Jed vs. Meruem II

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"Hyakki Jyuon!" Jed, leader of the Hunter Anbu Dark Shadow, finally erupted. This was a powerful technique on par with Chairman Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, the ultimate manifestation of an Enhancement Type Nen User's strength. As the Resentment surrounding Jed intensified, a monster appeared before everyone: a Japanese Ogre with horns on its head, dressed in a kimono, with a deathly pale face and a double chin. Its overwhelming aura was plain for all to see. The three Squad Leaders were instantly scared stupid.

They had actually suggested fighting someone on this level? Were they volunteering to be slaughtered? Or volunteering to be slaughtered?

Since when had there been so many human experts? Netero, who could slaughter Squad Leaders without breaking a sweat, was already bad enough. Now another Jed had popped up, someone not much weaker than him? Were they brothers or something? The thoughts of the three Squad Leaders stampeded like ten thousand alpacas. They had thought their strength had risen greatly; while they might not have been invincible, they could at least claim a mountain and rule it. Who would have thought that, after casually running into someone alongside the King, they would encounter an enemy at this terrifying level? No wonder the King said they could not win. He was right. If they really fought, they might very well die.

"What an interesting ability." Meruem remained extremely calm, merely studying the Evil Spirit manifested by Jed's Hyakki Jyuon with mild curiosity. In the Movie Version, this thing's arms could stretch out to attack, and it apparently came with an AT Field as well. Still, why did it look more and more like a cheap imitation of the 100-Type Guanyin? Was that just an illusion?

"There's an opening! Hundred Ghosts Curse - Destruction!" A flash of delight passed through Jed's black-and-gold eyes. He naturally assumed Meruem had been stunned by his Hyakki Jyuon. So what if the opponent's body was powerful? So what if he had investigated Jed beforehand? Hyakki Jyuon was not something mere words could convey. Battles between Nen Users were never absolute, nor did they follow some rigid logic where greater strength and speed automatically meant victory. Ability, intelligence, power, and experience—none could be lacking! The gigantic Evil Spirit spewed a Destruction Cannon as powerful as a Kamehameha from its mouth. It struck Meruem, who was still standing in place, head-on.

"Even if he doesn't die, he'll lose a layer of skin. Looking around during a fight... but I won't let this chance slip away. Your life is mine, Jed's, now. Die!" Jed finally smiled after seeing Meruem take that devastating attack directly. Yet he had no intention of letting Meruem go. He knew full well that while the previous blow was powerful, it was not lethal enough to kill his opponent instantly—especially not an opponent on Meruem's level. Still, he had great confidence in that move. Even if Meruem survived by luck, he would certainly be severely wounded. Strike while he was sick and take his life! A real battle did not care about some so-called one-on-one Knightly Spirit, taking turns trading moves. Only idiots, or people trying too hard to look cool, did that. Turning the tables while low on health and pressing the advantage without missing any opportunity—that was what a true powerhouse did.

Thus, Jed's Hyakki Jyuon began launching a storm-like barrage at Meruem's position.

"W-What terrifying power... Do you think the King might have been killed?" Gudo swallowed with difficulty as he looked at the Japanese Ogre in the sky. The moment Jed had unleashed Hyakki Jyuon, the three of them had fled far away. It was not that they were cowards; they simply did not want to get caught in the clash between these two gods. If they were grazed even once, they would probably be bedridden for half a month.

"Although this man is very strong, I don't think he can defeat the King. The final victor should be the King." Aureole was calmer than Gudo.

"Not should be—definitely will be. You two idiots, think carefully about the power the King displayed before, that power like a demon god's." Zazan had immense confidence in Meruem. She recalled the Nen Meruem had released when he disciplined them in the royal palace. This man called Jed was indeed powerful, powerful enough that the three of them might not be able to defeat him even together. But he still fell short of the power the King had shown then. Against Jed, the three of them might still have had a sliver of hope if they joined forces. But against Meruem, even if their combined strength increased several times over, they would not have the slightest chance.

Yet even a King of that level did not dare call himself the strongest in the world. Just how terrifying was this world?

"That's right. The King will definitely defeat this guy. Anbu Twelve Stars—Chou Niu pays his respects to the three esteemed Squad Leaders." A member of the Anbu Twelve Stars stood not far from them. Wei Yang and Purgatory's battle had already been interrupted when Meruem appeared. Meanwhile, the Dark Shadow Three Giants had hidden on the other side of the group. They were weaker than the Chimera Ant army and had no desire to be quietly killed by Chimera Ants while watching the battle.

"Mm." They gave only a simple response to Chou Niu. "Do you need something? If not, move aside. Don't block our view."

The three of them did not think much of these Squad Captains, especially the so-called Anbu Twelve Stars. Before they had grown stronger, they had been taught a lesson by one of the Anbu Twelve Stars. That was hardly a pleasant memory. If not for the fact that these people were Meruem's subordinates, the three might have already acted and killed them. Giving a response at all was already a great concession for Meruem's sake.

