Silence settled once more within the depths of the ancient library, thick and suffocating, like ash slowly drifting after a fire. The oppressive pressure left behind by the collision of auras faded little by little, yet the air itself seemed reluctant to return to normal. The walls, etched with symbols older than any recorded human language, felt as though they were listening.
Meruem stood motionless at the center of the chamber.
The last fragments of Nen he had drained dispersed through his body, sinking deep into his core. His aura, newly reborn yet terrifying in its density, folded inward, stabilizing itself. He revealed nothing on his face, but the strain was undeniable. The absorption had pushed him close to a dangerous threshold. He was fully aware of it.
Aldebran remained at a distance, silent.
His gaze never left the lifeless body of the chimera creature lying before them. Death itself was nothing new to him, but what disturbed him was not the end — it was the method. The way Meruem had devoured the Nen, absorbing not merely power, but presence, essence, will.
This was not victory.
It was consumption.
Meruem slowly turned toward him.
"It is done," he said calmly.
"We may continue."
Aldebran exhaled deeply and fully suppressed his Nen. The crushing pressure that had dominated the chamber vanished, replaced by a heavy, lingering exhaustion.
"What would be the point of continuing?" Aldebran replied at last.
"There is no immediate stake left."
His eyes drifted toward the fractured cube of Nen, then toward the piles of ancient manuscripts, sealed tomes, and scrolls arranged across the circular chamber.
"You seemed capable of understanding his language," he continued.
"We tried everything. Months of interrogation, fragmented translations, cross-analysis of myths and records. Nothing concrete."
He gestured toward the archives.
"Only stories layered upon other stories."
A pause followed.
"Information of this nature cannot be released to the public. What it contains would shatter the balance of the human world as it exists today."
Meruem narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And yet," he said,
"you imprisoned a being of my species… or one close to it… to understand its origins."
His voice sharpened.
"Do not pretend you are not studying what we are."
Aldebran remained silent for several seconds before slowly nodding.
"My ability… Archivum Aeternum… was not created for that purpose."
"It exists to preserve. To protect ancient knowledge from time, decay, and the corruption of Nen itself."
He hesitated.
"Later… I repurposed it. To contain what could not be destroyed without catastrophic consequences."
His gaze darkened.
"The creatures of the Dark Continent… including you… are governed by an abnegation humanity abandoned long ago. A devotion to duty, sacrifice, hierarchy… admirable, in its own way."
Meruem did not respond.
"That very devotion," Aldebran continued,
"is what caused our investigations to fail. For seven months, that chimera was imprisoned here."
"It revealed almost nothing."
"Not because it could not… but because it chose not to."
He turned fully toward Meruem.
"I could do the same to you. Seal you. Study you."
"But I suspect I would reach the same dead end."
A tired smile crossed his face.
"So I decided to let you go."
The wounded manager stirred, struggling to rise.
"Master… we cannot allow this… he is not human—"
"Enough," Aldebran cut him off sharply.
He straightened his posture.
"Regardless of what you are, Meruem, you were our guest here."
"And more importantly… you are a friend of Edrin."
He inhaled slowly.
"I will honor that."
Meruem observed Aldebran in silence before replying, his tone oddly satisfied.
"Very well."
"We are… disappointed."
A faint glimmer passed through his eyes.
"We wished to continue fighting."
"To discover our limits."
"To feel… something akin to normalcy."
"At the realization that humans like you still exist."
"Like Chairman Netero."
Aldebran let out a brief, weary chuckle.
"That era is behind me."
He turned toward the elevator.
"Let us return."
The manager leaned weakly against the wall, breathing heavily.
"But Master—"
Aldebran placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"That will be all."
At that precise moment, an image pierced Meruem's mind.
Komugi.
A dull ache tightened within his chest.
Something was wrong.
Without another word, he moved toward the elevator.
"I must return."
Sensing the shift, Aldebran followed immediately.
The elevator ascended in oppressive silence.
As they rose, Meruem recalled his clones. One by one, they dissolved, returning their gathered perceptions, concerns, and an increasing sense of unease. Each fragment added weight to his thoughts.
When the doors opened onto the main floor, the sound of Gungi filled the air.
Yet something had changed.
The rhythm was slower.
Heavier.
Komugi sat at the board, completely focused.
Opposite her sat the old champion.
The pieces between them seemed frozen, as though time itself hesitated to move forward.
Aldebran watched from afar, intrigued.
"Fascinating…" he murmured.
Meruem stood slightly behind, his gaze fixed on Komugi.
He felt her aura — steady, pure, unwavering.
Yet altered.
Something had shifted within her.
Aldebran allowed himself a silent thought.
I knew it.
Meruem possesses extraordinary potential.
To stand against someone of my level while his aura was divided…
His eyes returned to the king.
The question is no longer his strength.
It is what he will choose to become.
Human…
Or Chimera Ant.
The game continued.
And deep within Valmeris,
the shadows had not yet finished choosing.