In the month since its public launch, Hero Island had garnered widespread attention across all forms of media. News broadcasts frequently featured interviews with members of the development team, especially Mondel, and the game's popularity among Nen users had reached unprecedented heights.
To the general public, Hero Island seemed like just another online handheld game. However, for those with access to the Hunter website or other channels exclusive to Nen users, completing the game and defeating its final boss revealed the true path to Hero Island. This clever design, conceived by Ging, ensured that only those capable of using Nen could discover its true nature.
During his six-month stay on Hero Island, Ging had made significant contributions. His most important work was to strengthen the binding power of the Player Contract. He also enhanced the game's appeal by adding engaging features and gameplay elements during rest periods, effectively ensuring that players remained deeply invested in the experience. Satisfied with these improvements, Ging departed, leaving a message that he would return after the basic player rank had improved, as opponents at the current level could no longer provide him with meaningful challenges.
Kate had also made a brief visit to the island at Ging's request, but due to her busy schedule, her stay lasted only a few days. Before she left, Oboro and Ging had exchanged contact information, which led to occasional phone calls. It was clear that Ging, who rarely socialized with others, had a special interest in gradually understanding Oboro better. Oboro recognized Ging's intentions, but remained unconcerned.
Over the past year, the game world had received a substantial "energy supply," allowing it to run with increasing stability. Oboro sensed that it wouldn't be long before he could go offline and officially take possession of the three types of Nen abilities.
Returning to the Hunters' Association headquarters, Oboro reunited with Menchi and his five companions, who had undergone a year of intensive training. Each member had grown significantly, not only in raw strength but also in mental toughness. While their distinct personalities remained intact, they had shed their former immaturity.
Within the team, Oboro held the rank of Two-Star Hunter, while the others had reached One-Star status. Menchi had almost enough accomplishments to apply for Two-Star Hunter status, although her combat skills still needed improvement. Even with her credentials, the Association's management would probably be reluctant to approve her application without sufficient strength to back it up. Still, her current level was far beyond what would have been expected at this point in the original timeline.
"What's next for you? Aiming for three-star hunter status?" Menchi asked Oboro in the Association Hall, studying her captain carefully. Their reunion showed just how unfathomable Oboro had become. Two years ago, when the team had first formed, Oboro had been strong, but his abilities had still been somewhat comprehensible to his teammates. Now, despite their own tremendous growth over the past two years, the gap between them had only widened.
Oboro's intensive training of the team hadn't been out of pure kindness, Menchi understood that it had to do with his ambitions to become a Three-Star Hunter and the missions that came with such a rank. Tasks of that caliber couldn't be obtained through normal channels; they required direct orders from the Chairman and the senior management.
"That's true," Oboro smiled. "But it's not just about me reaching three-star status, I need all of you to become stronger as well."
"Looks like another adventure is about to begin," Anthony grinned. While Two-Star Hunter status remained out of reach for most of them, with perhaps only Menchi showing real potential, Anthony felt satisfied with his One-Star achievement. The team had developed strong bonds during their time together, and their trust in Oboro remained absolute. Whatever their captain planned, they would follow.
"Have you accepted a mission yet?" Menchi asked, reading Oboro's expression.
When he nodded, she continued, "Then why are we still here? Shouldn't we be on our way?"
"We're waiting for someone," Oboro answered simply.
"Working with another team?"
Menchi raised an eyebrow. Considering the special nature of three-star missions, it made sense. Such missions were rare, only one or two per year, and some remained unfinished for long periods of time.
"Not a temporary support team provided by the Association," Oboro explained with a slight smile.
"Support? You don't think we can handle it?" Anthony asked, frowning.
Before anyone could probe further, Oboro's attention shifted to a distant figure. "Here they come."
The team's expressions changed as they recognized the approaching figures as members of the Twelve Zodiacs: Monkey and Snake, Saiyu and Gel. Menchi immediately looked to Oboro for answers, understanding the unusual nature of this development. The Zodiacs rarely interfered with other hunters' missions, and given Oboro's complex relationship with the Association, including his rejected nomination for the Zodiacs and his tension with Vice Chairman Pariston, their presence raised questions.
Menchi sensed political maneuvering. The team had become familiar with the internal politics of the Association over the past two years, and this situation had clear implications. They would have to remain vigilant and support their captain against any plans that might unfold.
"Greetings," Oboro greeted them warmly, even though his actual interactions with the Zodiacs had been limited to Pariston until now.
"I don't think we need any introductions," Gel, the poison hunter, said coldly.
"Indeed," she added with a vague smile. "We'll have plenty of time to get acquainted during the journey."
Saiyu twirled his shrunken staff, glanced at Oboro's companions, and took the lead as they left the Association.
