Chapter 5 : Dark Continent!!

"Pfft!"

Germain pulled the blood-soaked meat cleaver from the body of the demon wolf, taking with it the creature's final breath. 

The cleaver was drenched in thick blood, streaming down to cover Germain's right wrist like a dark red glove.

Though he'd killed the demon wolf, Germain sensed that it wasn't enough to gain any notable energy or "Gift of Resentment." 

Despite the lack of additional power, at least his test had shown that the Firearm and the meat cleaver were both quite effective.

As he prepared to leave, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He looked around and noticed a swarm of scarlet eyes glowing in the surrounding darkness. It was a pack of demon wolves—ferocious, hungry, and ready to attack.

"Crack!"

Germain gripped the handle of the meat cleaver and pulled, extending the blade and increasing its reach. He knew he'd need every bit of power to deal with the encroaching wolves.

The wolves lunged at him from all sides, and Germain quickly adapted, using his Nen skills to switch between different forms of defense. 

He alternated between full-body and partial-body protection, depending on where the wolves attacked. He also used a technique to wrap the cleaver in his Nen, making it even deadlier.

"Puff! Puff!"

Germain swung the cleaver with ferocity, while his other hand fired the bullet, turning the scene into a bloody frenzy. 

The wolves kept coming, though, and despite his best efforts, one of them managed to sink its fangs into his arm before he could raise a defense.

The battle was far from over.

Germain winced as the demon wolf tore off a small piece of his flesh, causing blood to gush from the wound. Despite the searing pain, he didn't retreat. Instead, it fueled his resolve. He swung his sword twice, striking the wolf that had bitten him, sending it crashing to the ground.

Germain wasn't done. He used his Firearm, his meat cleaver, and the dense forest's terrain to his advantage, methodically cutting down the demon wolves that lunged at him. 

The ones that survived his assault let out high-pitched howls of fear, their bodies twisting as they darted into the underbrush, desperate to escape.

Once he was sure the area was clear of demon wolves, Germain lowered his weapons and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. 

Fighting so many demon wolves at once probably wasn't the best idea. He was still getting used to this new body and learning how to use his Nen ability in battle. He'd started to grasp a few tricks, but he was far from a master.

With a vitality constitution of only 10 points, he barely managed to withstand the onslaught of the wolves. Plus, he'd been testing his Nen ability in every aspect, pushing it to the limit. 

Each attack was so full of power that it drained his 12 points of stamina quickly.

Using his Nen to the fullest was still a heavy burden for him. But even though he was covered in blood, his body was relatively unscathed—the blood belonged to the demon wolves. 

He'd killed more than twenty of them and finally gained something from it.

The accumulated resentment from the demon wolves allowed Germain to increase his "attributes" by one point, and his "spiritual pressure" also went up by one point.

Without hesitation, Germain used his newly earned point to increase his vitality constitution. He was going to need all the strength he could get for what was coming next.

---

"Vitality: 11"

"Endurance: 12"

"Pressure: 2"

Germain had already experienced battles with blades and firearms, and now it was time for the lantern to show its worth.

A soft purple light flickered, and a lantern appeared at Germain's feet. Four grotesque ghostly messengers clung to its sides, and the words "Cooldown Countdown 0:00" flashed on the lantern's surface. 

Currently, Germain owned only two lanterns—one he could carry around, and another fixed at a specific location.

The fixed lantern had been there from the start, and Germain couldn't move it. It was in a place known as the "Dark Continent."

Germain's gaze drifted away from the central continent of Lake Mobius, towards the vast, endless, and dangerous Dark Continent.

Humans now inhabited only a small part of the world, but the Dark Continent was the real frontier.

Germain was eager to explore it. Not just to see what the Dark Continent looked like in the context of the Hunter x Hunter universe, but also to find out his own limits as a human being.

If he didn't set this kind of goal, and simply followed the rules like in his original world, then this entire journey would have no meaning.

However, the Dark Continent was incredibly dangerous—few had survived its trials, and those who did often brought back horrific "disasters."

If someone wanted to enter, they would first need to get through the "V5" layer—the five most powerful nations in the world—and then face both the "Leader" and the "Gatekeeper" before reaching the continent itself.

However, the original Germain had a unique way to bypass V5, the Leader, and the Gatekeeper, traveling to and from the Dark Continent at will.

But when he realized the teleportation point was deep within the Dark Continent, he immediately decided to seal the lantern permanently, ensuring no one else would learn of its capabilities.

Germain understood why his predecessor made that decision.

The V5 nations hold tight control over the knowledge and transportation methods to the Dark Continent. They aim to monopolize all the benefits derived from it. 

Once the world discovers the lantern's teleportation capability, it will lead to endless complications. This was the original owner's worry and why he made the choices he did.

However, the lantern wouldn't let him go that easily. It drained his soul, tearing it apart as the cost of using its teleportation power. The remnants of his soul became a price paid to the Dark Continent.

But now, Germain chose a different path from his predecessor. He left the lantern, which emitted a strange purple glow, deep in the forest. Then, he reached out to one of the white messenger imps.

The imp let out a shriek of surprise and leaped at him, its skinny hands clutching Germain's little finger, as if afraid he would pull away. The other three imps began howling.

"Take me to the Dark Continent," Germain commanded.

The imp holding his finger nodded quickly, eager to obey.

"Buzz--"

A flash of blinding light erupted, and Germain found himself transported to a remote wilderness, as the lantern in the forest worked its magic.

It was night in the dense jungle, but here it was broad daylight. Tall weeds stretched across the ground, and in the distance, there were no trees, only low hills resembling riverbeds on either side.

Germain blinked as he adjusted to the sudden change in scenery.

Is this the Dark Continent? It doesn't seem as dangerous as I expected; it actually looks quite ordinary.

The lantern nearby is casting a faint light, and there are four ghostly messengers hanging from the lantern holder. I can't tell if they're the same four as before.

There's also a line of text on the lantern that reads "Cooldown Countdown 0:59," and a moment later, it changes to "Cooldown Countdown 0:58."

Okay, so I can't use the lantern for another minute. Does that mean I can't leave the Dark Continent during this time?

Germain stood there for a while, debating whether he should explore while he waited, not wanting to waste this opportunity. But then he noticed something unusual.

Something held him back from taking the first step.

Silence...

It's been eerily quiet since he got here. Despite all the flowing energy, it's as silent as a tomb.