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Who Killed Meruem in Hunter x Hunter?


Hunter x Hunter:  Who killed Meruem
Credit: Pierrot

The Chimera Ant arc is a popular one in Hunter x Hunter. It's action-packed and full of twists, so, naturally, fans have questions about its plot and characters. For instance, who killed Meruem in Hunter x Hunter?

Spoiler Alert: As this is an article about a character's death, expect major spoilers ahead!

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Who Is Meruem?

Hunter x Hunter: Who Is Meruem
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Credit: Pierrot

Meruem is introduced in the Chimera Ant arc as the most powerful child of the Chimera Ant Queen.

Due to his status, Meruem is also known as the King of Chimera Ants. He serves as the main antagonist during the Chimera Ant arc in the Hunter x Hunter manga and anime.

He is a member of a hybrid but still humanoid species. Despite looking and acting like an adult, he's just 40 days old, corresponding to insect rather than human life cycles.

Who Is Meruem Hunter x Hunter
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Credit: Pierrot

Personality-wise, Meruem is cruel and prideful, though he does show positive traits, too. He's very intelligent and learns quickly.

Toward the end of Meruem's character arc, as his death approaches, we get to see his more vulnerable side, as well as his ability to accept defeat with relative dignity, making him an interesting antagonist.

Who Killed Meruem in Hunter x Hunter?

Who Killed Meruem in Hunter x Hunter?
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Credit: Pierrot

Meruem was killed indirectly by Isaac Netero, the 12th Chair of the Hunter Association.

Before Meruem's death, the two had engaged in battle whereby Meruem originally had the upper hand.

If Netero had not demonstrated self-sacrifice, Meruem might have won, killing him anyway. Instead, Netero took desperate measures to win.

Netero was carrying parts of a Rose Bomb inside his body. To show Meruem the strength and indomitable spirit of humanity, Netero pierced his own heart to detonate the Rose Bomb and kill his foe.

 Who Killed Meruem
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Credit: Pierrot

Meruem was seriously injured from the bomb's explosion. However, he managed to survive the attack at the time.

Since the bomb was poisonous, he couldn't be cured and keep living in the long run.

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What Is the Rose Bomb?

Hunter x Hunter: Who Killed Meruem Rose Bomb
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Credit: Pierrot

So, what exactly was the bomb that killed the Chimera Ant arc's main antagonist?

Its substance, known as Poor Man's Rose or Miniature Rose, is a weapon of mass destruction.

It likely derived its name because it's fairly inexpensive to make, but it can cause great damage, so it's not to be underestimated.

The anime made any similarities with the atomic bomb more prominent by having its fallout cloud shaped like the atomic bomb's recognizable mushroom cloud.

Meruem's Last Moments Explained: Did Komugi Die Too?

Hunter x Hunter Did Komugi Die
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Credit: Pierrot

While Meruem was an antagonist, he did not die alone, and his last moments were bittersweet and oddly heartwarming because he had company.

Komugi, a girl who was the Gungi world champion, stayed with Meruem, playing shogi with him until the end, despite knowing that the poison was contagious.

As the poisoning progressed, Meruem gradually lost his sight. Toward the end, he kept asking Komugi, who was already blind, if she was still there as they played.

Did Komugi Die Too?
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Credit: Pierrot

In the end, Meruem didn't manage to beat Komugi. They died together holding hands.

Komugi's death might not make a lot of sense at first, especially since she might have avoided Meruem's fate.

The consensus seems to be that Komugi risked staying around because, at that point, Meruem and her game were all she had — though we wish we'd seen her more.

Does Meruem Ever Come Back?

Does Meruem Ever Come Back?
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Credit: Pierrot

When a beloved or interesting character dies, it's natural for fans to wonder if they might come back, especially in fantasy anime. With Meruem, this isn't the case.

There is no known way for Meruem to come back, and doing so would probably be very unrealistic.

Reviving a character who died in a bomb attack is always going to ring hollow, given the many bombings that have devastated humanity in the last few decades — with no magical solutions ever being an option.

Can Meruem Return
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Credit: Pierrot

What is more, Meruem was an antagonist who died with relative dignity, which made fans respect him somewhat.

Bringing him back would likely cancel the emotional intensity of the shounen anime without really achieving anything new or important.

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