The newcomer's appearance was quite straightforward. He wore only a black vest on his upper body, his turquoise-hued skin was adorned with lengthy earlobes on his shoulders, and blood-red pupils exuded an air of intimidation. This visitor hailed from the Otherworld—a "villain" by designation.
Meet Meruem.
He belonged to the chimeric ant race, categorized as a [HunterXHunter] world, and emerged as the king following the chimera ant queen's relentless quest for human conquest. Despite being merely twenty days old, Meruem's intimidating aura was palpable to Shendu, Drago, Guy Sha, and others, signifying his tremendous strength. However, they didn't give it much thought, considering him just a more powerful ant.
Adjacent to them, the Big Big Wolf trembled in fear.
"Welcome, Mr. Meruem," Ron greeted with a smile.
"Huh...?" Meruem sat at the bar, slightly puzzled by the name mentioned to him. "You know my name?"
Ron explained candidly, "It's your name given by your mother. The significance of this name is 'the light that illuminates everything.'"
Initially hesitant to directly address Meruem by name, Ron eventually decided to do so, feeling that it might be more natural than continually using a title.
Meruem nodded contemplatively.
From birth until now, he had always been referred to by his followers as "King." However, in a conversation with a chess player before arriving at the tavern, Meruem had grasped the importance of having a name—something more than just a simple "king" title.
"How did you come to know?" Mereum's eyes sparked with renewed vigilance, emitting an uncontrollable air of intense hostility.
He vividly remembered the day of his birth, recalling the absence of any human presence within the ant nest.
"My source of information came from your mother, before your birth," Ron replied evasively, attempting to diffuse the tension.
As Mereum was about to press further, Lucoa abruptly approached the bar.
Placing a bottle of wine in front of Meruem, Lucoa calmly said, "Your wine. Take your time with it."
Infuriated by the interruption, Meruem's eyes flared with murderous intent, and his tail aimed directly for Lucoa's neck.
Witnessing this unfolding scene, Shendu and his son couldn't help but gasp. Guysha, too, raised an eyebrow, quietly acknowledging Meruem's courage.
May angels watch over him...
As the needle-like tail neared its target, it inexplicably halted.
Lucoa, who had been squinting, suddenly opened his eyes. The four eyes locked onto each other.
Frozen in place, Meruem found his entire field of vision engulfed by Lucoa's different pupils.
In that moment, it felt as if everything around him was converging and pressing down relentlessly, akin to an island crashing directly into him. It was a sensation of being crushed, drained of blood, and emptied of organs.
This was the ultimate clash between races!
Desperate to resist, Meruem attempted to struggle, yet besides his brain's ability to revolve, he felt entirely disconnected from his own body.
Confronted by those distinct pupils, Mereum, for the first time since birth, experienced an overwhelming sense of despair. It was a fear so profound that it paralyzed any inclination to resist, leaving only a sense of hopeless despair...
"Children, the moment they grow up, all become sinners~"
Lucoa squinted once more, flashing a smile. "Considering you're still a baby, let's overlook this for now. But next time, Ron won't be able to rescue you."
Ron quietly resolved, "Can't rescue you? I'll hang you up tonight and give you a good thrashing..."
"Is that so?" Lucoa grinned, glancing around the bar.
Ron's expression darkened suddenly.
What on earth... Could this person be using dragon magic to invade my mind?
"Don't misunderstand; I've lived too long. People's thoughts can be easily discerned," Lucoa explained casually. "That's settled. See you tonight."
With a playful wink, Lucoa swayed her slender figure and left the bar.
Ron's eyelids fluttered intensely, sensing an unsettling premonition.
What if she crosses paths with Gion? Would there be a clash?
After Lucoa departed, the oppressive tension surrounding Meruem dissipated, restoring normalcy to the atmosphere. Breathing freely again, he panted heavily, his body drenched in sweat.
It was an ordeal, utterly overwhelming in its impact across species. Meruem even felt like he faced a deity in that moment.
Afterward, he picked up a green bottle labeled "Niulanshan" and took a gulp, feeling its hearty taste relaxing his tense nerves considerably.
After a brief moment of tranquility, Meruem spoke slowly, "The wine here is exceptional. Also, I appreciate the name you mentioned. Thank you."
Ron inquired softly, "You seem sensitive to names. Did you meet someone? Did something happen?"
Wheat granted Mereum life, while Ron bestowed upon him a name, giving him a complete soul.
"That person is human. She's adept at playing chess and has even beaten me several times," Meruem said with a slight tremor in his calm voice. "But witnessing her vulnerability, entirely incongruent with her chess prowess, when she was attacked by an eagle, left me utterly perplexed. I'm at a loss about how to face her."
In this moment, Meruem's mental immaturity and confusion started to surface. He began contemplating himself, others, and the world around him. Conflicting sentiments towards Wheat emerged within him. Yet, ultimately, Meruem was just a giant baby who had entered the world not long ago.
Originally, he had no understanding of worry for this body, dreading the emergence of tenderness within him. Ron couldn't help but inwardly sigh.
Meruem's birth resulted from the amalgamation of genes from all living things. However, despite the union of all these elements within one body, there remained a mere trace of humanity missing, primarily due to Wheat's appearance. This evoked subtle emotions within him, proliferating rapidly like a multiplying colony of ants.
"Do you wish to defeat that girl in chess?" Guysha suddenly inquired, her eyes glinting with anticipation.
All of Meruem's memories were accessible. Lacking in humanity and the emotions expected of a being, what response would he offer to such a question? Intrigued by the potential evolution of races like ants, Guysha awaited his answer eagerly.
Meruem paused momentarily. According to their initial agreement, Komugi would perish if he won the chess game. However, did he truly desire her death?