On the black beach of the Dark Continent.
A fierce wind carried the pungent stench of the sea.
Gravity here was more than twice that of the human world.
The free-floating life energy in the air was as thick as a pot of sticky porridge.
For an ordinary Hunter standing here.
Even breathing would make their lungs ache.
The expedition's civilians and the Mafia had stayed on the New Continent.
Those who had arrived here aboard Morel's expedition ship.
Were all the most elite monsters the human world had to offer.
The Zodiacs were fully armed.
Beyond's personal mercenary company also began setting up camp at the edge of the beach.
These mercenaries had spent years risking their lives in all kinds of extremely dangerous restricted zones.
Every last one of them was arrogant.
The one-eyed mercenary leading them glanced at the Zodiacs, who looked ready to face a formidable enemy.
He scoffed.
"Those pampered flowers from the Hunter Association are so damn precious."
The one-eyed mercenary spat on the ground.
"It's just a patch of virgin forest."
"Boys."
"Go clear the weeds around the edge."
"Put up a few lookout towers."
Several burly mercenaries shouldered high-frequency vibration blades.
They strode toward the boundary between the beach and the jungle.
Massive green plants grew there in clusters.
Their leaves were broader than trucks.
Their surfaces were covered in a fine layer of green fuzz.
A bald mercenary took the lead.
He raised the high-frequency vibration blade in his hand, a weapon capable of slicing through an armored vehicle.
And hacked viciously at one of those enormous leaves.
There was no deafening impact, nor any tearing sound as the blade sliced through the plant.
It was as though someone had hit the mute button on the entire world that second.
The