The Chimera Ant Arc, Explained

Key Takeaways

• Chimera Ant is the longest arc in Hunter x Hunter, filled with intense moments that challenge the philosophies of our main characters.
• Gon and Killua join an extermination team to eliminate the Chimera Ant threat and reach new limits with Nen.
• The arc explores the unique nature of the Chimera Ant’s and their abilities, and ends with unexpected transformations and sacrifices.

Following the Isekai-esque arc of Greed Island, Chimera Ant lands as the last full arc completed by Togashi for Hunter x Hunter, as well as the longest arc in the series so far. Even with all the iconic events that have transpired so far, Chimera Ant may stand out as the most notable arc from Hunter x Hunter, with all the skills Togashi has accumulated over his years in manga combining for one of the most memorable stories in the medium.

In Chimera Ant, Gon and Killua must join an extermination team to eliminate the eponymous threat, the Chimera Ants. Reunions with past characters, incredible feats of Nen, and challenging philosophies make this arc chock-full of intense moments.

This article is about the 2011 Hunter x Hunter animated series. There may be some differences from the 1999 animated series.

Gon Reunites With an Old Friend

Kite Meets Gon Once Again

After finally beating Greed Island, Gon and Killua use a special ability to leave the game and attempt to meet Ging. Instead, they are surprised to see Kite, who at first seems to be on the attack, before it is revealed that he is protecting the boys from the fearsome Chimera Ants. With the boys in shock at this series of events, Kite explains how Ging arranged for the boys to meet Kite if they used the special ability from Greed Island, since Ging eventually wants to meet Gon again 1-on-1.

When they finally settle down, Kite begins to tell Gon and Killua more stories about Ging. Not only does Kite share that he has seen Ging again, he shares details about his current mission, and takes the boys to the current group he is working with. They learn more details about the Chimera Ants, including their massive sizes (Killua reasons that the Ant leg they found must belong to an organism over 2m tall!) and how they reproduce; by devouring other species. With this massive threat looming, the group head to Yorknew City, where they learn where the Ant Queen may be located.

The Ant Colony Begins to Grow

The Ant Queen Finds a New Home

While Kite, Gon and Killua theorize about the location of the Ant Queen, we cut to an injured Ant Queen recovering and preparing to give birth. At first, she is eating fish, crabs and other catches from the nearby sea, but after giving birth to soldier ants that bring her humans, she develops a taste for this new prey.

The Ant army grows while the local humans are continually hunted down and eaten. When the Ant colony gets too large, it attracts the attention of a nearby Hunter who attempts to investigate. However, en route to the colony, they are ambushed by a pack of Ants, and though they attempt to escape, they are ultimately overwhelmed and devoured, save for one Hunter, Pokkle, who they capture alive. Another Hunter, Ponzu, is able to command bees to send a message to the closer Hunter they can find, before finally being killed as well.

The Hunter that the bees find just so happens to be Kite, who now understands the true extent of the Ant infestation and informs the Hunter Association of this expanding threat. Kite, Gon and Killua continue to move forward and investigate the Ants, when they are attacked by an Ant leader, Rammot. In order to test their abilities, Kite asks Gon and Killua to handle Rammot themselves, and they are successful. But before they can eliminate Rammot, he is saved by another Ant Leader, Colt, who saves him before departing. They soon face more Ants, and Gon learns that Ants can survive incredible damage, even being cut cleanly in half. Kite informs Gon that the Chimera Ants can survive with just their heads, so destroying those are the number one priority.

“This… …is delicious!! It is highly nutritious. The best fodder! I need… …more of them!!”
The Chimera Ant Queen, after eating Humans for the First Time

The Unique Nature of the Ants is Explored

A Recovered Rammot Manifests Nen

Back in the Chimera Ant colony, Rammot is recovering and begins to exhibit his own Nen. This ability is still a mystery to the Ants, so they resolve to interrogate someone who is familiar with the ability. Here, the Hunter captured alive earlier, Pokkle, is lobotomized so that a new ant, Neferpitou, can use their brain to learn about Nen. Neferpitou (or Pitou) is a special type of Ant known as the Royal Guard, born to service a soon-to-be Ant King. After Pitou is finished with Pokkle, they leave the Ant’s nest, only to soon run into Kite, Gon and Killua.

