The Final Order!

"The Demon King? The legendary... monster that created the Dark Sonata? It actually exists!"

"What is this thing? An apostle?"

A moment later, Anthony exclaimed in surprise.

Looking at the skeleton lying on the ground, it was unbelievable.

Because most of what they had heard about the Dark Continent before was just speculation, now that it has been confirmed, they are inevitably confused.

"Wow."

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the passageway at the base of the stone statue, Menchi walked out, covering his mouth and looking pale.

After going outside, I couldn't help but bend over and vomit.

Long had only sent Menchi to investigate after confirming that there was no danger underground beneath the passage. As for what was hidden inside, he had already sensed it.

"He's not an apostle... at best he's just a plaything of the Demon King."

"Long said softly."

"Please sit down," Oboro said with a serious expression.

Upon hearing the sound, the three sat down on the ground.

On one hand, his mind was still unsettled, and on the other hand, he was still shaken by the 'broken melody' he had just heard.

If it weren't for Oboro protecting them, even after such a long period of training, the three of them would still not have been able to change the fact that they died quickly.

Despite their seemingly tremendous growth, they appeared particularly powerless at this moment.

"I've seen a part of the truth about the Dark Continent... This place is both Eden and Pandora's Box, or more precisely, a large-scale genetic breeding vessel." Long recounted the scene he had just witnessed in the skeleton's memories, word by word.

This caused the pupils of Menchi and the other two to gradually dilate.

"It's not just humans. Haven't you noticed that all the species we've encountered before... are different from the creatures of the human world? Wildebeests have conch shells on their backs... Metal centipedes have hooves on their feet. These are all results of genetic evolution, to adapt to the environment, to adapt to the food chain... All species are constantly changing, and humans are no exception. Unconventional mating, reproduction, and the emergence of new life forms... Meruem is a prime example. Humans are typically at the bottom of the food chain, lacking immense strength, yet possessing advanced intelligence. This alone is enough to make humans the best genetic match. Chimera Ant are merely insignificant creatures on the Dark Continent, but when combined with human genes, they can create terrifying individuals like Meruem..."

Long slowly explained.

"If the life forms we encountered before lacked thought and had weak spiritual power, then... the Dark Continent's ecosystem gradually transformed from 'savagery' to 'civilization,' that is, intelligent life, with humans being a crucial link. Those demi-human races, including demi-human Magical Beasts, all originated this way... Human genes were selected and, in extremely ancient times, perhaps at the very beginning of this continent, participated in the 'reproduction process,' so that even now, many advanced life forms on the Dark Continent, including the Demon King... retain a certain human form. I even think that at least 70-80% of the intelligent life on the Dark Continent are 'descendants' of humans..."

"..."

The three of them were speechless.

It wasn't that they thought what Oboro said was wrong, but rather... it was a bit beyond their imagination.

"From what I remember... besides humans, other creatures are constantly evolving, mating based on instinct. But even so, humans remain weak, still clinging to powerful beings... most humans are slaves or food for stronger species, with only a few able to form alliances with other races or create unique groups and tribes. However, on the Dark Continent, there's an ironclad rule: power... once a species possessing human genes gains intelligence and becomes a superdimensional life form... strictly speaking, it no longer belongs to the human category. It needs to hunt stronger prey because it needs more life energy... to find superior genes, follow the food chain, and follow the instincts of evolution and reproduction to create its own bloodline. Countless genes, vast as a starry sea, exist on this land, coupled with the continent's rich and wondrous energy resources, thus... making the life forms here today incredibly diverse and bizarre..."

"This is also why human civilization once had a profound influence on the Dark Continent..."

"I understand... that Komugi..."

Anthony swallowed hard, thinking of the Chimera Ant King Meruem and Komugi.

If a creature from the Dark Continent develops feelings for a human, then such a thing will surely happen on the Dark Continent as well.

After all, humankind has existed for an incredibly long time.

"The Chimera Ant King and Komugi are not special cases."

Oboro nodded, because the thing inside Alluka's body was actually the same as Killua's.

"The combination and evolution of genes are not limited to the physical body... The Dark Continent is still evolving in this way, or rather, it has never stopped. However, humanity still cannot change its weakness. Just as to the Chimera Ant, humans are merely 'food' that can optimize their own genes... or perhaps provide better services and conveniences for other intelligent races, nothing more. If humanity wants to survive here, it can only choose a few paths: one is to cling to others, another is to evolve, abandoning its own identity. Or it is to escape, to escape to a place where these rules do not apply..."

"So, in that case, our human world on the Lake Island is a primitive gene pool?" Gabe Vich rarely spoke, and his scalp tingled.

Is this why the creatures of the Dark Continent have never invaded the human world?

In a sense, is this protection actually preserving the purest, most primitive genes? "No... although they are primitive genes, they've already been eliminated. The reason the creatures of the Dark Continent don't go to our world is probably, as the captain said before, simply because resources and energy are too scarce. Since it's evolution, it's about selecting the best genes, and now there are too many superior genes on this land... We pure-blooded humans, apart from the characteristic of being 'intelligent beings,' are no longer enough. But for some lower life forms, who can't 'combine' with the intelligent species already established on the Dark Continent, humans are still a good choice. It's just a pity that most lower life forms don't have sound thinking; they can't think of this level, let alone go to our world..."

