"Then, I wonder if you might be interested..."
Morel adjusted his sunglasses, speaking with solemn gravity, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
This concerned their very survival moving forward—he couldn't afford to be anything less than serious. If Akira agreed, their safety would no longer be a concern.
Having [The Strongest in the World] on their team would make this the most secure expedition possible.
"Fine. Just let me know when you're setting off. We'll go together." Akira glanced at Menchi beside him before accepting Morel invitation.
He was going regardless—might as well have a dedicated Guide leading the way now.
"Excellent! With you joining us, this expedition is bound to go smoothly." Morel visibly brightened at Akira's confirmation, as did his two disciples. They all understood what Akira's participation signified.
"No. My goal isn't just exploration—it's eliminating the source of the Death Aura." Akira shook his head. His aim went beyond mere investigation.
"Eliminate the source? But that's likely the Dark Sonata..." Morel trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly recalling Akira title as the [Greatest Nen Exorcist].
His square-jawed face showed a flicker of hesitation—perhaps Akira wasn't joking?
Did he genuinely have a solution?
"Right! If we can resolve this directly, nothing could be better!" Morel voiced no skepticism about Akira capability, simply endorsing the idea.
After all, even if Akira failed, escaping safely wouldn't be an issue. They could always decide whether to withdraw when the time came.
After exchanging contact details, Akira group parted ways with Morel team.
A phone call would suffice when it was time to depart.
Before leaving, Akira casually purchased the jellyfish.
Demonstrating his Nen exorcism skills before Morel group further bolstered their confidence in him.
Watching the two figures recede into the distance, Knuckle murmured.
"Master... Mr. Akira is truly remarkable." Anyone observant enough would notice the extraordinary aura radiating from Akira every pore when near him. His slightest movements carried immense gravitas.
People instinctively adopted deferential postures in his presence—an automatic lowering of status. For Knuckle, who pursued strength above all, this provoked profound awe.
Even when facing the allegedly terrifying Dark Sonata, Akira displayed none of their apprehension. As if the Dark Sonata were merely some triviality he could erase with a wave.
Not only unafraid—he'd confront it head-on.
This was true mastery!
"Indeed. Even the top five Nen Users have admitted inferiority to Akira."
"That's precisely why he's called the New World Strongest."
***
Over the following days, Akira and Menchi explored [Carter Port] together.
They sampled rare delicacies unavailable elsewhere and discovered various peculiar curios. Among the items, Akira found two to be the most useful.
They were the Water Beads and the Light Stone.
[Water Beads]: These are half-fist-sized water droplets encased in a transparent film. Consuming just one can provide an adult with enough water for an entire day. They are particularly useful for replenishing bodily fluids when fresh water is scarce.
They also contain other essential nutrients, making them lifesaving in critical situations.
These beads are derived from a unique fish species found in [Carter Port].
Locals refer to them as Water Bead Fish.
These fish have an unusual appearance—almost no flesh, with bodies composed entirely of clustered Water Beads. Only deep inside do they possess organs and other minimal bodily structures.
Since the outer layer is transparent, one can easily see the internal organs through the beads. It seems the Water Bead Fish unique physiology allows it to secrete a special film that compresses and purifies water.
Salty, briny seawater is refined into droplets indistinguishable from fresh water.
Unfortunately, these fish are extremely rare and dwell only in the deep sea, making each Water Bead highly valuable.
For most people, the cost of a single Water Bead could buy several times the amount of water it provides. Thus, only a select few purchase them.
Aside from wealthy individuals buying them out of curiosity, only one other group seeks them out—Those who aim for the [Dark Continent]!
Not everyone possesses a spatial-type [Nen ability], so these condensed freshwater beads prove exceptionally useful.
In a place like the Dark Continent, anything can happen.
Even if you test a bowl of water in every conceivable way before drinking it, there's still a chance of dropping dead on the spot. Consuming anything from the Dark Continent carries immense risk.
In such a place, Akira wouldn't even be surprised if stepping on the ground alone could kill someone.
The very words "Dark Continent" signify boundless unknowns and possibilities.
The film encasing the Water Beads is quite durable—otherwise, the fish couldn't survive in the ocean. This also makes them easy to carry, though their scarcity and high price remain drawbacks.
Akira suspects these miraculous Water Bead Fish likely originate from the sea between the Six Continents and the Dark Continent.
