At this moment, Shizuku and Bisky abandoned their usual laid-back attitude and became serious.
Although they continued their routine inside the house, the atmosphere had changed entirely.
"Alright, let's begin~"
In a small room, the moment Ronnel gently closed the door, his eyelids drooped. He stretched his arms out and collapsed onto the bed in a starfish position, making no effort to move.
Faint energy and aura started flowing throughout his body, both inside and out.
His retreat had begun.
...
While Morel and Ronnel were occupied with their own training, on the other side of the world—
The Ant King, Meruem, arrived in the Republic of East Gorteau, accompanied by his three Royal Guards.
From the mouths of captured civilians, they learned the location of the royal palace. Soon, they stood before the grand structure, a stark contrast to the surrounding desolate landscape.
Smack!
Without Meruem needing to lift a finger, his three Royal Guards effortlessly eliminated the kingdom's army blocking their path.
At that moment, in the deepest part of the palace, the gluttonous Supreme Leader, Ming Jol-ik, clapped his chubby hands in delight, enjoying the performance of several elegant dancers.
"Huh? Intruders? Just get rid of them. Why bother me with something so trivial? I have more important things to do!"
The stand-in dictator, Ming Jol-ik, barked impatiently into the phone before slamming it down on the table, irritated by the interruption.
"Alright, let's continue."
The moment he hung up, his expression shifted to one of warmth as he addressed the dancers on stage.
The lively and joyous atmosphere returned to the grand hall. Ming Jol-ik's mood lifted once more, completely oblivious to the fact that Meruem was steadily making his way to the palace's heart.
For the first time since his birth, Meruem had encountered a human whose taste he had been longing to savor once again.
"I don't know which nation's army you belong to," said a muscular man wearing a beret, standing at the forefront of the Kingdom's Guard. He rolled up his sleeves, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"But since you've dared to break into the palace, don't think you'll die an easy death!"
As he spoke, pure aura surged around his body.
But in terms of strength, he wasn't even a true master.
Yet, among East Gorteau's forces, he was considered the strongest—a dictator's most trusted general, handpicked by Ming Jol-ik himself.
Still, he was nothing more than a fleeting amusement for the Ant King.
"An extraordinary human," Meruem murmured, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he assessed his opponent's aura.
"Truly... appetizing."
Smack!
With a casual flick of his tail, the squint-eyed general and all the surrounding soldiers were wiped out in an instant.
Then, the Ant King began his feast.
"Hahaha! Yes! This is it! This is the taste!"
Meruem's teeth were stained with fresh blood as he clenched his fists, slowly rising to his feet.
As he stood, a surge of overwhelming energy erupted from his body.
"It's happening... it's happening... it's coming out! Hahaha! My entire being is brimming with power!"
The sight made the three Royal Guards behind him widen their eyes in astonishment. Neferpitou's pupils trembled as realization dawned.
"So that's it, meow... this is the King's ability! By consuming special humans, he can convert their aura into his own!"
"That means... the more he eats, the stronger he becomes!"
For the first time, the true ability of the Ant King was unveiled.
However, this would also be the second-to-last time he displayed his terrifying power. The squint-eyed general would be the first and last Nen user he ever consumed.
The final time Meruem would activate his ability was after being brought to the brink of death by Netero's Rose bomb—when he was revived by absorbing the bodies of Shaiapouf and Menthuthuyoupi.
At that moment, his ability would be revealed in full: not only could he absorb life force to increase his aura, but he could also inherit the Nen abilities of those he devoured.
By consuming the flesh and blood of a Nen user, Meruem could strengthen himself and acquire their abilities.
This was the true nature of the Ant King's terrifying power.
And this did not apply only to humans. Whether it was Chimera Ants or beasts, as long as the creature had activated its Aura Nodes, Meruem could absorb its abilities.
The last time he used this ability was after consuming parts of Shaiapouf and Youpi. Upon rebirth, he gained enhanced versions of their Nen abilities, grew wings, and became the ultimate life form—the strongest single combatant in existence.
Had Netero not chosen to self-destruct, but instead had been devoured by Meruem... even Ronnel, in his prime, might not have stood a chance in a direct confrontation.
He would have had to rely on strategy to eliminate Meruem through indirect means. A head-on fight? The odds of victory would have been slim.
But for now, neither the Ant King nor his three Royal Guards realized the full extent of his ability.
Having finished his meal, the four Chimera Ants continued deeper into the palace without obstruction.
"Hahaha!"
On stage, the dancers concluded their performance by forming a heart shape with golden ribbons, earning cheers and applause from Ming Jol-ik's entourage.
Click.
Just as the Supreme Leader was about to demand an encore, the grand doors suddenly swung open.
"Huh? Who the hell are you?!"
Ming Jol-ik's mood soured instantly at the sight of the intruders.
"Guards!"
He called out several times, but no one responded. Annoyed, he slammed the table in frustration.
"Where the hell is everyone?!"
As the dictator fumed, Meruem observed him in silence.
"Pathetic. I sense nothing from this man."
His gaze was calm but tinged with confusion.
How could such a worthless human rule over those special individuals with such unique aura?
"Stop right there, you insane fools!"
Still oblivious to the danger before him, the spoiled dictator, having been numbed by years of unchecked power, launched into a furious tirade.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)