A conflict ensues, and Pitou viciously cuts off Kite’s Arm, causing Gon to descend into a bloodthirsty rage. But he does not have the opportunity to attack, as Killua quickly incapacitates him and escapes from the scene. This leaves Kite alone to try and fend off Pitou.

Gon and Killua Must Prove Themselves Once Again

When Killua arrives with Gon back at the site where Kite’s group remained, they are met by an extermination team sent to combat the Ant threat. Netero is part of the group, and gives Gon and Killua a challenge to prove that they are capable of joining the team to combat the Ants.

They learn more about the 4 Major Principles behind Nen, which are:

Ren is sort of an offensive booster for Nen abilities, granting individuals more strength, durability and resources to use more advanced Nen techniques. With this training, they are both challenged to win a 1-on-1 fight with some Hunter apprentices. Even with their new training, both Gon and Killua lose, with Gon being placed into “Zetsu” for 30 days, making him effectively incapable of using Nen.

The Hunters Go on the Attack

The Extermination Team Begin to Close in on the Colony

The extermination team slowly begin to whittle down the numbers of Ants. Back in the colony, we see Pitou holding what seems to be Kite, while debating whether to stay and defend the Ant Queen or meet the Hunters on the battlefield. At the same time, the Ant Queen gives birth to two more Royal Guards, which causes the unborn Ant King to suddenly burst forth from the Queen.

This new Ant King proves to be vicious, killing many Ants who defy or annoy him, before leaving to find a new home. Some of the other Ant leaders, still loyal to the Queen, seek out the Hunter squad and ask for help to save their Queen. With Netero leading the squad, a team is formed to help save the Queen. They are unsuccessful, and she dies, but not before sharing the name of the new Ant king, Meruem. In her remains, another Ant fetus is found and is revealed to be Meruem’s unborn twin. Morel, one of the Hunter’s in the squad, offers to protect the fetus and other Ant leaders, if they promise not to hurt anymore humans.

The extermination squad returns to Gon and Killua, having managed to rescue Kite from the ant colony as well. But Gon quickly learns that this is not the same Kite that they left behind, as the ants had turned him into a shell of his former self. Gon then promises to save Kite.

Meruem Takes Over

Meruem Makes a Plan to “Initiate” Nen

After taking over a palace in East Gorteau, Meruem makes a plan for the coming holiday, Selection Day. He will gather the citizens of the nation to celebrate, before slaughtering nearly all of them. These traumatic circumstances will then “Initiate” their Nen, forcing it to manifest in those who are able. This circumvents the sometimes extended time it takes to awaken Nen in users.

Meanwhile, the extermination squad makes a plan to combat Meruem and his guard, with Gon and Killua now joining the team after having finally proved themselves. Netero plans to face Meruem on his own, with the rest of the squad being left to handle any other threats. Gon and Killua choose to take on Pitou when the time comes, and the plan is set in motion.

Meruem Finally Suffers Defeat in an Unexpected Way

Meruem passes time until Selection Day by facing champions from East Gorteau. But these are not gladiators or combatants, they are board game champions. While he at first easily defeats many of them before killing them, he finally meets his match in a girl named Komugi. She is blind and while Meruem initially considers her an easy match, she soon outclasses him in every game.

Meruem then offers to make a bet with her; he will give her anything she wants if she wins, but he will take her left arm if she loses. She is unfazed by this offer, and instead offers to bet her life. Meruem learns more about her life and her dedication to her game of choice, Gungi, and tears off his own arm in remorse for disrespecting her. His guards begin to dislike the girl, as they feel she is weakening his resolve and dedication to their cause. This is shown as he gradually begins to soften to Komugi, and perhaps humans in general.

For example:

• He asks her to rest after playing a long stretch of games.
• After awakening her Nen, he allows her to leave to have time to herself.
• After intending to kill her, he kills a crow that was attacking her.

The last point, Meruem takes note of as well, questioning why he had begun to treat her differently, when he previously viewed humans as below him.

“I learned from Komugi that different kinds of “strengths” exist. On my way here… I killed a child. She perhaps could have one day been superior to me in some aspect. And I plucked off that bud. For no reason. Just like that.” – Meruem, to the Royal Guards.

