Knuckle: ’cause i--
I can’t see him
as just something to exterminate now.
You heard him.
He acknowledged how serious we were.
He wasn’t a bad guy.
( Moans )
So why would we keep doing this?
I can’t think of a reason.
Knov: The king.
The soldiers are of no consequence.
The king can just wave his hand
and turn all of them into evil spawn.
♪
( Singing in Japanese )
♪
( Wind blowing )
Netero: This is a test site for military weapons...
Which means that we won’t need to restrain ourselves.
King: Why do you and I have to fight?
Netero: Huh?
King: You have absolutely no chance of defeating me.
There is no need for us to hasten your inevitable death.
Netero: Saying I can’t win is pretty presumptuous of you.
I can tell that you don’t know squat about me.
( Blows )
If you judge a book by its cover,
don’t be surprised if you get burned.
King: You’ve got it wrong.
You don’t seem like some ordinary man
who can’t read the state of the battle.
I was born for one reason, and that is to rule this world.
Originally you pathetic humans
were no more than livestock to me,
but i’ve changed my mind.
I have since determined that there are a few humans
that are worth keeping alive...
Like that girl, for example.
You are worthy as well. I can sense it.
If you will back down this instant...
Then I will consider sparing you.
Netero: You’re saying you would spare me
and not the others? Is that right?
♪
Given my unique position,
I simply can’t accept that offer.
Narrator: Meanwhile, deep within the palace,
in exchange for his agreement to stay still for the moment,
pouf was pressing pitou
to explain exactly what had happened.
♪
( No audible dialogue )
Pitou complied with pouf’s request,
telling him what happened after the attack
and all that had transpired since they had separated.
Pitou made it a point to include several details
that gon did not know to ensure that gon’s attention
would be focused on the explanation.
But pitou, unable to describe the events accurately,
chose not to mention how the king had held komugi,
not knowing how to capture the scene in words.
There was no significant change in gon.
However...
When gon’s eyes wavered briefly,
pitou knew the plan had been a success.
Neferpitou: The king...
He left with the enemy
of his own volition by that doorway.
There’s no need for us to go after him.
Shaiapouf: Hmm.
I understand.
He went south.
Thank you for telling me.
A fine play, pitou.
Then we should stay here and await his return.
We must be patient.
To maintain only my outward appearance,
I only need 1/7 of my flying segments.
The other segments will go...
To the king!
King: You will fight knowing that you cannot win?
I don’t understand.
Are you fighting me for all of humanity?
If so, then you should know that my actions
are entirely for their benefit.
For example, in human society,
lands are split by borders marking their territory.
On the right side of the border,
children may starve to death,
while on the left,
idle dregs who do nothing have everything they need.
It’s absolute madness.
I shall crush that madness
and create a fair world where the concept of inequality
will be completely forgotten for all time.
Netero: Hmm.
King: I don’t deny that i’ll start
by using power and terror to accomplish my objective,
but only when absolutely necessary
and only to bring about order.
You see, I have learned
what true power is meant to be used for...
( No audible dialogue )
To protect the weak who deserve to live.
That is its purpose.
Power shouldn’t be used to torment the defeated.
♪
Netero: This is quite the situation.
King: I will not fight with you now.
I left the palace so we could have a discussion.
We need to have a free and uninhibited conversation.
Netero: Well, he’s beginning to waver.
King: Come closer.
Netero: Wavering between ant and human,
yet it seems he hasn’t yet realized
that those two sides are totally incompatible.
And as of now, neither one is dominant.
He’ll fall to one or the other,
but either way, the outcome will remain the same.
♪
Man: We’re counting on you.
You have only one mission to carry out,
the immediate execution of all of these dangerous creatures.
Netero: There have already been many casualties.
We will proceed using any means necessary.
Will that be acceptable to you?
Man: Well, don’t ask me.
We wouldn’t dream of telling the experts how to proceed.
All we desire now is for those dangerous creatures
to be eradicated as swiftly and humanely as possible.
Netero: Yes, of course. I understand.
So their goal is to eradicate the ants,
leaving the hunter association to take the blame.
I get it.
( Wind blowing )
I’m going to need to make this fast...
Before my heart is swayed.
Look, king...
We’ve all got problems, you know.
( King gasps )
♪
Netero: 100-type guanyin bodhisattva!
First hand!
( Wind blowing )
( Wings fluttering )
( Shaiapouf gasps )
Is that...
♪
Menthuthuyoupi: I can’t sense anyone else fighting here.
Does that mean that i’m the only one left?
Shaiapouf: Youpi!
Menthuthuyoupi: Huh? Huh?!
Pouf! You’ve changed a lot since the last time I saw you.
Shaiapouf: I suppose I could say the same thing about you.
I had to be careful and escape from there
without alerting the enemy.
If I moved all my particles at once,
it would have been suspicious, so I moved slowly.
I’m sure you’re rushed,
but could you spare a moment?
I need to tell you what’s been happening.
Menthuthuyoupi: Yeah. I suppose i’ve got a minute.
Guess everyone does have their reasons.
Shaiapouf: Uh...
You sound so grown up.
And there you have it.
I hope pitou’s change will benefit the king...
But I can’t be sure.
I’ve no conclusive proof one way or the other.
♪
Narrator: Based on his own experiences,
youpi could understand pitou’s behavior.
- Shaiapouf: Youpi... - Menthuthuyoupi: Eh?
Shaiapouf: So tell me.
What do you think we should do now?
Narrator: He was being tested.
This tactic made it quite clear to youpi
that pouf was afraid, unnerved by the subtle changes
that both pitou and youpi had only recently undergone.
( Menthuthuyoupi scoffs ) A dumb question.
( Grunts )
♪
There’s no time to waste.
We must go to the king...
And that’s all there is to it.
Am I right?
Narrator: His response was sincere.
Shaiapouf: Indeed, you are.
Narrator: Only one thing concerned him at the moment,
and that was leaving as quickly as possible...
Because the fear that gripped pouf
had taken hold of youpi as well.
♪
Netero: I’m sure that was a direct hit.
He’s a tough one.
King: A very good attack.
I wasn’t expecting it.
( Wind blowing )
Are you satisfied?
Netero: He still wants me to sit with him?
King: I will not repeat myself.
♪
Netero: Third hand!
I cannot back down any longer.
( Gasps )
( Creaking )
♪
King: Are you really so eager to die?
Narrator: From the king’s perspective,
the wrath that was unleashed was unimpressive,
seemingly no stronger than that of a child throwing a tantrum,
but the king’s full power was violent enough
to make netero jump back more than twice his usual distance.
Netero couldn’t help but feel insulted by this turn of events
and by the fact that his determination,
strong as it was, could be brushed off so easily.
King: Wake up.
Can’t you see words are all that you and I will exchange here?
You should save your energy.
Netero: Damned newborn brat.
If it were that simple, I wouldn’t have to do this.
Wait.
Exchanging words?
Hey, king...
Would you like to know your name?
King: How is it that you have come into possession of my name?
Netero: Simple, really.
My subordinates were present at your mother’s deathbed.
She uttered your name with her dying breath.
I bet i’m the only one
who knows now those same subordinates probably died
fighting your royal guard.
( Wind blowing )
Are you interested in fighting me now?
I’ll make you a deal.
If you can force me to admit defeat,
i’ll tell you your name.
King: Force you?
But without killing you?
( Scoffs )
So i’ll be playing without a rook and bishop.
♪
Fine, then. I’ll checkmate you shortly.
♪
Narrator: The real battle
between netero and the king has begun.
( Singing in Japanese )