Preparations Underway

PS: I might have to work overtime tomorrow, so I'm updating early!

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"Hundred Ghosts Curse - Rakshasa!" This was the strongest move of Jed, the leader of the Hunter Association's Shadow Clan. It was said to rival the Hunter Association Chairman Netero's "100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva - Ninety-Ninth Hand," and it was his pride and joy. Back in the day, he used this very technique to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Netero, earning them the title of the Hunter Association's Twin Stars.

Sure enough, when Jed unleashed his ultimate attack, the double-chinned, white-faced Evil Spirit manifested behind him changed form. No longer the mascot-like image from before, it began to mutate into something truly demonic. Blue-faced and fang-toothed, its eyes—once narrowed slits—bulged wide as if about to pop out of their sockets. Up close, one could even see the countless bloodshot veins covering its eyeballs.

"This is getting more interesting. This move looks like it might actually make me feel pain. This guy Jed has some skill—no wonder he got his own movie version." Unlike Jed, who was red-faced and straining like he was about to burst a blood vessel, Meruem's expression remained unchanged. He faced his opponent with a calm, amused look, occasionally throwing in a jab. Even though Jed's aura had multiplied several times over with his ultimate move, Meruem still couldn't care less.

It had been said long ago: Meruem was invincible against straightforward, pure enhancement-type attacks. No one could directly harm him head-on. Maybe something on the Dark Continent could, but none of the people here—including Jed—stood a chance. In the original story, the prematurely born Ant King faced Netero, who used his Whole Body Release and still couldn't scratch him. Even the life-risking 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva Zero only managed to graze his skin, not even a light wound. Let alone Meruem in his perfect state now, against Jed, who was inferior to Netero. The only things in the human world that could hurt Meruem were bizarre, special abilities or weapons—like the Zoldyck Family's unknown entity and the Rose Bomb.

"Die, monster! Hundred Ghosts Curse - Rakshasa!" A massive convergence of Resentment Aura, carrying Jed's entire life's martial arts and his grudge against the world. Before such overwhelming energy, Meruem's figure was like a tiny boat tossed on a giant wave, rising and falling but never sinking.

"What immense negative energy. So this is your ultimate move? Hating heaven and earth for their injustice? Hating Netero for his ruthlessness? Hating the world's cold indifference? Using the world's unfairness as a foundation to draw out others' resentment, then invade and control them—or even make their bodies explode if they can't handle the grudge. As long as humans exist, injustice will exist in the world. Unless someone's heart is pure to the extreme, you think you're unbeatable? That's your secret—a technique that feeds on human negative emotions." Only Meruem could remain calm and composed while immersed in such tangible Resentment Aura. These grudges and negative emotions seemed to have no effect on him at all. So the question was: was the person unaffected a saint? Or was Meruem a saint? A joke—how could that be? Calling him a villain was more like it, and Meruem had never thought of himself as a good person. He was just an ordinary guy who wanted to live and live better. So why wasn't Meruem affected by these grudges? Because he was strong enough!

"Is your resentment only this much? So your capacity is just this limited. Survival of the fittest—that's the law of the jungle in this world. Humans are the same. Even if they think of themselves as higher beings with so-called moral principles, there's still a minority dominating the majority. An absolutely fair and just world where everyone is happy and prosperous can never exist. If you want to resent something, resent that you were weaker than Netero back then. The victor is king, the loser a bandit. If you had won, you'd have taken Netero's place. Too bad. Weakness is the original sin." The Nen radiating from Meruem was even more ominous and aggressive than Jed's Resentment Aura. Jed's strongest move, Hundred Ghosts Curse - Rakshasa, was completely ineffective against Meruem.

"Now it's my turn. First, I'll hit your chest!" Meruem pointed a finger at Jed. Before Jed could even process his words, a tearing pain shot through his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of purple blood.

"When did that happen?" When Jed looked back at Meruem, he was no longer in his previous spot but somewhere else entirely. His body and vision couldn't keep up with Meruem's speed at all—just how fast was he?

"Next, your right leg!" Meruem raised a second finger right in front of Jed. This time, Jed stared at him with full concentration, focusing all his aura on his right leg. "Ken"—an advanced application of Nen.

But...

