Chapter 146: Finally We Meet Again, Mord!
"From this moment onward, move toward the palace!"
"Citizens in Area A-1, immediately gather at Dige Square!"
"Citizens in other areas, please prepare as well!"
...
Republic of East Gorteau, Capital City.
All broadcasts and televisions in every street and alley were simultaneously transmitting the same message.
The capital's residents gradually emerged from their homes and began moving toward the square.
In the palace, the three Royal Guards were discussing the upcoming selection.
"The enemy could very well use the assembly crowd to infiltrate the palace, meow," Neferpitou spoke up.
"That means the selection will be the most dangerous time," Youpi said.
Shaiapouf nodded and added, "Indeed. His Majesty has stated he will attend the selection. What we fear most is His Majesty being taken somewhere beyond our sight."
"If any of the enemies possess the ability to move objects and forcibly transport His Majesty elsewhere, that would be dangerous." Shaiapouf's face showed a worried expression. "So during the selection period, at least one of the three of us must remain by the King's side."
Meanwhile.
Morel and the others had discovered that the Chimera Ants were hypnotizing the ordinary citizens through the poisonous powder scattered by Shaiapouf.
"Hypnosis... so that's how it is..."
Kite nodded and said, "This way, no one will escape, which actually works to our advantage. No matter how much commotion we cause later, the citizens won't panic and become chaotic. If they were to flee recklessly for their lives, the resulting stampede would cause a massive increase in casualties."
Morel continued, "Previously, we estimated that by the time the operation begins at midnight, more than half of the citizens would have gathered. We were also prepared for the possibility of chaos causing tens of thousands of casualties."
"Now that the biggest concern has been resolved, we can go all out."
The Ant Extermination Team was also ready.
Time passed minute by minute, and night fell.
...
In the palace.
Komugi sat alone before the chessboard, waiting lonely for the King of Ants to arrive.
Following Shaiapouf's plan, Youpi stood guard between the first and second floors of the palace.
Pouf spread his butterfly wings, flew in the air, and continued scattering his scales.
Neferpitou sat on the highest tower of the palace, idly swinging her tail, hoping in her heart for that man to appear.
The King of Ants stood on the second floor, overlooking the palace courtyard.
Compared to when he was first born, his eyes now held complex emotions.
I am the King?
But who am I?
After the humanity within him overwhelmed his beastly nature, he began to ponder more questions, voicing those ultimate philosophical inquiries of humankind.
For what purpose did I appear in this world?
Who am I?
A King without even a name, in a borrowed palace, with these soulless puppets gathered before him.
The King of Ants' mind raced wildly.
His expression grew increasingly ferocious, and he involuntarily clenched his fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands.
If this is the mission bestowed upon me by heaven, then there can be no room for doubt or hesitation.
Dominate this world!
In the fourth-dimensional space.
Morel, Kite, Gon, and Killua gathered before the exit.
"I'll count down from ten seconds! Be mentally prepared!" Morel shouted loudly.
Just as Morel was boosting morale and preparing to depart, a golden dragon appeared in the sky above the capital of East Gorteau.
The first to notice something wrong was Neferpitou.
Since the King of Ants had ordered her not to extend her En to the second floor where he was, Neferpitou moved to the main gate to continue monitoring the citizens' movements. After discussion, the guard force determined that enemies were most likely hiding among them.
But at that moment, the Cat Girl suddenly looked up at the night sky.
If asked why she looked up, she would surely say she just felt like it.
Cats are naturally curious creatures.
It was a faint sensation—she vaguely felt something approaching from about ten thousand meters high.
However, a few seconds later.
She finally confirmed her feeling.
"Enemies!"
But at this moment, Mord and the others were still high in the sky, far beyond the reach of even Neferpitou's extraordinary senses.
The basis for Neferpitou, who had entered combat mode, detecting the anomaly was actually just primal instinct.
It was precisely this instinct that drove Neferpitou to extend all of their aura into the night sky.
At the same time, Youpi and Shaiapouf noticed the disappearance of Cat Girl Neferpitou's En and realized that enemies had invaded.
Not to mention Youpi, who was currently inside the palace.
As Neferpitou's En rose upward, Shaiapouf, who was in the air, also detected the anomaly from high above.
The two Royal Guards almost simultaneously caught sight of that thing with their eyes.
Their pupils slowly dilated.
That thing at ten thousand meters high was actually a dragon!
Both were shocked.
Neferpitou felt more excitement and joy at discovering something novel, while Shaiapouf was filled with concern.
The gazes of the two Royal Guards were instantly captivated by this glowing golden dragon.
But what they should have truly been paying attention to was actually on the dragon's back.
Standing on the dragon's back were the three strongest humans in the world today!
The golden dragon dove downward, while Neferpitou's En continued to rise upward.
The moment Neferpitou's sinister aura touched the dragon, both sides sensed each other's strength.
At the same time, Neferpitou dispelled their En.
This was preparation to enter combat mode at one hundred percent capacity.
They crouched low, like a bristling female cat.
But the next instant.
The diving golden dragon suddenly split apart.
It split into countless glowing small dragons, falling like a meteor shower from above the palace.
Dragon Dive!
This was Zeno's large-scale attack technique. Don't underestimate those small dragons—the so-called low threat level only applies to those at the Royal Guard level.
Huh?!
Looking at the meteors filling the sky, Cat Girl was dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Shaiapouf reacted immediately, shouting toward where the King of Ants should be: "Your Majesty!"
At this moment, they had no time to worry about whether the King would blame them.
Defying the King's orders, they rushed at top speed straight toward the distant throne room on the third floor.
"Where are they?" Neferpitou was bewildered.
They couldn't see the three people hidden at the end of the dazzling dragon swarm, their aura completely vanished.
Just then, Neferpitou, with their six senses heightened to the extreme, detected a very familiar aura. They leaped up, arriving beside that aura.
More dangerous than the countless dragons falling from the sky was this human before them!
"Finally we meet again, Mord!" Neferpitou's face broke into an excited smile, like a female cat in heat.
Mord looked down at Neferpitou charging toward them, the corners of their mouth slightly upturned in a smile.