Jed vs. Meruem

PS: It was a holiday, so here's an extra chapter~

"ORA ORA ORA ORA!" Under Shen Hou's storm-like barrage of fists, Evil Spirit, one of the Dark Shadow Three Giants, finally fell unwillingly. It wasn't because Shen Hou was stronger than Evil Spirit, but because Shen Hou's stamina utterly surpassed his. The Resentment Power Jed had bestowed was powerful, but it consumed far too much stamina. After Asura, Evil Spirit was Jed's second subordinate to be defeated. As for Wei Yang and Purgatory's side... ahem, let's not concern ourselves with them for now.

"Oh? Looks like I'll have to take matters into my own hands." Jed flung off the cloak draped over him, revealing extravagant clothing resembling formal wear.

"Heh!" Layers upon layers of ominous blue energy visibly erupted from Jed's body, much like a Super Saiyan powering up. Except Super Saiyans erupted with golden energy, while Jed erupted with blue Resentment Aura. The enormous aura surged toward the Anbu Twelve Stars like a tsunami. Some of the weaker members even had to raise both hands just to barely withstand the relentless waves of powerful air pressure.

"So strong." Chou Niu struggled to force out those two words. They had only ever felt such terrifying pressure from the King and the Royal Guards.

Jed gave the Twelve Stars a light wave of his hand, and a violent hurricane mixed with terrifying Resentment Aura swept out like a typhoon. The Twelve Stars could only hold on desperately, like saplings being blown crooked in a storm. With a casual gesture, Jed had rendered the Twelve Stars completely unable to resist.

"Yo, looks like I arrived at just the right time." At that moment, a familiar voice that brought tears to the eyes of the Twelve Stars rang out beside them. The typhoon-like Resentment Aura also vanished in an instant.

"King, you finally came."

A strange hole suddenly appeared in the empty sky, and a handsome green figure stepped out. Behind him followed three monsters radiating immense Nen: the Squad Leaders Zazan, Gudo, and Aureole, whose Nen had surged after taking the Golden Silkworm Gu and who were temporarily unable to properly suppress it.

"You stopped my Resentment Aura so easily. It seems you're quite impressive. Could you be the King they mentioned?" Jed still maintained his earlier hand-waving motion, except no massive eruption of Resentment Aura followed it now. From his words, it was clear that Meruem had blocked his aura. However, veins began bulging on Jed's forehead. It seemed he was secretly exerting more force as well. This was a contest of strength between leaders.

"King..." Chou Niu spoke uneasily. Meruem's previous order had been to follow them and not act rashly, but due to their insufficient tracking methods and experience, they had been exposed early and even fought the enemy. Had Meruem not arrived in time, six members of the Anbu Twelve Stars might have been left here for good.

"You did well. Fall back for now."

"Yes." The Twelve Stars all let out a sigh of relief. They had made it through. Although Meruem rarely punished his subordinates and was easy to talk to, the gap in strength was simply absurd. They always felt inexplicable pressure when facing Meruem, especially after botching a job like this.

"Though my subordinates may be inadequate, as their King, I can't let them be bullied like this." Meruem's expression remained unchanged. He could still chat calmly with his subordinates, showing that Jed's continued increase in pressure had placed no additional burden on him.

"King, please wait a moment. Why not let us Squad Leaders handle this unreasonable fellow for you?" Zazan, who stood beside Meruem, spoke ingratiatingly. After realizing the absolute gap in strength, the three Squad Leaders decisively abandoned all dignity and began eagerly currying favor with Meruem. However, Meruem had little interest in dealing with three people whose loyalty was nearly nonexistent. That only made them try even harder.

"There's no need. The three of you are no match for him." Meruem stated it calmly, merely speaking the truth. Though their strength had increased greatly, the man before them was someone capable of exchanging ultimate moves with Netero. In his younger years, Jed had even fought Netero to several draws. If the three of them joined forces from the start and gave it everything they had, they might have a faint sliver of hope. But if they maintained this inexplicable arrogance brought on by their increased strength, they would die horribly. Hundred Ghosts Curse - Rakshasa, an ultimate move said to rival the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, was no empty claim.

"You talk as if them not being my match means you are." Anger flashed through Jed's black-and-gold eyes. This was the first person who had ever disregarded him so completely. Even Netero had treated him with utmost caution and never dared let down his guard. Yet this man had repeatedly distracted himself by talking to his subordinates. Did he not know how exposed he was at this moment? This should have been the perfect opportunity to attack, but Jed did not dare act rashly. His instincts told him that if he attacked, he would lose. That inexplicable sense of frustration left him deeply agitated.

"You can try." Meruem gave Jed a calm, provocative glance.

"Tell me, what do you want from me?" Jed forcefully suppressed the rage in his heart.

"Oh, I came to ask you to do something for me."

