Chapter 355: Episode 12

The elite unit "Quantum" was a Dark Continent research team organized by the Sahel-Taha United Republic, consuming vast amounts of time and money. However, this name was never publicly mentioned. This is because, to the general public, the six continents drawn on the world map represent the entire world, and touching the "outside" is taboo.

Even in Japan, the Quantum project has always been a matter of pros and cons. Large amounts of tax money fell into the hands of the people without their knowledge. The term defense spending is too broad to be summarized in one word.

However, this plan never stopped. If successful in obtaining a return, the profits generated by the resources would be immeasurable. The ambitions of the rulers who govern the political and commercial worlds determine the state of the nation, without regard for the will of the people. In the face of the hidden threat of the Dark Continent, democracy no longer functions.

200 elites gathered, renowned nationwide. They considered themselves a gray organization, if not black. Most importantly, only those who intended to fulfill their duty of confidentiality and faithfully carry out their duties could be selected. His own death was also considered to be in the line of duty.

They fully understood the threat of the Dark Continent, I think.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh... because of me, everyone died... I, at that time, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!"

In a room on the research ship, three soldiers were ordered to stand by. One soldier crouched in the corner of the room, holding his head. The temperature inside the ship should have been comfortable, yet he was shivering as if he were in a place of extreme cold.

His eyes were sunken, and he felt weary. His eyes had no focus, darting back and forth in the void. His terrified gaze searched for the ghosts of monsters that did not exist. Small stains under the table, cracks on the shelves, and the ceiling. I was overly cautious about trivial dark places.

"Brother Gu..."

The second soldier was a woman. She was sleeping very peacefully in the center of the room. Despite being on the hard floor, she was sleeping soundly. If not for the occasional "snore," she wouldn't move enough to make you think she was dead.

Although her face was well-proportioned, her short hair and well-trained physique made it difficult to determine her gender at a glance. I could not feel her dignity from her sleepy appearance, no need to worry about her drooling, but her voice carried a female high pitch.

"I can't take it anymore... Xiao, Xiao, he, hee hee hee hee!?"

"... Shut up, bald head! You can't sleep!"

"I'm sorry... everyone... I'm sorry..."

"..."

The third soldier remained silent. He did not intervene in the exchange between the two fussy soldiers.

Only one person was of a different race, with the appearance of an Oriental. I was focused on the work at hand on my desk. It didn't look like you were doing paperwork. He used scissors to cut out a piece of paper and drew a graffiti-like pattern on it. It looked like a child immersed in a craft game.

Besides those three soldiers, the four Quantum survivors were the captain.

This was the current state of the Dark Continent Investigation Team, the pride of the Sahel-Taha United Republic. If the high-ranking officials of the home country could see the condition of this room, they would surely be dumbfounded. The huge investment funds were in a devastating situation, as if thrown into a sewer.

"... Ah, the captain is here."

A female soldier suddenly announced. The other members didn't even question his words and started preparing quickly. A few dozen seconds later, a man walked into the room full of soldiers. He was the commander of this unit and the soldier who had previously reported to Commander Andam.

When the captain entered the room, the soldiers inside were already lined up waiting. His posture was dignified and stretched, and I felt he was as agile as a soldier. The slackness of just being free and relaxed a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

However, it was a conditioned reflex formed through training. No matter how you correct your posture, you cannot fully control their inner selves.

"I have bad news."

The captain got straight to the point. A quiet tension filled the room.

"Kately Benson."

"Ha!?"

"Chell Haas."

"Ha!"

"Tezunosuke Amamiya."

"Ha."

With this, I will order the three of them to continue the mission.

The punishment was too cruel. Their physical and mental fatigue had reached its limit. Even those who looked fine at first glance had blank expressions. Only those who have truly walked through the Dark Continent can understand his desperate heart.

Of course, they were at their limit.

"Any other bad news?"

But it didn't seem to move. Accepting the mission as a matter of course. From the beginning, they were prepared to take on such things and were here.