Unlike others, Akira doesn't have a pressing need for Water Beads, as [Gengar] can store plenty of water.
He bought some mainly out of curiosity and because money wasn't an issue.
While the Water Beads are rare, they are at least known to many.
The [Light Stone], however, is different—Akira obtained it from a treasure chest at the 'Sea Market'.
It came from the same stall where the elderly woman had previously sold the Death Aura pearl.
At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than an unusually beautiful amber stone.
But when Akira noticed it absorbing the 'Aura' from his hand, he realized its extraordinary nature.
[Light Stone]: It looks like nothing more than a pretty rock. However, when held in the palm and continuously infused with Aura, it reduces the bearer's gravitational weight.
Akira tested it and found that, at full output, it could halve his weight for about ten seconds. The sensation of sudden lightness was remarkable.
With prior adaptation, this could significantly enhance his combat capabilities.
Though it only reduces gravity and cannot increase it, the effect is still valuable.
Under certain unusual circumstances, it might even prove unexpectedly effective.
These objects that achieve miraculous effects by absorbing psychic energy are referred to as "treasures" by ordinary people.
Within the circles of Nen Users, they are called "Aura Tools"—items that utilize Aura.
The cloth bag Ging once used falls into this category.
However, that bag involved spatial manipulation, making it far more valuable than the Light Stone currently in Akira's possession.
Though the Light Stone utility isn't bad either, the ideas it sparked in Akira were even more significant.
After testing, he found that the Light Stone could also be used by Pokemon.
This immediately reminded Akira of the "Light Stone" among Pokemon items—identical in effect, though different in appearance.
In other words, Aura Tools from the Hunter x Hunter world could produce the same effects as items from the Pokemon world when used on Pokemon. This seemed perfectly reasonable and highly plausible.
After all, anything could happen in the Dark Continent, and objects with any conceivable effect might exist.
Perhaps he could even find items with effects like [Leftovers] or [Focus Sash] later on.
With the right items, the strength of his Pokemon would reach new heights. The difference between having items and not having them could be massive for Pokemon.
Many strategies relied on item usage.
For example, equipping a Ferrothorn with Leftovers would allow it to recover HP as fast as it took damage, making it nearly unbreakable.
***
After several days, Akira finally received Morel call—time to move out!
The azure sky stretched endlessly, mirrored by the boundless sea below. Golden sands met sapphire waves, as tides rolled in and out in a rhythmic dance.
The early morning beach was still deserted—this was the meeting point Morel had designated.
They would board a ship at the nearby port, with Morel piloting them toward the mist's location.
Only Shoot McMahon, Knuckle, and Cluck were present, Morel was nowhere to be seen.
Before anyone could ask, a sudden, terrifying disturbance erupted in the distance.
A fierce wind whipped up a colossal wave on the sea, towering like a mountain as it surged toward the shore. With each rolling crest, the spectacle grew more magnificent.
This was one of the unique features of [Carter Port].
A few days each month, there was a chance for these gigantic waves to appear—a breathtaking sight.
"Is Morel out there?" Akira narrowed his eyes, spotting a tiny figure within the crescent-shaped wave.
It was unmistakably Morel!
Standing on a surfboard, he rode the wave with effortless grace, his massive pipe still slung over his shoulder. Even with the considerable weight of the pipe, Morel expert surfing skills kept him perfectly balanced.
The terrifying, skyscraper-sized wave might as well have been a gentle ripple beneath his feet.
As the wave approached, Morel glided toward the group on his board.
"Whew, sorry to keep you all waiting." Morel stowed his surfboard, offering an apologetic smile.
The giant waves were a rare occurrence—he hadn't wanted to miss the chance.
The apology was mainly directed at Akira and Menchi, after all it was he who had invited Akira and his companion here.
"It's fine. Let's get ready to set off then." Akira shook his head.
He didn't feel anything was wrong—on the contrary, Morel actions had reminded him of something amusing. To put it bluntly, Morel movements were essentially "surfing."
Coincidentally, Snorlax could also surf.
Should he let Snorlax show off a little in front of everyone?
Just imagining Snorlax plump, heavy body riding the giant waves with reckless abandon made Akira find the idea quite entertaining.
The expressions on Morel and the others' faces would probably be even more amusing, wouldn't they?
However, setting sail was the priority now and there would be plenty of opportunities for Snorlax to perform on the open sea.
