Believe me when I say this, I was sad when I read this for the first time.
...
The danger level in the oasis was simply not comparable to that in the desert. In almost every area they ventured, strange creatures and environments awaited them. Here, hunting between food chains was more closely linked than anywhere they'd encountered before.
After passing through the sea of flowers, they stepped into what could only be described as a "forbidden zone of life."
The so-called life restricted zone earned its name because of the abundance of "ghost whistle grass balls." At first glance, they resembled ordinary bushes, but these grass branches were extraordinarily hard, like metal. Moreover, their natural growth pattern and arrangement on the ground was strikingly strange. Each grass ball contained many small holes, and when the wind blew through them, otherworldly sounds filled the air.
These sounds carried a powerful hypnotic effect. When a creature fell into deep sleep under their influence, strange insects hidden in the nearby soil would emerge to devour the unconscious victim.
The grass balls seemed to maintain a cooperative relationship with these strange insects. The insects themselves were immune to the hypnotic music, consuming only bones and flesh, while the blood shed from their victims nourished the grass balls in return.
Fortunately, the ability of the Ghost Whistle Grass Ball was spiritual in nature, which Oboro easily suppressed with his Nen, allowing the four of them to pass through safely.
Venturing further, they finally encountered a herd of animals active within the oasis.
These creatures bore striking similarities to life forms from the desert. They weren't governed by any strange rules or abilities – they were simply enormous in size, with appearances that fell within the cognitive scope of humans. Oboro recognized them from illustrations in reference materials – they were among the more common and widely inhabited species in the Dark Continent.
There were double-horned dinosaurs, elephants with cushion-like ears in pairs, and fanged seals that seemed more at home in an ocean than an oasis. Oboro and his three companions followed the sounds of animal movements and arrived just in time to witness a seal biting a dinosaur fiercely, swallowing it into its mouth bit by bit.
The seal was ten times the size of the dinosaur.
And that same dinosaur had been chasing the elephants moments before
In the Dark Continent, the appearance of creatures and the environments they adapted to were utterly unpredictable. Human common sense was of no use here.
The four did not act rashly. Oboro observed quietly for several hours and determined that this area had the most frequent biological activity in the oasis thus far. This also suggested there were no life forms with extinction-level power like tree people, elves, or grass balls nearby. This place was relatively safe.
Of course, "safety" here didn't include the bloody feast playing out before them – the truest representation of the food chain's ruthless nature.
The earth had been shaking non-stop as all manner of species emerged one after another, hunting their prey with savage determination. The incessant roaring nearly deafened Menchi and the other two, making it difficult for them to adapt to their surroundings.
It was chaotic and intense.
After several hours of observation, Oboro keenly discovered that no matter how fiercely these life forms fought, they deliberately avoided a certain plant, as if determined not to damage it. The plant twisted and turned like a vine, standing upright on the ground without any support. Its branches bore leaves that actively secreted drops of nectar when injured small creatures approached, allowing them to lick the healing substance.
After consuming the liquid from the vine, the wounds on the organism's surface healed with remarkable speed.
For smaller creatures about the size of humans, the leaves would automatically curl up and wrap around them protectively, like a small house. They would remain safely enclosed until the nearby battles ended, at which point the leaves would release their temporary inhabitants.
"Remarkable" Oboro whispered in understanding.
The Dark Continent possessed a unique environment. While large organisms hunted smaller ones, the smaller creatures could use environmental advantages to avoid danger. Every organism had developed its own survival strategy. This vine appeared to function as a "rescue station" for the oasis's inhabitants, saving lives in critical moments. The special scent it emitted seemed intolerable to larger predators.
Even when some vine branches and leaves were already occupied, smaller species that arrived later would politely seek out other unused "rooms."
"Found it," Oboro smiled. This was the perfect sanctuary.
First, there were no transcendent life forces here only the chaos of predators and prey. Though still dangerous, it presented the best situation for the four of them. The presence of both large and small creatures would serve as a natural training ground for Menchi and the others to practice their Nen.
