"Come on. This way! This way!" Entrapta said, pulling some of the group through Paris.
"You sure we have time to be doing this? What with that crazy memory villain out there wiping people's memories?" Ven asked.
"Come on. It'll be quick. So you know how sometimes I look around places for new parts for new inventions. Well...I found something." Entrapta said pushing in a brick as a part of the wall opened to show a hidden stairway.
"A secret passage?" Ajna asked.
"Oh, it gets crazier." Entrapta said as she lead them down before taking them to a large spacious area.
"Machines, chemicals, tools...this is a lab." Miles said. "Right under Paris."
"How did you find this place?" Magnamon asked.
"Like I said. When I was looking for parts, me and Emily, we accidentally bumped into a wall and found this place. It's so incredible." Entrapta said.
"Who would be crazy enough to have a lab under Paris?" Kaminari asked.
"Uh...pretty sure I got some ideas. Look at this." Miles said showing a photo of Flux and Normal.
"Flux and Normal." Mari said in surprise.
"This must have been one of the labs they worked in when they worked together and when Normal was going through that Jump Project thing." Miu said.
"I dug around and found a lot of interesting stuff about this guy. Why didn't you tell me he was part of a group of artificially created life forms powered by Z-Crystals? That is so Mind-boggling and exciting!" Entrapta said.
"Trust us, if you fought them, you wouldn't find it mind boggling...just annoying." Rainbow said.
"Yeah, Normal was a huge psychopath." ZS said. "Plus, from what we've heard, most of the other Elementals weren't much better… with some exceptions."
"Well, yeah. But with the exception of Dragon, who's dead, the others are living better lives now." Mayumi said.
"So much of their research." Mari said, going through some notes. "Could've been used for the greater good. But that's wishful thinking."
"We should probably see about destroying this place. Whatever research they were doing down here could not have been good." Terra said.
"Better safe than sorry." Mari said, pulling out a bomb.
"Wait...but shouldn't we get anyone living here out first?" Entrapta asked.
"What are you going on about?" Eddy asked.
"Let me show you." Entrapta said, taking them to a number of capsules. Most were empty except for one with a green humanoid.
"Person...ah! No! We do not wanna bring that out!" Miles said.
"Why? He's a person isn't he?" Entrapta asked.
"That is not a person. I recognize some of the parts. That's a Chimera Ant!" Miles said.
"Chimera Ant? Wait… I think I remember Gon and Killua mentioning something about that." Mayumi said.
"They should. That species is from their world. They're a species of insect that's known for its ravenous appetite. They've been known to eat entire species into extinction." Miles said.
"According to the data, this one's name is called "Meruem"." Entrapta said.
"Meruem? That name is...the name of the Ant King that died during a previous extermination!" Miles said.
"Did those two bring him back to life or did they replicate him?" Mari said.
"Normal did manage to bring a number of dead villains back like Dio. It's likely Normal planned to revive him too as part of his group of allies." Elementa said.
"He doesn't seem like a bad guy… the info says he has an interest in humans." Entrapta said.
"Cause the ants were EATING them." Miles said.
"No, I have a feeling this one isn't like the others." Mayumi said.
"Well yeah. Every generation is different. They take the traits of the animals they've eaten and those genes get passed onto the next generation. He looks this way cause the queen ate a number of humans." Miles said.
"What she means, Miles, is that this one seems more…gentle." Ven said.
"Gentle? A Chimera Ant? They ate a number of humans and tried to make an army to rule the world. Sure, why don't we just ask him about himself?" Miles said sarcastically before seeing an alarm going off as the liquid in Meruem's tube drained.
"Hahaha." Ed said.
"Ed, what are you doing?!" Miles said.
"But you said we should ask the ant man about himself." Ed said.
"I was being sarcastic!" Miles said.
"That's not a question." Ed said.
"Okay...maybe he's not…" Miles said as Meruem's eyes opened right up. "He's alive!"
"Ed, you idiot! Now he's gonna eat us!" Eddy yelled.
"Everyone, please stop panicking. It's really not helping right now." Mayumi said.
"We must all calm down." Thorani said, materializing. "I believe Mayumi and Ventus are right. I too feel compassion within him, over a child."
"Okay...you're just crazy. Thankfully, he can't open that by him…" Miles said as the ant's tail broke right through the glass. "Self?" he said as the ant king took his first steps into the lab.
"This...place. I do not know it." he muttered as he looked around.
"Oh my goodness, you are amaaaazing." Entrapta breathed in front of him. "Hello, your royal highness Meruem sir! Welcome back to the land of the living!"
Meruem wasn't showing any emotion as he just walked around and looked around the lab.
"Uh...he's not attacking us." Eddy said.
"He did die. It's likely he's still trying to regain his memories and who he is." Miles said.
"And trying to regain his senses after everything that's happened." Mayumi said.
"Regain his senses? What do you mean?" Ajna asked.
"Well, it's kind of hard to explain, but… When someone wakes up from a long coma or, in his case, came back from the dead, it would naturally take some time to regain their bearings." Mayumi said.
"She's right. It took me and the other Knights a while to get our bearings together too." Magnamon said.
"So...this is a human structure. This is not the palace. Meaning...I was moved." Meruem said. "And these humans...they are either staff or just people who were exploring."