"How is that possible?" He had been watching him intently, had used all his Ken to guard his right leg. Yet somehow, Jed's right leg was broken. It happened so fast that even his pain receptors hadn't reacted in time. Or was it his opponent's ability? The thought crept into Jed's mind.

He couldn't help it. Once upon a time, Jed had stood at the top of this world. Even if he lost, it shouldn't have been this thorough. It was like a child facing the world boxing champion—utterly powerless. And Meruem hadn't even shown his Nen ability yet. Maybe this was it—an Emission-type Nen user's ability! Whenever someone failed, they'd find an excuse to comfort themselves the next time they failed, especially when facing despair with no hope at all. Even if it was just self-deception. Over time, the brain would selectively forget the memories it least wanted to recall. That self-deceiving excuse would become the "reality" they believed in.

"I concede." Though unwilling, Jed knew he couldn't defeat the monster before him. His strongest move was a joke in front of him. His proud martial arts had been shattered. The main thing was, his opponent's ability was just too bizarre. He hadn't lost unfairly. But next time, if he could find the weakness in that move, he'd definitely win—Jed comforted himself with that thought.

"Tell me, what do you want me to do? How do I get you to let me go?" Jed wasn't someone who couldn't take a loss, and he didn't want to die yet. He still had unfinished business. What was a little humiliation? As the leader of the Hunter Association's Shadow Clan, Jed had to be someone who could bend and stretch.

"Help me take out Netero, how about that? As for letting you go—you can leave anytime you agree."

"Wh-what?" Jed's mind went blank. What was this?

"How about it? You've got a grudge against that old man too, right? For certain reasons, it's not convenient for me to act directly against him."

"So you want to use me as a knife?" Jed's face darkened, unreadable. He didn't understand what grudge this monster-like guy had with Netero or why he wanted to kill him. If he acted himself, even if Netero was stronger than before, he'd probably be in deep trouble. But getting revenge on Netero was one of his goals for this revival anyway.

"Exactly." Meruem didn't bother hiding it. Or rather, there was no need—that was exactly what he meant.

"Fine, I agree." By now, Jed's body had mostly recovered. Not fully, but enough for normal movement. After all, Jed wasn't exactly human anymore—his recovery wasn't as good as some Chimera Ants, but it far surpassed ordinary humans. And Meruem hadn't intended to kill him from the start, so he hadn't gone all out. Otherwise, Jed wouldn't have just been injured.

"So, what's your plan?" Meruem grinned with satisfaction at Jed's affirmative answer. If this were the original Ant King, he might never have smiled at anyone except Komugi in his whole life. Too bad this guy was never a serious person.

"That's my business. Just wait for news of Netero's death. And your smile is ugly." Even if he conceded, it didn't mean Jed would submit to Meruem. A man with ambition like Jed—a true schemer—wouldn't bow to anyone easily, even if they were stronger. If he hadn't had ambition back then, he wouldn't have stirred up so much trouble in the Hunter Association that even Netero had to step in and purge the entire Shadow Clan.

"Heh." Meruem didn't care about his attitude. He'd achieved his goal for this trip, and the other guy was just letting off a little steam.

"Purgatory, Evil Spirit, Asura. Let's go." The Dark Shadow Three Giants came to Jed's side. Purgatory, who was completely unharmed, took on the task of supporting Jed.

"Wait." Just as they were about to leave, Meruem suddenly spoke up.

"What? You're going back on your word?" Jed's face turned ugly. Having his life in someone else's hands was infuriating enough to drive him crazy.

"Calm down. Of course, I'm not going back on my word. I have three subordinates here—not very strong, but not weak either. They should be able to help you. If you want to take revenge on Netero, relying on just these three of yours probably won't cut it. Remember, Netero has many Star Hunters under him, and even an organization called the Zodiac Twelve. You've heard of Botobai Gigante, right? He's one of the Zodiac Twelve now." The Botobai Gigante Meruem mentioned was the Dragon of the Zodiac Twelve, known as the strongest in both power and reputation, closest to Netero. Both the Hunter Association's Zodiac Twelve and the Chimera Ant's Anbu Twelve Stars used the twelve zodiac animals as code names. Maybe a fight between them was inevitable.

Jed listened expressionlessly to Meruem's explanation. His eyes flickered slightly at the name Botobai Gigante. Then he looked at his three subordinates, then at the three Squad Leaders Meruem pointed to.

"Fine."