"Perhaps, for them, this is the best ending."
Oboro pondered for a moment and finally abandoned the idea.
The reason he gave up was not because saving Komugi would conflict with the Ant King's soul.
It was for two reasons: First, Komugi's personality… assuming her soul would awaken after rebirth, Komugi retained some of her human disposition from her past life. This meant that changing Komugi's personality and cultivating her understanding of the world and human hearts would take a considerable amount of time, not something achievable overnight.
Second, it was… he wanted to take Komugi as a disciple, but she might not be willing.
Oboro disliked forcing others.
After he departed for the Dark Continent, he definitely wouldn't be returning anytime soon… For someone like Komugi, forcibly dragging her into a complex world and then abandoning her… would be more like harming her.
Relatively speaking, individuals with a certain level of sophistication and meticulous minds were more suitable to become his disciples.
Because Oboro only needed to impart knowledge of Nen and martial arts cultivation unilaterally, without having to worry about shaping their personalities… it was too tiring.
"Let's get some sleep… Soon… it will all be over."
Oboro slowly closed his eyes, murmuring, "What a shame…"
If it weren't for the current situation, for the succession of the Chairman position that still needed to be addressed, and the V5 treaty restricting the timing of his departure to the Dark Continent…
Komugi's rebirth would be easy.
But the Ant King Meruem was different. Its soul was too heavy. Even if a female Chimera Ant were found, it might not be able to carry it to term. Firstly, the required nutrition, and secondly, whether the host could withstand it.
Perhaps, before the fetus was born, the mother would be drained dry.
From this, one could see that the Queen Ant was quite formidable…
Of course, Oboro could find or create a second Queen Ant, but time was running out.
From the time Beyond brought the Chimera Ants to the human world until now, too much time had passed…
...
Time slowly passed.
Oboro and his two companions remained hidden, staying put as planned.
They often saw humans, hypnotized by scales, wandering aimlessly like zombies around the land, heading towards the royal city in groups, in large numbers and at a tight pace.
This was naturally Pouf's ability… Oboro had seen Pouf fly across the horizon more than once, controlling a large number of human puppets.
This was also Pouf's preparation for selecting soldier ants.
"If it were Neferpitou…"
Interestingly, under the protection of Oboro's Nen ability, Pouf not only failed to detect him but also failed to notice Anthony and Fante.
Oboro's ghost fog had the effect of blocking perception, enveloping his two teammates. In addition, the two used Ren and hid among the vegetation… The butterfly flying back and forth several times overhead detected nothing unusual.
If it were the cat-woman… Oboro was certain that Fante and Anthony would have been exposed.
Neferpitou's senses alone were too astonishing.
"So strong..."
One night, after witnessing Pouf fly towards the royal city again, Anthony exclaimed with lingering fear.
For Oboro, it was nothing.
But for Anthony and Fante, Pouf's unleashed Nen power was still terrifying… The ability to control so many humans consumed an extraordinary amount of Nen.
Anthony couldn't even imagine how terrifying the cat-woman, killed by the Captain, must have been, given how powerful Pouf was?
"The three Royal Guard members each had different characteristics. Genes determined everything. This Pouf is more of an intellectual type, with Nen abilities leaning towards support. The remaining Youpi has excellent flesh and blood, but is not experienced enough, and his abilities are relatively mediocre… They are a level below Neferpitou." Oboro evaluated.
"Ah?"
Anthony was taken aback.
"Not just in terms of combat power, but comprehensively, the cat-woman is first, Pouf second, and Youpi third."
"Then, Captain… how long would it take you to deal with this ant?"
Anthony couldn't help but ask.
He was referring to Pouf.
"Now?"
Oboro raised an eyebrow as he turned his head.
"Its splitting ability would cause a bit of trouble, delaying things a little… But it shouldn't take more than a minute… maybe half a minute?" Oboro pondered with a hand on his chin, then gave his answer.
This was just an estimation.
When it came to combat, one never knew until they fought.
