Is there any reference which confirms that Meruem is much more powerful than Hisoka?


In the Hunter X Hunter anime,
[Meruem](http://hunterxhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Meruem) is said to be (arguably)
the strongest character in the series. However while reading about
[Hisoka](http://hunterxhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Hisoka), I found that he once
thought to challenge [Ging](http://hunterxhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Ging_Freecss)
to a battle to death, which seems astonishing because
[Netero](http://hunterxhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Isaac_Netero) once said that Ging
is one of the five best Nen users in the world.

Is there any reference (either in the manga or in the anime) that conclusively
says that Meruem is far more powerful than Hisoka?

**Note** : In the anime,
[Neferpitou](http://hunterxhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Neferpitou)'s aura is
reported to have much more murderous intent that both Hisoka and Illumi's, but
I don't know whether it necessarily implies that Hisoka is weaker than Meruem.




Meruem is actually the strongest living being in term of Nen Aura. This is
also due to his Nen consumption ability, as seen in [his wiki
article](http://hunterxhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Meruem):

> Meruem's initial ability gives him strength through consumption. Meruem's
> aura grows every time he devours a user of Nen, with their aura synthesizing
> to his own.

Additionally, [Netero](http://hunterxhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Isaac_Netero), who
was one of the strongest characters in Hunter X Hunter, couldn't really beat
Meruem. Don't forget what he said to Meruem when he met him:

> When? When did I start waiting for my opponent to make the first move? When,
> indeed? It became a routine. The loser held out his hands in gratitude for
> the lesson and I graciously accepted without skipping a beat. As if that was
> what I wanted!! That's not how it should be!! For so long, I sought the
> height of perfection. I dreamed of giving my heart and soul to battle an
> unstoppable adversary!! I'm a lucky man. I'm thankful for everything that
> led me to this point...that led me to you!!

So considering this, Hisoka has to be weaker than Netero, who is indeed weaker
than Meruem.

But as already said in [Kalilz's
answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/15157/1398):

> When it comes to a fight between Nen users, pure power doesn't mean
> everything. One may have an ability than can overpower a type of opponent.