Quantum Captain Gragg Mcmiyah was grateful to be entrusted with the responsibility of this unit.

Gragg told Commander Andam that the Quantum mission could not continue. It was out of concern for the physical and mental health of his subordinates; his feelings were not false. However, he was indeed obsessed with a desire far stronger than his feelings for his subordinates.

Either way, I will grab the reward with my own hands and bring it back to my hometown. My companions turned into a mountain of corpses. I won't say I didn't have fear. Nevertheless, ambition turned into an irresistible impulse, driving his body.

On the other hand, I felt disgusted with my own personal feelings. I really wanted to know if I could see the remaining friends. That is why I dared to tell Andam an opinion that went against my feelings. If Andam relieved Quantum of their duties, I had no right to deny it. You could even give up.

He wanted to continue his mission. I thought so from the bottom of my heart. It was dominated by the heat scorching his body. Unable to respond to the voice of his conscience, he was pushed to the point of having to entrust the decision to his superiors.

"Lend me your lives."

The members also understood the captain's thoughts. That is why I thought no one was more suitable than him to lead this unit.

"There is no guarantee I will return them."

"Yes, sir."

His answer was calm. However, the intent contained in that one word was incomparably strong. Rather than positive vitality and spirit, it was more like an obsession and delusion boiling at the bottom of his stomach.

There are many strong people in the world. Among them, in the eyes of ordinary people who possess Nen Ability, they are often looked down upon as soldiers. Regardless of the strength of the group, from an individual perspective, they are sometimes considered a group of weaklings who can do nothing without the group. In fact, most people in the military are weak.

If you have enough strength to train yourself, you can become a Hunter without joining the military. If you have that much strength, you are qualified enough to become a Hunter. Money, fame, whatever you want. If you are a Hunter, you can do whatever you want without hesitation.

Then, what about those who, despite being Nen users, choose to be bound by the military? Under certain conditions, they are more individualistic than Hunters. You could call them anomalies. This way of life is something others cannot measure.

Even when reaching the limits of body and mind, he was able to maximize his potential. Their souls did not die.

The eighth research expedition began. Looking at the return date, there was not much time left to spend on the expedition. Two or three more times would be the limit. Most importantly, it was highly likely to be annihilated.

However, this danger had plagued the expedition team so far. Surviving the danger, their unit survived.

On the day of departure, Commander Andam personally visited and encouraged the members. If I were to give instructions, I should have called the members to my room. It showed his personality.

The commander seemed worried about the physical condition and mental health of these people, but it was an unfounded worry. Devoted to completing the mission. Sensing their enthusiasm, Andam breathed a sigh of relief and sent his team members off.

Prioritize survival. Consider bringing back information first. Andam didn't speak, but the men realized there was a meaning behind his words: "Don't overdo it."

Although he was tired, he was energetic. The expedition started smoothly.

"..."

"What's wrong, Cher?"

The unit ran quickly across the beach and entered the woods. The uncovered beach was a barrier; as long as you crossed it, your thinking would become sharp. We should be happy that we were able to reach the forest safely. However, one of the members, Cher, was staring at the surrounding environment with a bitter expression.

(Have we met...?)

Her keen senses issued a warning. It was merely a tiny sign, easily overlooked, regardless of whether she touched the tips of her fluff, but she was certain something was wrong.

Cher. Ever since she could remember, she had grown up in a military training school. Among the remaining members, he had the longest history of military service.

Before being adopted by the military, she lived in the slums as an orphan. That year, I was 7 years old. Soldiers from the slums were not uncommon, but being sent to a training school at her age was an exception.

This was a special military training school where only ability mattered; not everyone could enter just because they wanted to. Successful admission not only guaranteed a livelihood but also signaled high social status in the future. If only I could endure the rigorous training program.

Her talent was the only reason she was admitted to the school. At seven years old, he had already mastered Nen.

However, in reality, a child's Nen Ability is not that rare. If you only look at the numbers, there are many. Although it is usually impossible to remember it through methods like Meditation, it is rare for it to manifest spontaneously during childhood.

