...
"Alright, let's get to work too~"
Morel took the lead, turning away with his large pipe resting on his shoulder.
During the frantic chase with Shaiapouf, he had glimpsed the figure of a groundhog.
There had been a prior understanding—if they met again, they might have to face each other directly.
Now that fate had brought them together here, it was time to settle things~
Previously, when attacking the squad, when targeting the third Royal Guard directly~
...
In a remote, desolate area far from the palace, surrounded by rocky mountains, an eerie silence filled the empty battlefield.
High above, Zeno executed the opening move, calculating the distance precisely. As his energy reached its limit, it dissipated into countless light particles, scattering into the sky.
Netero, fully aware of what had transpired, let his body fall freely, his expression unreadable. The Ant King remained motionless, descending toward the ground with the same calm composure.
Dust rose upon impact, settling in a slow cascade as the two landed one after the other.
As the dust cleared, Netero's gaze fixed ahead. Before him stood the Ant King, arms folded, his posture unwavering.
He hadn't even acknowledged Netero as an opponent. Either he believed Netero's attack would be ineffective, or he simply didn't care. Instead, the Ant King casually observed the surrounding environment.
"This place is a weapons testing ground," Netero said, his tone firm. "You can destroy as much as you like—it won't matter."
This battlefield had been chosen by V5 and himself. Netero had accepted certain truths the moment he selected this site.
The Ant King turned slightly, his face half-hidden in the darkness cast by the moonlight, making it difficult to read his expression. Only his sharp, blade-like eyes betrayed his thoughts.
"Why fight?" he asked, his voice even.
"Hah?" Netero raised an eyebrow, caught off guard.
"You have no chance of winning against me."
The Ant King spoke as though stating an irrefutable fact. His voice carried neither arrogance nor malice—only certainty.
"There's no need for you to rush to your death."
A tense silence followed, stretching between them like an unspoken challenge.
A gust of wind swept through the barren land, kicking up dust. But neither of them flinched—their auras had already formed an invisible barrier, keeping the swirling debris at bay.
Still, Netero idly scratched his ear and blew away the dust he'd gathered, his voice light and teasing.
"How do you know if we haven't even fought yet? You don't know anything about me, do you?"
"It's quite the opposite."
At Netero's casual provocation, the Ant King's arms slowly lowered to his sides. His fingers curled into fists.
"You're not some mediocre martial artist who can't read a battle."
He exhaled, his demeanor shifting slightly.
"I was born to rule this world. At first, I saw humans as nothing more than livestock. But now… things are different."
His sharp gaze softened slightly, as if recalling someone.
"Though they are few, I have come to understand that some humans are worth preserving—like that girl."
He studied Netero closely.
"I sense the same quality in you. If you stop now, I won't kill you."
For the first time, the Ant King spoke words of mercy.
The brutal, instinct-driven creature he once was had begun to change.
"Hah?"
Netero chuckled, shaking his head.
"You mean, you'll spare me alone, right?"
Golden light flickered around him as his aura flared to life. Slowly, deliberately, he raised both hands to his sides.
"Unfortunately, from where I stand, that's not an offer I can accept~"
No more words were needed. His energy, his stance, and the resolve in his voice all conveyed the same message.
This battle was inevitable.
"You know you're going to lose, and yet you still want to fight? I don't understand~"
The Ant King's expression remained unchanged. There was no anger, no frustration—only an unwavering curiosity.
"Are you doing this for the sake of humanity? If so, my actions should be seen as an improvement for your kind."
Netero narrowed his eyes.
"Take your own society, for example. Your world has borders—artificial lines of power. On one side, children starve to death, while on the other, corruption reigns."
The Ant King raised his hand to the sky, his fingers stretching as if to grasp something intangible.
"I intend to erase all of it and rebuild from the ground up."
His voice was calm, but the weight of his conviction was absolute.
"It won't be perfect, but at least the world will no longer suffer from such grotesque inequalities."
Netero listened without interrupting, then slowly closed his eyes.
"At first, I will rule through power and fear, but only to maintain order."
The Ant King's open palm clenched into a fist.
"I have learned where to use my strength."
His voice resonated with an almost noble certainty.
"It should be used to protect the weak…"
His grip tightened further.
"And those who deserve to live! Strength should never be used to trample the defeated."
His declaration echoed across the empty battlefield.
Netero opened his eyes again, their depths unreadable.
"This guy is dangerous…"
A leader who had embraced idealism, who had realized the true power of his own strength—such a person was far more formidable than a simple tyrant.
And worse, his argument wasn't entirely unreasonable.
For the first time, Netero felt the pure excitement of battle wane slightly. His original desire for a thrilling fight had been tempered by something else—something unsettling.
"The reason I haven't attacked yet, and why I didn't mind changing locations, was to have this discussion without distractions."
The Ant King lowered himself into a cross-legged seat, his gaze locked onto Netero's, unwavering.
He wanted to reason with Netero.
Not fight him.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)