"Half… a… minute…?" Anthony stammered, somewhat dumbfounded.
This was too much…
"Given that I know its abilities very well, while it doesn't know me… coupled with the characteristics of my soul-based abilities, I might even be able to kill it instantly."
Oboro added.
"…"
Anthony's eyes widened. "What about the Ant King?"
"In terms of pure strength, it's a two-eight split… as long as it hasn't killed the Chairman yet." Oboro replied truthfully.
"Two-eight… then the Chairman…"
"The Chairman… has no chance of winning."
Oboro lowered his hand, put it in his pocket, and said, "So, I said he was doomed to die."
"My two-tenths chance of winning is also due to the advantage of my soul, not my physical body or Nen… The gap between ordinary humans and it is an insurmountable chasm."
"Then the Chairman…"
Fante, hearing this, joined the conversation.
He wanted to ask how Netero would kill the Ant King.
"Humans created the world at the center of the lake, establishing civilization and order, condensing wisdom, which is more than just Nen…"
...
A few days later, Oboro sent a message to Menchi and the other two, asking them to return from outside the sea area.
Pariston had been led around by the nose, 'detouring' for quite some time. There was no longer any need to maintain the disguise; the time had come.
...
At night, on a moonlit and starry evening.
The full moon hung high in the sky. Although they were on the outskirts of the royal city, it was difficult to see the clear moonlight due to the layers of clouds floating in the sky, obscuring the high heavens.
Oboro, wearing sunglasses, lay on the grass brushed by a gentle breeze. Anthony and Fante beside him were napping, snoring softly.
"They're here."
Suddenly, Oboro, who appeared to be asleep, spoke.
At his words, Fante and the other two immediately startled awake.
"Where?"
They looked around but saw nothing.
Oboro raised his arm and pointed to the sky. "Up there…"
Up there?
The two stared intently at the night sky, seeing nothing but dark clouds.
However, their expressions changed shortly after. Although they couldn't see what was in the sky, they sensed… an aura appearing near the royal city, not far from them.
This aura flashed and disappeared.
It was Knov's Nen ability.
He was going to lead the extermination team into the royal city and infiltrate the palace.
This brief appearance was to confirm the coordinates and location.
"What… is that?" At this moment, Anthony exclaimed in horror. He finally saw what the Captain had been referring to… It was a dragon.
A golden dragon!
Weaving through the sea of clouds, the scene was incredibly spectacular and eye-catching.
"It's a manifestation of Nen, some kind of ability!" Fante immediately got up.
In the human world, such a creature naturally couldn't exist.
"Let's go."
Oboro also flipped over, patted his butt, and walked away first.
They were going into the city!
The three witnessed the golden dragon fly over the royal city and then explode like a giant firework, scattering countless meteor-like Nen orbs in all directions, a truly spectacular sight.
The three accelerated, their figures like lightning, speeding towards the magnificent city.
"It seems it's not just the Chairman alone…"
As they got closer, Fante finally sensed another extremely powerful aura on the dragon's back.
"Zoldyck family's reinforcement."
Oboro said calmly.
"You two stay at the outermost perimeter of the royal city, don't go deep, just watch… I'll go by myself." Oboro instructed.
"Yes."
The two replied.
Although the cat-woman was not present, the Ant King and the two Royal Guard ants still posed a fatal threat to Fante and the others.
Moreover, the oppressive aura they exuded was not something ordinary people could withstand… Although Anthony and Fante had been trained by him and had grown considerably.
But no one could guarantee they wouldn't end up like Knov… losing their sanity and hair from fear.
The main factor was Meruem's aura…
With that, Oboro disappeared from Fante and Anthony's sight.
...
In less than two minutes, Oboro had transformed into a black shadow and landed on the spire of a tower within the royal palace.
He saw that the top floor of the main hall within the royal palace was already isolated and shrouded by a mist, clearly Knov's ability.
Just like in the original work, it was a method to separate the Ant King from Pouf and Youpi…
And in other areas, the extermination team members were also successfully following the plan, holding back the two Royal Guard ants.
