"Hundred Demons Cursed Malice!" The Shadow's leader from the Hunters' black ops, Jed, finally erupted. This was a technique on par with Chairman Netero's Hundred-Type Guanyin—the Enhancer's ultimate manifested state. As the Malice around Jed swelled, a monster took shape before them: a pale, kimono-clad Japanese ogre with horns and even a double chin. Its aura was overwhelming; the three squadron leaders were scared stiff on the spot.
They'd actually offered to fight someone of this tier? Were they here to feed him kills, or to feed him kills?
When did human elites multiply like this? Netero, who could massacre squadron leaders without pressure, was already bad enough—now another, this Jed, whose strength didn't seem much lower? Don't tell me they're brothers. Ten thousand grass-mud horses thundered through the trio's heads. They'd thought their power-ups, if not world-dominating, at least made them kings of a mountain. Who knew that just tagging along with the King, any random encounter would be this terrifying. No wonder the King said they couldn't win. Indeed, if they really fought, they might die ugly.
"Interesting ability." Meruem's reaction was cool, merely eyeing Jed's manifested ogre with mild curiosity. In the movie this thing's arms could stretch to attack, and it looked like it came with an AT-field. But why did it feel like a knockoff of Hundred-Type Guanyin? An illusion?
"There's an opening! Hundred Demons Cursed Malice—Obliterate!" A gleam flashed in Jed's black-gold eyes. He assumed Meruem was stunned by his technique. So what if the opponent's body was tough? So what if he'd dug into Jed's background? This wasn't something words could convey. A Nen battle isn't absolute, nor is it some rigid formula where greater speed and strength always win. Ability, wits, power, experience—miss any and you lose! The ogre's maw spat a "turtle shockwave," a beam of crushing destruction that nailed the still-unmoving Meruem.
"Even if you're not dead, you'll shed a layer. Looking around in a fight? I won't waste this chance—your life belongs to me now! Die!" Seeing his devastating blast hit, Jed finally smiled. He didn't plan to stop there. He knew that strike, while strong, wasn't lethal—no way it would one-shot someone like Meruem. But he trusted it to leave heavy damage. Strike while the iron's hot, finish the wounded—real combat has no chivalry of "my turn, your turn." That's for idiots or try-hards. Comeback kills happen; the strong press every advantage.
So Hundred Demons Cursed Malice launched a storm of follow-ups at Meruem's last position.
"Terrifying power. You think His Majesty got taken out?" Gudu watched the ogre in the sky and swallowed. The three had sprinted far away the moment Jed unleashed it—not cowardice, just a refusal to be collateral in a clash of gods. A casual graze might mean a month in bed.
"He's strong, but…I don't think he can beat the King. The one standing at the end should be His Majesty." Compared to Gudu, Leol was calmer.
"Not 'should'—'will.' You two idiots, think back to the King's demonic power in the palace." Zazan was very confident in Meruem. She remembered the Nen he released when teaching them a lesson. This Jed was strong—strong enough that even if the three worked together they might not be his match—but still not what the King had shown. Against Jed, three together might have a sliver of hope; against Meruem, triple their strength wouldn't give them any.
Yet even a King of that level didn't call himself the strongest in the world. How terrifying is this world?
"Right. His Majesty will beat him. Anbu Twelve Stars—Chou Ox greets the three squadron leaders." Not far away stood members of the Anbu Twelve Stars; as for Wei Goat and Purgatory, their match had ended the moment Meruem arrived. Jed's trio had moved off to the other side—they weren't as strong as the Chimera Ants and didn't want to get quietly eliminated while spectating.
"Hm." A curt grunt was the only reply to Chou Ox. "Anything else? If not, move—the view."
These three didn't think much of division captains—especially the Anbu Twelve Stars. Before they'd gotten stronger, some Twelve Star had taught them a harsh lesson; not a fond memory. If these were not Meruem's subordinates, the trio might have killed them already. That they even responded was already for Meruem's sake.
They might think that way, but others didn't. Even squadron leaders shouldn't posture like this. Faces darkened among the Anbu Twelve Stars; looks turned unfriendly. Even the mild Chou Ox didn't look pleased—nice guys aren't doormats.
Several were ready to throw down, but one look from Chou Ox stopped them. These three were still useful to the King—and right now, they couldn't be beaten. Chou Ox relayed via hive-sense, and really, that last part was the key.
"Endure for now. Don't worry—these three won't live long," Chou Ox added with certainty. As Meruem's most trusted force outside the Royal Guard, the Anbu Twelve Stars were privy to much that other Chimera Ants weren't. Truth be told, Meruem still didn't fully trust squadron leaders—even the early loyalists. The only ones he truly trusted among them were Sky General Cheetu (Coltorn?—Thunder God Korudo) and Scout Corps Chief Cheetu; the former for a deep favor and the bond of Reina, the latter because he was so guileless—easy to handle.
Aside from those two, even Anbu chief Ace (the mantis) didn't earn full trust. Many division captains, on the other hand, did. Captains started weaker and weren't as scheming—easier to control. The Twelve Stars were the elite of captains Meruem had trained extensively. Even against powerful squadron leaders, the Twelve could cope—and their loyalty, outside the Royal Guard, was the highest. Meruem entrusted them with many tasks; thus they knew more.
Just then Jed's barrage tapered off. The massive, double-chinned ogre retracted its claws and split its mouth in a grin, revealing long fangs. Its already small eyes squinted to slits. Without the teeth and horns, it looked less like a terror-oni and more like a genderbent Maitreya—so ugly it was cute.
"Hmph. As expected, I'm the strongest. You're next, Netero!" Jed did a stylish half-turn, ready to leave without looking back. He believed no one could survive that frenzy.
"Hey—where do you think you're going? That's it?" Before he'd taken two steps, a cold voice sounded behind him. Sure enough, villains only get to be cool for three seconds—and the pose he'd just struck… the pretentiousness backfired.
"Nani? Masaka? Bakana!" Jed slowly turned. As the dust from Cursed Malice settled, he saw devastation for a li in every direction—except a patch less than a meter across. There, the ground was intact, and the one standing on it was intact too—clothes a bit dirty, but not a scratch. What kind of defense was this? Forget Jed—even Netero, spending his life for the Zero with Hundred-Type Guanyin, had only made Meruem break skin—and that was the premature, imperfect King of the original. This Meruem was top-tier in every respect—near-perfect overall, though still with room to grow. How could he be hurt by Hundred Demons Cursed Malice, which had lost to Hundred-Type Guanyin? Impossible. In straight-up clashes, Meruem feared no one. Especially after absorbing Netero's flesh and integrating Guanyin into his own art—if he weren't trying to extract Jed's essence, he wouldn't have even taken the hit.
"Well then, honorable Lord Jed—show me anything else you've got." From that barrage alone, Meruem had basically grasped the essentials of Jed's technique. Now he just lacked the ultimate—Hundred Demons Cursed Malice: Rakshasa. With a bit of Jed's flesh, he'd master it soon. All told, it was no less terrifying than Hundred-Type Guanyin. As for why it lost… that was on the user.
"Damn you! You forced me! I meant to save this for Netero. To die under this move—consider it an honor." Finally, faced with Meruem's flawlessness, Jed gritted his teeth and prepared his strongest technique of a lifetime—"Hundred Demons Cursed Malice—Rakshasa"!
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Mutter"]
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]