Hunter x Hunter: The Chimera Ant Royal Guards, Explained

As a seasoned aficionado of Hunter x Hunter, I must say that the Selection Process, or as I like to call it, “The Great Human-Ant Hybridization Spectacle,” is nothing short of a spectacle indeed! It’s not just a project; it’s a grand mission, a stepping stone towards world domination, if I may add with a touch of dramatic flair.

Compared to numerous anime productions that have aired since their inception, only a handful can rival or even surpass the exceptional world-building and overall quality found within the Hunter X Hunter series. Moreover, it boasts some of the finest anime arcs ever created, with the Chimera Ant Arc being one of its most notable. This article will delve into a significant part of the series: The Royal Guards of the Chimera Ants, which is our primary focus here.

The Chimera Ant royal guards, a formidable part of conflict in the Chimera Ant storyline, serve as the queen’s personal elite squad and rank second in power only to her within their colony. Despite their immense strength and haughty demeanor, much about their role, tasks, and unique creation compared to regular chimera ants remains unclear for fans. To shed some light on these mysterious figures, here are some key insights:

Who or What Are The Chimera Ants Royal Guards?

Originally, the Royal Guards are akin to Chimera Ants, a type of insect known for their potential danger, warranting quarantine level one status. Commonly inhabiting the Dark Continent, these ants, like regular Chimera Ants, undergo a reproduction method called Phagogenesis – essentially consuming other creatures to pass on specific traits and characteristics from those consumed onto the offspring they give birth to. As a result, each generation of Chimera Ants displays significant variations in traits, including feeding preferences or even genetics. However, Royal Guards are born with inherently stronger genes due to their higher rank within the hierarchy, and they often exhibit the ability to use Nen naturally soon after hatching.

Typically, there are only three individuals, known as the Royal Guards, tasked with safeguarding the colony’s ruler, the Ant King Mereum, and providing guidance in line with instructions from the former Ant Queen. The trio consists of Neferipitou, Shaiapouf, and Menthuthuyoupi. Each Royal Guard demonstrates a unique form of loyalty towards Meruem. Neferipitou’s allegiance stems from his unwavering obedience to the Ant King himself, regardless of any differences between him and the anticipated Ant King. Shaiapouf is loyal to his vision of how the Ant King should behave and the plan set forth by the previous Ant Queen rather than the person of the Ant King. Lastly, Menthuthuyoupi is devoted to both Meruem as the Ant King and the role itself, remaining steadfast and unquestioning, while being unaffected by anything else.

Above all, while the Chimera Ant arc isn’t the longest in the storyline, the Royal Guard and Meruem were two of the most formidable forces, tallying over half a million human casualties. Notably, Neferpitou played a significant role, being accountable for the deaths of 478,594 civilians and an additional 12,905 soldiers, including Kite. Shaiapouf indirectly caused approximately 46,613 civilian deaths in East Gorteau, who perished due to physical failure after he ended his hypnosis over them. Interestingly, despite the death toll attributed to his fellow guards, Menthuthuyoupi was never officially confirmed as having killed anyone throughout the series.

The Royal Guards In The Hierarchy of The Chimera Ants

The Immediate Guard Force

Hunter x Hunter: The Chimera Ant Royal Guards, Explained

Among the Chimera Ant colonies, the Royal Guards hold considerable power and prestige. This isn’t surprising considering their high rank within the society. Yet, understanding their position requires clarifying the hierarchy among these ants.

The Chimera Ant colony follows a strict military-style organization, with the Ant Queen at its peak. Initially, the Queen is self-sufficient in hunting food until she births enough soldier chimera ants. These ants then hunt larger prey to feed the Queen, until she produces even stronger soldiers. At the same time, the Ant Queen scouts for a suitable dwelling place, where she can lay eggs that hatch into construction ants. These ants are responsible for constructing and expanding the nest.

