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The World around them contracted, converging on Mika's outstretched hand.
Mika closed his fist—crushing the pocket dimension—and they returned to the forest, the three Royal Guards watching them warily.
"Well, since I won—the King is my prey," Mika said to Netero, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
"Honestly, with your abilities, you could find any number of opponents—Why steal mine?" Netero's voice was filled with mock disappointment.
Netero had been looking forward to battling Meruem.
"I'm not sharing," Mika replied firmly.
He had wanted to fight the Chimera Ant King ever since arriving in this world.
Meruem had initially been his target for achieving the Level 6 Great Feat.
And while he had ultimately chosen a different path—his desire to face the King hadn't diminished—even though Meruem was no longer a challenge for him.
"Fine." Netero, seeing Mika's resolve, didn't argue.
While Netero wasn't averse to bending the rules, he knew he couldn't force Mika to change his mind. He turned his attention to the three Royal Guards—sensing their apprehension—their confusion and unwavering loyalty.
They had likely been startled by his and Mika's sudden disappearance and reappearance. After all, they were newly born—their Nen abilities still developing.
———
"Since I can't fight the King, then I'll take these three," Netero said with a grin, stroking his beard. "While they're not as strong as the King, three opponents should provide—adequate entertainment."
"Very well." Mika smiled; he was glad Netero wasn't fixated on Meruem. He sat down, engaging Netero in casual conversation while they waited for the King's birth.
Netero, having assessed the situation, found a location with a signal and contacted the Hunter Association, informing them that the situation was under control and that they didn't require any further assistance.
Netero would handle it personally.
The Association, relieved to hear this, trusted his judgment implicitly. After all, according to their intel, the Chimera Ants were dangerous creatures from the Dark Continent, a place to be feared.
Furthermore, the Chimera Ants' ability to absorb and combine the traits of those they consumed made them incredibly dangerous.
Kite's report had alarmed them—
And Netero's assurance calmed their fears. His authority within the Association was absolute—Even if there were any objections, they would be overruled.
———
After their duel, they waited.
Perhaps sensing the pressure of their presence—Meruem's birth was delayed. The Royal Guards brought back all the corpses Mika had created—providing the Queen with additional nourishment.
Normally, a Chimera Ant Queen—after giving birth to a King—would immediately begin producing another. However, this time, she focused all her energy on a single offspring, pouring all her hopes and dreams into creating the Strongest King—one capable of defeating Mika—of ensuring the Chimera Ants' survival.
"I don't mind. In fact this is precisely what I was hoping for. A weaker opponent wouldn't be as…entertaining," Mika said, his hand resting on his chin as he watched the Queen's cave.
He wasn't concerned about Meruem's strength; He simply wanted to fight him.
In fact, at this point, the Enhanced Meruem might not even be as strong as the rejuvenated Netero, whose strength had returned to its peak.
Netero's Nen ability—100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva—was, after all, a manifestation of his martial arts mastery.
His breakthrough had Enhanced not only his physical abilities but also his Nen.
Netero was arguably the strongest in the Hunter x Hunter world now, even stronger than Meruem, whose power, while immense, was still raw.
Against someone like Netero, he would be like a child playing with a toy.
If the King's opponent in the original story had been Ging Freecs, in his prime, instead of the aging Netero, Meruem wouldn't have stood a chance.
Of course, this referred to the newly born Meruem—Given his incredible learning ability, if allowed to study and master Nen—his growth would be unmatched.
However, he had no such future.
Unlike other species, Chimera Ants were born with mature minds.
To Meruem—humans were merely food.
No amount of knowledge or interaction could change that fundamental perception—He was humanity's enemy, even though he would eventually develop a fondness for a human girl.
Otherwise, Mika might have considered recruiting him, nurturing his immense potential.
———
"It seems he's about to be born," Mika said, sensing the fluctuations in Nen emanating from the cave.
"Then it's time for our fight," Netero replied with a grin, standing up and stretching.
The three Royal Guards, sensing the King's imminent birth, tensed, their gazes fixed on Mika and Netero, their auras radiating a silent challenge, despite Mika's earlier promise not to interfere before the King's birth.
"Don't worry," Mika said, waving at them dismissively. "We won't be fighting here. I'll give you three days for your King to acclimate himself to this world, to learn about combat. A completely one-sided battle wouldn't be entertaining."
"However, you only have three days. The clock starts ticking the moment he's born."
———
Unlike in the original story, where he had been born prematurely through a forced Cesarean section, this Meruem was born and brought into the world naturally.
He was aware of the world outside, the threats that awaited him.
Even before his birth, the Royal Guards had begun teaching him about Nen, which he eagerly absorbed. He had sensed the danger emanating from Mika.
Unlike his counterpart in the original story, who, due to his overwhelming power, hadn't bothered mastering Nen, focusing instead on acquiring human knowledge—this Meruem, facing a far greater threat—prioritized developing his Nen abilities.
He also possessed an incredible learning ability, quickly mastering any skill he set his mind to.
This was how he had learned to play Gungi in the original story, even developing a fondness for the human girl who taught him.
But now, under Mika's pressure, he dedicated all his energy to mastering Nen, deliberately prolonging his time within the womb.
———
The Queen, sensing his intentions, endured the increasing pain and discomfort—giving him as much time as possible to prepare, until, finally, unable to bear it any longer, she perished, her body torn apart from within by her rapidly growing child.
"You must win, Meruem," The Queen whispered, her final words a mother's love and hope.
It was a cruel twist of fate.
In the original story, she had been ripped open by her impatient son, her internal organs damaged beyond repair.
Meruem hadn't even looked at her, learning her name only from Netero.
Now, she had died giving him life, sacrificing herself to give him time to prepare. But this time, she had been able to share her love, her hopes, and even his name, a small comfort.
He gazed at her remains for a moment, then sat down and began to eat.
Thanks to his prior training, he already understood his innate Nen ability:
Aura Synthesis.
By consuming the flesh and blood of Nen users, he could absorb their aura, increasing his own power and even acquiring their abilities.
And the cave was filled with such nourishment: The corpses of the Chimera Ant soldiers and Squadron Leaders.
Even before Neferpitou's birth, the Chimera Ants had encountered and begun to learn Nen. Therefore, every squadron leader was a Nen user, and a small portion of the soldiers as well.
The Queen, sensing the potent energy within their flesh, had saved a portion of each Nen user's body for her King. And now, it served as his first meal.
As he devoured them, his power grew rapidly...
———
"Yes, that's it—This is the opponent I've been waiting for." Mika smiled, sensing Meruem's growing power.
He had deliberately created a stronger King.
While the original Meruem, upon birth, had possessed physical abilities and a life force comparable to a Level 6 adventurer, this Meruem was closer to Level 7.
After all, he had been nurtured by the Queen, who, knowing Mika's threat, had poured all her energy into creating her Strongest offspring.
While the original Meruem had also been the "Strongest," it was a different kind of strength, born from the Queen's adaptation to the human world's abundant resources.
This Meruem was born of necessity... of survival!
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