Waves of invisible gas emerged from the altar, transforming into serpentine forms that slithered toward the people present.
This power was unlike the surrounding death aura, it was an even more sinister ability! Even Gardevoir Guard couldn't completely block it out.
The struggling hip-hop man, as if injected with stimulants, roared and began punching the insect swarm relentlessly. It was as if he was under an illusion, his eyes devoid of any clarity!
The exhausted duo of Wind and Fire had somehow made their way onto the altar. In an instant, they turned into desiccated corpses, lifeless! In their place appeared two grotesque, abstract monsters—one red and one green—exuding an aura of chaos and savagery, seemingly intent on devouring everything!
Aside from the leather-clad woman lying unconscious, only Pete and the bespectacled man managed to retain some semblance of rationality, not succumbing to the emotional turmoil.
Even akira could feel what they were experiencing. A sudden surge of inexplicable negative emotions appeared in his heart, urging him to destroy everything in sight. But this feeling vanished as quickly as it came, leaving no trace.
The bespectacled man and Peter, sitting cross-legged on the ground, exchanged glances filled with confusion and pain, both realizing that something monumental had happened on the battlefield. Now, both sides had to cease fighting and focus on escaping. Treasure could be retrieved anytime, but life was the most precious!
Meanwhile, akira mind raced as he tried to make sense of this sudden turn of events. He could roughly guess that the change was related to the altar, but he wanted to dig deeper.
He felt as though he had come across some information related to this back on Earth. He also quietly instructed Gardevoir to prepare for a teleportation. The current situation had exceeded his expectations, and he had to prepare for the worst.
Akira thoughts didn't linger for long, as he saw a black, mist-like creature emerge from beneath the altar. Unlike the surrounding death aura, this creature had a slightly purplish hue, with clearly defined limbs made of smoke.
The appearance of this unknown creature unlocked a long-sealed memory in akira mind. His pupils contracted sharply, and cold sweat began to form in his palms.
This was... A creature from the Dark Continent!
One of the five great calamities of the six continents! The Desire-Dependent Entity—Gas Lifeform: Ai!
Akira felt a sense of familiarity because he had once read about the five great calamities in a manga. On the Dark Continent, there existed a primordial liquid known as the "Trinity-Elixir" the solution for all sorts of liquids.
In places where this water could be found, mist-like creatures called "Ai" roamed freely. These creatures had the ability to drive people insane.
The Republic of Mimbo, part of the V5, once attempted to seize this miraculous "Trinity-Elixir" with the help of the Hunter Association, but they were nearly wiped out! Only three people returned, their minds shattered...
...
At this moment, all the information in his mind connected, forming a complete chain of intelligence! Long, long ago, humans discovered an altar harboring "Ai." Since humans need power and "Ai" thrives on desire, the two have reached a consensus and formed a transaction.
The monster now created from the lives of the Wind-Fire duo is the power that the royal members depicted in the murals obtained from "Ai." These abstract monsters before them are the embodiment of emotions!
This also explains why the altar requires emotionally rich beings as sacrifices. Because "Ai" is a desire-dependent entity, it survives by absorbing the desires of living beings. The more emotionally rich a person is, the more intense their desires!
The question that had puzzled akira earlier was now resolved. The black part on the altar in the mural wasn't a depression—it was actually a mass of black mist, the calamity from the Dark Continent—Ai!
Seeing this, akira suddenly remembered his pokedex ability. Although it claims to identify everything, he wasn't sure if it could recognize "Ai."
Name: Desire-Dependent Entity—Gas Lifeform (Ai)
Strength: Undefined
Ability: Can control living beings through the mental realm and create alternative monsters using them.
It was indeed "Ai"!
Akira let out a bitter laugh, his handsome face filled with helplessness. Although he was pleased that the pokedex could identify creatures from the Dark Continent, the problem was that knowing the information didn't solve the current crisis... He hadn't been in this world for long, and already he was encountering such a heavyweight entity.
He wasn't sure whether to call it good luck or bad luck.
Watching as "Ai" from the other side approached with two emotion monsters in tow, akira thought the only option was to have Gardevoir use Teleport to escape. But before leaving, perhaps Gardevoir could try a couple of moves to gain some experience dealing with Dark Continent creatures?
