The first thing Ronnel and Ging noticed upon stepping into the canyon was a colossal beast skeleton. Its twin horns curved menacingly, casting long shadows on the rocky path just a few meters from where they stood.
Ronnel instinctively raised his hand to dispel the lingering aura of malice but paused, his eyes narrowing. Something felt off.
"Do you sense it?" Ging's tone was unusually serious, his posture rigid.
"Yeah," Ronnel muttered, his gaze unwavering. He steadied his breathing, letting the energy within him flow evenly.
In their world, the Chimera Ant King was once thought to represent the pinnacle of strength—an unrivaled singularity of power. Even the creator of the Hunter's association admitted as much. But the emergence of the Dark Continent shattered that notion, revealing threats far beyond the Ant King's scope. The dangers of the Dark Continent weren't limited to powerful foes, its hostile environment and the monstrous entities within it were unparalleled.
Now, standing in Braga Canyon, Ronnel was certain—this place bore a striking resemblance to the Dark Continent. The oppressive air, the sense of lurking peril, and the unsettling atmosphere all pointed to one conclusion.
"The aura here isn't as thick as what we've encountered in the dense fog," Ging said, breaking the silence. His arms tensed as he clenched his fists. "But…"
Ronnel nodded, finishing the thought. "Our bodies are sluggish."
The sensation was unmistakable. Even simple movements felt labored, as though the very ground beneath them was interfering with their reflexes. Raising his hand again, Ronnel dispersed a wave of malevolent aura that drifted too close for comfort.
"Hah… it's really inconvenient," he muttered.
Ging's sharp instincts had already pieced together the phenomenon.
"There's no immediate danger here, no malice in the air, but something's affecting our nervous system."
They pressed on cautiously. The canyon's influence on their bodies became more apparent with every step. Reaction times were delayed—a split-second hesitation that could prove fatal in combat. Ging ran a quick test, coating his hands with Ken and timing how long it took to form and dispel the energy.
"About 0.87 seconds," Ging announced after several attempts. "That's how much delay I'm dealing with. If I anticipate the timing, I can adjust, but in a sudden ambush… it'll be troublesome."
Ronnel sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "This terrain is worse than I thought. It's like playing a game with a 460-millisecond delay, except the character being controlled is us."
Ging nodded grimly. "The synapses in our bodies aren't firing properly. The delay disrupts the connection between our minds and physical reactions. It's subtle but deadly."
The implications were clear. Even the smallest delay in combat could mean the difference between life and death. While the canyon appeared deceptively calm, its hidden dangers were no less lethal than a battlefield swarming with hostile enemies.
"I've noticed something else," Ging added. "Despite the hazards, there's no sign of human remains. Whoever came through here before us must have pressed forward."
Ronnel's expression darkened. "What kind of preparation did they have to move through this? And more importantly, why?"
His eyes followed the path ahead, stretching endlessly into the canyon's depths. The eerie silence was broken only by the faint whistle of the wind.
"Also," Ronnel added, his voice tinged with skepticism, "how did the bard hear the Sonata of Darkness all the way from the canyon's entrance? The distance is too great, even with amplifiers."
Ging scratched his head awkwardly. "Maybe it's… connected to the Dark Continent somehow?"
Ronnel shot him a withering look. "Seriously? That's your explanation?" He sighed, shaking his head. "Forget it. Let's focus on what's in front of us."
Ging grinned sheepishly, deflecting the criticism. "Well, if that group could keep moving, there's no reason we can't. Shall we?"
Ronnel frowned, considering their next move. "Do you still have one of those mice? We could use it to scout ahead."
"Of course," Ging said, pulling a small mechanical mouse from his bag. "I can share its perspective, but it won't help with sensory feedback."
"It'll do for now," Ronnel replied. He closed his eyes briefly, focusing his Nen. In a flash of light, a doppelgänger emerged from his side, its appearance identical to his own.
"Let's see what lies ahead," Ronnel muttered, his doppelgänger moving forward into the depths of the canyon.
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