Ant King Extermination Battle IV

"What a reckless fool." Silva said.

"Is he that eager to die? This guy's no match for that monster. Still, it's pretty entertaining. Ging, you're missing out by not being here—too bad you can't see this fight." The Bearded Uncle said.

"Letting him test the opponent's strength isn't a bad idea. I hope he can force out some of the monster's tricks. Otherwise, losing a potential ally for nothing would be a real loss for us." Zeno said.

"I admire this spirit of self-challenge. If he survives this, I'll recruit him into my team. This time, I'm determined to uncover the secrets of the Dark Continent." Beyond said.

"I hope this monster doesn't disappoint me. Let me see just how strong you are." The Long-Haired Man said.

"He's dead for sure." Pitou said.

"Hmph, I respect your courage." Meruem stared at the Thick Eyebrows Lovskiy Dragon, knowing full well that the opponent's strength far surpassed his own, yet he still dared to propose a one-on-one duel. He had to admit, this guy was a true martial artist. Even more of a martial artist than Netero—though here, he meant the elderly Chairman Netero. Perhaps they were the same in their youth, but the old Netero had far too many burdens to carry.

"Come on." Meruem crooked his finger at Lovskiy Dragon.

"Take this Iron Fist." At an incredible speed, faster than sound itself. A movement beyond the speed of sound, but unfortunately, against Meruem, mere supersonic speed wasn't enough.

"Smack." The fierce, powerful punch landed squarely on Meruem's forehead, and Meruem made no effort to dodge, taking the blow head-on—a strike that would have been fatal to anyone else.

"Oh? So this is the so-called Iron Fist?" Meruem hadn't moved an inch, and his forehead was as pristine as before, completely unharmed.

From the moment Lovskiy attacked him, he knew that this level of assault couldn't possibly hurt him. These people knew Netero had been killed by him, but they had no idea. Netero had been defeated under his overwhelming power, and Netero had tried everything without managing to injure him. That included Netero's life-risking attack—Zero Hand.

"Show me your real strength. Go all out. If you're still using moves like this, you can't beat me." Meruem stated calmly, speaking a truth others wouldn't believe but was indeed fact.

"Heh, hahaha. It's been a long time since I've met such an arrogant opponent. You're not bad. Looks like probing attacks won't do anything to you. Then I'm coming for real." Beads of sweat appeared on Lovskiy's forehead. That last move might have seemed like a simple strike, but in truth, he'd already used eighty percent of his strength.

Because from the start, he knew he wasn't a match for this opponent. It was an instinct, a martial artist's instinct.

So unlike the usual probing that uses thirty percent and holds back seventy, he'd gone straight in with eighty percent.

By his reasoning, even if the opponent wasn't injured, they'd at least take a small hit. But he never expected the guy to stand still and take the punch without a scratch.

He was talking big, but deep down, he knew that if he didn't use his Nen ability, the result would be the same.

"Hoo." Lovskiy let out a long breath, slowly placing his hands in front of his chest, forming a gesture as if gripping something.

"He's getting serious. Using his signature move this early." Silva said, stroking his smooth chin.

"Is the opponent really that strong? Making Lovskiy pull out his trump card from the start. I hate to admit it, but Lovskiy's strength is no less than mine. Even if I fought him, unless it was an assassination, it'd be a fifty-fifty split."

"I am omnipotent, I am indestructible, I am invincible." Lovskiy chanted a few words as if in prayer, and a thick layer of armor seemed to envelop his body. His muscles began to contract, becoming denser and tougher.

"A body-enhancing technique? For a fighter, most Nen abilities are either techniques or physical enhancements.

So even the strongest in Heaven's Arena can't escape this pattern? Masters like Netero and Jed, who integrate their martial arts into their Nen, are still rare. I really want to face one again."

Meruem ignored Lovskiy's tedious and lengthy enhancement process, wanting only to see how far he could strengthen himself. As for his body rivaling his own?

Unless you're a Saiyan or a member of Frieza's race. And with all this time, anyone else would have already killed him.

"I've fought this guy before. His ability lets him keep strengthening himself during battle, even while being attacked, growing stronger the longer he fights. It just takes a bit longer to complete. But the Ant King isn't attacking him now? Once he finishes enhancing, even I wouldn't dare fight him up close." Silva acted as the commentator, explaining that Lovskiy's ability allowed him to strengthen while fighting.