Often, because they do not know how to wrap themselves in a type of Aura, their Life Force is depleted, and they eventually die from exhaustion. On the surface, it is viewed as death from an unexplained illness. Even if they barely endure it, they cannot use it consciously, so most people do not even realize they are Nen Users when they grow up.

Alternatively, they might be forcibly awakened by a 'Baptism'. In conflict zones, inhumane methods of brainwashing child soldiers and baptizing them to create improvised Psychics have been rampant for a long time.

In Cher's case, this "Baptism" awakened him. In other words, it was the method of receiving Aura attacks from others to forcibly open the Shoko. Her mother was a prostitute, and her father was a member of the Mafia. This father was a Psychic, and the abuse he received in his youth became his Baptism.

If that were the case, she would just be an unhappy girl who would not attract the military's attention. What made her different was her innate ability to think. A 7-year-old girl who did not know of the existence of Nen was able to use a 50-meter "Circle" at that time.

It is said that 50 meters is a circular area that a trained master can reach in a lifetime. Considering this, I can only say it is an extraordinary talent. However, the only technique she could use correctly was the Circle. "Circle" is an application technique of "Kneading" and "Goo", but Kneading can only be used with the lowest precision without leaking Aura, and cannot be used for Kneading.

Even if you can handle one technique prominently, you cannot use other techniques. This is often the case for those who spontaneously manifest their thoughts, or those who are forced to remember them unconsciously. The unknown power that suddenly awakens one day cannot be accurately understood. To a young girl, it must feel like Magic or supernatural power.

One thing I can say is that she did not try to abuse this power. Due to the nature of the Circle, it has no direct attack power, but depending on how it is used, it can hurt others. Considering her upbringing, it is not surprising that she chose to live in a lawless world. However, Cher chose a lifestyle that uses this power as a soldier to think for the people.

And now, her well-trained Circle is one hundred meters in radius. Looking solely at his Yen technique, he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. In this mission, using her Circle to search for enemies is the main axis of all operations.

A range of 100 meters is certainly wide, but there are still some fierce warriors in the world who exceed this distance. But where she truly shines is in the active period of her Circle. Using a Circle involves extreme concentration and fatigue. For ordinary people, a few minutes is the limit, but in her case, except when she is asleep, if she is in perfect condition, it can be kept activated at all times.

Aura is Life Energy, which generally cannot leave the physical body. Energy can be discharged outside the body through the Emission system, but the technique of Yen requires different points.

Create a circular shell with a sturdy and flexible "Ken", and increase the pressure inside it through "Kneading" to expand the range, just like inflating a balloon. What is important here is the flexibility of the Mantle. Most Nen users cannot expand the range of the Circle well because the film of this Mantle is too hard. In this aspect alone, it has characteristics closer to the Transmutation system than the Emission system. This is why even if he is a person with Emitter-type abilities, he is not generally good at Yen.

A technique that can emit Aura over a long distance. A technique to make the coating film as thin as possible but sturdy. A technique to treat the area it creates as an extension of one's own body and build pseudo-sensory organs in the air. And a technique to process and immediately organize the large amount of information collected. This is not something you can learn through hard training, nor is it a technique you can use without talent.

Cher is an Enhancer. Even in terms of pure physical ability, she is second to none. However, contrary to her bold and lazy words and actions, her fighting style excels at thorough information warfare. Searching for enemies within a large circle for a long time is suitable for collecting information on the enemy camp, and can also act as a deterrent to prevent them from stepping into her own camp carelessly. He does not like head-on combat and is a soldier skilled at ambushes.

As the captain, Gragg Mcmiyah believes she is someone who can be safely entrusted with a successor if something goes wrong. His appearance is like an old wolf, instantly seeing through the pros and cons of the situation and dealing with it calmly. However, a silent crisis made the first-class Yen user frustrated.

"De, did you see anything at five o'clock?"

"... No, nothing wrong."

