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After bidding farewell to Shinobu, Mika continued his journey, his next stop being the Hunter x Hunter World.
This time, he didn't adjust the timeline but returned to the point he had left—resuming his role as the leader of the Vongola Family—a powerful figure in the underworld.
However, he didn't linger in the city, quickly delegating his responsibilities and embarking on a new journey, seeking a deeper understanding of this world.
Unlike the Demon Slayer world, which mirrored his own previous life's history—the Hunter x Hunter world—with its unique setting and power system, offered a different perspective—a different kind of experience.
While he had traveled extensively in this world before, his previous journey, focused on acquiring knowledge and establishing a power base, had been different.
This time, his focus was on living, on experiencing the world as a mortal.
And this world, with its unique Nen abilities, continued to fascinate him.
His journey wasn't aimless.
Using the Vongola Family's vast intelligence network, he headed towards a specific location:
[The place where the Chimera Ant King—Meruem—would be born.]
Deep within a forest, he arrived just in time to save Kite, who was about to be killed by Neferpitou, one of the Chimera Ant King's Royal Guards—He then reunited with Gon and Killua.
As for Neferpitou, she had sensed the immense power emanating from Mika, a primal fear making her retreat—Compared to hunting Kite, her priority was protecting the Queen and ensuring Meruem's birth.
She was currently the only Royal Guard; the others hadn't been born yet—She wouldn't risk a confrontation with such a powerful being, not even a test of his abilities.
———
"Gon, Killua, long time no see," Mika greeted them with a smile.
"Mika!" They exclaimed excitedly, relieved to see him. They had just faced a near-death experience, Kite's life hanging in the balance.
They had felt the chilling touch of death, a stark reminder of how easily they could lose those they cared about.
"It seems I arrived at the right time," Mika chuckled.
After a brief introduction, Mika and Kite became acquainted. Kite, sensing the imminent danger posed by the Chimera Ants, and having witnessed Mika's power firsthand, decided to return and inform the Hunter Association.
This was no longer something he could handle alone.
Mika didn't try to stop him, but he also had no intention of leaving. He looked towards the distant mountain where the Chimera Ant Queen resided, then found a secluded spot on a nearby peak and sat down to meditate—waiting for Meruem's birth.
He wanted to fight him, to experience the power of the being who had brought such despair in the original story.
"Aren't you leaving, Mika?" Gon asked, puzzled.
"I'm waiting for the King. You can go."
Kite didn't question his decision.
Mika's earlier display of power had been far beyond Neferpitou's; he had no doubt Mika could defeat her. While he didn't understand Mika's reason for not intervening, he knew better than to argue.
Having spent time with Ging—Gon's father—he understood the unwavering resolve of powerful individuals. They wouldn't be swayed so easily. He sensed Mika's determination, and instead of questioning him, he prioritized informing the Hunter Association, hoping to gather reinforcements before the King's birth.
———
After bidding farewell to Mika, Kite quickly left with Gon and Killua.
Mika remained seated, his Cosmo transforming into Nen as he reconnected with his abilities from this world. He would face the King as a Nen user.
However, before that, he had one more task. He raised his finger towards the sky, Nen gathering at its tip.
"Fire—!" With a whisper, his previously suppressed aura erupted—A wave of pressure washed over Neferpitou—who was guarding the Queen, filling her with a primal fear.
Hundreds of thin beams of Nen shot skyward, then rained down upon the forest, instantly killing all the Chimera Ant soldiers and squadron leaders that had already been born.
"They'll serve as nourishment for the King. Go and collect them," Mika said calmly. Despite the distance between them, Neferpitou clearly heard his words, a chilling premonition of death washing over her.
"Go, Pitou," the Queen's voice echoed from within the cave.
"But—he's dangerous!" Compared to the Queen's orders, Meruem's birth was her priority.
"Foolish child. Are you confident in your ability to defeat him?"
"No," Pitou admitted.
"Then what difference does it make whether you're here or not? His intentions are clear; he's waiting for my child. But right now, my child needs nourishment. Without it, he'll be—weak. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Pitou finally understood.
She looked towards Mika, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and respect, then turned and raced into the forest, gathering the corpses of the fallen Chimera Ants to feed the King.
Mika, his task complete, resumed his meditation, waiting.
———
"Is that him?" Three figures stood before the entrance to the Queen's cave, their gazes fixed on Mika, who was meditating on a nearby peak.
During his wait, the Chimera Ant King's three Royal Guards had been born.
And now, having gathered, they turned their attention towards the one they perceived as a threat. While Pitou alone had been hesitant to confront him, with all three Royal Guards present, they wouldn't stand idly by. They charged towards Mika.
Sensing their approach, he opened his eyes, his expression unreadable.
Just as they reached him, he spoke.
"Go back—" A powerful Sonic Wave erupted from him, striking the three Royal Guards and sending them flying back the way they came.
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
They crashed to the ground, their bodies battered and bruised. They had been injured by sound itself.
Mika had once claimed that Nen—being a versatile power system—could be used to create practically any ability.
And the Technique he had just used was one he had learned from Alfia:
Sound Manipulation—a version of her Gospel.
He had mastered it, pushing it to a terrifying level of power—in less than a second. This was because his Nen, now integrated with his Cosmo, was amplified by its power.
And like Nen, Cosmo was incredibly versatile.
Therefore, developing new abilities was now a simple matter, their power immense. Furthermore, he was no longer bound by the limitations and vows that had once constrained his Nen abilities. He had transcended them.
In this world—channeling his knowledge from other worlds through his Cosmo—he was practically invincible.
———
"I spared your lives so you could gather food for your King, not to fight me. Go and fulfill your duties. And don't return—You're only wasting your time." He closed his eyes, resuming his meditation.
The three Royal Guards, lying on the ground, coughing up blood, felt no desire to disobey him.
They had witnessed his power, the vast chasm that separated them. They wouldn't risk another confrontation. It would be futile—They began gathering the corpses of the fallen Chimera Ants, knowing that only their King, the one yet to be born, had a chance against such a powerful foe.
Mika continued his meditation.
But his peace was short-lived.
"I didn't expect you to grow so strong in such a short time," a voice said.
Mika turned and saw Netero standing before him.
"Isn't this exactly what you wanted, Chairman Netero?"
"Hahaha! Indeed, it is," Netero chuckled. He had anticipated Mika's growth.
After all, Kite's report had mentioned Mika effortlessly defeating Neferpitou, one of the Royal Guards, a testament to his immense power. This had excited Netero, prompting him to rush to this location without waiting for the other Hunters the Association was currently assembling.
He looked towards the Queen's cave, where the three Royal Guards stood, their powerful auras radiating outwards.
"What worthy opponents… However, I'm more interested in their King." Having learned about the Chimera Ants' unique biology, he knew their King would be even more powerful than his Royal Guards. And if the Royal Guards were already this exciting…
"No, Chairman. The King is my target. I've been waiting here for days," Mika said, interrupting his musings. He wouldn't let Netero fight Meruem; it would be suicide.
This King, having consumed the life force of countless ants, would be far stronger than his counterpart in the original story. Netero wouldn't even have a chance to use his Poor Man's Rose.
"Really? But this might be my last battle," Netero said, his voice filled with mock disappointment, his eyes wide with feigned sadness.
Mika ignored his theatrics. He knew the old man's penchant for drama. However, he couldn't simply dismiss him either.
"Let's have a duel, Chairman. The winner gets to fight the King."
"I accept!" Netero replied with a grin, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
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