The Queen consistently generates more soldiers, subsequently categorizing them into three tiers based on their power and command. The stronger ants ascend to the role of Squad Commanders, while the majority function as either Combat Soldiers (or Foot Soldiers) or Laborers (or Workers). Remaining ants who appear strong enough are promoted to the rank of Officer, positioned slightly above the Combat Soldiers and Laborers but below the Squad Commanders. Finally, the Queen creates an exceptional team, the Royal Guard, who hold a position superior to the Squad Commanders, standing just below the Queen in rank and authority.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to highlight an interesting twist in the hierarchy of chimera ants: unlike their comrades, the Royal Guards are exclusively crafted to safeguard and cater to the Queen’s most revered offspring, the King, Meruem. Once this esteemed King is born, the allegiance of the Royal Guard undergoes a transformative shift; they swiftly relinquish their loyalty towards the Queen and pledge it anew to the newly hatched King, in this instance, Meruem.

The Chimera Ant Royal Guards In Close View

Neferipitou, Shaiapouf, and Menthuthuyoupi

After thoroughly discussing the origins, role, and position of the Royal Guards within the colony, it’s crucial to delve deeper into the characters of these guards, focusing on their personalities, connections, and influence on the plotline. Of the three Guards, Neferipitou plays a pivotal role in advancing the story, whereas Menthuthuyoupi does not make any significant contributions before his death. This analysis will focus on these character’s roles and their individual personalities.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase that as follows: I’m talking about Neferipitou, the firstborn of the Chimera Ant King’s Royal Guard. Known as Pitou, this cat-like humanoid chimera was one of the main antagonists in the Chimera Ant arc. Loyal to the core to the Ant King, Meruem, Pitou took its duty to protect and serve him seriously. Mostly coming off as cheerful and adorable, Pitou had a dark side that was downright terrifying. They were stronger than most Hunters, leaving even legends like Isaac Netero questioning who was the stronger one between them.

Following Neferipitou, the second in the line of the Three Royal Guards was Shaiapouf, who appeared as a hybrid of a butterfly and human. In terms of antagonists during the Chimera Ant arc, Shaiapouf stood out for his strong resemblance to a human and rational demeanor, frequently using logic in discussions. However, much like the other guards, Shaiapouf was fiercely devoted and loyal to the Ant King, bordering on obsession. This devotion occasionally clouded his judgment, making him the least rational of the three Guards. Tragically, his irrationality led to his demise from the Miniature Rose’s poison, which ultimately resulted in the deaths of approximately 46,000 civilians due to bodily failure after Shaiapouf’s connection was severed.

Amongst the Royal Guards, Menthuthuyoupi was the one who stood out the most, being the youngest and least human-like in appearance. His massive physique, characterized by his muscular build and dark red skin tone, set him apart from the others. Loyal and unwavering in his allegiance to King Meruem, Menthuthuyoupi was devoid of emotions or ego, making him both a boon and a challenge due to his straightforward nature. However, during his confrontation with Shoot, Morel, and Knuckle, his character started to develop as a result of the intense emotions their battle provoked within him, eventually leading him to transform into his ‘Rage Incarnate’ form. Unfortunately, he met his end after being poisoned by the ‘Miniature Rose’ from Netero’s sacrifice.

What Does the Selection Process Represent To The Royal Guard?

The Sorting

The Sorting is not just an undertaking but rather a crucial mission for the Royal Guards, hinted as the initial step towards global conquest. This process was intended to be swiftly succeeded by the primary phase, known as the Unification. The Sorting was engineered to breed soldiers who would serve under Meruem and the Royal Guards. It involved altering humans so they could control their Nen aura independently, essentially compelling their Nen to awaken or perish.

In this narrative, characters who make it through a process are encased in a unique cocoon designed by Shaiapouf, transforming them into half-human, half-Chimera Ant beings. The Unification, a crucial stage, necessitates an army of 50,000 hybrid survivors who can use Nen, a powerful energy source. This process takes place within the Royal Palace of East Gorteau, leading to the tragic events orchestrated by Neferpitou and Shaiapouf, amounting to mass genocide. Regrettably, the Unification doesn’t succeed because Meruem harbors doubts and Netero employs a poison from the Poor Man’s Rose.

2024-09-13 00:04