Snap.
The blind girl gently picked up a Gungi piece, but this time, something different happened.
Soft rays of light began to emanate from her fingertips.
"I can't stop."
As the blind girl spoke, the glow spread from her fingers and started to engulf her entire body.
Under Meruem's gaze, the light gradually consumed her, enveloping her from head to toe.
"A brilliant move, like an endless torrent of water, is flooding my mind..."
"My skills... It seems to be growing stronger..."
The blind girl murmured. Although she couldn't see, she clearly sensed something momentous had occurred within her.
"Awakening, huh?"
The Ant King Meruem looked at all this quietly: "So, she's just beginning to grow stronger..."
Click.
Meruem casually threw a handful of Gungi pieces onto the table and chose to concede.
"Would it be possible for the supreme leader to allow me to take a rest?"
After a brief hesitation, the blind girl bowed and requested.
This was the first time in days that she had directly asked the Ant King for a break.
"Are you tired?"
"No, no, I just need to go back to my room and sketch down the Gungi moves I suddenly thought of."
The blind girl hurriedly explained: "Since I can't see, I need to arrange the pieces one by one."
"As long as I've physically arranged a move on the board once, I'll never forget it!"
After a moment of silence in the hall, the blind girl received permission to rest.
As she left, Meruem gazed at her retreating figure and slowly began to realize her potential.
"Wait."
He suddenly spoke, stopping her. "What is your name?"
"Are you asking for my name?"
The blind girl turned around immediately.
"Who else would I be asking?"
"Ah... Yes! My name is Komugi!"
"Komugi..."
Meruem muttered under his breath.
"supreme leader..."
At this moment, he heard a timid voice from the front. "May I ask what the supreme leader's name is?"
Komugi's question struck Meruem like a thunderclap, echoing in his mind.
"My... Name?"
"What... is my name?"
Meruem's pupils contracted. He had never known his own name, and now, he couldn't provide an answer.
In the end, Komugi left without receiving the answer she was looking for.
After sending Komugi off, Meruem suddenly summoned his three royal guards.
Shaiapouf, who was reading a book; Menthuthuyoupi, who was bored; and Neferpitou, who was using En to guard the surroundings.
The three knelt respectfully, waiting for orders.
"The selection is about to begin, so has his majesty changed his mind and decided to restore his ambition to conquer the world?"
Shaiapouf lowered his head but was filled with excitement and anticipation.
However, his hopes were soon dashed.
Instead of the answer he was expecting, he received a seemingly insignificant question: "Do you know who I am, really?"
Meruem asked, and for a moment, all three royal guards fell silent.
"... Your majesty, you are you."
Shaiapouf's brain short-circuited for a moment, but he quickly responded: "You are the king, unique and irreplaceable."
"Although there are many impostors out there using the title king, we will eradicate them all so that when the world speaks of the king, they will think of you alone."
Such an answer was typical of an internal affairs minister.
However, Meruem wasn't interested in answers that lacked depth or substance.
"That's just a premise."
He said flatly: "A title like 'king' is just a label. But titles alone don't make one a true ruler."
"Menthuthuyoupi, what do you think?"
He turned to the seemingly honest and straightforward Menthuthuyoupi.
"Hmm... This is beyond my understanding."
Menthuthuyoupi thought carefully and then answered earnestly: "I'm not able to answer this question for his majesty."
"Neferpitou."
"Mm... His majesty's thoughts are what matter the most."
Neferpitou suggested: "I think his majesty should choose the most fitting name for himself."
"That's true... Alright, then."
Meruem pondered for a moment but didn't continue with the idea of giving himself a name.
Instead, he shared with his three guards about Komugi's awakening.
However, their reaction was unanimous: "Komugi? Who is that?"
"She's the blind girl who played Gungi with me."
Shaiapouf lowered his head again silently. "You even mentioned that woman's name?"
"Her aura has awakened."
Meruem continued: "Komugi's strength will likely grow exponentially, but only in Gungi."
At this point, he turned to Neferpitou: "If we select Komugi using tomorrow's method, what will happen?"
"Naturally, she will be disqualified. She will definitely be eliminated."
Without hesitation, Neferpitou responded: "The selection process is aimed at physical and mental strength, suitable for those who can become soldiers. Only those with high combat power will survive..."
As Neferpitou explained the situation, Shaiapouf, half in the shadows, spoke: "Your majesty, please..."
"After meeting Komugi, I, too, have seen her great potential."
Meruem paid no attention to Shaiapouf's rambling thoughts.
"For example, on the way here, I..."
"Your majesty, please, don't say such things..."
Meruem turned around and looked at the surrounding palace.
"I've killed many defenseless, helpless individuals."
"Your majesty, a king should not say such things..."
Shaiapouf clenched his trembling hands tightly. "This is not appropriate..."