051 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

"Just like he said—just make sure he eats. Machi, besides being our guide, your sixth sense is absolutely vital for the rest of the journey. With you here, I truly believe we can reach the Dark Continent without a single casualty!"

"Understood, Leader!!"

Chrollo and the others continued their journey, accompanied by the wild boar demi-human beast. Just two or three days after their departure, a knock echoed on the ancient door once more.

"What's going on now?! Why are people showing up in waves during this period?! Can't you all come at once?!"

The gatekeeper's irritated voice rang out from inside.

"Looks like Beyond and the Phantom Troupe got here ahead of us," Kurapika murmured.

Without another word, they waited silently for the door to open.

Before bringing his team to the gatekeeper's island, Chrollo had already spoken to Ronnel by phone, confirming that the area was secure. It was a surprisingly modern touch amidst the mystique of the voyage.

...

The long days at sea were mind-numbingly dull—until you saw one of the giant sea beasts rolling in the distance. Their massive forms, defying all known biology, jolted even the most seasoned travelers awake. Ronnel stood frozen, stunned by the glimpse of one such behemoth cutting through the waves.

Time slipped by in the monotony and danger of the voyage.

Then, one morning, as cheers erupted from the brothers, the crew gathered on deck—staring wide-eyed at the faint silhouette of land on the horizon.

"Is that it?" Ronnel whispered, lips curving into a grin. "The Dark Continent...!"

Beside him, Ging's eyes lit up—only to dim instantly, the flicker gone as fast as it came.

Pariston, standing just behind, stiffened for a moment, then quickly returned to his usual calm. Still, the ever-present smile on his face felt... off, tinged with something unreadable.

Everyone had their own way of reacting. Ronnel, Ging, and Pariston kept their emotions tightly leashed. But the others—those under Beyond's command—couldn't hold it in. The Rozman and Irving brothers were locked in a joyful embrace, shouting at the top of their lungs.

Usamen, the fisherman still in his apron, tilted his head and spat toward the sky. Curly, the scholarly professor, adjusted his glasses, repeating over and over:

"Unbelievable... utterly unbelievable!"

And then there was Marione, the puppet. Calm, silent, unmoved. Beyond had once called her the strongest among his followers when Ronnel first arrived at the base. Her expression—or lack thereof—never changed. But that was normal for her.

As for Beyond...

"Hahahahaha! Dark Continent, I've returned!!" he roared, throwing his head back in laughter.

"This time, I'll uncover your secrets for sure—just wait!!"

His arms flailed, wild and dramatic, as if he alone were the protagonist of this world.

Still, this was his second arrival. The shock and novelty had dulled just a bit since that first time. Once the high wore off, Beyond's expression turned serious as he scanned the distant coast.

"Alright, everyone! Now's not the time to celebrate—into the apartment, all of you!"

His voice had changed. Calm, but commanding.

"This is the Dark Continent. Danger can strike at any time. For all we know, a disaster is waiting the moment we land. Stay inside until we're fully prepared for disembarkation!"

Beyond's voice carried clearly over the deck, firm and authoritative. His crew trusted him. They moved at once, clearing the deck in moments, leaving only Ronnel, Ging, and Pariston behind. Even Pariston slipped into the fourth-dimensional apartment without a word.

The demi-human beast with the elephant head, who had led them so far, turned to smoke, vanishing into the same kind of mist that had emerged from the ancient gate before.

"Your destination has arrived. My work here is done."

And just like that, he was gone.

...

"Now that it's just us," Beyond said, staring toward the shoreline, "we can start planning the landing."

Ronnel glanced at him. "Can I ask... what was it like, the last time you came here?"

Beyond chuckled. "Ah... last time. We landed way down the southwest coast, far from here. Midway through the voyage, we lost a lot of our crew. The survivors were exhausted, mentally and physically."

"They were terrified. Convinced we'd never make it. But somehow, we reached the sea cliffs at the edge of the continent."

"I still remember the moment we saw land—people didn't believe their eyes. That joy of survival… it took over. Everyone was celebrating. Laughing, crying."

He gave a bitter smile.

"And in that joy... they forgot. They forgot what kind of place this is."

"People have a tendency to let their guard down after surviving a major threat. It's human nature. But when it comes to the Dark Continent, that kind of thinking gets you killed."

"They thought the danger was behind them—that the sea was the worst part. They didn't realize the real threats came from the continent itself."

"Even the rational ones… even the cautious ones… none of them expected an ambush the moment we stepped ashore."

Beyond's voice grew cold, edged with old regret.

"You all should know this by now—lowering your guard here, even for a second, leads to tragedy."