Korudol stood at the top of the slope, gazing toward the Chimera Ant nest, his expression tinged with concern.
"Korudol, you can use Nen as well, can't you?"
Netero's voice rang out behind him, prompting Korudol to restrain his emotions slightly. He turned around and nodded.
"Then~"
Netero, now back on solid ground, took a slow breath. The muscles in his body twitched, and an overwhelming surge of aura exploded from him in an instant.
"Based on your experience seeing the Ant King up close, I want to hear your unfiltered opinion."
Netero's expression was calm.
"Compared to the Ant King, how do I measure up?"
"As expected, you're incredibly powerful. Your aura, honed through years of training, is like a razor-sharp needle. Even standing nearby, I can feel a faint stinging sensation on my skin."
Feeling the sheer intensity of Netero's aura, Morel and Knov instinctively took a step back.
"I think..."
Korudol alone remained still, though hesitation flickered across his face.
"It would be difficult for you to even land a hit on the King."
Korudol spoke the truth.
"Before you even get the chance, you'll be taken out by the Royal Guards."
The moment the Ant King was born, his presence alone exuded an overwhelming dominance. Though Netero was far from weak, Korudol could immediately judge who held the superior strength.
"Hohohoho! Is that so? That's quite delightful."
Rather than appearing troubled or discouraged by Korudol's assessment, Netero laughed heartily.
"I didn't expect to find myself a challenger at this age~"
He stroked his recently shaven beard, his eyes burning with excitement and unshakable resolve.
A suffocating fighting spirit surged from him, pressing down on Korudol and the others.
But just as quickly as it came, it vanished, leaving Morel and Knov wondering if they'd imagined it.
"Morel, once the medical team and backup squad arrive, if I haven't returned, you and Knov will lead them to the nest with Korudol."
With that, Netero began walking toward the dense forest at the mountain's base.
"What about you? Are you planning to face the King—"
"No, no, no~"
Netero waved a hand dismissively, cutting off Morel's speculation. His back was the only answer they received.
"It's not time yet. I just need to catch up with an old friend."
Not yet? Does that mean the Chairman really intends to fight that monster of a King...?
A heavy silence settled over them.
Meanwhile, ahead of them, Netero's gaze was sharp and unwavering, brimming with clarity and purpose.
"Hmm, all three Royal Guards could kill me? That cat woman and that ant?"
"I haven't even shown my full strength, and they're already writing me off. How many years has it been since I truly fought? Ten? Twenty? Thirty? I almost forgot~"
"Time really does slip away. I have to admit, though—I've gotten old. My power has declined. I might not even be a match for Ronnel anymore. The younger generation is terrifying~"
"But if I were in my prime… No, no need to dwell on that. As for Zeno, he charged far too much just for a little assistance—wasn't even a full confrontation."
"Well, I probably won't have time to spend the money anyway."
"And if the King is truly stronger than I anticipated... Rose? It's not impossible. Hohoho~"
His hearty laughter echoed through the forest, startling flocks of perched sparrows into flight.
...
In the Queen's Chamber
"Oh? That aura... from the old man?"
After firing his last shot, the revolver in Ronnel's palm dissipated into thin air, vanishing like mist.
"Finally getting serious, are you? But with that level of aura... you're still holding back, Chairman."
Ronnel smirked, shifting his gaze toward the chaos around him.
Leol lay sprawled on the floor, eyes wide in shock, already lifeless. Blood pooled beneath his body, oozing from the bullet wound in his forehead.
The chamber was littered with corpses—former Squadron Leaders and Officers who had once stood at Leol's side. Now, only four trembling figures remained.
The surviving Chimera Ants included the blue-shelled lobster Bloster, the chameleon Meleoron (who had previously suffered defeat at the hands of Gon and Killua), the dragonfly-based Flutter, and a small girl dressed in yellow, wearing a pink pudding-shaped hat.
Gone were Gyro, Welfin, and the cold-blooded Alligator who had once been fiercely loyal to the Queen before turning traitor. One by one, Ronnel had gunned them down.
Gyro—once a formidable threat—could no longer so much as twitch.
His Nen ability, Hide and Seek Space, along with its branches, Crossbow Spear, had all been rendered useless.
Hide and Seek Space allowed him to pull enemies into a pocket dimension the size of a baseball field, where they had eight hours to catch him. If they failed, they would be trapped indefinitely—though the true consequences remained unknown.
Crossbow Spear was a combat ability exclusive to his pocket dimension, designed for both ranged and close-quarters attacks.
Both were effortlessly countered by Morel's deep reserves of experience and his Smoke Troops.
Desperate, Gyro had sought out Shaiapouf for help developing a new ability.
But before he even had the chance to use it, he was obliterated from above—courtesy of Silva Zoldyck.
A rather anticlimactic end.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)