As Nen users within the 'human category,' Menchi and the other two's training speed was undoubtedly very slow.
Although from their own perspective, their progress was rapid, like a rocket.
However, in terms of the Dark Continent's power system, their improvement might have little effect in dealing with danger, merely allowing them to adapt better to the environment and gain some capital for survival.
But even so... from the perspective of their captain, Oboro, it was sufficient.
They stayed in this region for a full year and a half.
Yes, a year and a half.
Oboro patiently taught the three.
"Your Special-type Nen ability, 'Demon's Scrutiny,' has a mandatory mental effect. As your willpower increases, its suppressive power will grow. Your ability has already taken shape, and I can't change it further. Although its limitations require the target to be unable to resist and have weak consciousness to take effect, based on these two points, future development can try to circumvent them. If your Nen strength is sufficient and your spirit is strong enough, even without physically suppressing the opponent, you can incapacitate them with mere mental fluctuations... Moreover, it's not just one-on-one; it can be area-based."
The next day, Oboro stood by, observing Anthony, whose face was marked with demonic patterns and whose eyes had turned red, and instructed him.
At this moment, Anthony was facing a hairless elephant that had strayed from its herd. This creature weighed tens of tons, more than ten times the size of an elephant in the human world, and was also prey for another monster, the Ceratopsian. The hairless elephant's skin was very smooth. Although its appearance was somewhat endearing, it was devastatingly dangerous to humans.
Not only was its skin exceptionally tough, but its strength was also terrifying. Its trunk could not only swirl dirt for attacks but also launch attacks like air cannons.
With a bang!
As Oboro spoke, the Nen around Anthony's body exploded. He was hit by the gas cannon, sent flying dozens of meters, and landed on the ground, spitting blood.
"Your ability is actually very similar to mine, leaning towards the soul level. However, your personal issue is that you're still stuck at the mental level and haven't reached the soul's height. The limitation of your ability is its pursuit of the opponent's mental vulnerability, when the target's mind is weak. But if the target has the ability to act or is aggressive, then... to make your ability work and break through the limitations, you'll have to find a way yourself. When you are attacked, your mind becomes unstable... and your ability naturally cannot be used. To develop further, your personal willpower must remain absolutely firm and stable under all circumstances... And to transition from single-target to area suppression, you'll also need to achieve powerful computational abilities, meaning splitting your mental energy and personal will, with each strand of will acting on a separate object... Otherwise, you won't be able to develop further."
After Oboro finished speaking, several more creatures appeared in the arena.
A beast with a seashell on its back, resembling a wildebeest.
And a kangaroo with bulging muscles all over its body.
These monsters were all under the control of Oboro's awakened souls.
"Practice slowly."
Oboro waved his hand and vanished from the spot in an instant.
A moment later, he appeared in another corner of the arena.
In the field, giant, sharp beams of light erupted from the sky, slicing a moth into pieces. Thick blood and viscous fluid rained down like water.
Menchi landed gracefully, twirling the two chef's knives in her hands like a silver flower, then cleanly sheathed them and tucked them back at her waist.
The red color on the woman's skin gradually returned to normal.
"Very good."
Oboro clapped his hands and praised her.
Breathing techniques.
Among the three, Menchi undoubtedly had the highest talent and was the youngest.
However, due to her personality and demeanor, she appeared very mature, seemingly older.
Even Gebuwich called her "sister."
So did Anthony.
And Menchi's combat style complemented her breathing techniques. The woman's learning speed was also remarkably fast. Except for the two most complex breathing techniques, Menchi had mastered the rest...
Her success in such a short time was not due to incredibly heaven-defying talent, but thanks to the healing vine. It allowed her to recover from any physical torment or injury, something impossible in the human world.
Furthermore, the energy of the Dark Continent was abundant, and the oxygen content in the air alone was different.
Humans changed in special environments.
Combined with Oboro's guidance, Menchi achieved her current results.
"It's not enough... far from enough."
Menchi looked at the captain and said coldly.
She was not satisfied with herself.
