If you compared their expressions now to when they first left the Six Continents, you'd notice a huge change.
Their eyes were sharper, more determined, and full of alertness. That's the kind of mindset an explorer needs, not because they lacked it before, but because the level of vigilance required on the Six Continents simply wasn't enough for the Dark Continent.
They had just completed a long voyage and some trekking after landing, and while it didn't feel like much time had passed, the dangers they faced on this journey far outweighed all the threats they had encountered before combined. On the Six Continents, dangers usually meant setbacks, rarely life-threatening situations.
But in the unknown seas and on the Dark Continent, any danger could be fatal. One wrong move and your head might end up somewhere it shouldn't be.
That was the shared thought running through the minds of everyone visiting the Dark Continent for the first time, even Ging felt this way. They all agreed that without Larry leading them every step of the way, they would have died countless times over.
And this was a team made up of some of the best elites from across the entire Six Continents. This clearly shows that calling the Dark Continent a "forbidden land for mankind" isn't an exaggeration.
After facing life-or-death situations, everyone's eyes showed noticeable changes, they were slowly starting to adapt to the dangers of this harsh environment. Even though their strength had limits and meant they couldn't go too far, this mission gave them valuable mental training, which was a significant gain in itself.
Their next step was to focus on their responsibilities and work hard toward the goals of their journey. When Larry crossed the grassy patch and stepped onto the rocky terrain, two nurturing bars appeared in his mind again.
His expression didn't change as he kept leading the group forward. He had gotten used to seeing these bars show up multiple times in a row, and now he simply tried
to guess which Pokemon might appear next. There wasn't much information to go on, except that since the area was rocky, the Pokemon likely to appear would be rock-type.
Then came the tedious part, rushing forward. Because they had to stay alert to their surroundings at all times while moving quickly, most of the group felt tense.
It wasn't everyone, though, Larry, who was at the front, didn't need to be so nervous. As I hurried along the rocky path, I still managed to take in my surroundings.
At first glance, the terrain looked familiar, but it wasn't until I actually set foot on the uneven ground that I truly grasped its nature. The landscape was much like I expected, full of ravines and potholes, but with occasional flat patches here and there.
Vegetation was nearly nonexistent; this place was dominated entirely by rock, with barely any soil to be found. In many spots, jagged rocks jutted out, untouched even by a thin layer of earth.
The rocks themselves were fairly ordinary, mostly consisting of two or three common types without anything particularly special about them. Yet, despite their simplicity, the terrain was chaotic enough to create some strange and mysterious scenes.
Weirdly shaped rocks were scattered all around, dotted with potholes of various sizes, making it feel like we had stepped into a bizarre stone forest. As we walked further without encountering any immediate danger, we stumbled upon something new.
Larry slowed down and stared intently at the ground ahead, a bit dazed. The rest of us followed his gaze, focusing on the rocky floor.
While it was mostly gray and white stone, there were patches of fiery red scattered throughout. The ground was relatively flat, but these bright red stones seemed almost deliberately placed, starkly out of place among the muted colors around them.
The red rocks glowed vividly and even emitted wisps of white smoke now and then, carrying a faint smell reminiscent of something roasting. Approaching them, we all noticed the temperature rising significantly compared to the areas we'd just passed through.
It was clear that these fiery red stones weren't ordinary. Curious, Larry stepped closer, bent down, and reached out to touch one.
The heat radiating from it grew stronger, so he activated his ability to analyze them. His findings revealed that these were Flame Stones, rocks entirely fiery red with flame-like patterns, radiating intense heat.
They absorbed aura from sunlight and periodically released that heat. Learning this, Larry realized these stones were a rare type of ore with considerable value.
When it comes to ores, Larry can't help but think of the Unmanned Rock as a true beacon of hope. This tiny, bead-sized ore produces electricity simply by being placed in water.
Research shows that just a small cluster of these uninhabited stones can generate up to 20,000 kilowatts of electricity each day. It's no wonder this ore is seen as such a valuable resource.
Interestingly, the name "Unmanned Rock" doesn't actually relate to its abilities. Instead, it likely comes from the dangers surrounding it.
The place was the site of the "Pap," a beast that wiped out a thousand people, leaving only seven survivors. Pappu, known as the nurturing beast, is actually one of the disasters that Larry suspects might be connected to Naniga's true identity.
Because so many people have died there, the area earned a reputation as a "no place for life," which is probably how the stone got its ominous name. The flame stones in front of us aren't as powerful as the Unmanned Rock, but they're still a solid find.
"Are these ores able to emit heat continuously?"
Beyond asked, looking at the flame stones with a hint of excitement. Despite the constant dangers on the Dark Continent, there are also plenty of reasons to be hopeful.
Beyond believes that among all the hopes, mineral resources are especially promising because of their practical uses. While minerals like Vanilla and Nitolomia have their benefits, they're rare and hard to get on a large scale.
In comparison, Unmanned Rock is much more practical because even a small amount can create huge value, making it useful across the six continents. Having experience with alchemical plants that wither, Beyond especially appreciates minerals that don't "wither" or lose their potency over time.
Most ores can be stored easily without losing their effectiveness, except for some special cases.
"These high-temperature minerals have great potential," Beyond added, "though we still need to study their specific properties more closely."
Larry nodded in agreement and instructed, "Everyone, carefully dig out the red stones without damaging them." Hearing this, the group eagerly got to work.
Compared to fighting enemies, mining felt more like a welcome break, especially since what they were digging up was a valuable reward. In no time, everyone was in high spirits, gently and carefully mining the precious stones.
Ging paused for a moment, then suddenly a spark of fire appeared in his hand. He dug into the ground with determination, and like magic, a piece of flaming stone emerged along with some debris.
It seemed the flames were reacting to the thought aura Ging was channeling, causing the light from the flame stone to glow even brighter.
"The temperature is just right, and it looks like this could be a reusable aura source," Ging mused.
As he continued, he glanced down at the hole he'd made and saw nothing beneath it.