Chapter 145: Soaring Dragon
"What is my name?"
The King of Ants looked at the three Royal Guards kneeling before him and asked this question.
The three guards each offered their own answers.
Pouf said the King is the King, a unique existence in this world.
The title of King should belong to only one being in the world. What the King must do is conquer the world and eliminate all false kings. So that whenever anyone in the world mentions "King," they would think of the King of Ants.
Clearly, this answer didn't satisfy the King.
Because he knew that "King" was just a title, not a name.
For Youpi, who uniquely lacked human genes, this philosophical question clearly exceeded his capabilities.
CPU overload.
The straightforward guard directly stated he couldn't answer.
Neferpitou said she believed the King should follow his own feelings most importantly. The King's name should be chosen by the King himself—he could call himself whatever he wanted.
Through this simple question and answer, one could see the completely different personalities of the three Royal Guards.
Youpi, born from the mixture of ant and magical beast blood, had no extra opinions about anything. He contentedly focused on his assigned duty: protecting the King from harm.
Both Neferpitou and Shaiapouf were thorough hybrids of human and ant.
Besides their ant nature, they also had their own perspectives.
In Shaiapouf's view, the King was an image, a position, a concept, a title.
The King is the King—no additional name was needed.
He wanted the King of Ants to grow into the image of King he held in his heart.
Neferpitou followed and respected all the King's decisions and individuality.
Youpi corresponded to the King's instinct, that is, wildness; Pouf corresponded to the King's status, that is, social nature; the Cat Girl corresponded to the King's self, that is, individuality.
At the same time, they were like three parents with different philosophies about raising a child.
Shaiapouf knelt on the ground and spoke, "We can decide on names after the selection is completed. The most important thing now is to smoothly proceed with tomorrow's selection."
The King of Ants wasn't listening to Shaiapouf's observation. He turned his head to look in a certain direction.
That was where Komugi was resting.
"Your Majesty, do you have any concerns?"
"Whatever worries you might have, you can tell us. We exist to share your burdens," Shaiapouf continued.
The King of Ants remained silent for a moment before uttering words that left the Royal Guards bewildered.
"Komugi's entire body... is radiating light."
"Komugi?" Shaiapouf asked in confusion.
Still facing Komugi's resting place without turning his head, the King calmly explained, "She's the blind girl who plays Gungi with me."
!!!
Upon hearing the King's words, Shaiapouf was utterly shocked beyond measure.
To hear the name of a lowly human from the King's mouth...
While shocked, Shaiapouf suddenly felt a sense of unease.
The King seemed to be gradually deviating from the predetermined path.
"Neferpitou, if Komugi were to participate in tomorrow's selection, what would happen?" the King asked.
The Cat Girl lifted her head and replied, "She would die. This selection model is designed to identify individuals with soldier-like physical and mental capabilities. Therefore, only those with extremely high combat abilities would survive."
After hearing Neferpitou's words,
The King of Ants finally understood many things. He believed there were many forms of strength in this world, but the most powerful of all was violence.
Because violence could destroy everything else.
So the question arose: who possessed the strongest violence in this world?
That would be me. My power is the strongest in this world!
The King of Ants clenched his fists, a ferocious smile appearing on his face. Terrible energy continuously emanated from his body—power that even made the Royal Guards tremble.
Believing he had figured everything out, the King of Ants strode purposefully toward Komugi's resting place.
Gungi, Komugi—everything was just a game to pass time before the selection.
The selection is approaching. I no longer need these.
I've played enough. She has lost her value of existence.
Kill her!
This was the only thought in the King of Ants' mind at that moment.
If not for that damned eagle, everything might have developed differently.
In fact, this suddenly appearing eagle was the true MVP.
Watching Komugi being attacked by the eagle, the King immediately eliminated the bird and scolded, "Why didn't you call for help? You're injured here, and here too. Look at you—covered in blood!"
What a fragile life this is.
"It's early morning... I didn't want to trouble you..." Komugi said weakly.
"It's no trouble at all. You are... my most honored guest."
What am I even saying? Wasn't I just here to kill her? Why is she crying? Why can't I bring myself to do it?
"Waaahhh..." Komugi suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs. "I'm sorry... it's just that no one has ever been this kind to me before..."
Watching Komugi cry her heart out, the King of Ants felt truly at a loss for the first time.
What is happening? What should I do?
In this moment, the King's human attributes began to overwhelm his brutal, unconscious animal nature. Humanity prevailed over bestiality. He had become human.
...
Somewhere within East Gorteau, in a dilapidated temple.
Beneath a crumbling Buddha statue, the old man opened his eyes. A dazzling golden light began to erupt from his body.
Mord glanced upward. He knew the time had come. Netero had now adjusted to the absolute limits of what his current body could achieve, becoming even more powerful than he had been at Kukuroo Mountain.
"Let's go."
The words still hung in the air when the old man already stood at the temple entrance, beside Mord and Zeno.
Zeno nodded. His hands formed a peculiar gesture, and a golden dragon erupted from his palms, soaring into the sky.
Dragon Head!
The two men leaped onto the dragon's back. Mord glanced back once before following suit.
Inside the temple, the crumbling Buddha statue remained with closed eyes. If Buddha truly possessed compassion, why wouldn't he open his eyes to see this world?
The golden dragon carried what could be called the three strongest humans in the world as it flew toward the East Gorteau palace.
...
Meanwhile.
Morel and the others were finally preparing to take action.
When Knuckle had set up the entrance points earlier, he had felt the Royal Guards' terrifying and evil aura up close, completely shattering his will to fight.
So extremely terrified that his hair even turned white overnight.
Recalling how he had boasted to Gon and Killua outside the NGL borders now seemed utterly ironic.
Those without strong enough hearts could never become true strong ones.
Fortunately, from the beginning, Netero had already designated him as a free agent in the team assignments, meaning it wouldn't affect the upcoming operation at all.
If even this had been within Netero's expectations, then the old man was truly terrifying.