The Extermination Squad Attacks the Palace

With the Plan in Place, the Hunters Move Forward

Netero and Zeno make an epic entrance into Meruem’s Palace, falling from the sky onto the palace, alerting Pitou and the other guards to their presence. A brief intense battle ensues, with Netero nearly removing Pitou from the battle, before landing with Zeno onto the palace.

The rest of the squad makes their entrance through prepared areas around the palace. Intense battles commence, with some Hunters almost killed fairly quickly. A true shock comes, however, when Pitou makes their way back to Meruem, who is seen holding an injured Komugi, who was collateral damage in Netero and Zeno’s entrance onto the palace. This event throws a wrench into the invasion plan, and is a significant turning point in the only recently begun battle.

Komugi Challenges Everyone

Meruem commands Pitou to heal Komugi, and Netero and Zeno pause their offense to let her recover. Meruem asks if they can move their battle elsewhere, and Zeno transports Netero and Meruem to their eventual battlefield, before beginning to depart from the palace. On the way out though, Zeno tells Gon and Killua to judge what they will see for themselves, and as they make their way in to face Pitou, they see them healing Komugi.

Gon is enraged and still intends to beat Pitou and order them to heal Kite, but Pitou swiftly breaks Gon’s arm, in an effort to buy time to heal Komugi. This gives Gon pause, who agrees to stop and allow Komugi to be healed. Meanwhile, battles between Ant Leaders and Hunters rage across the palace, with Killua even demonstrating new Nen abilities.

Netero and Meruem Face Off

Netero and Meruem finally arrive at a distant location, with Meruem at first attempting to talk Netero out of a fight. Meruem assures Netero that his plan for a new world will be better, with inequality erased, even if that means eliminating nearly every human. Netero does not share in this vision of the future, however, and proceeds to fight with Meruem. But even with Netero’s status as one of if not the strongest Hunters in existence, he barely makes a scratch on Meruem.

That is, until his last stand where, after finally sharing Meruem’s name with him, he activates an incredibly powerful bomb that he had hidden in his body, the Poor Man’s Rose. This causes a massive explosion, which nearly kills Meruem. However, Meruem’s guard arrives and offer to feed most of their bodies to Meruem, which powers him up and gives him a new form, while also giving him amnesia. With newly sprouted wings, Meruem begins his return to his palace.

“You Believe I Cannot Pray With A Single Arm? A Prayer Comes From The Heart.” — Netero, to Meruem

Meruem Meets His End

The Chimera Ants Takeover Is Unsuccessful

Seemingly unbeknownst to Meruem and his guards, the Poor Man’s Rose also released a poison at its time of detonation. Therefore, even though Meruem appears healed, he is actually slowly dying of the poison. The rest of the Guard are unaware of their fate as well, but attempt to keep Meruem from remembering Komugi, as they fear it will interrupt their plan.

At the same time, Gon commands Pitou to come with him to heal Kite, or he will kill Komugi. Pitou agrees, and leaves with Gon, while Killua takes Komugi. However, what was almost a smooth plan is interrupted when another Guard member tricks Pitou into thinking that Komugi was no longer in Killua’s possession. This causes Pitou to go back on her promise, and she refuses to heal Kite. This enrages Gon, empowering his abilities and transforming him into an incredibly powerful adult version of himself. Pitou tries to resist this form of Gon but is easily overwhelmed and mercilessly defeated. This transformation also takes its toll on Gon, however, and the arc ends with him in the hospital in a coma.

Meruem eventually makes his way to Komugi, and though she learns that staying with him will cause her to die from the poison affecting him, she chooses to remain by his side. Meruem passes first in her arms, before Komugi succumbs as well, thus ending the reign of Meruem and this infestation of Chimera Ants.

Chimera Ant is the longest Arc in Hunter X Hunter and this one article can’t do complete justice at representing all the events therein. There are amazing fights, memorable conversations and incredible character developments that make this arc worth a watch and read. While Hunter x Hunter’s next arc is still in progress after Togashi’s recent recovery, this Chimera Ant Arc cemented the legacy of Hunter x Hunter in the landscape of animanga.

Hunter x Hunter is now available to watch on Crunchyroll, Netflix and Hulu where available.