"Wow, he is more in touch than I thought he was." Mayumi said. "Yeah, we kind of stumbled upon this place and found you here."
"Let me ask...which of you was it who set me loose?" Meruem asked.
"That would be this guy." Mayumi said motioning to Ed. "Although, we weren't exactly sure if it was intentional."
"Hello, king ant person from another world!" Ed waved cheerfully. "I am Ed!"
"You have my thanks, human. I am Meruem. It means, the Light that illuminates all." Meruem said.
Ed then realized something. "Oh great and noble Ant King, if it is not too much to ask, we need your help! There is a being of pure evil at a building nearby, and he is obliterating the memory of all in this city!"
"It calls itself Oblivio, and w-" Entrapta said.
"Are you two nuts? If the public sees him like...wait, where is he?" Miles said.
"He just went outside. We should probably go, just to make sure he doesn't do anything drastic." Mayumi said.
They hurried out of the tunnel as they saw the Ant King wandering the streets of Paris.
"So...this is what a city looks like. I've never seen one up close before. It's almost like the colony in some way." Meruem said. "Humans living their lives without any order from a king or queen."
"Wow, he's really taking everything in." Mayumi said.
"He seems more curious than violent." Entrapta said.
"He may be curious now but Chimera Ant Kings are the strongest in the ant hierarchy." Miles said.
"He's not kidding. The guy is putting off a crazy amount of aura." Scarlet said. "He's almost like Cell...actually, I think he may be even stronger than him."
"Makes sense he can use Nen. He's likely a Specialist. Just don't get too…" Miles said as they saw a large bubble growing over Paris.
"People of Paris! Unless Ladybug and Cat Noir show themselves...I will drop this and wipe the memories of all here!" said a shadowy villain known as Oblivio.
"Is this to be some sort of joke?" Meruem said.
"Um, no, it's not a joke." Entrapta said.
"I do not find this humorous. Not at all." Meruem said as wings sprouted from his back as he took flight.
"H-Hey! Wait up!" Mayumi said donning Black Wing Armor and taking off as well.
"Are you the fool claiming to wipe the memories of all who reside within this city?" Meruem asked.
"I will wipe all of Paris's memories." Oblivio said.
"I see. In that case...you can die right there." Meruem said as an intense amount of aura gathered in his palm.
"No!" Mayumi said, pushing the arm up as the blast tore through the bubble and a few clouds up above. "Phew… That was close."
Oblivio was stunned to silence. But he then aimed his blaster at Meruem in desperation. Meruem then reacted almost instantly by slapping the blaster with his tail. "If you're planning to kill me. Go ahead. But note, if you do, then there will be no objections if I try to kill you."
"Meruem, there's no need to go that far. Just...just destroy whatever is making him like this so he can't fight anymore." Mayumi said.
"I see...so he's being controlled." Meruem said as he looked at the blaster and destroyed it, releasing the akuma which was soon caught in purified as Oblivio reverted to Alya and Nino. "They were...just children?"
"Yeah, it happens a lot here. But still… Alya and Nino together? How did something like that happen?" Mayumi asked.
"Uh...we were trying to make everyone forget about us playing this...kids game." Alya said.
"Come on, it wasn't really that embarrassing, was it?" Mayumi asked.
"No...just very...childish." Nino said.
Alya then looked at Meruem. "Whoa! Who is that?!"
"I dunno, but he is freaky." Nino said.
"Hey, don't say that about..wait...where are you going?" Mayumi asked.
"Let me ask you something? Was there...anyone else in there?" Meruem asked.
"No...you were the only one there." Mayumi said.
"I see. So they ignored her." Meruem said. "I need to figure out what I must do from this point on." Meruem said as he took off deep into the city, vanishing from sight.
"Hmm… I hope he's going to be okay. Come on, you two. Let's get you down from here." Mayumi said.
Later…
"I see...so Normal had more planned then those villains." Emi said on the comm.
"I couldn't believe it myself either. To think that it was Meruem of all people." Mayumi said.
"Hmm...I doubt he'll leave the city anytime soon." Emi said. "You said you think he's having a change of heart, correct?"
"Probably. I mean, he didn't seem as vicious as was initially described, and as he left, he was talking about someone else that was with him. I think that person is someone that he had a very deep connection with when he was still alive." Mayumi said.
"Yeah. Makes sense. Apparently, during his plan, he killed time by playing against the country's best players in games like chess, shogi and go. He beat them all but...when he faced the country's top gungi player...he ended up losing every single match to her." Emi said.
"Whoa, really?" Mayumi asked.
"Yeah. She was blind but...she likely had an ability that only activated when she played. Unfortunately, the girl died alongside him when the operation was over." Emi said. "Mayumi...I promise I'll get my sources to keep close eyes on Meruem."
"Thank you, boss. I would really appreciate it." Mayumi said.
"Think nothing of it. Honestly, he has me interested too." Emi said. "I think I would like to meet him soon."
"If you do, I hope that he will be in good hands." Mayumi said.
"Don't worry. I promise not to harm him." Emi said hanging up. "Meruem, the ant king. I've seen his skills in the reports. We still need more members for Jump Force. But will he fit? That's something I'll just have to see for myself." she smiled.