Second, while the oasis was no smaller than the desert, traversing it proved far more difficult. It had taken them over half a year to cross the desert, and finding another suitable location in this oasis would likely take even longer.
Oboro could endure such a journey, but Menchi and the others couldn't continue much longer without rest.
Before Menchi and the other two could react, they watched their captain suddenly launch into the air like an anti-aircraft missile, using his incredible Nen-enhanced jumping ability to join the chaotic battlefield of beasts.
Initially, none of the creatures paid any attention to this tiny life form in their midst.
But when Oboro released himself from the state of 'absolute,' in an instant, all the creatures that had been fighting and tearing at each other suddenly froze. Their eyes focused on the seemingly inconspicuous black dot on the ground.
"It's just natural instinct" Oboro smiled slightly.
The food chain in this area maintained its own unique balance, which had become the norm over time. When a more powerful life form suddenly appeared and threatened to destroy that chain, all creatures would react identically: escape! Because a new order needed to be established.
BOOM!
Overwhelming black Nen aura exploded outward, spreading like a virus across the battlefield.
The mountain-sized seal roared with all its might, its voice filled with primal fear as it crawled and ran clumsily away, abandoning half of the dinosaur corpse it had been devouring.
The elephants scattered like startled birds, dispersing in all directions.
An enormous white centipede desperately tried to break away from the soil to burrow underground and escape.
Yet everything was in vain.
Wherever Oboro's ghostly Nen passed, all life was extinguished. As soon as the centipede stuck its head into a crack in the ground, black fog and spectral shapes submerged its body. When the fog dissipated, the creature remained frozen in that position, motionless forever.
"The captain is too strong. He evolves every day and never stops," Anthony whispered, his voice filled with awe.
This scene was undoubtedly shocking to Anthony and the other two. The rioting and disordered beasts that had filled the space between heaven and earth, demonstrating nature's tenacious vitality, vanished in an instant as if someone had silenced them all at once. Those living creatures, regardless of size, disappeared so quickly before their eyes
"He belongs here," Menchi added quietly.
After months of traveling together, the three of them had become intimately familiar with Oboro's abilities. As long as he absorbed souls, he could become infinitely stronger.
After a while, the black Nen fog dissipated, leaving only corpses strewn across the landscape.
"It's safe now Come out," a faint laugh echoed in the minds of the three companions.
Soon, the four of them stood beneath the vines that hung suspended in the air, growing straight up like pillars toward the sky. Looking up, they saw the plant towered as tall as a building.
Before they could take any action, a vine with branches and leaves lowered itself toward Anthony, as if sensing his injuries. It gently wrapped around him, enveloping him completely.
"Take it easy," Oboro reassured him, noting his uneasiness.
After just a few minutes, the branches and leaves drooped and extended again. Anthony landed on the ground with an expression of disbelief as he examined his formerly broken arm.
The arm that Menchi had accidentally severed during training had completely regrown.
This sight made Menchi and Gabwich's jaws drop in amazement.
"It seems that not all powers in the Dark Continent are malevolent," Oboro confirmed his theory calmly. "Let's use this place as our base You two should rest well. I'll stand guard outside."
As they spoke, new branches and leaves descended, reaching toward Menchi and Gabwich invitingly.
A branch approached Oboro as well, but he sidestepped it. He didn't appear to need medical attention
Although the nearby creatures had been temporarily eliminated, it didn't guarantee absolute safety. The area was vast, and other beasts could appear at any time. Just as Oboro's arrival had disrupted the local food chain, any more powerful life form that wandered into the area would pose a significant threat.
"Captain you" Gabwich, who had hardly spoken since the deaths of Fant and Rita, looked at Oboro with hesitation.
"It's okay I'm fine," Oboro replied, understanding the unspoken question.