The three-star mission was fraught with unknown dangers. Though technically within the human world, their destination bordered the Dark Continent, lying in the marginal waters between Lake Mobius and that forbidden territory. The Association had received reports of possible Dark Continent species infiltrating one of the small, deserted islands in those waters. If true, these creatures could wreak havoc on the human world if left unchecked.
Their destination was the tenth island along Route 3. The team's primary objective was reconnaissance; if they discovered true creatures from the Dark Continent, they were to retreat immediately and report back. While the Dark Continent connection justified the three-star rating, it didn't explain the presence of two Zodiacs. Oboro suspected their involvement stemmed from the Zodiacs' own agenda, possibly orchestrated by Pariston. As vice chairman, he had considerable influence over such arrangements.
Of the various routes to the Dark Continent, including those taken during the Chairman's two expeditions, each followed specific paths in different directions. In particular, mankind had only ever explored the outermost regions of the Dark Continent. Even the five great catastrophes they'd brought back had originated on its fringes; no one had truly penetrated its interior or crossed its threshold. Their explorations had amounted to little more than skirting the edges of a vast forest, but even those limited forays had taken a heavy toll.
A week later, after securing the necessary permits from the Transportation Authority and reporting to V5, the eight-member team boarded the officially designated vessel and set course along Route 3 to investigate the island.
"Wouldn't it be great if the information turned out to be wrong?" Anthony mused from his cabin seat, idly flipping through a gossip magazine. "We'd have completed a three-star mission just by running an errand."
Gel, absorbed in a pharmacology text across from him, replied without looking up. "The information is probably correct. This mission came directly from V5, it's highly classified. Only mission personnel and the Association's top brass know about it." The implications of anything involving the Dark Continent needed no elaboration.
"I heard that the Kakin Empire has sent people as well," Oboro remarked, glancing meaningfully at Saiyu.
"Really? That's news to me," Gel looked up in surprise.
"They set up a commission to investigate new species around the time Pariston became Vice Chairman," Oboro explained with a knowing smile.
"How reckless," Gel's tone turned icy as the memory surfaced.
The Kakin Empire had undergone a revolution nearly three decades ago, changing both its system and its name before withdrawing from the V5 treaty. Now one of the most influential nations on the six continents, Kakin operated independently of V5 authority. Their search for new species, clearly aimed at the Dark Continent, suggested they might break the treaty forbidding exploration of the Dark Continent.
"Don't worry," Oboro said, noting Gel's concern. "If we know about it, V5 certainly does. They'll handle the Kakin situation through other channels."
"About the Kakin species investigation," Oboro prompted, already knowing the answer he was looking for.
"New species?" Menchi interjected from her seat on the sofa. "The Association has seen a sharp increase in investigative missions and teams lately. Could this be related to our current mission?"
"Partially," Oboro nodded. "These new species reports have V5 on high alert for any alien organisms entering the human world."
"What do you know about that?" Gel asked, studying Oboro's expression. The Association hadn't finished its investigation yet, but he seemed to have inside information.
"Nothing concrete," Oboro deflected. "But if these creatures are indeed from the Dark Continent, we could face serious consequences."
He kept the truth to himself: these "new species" were Chimera ants, already breeding in the human world, specifically in the NGL Autonomous Region of the Mitene Federation. Founded by Gyro, the NGL served as his revenge against a world he had perceived as malevolent since childhood. The region had become a source of illegal drugs, weapons, and other contraband that threatened human life.
V5 found NGL more difficult to control than even East Gorteau. Although it was called a country, it operated more like a massive criminal organization, far exceeding the typical scattered gangs in size and influence. Gyro had clearly planned his strategy against V5 from the NGL's inception, leaving them with few options to contain the unrest.
The slow progress of the new species research was due in part to NGL's isolation, but Pariston's interference played a crucial role. He wanted to use the ants to challenge Chairman Netero's ban on Dark Continent research, driven by a twisted admiration that made him want to destroy the very thing he revered.
Oboro had his own reasons for not interfering with the ant situation. If hunting normal monsters yielded souls and black fog, the chimera ants would yield even greater benefits. In addition, the Chairman's eventual abdication factored into his plans.
Though present now, Oboro doubted his ability to save the Chairman. The impending battle between Netero and the Ant King Meruem was imminent, and Oboro's current level of power would make any meaningful intervention difficult. Even without the Poor Man's Rose, Netero alone hadn't really pressured the Ant King, and Oboro stood even less of a chance.
The Ant Queen had arrived in human territory long ago, when Oboro lacked both the opportunity and the means to intervene. The Association remained unaware, while others trained in remote mountains or had just reached the Sky Arena.
Netero's fate seemed sealed, and even Oboro couldn't change everything. Though his presence as a time traveler had triggered certain "butterfly effects," affecting characters such as Biscuit, Wing, the Phantom Troupe, and Hisoka, some events were beyond even his power to change.