to that of a gazelle, and he had hoped to keep Youpi distracted in order to save Shoot's life, but at that moment, Youpi stops his pursuit and disappears back into the tower. Knuckle immediately worries about Shoot, but his assessment of Youpi's priority was misplaced, for Youpi's central mission was to protect the King. Youpi had assumed the King was still in the throne room, and that Pitou and Pouf were there protecting him.
Knuckle comes across Shoot, barely alive and slowly crawling forward. To get to the throne room, Youpi would have seen Shoot lying there, and yet he left him alive. The fact that Youpi didn't feel it necessary to finish off either Knuckle or Shoot enrages the former considerably, who proclaims that he should go bankrupt in around ten minutes. As Knuckle puts Shoot's arm around his shoulder, he hears Youpi yelling around the throne room and realizes that Morel has it sealed with Smoky Jail, meaning that he has Pouf trapped within and the King is elsewhere.
He happily plans to move Shoot somewhere safe, but suddenly realizes the severity of Youpi's disrespect. He knows that Shoot and Youpi must have looked at each other in the face, yet Youpi still ignored him and treated him as something not worth finishing off, even when Shoot had given everything he had in their fight. Knuckle wonders if he can just walk away after such an insult, questioning if he can just shake Shoot's hand and the two of them celebrate afterward. He makes his decision, absentmindedly dropping Shoot to the floor and quickly apologizing for doing so. He promises to punch Youpi right in the face, once for himself and once for Shoot. Although Shoot knows he should be trying to stop Knuckle at this moment, tears streaming down his face, he angrily begs him to fight Youpi after he treated him like dirt. Knuckle pounds his chest and assures him he will, apologizing to Morel for the decision they've both made, but saying that there are things more important than the world.
As Youpi pointlessly tries to break into Smoky Jail and yells for Pitou and Pouf, Morel hears his cries and wonders if Youpi has killed Knuckle and Shoot, also worrying about Netero. Pouf hasn't made any movements since entering his cocoon, and this begins to worry Morel, but he quickly refocuses and maintains his composure. Inside the cocoon, Pouf notes the swirling of negative emotions as well as consistent conviction from Morel, which he determines will end up affecting Morel's judgment. Unable to sense Pitou's En, Youpi worries that the other Royal Guards have abandoned him. A.P.R.'s announcement of interest continues to annoy him, as does the effect of Shoot's Hotel Rafflesia on his shoulder. He realizes he should have killed Shoot to get rid of the black fuzz, but knows he has to find the King first. Already annoyed, he then comes across Knuckle waiting for him. Youpi violently leaps down opposite him and screams out in frustration.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Killua Zoldyck
- Meleoron
- Knuckle Bine
- Menthuthuyoupi
- Meruem (Mentioned)
- Neferpitou (Mentioned)
- Shoot McMahon
- Morel Mackernasey
- Shaiapouf
- Isaac Netero (Mentioned indirectly)
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