Due to the forecast of massive waves in the coming days, Morel hadn't anchored the ship by the beach but had instead docked it at the nearby port. The vessel they were about to board wasn't small—it was a mid-sized ship.
Although only six of them would be traveling, the Association had instructed them to bring back the missing personnel if possible. A small boat would risk running out of space, so a medium-sized one was chosen.
Even so, the ship Morel had procured was top-tier in every aspect. It was faster than an ordinary speedboat and luxuriously furnished, stocked with all necessary supplies.
Under Morel control, the ship began moving away from the shore, heading into the deep sea.
"I truly didn't expect you to be here" Cluck said, holding a glass of red wine as she approached Akira.
"When Morel first mentioned it, I could hardly believe it."
During the meeting to discuss whether Akira could become a "Triple Star Hunter," the proud Cluck had dismissed him, skeptical that one person could achieve so many extraordinary feats.
But at the recent [New Five Strongest Nen User] conference, Akira five distinct auras shattered her arrogance.
It turned out someone could indeed reach such heights of power!
Akira display of dominance didn't just silence critics like Pariston and the mafia members—it left everyone present in awe.
Considering the attendees were all high-ranking figures from various factions, their stunned reactions spoke volumes. Before this, the most formidable people Cluck had encountered were Chairman Netero, Ging, and others.
Yet none of them were on the same level as Akira.
With him joining the mission, she now felt immense confidence in their success.
Even if they couldn't resolve the danger entirely, returning unharmed seemed guaranteed.
"It's just a coincidence" Akira replied. "I enjoy traveling, and I happened to run into you all here."
"Actually, we've seen you once before since arriving" he added, recalling the scene when he and Menchi first arrived and witnessed Cluck impromptu street performance.
The influence of The Twelve Zodiac across the six continents was undeniable, and most of them were kind-hearted individuals, earning them the people's affection.
Just appearing on the streets could cause such a stir.
Truthfully, if Akira had revealed himself openly, the commotion would've been even greater—after all, the reputation of Heavens Arena wasn't for nothing. But ever since arriving at [Carter Port], he had deliberately kept a low profile and altered his appearance.
Otherwise, he'd be swarmed the moment he stepped outside, making it impossible to travel with Menchi.
"Oh?" Cluck mused, looking surprised. "When was that? I don't recall it at all."
"A few days ago, you performed on the street, controlling those pigeons as effortlessly as moving your own limbs" Menchi said, tucking a windblown strand of hair behind her ear with a smile.
"The moment the show ended, people rushed to get your autograph." She remembered that day vividly as well.
"Ah, that day" Cluck finally realized. It was quite a coincidence that she had only performed on the streets that one day and never again afterward.
Akira and Menchi happened to witness that very moment.
"Speaking of which, there's something I'd like to ask you as well." Halfway through the conversation, Akira voiced the question he wanted answered.
Professional questions were best directed at professionals.
"Go ahead."
"I'd like to ask about the Dark Sonata."
'The Dark Sonata, huh...'
Cluck gave Akira a meaningful glance, surprise flickering in her heart.
With Akira level of strength, would he still take the risk to seek out the Dark Sonata?
But she quickly understood.
From what Morel had said earlier, it seemed Akira wanted to remove the Death Aura attached to the Dark Sonata. His goal wasn't the effects the Dark Sonata could bring.
"My knowledge of the Dark Sonata isn't extensive—it's far too mysterious."
After a long pause, Cluck recounted everything she knew.
The Dark Sonata was said to be a solo composition created by the Demon King. It could be performed separately on four instruments: piano, violin, flute, and harp.
When humans played or listened to it, they would inevitably suffer unimaginable horrors.
In the original story, Melody had listened to just a small segment of the flute part and ended up transformed into that gopher-like appearance.
Cluck explanation aligned perfectly with Akira own speculations.
"From what we know now, each part of the Dark Sonata has its own 'sacrifice' and 'reward.'"
"The only part that's somewhat clear is the flute section."
"It seems that hearing the flute movement costs one their health but grants some kind of special ability."
"As far as I know, there's a Nen User named Melody who fits this exact case."
Melody had once sought help from the Hunter Association, so Cluck was somewhat familiar with her situation.
Unfortunately, even after turning to the Association, Melody couldn't be saved—until Akira eventually removed the Death Aura from her.
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