These screens were somewhat similar to the holographic projections on Earth, making the whole experience very comfortable.
"I'm glad I asked you to come over," Ging said, taking another bite of his pear and leaving a clear tooth mark.
He had invited Larry before heading to Greed Island to fight the Chimera Ants, thinking it would be great to have him watch the fight against the Ant King.
Ging wanted to see just how powerful this so-called Ant King really was. The first time he saw the Ant King through the screen, he immediately understood why the title King was not given lightly.
This was a truly formidable enemy.
On the battlefield, under the relentless assault of the Thousand-Handed Avalokitesvara, which struck like a storm, the Ant King could only block with his hands.
His body was pushed back by the overwhelming force, but his feet sank deeper into the ground.
Suddenly, with a loud boom, a pit opened beneath him, rapidly expanding as layers of rock shattered. Without a solid foundation, the Ant King began to fall downward, accompanied by a shower of gravel and dust.
The impact of the 99th move shattered the hard ground beneath them, revealing a vast space hidden below the surface of the wilderness.
Countless thick pillars rose from the earth, but nothing else was visible. It was unclear whether this place was meant to store weapons of war or serve some other purpose.
Yet, in Netero's mind, there was only one meaning for this underground chamber. "This is where you'll die," he said in a low, firm voice.
His eyes narrowed as he faced the Ant King who still stood before him.
Meanwhile, watching the scene unfold on the screen, someone's golden pupils contracted in disbelief.
"Even after launching the 99th move, he's almost completely unharmed?!" they exclaimed, unable to hide their shock.
After enduring the ninety-ninth posture of Guanyin, the Ant King showed no visible damage. The dark purple thought aura enveloping his body remained perfectly stable.
It was untouched by the fierce attack he had just faced. Dust and gravel could not cling to him, leaving his body completely clean and unblemished.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you really are a creature from the Dark Continent," Ging muttered with a smirk.
He shook his head, switched from a pear to an apple, and kept eating as he watched the fight unfold.
Watching him was like seeing someone munch on popcorn during a movie or snack on chips while binge-watching TV shows.
Except Ging's snacks were healthier, mostly fresh fruit.
"It's unbelievably powerful. Not even the old man's ninety-ninth style had any effect," I remarked. From the start, it had the strength to dominate.
Although Larry had already witnessed the battle between the Ant King and Netero on Earth, watching it again gave him a deeper appreciation of the Ant King's terrifying strength.
This hexagonal warrior had almost no weaknesses. Its attack speed and stamina were incredible, and its regeneration was top-tier, any injury healed almost instantly.
No wonder Netero struggled so much during their fight.
Then, after hearing Netero's bold words, the Ant King slowly rose from his half-crouched stance, his expression shifting dramatically. His purple eyes flashed scarlet, and an overwhelming surge of dark purple thought aura exploded from his body.
With a powerful sweep of his hands, this intense aura filled him completely, and his blood-red gaze sent chills down the spine.
The pressure was so intense that rocks beneath his feet cracked and shattered. The underground space was instantly saturated with a deadly aura, thick with dark purple murderous intent.
Netero immediately raised his inner defenses to the highest level, his voice rising sharply as his eyes locked onto the Ant King.
While the previous Ant King had walked the line between human and chimera ant, now, it was clear he was something far more dangerous, his mind resolute, his power undeniable.
The Ant King, clearly enraged by Netero, embodied the fierce and ruthless mentality typical of a Chimera Ant, a beast capable of devouring humans.
Despite suffering attacks, the Ant King appeared completely unharmed. Netero, though aged, acknowledged the King's immense strength and silently admitted he had truly chosen a formidable opponent.
His expression remained calm, but his eyes burned with deadly intent as he sighed inwardly.
The ninety-ninth move he had just unleashed was his second most powerful technique, yet it had no effect.
He had even spent considerable time enhancing his condition to boost his abilities beyond their usual limits, but still, it wasn't enough.
Now, only one last, final move remained.
Slowly, Netero raised his lowered hands, forming a triangular shape in front of him.
Through the gap between his fingers, he locked eyes with the Ant King, who was advancing steadily, radiating lethal intent.
Then, Netero moved his hands to his chest, shaping them into a heart over his left side.
"King Ant, I am truly grateful," he said quietly. "For meeting you and for everything we've been through. Thank you."
In the dim underground chamber, faint moonlight brushed over Netero's face and body.
Though his smile was subtle, the Ant King could see it clearly.
Netero, who had lived over a century, had evolved from a precise martial artist to the president of the Hunter Association, changing from a stern figure to a playful, mischievous elder.
But now, facing death, his smile was genuine, a heartfelt expression of gratitude for all life's experiences, both joyful and sorrowful.
He silently praised every moment, knowing this would be his final battle.
The first time he clearly saw the Ant King's overwhelming power, he had realized defeat was inevitable, even with his hatsu, Type Zero.
Yet as a true martial artist, he refused to surrender.
Just then, the Ant King's deadly glare abruptly ceased, and he turned around.
Behind him, a colossal statue of the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara appeared, looming large.
Before, this statue had only ever appeared behind Netero, but now, unexpectedly, it stood behind the Ant King.
With a gentle motion, the Thousand-Hand Avalokitesvara statue waved its hands, enclosing the Ant King's body softly between its palms.
Strangely, the Ant King felt no hint of hostility; instead, the statue radiated a calm, almost kind atmosphere.
This was the zeroth posture of the One Hundred Postures of Guanyin.
In an instant, Netero summoned all his aura and spirit, channeling them into the statue.
His entire focus was on the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara, preparing to strike with everything he had.
Suddenly, the statue opened its mouth, revealing a dark, deep cavity where faint ripples shimmered. From this, a massive light bomb, glowing like a brilliant star, was unleashed.
The powerful blast illuminated the entire underground chamber, as if an endless tide of spiritual aura was pouring toward the trapped Ant King. Alarm bells rang in the Ant King's mind as he desperately gathered all his strength to resist.
He could immediately tell this attack was unlike any before, it was Netero's hatsu, the Zero, a move made with the resolve to sacrifice everything.
After this, life and death would be decided.
The light wave struck with a thunderous boom, and the thick light bomb detonated violently. Its aftermath swept through the underground space, whipping up a fierce hurricane of wind, smoke, and dust that soared high before crashing back down.
Nearby pillars crumbled, and distant ones suffered varying degrees of damage.
The most devastating impact was directly where the blast hit, only scorched earth remained, blackened and red from intense heat, resembling a molten lava pool.
The specially constructed solid ground had melted into a fiery pool, releasing hissing steam into the air.
Coughing weakly from the smoke and dust, Netero sat quietly, observing the destruction he had wrought.