"I will surely win." After the final prayer, Lovskiy opened his eyes, feeling the power surging through his body. He glanced at Meruem and launched another attack.

"Boring. Is this all you've got?" Meruem's fist met Lovskiy's, passing through as if there were no resistance at all. One of Lovskiy's hands was instantly shattered like tofu.

"Ahhh!!!" With just one exchange, Lovskiy was utterly defeated. Clutching his broken arm, sweat pouring from his forehead in pain, he quickly retreated dozens of meters from Meruem.

"How? How is this possible? With my body strengthened by 'God's Ability,' I can easily shatter steel and diamond. Why, why can you ignore my defense? Damn it, is this your Nen ability?"

Clearly, Lovskiy had mistaken Meruem for a Nen User who could bypass physical defenses and penetrate anything.

But unfortunately, Meruem had simply strengthened his body to the absolute peak of this world. Pure physical domination. Lovskiy was strong, but there was still a huge gap between him and Netero.

"What? Ignoring defense?" Silva was startled. He was mostly a close-range fighter himself. If the opponent could attack while ignoring defense, he'd be at a huge disadvantage in a fight.

"No, I think it's just the monster's pure physical dominance. If that's the case, it's even worse. We can only attack from a distance; if we fight up close, we might die horribly." Zeno, being the seasoned veteran, saw the truth at a glance. But his expression grew darker. This level of physical strength was worse than if the opponent's Nen ability ignored defense. The latter still offered a chance of victory; the former made winning very difficult.

"Still coming?" Ignoring the others, Meruem crooked his finger at Lovskiy. He'd used eighty percent of his strength in that last attack on Lovskiy. Even Netero's body couldn't withstand such a blow.

"Damn it, you think that's enough to defeat Lord Lovskiy? Rapid Regeneration." Layer after layer of Nen covered Lovskiy's broken arm, slowly emitting a white light. With his sharp eyesight, Meruem could clearly see Lovskiy's arm gradually regenerating under the light.

Offense, defense, and healing. That was a pretty good Nen ability. He wondered if there were any other interesting moves. He also wondered what the conditions and vows were. If such a practical Nen ability had no restrictions, Meruem wouldn't believe it.

"Hmph, as long as I'm careful not to fight you head-on and avoid touching your body, you can't use your ability, right?" Lovskiy probed with a few questions. He didn't expect Meruem to answer directly, but if he could trick him into revealing how his Nen ability worked, that would be perfect.

"Can you do it?"

"Try me. I Am Everywhere!" This time, layer after layer of Nen covered Lovskiy's legs.

Lovskiy charged at Meruem again, several times faster than before.

A fierce punch landed on Meruem's body, but Meruem didn't even sway. He immediately swung a fist back at Lovskiy.

But this time, Meruem's fist didn't hit Lovskiy, who dodged at an angle that seemed impossible for a human.

"Not bad. Finally, something worth watching." The left corner of Meruem's mouth curled up slightly as he began his assault on Lovskiy.

Two incredibly fast figures appeared in the air, exchanging blows back and forth. To an ordinary person, their movements would be completely invisible.

"Silva, what do you make of this fight?" After watching them trade several moves, Zeno suddenly asked Silva.

"Right now, it looks like they're evenly matched. Lovskiy lands a hit every time, seeming to have the upper hand. But his attacks do nothing to that monster. If the monster lands just one hit on Lovskiy, he's done for." Silva said very objectively.

"That makes sense, but you're wrong about one thing." Zeno said, his slightly drooping eyes open. Of course, his hands were still behind his back, only coming out when he attacked or ate.

With his hunched back and hands clasped behind him, he looked no different from an ordinary old man. Except for the two sashes hanging from him, reading "Lifetime Active Duty" and "One Kill a Day."

"Did I say something wrong?" Silva asked in confusion, then seemed to think of something. "Could it be that you mean..."

"That's right, that monster was just toying with that Lovskiy guy all along." Beyond, who had a Cross-shaped Scar on his face and was stroking his Two Twirled Mustaches, cut in.

P.S.: Daily request for votes~~ Begging for votes with a cute act! Pitou's sparkling Big Eyes are begging for votes!

P.S.: Thanks to book friends Yan Changgong and 104003 for the tips, (づ￣3￣)づ muah~