The vine's branches and leaves formed small, protective chambers. By striking the leaves firmly, they would automatically expand and release whoever was inside. Without such prompting, one could remain safely enclosed. According to Anthony's description, the leaves secreted a healing juice that soaked and repaired the body, maintaining a comfortable temperature inside.
Simultaneously, the plant released a gas beneficial to life itself.
"Healing ability. Its way of feeding is it consuming 'pain' or perhaps harvesting joy?" Oboro mused, reaching out to touch the plant's base. The Nen flowing through this vine gave him a warm, pure sensation.
In his leaf chamber, Gabwich awakened from his healing sleep, his body still covered in the restorative juice. Remarkably, despite being immersed in liquid, he could breathe without discomfort.
This was possible because a certain gas in the chamber was dense enough to penetrate the juice and enter his body directly.
As his recovery completed, the juice in the chamber automatically disappeared, leaving him dry.
He needed only to tap the leaves firmly to exit, but instead, he retrieved a diary from his pack.
This diary was special not used to record the team's experiences in the Dark Continent or document various species and information. This was his personal journal.
"Today is May 18th. Under the captain's leadership, we finally navigated countless dangers to reach a 'safe zone' in the oasis. Though safe by comparison, this remains a death arena for me, Menchi, and Anthony. Of course, with the captain here, everything changes"
'The captain remains incredibly powerful He's always been our symbol of strength, both physical and mental. Sometimes I wonder how he manages it he's only a few years older than me Heh.'
'In the human world, everyone who knew the captain thought him cold, frightening, unfathomable, and ruthless But over time, I've discovered that's not the case. He cares deeply for us, though he never says it his actions reveal everything. In unfamiliar environments and unknown dangers, he always takes the lead He never shows fear or panic before us. He gives the three of us complete security. He bears everything on his shoulders. I don't regret following him to the Dark Continent. He's allowed me to meet the most fascinating people in my life's journey.'
'This wonderful plant can heal all flesh and blood injuries. Thanks to this discovery, we can finally breathe easier, and the captain has designated this place as our base. I believe what awaits us next will be long, painful training and tempering. But I don't resist on the contrary, I look forward to it. I will work hard and strengthen myself because I refuse to lose any more companions.'
'The captain refused treatment The scars from our last battle remain on his face and body. He clearly has the means to absorb life force and heal himself, but he chooses not to. I believe he keeps these scars as warnings, both to remember and to honor Fant and Rita. Though the captain hasn't mentioned them since their deaths, and we've deliberately avoided the subject in our hearts, we all remember them.'
Halfway through writing, Gabwich pulled something from his pack: a crumpled box of cigarettes.
Fant had smoked them often.
'Uncle Fant, when the captain was absent, you always protected us I'm growing stronger now. One day, I'll become a real man like you! Brother Anthony and Sister Menchi, don't worry I'll take good care of them and keep them safe.'
'Rita, Rest easy. When I return from the Dark Continent, I'll visit your hometown and donate generously so everyone can live well. And what you said on the ship you were right. Haha You truly understood the captain best. He's a man we all admire. What he promises will definitely come to pass. We all believe this.'
After quickly finishing his entry, Gabwich smiled briefly.
Then his expression changed as he tucked the diary away, returning to his usual stoic demeanor.
After collecting himself, he knocked firmly on the leaves, which released him to the ground below.
"This marks the end of our exploration phase," Oboro addressed the three as they gathered. "Next, you'll gradually adapt to the food chain and environment here, learning to battle the surrounding life forms on your own. Before that, let's survey the area thoroughly."
Oboro looked at his three recovered companions and continued softly, "Put aside your conventional understanding of Nen cultivation. Here, we're closer to the origin of life energy I'll guide you and reshape your thinking, helping you become familiar with the diversity of life energy. With this vine as our sanctuary, you can fight confidently but if you encounter anything unusual or rule-based, remember to avoid it immediately."
"This process will be extremely long"
After Oboro finished speaking, his three pupils' eyes didn't waver. They blinked in unison "Let's begin."