They both realized the Ant King had been gone for a while, yet no one knew his whereabouts. Larry then surprised them by saying, "Don't worry, I've been tracking the Ant King constantly. Every move he makes is right under my nose."
The two exchanged shocked glances, had Larry been keeping tabs on the Ant King all along?
Meanwhile, in the Republic of East Gorteau, located on the easternmost edge of the Balsa Islands within the Mitene Union on the continent of Azian, a large and magnificent palace stood in the middle of a deserted open space. The palace was roughly square-shaped, painted mainly in green and white.
This was the residence of the leader. Inside, the chubby Ming Jol-ik, Supreme Leader of East Gorteau, was indulging in the pleasures of wine and meat.
He sat beneath a stage, eating and drinking heartily, while a group of dancers performed just for him.
The Republic of East Gorteau was a peculiar country, refusing to make concessions like the NGL autonomous region. While NGL appeared to be a natural haven, it secretly housed factories producing all kinds of forbidden items.
East Gorteau, on the other hand, banned citizens from owning advanced technology such as mobile phones. People still communicated by sending letters, much like in NGL. But East Gorteau's have more unusual policies.
To satisfy the demands of those at the top, the people at the bottom suffer terribly, living in harsh and desperate conditions. The government even spreads false information to keep them subdued, like claiming that most children in other countries starve to death before the age of ten.
News like this is often crafted to manipulate public perception, designed to make the poor believe their hardships aren't so severe, all while making it easier for those in power to exploit them. In reality, the citizens of East Gorteau live under harsh and oppressive conditions.
In response, several foreign nations have attempted to offer humanitarian aid. But that assistance rarely reaches those who need it. Instead, much of the funding is siphoned off by corrupt officials and the ruling elite.
In a bid to secure even more international support, the East Gorteau government reportedly proposed sharing technology said to resemble nuclear energy. The irony, of course, is that this technology was itself developed using foreign aid, aid meant to help the very people now being ignored.
East Gorteau was a strange and oppressive place, even more isolated than the NGL Autonomous Region. While the people suffered under strict control and poverty, Ming Jol-ik lived in luxury, enjoying the wealth siphoned from their labor.
"Hahaha! Excellent dance!" he bellowed, slapping the table as performers twirled before him in elaborate costumes. His laughter echoed through the hall, until a sharp ringtone cut through the music.
Ming Jol-ik glanced at his phone, his face tightening. "What? An intruder?"
His tone turned sharp. "Then kill him. I don't have time for questions." He hung up without waiting for a reply, scowling.
With a flick of his hand toward the stage, he growled, "Keep going."
Outside, the guards had already been dealt with. The Chimera Ant King and his royal guards made their way through the palace corridors unopposed. The lack of resistance was irritating.
"What a pathetic defense," the King muttered. "I didn't even get a chance to fight."
It wasn't the first time. No matter where they went, no matter who stood in their way, the King found no worthy challenge. And that, more than anything, angered him.
But then, something shifted. His expression changed. A faint gleam of interest lit up his eyes. "…Oh? This might be interesting."
Standing ahead was a muscular man with narrow, focused eyes, bearing the crimson emblem of a Red Thunder Beetle on his chest. He stepped forward, blocking their path without hesitation.
"I don't know where you came from," he said coldly, "but I can promise you this, you won't die easy."
At that moment, soldiers armed with guns emerged from behind the surrounding pillars. As soon as he finished speaking, the muscular man with narrow eyes suddenly released a dazzling burst of aura, completely enveloping himself. He bore a striking resemblance to Razor from Greed Island, whether it was his squinting eyes or his bulging muscles, they looked identical.
His nen was impressive, too; judging by the force of his bursts, he was clearly a master among those with telekinesis. Not only was he the strongest guard in the entire palace, but also the only one wielding nen.
"This looks really tasty. Time to get started," the Ant King said with a growl, his gaze sending a chill down the spine of the narrow-eyed strongman.
In the blink of an eye, a blur cut through the room. The surrounding soldiers dropped where they stood, each one decapitated. Blood sprayed across the ground, darkening the stone floor.
To make it easier to devour him, the ant opened his skull and lay down on the floor. The Ant King licked his lips, unable to suppress his hunger any longer, and devoured him like a ravenous beast.
With every bite, waves of dark, powerful aura surged from the King's body.
"Yes... that's it! Hahaha!" he shouted, his strength swelling with each mouthful, his aura boiling hotter.
"That's the reaction... meow," Neferpitou said, eyes narrowing in surprise.
They finally understood the King's terrifying ability: by consuming rare individuals, those with nen, he could absorb and plunder their aura, growing stronger with every kill. It was a talent with no visible limit.
After finishing the meal, the Ant King walked into the hall with his three royal guards. Only death awaited Ming Jol-ik.
These invaders had no interest in ruling. Their goal was simple, to turn the entire population into prey.
What none of them realized was that elsewhere in this virtual world, a pair of silent eyes was watching. Every move they made was being tracked by Porygon-Z.
Elsewhere, deep in the forests of the NGL autonomous region, the news spread: "So, the current supreme commander has been killed by the Ant King, and the palace is now fully occupied."
Larry repeated the message he had just received from Porygon Z, successfully helping Morel and the others understand the current situation.
"Didn't expect them to head to the Republic of East Gorteau?" he asked. "I thought they'd go to the nearby Republic of Rokario," Morel replied, gently blowing out a smoke ring, his face showing surprise.
They were both stunned, not only by the Ant King and his group's unexpected destination but also by their incredible speed. It hadn't been long since they left the ant nest, yet they had already traveled all the way from NGL to East Gorteau.
"It doesn't really make sense," Morel said, "but if I had to guess, they just picked that route."
He took a breath, then added, "There are five countries on this island, NGL's all the way to the west, and East Gorteau sits at the far east."