After injecting himself, he remained unaffected. On the contrary, it heightened his ability to sense the intricate intertwining of Nen and malice within his body.
Through numerous experiments, he had determined that an infusion of eight vials was enough to push the balance between Nen and malice to a razor-thin edge—unleashing an overwhelming force, just as the officials had described.
And so, facing the now-invincible Meruem, Ronnel didn't hesitate. He turned to himself and embraced this method of power augmentation, despite its inherent risks.
After all, his strength had already reached terrifying heights. If he were to further infuse it with the combined force of malice and Nen…
Puppets of countless powerful figures. Second gear. Three Excitement Pills. Terpsichora. The fusion of malice and Nen...
This was the true counterstrike Ronnel had prepared for his final battle against Meruem.
...
"You have consumed Nen and absorbed the Royal Guards to fuel your strength, making you invincible."
"Then I will use every method at my disposal to forge power that can rival yours."
With those words, Ronnel injected all eight vials into his body. The moment the fluid coursed through his veins, a tangible, ominous energy began to radiate from within him—dark and thick, intertwining with his own Nen. A pressure unlike anything seen before erupted across the battlefield, once again making the entire arena tremble.
The sheer intensity of his aura eclipsed even the oppressive presence Meruem had unleashed after devouring the Royal Guards.
"So... this is how it is."
Meruem's golden pupils flickered as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if taking a deep breath.
"Perhaps I truly underestimated humans. If warriors of your caliber exist, then it's no wonder humanity has always ruled this world."
A slight smirk formed on the Ant King's lips as he spoke his honest thoughts aloud.
"You have sacrificed much and employed countless methods to reach this level. That alone is something to take pride in."
Ronnel's grin didn't falter. "Human? Ha. Don't assume that just because I've gained the power to stand against you, that everything is in your control, Meruem."
...
A sudden shift.
The overwhelming presence that had made even Morel and the others tremble surged forth once again!
But then—
Behind Meruem, a second figure emerged. Identical in every way, a mirror image of the Ant King himself.
He had used Terpsichora, Neferpitou's technique, to further amplify his already immense power.
The invincible Ant King had become even stronger.
However, in Ronnel's eyes, this move only confirmed his suspicions.
"So, you feel that your strength alone isn't enough to suppress me? That's why you resorted to Terpsichora to enhance yourself further?"
Ronnel chuckled softly. The black malice wrapped around his body swirled like living tendrils, mixing with the heat rising from his skin due to Second Gear. His entire form exuded an eerie and unsettling aura.
"It seems, in both raw power and Nen, we are perfectly matched. If that's the case, then let's determine victory another way."
His smirk never faded as he slowly raised his right hand.
With both fighters now having pushed their abilities to new heights, they gathered their power, prepared for the imminent clash.
...
"Destruction Punch."
The words were spoken gently, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
But hidden beneath that quiet murmur was absolute power.
At the exact moment the words left Ronnel's lips, Meruem moved without warning.
His left arm cut through the air at a speed surpassing sound itself. A blur faster than the human eye could process, his strike was aimed at a single point in space.
Yet, as if choreographed in perfect harmony, at the precise instant Meruem's fist reached that point—Ronnel's own fist, brimming with sheer, unrelenting Nen, met it head-on.
BOOM!
No shockwave rippled outward. No cracks splintered across the battle-worn floor. The force of their collision was so controlled, so precise, that it compressed entirely within the space between them—manifesting only as a deafening sonic boom that would have shattered eardrums had it not been contained.
Their power was beyond comprehension. Their mastery, absolute.
With Body Reconstruction, Meruem had complete control over his form, wielding his physique as the ultimate weapon.
Their contest of strength had long surpassed the limits of ordinary battlegrounds. Here, they could unleash everything without destroying their surroundings.
"A strong punch... is that a Nen ability?"
"That's right. But at this level, I can throw it like any ordinary punch."
The moment their fists parted, the answer drifted through the air.
"At first, it was Rock, Paper, Scissors…"
...
Ronnel shifted his stance, and in the blink of an eye, Meruem vanished once more.
The breeze stirred.
At the Ant King's breakneck speed, the very wind itself was transformed into countless steel-sharp blades, slicing forward in an onslaught toward Ronnel. His right fist gleamed with condensed Nen as he charged forward.
Yet Ronnel remained unshaken, his expression calm.
"Stone."
The moment the word left his lips, the western sky seemed to ignite.
A brilliant light erupted, and in an instant, the wind blades that had been hurtling toward him dissipated into harmless air.
Ronnel's fist, driven by unwavering will and belief, shot forward—straight toward Meruem's outstretched claws.
The Ant King's greatest weapon was his body. With nothing but his bare hands, he had torn through the defenses of even the strongest Nen users.
He was certain that even with Ronnel's newfound strength, his opponent's body was no match for his own.
The tip of his claws would shred Ronnel apart.
...
Meruem, like Youpi and the other Royal Guards, did not rely on martial arts. He had no intricate techniques. No sophisticated combat style.
He was pure speed and raw physical power—his attacks direct, brutal, and devastating.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)