So… that's the "Ant King"?
Somehow, it feels a little disappointing.
Germain held the Sacred Moonlight Sword in one hand, tilting it slightly as he turned his body. His gaze shifted toward the so-called king, surrounded by countless demons.
His eyes lowered slightly, and he couldn't help but think of Meruem.
Since Meruem's death, countless Chimera Ants had proclaimed themselves kings, ruling as they pleased…
They should really see for themselves what a true "Ant King" looks like.
But no matter—first, he had to put an end to this war. Everything else could wait.
He entrusted his back to the ones he could rely on—Shizuku, Kurapika, as well as Machi, Pakunoda, and others who had formed a wartime alliance with them.
Then, alone, he stepped forward, greatsword in hand, and charged straight into the enemy ranks.
"Catch him!" Zazan laughed, her waist swaying with amusement. To her, Germain had just made a fatal mistake.
"Take him alive! He'll be a perfect subject for 'Queen Shot.'"
Perhaps he could even become a new "Royal Guard"… or more.
Zazan greedily licked her lips.
With Gyro silent, Zazan's command took priority. The demons surged forward like a tidal wave, showing no hesitation.
But the moment Germain swung his massive greatsword, unleashing the first crescent-shaped slash—
Everything changed.
Boom!
A blinding blue light burst forth, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of aura.
And then, like a magic trick, the demons that had been blocking Germain's path vanished as if they had never existed.
A whole section of the ground had been cleanly sliced away, revealing a smooth cross-section—like a knife cutting through tofu.
If not for the bloodied rain falling from the sky, Zazan wouldn't have even realized what had happened.
This… this kind of thing… how could something like this be possible?
She swallowed hard. Fear instantly crushed her initial, childish thoughts.
"Kill him! At all costs, no matter the method—kill him!"
This was exactly why Gyro disliked that foolish woman, Zazan. She was always shallow, never worthy of the title "Ant Queen."
But right now, there was no better candidate. Her Nen ability had, after all, produced an army of terrifying size and power for Gyro.
A demon army wielding Nen—a force that made the Meteor City warriors, most of whom were just ordinary fighters, look completely outmatched.
Yet the "Queen" who created this army didn't possess the strength to truly live up to that title.
If Zazan had been more like him—more informed, more observant—she would have already realized who this man in front of her likely was.
"Germain."
The very man responsible for crushing the Chimera Ant invasion not long ago.
The "Ant King" and the "Three Royal Guards" of the Republic of East Gorteau—every single one of them had fallen by his hands.
Though Gyro had left the nest before the birth of the "Ant King" and the "Three Royal Guards," he still had a basic understanding of those monsters.
Anyone who could kill the Chimera Ant King and his three Royal Guards was, without a doubt, a monster.
And this monster—standing at this distance—was enough to threaten him.
Just as Gyro had expected.
Germain swung his Sacred Moonlight Sword, cutting through the demon army trying to stop him like they were nothing. He moved as if he were in an empty field, unstoppable.
What made things even worse was the humans behind him. They launched a fierce counterattack, charging in like rabid dogs, biting into their ranks.
The battlefield, which had been completely one-sided just moments ago, was suddenly flipped upside down.
No one had expected that tonight's assault on Meteor City's main base—meant to end the war in one decisive blow—would fall apart at the last moment.
A sense of anxiety and frustration rose within Gyro.
He had been treated as nothing but a tool by his father, despised by society, and denied his worth by the world. His heart was filled with resentment, and that resentment became the driving force that kept him moving forward.
He had spent nine years building the NGL Autonomous Region, only to see it destroyed effortlessly by the invading Chimera Ants. His hatred had now reached an entirely new level.
But now, he had been reborn in a stronger body, one that seemed tailor-made for him. He had gained a Nen ability that would allow him to ascend to the throne.
There was no way he would waste another nine years on Meteor City. According to his plan, he would seize full control within six months.
And things had been progressing exactly as he had envisioned. In just over three months, he had crushed the original forces of Meteor City.
The moment he saved Zazan and established the Ant Nest marked the beginning of a new empire.
Now, the final act of this first chapter should be the fall of Meteor City's main base, the destruction of its greatest resistance, and then, turning back to sweep through the entire city—eliminating the scattered remnants once and for all.
He couldn't wait to spread his ambition, his madness, across the entire world, casting a shadow of terror over everyone.
Only then could he experience a euphoria like no other… Being rejected by the world wouldn't break him—he would simply turn around and reject the world instead.
But just as his ultimate victory was within reach, that man appeared.
With overwhelming, incomprehensible strength, he tore through everything, cutting down anything in his path with ease.
His "soldiers," his "officers," his "division commanders," his "personal guards"—one by one, they fell.
Even those who had taken the "King Shot" and resurrected—those he had placed his greatest hopes on—were no exception.
Under the slash of that Sacred Moonlight Sword all the ranks Gyro had established became meaningless labels.
All were equal in death, slain in a single strike—without exception.
It was a strange feeling… The unstoppable momentum Gyro had hoped to achieve in Meteor City was now being displayed by Gelman instead.
And once again, that familiar, suffocating feeling of rejection crept into his mind.
Months of planning, countless efforts—utterly worthless. It was laughable.
He had to stop him. He couldn't let history repeat itself, couldn't let the Chimera Ants destroy his NGL Autonomous Region again.
He had to stop him!
At last, after a long silence, he turned to the anxious Zazan beside him and issued a cold command.
"Take the drug I gave you."
Zazan turned to him in shock. For a brief moment, her fiery red curls seemed to lose their color.
"But… but…"
Her hesitation vanished the instant she met the cold eyes beneath his hood.
"Alright... alright..."
She reached into her pocket and took out a black pill. The pill had a distinct "DD" mark on it. Her hands trembled slightly as she placed it in her mouth and swallowed.
Almost instantly, a scorching heat and unbearable pain surged through her entire body. She gritted her teeth, trying to endure it, when she suddenly noticed Gyro's actions.
He had also taken out the pills—but instead of one, he grabbed a whole handful of "King Shots" and shoved them into his mouth without hesitation, chewing and swallowing them all like he was simply eating a meal.
Zazan's eyes widened in shock. She had only taken one pill and was already suffering immense pain. But Gyro… he had swallowed over a dozen!
He's insane... completely insane!
All just to gain power, to defeat the powerful enemy standing before him. He didn't care about the risks, the consequences, or even if he had a future after this.
Soon, both Gyro and Zazan's bodies began to change, swelling and mutating rapidly.
Zazan already had a shape-shifting ability similar to Youpi. But the "King Shot" pushed her transformation even further.
Her red hair grew wildly, turning into writhing, fiery-red snakes. A terrifying vertical crack split her face down to her lower abdomen, revealing rows of interlocking fangs.
As the pain faded, Zazan realized she hadn't died. Instead, she had gained even more power. She burst into laughter, overwhelmed with excitement.
"Hahahaha—!"
Once, she had her own ambitions. But now, she was forced to rely on Gyro.
And at this moment, that reliance seemed to be paying off.
She had become stronger!
With a flick of her scorpion tail, she struck the ground, launching herself into the air. She shot toward Germain, her confidence swelling just like her body.
"Die, pathetic human! I'll make you—"
But in the very next instant, her words got caught in her throat.
A massive Nen blast crashed into her upper body, swallowing her whole.
BOOM—!
Before she could even register fear, Zazan was obliterated. Her lower half tumbled lifelessly to the ground.
Germain didn't even acknowledge the difference between his last target and this one. Without hesitation, he moved on, continuing his massacre of the remaining demons.
********
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