Cher asked one of the members, Denosuke. He is a Nen User. It can create a large number of bird-shaped Nen Beads, which are equipped with high-performance compact cameras that can fly around.

The Circle can perceive all objects within its range, just like touching them with your hands, but the information obtained is different from what the eyes actually see. It is also important to intuitively capture the footage from the cameras.

However, the tablet in Denosuke's hand did not show the abnormality Cher was concerned about. There were too many places in the woods for an Infiltration agent to hide.

"Kattlai, do you have any Malice?"

"Hey, that, could it be that the enemy is approaching!?"

Kattlai is an Emitter-type ability user, and like Cher, he is responsible for using the Circle to find enemies. His Circle has a radius of about 30 meters. Compared to Cher's, it seems a bit hazy, but overall, even this is enough to be called a first-class user. When Cher cannot use Yen due to fatigue or other reasons, he is an assistant.

However, his true value does not lie in his ability to use Yen, but in his extraordinary perception ability. Many people with Nen Ability have the ability to detect the enemy's murderous intent. Strong people will not ignore the slight murderous intent emitted by enemies lurking in the distance. Kattlai excels in this regard. Contrary to his timid personality, no, that is why he is sensitive to the Malice directed at him.

Regardless of his personality, everyone in the squad trusts his intuition because he has an anecdote that he can see through long-range sniping from two kilometers away. However, judging from his reaction just now, he does not seem to have felt any Malice.

"Enemy?"

"No, I don't know yet... I might be overthinking it."

Even Cher did not confirm it. In fact, there were no dangerous creatures in the Circle to catch us. However, ever since entering the forest, I felt as if I were being followed, although it was not a feeling that could be called an obvious anomaly.

Anyone with Nen Ability can see the enemy's search range within a Circle. This is why enemies do not do things like stepping into the other party's field. There is also a way to show off the range of the Circle and use it as a Constraint.

But just because they didn't step into the Circle doesn't necessarily mean they can't sense the enemy's presence. Around the Circle, several drops of Aura seep out from the film of the Mantle, and keen Circle users can know when an enemy is approaching without stepping on it.

This is common sense that a Nen User should know, and it is the basic knowledge of trailing techniques. This is why if you are a well-educated user, do not let your guard down even if you are outside the Circle, and follow after keeping a sufficient distance. At this moment, for Cher, that sense of incongruity was close to the feeling of being clumsily followed by a layman.

Nevertheless, the existence of the opponent has not been confirmed. The enemy might be hiding themselves using high-level "Zetsu". Many wild animals are born with extraordinary abilities. It is not surprising to think so, but the problem is that the other party accurately grasped the range of the Circle.

If you are not a Nen User with your eyes open, you cannot do this kind of trick. In fact, in the expeditions so far, no creature could see through the circular search range. If there were such an enemy, the unit would be annihilated immediately.

Yes, it would be destroyed.

Cher rubbed the corners of her eyes hard, trying to relax her mind. It felt like Kattlai's paranoia had become popular. An illusion of non-existence manifested by extreme stress. It was just an "intuition", so uncertain, it wouldn't be strange to say so. However, his groundless intuition had saved his life many times on the battlefield.

Cher reported the discomfort he felt to his companions. Based on this, we proposed two measures.

One is to fold the Circle and leave this place quickly for once. This is a technique often used to disperse a tail. If the enemy relies on the range of the Circle to determine your location, you can temporarily hide your location by releasing the Circle. Use the 100m and run as far as possible.

The disadvantage of this measure is that you have to cross the wilderness of the Dark Continent while closing the enemy search capability of the large-scale Circle. If you are intent on running away, you cannot know the true identity of the enemy. Are there enemies, who are they, and what are their characteristics? I will run around everywhere without knowing anything.

Another strategy is to bring the enemy into the Circle. After learning the enemy's information, decide on the next countermeasure. The disadvantage is that it will anger the enemy. I don't know what their purpose for following us is, but their reaction will definitely change. If a battle occurs, you cannot return to your ship until the enemy forces are eliminated. This means a desperate strategy.