These multi-eyed moths were at the very bottom of the food chain in the oasis. If it were Oboro, he wouldn't even need to make a move now; he could kill them with soul pressure alone. Her statement clearly indicated that she regarded Oboro as her goal to catch up to.
Boom boom!
At this moment, vibrations and loud noises came from Anthony's battle arena.
The three had different progress and speeds in their training, so they were learning different things. Oboro intended to teach them all some martial arts and breathing techniques, but currently... only Menchi was receiving the core curriculum.
As for Anthony and Gebuwich, they were still in the stage of refining their life energy.
A moment later, Anthony, covered in blood, missing an arm, and with a gaping bloody hole in his abdomen, staggered before the two.
"Failed."
He said gravely.
"Go back and heal."
Oboro said only one sentence.
Anthony nodded and headed towards the healing vine.
For an ordinary person, such an attack would have been fatal... but Anthony's body and life force seemed exceptionally resilient, and his flesh had undergone some changes, allowing him to still move. If Nen users from the human world saw this, they would definitely think it was an illusion.
During this year and a half, Oboro hadn't traveled far, but he had done some searching.
He had found the same crimson paste as before, similar to honey... Consuming this honey for a long time could increase qi and blood, essentially strengthening lifespan.
But he couldn't consume too much at once, because this 'hope' was essentially 'boosting' the body, directly replenishing life energy. If the body was too fragile, it couldn't withstand it.
The flesh, acting as a 'tire,' would burst.
Then, Oboro and Menchi found Gebuwich together.
Gebuwich's figure moved like a phantom amidst a dense swarm of insects. A hundred or so flying insects formed interwoven black lines, attacking him.
Gebuwich, with his eyes closed, weaved and moved left and right, as if foreseeing the trajectory of the attacks.
For a time, no insect could harm him.
"His ability seems to be almost fully developed,"
Menchi commented, crossing her arms.
"Mhm."
Oboro responded, "This ability is called 'Soul Catcher.' His Nen ability is like a signal source. As long as the signal is broadcast outwards from a base station, he can sense all sources with 'spiritual signs.' Of course, there are also drawbacks. Many life forms on this continent operate purely on instinct, their own spirit and consciousness are not prominent. If he encounters such beings without 'spiritual signs,' he would be in great danger."
"But it's already very good. Coupled with transmission, this is his third developed ability."
Menchi remained silent.
In the arena, Gebuwich had a cigarette dangling from his lips.
At some point, he had learned to smoke.
But both Menchi and Oboro understood and didn't inquire.
The cigarette... belonged to Fant.
There were very few of them, and Gebuwich didn't smoke often... but he made his own cigarettes.
Taciturn, smoking... he was becoming more and more like that man.
When the team was complete, everyone used to say Menchi's personality was deeply influenced by Oboro. But now... Gebuwich was becoming another Fant.
"It's about time... Next is the practice of breathing techniques."
He murmured, and the two of them left without disturbing him.
Oboro also opened his status panel.
His food chain position remained 'Lower.'
However, his ecosystem rating increased from 30 to 40.
The souls he had absorbed over the past year and a half were immeasurable... but the rate of score increase seemed to have slowed down.
Oboro now understood that the so-called rating not only referred to strength but also to his degree of adaptation to the various environments of the Dark Continent.
The higher the rating, the more smoothly he could integrate into various food chains and find his place within them.
However, the 'food chain position' row remained 'Lower,' unchanged, which puzzled him slightly.
"The ecosystem rating is not directly influenced by strength. Food chain position is the fundamental indicator of a species' power... The reason it remains 'Lower' can only mean that, based on the region we've entered in the Dark Continent, although it's not the extreme edge, it's still the 'outermost periphery.' Moreover, this food chain doesn't refer to the food chain within a small area or environment, but likely refers to... the entire vast food chain system of the Dark Continent."
Oboro pondered.
Indeed, judging from the map, they had only just broken through the desert and entered the oasis.
But in reality, their perceived time had been quite long.
In reality, from a bird's-eye view, they had barely moved a few steps.
This is too difficult!
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