"Captain, should we go look for them?"
Arriving in a modern city, completely different from the environment of NGL, Anthony asked, gazing at the bustling crowds and street scenes.
This place was very close to NGL, but it seemed unaffected by the scattered ants. Human life remained peaceful.
On one hand, there was the protection of the human army, and on the other, some assistance provided by the Hunter Association.
"No."
Oboro shook his head.
"Then we won't run into them, right..." Anthony coughed.
There wouldn't be any awkwardness even if they met. Although they didn't have a mission, they were using the guise of researching Dark Continent creatures, aiming to learn more about that continent from the Chimera Ants. This also aligned better with Oboro's long-held desire to travel to the Dark Continent.
Moreover, even if they met, Netero wouldn't force Oboro to join the operation… It concerned V5, and the old man didn't want to involve Oboro. Furthermore, he also wanted to prove himself to Oboro.
Although he was over a hundred years old, as long as he was around… Oboro and his juniors wouldn't be able to overstep their bounds.
Afterward, the three checked into a hotel.
The Ant King now controlled East Gorteau. The subsequent extermination team would inevitably have to move there, so they wouldn't be staying here for long.
Host: Oboro.
Age: 27.
Specialty: Three-star Ancient Text Hunter.
Combat Rank: Martial Arts Godly, World-Class Hunter (Rank 3).
Overall Attribute Evaluation: Tier 3 Superhuman (In Progress).
Nen Abilities: Chronowarp, Thresh's Passive Skill Dark Passage, Senna's Passive Skill Last Embrace.
Last Embrace Effect: (Attack Range +215 meters, 100% Critical Hit Chance, 100% Life Steal.)
Dark Passage Effect: Armor and Magic Power have already climbed to over 100,000.
The next day, Oboro found a juice shop and sat leisurely outside, opening his status panel to examine it.
The plan had progressed smoothly so far.
Except for the interlude of him killing the cat-woman, which had caused some minor impact on the plot.
But it was not a major issue, as his foresight into the Hunter world was nearing its end around this time… There was also the loose end with the Kakin Empire, the Black Whale. He had obtained all the benefits he wanted, and the effects of Last Embrace were all maxed out, except for the attack range.
Critical hit and life steal were both 100%, with no room for further growth.
As for the astonishing Armor and Magic Power values, during his trip to NGL, with the help of his team, he had collected at least nearly 100,000 ant souls… Besides the cat-woman, there were also division chiefs and numerous squad leaders. Most souls provided only basic numerical increases, with negligible effects. The truly significant one was Neferpitou.
Similarly, 2 points of Armor and Magic Power had given him the opportunity for a 'qualitative change.'
The attribute evaluation related to physical strength had suddenly changed a few days ago. A note 'In Progress' was added after Tier 3 Superhuman, letting Oboro know his previous judgment was correct. Because his armor had surged to a terrifying extent, a single defensive attribute had caused some 'change' in his body.
Perhaps he was advancing towards Tier 4 Superhuman…
Tier 4 Superhuman was a realm that broke through Oboro's own life dimension, a change brought about by passive attributes. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to reach this level through sheer effort alone, especially without the opportunity presented by the Chimera Ants.
This incident was a stroke of luck for him, and he had seized it!
"Tier 4… peak Netero, or a berserk Gon, perhaps..." Oboro smiled faintly while drinking juice.
Although it was just three simple words, "Evolving."
But he could be sure that with the defensive attributes, his current physical strength was likely the highest in the human world.
Surpassing Beyond.
Next was Magic Power.
His combat rank had risen by one, from 4th to 3rd.
"Don Freecss..."
Oboro had now guessed who the number one ranked person was. Because the system's scope covered everything from his past life memories and the information he had encountered, then… looking at the entire history of human Nen users, the one at the pinnacle was undoubtedly the mysterious Don Freecss.
Perhaps in this world, on the Dark Continent, there existed many species more terrifying or powerful than Don Freecss, including sub-humans, but due to Oboro's lack of knowledge, the system did not include 'them.'
From the limited scope, Don Freecss was the undisputed number one.
The system was an intelligent AI, and ranking Don Freecss first indicated that the system, through calculations and research, also believed this legendary human was still alive…
The increase in Magic Power had also brought about some changes in Oboro's Nen abilities.
His aura was even more astonishing than when he had just absorbed the cat-woman's soul.
Those division chiefs and squad leaders were indeed valuable nourishment.
"Physical strength Rank 1… Nen ability Rank 3…"
Oboro muttered.
The Ant King Meruem and the cat-woman, along with other ants, were all destined to die, so… the system did not include these species.
"With my current strength, excluding Don Freecss, my combat power should be ranked first among humans…" Oboro thought.
He wasn't being arrogant.
He also understood Netero's strength.
Regarding the Nen ranking, although he was 3rd, his Nen intensity at this moment definitely surpassed the old man's. It was just that this ranking was comprehensive for 'Nen,' not just intensity… so he was still a bit behind. Oboro guessed that the 2nd rank was Netero.
He was one rank behind, which could be said to be… losing due to time.
That is, age.
Even if he cheated, the old man had lived nearly a hundred years longer than him.
Oboro finished his juice.
He had spent over ten years since his transmigration. Every step he took was for the future…
For example, regarding Thresh's Nen ability, besides the soul aspect, his initial intention in developing it was not only because he sensed his strength would soon stagnate but also because he thought of the current Chimera Ant incident. If it were other Nen abilities, even with his overwhelming strength, he wouldn't have been able to kill so many ants.
Because the ants' territory was vast and spreading… relying solely on him, no matter how much he caught, the efficiency would inevitably be very low.
He needed abilities that were area-of-effect, highly lethal, and efficient.
Targeting this point, coupled with the innate advantages of Thresh's skills, led to his current methods.
Everything Oboro had prepared had a reason.
It wasn't just taking advantage of the Nen ability type… solely for this Chimera Ant incident, even with his growth, he wouldn't have progressed so rapidly.
"However… with these physical conditions, coupled with the foundation of Nen, it's still difficult to defeat it."
A black dot flashed in Oboro's mind – the Ant King, Meruem, leaving the ant nest that day.
As he was thinking, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.
"Hello?"
Oboro answered.
"Patriarch, our people have entered NGL."
The voice on the other end was Davi.
"Very good."
Oboro nodded slightly. "NGL has now become a land without an owner. V5 is watching closely. Once the matter is resolved, and the ants in the NGL region are cleared out, they will undoubtedly take over without hesitation… There are still some surviving civilians in the country. Find them, organize them, elect a leader, and have all countries express their stance to help them rebuild their homeland in the spirit of humanitarianism."
Using international humanitarianism as a starting point and taking the initiative, V5 would absolutely not be able to interfere.
Most importantly, this was originally the homeland of those survivors.
They were the original owners.
"Yes."
Davi responded.
Then, after giving a few more instructions, Oboro hung up the phone.
Meruem, Netero, Pouf, Youpi… these four characters were the main course. As for Knov's disciple, Palm.
And those scattered ants, Oboro no longer cared about them.
As long as he absorbed the souls of this one person and three ants… his mission would be accomplished.
The Fels family, the Hunter Association, NGL, and potentially East Gorteau… Oboro would no longer have anything to fear.
Although he disliked power, there was no choice… To move 'unhindered' in this world, power was an unavoidable factor.
With his absolute strength and immense power, the two would complement each other, and he would achieve… the 'freedom' he had always truly desired!
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