Warmth | Meruem

13 - The King's Warmth

THIRD PERSON

"This place should be fine. It was used for weapon testing. We can fight to our fullest here." Netero says in the middle of the vacant land.

"Mehana won't get hurt from this distance, right?" The King asks with narrowed eyes.

"That is right. She is more than safe from that distance." The old man nods with a chuckle. "She is my daughter. Of course I will not endanger her but this is quite interesting. Why do you care so much for her? Is she not just a source of food to you?"

The question left Meruem silent for a moment. Then, he responded.

"She is different. She may be human but I have realized that some humans deserve to live. Mehana is one of those humans. Komugi as well. They are both strong, but in different ways." He extends his hands as he explains. "Yet there are also those who do not deserve the power they have. People who have no power but still live a content life. It is nonsense. And I will change that. I will flip the inequality. It isn't too late to back down, old man."

"O-Old man?" Netero mutters. "You must have learned that from the kiddo...ahem, anyway-" This is bad. I must eliminate him as soon as possible before he gets to my heart. "I am afraid that I cannot back down."

The chairman wears his serious face as he places his hands together and attacks with his skill. A brilliant statue of what seemed like Buddha sat behind him, numerous hands in the air, waiting to move.

Meanwhile, Mehana stares from a very long distance. Though she couldn't see the two, she can feel their overwhelming presence from miles away. She can already tell from the small golden light that sparked from the surface of the land that her father had summoned his skill.

"Both of you...please don't do this to me..." She silently cries as she feels Meruem's aura dashing from one spot to another. He was taking the attacks and surviving from them. That was a relief, she thought.

"I will not fight you. Only words will influence me." Meruem sits on the ground again. Netero then finds the hint in his words.

"Do you know your name?" He smirks.

"Meruem." The ant says. "I already have. Whatever you say next will not-"

"Then what about Mehana?"

"What do you mean?" Meruem was caught off guard at the mention of Mehana.

"Meruem means illuminating and bright. Would you like to know the meaning of her name? I chose it myself so I know it quite well." Netero crosses his arms in victory. He knew he had won. If there was any weakness to the King, then it was his daughter.

The irony, the weakness of both men was her.

"The meaning...of Mehana?" Meruem's eyes widened a bit before contemplating. He didn't know the meaning of her name. Now that he is curious, he feels the need to know.

"Tell me." The King stands in interest.

As they both began fighting again, which ended up in both of them underground, Mehana still sat behind the line that her father had carved on the ground with his Nen. She was completely unaware of the exchange between her foster father and beloved King.