Netero and Zeno Zoldyck walked behind, with the Ant King in front. The three figures emerged from the top-floor pavilion.
They did not immediately engage in battle.
It was clear that Netero had already negotiated with the Ant King and was preparing to find a secluded place to fight.
The reason for this was that Meruem's perception of humans had changed.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so 'peaceful.'
In Meruem's eyes, human resistance and struggle were meaningless.
"Mhm… he's here."
Zeno bowed his back, and the moment Oboro appeared, his peripheral vision caught sight of him.
Oboro had not hidden his aura.
"Ho ho ho… he's really fast."
Netero chuckled, not surprised at all.
He even waved at Oboro.
"This brat probably has no good intentions…"
Zeno glanced at the Chairman's expression and warned him.
"He wants to replace me… and take over the Hunter Association…"
Netero teased.
"At a time like this, you can still laugh…"
Zeno.
Then, without further ado, he unleashed his immense Nen again, forming the Dragon Head Play into a solid golden dragon, carrying Netero and the Ant King away from the royal palace.
In search of a battlefield for both sides to clash.
Besides the two old men, the Ant King's pair of red eyes also focused on Oboro, narrowing slightly…
Meanwhile, Oboro, with his hands in his pockets, leaped from the roof dozens of meters high, falling freely.
Watching the dragon's silhouette ascend into the night sky.
Within this royal palace, there were not only the three of them, but also many soldier ants and elite soldiers who had escaped and survived the ant nest.
The numbers were still considerable.
With his speed, he could reach the battlefield before Netero and the Ant King reached a conclusion.
He had already scouted the location beforehand, knowing where the battlefield would be.
It was the area the East Gorteau army used for testing war weapons.
"So perceptive… I was almost recognized…"
Upon landing, Oboro created a deep pit in the stone pavement and smiled faintly.
As he spoke, he reached into his body and pulled out a mass of black soul that resembled slime.
Zeno and Netero could naturally recognize him, but the Ant King had never seen him before…
If he only maintained his original aura, no matter how well he concealed it or how much he changed it, there was a risk of being detected.
He was the human who killed Neferpitou!
The Ant King's perception was superior to the cat-woman's.
This way, Meruem would definitely not leave with Netero at ease, because Oboro's appearance would lead to the deaths of Pouf and Youpi.
He could kill the cat-woman, so he naturally had the ability to kill the other two ants.
The Ant King was willing to leave now because he believed killing Netero would be simple and wouldn't take much time to return. Furthermore, the human aura appearing in the royal palace wasn't truly threatening, and the Ant King trusted Pouf and Youpi to handle it.
So… Oboro had to make some preparations.
Otherwise, if he were seen through, it wouldn't be Netero having a direct conversation with the Ant King, but himself.
Fortunately, due to Komugi and the humans' unexpected attack, Meruem seemed to have little attention to spare for others.
The temperature of the air plummeted…
A dense fog, like a rolling black tide, erupted from Oboro's body. Unlike before, the previously ethereal souls now seemed to have gained substance, not only having complete human skeletons and torsos but also facial features and appearances. Two balls of eerie green fire lit up in their eye sockets.
Even more terrifyingly, what emerged from the mist was not only human souls but also roaring, ferocious beasts, including the shadows of Chimera Ants…
Of course, the essence of the soul remained intangible.
This was a manifestation of his increased Nen intensity.
"Go."
Oboro, standing in the center, like a lord of the undead, said softly.
With that said.
The sky filled with ghost shadows, like masses of black smoke, rose from the ground and shot out in all directions towards the entire royal palace.
Soon, in the core area of the royal palace.
Both the extermination team members from the Association and the ants discovered… the light overhead dimmed.
The sky… became darker.
Everyone was instantly enveloped as if by a black canopy, unable to see anything.
This loss of vision was different from before… there was still some visibility, but this was… literally pitch black, where one couldn't see their hand in front of their face!
____________________
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