"This is a testing ground for mass destructive weapons," Netero said calmly as he looked at the Ant King. "Don't worry about anything. Come with confidence."
Mass destructive weapons, especially those as powerful as the Miniature Rose, required a place like this, isolated and suited not only for deploying destructive weapons but also for battles between formidable fighters. Since both sides had reached an advanced level of strength, this deserted spot ensured that their fight would not harm anyone else.
It was clear Netero was fully prepared, ready to enjoy one last thrilling battle before his time came. His muscles tensed slightly, his expression serious, eyes burning with fighting spirit.
''Why fight?''
The Ant King folded his arms across his chest and scanned the area carefully, clearly aware that this battlefield had been chosen with great care. Flicking his tail, he slowly turned around and said something that caught Netero off guard.
Netero's mouth opened slightly in surprise, and the serious expression he wore faltered. Even his fighting spirit wavered.
"You don't stand a chance," the Ant King said, his deep eyes locking onto Netero with an air of absolute confidence. "Why rush to your death?"
The Ant King's words matched his dominant and commanding nature perfectly. He truly believed no one could defeat him, not the old man before him, nor the young fighter he had seen earlier in the palace. At least not in combat.
So, he could not understand why Netero seemed so willing to throw his life away. In truth, the Ant King was not wrong. Netero had come here knowing he might die. To the Ant King, Netero was simply a worthy opponent to be buried.
But seeing the Ant King's certainty, Netero gathered his fighting spirit again. He absentmindedly poked his ear with his little finger and said with a hint of surprise, "We haven't even started fighting, how can you be so sure I can't beat you?"
A bad feeling crept into Netero's heart. This battle would not be as straightforward as he had hoped. Not because of a difference in strength, but because the Ant King's mindset had shifted.
After a pause, the Ant King's stern expression remained unchanged as he continued, "You don't seem like someone who can't read the situation. I was born thinking that no one needed to survive in this world. But now, I've changed my mind. There are a few who deserve to live on, for example, you, and that girl, Komugi."
Meanwhile, on the first floor of the palace, by the time the Ant King and Netero arrived, the battle was already winding down.
Mega Lucario held the bone stick firmly, and a pure, flowing aura of spirit aura enveloped it. The bright bone stick shimmered with a thick coating of this aura, tinted with a deep blue glow from the azure aura mixed within, adding an extra layer of power.
The heroic Aura warrior stood tall and proud before Youpi, gripping his bone stick tightly and radiating an intense aura that sent chills through the air.
Suddenly, Mega Lucario took a step forward, and in the blink of an eye, vanished from Youpi's sight, a display of incredible speed.
With a deafening bang, the bone stick struck Youpi's chest with overwhelming force, tearing a massive hole straight through his torso. Blood splattered everywhere as his battered body was sent flying backward.
All of this happened in an instant, showcasing the seamless combination of Mega Lucario's mega evolution, enhanced fists, and wave power amplified by his incredible speed. The impact was so devastating that even the evolved Youpi could not withstand it. His torso was nearly shattered.
But Mega Lucario was not finished. Knowing the terrifying vitality of the Chimera Ant, he aimed for the head. Gripping the bone stick firmly, he pulled back and hurled it like a javelin.
The bone stick pierced Youpi's skull with precision, shattering upon impact like a watermelon smashed by an iron rod. Despite Youpi's immense resilience, he had no chance to recover. He was completely defeated.
As the bone stick, made of pure aura, slowly faded away, a space channel opened beneath Youpi's broken body, and Porygon Z promptly transported him away.
With Neferpitou, Pouf, and Youpi, all three guards now dead, Knov, who had been watching nervously from the corner, finally relaxed. He wiped his brow and sighed in relief, admitting that even though he had not fought, just being there was nerve-wracking.
They simply were not ready, or qualified, for a battle of this magnitude. The once lavishly decorated venue was now unrecognizable; the stairs to the second floor lay in rubble, and the surrounding walls were reduced to piles of debris.
The fierce battle had left nothing but destruction in its wake. If there had not been one or two pillars still standing, the whole place would have completely collapsed, buried under countless stone slabs.
The ground was riddled with huge pits everywhere, and even the spots that were a bit better were just cracked remnants. He and Meleoron had no choice but to huddle in a corner, and at times, he even thought about diving straight into the [Fourth Dimension Apartment] to escape.
"Fortunately, we ended up winning in the end. I'm not sure what's going on with the others," Knov muttered, kicking aside some rocks as he cleared a path.
The stairs leading to the second floor were completely destroyed, so they decided to head outside first to get a better look at the situation.
Just then, Mega Lucario flashed across the field but vanished before anyone could catch a glimpse. Up on the stage on the second floor, a cool night breeze whispered through the air.
Larry stood there calmly, gazing into the distance, the same direction Netero and the Ant King had taken. Behind him stood Mega Gardevoir, Mega Lucario, and Gengar, who had just finished dealing with the earlier threats.
"Now that those are settled, it's time to face the final enemy," Larry said. "I wonder how much experience the Ant King will gain after taking down those three guards?"
Before anyone could respond, Larry and the three Pokémon disappeared, leaving behind only a faint murmur. Far away in the wilderness, the Ant King continued to share his thoughts.
As he spoke, Netero's expression grew darker and darker. He would have preferred to face a more straightforward, powerful Ant King rather than this one who seemed conflicted.
At least fighting the former would let him focus solely on the battle without distractions. But this situation was different.
Netero could clearly see that the Ant King's mindset had shifted after everything he had experienced, no longer fully aligned with the Chimera Ants, yet not entirely human either. He was caught somewhere in between.
''This is really complicated,'' Netero thought bitterly. ''You won't even let me fight properly in the final battle?'' he wondered, sighing internally.
The fighting spirit he had built up over time was shaken by the Ant King's words. This version of the Ant King was much harder to confront, not just because of his strength but because his mindset had changed so much since he was born.
"I have no intention of fighting you," the Ant King said, changing his stance and sitting cross-legged on the ground. Resting his chin on one hand, he looked at Netero with calm eyes.
It was not just what he said; his shift in posture made it clear he did not want to fight. The Republic of East Gorteau had changed a lot during this period, much of it due to a girl named Komugi.
She had been the one to pull the Ant King away from pure beast-like thinking, helping him adopt a more human perspective.