If it hadn't been for Lan's warning, she might really have done something foolish and ended up in a place of no return.
Looking back now, Palm felt a lingering fear but also relief.
Relieved that she hadn't been discovered and that she could still live on unharmed.
Bizeff also felt a surge of gratitude, grateful that he hadn't gone the extra mile to report or betray her.
Because that had unintentionally left him a way out, a path to redemption, a way to reduce his sins.
This is what people mean when they say: "Leave a little room for others, and you'll meet again someday."
He finally understood that now.
Knov, with Palm and Bizeff in tow, managed to exit the underground facility smoothly.
His mission was complete.
Now, all that remained was to wait and see how the battles unfolding on the other fronts would turn out.
Meanwhile, outside the royal palace, far from the inner battlegrounds of the royal guards... on a distant hilltop.
"This should be far enough."
The Ant King took a casual glance at his surroundings before canceling the repelling force applied to him.
Whoosh!
The Ant King's body began to fall, dropping swiftly to the ground.
Seeing this, Netero immediately broke free and leaped downward.
With both of them descending, the ultimate clash between the two races had finally begun.
This would be the battlefield of gods.
A desolate, empty place, the perfect setting for two powerful figures to unleash their full power.
The Ant King slowly turned to face Netero behind him.
"Why do you want to fight?"
That single question caught Netero off guard.
The fighting spirit that had just started to burn in him wavered slightly.
"You have no chance of winning against me."
Meruem said calmly, his tone flat and devoid of arrogance, as if stating a simple, indisputable fact: "There's no need for you to rush to your death."
Netero smacked his lips lightly at those words.
"Young ones sure are bold these days."
He stuck out his pinky and casually scratched his ear.
"But if I don't try, how will I know for sure?"
"You probably know nothing about me at all."
His eyes narrowed slowly.
"Judging someone by appearances... That's just asking to be surprised."
Meruem's expression remained unchanged.
But in truth, the other party's word was true; Meruem did realize that the man before him wasn't just some average fighter who couldn't see the flow of battle.
"At first, I thought humans were no different from livestock. Until that girl appeared and changed my mind."
He was, of course, referring to Komugi. "Although only a handful of humans are worth letting live… you, standing before me, are one of them."
"I'm willing to let you go."
That statement made Netero open his eyes slightly.
"So you're saying you'd only let me go?"
His aura surged, radiating terrifying power and resolve.
"Unfortunately, from my position... I can't accept that kind of deal."
Netero slowly spread his arms, assuming a fighting stance.
Negotiations had failed, making Meruem puzzled.
"You know you'll lose; why continue to fight?"
"Is it really for your species?"
"If I ruled the world, wouldn't that actually help humanity?"
"For example."
Meruem continues: "Your human world has things like borders, dividing people and power..."
When Meruem traveled from the Neo-Green Life (NGL) Autonomous Region region to the Republic of East Gorteau, he crossed the western border, and there, he saw people dying from hunger.
Meanwhile, on the eastern side, the incompetent rulers indulged in luxury they didn't deserve.
"This diseased world needs to be destroyed. A new order must be established!"
Meruem clenched his fist, then slowly opened it.
"It won't be true equality, but at least the disparity won't be so absurd."
Netero was silent for a long time after hearing those words.
His eyes lowered; those words... did hold a certain truth.
Seeing this, Meruem continued expressing his ideals: "At first, I used force and fear to achieve my goals. That was just a means of maintaining order."
"But now, I've learned how to properly use power."
"To protect the weak, not to oppress the defeated!"
Meruem's voice rang out firm and powerful.
And Netero… he was deeply moved by those words.
But what struck him the most was…
"This guy... Is dangerous."
Once again, he felt the overwhelming complexity and unpredictability of the Chimera Ant species.
The reason Meruem hadn't attacked yet, the reason he was even willing to find a more isolated place for their battle, was simply because he wanted an open and honest conversation with him.
"Come and sit down."
Meruem sat cross-legged on the ground and extended an invitation to Netero.
That gesture made Netero realize the king's stance had started to waver.
But alas… humans and Chimera Ants could never truly coexist.
The upper echelon had ordered the Hunter Association to eliminate this existential threat.
From the standpoint of human nature, every intelligent species, once born, seeks to expand and dominate resources.
Without discipline, it climbs the food chain by instinct alone.
And between different species, understanding and peace are nearly impossible.
The Chimera Ants studying humans was like humans dissecting monkeys.
Most importantly, the Hunter Association, and even Netero himself, were nothing more than a tool, a hitman organization.
Despite being the strongest in the world, Netero was still ruled by those beneath him in strength.
And that was the nature of the human world.
So even though he felt deeply conflicted, Netero ultimately refused the Ant King's invitation.
He had to strike before his heart could waver.
His eyes grew calm as still water, and with slow, deliberate steps, he moved toward the Ant King, Meruem, who remained seated, quietly watching his approach.