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Thanks to his diverse array of Nen abilities, Meruem had initially gained the upper hand against Mika.
As Mika himself had noted—different Nen abilities, used in combination, could be incredibly effective—far greater than the sum of their individual parts.
And Meruem, with his exceptional learning ability, could wield these powers with surprising skill, his strength amplified several fold.
By avoiding close combat—Meruem had managed to seize the advantage.
However, this advantage wouldn't last.
His opponent, after all, was Mika, a seasoned warrior, a veteran of countless battles. This fight, limited to Nen—was a true test of Mika's strategic thinking—a challenge he had anticipated.
Therefore, from the very beginning, he had been analyzing Meruem's Nen abilities, observing their properties, limitations, range, and special effects, gathering information.
He gradually began to understand Meruem's strategy.
As a genius with intellect far surpassing that of ordinary humans, Meruem had quickly realized that versatility, while advantageous, also had its drawbacks.
Possessing such a vast array of Nen abilities, he had to make choices. After all, while his unique ability—Aura Synthesis—enhanced the powers he absorbed, the overall amplification was limited.
Therefore, he had chosen a few abilities with the greatest potential and focused on developing them, supplementing them with other—more situational powers, leaving the rest at their basic level.
This was how he had been able to counter Mika's attacks so effectively, turning defense into offense.
However, this strategy, while effective, had a crucial flaw: Predictability.
Most Nen users, limited by their talent and mental capacity, only developed a few abilities.
Some, like Netero, even specialized in a single, incredibly powerful technique.
Others, like Hisoka, developed two or three complementary abilities for combination attacks. This was the norm.
Few possessed more than three, unless they had unique circumstances, like Chrollo Lucilfer, whose—Bandit's Secret allowed him to steal other Nen users' abilities, or Meruem, with his Aura Synthesis.
Therefore, most Nen users focused on mastering their few abilities, exploring their full potential and eliminating any weaknesses.
Hisoka, for instance, despite his simple Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise abilities, could achieve a surprising variety of effects through his cunning and ingenuity.
However, Meruem, with his vast array of powers, couldn't afford such versatility. To effectively utilize them in combat, he had to standardize his approach.
This allowed him to quickly select the optimal counter to Mika's attacks.
It was his most effective strategy. But it was also his undoing.
Once Mika understood his patterns, his reliance on optimal solutions, he could anticipate Meruem's every move.
After all, those "optimal" solutions were predictable. And knowing which ability Meruem would use allowed Mika to counter it. Like Meruem, Mika, too, possessed numerous Nen abilities. However, unlike Meruem, who had to combine his existing abilities to create specific effects, Mika could simply create the ability he needed.
Their approaches were different, not in terms of inherent superiority, but in how they were used.
In their earlier exchanges, Meruem, on the defensive, had always found a counter to Mika's attacks, regardless of their nature—rendering Mika's versatility useless.
But that wasn't because Meruem was inherently superior. It was because of the circumstances, the nature of their battle.
Versatility, after all, could also be a weakness. Being able to use many different abilities didn't necessarily make one stronger than someone who had mastered a single technique.
Combat was about adapting to the situation. And earlier, the circumstances, and Meruem's strategy, had favored him.
But now, with Mika having seen through his tactics, the advantage had shifted.
By anticipating Meruem's responses, Mika could create identical Nen abilities, neutralizing them upon impact.
This not only put pressure on Meruem mentally but also allowed Mika to subtly set traps—manipulating the battlefield and using Meruem's predictable responses to his advantage, forcing him into those traps.
And once Meruem was trapped, even though he quickly escaped, the momentary lapse in concentration—the disruption to his rhythm, was all Mika needed.
A single, devastating blow, his fist piercing through Meruem's abdomen, creating a gaping wound far larger than his fist, ended the fight.
"That was invigorating—A true test of my strength and intellect. If you had more time to develop your abilities, it would have been a more challenging battle. But I couldn't allow that, could I? After all—your growth comes at the expense of countless lives."
Mika looked down at Meruem's lifeless body.
——
Meruem—the Chimera Ant King—was dead, defeated by Mika.
It wasn't surprising.
Once Mika had decided to eliminate him, his fate was sealed. Just as Meruem, with his immense power, sought to rule the world, viewing humans as mere food, Mika, with his own unique abilities, had the power to decide his fate.