But while they saw it that way, the others did not. Even Squad Leaders should not be this arrogant. The expressions of the other Anbu Twelve Stars darkened as they looked at the trio with hostility. The twelve members of the Anbu Twelve Stars shared glory and disgrace alike. Even Chou Niu, who had originally come over to greet them and build rapport, did not look pleased. Even honest people could only be pushed so far.

Several of them were already showing signs of wanting to make a move, but Chou Niu stopped them with a glance. These three were still useful to the King, and besides, they could not defeat them right now. Chou Niu communicated telepathically with the other Anbu Twelve Stars. Though really, that last part was the key point.

"Everyone, endure it for now. Don't worry. Those three won't live much longer," Chou Niu said with great certainty through their telepathic discussion. As members of the Anbu Twelve Stars, the elite among the Anbu whom Ant King Meruem trusted most aside from the Royal Guards, they knew many things the other Chimera Ants did not. To be honest, Meruem had never trusted the Squad Leaders completely. Even among the Squad Leaders who had followed him from the start, he only trusted Sky General Lei Zhenzi, Kolt, and Cheetu, Chief of the Reconnaissance Corps. He trusted Kolt because Meruem had shown him great kindness, and because of Raira. Squad Leaders with Bonds were the easiest to control. As for Cheetu, he was simply too innocent—so innocent he barely seemed like a Squad Leader. People like that were easy to control as well.

Aside from those two, Meruem did not fully trust even Ace, the mantis-man head of the Anbu. On the contrary, many Squad Captains had earned Meruem's trust. Squad Captains were inherently weaker than Squad Leaders and, unlike certain scheming Squad Leaders, were easier to control. The Anbu Twelve Stars were the elite among the Squad Captains Meruem had spent a great deal of time training. Even against some powerful Squad Leaders, the twelve of them could hold their own. Their loyalty to Meruem was also the highest aside from the Royal Guards. Meruem entrusted many matters to the Anbu Twelve Stars, so they knew more than the other Chimera Ants.

At that moment, Jed's offensive gradually eased. The enormous double-chinned Evil Spirit behind him withdrew its two sharp claws. It split its mouth in a grin, revealing two long fangs. The Evil Spirit was smiling, though its already small eyes became mere slits when it smiled. Without the fangs in its mouth and the horns on its head, it would have looked less like a terrifying hundred-ghost monster and more like a Feminized Maitreya Buddha—ugly in a strangely cute way.

"Hmph. As expected, I'm the strongest. Netero, you're next!" Jed spun around coolly and prepared to leave without looking back. I believe no one could possibly survive that frenzied assault.

"Hey, where do you think you're going? Is that it?" Before Jed could take two steps, a cold voice sounded behind him. Sure enough, villains could never stay cool for more than three seconds. And after acting so certain of victory, he had made a complete fool of himself.

"Nani? Masaka? Bakana!" Jed turned around with difficulty. Once the dust kicked up by Hyakki Jyuon's assault dispersed, he saw that the area within a mile of the attack site had been reduced to ruins. Yet there was one patch of ground less than a meter wide that remained completely intact—and the person standing on it was unharmed as well. Aside from somewhat dirty and disheveled clothes, he did not have a single wound. What kind of defense was this? Forget Jed—even Netero, after using the life-sacrificing 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva Zero, had only managed to scratch Meruem's skin. And that had been the prematurely born, imperfect Ant King from the original story. The current Meruem was a product that had reached the finest standard in every aspect. Although he could still grow stronger, he was already extremely close to perfection overall. How could he possibly be hurt by Hyakki Jyuon, a technique that had been defeated by Netero's 100-Type Guanyin? It was impossible. As he had said before, Meruem feared no one in a purely head-on fight. Especially after absorbing Netero's flesh and blood and incorporating Netero's 100-Type Guanyin into his own martial arts, Meruem would not even have been hit if he had not wanted to absorb the essence of Jed's Hyakki Jyuon.

"Hey, esteemed Jed-sama, use every trick you have left." After enduring Jed's Hyakki Jyuon attack, Meruem had basically fully grasped the essence of the move. Now, all he lacked was Hyakki Jyuon's strongest technique, Hundred Ghosts Curse - Rakshasa. Once he obtained some of Jed's flesh and blood, it would not take long to master everything completely. Overall, this was a terrifying technique no less formidable than the 100-Type Guanyin. As for why it lost, that could only be blamed on the person using it.

"Damn it! You forced me to do this! I had planned to save this move for Netero. You should feel honored to die beneath it." Finally faced with the flawless Meruem, Jed was left with no choice but to use the strongest move of his life: Hundred Ghosts Curse - Rakshasa!