Cheadle interviews Beyond in his cell; he predicts the Zodiacs will release him and come along, then declares war on them — and she accepts, on the record. The V5 conclude that co-opting Kakin as a sixth member beats fighting it, while television unveils the Black Whale: 200,000 berths, with Beyond, Nasubi, and all fourteen princes on the maiden voyage. Ging walks into Beyond's lair and calls out Pariston's 5,000 sheltered Chimera Ant soldiers.
- ConversationCanonicalBeyond declares war on the Zodiacs
Interviewed in his cell, Beyond predicts the Zodiacs will end up releasing him and joining his voyage, then formally declares war on them; Cheadle accepts and has the exchange recorded. The plan crystallizes: Beyond travels imprisoned, watched, and released only on-site — while he counts on contacting his companions anyway.
InvolvedBeyond Netero · Cheadle Yorkshire · Mizaistom Nana · Saccho Kobayakawa · Kanzai · GelLocationHunter Association HQ▸Consequences (2)
- The Zodiacs commit to going to the Dark Continent with Beyond
- Saccho volunteers as Beyond's warden
- DecisionCanonicalThe V5 weigh becoming the V6
With only military options left to stop Kakin, the V5 and the International Permit Agency tally the grim ledger — 149 known attempts on the Dark Continent, 28 survivors, 3 reintegrated — and conclude it is better to usher Kakin into the fold as a sixth member and steer the voyage than to fight it.
InvolvedNasubi Hui Guo Rou▸Consequences (2)
- Kakin's voyage moves from rogue act toward sanctioned expedition
- The Hunter Association is slotted in as the trip's chaperone
- RecordCanonicalThe Black Whale is presented to the world
Kakin unveils its transport vessel: the Black Whale, built to carry 200,000 people, first of a planned fleet meant to move a hundred million emigrants in five years. The maiden voyage will carry Beyond Netero, King Nasubi, and his fourteen princes; civilian berths go by lottery.
InvolvedNasubi Hui Guo Rou · Beyond Netero▸Consequences (2)
- The stage of the coming succession war enters the story
- All fourteen princes are committed to the same sealed ship
- ConversationCanonicalGing challenges Pariston in Beyond's lair
Ging walks into the expedition team's hideout and calls Pariston's bluff: if the governments stall, Pariston is ready to unleash 5,000 Chimera Ant soldiers he has been sheltering. Ging announces he will no longer let Pariston do as he pleases — he wants to 'play by himself'.
InvolvedGing Freecss · Pariston Hill▸Consequences (1)
- Ging inserts himself into Beyond's team as Pariston's counterweight
- The Black Whale is presented publicly as the maiden voyage's vessel
- The known world sits inside Lake Mobius, a lake within the Dark Continent
- 149 recorded attempts, 28 survivors, 3 reintegrated — Beyond the only one still alive
- Humanity cannot even cross the Far Ocean Boundary without a Guide summoned by the Gatekeeper
- The V5 move to absorb Kakin and re-form as the V6
- The Zodiacs commit to escorting Beyond — imprisoned, tracked, and released only on-site
- Saccho volunteers as Beyond's warden
- Pariston shelters 5,000 Chimera Ant soldiers as leverage if governments stall