He felt a twinge of regret, a sense of wasted potential. But he wasn't interested in nurturing a monster. Meruem's nature, his disregard for human life, was ingrained in his very being, unchangeable.
"It seems your fight has concluded," Netero said, approaching them with a smile. He had defeated the three Royal Guards before Mika's duel with Meruem ended. Even the original Netero had been more than a match for them, let alone this enhanced version.
"Indeed, it has," Mika replied, his gaze lingering on Meruem's corpse for a moment before turning to Netero. With Meruem's death, his journey in this world was nearing its end.
"Chairman Netero, have you ever considered visiting the Dark Continent?"
"The Dark Continent…? Well, with your power, I imagine it wouldn't be much of a challenge," Netero said, his eyes gleaming with interest at the mention of that mysterious and dangerous land.
The Dark Continent was the true mainland of this world.
The known world, the one inhabited by humans—was merely a small, isolated region, an island on the lake of Mobius, a fraction of the world's true size.
And beyond this "island," lay vast, uncharted territories, teeming with countless unknown and incredibly powerful species.
Even Netero, in his prime, as the world's strongest Nen user, had only explored the fringes of the Dark Continent, never venturing too deep.
According to official records, since the establishment of the V5—one hundred forty-nine humans had journeyed to the Dark Continent—only twenty-eight returning.
While a twenty percent survival rate might not seem that dangerous, those who attempted the journey were among the strongest—most experienced individuals in the world, often traveling in well-equipped teams, prepared for the continent's harsh conditions.
And these were just the recorded expeditions, those that hadn't ventured too deep. The true dangers of the Dark Continent were far greater.
The V5, a coalition of the world's five strongest nations, had been established specifically to manage Dark Continent-related affairs—their primary task being to suppress information about it.
Therefore, unless one was a high-ranking government official or an incredibly powerful Nen user, access to such information was practically impossible.
The V5's strict control stemmed from the continent's incredibly dangerous inhabitants, including the five calamities, each one possessing world-ending potential.
These calamities had been brought to the human world unintentionally, or perhaps forcibly, during expeditions to the Dark Continent. Otherwise, the V5 wouldn't have implemented such strict control measures.
After all, no matter how dangerous a place, as long as they stayed away, it posed no threat to them. The deaths of those driven by curiosity were irrelevant. However, bringing back something dangerous from the Dark Continent was a threat.
This was why the V5's screening process was so rigorous. Without sufficient power, even thinking about visiting the Dark Continent was foolish.
They weren't concerned about Nen users dying there, they were afraid of them returning—bringing back something dangerous.
Therefore, they suppressed all information about it, discouraging anyone from even learning about it. Yet, they still issued permits for expeditions, a seemingly contradictory policy. However, it wasn't truly a contradiction.
There were those who wanted Nen users to explore the Dark Continent: The leaders of the five nations.
They sought the continent's secrets, particularly those related to longevity and even immortality. These weren't mere fantasies but tangible possibilities.
This conflicting agenda was the reason for the V5's existence, its strict control measures preventing even someone like Ging, one of the world's top six Nen users, from obtaining a permit.
Netero, once wary of the Dark Continent, understanding its dangers and discouraging Hunters from venturing there, now saw an opportunity. With Mika's power, exploration was now a possibility. And the unknown, after all, was what truly captivated a Hunter. He wasn't immune to its allure.
"When do you plan to go? Acquiring a permit from the V5 isn't easy."
"I'll be staying here for a while longer, exploring this world, experiencing its unique culture," Mika replied. "As for the permit—I'll find my own way. It shouldn't be a problem."
"Coming from you, those words are quite reassuring," Netero chuckled. After all, Mika could travel between worlds. Such a minor obstacle like a permit wouldn't deter him.
"I'll see you in a few years, then."
"So you've agreed?" Mika asked with a smile.
He knew Netero's son desperately wanted to visit the Dark Continent and was even capable of obtaining a permit. However, Netero, to prevent him from going, had made him promise not to go until after his death.
And he had lived to be one hundred and twenty years old. By now, his son was likely praying for his demise.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss this opportunity!" Netero's eyes gleamed with excitement.
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