Hunter x Hunter Episode 96: A x Lawless x Home

A news reporter discusses Chimera Ants, classifying them as Unidentified Mysterious Animals (UMAs). She reports that many police officers have been beaten by the Ants, noting their ability to speak. A segment shows a reporter interviewing an Ant named Hagya, who then eats the reporter. The Phantom Troupe watches this report and prepares to act.

The Phantom Troupe returns to Meteor City, their homeland, and discovers that a group of Chimera Ants has nested nearby, mutating its citizens. Some mutated individuals survive and serve the Ants, while others die. The Assembly is debating whether to declare the mutated citizens dead, based on whether there is a way to restore them. Phinks comments on their pointless arguments, stating they always lose sight of what's essential. The Troupe decides to eliminate the "Queen" before the day ends.

They approach the Queen's hideout. It is revealed that Zazan is the Queen. She is turning humans into Ants by stinging them with her tail, an ability called Sexy Stinger of Rebirth. The Troupe enters the castle but finds no one. The group decides to have a competition: a race to see who can kill the Queen first, with the winner becoming the interim boss. They separate. Pike informs Zazan of the situation. Intrigued by the Phantom Troupe's strength, Zazan orders Pike to fight them. Pike, initially worried about Zazan's safety, is assured and complimented by her, then leaves to confront the invaders, vowing to give his all and return soon.

Bonolenov encounters a Spiky Chimera Ant. His bandages come off, revealing holes all over his body. It is explained that he comes from a tribe driven from their ancestral lands by industrialization. When males turn three, needles are used to puncture holes in their bodies. As they grow, they can make sounds by moving their bodies, depending on the size of the holes. Before fighting a rival tribe, they play a battle song using their bodies as instruments. They are known as Bapu, dancing warriors, who believe that the more beautiful the sound produced, the stronger the spirit that descends. The most skilled Bapus are treated as gods and have more influence than elders. Bonolenov uses an ability called Battle Cantabile, Prologue, which involves Conjuring armor and a spear to attack the Ant. His bandages return. The Ant gets back up and insults Bonolenov, calling his soul cheap. This infuriates Bonolenov, who claims the Chimera Ant does not need to take back its words.

Meanwhile, Shalnark faces another Ant, attempting to insert an antenna into it. The Ant attacks him, cutting his shirt. He spots a weak point in its joint and aims to stick the antenna there. He succeeds after sustaining a slight injury, but the Ant does not fall under his control. It is revealed that the Ant's name is Pell and it is being manipulated by another Ant. Pell holds Shalnark in a tight grip. Shalnark mentions having to use an ability he'd rather not.

Phinks' punches on a Gorilla Chimera Ant seem ineffective. The Ant offers him a free punch. Phinks states that fifteen wind-ups should suffice. He begins swinging his arm, stretching it. He explains that the more he winds his arm, the stronger his punch becomes. Phinks punches the Ant with his Nen ability, Ripper Cyclotron, blowing it to pieces. He comments that half the power would have been enough. Faced with two paths, he flips a coin to choose which way to go.

Shalnark asks Pell what will become of him. Pell replies that Shalnark will become a slave and work for the Queen until he dies. Pell prepares another antenna to control Shalnark. Shalnark reveals a second antenna for such situations and sticks it into his own leg. His mobile device displays "Autopilot on," and Shalnark releases an immense amount of aura, crushing Pell and the Small Beetle Ant. The device indicates that the mission is complete, and Shalnark returns to normal. He cannot remember what happened and mentions that a side effect of using this ability is muscle pain. As he walks further into the Ant building, a piece of paper is on his back.

Elsewhere, Shizuku is fighting Pike. Pike's thread is wrapped around her vacuum. It is shown that Shizuku also has a piece of paper stuck on her back. The same is shown for Feitan as he fights the Queen. It turns out all the Troupe members have pieces of paper on their backs. This is Kalluto's ability, and he is using it to spy on the Troupe members and their powers. Another Longhorn Beetle Chimera Ant appears before Kalluto. It produces a steel whip, and Kalluto begins to drop confetti. Using a paper fan, he sends the confetti towards the Ant. They initially do nothing, but he continues to surround it with more paper. One piece of confetti sticks to its arm. The Ant attacks him with its steel whip, but he cuts it using his paper fan. Kalluto sends a torrent of confetti toward the piece stuck on the Ant's arm, and the arm is cut off. He does the same to its second arm. This Nen ability is called Meandering Dance.

Feitan brings out an umbrella and opens it, revealing a hidden sword in its handle. He uses it to attack Zazan and rips her outer garment. The Chimera Ant fighting Bonolenov runs away from a giant boulder but is crushed by the Nen ability, Battle Cantabile, Jupiter.