"Hmph. Why should I help you?"

"Because I'm stronger than you."

"Heh heh heh... very well. If you want to fight, then I'll fight!" Jed laughed in extreme anger. Meruem's tone, as though he were simply stating a fact, pushed Jed to the brink of eruption. Even Buddha had some anger in him, let alone Jed—the leader of the Shadow Clan and a man renowned alongside Hunter Association Chairman Netero.

"Sure, but if I win, you'll do something for me."

"Fine, but only if you can defeat me! If you lose, you'll die!"

"Oh? Don't worry. I won't kill you if you lose." Meruem spoke with complete seriousness. What he said was indeed true, but the person whom he had already decided would lose clearly did not see it that way.

"Die!" Jed answered Meruem with an enraged Iron Fist infused with Resentment Power. Though it appeared to be nothing more than a simple punch, as a martial artist, every one of Jed's moves contained his understanding of martial arts. So-called techniques were often overly complicated and less useful than a straightforward punch or flying kick. Moreover, the speed of this seemingly simple Iron Fist had already surpassed ten times the speed of sound. Even Cheetu, using Nen at full power, might not have been able to evade it.

Unfortunately, his opponent was Meruem, who stood at the pinnacle of physical strength.

"Impossible!" His full-power Sure-Kill Strike had been caught effortlessly by the other man's right hand. Even the Resentment Power covering his fist was crushed apart by Meruem and dissipated into the air. Most importantly, Jed could not pull his fist free from Meruem's grasp. Not only could Meruem catch his full-power attack, but he could also perfectly destroy his supposedly invincible resentment ability. Even Netero could not accomplish something like this. When had such a powerful expert appeared in this world? He made it look so effortless, like some kind of monster. In truth, forget Jed—even Netero would have only one outcome if Meruem caught his fist: it would be crushed.

"Hmph. Jed, leader of the Hunter Association's Anbu and the Shadow Clan—using anything less than your strongest move against me? It seems you still look down on me." Meruem released Jed's fist, which had already been squeezed purple. To be honest, in a straightforward fight of Enhancement Type or physical strength, Meruem no longer feared anyone in the Hunter World. This was especially true after he obtained Chairman Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. At this point, Meruem stood at the very pinnacle of physical strength. But that was not enough for him. His goal was to stand at the pinnacle of martial arts in this world as well.

With Meruem's learning ability, as long as he watched someone's martial arts once, he could perfectly replicate them. If he obtained a part of that person as well, he only needed a few days to perfectly integrate their martial arts into his own. That was Meruem's most terrifying aspect: an invincible body and horrifying learning ability. The potential for limitless evolution, the absolute ability to grow stronger against stronger opponents.

To Nen Users without bizarre abilities, Meruem was an unsolvable existence. Otherwise, why did Jed manage to last this long? If Jed had not still been useful to Meruem, and if Meruem had not wanted to take Jed's martial arts, he would have blasted him into scraps long ago.

"It seems you know quite a lot about me. Just who are you?" Do I have no choice but to use my strongest move? He hasn't used any techniques at all, yet his simple defense has forced me to go all out? I'm so unwilling... truly unwilling! I hate this! I hate it!

"What, did my incompetent subordinates not introduce themselves? Fine. I am Meruem, King of the Chimera Ants from the Dark Continent. Hurry up and surrender. I'm very busy." The total amount of that strange resentment ability around him had increased? He had probably felt unwilling just now—or perhaps hatred? Hatred? Resentment? It seemed this man's ability really was connected to his resentment. In other words, did this school grow stronger according to its user's emotions? It was possible. It certainly could not rely on resentment alone. Jed had not possessed such immense resentment in his youth, yet he had been able to match Netero of the Heart Source Style. That showed how powerful this school was. Furthermore, since he could be friends with Netero, the grandmaster of the orthodox and peaceful Heart Source Style, this school did not seem to be an evil path. Combined with what Netero had said in the Movie Version, it appeared Jed had taken the demonic path of his school. Or, in simpler terms, Jed had gone mad and entered the Demonic Path.

"Chimera Ants? Never heard of them. But since you're so confident, do you dare take my strongest move?" Jed had already become crazed and subconsciously ignored the crucial point Meruem mentioned. As the Hunter Association's Anbu, how could the Shadow Clan possibly not know the name of the Dark Continent?

They had clearly exchanged only one move, so why had Jed been driven to such a state? Could the Hunter Association's Anbu really be so weak? No. From the moment Meruem arrived to the moment he exchanged moves with Jed, the two had already clashed many times in secret. Yet Jed had been defeated every time by an overwhelming advantage. Coupled with the instinctive feeling that he would lose the moment he attacked, Jed, already driven mad after going astray, entered a crazed state ahead of time.

"Looks like you're finally going to use that move. Let me crush the pride you hold so dear."

"Arrogant!"