For fans of the legendary anime and manga Hunter x Hunter, the Chimera Ant arc is often hailed as the pinnacle of tragedy and jaw-dropping displays of power. Fans will never forget the fates of the two strongest characters from the Ant and Human sides during that saga.
After realizing Kite was truly dead, Gon Freecss was consumed by a burning hatred. He sacrificed all his potential and lifespan to force himself into “adult mode,” transforming into Adult Gon and crushing the Royal Guard Neferpitou with a single punch.
Meanwhile, King Meruem fought a deadly battle against Isaac Netero. Though he survived the Miniature Rose explosion, Meruem ultimately met a bitter end from radiation poisoning caused by the bomb.
A classic question has sparked debate among fans for years: if Adult Gon faced off directly against the original Meruem (before absorbing any Royal Guards), could he win? Let’s dive into this fascinating hypothetical showdown.
1. Gon’s power is enough to leave Meruem stunned
It’s important to remember that before dying, Pitou felt relieved and grateful that Gon unleashed all his destructive power on her instead of Meruem. As a top Royal Guard, Pitou’s instincts confirm that Adult Gon’s strength was on par with Meruem’s.
To grasp how brutal Gon’s punch was, consider Pitou’s toughness. Pitou took a devastating tail strike from Meruem with only minor scratches. During the palace assault, Pitou was blasted far away by Netero’s attack but remained unharmed.
In other words, Pitou’s defense was monstrous. Netero had to use his 99 Hands technique to even stand a chance at defeating her. Yet Adult Gon needed only one punch to completely incapacitate Pitou.
Even Netero’s ultimate Zero Hand attack couldn’t seriously injure Meruem. But with Adult Gon’s raw muscle power and massive Nen reserves, one punch would definitely stagger and severely wound the King.
2. Raw strength isn’t enough, Meruem’s superior intellect is a game changer
Though Gon can deal more devastating damage than Netero, that doesn’t guarantee victory. In Nen battles, strength alone doesn’t win fights. Strategy, experience, and intelligence matter just as much. The most likely scenario would play out like this.
Early on, Gon’s incredible speed (he once appeared behind Pitou without her noticing) would land at least one deadly hit on Meruem. This punch would make Meruem realize Gon is his most dangerous enemy yet.
Later, Meruem’s genius-level tactical mind would kick in. One punch wouldn’t be enough to finish him off immediately. After taking the hit, Meruem would become cautious, start reading Gon’s movements, and look for weaknesses in his attack patterns, just like he did against Netero’s techniques.
Gon’s fatal flaw is that while his stats (strength, speed, Nen) increase, his skills and battle intelligence remain that of a 12-year-old child. If Meruem can hold out long enough behind his nearly impenetrable armor, he will figure out Gon’s fighting style.
Plus, Adult Gon’s transformation has a time limit. If the fight drags on, Gon will exhaust himself and become a lifeless husk before he can land a decisive blow on Meruem.
3. Nen’s “Vow and Condition” limits Gon’s power
One crucial factor many fans overlook is that Gon’s hatred was solely directed at Pitou. His ultimate form was triggered by a Nen vow with the condition: “I want to kill Pitou at any cost, even if it costs my life.” This vow is similar to Kurapika’s Chain Jail, which only works on the Phantom Troupe.
Therefore, if Gon faced Meruem from the start, he wouldn’t be able to activate this extreme power because he holds no personal grudge against the King. Even if Gon defeated Pitou and then sought out Meruem in this state, his power would be greatly diminished since the vow’s target no longer exists.
Conclusion
If Gon developed naturally, gaining enough experience, skills, and reaching his prime as an adult, he would have a real chance to challenge Meruem.
However, considering the “Adult Gon” form created by sacrificing his lifespan during the Chimera Ant arc, he has too many weaknesses for a genius like Meruem to exploit. In this matchup, Gon could severely injure the King, but Meruem would ultimately emerge as the survivor.