045 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

The strong, no matter where or when, always command the respect they deserve.

Ronnel smiled faintly at the two brothers and nodded in return.

At the same time, he glanced toward the ship's deck and caught sight of Saiyu at work.

Looks like he's figured out my role as an infiltrator. Still, he didn't act rashly. He slipped away early—and came straight to the ship to regroup?

As Ronnel mulled it over, Beyond continued speaking beside him:

"Aside from the sea beasts lurking beneath the waves, we've also brought along the most skilled navigators and seasoned weather hunters to deal with the strange phenomena out there. I've made sure we're fully prepared for this voyage!"

His voice was brimming with confidence. He looked straight at Ronnel, eyes burning with fervor, then spread his arms wide to the sky.

"This time, I'm going to dive in and out of the Dark Continent seven times—and come back alive each one!!"

"Hahahahaha!!"

His bold laughter echoed across the coast.

Inside the cabin, the team members checking over paused and glanced at each other. A flicker of hope lit up in their eyes.

Sure, they were drawn in by promises of money, glory, and fame—but at heart, they were still Hunters. How could they not feel the pull of the Dark Continent?

Adventure is a man's romance!

"Dark Continent..." Ronnel's spirits lifted slightly at the sound of Beyond's laughter.

He looked toward the horizon, toward the world hidden beneath looming storm clouds, and murmured in his thoughts:

What kind of place is it really?

The sun dipped lower in the sky. Twilight approached—the perfect time to set sail.

"At night, the sea monsters near the surface tend to calm down," Beyond had told Ronnel. "The deep-sea ones get more active, but that's when the dark sea stone works best at fooling them."

...

After final checks, only a few essential crew members—like the helmsman and posted lookouts—remained aboard. Everyone else, including Beyond, Ging, and Pariston, entered Ronnel's Hide and Seek.

Compared to the vulnerable open deck, this inner space was far safer.

Ronnel left behind a particle clone to act as an anchor. Even if the ship capsized and the entrance was destroyed, the clone could locate a stable position to reopen the apartment's exit.

And with a long, mournful cry of the ship's horn, the journey to the Dark Continent began in earnest.

A pitch-black vessel—carrying the hopes and dreams of all aboard—set sail for that distant, forbidden land.

...

Elsewhere, on the opposite coast of the so-called "New World," another ship drifted silently.

Its hull was lighter, its design subtler.

"B..."

Chrollo's eyes shimmered under the night sky. He slowly closed the weathered book Journey to the New World and folded up a tattered map of the Dark Continent found deep in the ship's cabin. Then, he held them up before his companions.

"This..." he said softly, "This is our goal. All the hope that lies ahead."

...

Outside of the initial thrill, most of the voyage was monotonous.

Ronnel could feel it clearly—especially after just disembarking from the Black Whale, only to find himself adrift at sea again.

The rhythm of the days was nearly identical—just far more perilous, and increasingly strange.

Fortunately, Beyond's crew had some optimists on board. Hunters who, for all their boldness, also brought along countless gadgets and games to kill time: video consoles, comics, old tapes, mini TVs...

At the very least, it kept boredom at bay.

According to Beyond, with their current speed, they'd reach the territory of the Gatekeepers in less than a week.

That would be the moment to negotiate—convince the Gatekeepers to summon a guide. One of the original inhabitants of the Six Continents who had survived their own journey to the Dark Continent.

With a guide, they could pass safely through the Dark Sea and into the heart of the continent.

The Gatekeepers lived at the boundary between the known sea and the dark one. They despised disrespectful outsiders.

Technically, a stowaway could bypass them—but doing so without a guide came with extreme risks.

And while their group had the strength to attempt a solo crossing, there was no need to gamble unnecessarily.

If they could strike a deal with the Gatekeepers, the journey would be far safer.

Beyond seemed confident in this.

Ronnel, intrigued, asked more about these mysterious Gatekeepers.

"They don't care where you're from," Beyond said bluntly, sprawled out on the floor of the Hide and Seek.

"V5 or independent—it's all the same to them. As long as you're from the Six Continents, they'll treat you the same."

He paused to sip from a pouch of water, then added, "They're not interested in politics. As long as you follow the old protocols and don't provoke them, there won't be trouble. Whether they like us or not is irrelevant."

Beyond smirked, his tone growing sharp.

"To put it harshly, they're just gatekeepers. Even though they're strong enough to survive on the edge of the Dark Continent, they're not reckless enough to challenge us outright."

"Anyone who dares sail from the Six Continents to the Dark Continent... they're not some no-name amateurs. The Gatekeepers know that."

"Got it..." Ronnel nodded slowly, still processing.

Ging had told him plenty about the records. Over the years, others besides V5 had tried to enter the Dark Continent illegally.

The Republic of Mimb encountered Ai, a gas-based lifeform that fed on desires and disasters.

That expedition was backed by a private state organization operating like its own V5. One hundred soldiers were dispatched.

Only three made it back.

And even those three—twisted by internal conflict—lost their sanity not long after returning.

Ging had briefed him on all of this.

Still, even now, Ronnel couldn't help but feel a shadow of doubt behind Beyond's confidence.