"Use Yen. Get information first."

The captain made a quick decision. Cher also responded, but did not insert a negative opinion. Except for Kattlai, no one objected, and he cried with a painful frown.

Cher uses her ability "Unknown Fertility (Night Blanket)". This ability grants the "Yen" a "Hidden" effect. Theoretically, it is a combination of applied techniques, not a special ability, but the difficulty level is hard to reach. Even for her, who has an innate talent for Yen, it is a skill finally realized by imposing various restrictions on its ability.

In other words, a Circle that is difficult to perceive. In this case, the enemy will not see it, and you can bring them into the Circle.

The maximum range of Cher's Circle is 100 meters, but it is not always kept at this length. Actually, we still have spare capacity, suppressing it to about 80 meters. That is to say, at this time, the position where the enemy should be lurking is exactly within the range of the Circle.

Expand an additional Circle at that position. More importantly, due to the influence of "Unknown Fertility", only the extended part is "Hidden" by Hidden. Cher concentrated all her energy to activate the Circle, while struggling with the load of her whole body's ability.

And caught the Shadow of something. A blurry outline appeared. Because the enemy's precision is extremely high, even if surrounded by a circle, the shape cannot be seen clearly. The size is about the size of a human child, and the number is one.

When I caught it that far, the enemy's figure disappeared. They escaped outside the Circle.

(Did you notice...!?)

This is amazing. Hidden is a technique that cuts off the existence of Life Energy emitted from the Aura. No matter how wild the beast, no matter how shrewd, you should not be able to feel a trace of energy.

If you want to see through this, you have no choice but to use "Ren". This is a technique that can only be performed by those who have opened the Shoko, acquired knowledge about Nen, and accumulated Training. Moreover, the "Hidden" used by Cher is so accurate that even a half-baked "Hardness" cannot perceive it.

Creatures native to the Dark Continent are proficient in nature. A threat that even the only trump card allowed to humans cannot pass. There is no reason to win. The worst imagination filled my brain.

"Cher, what's wrong, what did you see...!?"

Her hesitation lasted so long that the report was inadvertently delayed. However, the members guessed from her complexion. Things were much worse than expected.

However, as if ignoring their turmoil, the situation changed further.

The enemy who escaped from Cher's Quan has also entered the Quan. The movements were slow and steady. I have the ability to show off. More importantly, the enemy has unlocked the absolute. Cher accurately captured that shadow.

It is humanoid. It has hair reaching down to its waist. I was momentarily at a loss due to the childlike physique just as it reached secondary sexual characteristics, but judging from the lines of the figure, the gender is female.

"The video is out!"

The Nen Bead camera controlled by Tokunosuke finally revealed the full appearance of the enemy.

Without a single thread, the whole body was covered in mud, slightly dirty. It turned out the mud was intentionally applied for camouflage. Among it, only those scarlet eyes shone as if Burning. The way its slender limbs wobbled clumsily while walking was reminiscent of a ghost crawling out from the depths of a sea of blood.

She held a strange insect in her right hand. The beetle was large enough to cover my right hand, and its color resembled the blood of a discolored liver. The bug on the girl's arm did not move at all, looking like an ornament used in suspicious Magic.

However, that figure was undoubtedly a human girl. In front of the suddenly appearing humanoid creature, the members could not help but feel some doubt.

The girl turned her gaze toward the Nen Bead bird. She seemed to understand what was being observed from there. She took action, giving a sense of clear intelligence.

She held up a Finger. She moved her fingertip as if tracing in the air. The girl used her aura to write letters in the air. Nen users might use an aura invisible to ordinary people to leave letters like a code to facilitate simple communication. It is a method of communication called Nen Language.

"No hostility. Requesting dialogue."

The language used was the common language used across the Six Continents. It naturally uses thought and can even understand human language. The investigation of the Dark Continent, which has already entered its final stage, is facing the greatest chaos since arriving here.