On the surface, Law had the advantage, even suppressing Meruem.
However, Law was not shortsighted and possessed rich combat experience.
When Meruem shifted to defense, Law understood clearly: if nothing changed, this battle would end with him exhausted and defeated.
Meruem was extremely powerful. He had stronger physical fitness and Manifested Aura than the three Royal Guards. This was also his advantage over humans. But his disadvantage was also very obvious: he had no skills, techniques, and hadn't developed Nen Abilities.
In a sense, Meruem's battle with Netero relied on his durability advantage, then beating the master with wild punches.
If Law's Manifested Aura could match Meruem's... then Meruem's advantage would cease to exist.
Law suddenly retreated, creating distance.
Meruem, in defensive posture, calmly watched Law retreat without reaction.
After retreating a sufficient distance, Law suddenly withdrew Shin, returning it to the Kuro's space.
Seeing this, ripples stirred in Meruem's calm eyes.
A weapon that could be materialized and withdrawn freely was a point requiring vigilance.
After withdrawing Shin, Law reached behind his back, retrieving the [Black Voice] antenna from the Kuro's space with a turn of his hand.
Autopilot Mode.
This was Law's trump card to defeat Meruem. Using the automatic mode, he would erupt all his Potential Aura at once, forming Manifested Aura comparable to Meruem's.
Thus, he could compress the battle time, causing Meruem's plans to fail.
Originally, Autopilot Mode had two conditions: one, losing consciousness, the other, fighting to the death.
But due to the Post-Mortem Nen enhancement, the ability effect remained, yet the 'losing consciousness' condition was removed, becoming a shell-like auto-pilot.
Moreover, if Autopilot Mode was adopted, after use, the [Black Voice] phone would shatter and disappear.
And this choice carried risk. Law had no idea how long the compressed burst of Aura could last… maybe five minutes, maybe three.
If he couldn't resolve Meruem within this brief time, he could only wait for death.
Law inserted the antenna into his lower back with a backhand motion, took out the phone, and activated Autopilot Mode.
"Auto-pilot Mode activated. Target selected..."
An immense golden Aura suddenly erupted from Law's body. The rising air current produced out of nowhere pushed his hair upward.
The puddle under his feet, as if struck by a huge rock, was forcefully pushed away by the erupting aura. Rain falling from the sky couldn't even get close.
Seeing the dazzling, powerful Aura around Law, Meruem slowly widened his eyes, showing astonishment.
'What incredibly powerful life energy...'
However, Meruem's first reaction wasn't gravity or vigilance, but a pure desire.
Perhaps he was picky, so he had no interest in the depleted Netero. But the current Law was practically the world's top delicacy.
'Yes, this human would absolutely be the most excellent meal, no one could surpass him.'
'Must... eat him!'
Meruem felt an indescribable appetite. The astonishment in his eyes was filled with desire.
Before that terrifying Aura, he released an extremely strong malevolent Aura. His body surface seemed enveloped in a purplish-black luster… an undisguised horrifying appetite!
'Treating me as food?'
Seeing Meruem's reaction, Law remained expressionless.
Enveloped in the immense Aura, his eyes shone with golden light, like a god descending.
What a strange feeling. With this Aura wrapping around him, he felt omnipotent and fearless.
Rain, air, cold wind… with just a thought... seemed under his control. The threat from Meruem plummeted to its lowest.
This was the terrifying aspect of Compulsory Manipulation-type abilities. When used on oneself, it could forcibly stimulate all potential power.
Using [Black Voice]'s Autopilot Mode for the first time, also the last, Law almost became intoxicated by his own power.
It was truly an indescribable feeling. With this power, it was as if the world was vast, yet any place was reachable.
Suddenly, Law thought of many forbidden zones in the Dark Continent.
'With this power, perhaps I could tread into those forbidden zones.'
'But this power was temporary and one-time.'
Thinking this, regret was inevitable.
Law sighed softly, raised his hand to look at it, his gaze leaving Meruem for the first time.
After unleashing this power, Law felt Meruem had truly become an ant.
That perception might have been exaggerated by the erupted Aura, but Law believed he could crush Meruem now.
Suddenly, Law casually waved his hand. A golden streak flashed through the rain curtain. Wind, rain, and air seemed kneaded by invisible hands into a balloon, floating quietly before him.
The Domain halo slowly rippled outward. Originally a faint white line forming a circle, it now became a conspicuous gold line. Moreover, gold patterns appeared on the hemispherical shell.
Seeing Law begin using his ability, Meruem's heart shook, as if a bucket of cold water was poured on his rising desire.
An emotion never felt before rapidly spread within him.
It seemed like... fear?
'I fear that power?'
Prominent veins bulged on the knuckles of Meruem's right hand. Aura condensed like substance emitted a purplish-black light.
At that moment, the sphere imprisoning wind, rain, and air shot over at the speed of light.
Meruem had no reaction. The sphere hit him, his entire body transforming into a streak of light, flying over a hundred meters in the blink of an eye, crashing heavily into a rocky mountain.
Boom!
The huge rocky mountain instantly collapsed.
Meruem's figure shot out from the other side of the mountain, crashing into the next rocky mountain, collapsing several in a row before stopping.
He climbed out of the rubble pile, shaking his slightly dizzy head.
Air burst...
Using his body and Aura to withstand this attack, he analyzed the nature of that Nen Sphere: the main power came from compressed air.
The impact force was so strong, yet Meruem only felt slightly dizzy. This showed that only sharpness-type attacks could yield good results.
Standing in the pile of debris, Meruem looked up at Law ahead, his expression slightly stunned.
In the rain curtain, only a fragmentary shadow was darting, moving at an incredible speed. It was Law continuously using [Instant], moving his body in an unmanifested state, as if traveling in another space.
The distance of several hundred meters was covered in almost less than a few seconds.
Meruem retreated madly backward, feeling shock and anger intertwined.
Shocked by the opponent's strength, angered by his own retreat.
Then, he saw an incredible scene.
Within the gold-patterned Domain where Law was, rain, air, rock fragments, even the fierce wind, all formed countless tiny whirlpools, swirling within the Domain, circling around.
"You, don't fall too quickly."
Law said, raising his index finger slightly upward. The countless tiny whirlpools circling around him swarmed towards Meruem like piranhas in the Amazon River.
Boom! Boom! Boom...!
The tiny whirlpools continuously hit Meruem's body, making his body levitate, like clothes tossed into a washing machine, his form spinning wildly in mid-air above the original spot.
'Meruem, within this limited time, let me thoroughly enjoy this power...'
Hide-and-Seek space.
Nique was drenched all over, as if fished out of water.