He wasn't particularly concerned about the treasures. In this world, as long as you had strength, acquiring wealth was an easy task. The greatest reward from this expedition had already been obtained—the Gengar before him...
Wait... the Gengar before him?!
It turned out that Gengar had just voluntarily emerged from within him, appearing before akira.
"Gengar, Gengar!"
Gengar stood in front of akira, patting its chest, confidently assuring that it could handle the situation.
"What? You can absorb these death aura and the influence of 'Ai'?"
Understanding Gengar words, akira was stunned. Recalling the rapid disappearance of the negative emotions earlier, it must have been Gengar absorbing them.
Under akira expectant gaze, Gengar opened its "gaping maw." Countless death aura and emotional gases swiftly entered Gengar body like swallows returning to their nest.
The commotion also caught the attention of Pete, Bespectacled Guy, and even "Ai"!
Is that... akira Nen beast?! He actually has another Nen beast! And one with such an incredible ability!!
The two of them stared at a deep purple, one-and-a-half-meter-tall "gummy bear" with crimson eyes and a wide mouth. With a casual inhale, it swallowed a large amount of death aura and even some of Ai misty form.
To akira, the scene had an inexplicable sense of humor, as if Gengar were drinking them down like soup. But to the other two, the scene was nothing short of sacred, as if an angel had descended before them to save their lives.
As for why only a part of "Ai" was absorbed and why the subsequent emotional monsters remained unaffected, akira speculated that some damage was still missing. It was like drinking meat soup—there was the broth that could be consumed directly, but there were also chunks of meat that needed to be chewed before swallowing.
If Gengar could simply open its mouth and solve everything, that would truly have shocked akira.
Witnessing "Ai'" pitiful state in front of Gengar, akira felt reassured.
Why run away now? I have my ace, Gengar, who can slay "Ai"!
"Then, let me test the strength of these creatures from the Dark Continent!"
After watching the battle for so long, akira couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Akira stood directly opposite "Ai," with Gardevoir and Gengar on his left and right, respectively, facing the red and green emotional monsters beside "Ai."
'What? Did he actually intend to confront these monsters head-on?'
The bespectacled man thought to himself, so shocked that his gold-rimmed glasses nearly fell off.
What a fool! He should have just swallowed it quietly or escaped the way he came.
Instead, he chose the worst possible path!
This was Pete reaction upon seeing akira actions, and he couldn't help but resent akira for it. In his view, he could have been saved, but now akira recklessness had ruined everything!
You, a guy with a manifested support-type Nen beast, should just stay hidden in the corner. Why step forward?
This was Pete thought just one second before Gardevoir and Gengar launched their attacks.
"Huh?!"
Pete body suddenly stiffened as two overwhelmingly powerful auras emanated from akira sides.
Such immense power! Impossible! How could a weak Nen user like you have such formidable Nen beasts!!!
Pete entire body broke out in goosebumps, feeling as if he were being stared down by countless bloodthirsty beasts. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead as he screamed internally!
Similar to Pete, the bespectacled man was also stunned by akira strength.
Isn't your Nen ability "Safety Condom"? How can your "condom" even attack?
But unlike Pete intense jealousy, the bespectacled man face showed more surprise and delight. The stronger akira abilities, the higher the chances of survival for the three siblings!
"Gardevoir, Psychic! Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
Gardevoir moved like an elegant dancer, gently waving its sleeve-covered hands. Dozens of pink orbs, each trailing streams of air, shot forward.
The power of each of Gardevoir psychic orbs far surpassed the trump cards of the Wind and Fire duo. If the hip-hop man had been hit by this attack, he would have turned to dust in an instant...
Gengar short arms gathered in front of it, and in an instant, a massive black-purple energy ball formed. Staring at it felt like being sucked into a deep, dark abyss.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The terrifying energy tore through the smoke, striking "Ai" and the two monsters. Especially Gengar massive Shadow Ball, which pushed "Ai" relentlessly backward, forcing it to retreat over ten meters before exploding violently!
Just one round of attacks from Gardevoir and Gengar caused the two monsters bodies to collapse completely.
"Ai" was also reduced to a dissipating gas, visibly trying to reform quickly. Unfortunately, Gengar had no intention of giving it that chance...