If there was no way to beat the enemy, they'd have to use Larry's space ability to leave immediately.
Every second spent here was too dangerous.
Though Netero had faith in Larry, Ging still found it hard to imagine what kind of Nen beast could possibly match the Ant King's current strength.
Even though Larry commands all kinds of powerful nen beast, can he really stand up to such a twisted enemy?
The current Ant King probably isn't just a regular chimera ant anymore, it's more like it has evolved into an entirely different kind of creature.
"Don't worry," Netero said confidently, his voice steady and unwavering.
"Even if it's the current Ant King, Larry can still handle it."
Ging was stunned by this.
What kind of strength does Larry possess that makes an experienced old man like Netero face this formidable Ant King with such assurance?
Ging's curiosity was definitely piqued.
While the two were talking, Larry kept his focus on the Ant King, whose performance so far was only average.
After devouring guards like Youpi one after another, the Ant King's appearance hadn't changed much, but its aura burst out in a more refined and massive way.
The sheer height of the aura casually unleashed was comparable to several stories tall, and the aura it projected was overwhelmingly dominant.
Plus, thanks to consuming Neferpitou, the Ant King had become much better at using "en," and combined with its already terrifying strength, it could now cover the entire palace, or even further.
According to the original records, after consuming most of Pouf and Youpi, the Ant King was already the strongest being across the six continents.
And now, having eaten three full guards, it was practically unbeatable.
Without Larry, there would be no one in the six continents capable of stopping it, except perhaps by some unusual means.
***
Name: Meruem (Ant King)
Strength: S+ to SS-
Nen Type: Unknown (possibly Specialist due to unique evolution-based traits)
Abilities: Possesses immense raw physical power and intelligence. Can learn Nen abilities quickly through observation. Developed the ability to enforce "En" with extreme precision and adaptability. Potential to surpass all known human Hunters.
***
The illustration ability fully revealed the Ant King's stats after its recent power-up.
What Larry regretted was that the Ant King still hadn't reached the SS level, it hovered between S+ and SS-.
Clearly, going from S to SS requires a huge leap, and simply eating three S-level guards wasn't enough.
Still, reaching this level was impressive.
'Now... it was time to harvest.'
Larry's eyes burned with fierce determination as he stared down the Ant King, who remained oblivious that its life was already ticking away.
'Is this truly the state I should be in?'
The Ant King stared in awe at the overwhelming aura of aura surrounding him, barely able to comprehend how much thicker and more intense it had become.
The pure flow of aura seemed endless, something he could now expend freely without hesitation.
The sheer amount of aura radiating from the Ant King was so immense that even Netero and Ging found it difficult to look at him directly.
It was a truly terrifying power.
In that moment, the Ant King finally grasped the full extent of his abilities and understood exactly how to wield them.
His instinct was simple: just consume.
To him, the entire world existed to be devoured.
The guards' role went beyond mere protection, they were also meant to serve as nourishment, a form of sacrifice that fueled his strength.
With such immense power, the Ant King believed the world was meant to be ruled by him.
Everything existed to serve his will.
His confidence had solidified completely, leaving no room for doubt.
To him, humans were insignificant, even the three standing before him were no exception.
Now, even if the old man used the same move again, the Ant King was certain he could avoid any harm.
In a very short time, his strength had skyrocketed, increasing exponentially.
This made him believe that nothing in the world could stop him.
He was born to be the king who would rule everything.
Victory was inevitable.
The chimera ants were about to replace humans as the new rulers of the world.
As he reflected on this, the Ant King noticed a change in his emotions.
His mood had grown calmer, and everything around him seemed trivial and unworthy of his attention.
'Perhaps... this is what being a king feels like.'
'For a king, this is normal.'
Gathering his thoughts, he turned toward the human who had brought the guard's body to him.
"Human, I don't know what your purpose is," he said, "but I am much stronger now. In return, I'll promise to make your death painless, for all three of you."
He paused, then continued calmly, "I'll deal with you soon, and then... I will eat you."
When the Ant King devoured the guard, he truly understood what "delicious" meant, and that only fueled his greed even more.
It wasn't enough; he wanted to consume more.
The three humans before him were even more valuable than the guards he had eaten.
Naturally, he wouldn't miss such high-quality "food."
Speaking in a calm tone, as if giving a simple order, he declared it.
It was an honor for them to be eaten and become part of his strength.
As the ruler destined to command the world, he was the supreme being.
"Want to eat us?" one of them challenged, disbelief and fear mixing in their voice.
"I'm just worried you don't have enough appetite," Larry teased with a silly laugh, glancing over at Ging, whose eyelids were twitching uncontrollably.
"I told you, the enemy I saved just for you is not someone to be taken lightly. This is a rare chance to face off against such a foe. Don't tell me you're too scared to step up?"
Ging's forehead creased with black lines as he shot back angrily.
"You say that like you want me to die. If you want to play, then fine, go ahead. But if you don't step up, I will. Hurry up before I run away!"
Ignoring Ging's hurry, Larry cast a brief glance at him before turning back to the Ant King.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and excitement flickered in his eyes.
"King Ant, do you know why I gave you the bodies of those three guards?"
The Ant King frowned, clearly annoyed by the people before him, and replied dismissively, "I have no idea."
Larry's smile only grew wider.
"That's because you weren't good enough before. And you're still not!"
Before anyone could react, a space portal opened above the arena, and a massive figure leapt through, landing with a thunderous crash that shook the ground.
The earth beneath it caved in, sending gravel flying and dust swirling everywhere.
The giant beast stood tall, raised its hands, and let out a deafening roar aimed at the Ant King.
"Roar!"
The violent roar echoed through the sky, causing sonic booms to ripple outward.
Powerful hurricanes whipped up in response, raging through the underground space.