Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter is filled with several complex characters, but none come close when it comes to impact as Meruem, the King of the Chimera Ants. His transformation from a cold and ruthless tyrant to one who can love, feel, and sacrifice, is one of the most beautifully crafted character arcs in anime history.
In the climactic last few moments of his life, Meruem seems confused and vulnerable, wondering why Komugi cries for him. His final conversation with her is one of the most poetic and tragic sequences in anime history, where the so-called monster shows the purest expression of humanity.
Meruem and Komugi’s tragic love story: A king’s journey into humanity
While Hunter x Hunter is typically praised for its innovative power system and strategic battles, it is the humanization of its characters that sets it apart. Since the time of his birth, Meruem represents pure power, being the epitome of Chimera Ant dominance. He is heartless, short-tempered, and cannot tolerate weakness.
His mantra is: Might is right. Humans are beneath him, existing solely as a source of food for the Chimera Ant evolution. This principle is never challenged until he encounters Komugi. She is the opposite of Meruem, weak, blind, frail, and utterly helpless in a world where strength reigns. But within the world of Gungi, she is invincible.
Regardless of how many times Meruem tries to beat her, she triumphs every time. This gets on his nerves at first, but soon, admiration replaces his frustration. She teaches him humility, demonstrating that strength is not just physical but also intellectual, strategic, and most of all, is about heart.
Komugi’s plain, honest presence confronts Meruem with his own limitations. As their relationship develops, Meruem begins to see the world differently. His power hunger turns into a hunger for knowledge. He starts appreciating human life, questioning his existence, and even being merciful, something unthinkable for the King that he used to be.
A poetic farewell of Meruem: The most heartbreaking scene in Hunter x Hunter
The emotional weight of Meruem’s final conversation with Komugi in Hunter x Hunter is unmatched. Rather than trying to kill or vent anger, he takes the time to spend his dying moments with Komugi, and he plays one final game of Gungi with her.
In his dying moments, he accepts that he has been poisoned and doesn’t have long to live. Komugi, while herself weak, is glad to be with him. She tells him that she was meant to be with him at that moment.
Later as he is becoming exhausted, he requests she hold his hand and remain near him until he awakens. Komugi, in her staunch devotion, swears that she will never leave him. In that very moment, Meruem embraces a concept that once seemed foreign to him: love.
This particular scene is frequently referred to as one of the greatest moments in the history of anime. The simple irony of the King of Monsters dying not in combat, but peacefully, accompanied by the only person who ever knew him for what he was, makes it all the more tragic.
Several Hunter x Hunter fans on social media reacted to this tragic moment, saying:
Bro made me aware that humans are no different than animals that we eat. – @crazy_kr_summit
This is a fact, In the final moment Meruem uses a gunki move that’s called ‘the king must die’ but then Komugi uses a reverse move that’s called ‘the king does not have to die’ If that is not the most romantic thing ever idk what. – @fernando.universe
Meruem’s story in Hunter x Hunter is a testament to Yoshihiro Togashi’s unparalleled storytelling. His trajectory subverts traditional notions of hero and villain. Rather than a good vs. evil black-and-white story, we have a character who begins as a monster and becomes the most human of all.
In Hunter x Hunter, Meruem and Komugi’s last scene together is a poetic subversion of expectation. It’s not strength or dominance but the pure happiness of being with someone who knows you. It’s about love, connection, and meaning in life that has nothing to do with power.
Hunter x Hunter is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
