Chapter 34: It’s Time to End This
The sky above Sabaody was still torn between golden light and dark smoke. The air buzzed with tension, filled with the sharp clangs of weapons, the hum of Haki, and the echo of devastation that spread across Grove 13. The battleground looked like a ruined arena, scorched earth and shattered trees surrounding the eye of the storm: Meruem versus the elite.
Back in Shakky's Bar, the atmosphere was the opposite—quiet, tense, still.
Jessie placed his drink on the table, the glass clicking softly against the wood. His eyes stared through the wall, toward the direction of the chaos. He took a deep breath and stood up. Uta, Kuina, and Vash all looked up at once.
"It's time," Jessie said calmly, yet firmly. "We're heading to Fish-Man Island."
"Finally!" Vash grinned, adjusting his coat and finishing his drink.
Uta's expression, however, turned serious. "What about Meruem?"
Jessie glanced at her, nodding. "Call him. It's time to end that."
Uta picked up the Den Den Mushi from her coat. The snail blinked lazily at her, and she turned the dial. "Meruem," she said into it, her voice direct. "Captain's orders: Wrap it up. Don't kill the admiral. Take care of the rest. We're setting sail."
Back on the battlefield, Meruem's piercing eyes never left his surroundings. He had taken on CP0, the Holy Knights, and Kizaru without even using full force. His tailored black coat, now slightly torn, fluttered with the gusts of displaced air from Kizaru's light-speed movement. Scorched marks and broken terrain surrounded him.
He smiled faintly for the first time during the entire battle.
"You're strong," Meruem said coolly to Kizaru, "Fast. Calculated. It's been a long time since I've had this kind of fun."