Wherever it struck, it left destruction on a scale comparable to nuclear explosions.
The sheer force was overwhelming, making everyone watching feel a chill run down their spines.
In an instant, the light cannon completely engulfed the Ant King, leaving no trace of his body behind.
The entire underground space was obliterated along with him.
Amid the deafening roar, a series of explosions rocked the area, sending countless pillars, soil, and rocks flying and turning them to dust.
Just one shot had wiped out the whole underground chamber.
And the chaos didn't stop there, the force of the explosion was so massive that it started spreading beyond the underground, affecting vast areas on the surface as well.
At that moment, Larry pulled Genesect away, and nothing alive remained in the blast zone.
The explosion's shockwave continued expanding rapidly, blowing up several miles in every direction.
High temperatures turned large swaths of land into endless dust clouds.
Soon, a towering mushroom cloud rose, resembling a volcanic eruption, shooting skyward with a series of booming blasts.
The swirling yellow and black cloud mixed with flickering flames, creating a mesmerizing yet terrifying sight.
This wasn't a moment of awe or beauty, it was a scene of utter devastation.
Every shot from Genesect held the power of a nuclear bomb, earning it the fearsome nickname, "the world destroyer."
The scene looked like the sky was falling and the earth was cracking open, a true portrait of destruction.
It lived up to the name perfectly.
Meanwhile, outside the palace of the Republic Of East Gorteau, the Ant King's breath finally faded as two Pokemon appeared.
The small group there finally caught their breath, relieved the nightmare was over.
"That last moment was just terrifying!"
Knov wiped sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, but it barely helped; there was just too much cold sweat.
It wasn't just him; everyone around him was drenched in sweat as well.
Morel was about to say something when Knov suddenly pointed toward the wilderness on the other side and shouted, "Look! What's that?!"
Several people turned their heads, and the sight nearly scared the life out of them.
A massive mushroom cloud was slowly rising into the sky, and in the distance, an enormous explosion was raging like nothing they'd ever seen.
Boom!
The deafening blast shook the air, threatening to shatter their eardrums.
At the same time, Morel and the others felt a sharp ringing in their ears, a piercing pain spreading through their bodies.
Some quickly used their aura to cover their ears, trying to protect themselves from permanent damage.
"What just happened?!"
"Did a huge bomb go off?"
They exchanged worried thoughts, their hearts racing again after just calming down.
Everyone knew this was the direction where President Netero and his team were.
Seeing such a massive explosion, it was hard not to think the worst, like they were all about to die together.
Could it be...
After a while, the shockwaves faded, and people started talking again.
"That has to be where Netero and his group are fighting, right?"
"I've never seen a bomb this powerful before," Killua said, glancing at the lingering mushroom cloud with a serious look.
"As far as I know, there's no bomb in the world that could cause this kind of explosion."
"Even if multiple bombs were used, I can't imagine how many it would take to create this."
Knov adjusted his glasses and spoke, still trying to keep his emotions in check, his voice full of disbelief.
"Whatever happened, this kind of blast means the war's situation must have changed drastically."
"I just don't know if the Ant King is dead," Morel said quietly, bending down to pick up his large pipe.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Mereon's expression softened as he raised his hand to signal, "My vitality just stopped declining."
Knov and Morel were initially taken aback but quickly broke into broad smiles.
Since both had witnessed Mereon's restrictions and oath, they fully understood the significance; those bonds meant only one of them could survive.
Since the life force was no longer draining, it could only mean one thing, the Ant King was dead.
"No more loss of life force? What does that mean?" Gon asked, genuinely curious.
The two kids nearby hadn't been around earlier and didn't quite get why Morel and the others were so cheerful.
Morel chuckled heartily, then lit a cigarette, feeling confident as he explained, "Back then, while you were getting ready to face Nakoulu and the others, we..."
He trailed off, then added, "The Ant King is dead."
Only then did the two kids realize why Morel and the others were suddenly so happy, it had to be connected to that massive explosion.
But then Killua spoke up, asking, "What about Larry and President Netero?"
His question seemed to cast a shadow over the group.
Morel and the others stiffened, their smiles fading.
After all, killing an Ant King with such a terrifying presence must have come at a steep price, likely a heavy toll on their lives.
And what about Larry and President Netero?
Morel, who had just been laughing, fell silent, puffing on his cigarette.
Knov, too, became unusually serious, his brows deeply furrowed.
Killing an Ant King meant losing two of the strongest fighters from the six continents, was that price too high?
Just then, a series of sharp cracking sounds filled the air.
"What's that...?"
Morel's eyes narrowed as he and the others turned toward the source.
Suddenly, a newly opened spatial portal shone with a pure white light.
Though it had no warmth, the light strangely made everyone feel a comforting sense of hope.
Confirming their suspicions, three figures emerged one after another from the portal.
"Larry, I'm telling you, your power is incredible. One shot caused all this!" Ging said with a sigh as he stepped out of the glowing light, clearly still in awe.
The shock was still visible in his eyes, even now.
That moment, as if the very earth was tearing apart, would be forever etched in Ging's memory.
Just like Netero, who had used the "en" to study Marshadow that day, Ging knew this scene would stay with him for a lifetime.
He had been a Hunter for a long time and had seen many terrifying creatures, but none compared to the ones he witnessed today.
First, there was the enhanced Ant King, then Larry's nen best, "Tyranitar," whose aura had become even more frightening after its transformation.
On top of that, Larry revealed two more nen beast, one large and one small, that left Ging with an uneasy feeling.
Deep down, he suspected these two might be the most terrifying beings he would ever encounter.
Even a future trip to the Dark Continent might not expose him to anything stronger.
The thought unsettled him, making his body tremble without him realizing it, a rare reaction for Ging.
What was it that he was forgetting?