Menchi added in a similar tone.

"Higher life forms look down on them, and lower life forms are brainless," Anthony succinctly summarized.

"There's also an uncertainty here, namely 'emotion,' human emotion, and the same goes for Chimera Ant. Some powerful species can transcend the instinct of the food chain and develop feelings for even the weakest humans... just like the Chimera Ant King."

"Anything that involves intelligence... implies communication and interaction, which may be the only means for humans still surviving on the continent to survive... However, as the captain said, most humans are still domesticated 'livestock'... Perhaps some advanced life forms still retain some feelings for humans, but I think they are a very small minority. The characteristics of the Dark Continent and this environment will amplify biological instincts infinitely... Most species will still engage in hunting, submission, the survival of the fittest, and the rule of the strong."

"There are probably not many who have feelings..."

"Don Freecss only wrote the Eastern part of his Journey to the New Continent. For him, there are two possibilities for why he never returned... First, he discovered the diversity of life energy on the continent, and he discovered subhuman species or tribes and civilizations that evolved from different genes. These are far more interesting than so-called disasters and hopes... because in a sense, they represent the possibilities of humanity. All the species on the Dark Continent were given by humans. Second, and most realistically, he can't go back."

Long sighed softly, "This is also what I wanted to say to you..."

Menchi and the other two realized something.

"Let's go back while there's still time."

"..."

"Team leader!"

Anthony's expression suddenly changed, and he was about to speak when Long stopped him with a gesture.

"That's not hard to understand... From the moment we set foot on this land, we've been adapting to the local ecosystem, but we haven't fully integrated yet. Integration requires evolution, and this evolution isn't something we can choose; it's very passive. Keep following me, and one day in the future, you might suddenly become new life forms... Remember Chimera Ant can choose to cultivate humans? Turning people into ants... If we hadn't intervened, Palm, Knov's disciple in the extermination team, would also have become an ant... Being able to retain some human features is considered lucky. If you become something else entirely, you'll never be able to return to the human world. Even if you're still alive in a sense... humans won't accept you. Think about V5's attitude towards the Dark Continent, think about why Netero explicitly forbids humans from coming to this land... The old man probably realized this, and his decision now seems very correct."

"Because if the last remaining pure-blooded humans also participate in 'evolution,' then... humanity will truly 'disappear' and cease to exist. Of course, there may still be pure-blooded humans on the Dark Continent; I have indeed seen them in my memories... but they rarely survive. They are like ants being simply played with, completely unable to control their own destiny."

"If you become like this... not to mention outsiders, I'm afraid even your relatives and friends will not be able to accept it."

Oboro then pointed to the several dead 'deformed' creatures beside him.

"The gatekeeper was right to prevent humans from entering the gate... It knows pure-blooded humans too well. They need their own kind, their own kind, and their own social groups. Humans cannot separate themselves from their original world for the sake of evolution. Back then, humans and some other creatures fled, which was also a voluntary abandonment of 'evolution'. We don't crave power that much, it's just a desire to a certain extent. We are simply not suited to this place. History has proven everything."

"However... I might be an exception."

Long closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she smiled suddenly, "Let's go, listen to me... Don't try to fight your instincts. You can choose not to evolve, but one day, when your survival is threatened, you may choose to evolve. That's the truly terrifying thing about the Dark Continent. Once you choose to evolve, you will never be able to escape from here, nor can you go back. It relies on the environment and its own rules, and it will infect and teach every creature that sets foot on this land."

"When evolution can provide you with power and transform you, it is hard for you to refuse in order to survive."

"Let alone you, even I... dare not say that I have complete confidence that I can handle it."

"The decision by which humankind's ancestors left from here was the wisest one."

"Don Freecss... probably can't go back either. It's not that he doesn't want to go back... Of course, I haven't seen him either, this is just my guess."

"Let's go back while there's still time."

Long rarely smiled at them, but this smile immediately brought tears to the eyes of the three of them.

"Let's do it together..."

Menchi's mouth trembled.

Long shook his head. "I came into this world not for power, nor for relatives or humans, but only for myself. So... this game in the Dark Continent has no effect on me. I originally thought this first adventure was just a trial... and that I could return to prepare. I didn't expect that if I went too deep, it would be difficult to leave."

"It was indeed my mistake..."

"There's no point in me going back now, because I'll definitely come back again...it would just be a waste of time."

"You're in charge of the humans..."

"I want to try and see if, as a pure human, I can win without participating in this evolution... I want to conquer this place, I want to overthrow the 'rules' of this continent!"

"Perhaps, Don Freecss... thinks the same way."

"With the most primitive and weakest genes, we step onto the very top of this 'gene breeding ground'."

"When you get back, remember to reach an agreement with V5 to prohibit human involvement in this area."

"Perhaps, someday in the future, I will go back... If I haven't changed, I will naturally see you all; if I have changed... then forget it."

"This is the last order I give you as your captain, and it's a death order!"

"Go back!"

Stay human, retain your human form and essence, and go back!