Barbecuing in a sealed space is not something ordinary people would do.
But Hunters and Nen Users are not ordinary people.
Everyone drank large mouthfuls of wine and ate big mouthfuls of meat.
The wine was specially brewed monkey wine that money couldn't buy, and the meat was from sea monsters that swam in the deep sea and were impossible to catch.
This was what you called tasting the first bite of crab meat.
Before reaching the Dark Continent, Law and his team enjoyed rare moments of peace.
The texture, taste, nutrition, and energy of the sea monster meat were indeed unmatched by any creatures from the Six Continents.
Even though ultra-high-level ingredients no longer provided Law with gains in strength, it didn't stop him from becoming a foodie.
Add to that team members like Buhara and Kuro, who were at the level of bottomless pits...
Consequently, thousands of pounds of sea monster meat were being consumed at a very rapid pace.
"An illusion?"
Biscuit finished the last piece of grilled meat on her plate, took out a napkin to wipe her lips, and looked puzzled at the sizzling meat on the grill.
She had also eaten a lot of meat and vaguely sensed a change in her Potential Aura.
But she couldn't be sure because no matter how energy-rich the meat was, it could at most increase physical attributes. She had never heard of or seen any creature's meat that could increase Potential Aura.
If eating high-level meat could enhance Potential Aura, then Gourmet Hunters in the Hunter Association wouldn't be such a niche profession.
Then, she thought of their location in the Dark Waters.
'No matter how incredible it was, as long as it was connected to the [Outside World], things that were originally strange would become not so strange.'
Thinking this, she put down the napkin and signaled Law with her eyes to quickly bring another plate.
"Got it, got it."
Law noticed Biscuit's gaze and hurriedly brought the freshly grilled meat to her.
Aside from Stargie and Nique, the vegetarian, everyone else ate meat.
However, only three people detected that the sea monster meat could increase aura capacity: Biscuit, Ging, and Uvogin.
Surprised, they naturally went to eat more meat.
Thousands of pounds of meat were entirely consumed in this one barbecue session.
If not for the sea monster meat being rich in energy, people like Buhara and Uvogin definitely wouldn't have been full.
After Biscuit pointed out the special quality of the sea monster meat, Law and Kuro took on the task of capturing ingredients for the remainder of the voyage.
If it could more or less increase total Potential Aura, accumulating it would be a significant enhancement not to be overlooked.
Time passed.
Ten days later.
The turtle, like a homing pigeon recognizing its path, suddenly began to ascend towards the surface of the sea without guidance from any 'landmark'.
It wasn't to breathe air, but because the destination was near.
Up and up, from pitch-black to murky, then from murky to shimmering light ripples.
Everyone looked through the semi-transparent turtle shell at the dappled sunlight on the sea's surface. As the turtle broke through the water, they saw the outline of a distant continent.
"Finally here," A faint ripple of emotion passed through Ging's eyes.
'We're back... this damn place,' Tonpa thought silently.
"Hehe, there must be lots of delicious things up there," Buhara.
"The Dark Continent... don't disappoint me. I won't leave until I find a thousand kinds of rare tobacco," Shiro.
"Are we there? A place that only exists in books!" Sheila.
"That's the Dark Continent Law yearns for," Machi.
Gazing at the edge of the Dark Continent's coastline, everyone had different feelings.
Law used his ability to cut open the turtle shell, leading everyone to the top.
The sky was clear and cloudless. Looking up, several black dots could be seen circling.
The sea was calm, but everyone knew that beneath the tranquil surface lurked deadly dangers.
"Take care."
Bruna established communication between Law and the turtle, and the turtle's first words were not a farewell.
Law smiled and asked, "Now that you're finally back, aren't you going ashore for a stroll?"
The turtle snorted and said, "Even though I can live out of water, I'm not a Rock Island Crab. Going ashore to sunbathe is purely suicidal."
All A+ rank super-large magical beasts with mature intelligence knew of the Rock Island Crab's existence.
When the turtle first heard Law talk about the self-contained ecosystem within the Rock Island Crab's belly, it took a long time to calm down.
That might be an achievement it could never reach in its lifetime. After all, creatures of that size were few and far between even on the Dark Continent.
"Time to go. See you again if fate allows," Law didn't continue the topic and simply bid farewell.
"Meeting again or not doesn't matter much. Just don't die," The turtle replied flatly.
Law smiled and had Bruna cut off the communication.
Then, Kuro transformed into a giant black panther.
Everyone boarded Kuro's back. With Law deploying his Domain, Kuro stepped into the air, heading towards the coastline ahead.
The turtle didn't immediately submerge into the sea but silently watched the departing group.
"Humans, so fragile and insignificant..."
When Law's group was no longer in sight, the turtle's massive body slowly sank, pushing out towering waves.
"Yet possessing unreasonable courage… no, it should be called recklessness."
"Law... I'm sorry for not revealing information about the Mender to you, and for never reminding you of one thing..."
"What you humans are doing is playing with fire."
As the turtle's body completely submerged into the sea, the turbulent waves finally subsided.
On the edge of a cliff, Law's group landed.
Behind them was a steep cliff, below filled with reefs. Continuous waves crashed against them, creating a constant roar.
Not far ahead of the cliff was the entrance to a forest… a vast expanse of sea of trees whose end couldn't be seen even from a high vantage point.
Law had spent several years on the Dark Continent. He had seen perilous mountains, flat barren lands, boundless deserts, dangerous swamps, rocky ice lands, massive sinkholes, endless forests...
If you asked what was most commonly seen, it was forests.
Only forests could nurture countless lives, and these lives constituted a unique ecosystem belonging solely to the Dark Continent.
Powerful, bizarre, elusive...
This was not the western Dark Continent, which Law was more familiar with, but the eastern Dark Continent, where he had never been.
He chose to land on the eastern Dark Continent for two reasons.
One, he had never been here.
And two, the ultimate longevity food, Nitro Rice.
"Rest here for fifteen minutes. We depart when time's up."
Law looked at the quiet forest entrance, his gaze calm.
The cool breeze blowing from within carried a hint of bone-chilling cold.
Hearing Law, everyone began checking their equipment.
Cell phone signals couldn't be received here on the Dark Continent. The communication tools used instead were radio walkie-talkies.
"Situation."
Within just a few minutes, Tonpa immediately became alert.
Within his Nen Ability's range, there were no creatures with obvious movement.
However, he sensed danger.
At that moment, everyone noticed wisps of white smoke quietly spreading from within the forest.
Despite the distance, everyone could feel a piercing cold.
Strangely, the trees and grass around the smoke seemed unaffected, as if the low temperature they felt was an illusion.