After soaring over ten kilometers aboard the Dragon Head, Meruem abruptly leapt from the shining dragon, plummeting toward the earth below.
"There's no need to go any farther. Why waste time? You can't win."
His voice reached Netero mid-fall.
Netero leapt off as well, his expression serene.
"You'll never know the outcome unless you try. You don't know me at all, do you? Judging a man by his appearance… That's how you lose."
This wasn't his ideal battleground.
But just dragging the King far from his Royal Guards had already fulfilled the minimum condition.
Ten kilometers—it was enough.
"No, you don't look like a mediocre warrior who misjudges battles. In fact, I think you already know the outcome."
Meruem's tone was composed.
"I was born to rule the world. At first, I saw humans as no better than livestock.
But I've changed. I now understand that among humans, a very rare few are worth sparing.
That girl… Komugi… and perhaps you, as well. I feel the same spark in you that I felt in her.
If we end this now, I'll let you live."
Netero listened silently, then raised both hands.
"You mean you'll spare me alone, right? I can't accept that—not with the position I hold."
Meruem's gaze hardened.
"So you've made your resolve. Words are wasted. That's unfortunate—but your timing is poor.
Let's fight."
If this had been before Pitou's death, perhaps Meruem would've indulged the old man.
But now, he had learned through Pitou that humans should not be underestimated.
There were powers in this world still unknown to him.
Anything that posed a threat—anything that refused to yield—must be eliminated.
"Something must've happened… something I'm unaware of."
"But so be it," Netero said, bringing his palms together.
When he saw Meruem's mercy for Komugi, even Netero's hardened heart had flickered.
After all, this world wasn't solely for humans.
Across distant nations and the corners of Mobius Lake, there were Magical Beasts, Demi-Humans, all manner of exotic life.
But conversation could solve nothing here.
The Hunter Association had been tasked with one goal: eliminate the invasive species.
The moment Meruem claimed East Gorteau—peaceful resolution was off the table.
The King had made his choice.
And it was one that hardened Netero's resolve.
As his palms came together—
A Buddha appeared behind him.
And in the next instant—
BOOM!
Hyakushiki Kannon: First Hand!
The attack struck Meruem's head clean.
This was Hyakushiki Kannon—100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
A technique born from decades of obsession, pushed to the brink of madness, refined into ultimate form.
A Nen ability so advanced, it defied categorization.
One could even call it Specialization-type, a category of its own.
And paired with Netero's natural Enhancer body—it reached unimaginable heights.
Yet such a powerful strike… barely injured Meruem.
"You've poured decades into this, haven't you?
I can feel it—this is a level beyond mere mastery.
Even I must commend you… Well done."
Meruem stepped forward again, genuine admiration in his voice.
But that praise only deepened the shadows across Netero's face.
He responded not with words—but with another slap from the Guanyin's palm.
This time, with a note of fury:
"You arrogant little bug—don't talk down to me!"
Meruem couldn't dodge the attacks.
Even when compressing his senses, all he could catch were afterimages.
But he never backed down.
His strategy was simple:
Endure. Observe. Learn. Break through.
By weathering the storm of strikes, he would uncover Netero's habits—his tells.
From there, find an opening.
Meruem believed—he could do it.
Just as he had mastered Gungi against Komugi,
he would decipher Netero's combat rhythm.
But there was a fundamental difference.
Komugi's talent grew with time.
Netero's had long since reached its peak.
Meruem's thoughts briefly drifted back to the unfinished game…
He wanted to finish it.
Then—he found his opening.
SHLICK!
A blur of motion—
Meruem sliced off half of Netero's leg.
He had won.
One more strike—and the old man would fall.
From a distance, he raised his finger toward Netero.
"This next blow… will take your life."
Netero's thigh tensed, cutting off the bleeding.
His eyes sharpened, his strikes became unpredictable—wildly variable.
But Meruem had already surpassed him.
It was too late.
Another minute passed.
Countless strikes landed.
And the King was on the verge of slipping through the last gap in Netero's patterns.
Then—
Suddenly—
The Bodhisattva vanished.
Reappearing behind the King.
What—?!
Meruem had never even imagined such a move.
No way to block.
No time to react.
Only surrender.
An invisible weight crushed him—
A force of compassion.
Of sorrow.
Of unconditional love.
Hyakushiki Kannon: Zero Hand.
The final, secret technique.
This was not just Nen.
It was ritual.
A lifetime of discipline.
When the shape of one's soul gives rise to image—
That image becomes thought.
And from thought—sprouts form.
Zero Hand was the fruit of Netero's life.
From behind, the compassionate Bodhisattva embraced its foe.
Whether enemy rejected or accepted—it didn't matter.
The Guanyin's mouth opened.
Netero's life force exploded like a star, compressed into a beam of blinding energy.
A single shot of limitless resolve.
When the dust cleared,
Netero lay withered—ancient beyond age.
But Meruem still stood.
"This was the highest burst of individual power I've seen.
Truly… a magnificent strike.
But it was just that—a single strike.
You've done well.
Rest now."
He turned his back and began walking away.
That lingering sense of danger Netero exuded—it still gnawed at him.
Once, Meruem might've lingered and exchanged a few more words.
But now—
he had to return.
How is Komugi?
Can Pouf and Youpi handle the invaders?
And what of the one who took down Pitou—are they still inside the palace?
So many questions.
So little time.
Behind him—Netero exhaled one final breath.
"King…
Feel the boundless malice of mankind."
He raised a trembling finger to his chest—
and plunged it into his own heart.
Meruem's senses flared.
His wings spread.
He accelerated.
But he was too late.
BOOOOOM!
The Miniature Rose erupted behind him—
flames, pressure, and toxic ash.
Meruem soared forward, shielding himself.
He crashed.
Smoke.
Scorched earth.
From molten rock, he emerged.
Broken.
But thanks to his aura, and the distance he had pulled—
He lived.
Youpi's arrival saved him from death.
And in that moment, Meruem truly understood humanity.
Returning to the palace—
he saw her.
Komugi.
Still seated before the Gungi board.
And in that instant,
Meruem's desire to conquer the world, to reshape evolution—
Vanished.
He sat across from her.
"Supreme Commander?" Komugi asked softly.
"It's me," he answered.
As Youpi collapsed, Meruem placed a piece on the board.
"I had a long dream…
We were playing this game together the whole time.
It was… beautiful."
Komugi smiled, placing a piece.
"Then let's continue it."
Meruem's gaze softened.
"Perhaps I can extend that dream."
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn…
But I want to stay with you.
I want to dream with you.
And I want to… die with you, Lord Meruem."
Her smile glistened with tears.
"Now I know…
I was born for this moment."
Meruem looked at her for a long time.
"Meruem…?" he murmured.
"Yes.
They say the Queen named you that.
It means: The Light That Illuminates All."
"…I see."